Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (35 page)

Joshua smiles while he talks and offers her his hand. She smiles as she shakes it then turns to Melvin with a frown.

“What punch? Who got punched,” Matthew says. “Marcus, you saw a punch?”

“No, I didn't. Thomas?”

Thomas twitches his mouth and shakes his head.

Mrs. Henderson looks at us, sternly. “Is that right, gentlemen?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Matthew grins.

Mrs. Henderson shakes her head and frowns at Ethan. “Why are you here, Ethan? If memory serves, you're supposed to be at a funeral.”

“Mrs. B, can you step over here? That’s my sister, Mariah Cannon,” Ethan says softly, pointing in Mariah's room. I went to the funeral of the man that saved the life of her daughter, my niece.”

She peeks into the little window on the door and gasps. “Why didn't you tell me this was why you requested leave? Or that Mariah is your sister?”

“You know my wife,” I ask her, completely surprised.

“
You're
Mariah's 'boo',” she asks in a high pitched voice.

I grin. “Yes I am, Mrs. Henderson.”

“My, my... she was not kidding about your eyes.” She offers her hand. “Sheila, please. Yes, I've met your lovely wife at a charity function. And I was there when she introduced Ira to my baby boy,” she says as she pinches Melvin's face.

Melvin sighed and swatted her hand away. “Mom! Can you
try
to be professional?  Dr. Harvey used to be my boss and I need a reference from him and Marcus!”

“No, you don't, Henderson. I didn't accept your notice. Nor yours Nathan,” Thomas says.

“That's settled,” Sheila says. “Now, where's my Ira? I need to speak with him.”

“In the conference room, Mom; he’s with the rest of Mariah's family.”

“Fine. I need to ask him and you gentlemen a few questions about what happened here this afternoon.”

We walk back down the hall, toward the conference room.

“I have some other people for you to talk to,” Thomas says. “I'll set you up in an area across from the conference room. I can tell you now that I saw nothing except Hickson fall back after I hit him.”

“You hit the bigot, too,” Sheila asks.

“I did.”

“Do you have an attorney near, Dr. Harvey?”

“Thomas,” he smiles.

“All right, Thomas.”

“Um, Mrs. B?”

“Yes, Ethan?”

“I've collected retainers from everyone, except Melvin, Nathan, Ira and the Daniels.”

She narrows her eyes. “You charge them the going family rate for my firm?”

“No, I charged them double,” Ethan grins.

She snickers. “You charged them a dollar?”

“Yes, ma'am. They can afford it.”

We chuckle and Sheila laughs.

“Okay, good. Now, what happened in court this morning? I heard you were fined ten grand.”

“Ma'am,” Matthew calls. “Ethan represented me this morning and he got the charges dropped.”

“All right. And the fine?”

Ethan chuckles. “I was held in contempt for using inappropriate language.”

Sheila freezes then turns to Ethan. “Inappropriate language? Please tell me you didn't swear at the judge, Ethan!”

“No. It was aimed at the asshole that kidnapped my sister after he asked me to represent him.”

She snickers again. “Fine. Make sure you put a dollar in the fine jar.”

“Only a dollar?”

“Only a dollar, Ethan.”

“I will, Mrs. B.”

“Now, collect a dollar from those you missed, if they want to retain us.”

“Yes, Mrs. Boston.”

“And Ethan?”

“Yes?”

“Good work getting the charges dropped for gorgeous over here.”

Matthew grins and smacks my shoulder. “You hear that, Cramp? I'm gorgeous!”

I laugh as we enter the conference room.

“You know, Matthew, I have a single daughter –”

Matthew holds up a hand. “Sorry, ma'am. I'm off the market. I just got engaged.”

“What,”
Mother and Dad screech at the same time.

“When did that happen,” Mandy screams as she hauls Sidra to her.

“Before the funeral,” Sidra blushes.

Everyone loudly congratulates Sidra and then Matthew. Suddenly, Rachel screams and Lisa gasps.

“What,” I say and follow their gaze. They’re staring at Daniels.

“Oh, my God,” Rachel murmurs as she sways.

“Catch her, Tom,” I shout. “Lisa, what’s going on?”

Lisa points at Daniels. “Nathan! Look!”

Nathan looks to where Lisa is pointing and he focuses on Daniels.

“Jesus Christ,” he yells, stumbling back and paling. “No wonder she fainted! Get her purse and find her wallet!”

Lisa reaches in a purse, shaking. She searches through the wallet and pulls out a picture and looks up at Daniels.

“Um, Darren Daniels Junior, right?”

“Yes,” Daniels nods. “But call me Dannie.”

“Dannie, can you leave the room until Mom wakes up and is alert,” she asks him, still staring like she's seen a ghost.

“Why?” Dannie frowns. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Lisa whispers, giving me the picture.

I inhale; it's Mariah's father. I stare at Dannie.

“Holy fuck,” Matthew whispers at my ear.

“Is that Donald,” Joshua asks.

I nod and walk over to Dannie and show him the picture. He scowls.

“I've never been a cop. Who did this?”

“It's not retouched, Dannie. This is Mariah's deceased father. She wasn't delusional when you talked to her. She thought she was talking to her father when she saw your face.”

“What,” he asks, staring at the photo again. “I look... holy hell,” he mutters, looking at his mother. He takes the picture to her. “You think?”

Her eyes well. “Is... was his name, H-Hollander? Did he have an aunt named Matilda Hollander?”

“His name was Donald Hollander. He had an aunt named Mattie. I guess her real name could've been Matilda but you'd have to ask Rachel or Mariah for certain.”

Rachel groans as Thomas circles salts under nose. Dannie ducks out of the room but he peeks in as Rachel revives.

“Tell me I imagined it. Do I need a MRI or something? I thought I saw my first husband; a man who's been dead twenty-three years!”

“Rachel,” I call softly. “Donald's aunt Mattie,was that her real name?”

She frowns at me and shakes her head. “No. Matilda Ann Hollander. Why? What am I missing?”

Marsha stands next to me. “Rachel? I think Mattie was my mother. She gave me up when I was a baby. She was only fourteen when I was born.”

“Oh, God,” Rachel sighs. “I thought you looked familiar. Let me up. I'm fine.” Nathan helps her up and she takes her wallet from Lisa's hands. She rifles through it and pulls out a picture. “This is your mother.” Rachel passes the picture to Marsha, who takes it and cries.

“I look like her,” she says quietly. “When was this taken?”

“That was my sixth anniversary with Donald; he took that picture. I was pregnant with the twins and we were out celebrating with Mattie.” She points to the picture. “That grinning little face is Mariah, your cousin. She was five then.”

My brothers and I peek over Marsha's shoulder and we all inhale sharply.

“Looks like Lila, doesn't it?” Rachel smilingly asks. We nod as my mother and father step up to see the picture.

“What happened to my mother? Donald?”

Rachel whispers, “Donald and my twins died in a car accident when Mariah was eight. Mattie, who was still suffering from the loss of her brother and best friend, followed almost a year later. They say it was a heart attack, but I think she was in too much pain in this world.”

Marsha holds Rachel’s hand. “The man you saw before you fainted, he's my son, Darren Junior.”

Rachel gasps. “Oh, good. So I wasn't seeing things.”

“No. He does look like his cousin. Very scary.”

“Did he leave?”

“No, he's in the hall where he’ll stay until he knows you're stable. He doesn't want to scare you again.”

“I'll leave if my face is too much for you, Mrs. Harvey,” Dannie calls from the hall.

Rachel takes a deep breath then walks over to the door and pulls Dannie into the room. “I’m Rachel. How did I manage to miss you this last week? Or earlier today?”

“I kept in the makeshift office last week, ma'am. Since and today, I just don't know.”

Rachel stares at Dannie for the longest time. “It's uncanny. And really fucking weird,” she laughs as she hugs him. “It's really great to meet some of Mariah's relatives. I'm sure she'll be pleased. We thought she was the last of the Hollanders.” She turns to Marsha. “After I've seen my daughter, I'd like to have a conversation with you and Matthew, if you don't mind.”

Marsha smiles as she hugs her son. “No, I don't mind.”

Matthew's eyebrows shoot up as he looks at me. “Think she knows who her father is?”

“Why else would she want to speak to you
and
Marsha?”

Rachel loops her hand on my arm. “Ready?”

I nod and walk her to Mariah's room, where music is playing beside her. When she gets a good look at her, Rachel cries and tells me how grateful she didn't see her last week when she was found.

Mariah's face is still purple in spots and most of the swelling is gone. She looks like she did when she was carrying the boys and so much better than before. I don’t believe Rachel could’ve handled seeing her that way.

After an hour, Rachel kisses Mariah's cheek and whispers to her to get lots of rest and come back to her as healthy as she was before all the bullshit. She leaves the room after a large exhale.

I bend close to Mariah’s ear and tell her she needs to wake soon; she has new cousins from her father's side that want to meet her. I kiss her cheek and assure her I’ll return in a little while then turn up the volume on the stereo.

As I make my way back to the conference room, I see Joshua in the doorway. He motions for me to hurry.

“He's coming now, Rachel,” he says into the room.

When I enter, Rachel takes my hand and sits me next to her and beckons Matthew to her other side. Marsha and Dannie sit across from us.

The room quiets as Rachel takes a deep breath. Thomas walks up and rubs her shoulders and she smiles up at him and holds his hand.

Rachel turns to me. “I never want to tell this again. I need you to tell Mariah when you think she will be ready to hear it. Will you do that, please?”

I grip her hand. “Of course.”

She smiles then turns to Matthew. “I don't... I've never hired a detective before. How do I do that? Hire you, I mean. Do you charge a retainer or something?”

“Yes. I'll bill you later,” he smiles as he takes out a notepad and pen.

Rachel smiles back, then looks at Marsha. “I promised my dear friend that I’d tell this to you; that you’d know everything if she was gone when you found her. She said she didn’t want me to find you because she feared you weren’t told about your adoption and that was the only reason she didn’t look harder for you.”

“I’ve known since I was thirteen, when my father died. My mother confessed it after his funeral, when I curiously asked why I didn’t look like anyone else.”

“Now you know where you got your face.” Rachel smiles. “Are you ready to hear this?”

Marsha takes a deep breath and nods.

Chapter FOURTEEN

The Hollanders

July 14, 2018 – 4.19 p.m.

“Matilda Ann and her older brother Donald Joseph Hollander were the only children of Anna Marie Jefferson and Joseph Franklin Hollander, a southern Baptist minister. Donald senior was born August 5th, 1934 and he lived until August 11th, 1983. Mattie was born July 24th, 1938. She passed away November 7th, 1995. Mattie and Donald fell in love with siblings from Greenwood, Mississippi; they were from Avalon. Their father opposed the union with Mattie because she was thirteen, and thought she could do better. He had no choice but to accept Donald's union because he was of age but because he didn't think that family was Christian enough for his children, he made Donald choose between what he felt for his intended and his sense of duty for his mother and father. He wanted Donald to be a minister like him.

“Donald chose his love for his fiancée. Her name was Ginny. Mattie's flame convinced her to get pregnant, hoping to get her father's consent to marry. Mattie was around five months along when he got cold feet and decided he didn't want to be a father. He disappeared one evening, right after he had sex with Mattie one last time. It broke her heart. She never trusted another man after that and she went to her grave never marrying nor having any more children.

“After you were born, Marsha, she reluctantly gave you up and ran away to Chicago to live with her brother and his wife. She looked for you when you were eighteen and again after her brother died, but I'm sure you know how the records are kept from that era. They couldn't even tell her who you were placed with, before your adoption, this is why she believed you had no clue of your adoption. She never heard from your father again and she died, holding my hand and whispering the name she gave you, praying you were safe and apologizing for not being strong enough to keep and run away with you.”

“W-what...” Marsha stutters as tears roll down her cheeks. “What is my name?”

Rachel sighs. “Margaret Agnes Redding. Your father's name was, or is, Carl Emmett Redding, brother of Virginia Agnes Redding-Hollander.”

“My birthday. Is it really in April?”

Rachel shakes her head. “You were born on July twenty-ninth; five days after your mother's fifteenth birthday.” She reaches and takes Marsha's hand. “Your mother told me the whole story as we were visiting Mariah in the hospital after the accident, saying she wanted to be sure someone else knew the story. She never told her nephew, my first husband, about any of it and I don't think his parents did either.

“Your mother was a good woman, Marsha, and a horrible flirt. She had the roar of a lion and the heart of a lamb and she stepped in as a grandmother figure for Mariah and my twins.” She laughs. “But she'd never allow them to call her that. She said she would always be too young to ever be a grandmother.” She looks at Dannie. “I guess she was wrong. I'm so sorry you never got to meet that extraordinary woman, who became our ‘
everything’
after my own parents rejected my marriage and my children. Donald and the kids were coming home from visiting her in the Hyde Park area of Chicago when they were killed.”

“When did that happen?”

Rachel sighs heavily. “December 12th, 1993. She was leaving for her annual trip to Las Vegas and she wouldn't be back until after the New Year. It was a tradition for us to go to her house for a visit so the kids could be spoiled before she left. That was the only trip she missed in over twenty years.”

“Rachel,” Matthew calls. “Do you know when Redding was born?”

“Not exactly. I know he was the same age as Donald senior, and Carl’s sister was less than a year younger than him, maybe around ten months. He was old enough to know not to screw a fourteen-year-old girl and get her pregnant. Then to walk out on her... I'm sorry, Marsha, but in my eyes, he was a coward. Unless it’s proven wrong, I will continue to feel that way.”

“She's right, Mama,” Dannie says hoarsely. “If he did skip out on your mother like that, then I don't want to meet him.”

Marsha nods then looks at her son. “I understand but do you understand that I have to?”

He studies his mother a moment. “I do. And you only do so with me or Ryan. Agreed?”

“Yes, honey. If he finds him and he's alive, I will have you or Ryan with me.”

“No
ifs
, Mrs. Drake,” Matthew says as he stands, pulling out his cell. “I’ll have something soon. Excuse me.”

As he leaves, I look at Marsha. “He’s telling the truth. Matthew is quite good. It's very annoying.”

She laughs. “I'm hoping. I could really use the closure.”

July 7, 2018 – 11.37 a.m.

I smiled at the soft knock on my office door. It's Mariah's signal that our daughter wanted me.

“Yes,” I called as I straighten my face. The door opened.

“I have someone here who misses her daddy,” my beautiful wife cooed.

“Well, who could that be?” I put my tablet down as Lila hid behind Mariah and giggled.

“A pretty little blue-eyed angel named Lila. She was just here a moment ago...”

Lila giggled again. “I'm here, Mommy! See?”

Mariah smiled. “Yes, I see, Angel... and there's your daddy.”

Lila ran to me and I tickled her, throwing her into a fit of laughs.

“I'm going to lie down a while. The boys are outside. Please ask Sidra to fix lunch for me?” Mariah asked, tiredly, then tried to hide a huge yawn.

“Okay, baby. Are you feeling all right?”

“Yeah... just a little tired. Your sons have been fighting again.”

“Donnie took my ball, Daddy,” Lila pouted. My heart melted at that face.

I picked her up. “He did? Well, let's go see what his problem is.”

I turned to walk out of the office. I smacked my wife's ass on the way and went straight to the kitchen, knowing the boys were in the garden.

“Boys! Come here,” I called at the back door. They ran up and give me the pout face. I smirked. Somehow, it didn’t work with them. Almost, but Lila owned it.

“Your mother says you're fighting again. Care to explain?”

“Dad, Donnie took Lila's ball so I took his juice,” Alex reported.

“What should you have done, Alex?”

“I should have let Lila tell Mommy but Donnie shoulda asked Lila for her ball. He shouldn't make her cry.”

“She didn't cry. She just whined,” Donnie insisted.

“Boys, enough. Donnie, you are supposed to ask for what you would like, you don't just take something from someone. And Alex, your mother and I decide the discipline, not you or your brother or sister. This is the last time I want to hear this in our home. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Dad,” the boys said in unison.

“Good.” I put Lila down. “Sidra?”

“Yes, Marcus,” she answers, smiling as she folds some laundry.

“Mariah's tired and I believe she's napping now. Would you fix the kids’ lunch? After, you can head out for the day. Are you coming to the party tomorrow?”

“Mariah insisted I come as a guest, not an employee. I hope you don't mind,” she said as she gathers ingredients for grilled cheese sandwiches, a favorite of all three kids.

“Of course not. She said you're seeing someone. You should ask him along, as well,” I offered as I watch my kids play tag. Lila giggled as she tried to catch Alex. I smiled. It's the most beautiful sound in the world, right next to Mariah's laugh.

“Um, he has something to do tomorrow, maybe next time,” Sidra answered, softly.

“Okay, next time. Let me know when their lunch is ready.”

I joined the kids, caught Alex and tackled him.

“No fair, Dad,” he laughed as Lila ran up and jumped on him, laughing loudly.

“Yes it was, son. Lila's little legs can't keep up with you!”

“Fine!” Alex laughed as he ‘broke’ free. “It's Lila's turn! Run, Lila... I'm gonna catch you!”

Lila giggled again and took off but, once again, her little legs couldn't get her far. I had no choice but to pick her up and run her away from the boys.

“Dad,” Donnie yelled. “No fair, again!”

He whispered to Alex and they nodded. They run toward us and I stand until they get close, then I run to the right. Alex dropped and pretended to tie his shoes and I laughed to myself. They're trying this again.

Donnie continued to chase after me and Lila giggled her glee. I heard Alex approaching from behind as Donnie tried from in front.

“Now,” Donnie commanded.

I moved sideways, and they crashed into each other. Lila and I laughed at them as they fell and stayed on the ground, accusing each other of messing up the plan.

“Lunch,” Sidra called.

“All right, go wash your face and hands,” I told them, still laughing.

“Race you, Dad,” Alex challenged and took off.

Still holding Lila, I chased after him. She laughed as her little head bobbed, side to side.

“Lila wins,” I loudly declared as we reached the door. Sidra took Lila as I waited for the boys to catch up. They ran in the door and had a good laugh as they make their way to the bathroom. Sidra squatted as she settled Lila in her booster chair and I told her she could go.

“Are you sure, Marcus? I can stay until they've finished lunch.”

“It's fine, Sidra. I'm sure you have some things to do. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Marcus,” she smiled then stood and swayed.

“Are you all right,” I asked as I checked her pulse. “Do you feel ill?”

“I’m fine, just a little tired. I'm going to go to my mom's and rest.”

“Good idea. Call me if you feel worse, all right?”

“I will. Thanks, Marcus.” She made her way around the table and kissed the kids goodbye.

* * *

After we cleaned up after lunch, the doorbell rang. The kids and I quietly go to the front door to answer it; it was an off day for the house staff. Alex opened it. My mother and Rachel grinned as Joshua's two oldest sons rushed inside.

“Gram! Grandma,” Lila squealed as she jumped up and down.

“We're here for the kids, Marcus,” Rachel informed as she picked up Lila.

“Where are you taking them,” I asked, kissing each of their cheeks.

“We're going to my house, darling,” Mother says, smiling. “I'm keeping them until the party tomorrow. Go pack some things. Where's my daughter-in-law?”

“She's napping in the den.”

“Oh, I don't want wake her. Just tell her we came by.”

“No, it's fine. She'll want to say goodbye to the kids anyway. I'll be right back.”

I took the stairs two at a time. I love my kids but I really needed some alone time with my wife. I rushed through their rooms and it took no time to gather their clothes; Mariah and Sidra kept things orderly. I made sure to pack Lila's new blue outfit that she picked out herself when we went shopping together, just her and I, after our Daddy-daughter lunch.

I ran back down and give Mother's driver, Benny, the suitcase. I walked into the den and two excitedly boys ran past me.

“Well, if you're sure, I'll go and pack them some clothes,” Mariah yawned.

“No need, baby. I've already given the case to Benny.”

“Get some rest, honey. I'll see you Sunday evening,” Rachel urged. She kissed Mariah and patted her belly.

“Goodbye, darling,” Mother murmured as she kissed me.

“Bye, Mother. No spoiling.”

“What spoil? I don't do that!”

“Gram? Can I get three toys this time?” Lila asked, with five fingers. I stifled a grin. Lila was too cute. I fell in love with her as fast as I did with her mother.

Mother held up one finger. “One.”

“Pwease, Gram.”

“All right, sweetie. Three.”

My jaw dropped. “Mother. What did I just say?”

“I'm not spoiling her! I'm being a grandma. And she's my only granddaughter.”

I shook my head with a sigh. I couldn’t argue with either points. I remembered exactly how my grandmothers were.

“Fine, Mother. Say hi to Dad for us.”

“I will, Marcus. All right, boys! Gram and Grandma are ready to go! Let's hurry to the store and get your three toys each!”

“Katherine,” Mariah gasped.

I scowled as she winked at Mariah.

“Give it up, Marcus. She's a proud grandmother. It's a losing battle.” Rachel smiled as she walked away. “I promise I will only get them two apiece. Maybe,” she said over her shoulder.

“Five bucks says they will have Lisa's and Tom's kids as well.”

“It's only going to be worse when Ethan and Alissa's baby comes and then there's our next,” Mariah sighed, quietly.

“And the next one...” I whispered as I rubbed her belly.

“Marcus! This is it! You promised!”

I gave her my ‘pwease’ face.

She caved. “Talk to me in three years. In the meantime, you're keeping that consultation appointment next week, Cramp!”