Family Values (7 page)

             
When she returned everyone was waiting on her.

MADISON

What are you staring at?

DWIGHT

You…so we can go to dinner.

MADISON

I am ready.

DWIGHT
(whispering to Madison)

Are you okay?

MADISON

I am fine.
Just had a little moment.

             
Madison helped Gran off of the hospital couch so that they could go eat. Trenity reached over to give Madison a kiss and she expediently turned her face. I was shocked by her action.

Tr
enity was in the hospital room with Landon when the nurse came in.

NOAH

How are you? I am here to check Mr. Cove’s vital.

TRENITY

Okay that’s fine.

             
Noah went ahead and did his usual routine. Trenity watched him carefully as he checked Landon.

TRENITY

How are his vitals?

NOAH

His blood pressure is a little high but that it normal for the situation. He doesn’t have a temp and his heart rate is normal.

TRENITY

Good. Good. So are you on call duty tonight?

NOAH
(turning to Trenity)

I am. I just came on.

TRENITY

How long is your shift?

NOAH

Twelve hours. Why do you ask?

TRENITY

Just curious.
I want to know the nurse that will be checking on him. I am Trenity Cooley (extending his hand for Noah to shake).

NOAH

Nice to meet you. I am Noah.

TRENITY

All I get is a first name. I gave you a last name.

NOAH
(smiling)

Darbey
. My name is Noah Darbey.

TRENITY

Okay Noah Darbey. How long have you been nursing?

NOAH

This is my fifth year. What do you do?

TRENITY

I am a pharmacist.

NOAH

Also in the medical field. Great. Well it was nice meeting you. I have a few other patients that I need to see.

TRENITY (grabbing
Noah by the arm)

Hope to see you again soon.

NOAH

I will be around later.
             

________________________________

At dinner my phone rang
. When I pulled it out of my pocket I saw that Brian was calling. I excused myself from the table.

DWIGHT

Hey baby.

BRIAN

What are you doing?

DWIGHT

We are out to dinner right now.

BRIAN

Where?

DWIGHT
O’Charley’s
. Why?

BRIAN

I am trying to find you.

DWIGHT
(smiling)

Where are you?

BRIAN

I am in Merid
ian. I flew down when I talked to you earlier today. I didn’t like the stress in your voice.

DWIGHT

Awww baby. What would I….wait a minute. You can’t. How will I explain you to my family?

BRIAN

Your partner. How else would you?

DWIGHT

Brian…you know that I love you but my family will not go for this or understand it.

BRIAN

Well I am on my way. So between here, at this small ass airport, and
O’Charley’s
you better think of something. Love ya!

             
The next thing that I heard was the end of the phone call. What was I going to do? My baby brother is in the hospital and now my partner is here in town. Could things get any worse? As I was walking back to the table I noticed Maddie gazing at me.

MADISON

Is everything alright?

DWIGHT

Umm, yes.

             
I took my glass of wine and swallowed it down in one gulp. I beckoned for the waiter.

WAITER

Yes sir?

DWIGHT

Let me get a
Dead Bastard
.

             
The waiter smiled when I placed my order.

WAITER

I’m sorry sir but I have never had of it. Let me see if we make that.

             
The waiter walked to the bartender. I looked across the way and saw that the bartender was shaking his head. It wasn’t long before the waiter returned.

WAITER

I apologize sir but he said that he don’t know how to make that.

DWIGHT

Okay pull out your pen and paper. It is 1 shot brandy, 1 shot bourbon, 1 shot gin, 1 shot rum, ½ shot lime juice, 1 dash bitters, 1 shot Ginger Ale. Pour all the ingredients in a tall chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Quickly.

MADISON

Why are you ordering a drink like that?

DWIGHT

I need it at this point.

             
Maddie gave me a look of concern. I placed my hands on my head and realized that I was going to have to talk to Gran.

DWIGHT

Gran I have to talk to you about something. This is something that I have wanted to tell you for a long time but didn’t know how.

             
By this time the waiter brought my drink order. I pulled the straw out and took it to the head. I felt Maddie kick me under the table. I ignored the first kick, but the more I talked the harder she kicked.

DWIGHT

My desire to please you and my family has plagued me to an unhealthy extent; I have spent the last years of my life distancing myself from you because of how you all treated me and I thought you might react to my truth.  Today I am tired of the lies. Today, I decided to stop running. 
 
Today, I decided to be the man you raised me to be.  Today I choose to be honest with myself as well as you. 
 
I am still the same intelligent, hard-working, Dwight Cove that you reared. I choose to love me for me and no matter what anyone says I have to live my best life. A life of truth, a life of love, and a life free from the burden of perceived judgment.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA (gently placing her fork on the side of her salad.)

Okay so you are gay.

             
I turned and looked at my sister and tilted my head. I just knew deep within that Madison had already told her. I noticed that Madison shrugged her shoulders.

DWIGHT

Gran, what are you talking about?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Anyone who gives a speech like that can’t be anything else but gay.

DWIGHT

I know that this makes you hate me even more.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I have no words and don’t really want to talk about it.

DWIGHT

Well we have too. My lover is on his way here.

MADISON

Great, we get to meet him.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I refuse to have dinner with a tootie-fruity. I did not raise you to like men.

DWIGHT

It was not a decision.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What do you mean that it was not a decision? God didn’t make man to be with another man. How you two are suppose to populate the earth? Two sticks rubbing together only make fire and that is how you are going to get burned? What would your grandfather say?

DWIGHT
(standing up at the table)

Well Gran, with our two sticks rubbing together, we have had some very steamy night
s and days too, if I might add.

             
I left the table before I was forced to say anything else. I didn’t want to disrespect my grandmother, regardless of her feelings for me. Now that Brian has forced me to come out of the closet I know that I will really be disowned now.

             
I went into the restroom and washed my face with cold water. As I held my face in my hands I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out to find that Brian was calling.

DWIGHT

Hello.

BRIAN

Where are you? I am in the dining area but I don’t see you.

DWIGHT

I am in the restroom.

BRIAN

Okay I am on my way in there.

DWIGHT

Okay.

             
It wasn’t ten seconds after we ended the call that Brian walked into the restroom. He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead when we saw each other. Brian propped himself next to the vanity and folded his arms.

BRIAN

How is your brother?

DWIGHT
He is resting. He has two cracked ribs, a concussion and both wrists are broken.

BRIAN
(reaching out to hug me)

Baby, I am sorry to hear that. I am here for you.

              A customer walks into the restroom. Brian and I quickly release each other.

CUSTOMER

Oh I am sorry.

             
I looked down at the floor and turned. I didn’t want him to see my face. We waited patiently until the customer left before we began our conversation again.

DWIGHT

On top of all that you forced me to come out to my grandmother.

BRIAN

How did I force you to come out?

DWIGHT
(feeling the tension build up inside of me)

By bringing your black ass here.
I told you that my family is not like yours. My grandparents hate me. I was always that black sheep of the family.

BRIAN

I am going to overlook part of what you said because I know that “we” are upset.

DWIGHT

I apologize. Please forgive me.

BRIAN

Baby, you know that I am here for you. That is why I flew down…to be by your side. We are one.

             
I could not help but to fall into his arms. I planted my head in his chest and gave him myself to keep safe.

             
I felt it was time that I introduced Brian to my family. As we walked out of the restroom I could feel my face turn red. The heat from my neck rose to my earlobes. Approaching the table I thought about the speech that I gave my grandmother earlier. I did not want to eat my words.

DWIGHT

Gran, Maddie, this is Brian.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Oh so that’s how you meet them - in the restroom. You are trash just like your mother.

             
Right then and there my balls grew twice the size.

DWIGHT

Mrs. Ella Cove – this is my lover…Brian!

             
I saw my grandmother “clutch her pearls.” My face lit up like lightning in a midnight summer sky.

MADISON

Um, nice to meet you Brian.

DWIGHT
This is my sister Madison. She is the one who raised me.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA (angrily)

How dare you disrespect me like this? If it had not been for Jefferson and me, you would not be where you are now. Then to bring this, boy, in my face just to hurt me.

BRIAN

No disrespect ma’am but I haven’t been a boy for some years.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Who told you to speak to me? Madison, take me to the hospital right now. I can’t stand to be here any longer.

MADISON

Okay let me pay for the check. (beckoning for the waiter)

             
I stood there beside Brian with a knot in my throat. I felt him place his hand on my shoulder. I wanted to cry but I was not about to give her the pleasure of seeing tears stroll down my face.

             
As Madison paid the check Gran rose from her seat.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Don’t come to the will reading on tomorrow. You are not in it. You and your “boy” can go back to Seattle. I just can’t believe that you would do this to this family.