A Family Torn

PROLOGUE

Big Mama lay in her hospital bed very weak and tired. Ree-Ree had just moved back to Colquitt from Atlanta She was so worried about her ailing mother that she could barely concentrate on the sermon she needs to have prepared for New Year’s. January 1st would be the official day that she became Mount Ebenezer’s head pastor. Her mother placed her wrinkly swollen hand on Ree-Ree’s freshly manicured hands.

Baby, Mama needs you to do something for her.

What is it, Mama?

I need you to go to the house and get my papers.

Alright, I’ll bring them by tomorrow.

No, I need you to bring them now.

Right now?

Yes, I don’t have much time. I need to make sure some things are in order.

Ok. I’ll be back in a few.

Thank you baby.

On her way out of the hospital Ree-Ree saw her big brother walking in her direction. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why in the world her mother would have children eighteen years apart. She figured she might have been an accident because of the age gap. She was grateful to be here anyway. She grew up with two loving parents and four girl cousins that gave her a break from her sister, Betty’s boys. As she approached her handsome brother she gave him a hug and a kiss.

Hey Ra! When did you get back?

Hey Ree, we got back here just a while ago. We stopped by Mama’s house took a shower and came straight here. How are you doing? I figured I’d give you a break.

Good, good. Just trying to prepare for this sermon. She looked behind her brother, Where is Lan?

Parking the car. You know she can be a little slow with that, they both chuckled. I know you aren’t worried about that sermon? Girl you will do just fine, as he placed his hand on her shoulder. I just want you to know that I am so proud of you.

Thanks, Ra.

No really, I’ve always thought of you as one of my own.

Ree-Ree smiled at her big brother, I know, I’m glad you could be there for me, especially when Daddy died. It really meant a lot to me. Just to see you sitting there where he would normally be, whenever I looked up, really gave me the courage to keep doing what I was doing; even though you were a bully at times.

They both laughed and shared a hug.

Well for me, it’s been much more than a privilege and an honor to be able to step in. So where are you off to now?

To the house to get some papers for Mama.

Alright then, I’ll let you go. I’ll probably be here when you get back.

Ok, if not, tell Lan I said hello and I’ll probably see you back at the house.

Rakim walked into the hospital room as he did so many times before, "Hey Mama, how are you feeling? Before you ask, Lan is coming, she is parking the car. The girls will be here soon to see you. I talked to Jade and she said-

Son, its time. Big Mama said, cutting him off.

Time for what?

Big Mama sighed, You need to tell her.

I can’t right now.

Son, I don’t have much time left. I sent Ree-Ree to get my papers. You need to tell her.

Ok, I will tell her. The girls will be up this weekend. I will tell them all while they are together.

At that moment, Lelani walked in, Tell us what?

Back at Big Mama’s house, Ree-Ree pulled a locked box down from the top of the closet. She started to unlock it with a key her mother gave to her some time ago.

This key holds the truth to all the questions that lie in your heart. When it is time, I will let you know when to use it. You must never let it get away from you. Big Mama said to her before she went off to college.

At the time Ree-Ree didn’t understand, she just thought it was some figurative speech her mother was making before she sent her off into the world. It was 10 years later and she finally got to use it. She dusted off the metal box and unlocked it. It was full of papers, letters and old photos. She found her mother’s insurance papers, and when she lifted them out a folded piece of paper fell to the floor. When she picked it up, she couldn’t believe what she read. Mama was right. The key did hold all the answers to the questions in her heart. She sat down on the bed as she read the information on that square piece of paper over and over again.

CHAPTER 1

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Lelani yelled through tear soaked eyes, "How could you do this to me, to us, to our family? Did you ever think how this would affect any of the girls?

Baby please let me explain. Rakim pleaded.

Oh I think I got my explanation. If Big Mama wasn’t so sick, I would’ve let you have it at the hospital. When the hell were you going to tell me? Do you realize what this means? I don’t even know who you are. We never held secrets from each other. You could’ve told me this a long time ago.

Rakim went to hold his wife of 32 years and she pushed him away.

Lelani shook her head, No, not this time. Don’t touch me. After all we’ve been through. She began to walk towards the bedroom.

Where are you going Lan?

Away from you, as she locked herself in the bedroom while she packed her bags.

I understand if you are a little upset with me right now, so I’m going to go on back to the hospital. I hope we can talk about it when I get back. I love you Lan.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Charmya

It’s rare that you could catch all four of us on the phone on a week night but because of a little surprise we were all on the line. I had been such a hectic day so I figured, the sooner we got off, the sooner I could get back to my show. If it wasn’t for the fact that it was an emergency I would have hung up on my sisters. They could talk for hours on end like nobody had to get up and go to work in the morning. Don’t get me wrong, I love them dearly but it’s hard enough trying to maintain some consistency in my busy schedule so whenever I have the opportunity to take some me time, I’m right on it.

My mother was on her way from Colquitt to Atlanta, without so much as a heads up which left me and my sisters scrambling around trying to clear our heads and homes. Wednesdays were not my scheduled cleaning days. I usually did a clean sweep on Friday nights because I did laundry Saturday mornings. Now I’m running through my apartment with a duster in one hand, phone on my shoulder and picking up clothes with the other hand. Jada and Taniya were the neat freaks so I knew they didn’t have much to worry about. If I had known sooner that my mother was coming, I would have paid one of them to clean my place. Poor Raven didn’t know how to aim for the hamper or pick up a broom. It was times like this that I wish we still all lived together.

I sat down for a second to catch my breath and by the huffing on the other end I could tell that Raven sat down to rest as well.

I sure hope Mama doesn’t come to my place, she gasped. My place is nowhere near presentable.

Hey Rae, do you need help over there? You sound like your apartment has taken over, Taniya giggled. I could tell by her tone that she was enjoying every minute of our agony.

Rae sighed, No, Mama will understand. If it weren’t for this fashion show, it wouldn’t look so bad. I have everything, everywhere!

Now see, if you were in the habit of putting stuff where it belonged when you got done with it, you wouldn’t be having this problem. Jada joked, sounding just like my mother.

Taniya snickered.

That’s not funny Jade. I smirked as I started cleaning again.

Hold on guys, my doorbell just rang Taniya put the phone down.

What if that’s Mama? Raven gasped.

There is no way that could be Mama. She would have called one of us to pick her up from the station. I’m surprised that she just left a message instead of actually calling back and talking to one of us. That’s not like her, Jada said matter-of-factly.

Yeah! Me and Rae exclaimed.

Besides, I thought we were going down to see Big Mama this weekend. Rae interjected.

We are. I told Daddy that, Jada explained then paused, So why is she coming up? We just saw her last week.

Just then Taniya came back to the phone, huffing and puffing, Ya’ll need to be at my house, like now! That was Mama!

Lelani Jackson

I was so ready to get away from Rakim that I didn’t realize how my presence would startle the girls. So as soon as I got in the door, Niya started in on me.

Dang Mama, you look tired. Can I get you anything?

Well hello to you to. And no, I’m fine. How are you? I said while trying to pull a bag through the door.

I’m sorry, but you never pop up unannounced like this, you usually call first. You sure you’re ok? Is Daddy alright? How is Big Mama?

Niya was my little psychic so Raven should have been the one I scared senseless. This one always had a knack for sensing when something was wrong, ever since she was in high school.

So I sighed, Are you going to help me with my bags or are you going to keep questioning me? And your father is fine. Big Mama is doing as well as expected but it doesn’t look good though.

Well we planned to go down this weekend. Why didn’t somebody call and tell us? Taniya stopped struggling with my luggage long enough to say, Jade must not have talked to Ree-Ree, cuz I’m quite sure she would have mentioned it."

"Well you know Ree-Ree has a lot going on with her getting ready to be the head pastor of the church plus she just finished moving.

"Yeah, you’re right. Well it wouldn’t kill us to pick up the phone either.

Maybe we can hook up with her Friday night."

Well she’s kind of busy right now. I’m not sure if it would be a good idea for you girls to go down this weekend.

Why? Taniya asked with that frown on her face, looking just like Rakim. If Big Mama isn’t doing so well, we should at least go down and see her.

Well, they are sorting out paper work and what-not right now. So, maybe ya’ll should go down next weekend instead.

Ok. I’ll talk it over with Jade and them. I’ll be sure to tell Jade to call Ree-Ree.

Just then the other three came barging through the door.

Mama? Jada came in first with a gray sweat suit and sneakers, looking like she was about to go jogging.

Mommy? Charmya came in right on Jada’s heels in her pajamas, clearly she was ready for bed.

Ma? Raven called as she peeked her head in the door.

Damn, don’t ya’ll ever ring a bell? Taniya fussed with her hands on her hips.

Jada bumped past Taniya, What for, we all have keys.

Niya rolled her eyes at her big sister, You make me sick.

Did I hear you cuss? I jokingly asked my second youngest.

Who? Taniya asked as she conveniently eased her way down the hallway.

I yelled behind her, Lost your hearing again I see. Then I turned my attention to the other three. Hey my beautiful babies! How are you all? Come give me a hug."

And just like her younger sister before her, Charmya started in on me. What’s going on Mama? I thought you would be down at the hospital with Daddy visiting Big Mama. What brings you up here? She asked with that inquisitive look she used to have like she was trying to figure out a mystery.

I sighed and smiled, I wanted and needed to see my girls.

She started again, Didn’t you guys just get back from Florida? What did y’all do, go down there and turn right back around?

Then Jade joined in, Umm Mom, you just saw us last week. You knew we were coming down this weekend.

Well, we didn’t expect Ms. Annie Lola to go into the hospital right after Thanksgiving. So he wanted to stay up here through the New Year. I tried to explain without making myself to obvious.

But we were coming down in a few weeks for Christmas. How are we supposed to shop for you and you for us, if you are here? She smirked.

Raven finally added her two cents, And who’s cooking dinner if you are up here with us?

Yeah, that’s a good point. You know we don’t have any good smoked pork parts up here in the city. They only have that stuff down there in the back woods. Charmya chuckled.

You are so stupid! Niya laughed as she made herself something to drink.

I shook my head, Some things never change.

Niya took a sip of her juice as she looked me square in the eyes with that one eyebrow raised. God she looked just like Rakim. So Mama, how long are you staying anyway? She had a habit of doing that to see if someone was telling the truth.

I looked at all my girls, and replied, I’m not sure. I wanted to check out Rae’s boutique, get a massage, check on the company and possibly get some legal advice. So I don’t know how long that will take. I may be here from a week to when you girls get ready to go down to Big Mama’s for Christmas, depends on how things go. Why is that a problem?

They all looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and replied No.

I have to say that I’m very proud of my girls. All were successful in their own right. Jada took over the family construction business. Charmya was a lawyer who just passed her Bar Exam the year before. Taniya was a certified massage therapist who owned her own spa. And Raven was an up and coming fashion designer with her own boutique. In fact, I was wearing one of the first pair of jeans Raven designed. All of my children had done well and I couldn’t have been more proud of them, than I was at that moment.

Taniya looked around the