"Now, this is the proper way to introduce one of your girlfriends," William announces, cutting into his omelet.
"I'm sure it is," Brandon enunciates, "you arranged it."
"It's refreshing to see that this one has some decorum."
Evelyn placed her hand over her husband's. "Will, for God's sake, she's a teenager. They stay up till the crack of dawn and sleep in until noon. Get with the times."
"I'm only saying it's nice to have breakfast with everyone in attendance."
"Dear, you have a knack for saying things that could piss off a Koala Bear."
I observe Brandon's father getting lectured by his spunky wife. My passing glance turns into a look born of nothing but pure hatred. The more he talks I find myself twisting my fork deeper into my omelet. Then I pull it out slowly, imagining blood seeping from its wound. I know it's not ideal, but I like to fantasize that its screams echo William Lockwood's stern voice.
I've done this the entire ten minutes after Evelyn practically dragged me and Brandon from a heartfelt goodbye at their loft's entrance. Sure, I didn't mean half the shit I said to William about it being a pleasure to meet him. But hey, I was one foot out of this loft and one step into hoping out of his life forever. Then Evelyn suggested we stay for one last breakfast to get to know each other better. Needless to say, I've been throwing daggers into Mr. Lockwood's face ever since.
"How am I being inappropriate by suggesting not to sleep the day away in the loft I paid for? She's not Sleeping Beauty." William chuckles, dismissing his wife altogether.
Evelyn stays silent, quietly scrapping her fork against her expensive china with scalloped edges and a cobalt blue rim. She stares into the plate and turns her sorrowful gaze into a soft smile. Her gentle eyes instinctively analyze me before she gives me a reassuring grin. It's even more welcoming and hypnotizing than Brandon's. I smile back at her.
"On another note," Brandon says, repeatedly tapping his foot against the floor. "The recruiter said my score on the AFQT was in the top percentile."
For the first time in hours, I meet Brandon's gaze. "What's the AFQT?" I mutter more to myself.
"The Armed Forces Qualification Test it's part of the ASVAB." He smiles, shaking his head in disbelief.
"The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery." He broadcasts slowly in a condescending tone.
My gaze drops to Brandon's cell phone in my lap. "O-okay, silly me," I say, over-enunciating the words.
"I expect nothing less; you're from six generations of high-ranking officers; the army's in your blood, son," William says, slamming his fist against the table.
"Now look who's forgotten their basic training," Evelyn says, rolling her eyes at her husband.
"Evelyn, we're talking about our son rising through the ranks and becoming a man."
Evelyn stands up and starts collecting everyone's plate. "No matter how old your man gets, he will always be my baby boy." Evelyn gushes, kissing Brandon's forehead.
"Mom, let me get those for you," Brandon says, reaching for the dishes.
William raises his left hand, and suddenly, Brandon freezes in his tracks. "Son, that's a woman's job. If she needs help, then your girlfriend can help her."
"Dad, my girlfriend's name is Ebony." Brandon calmly declares.
"Well, Ebony, would you mind?" William says, clapping his hands to get my attention.
"I would love to," I exclaim.
Honestly, I'm just happy to get the hell away from this table.
"At this rate, you'll be able to take over all three of my law firms before you're 30." William chuckles with excitement.
I walk across the table, taking everyone's silverware and empty glasses. When I reach for Brandon's glass, his piercing gaze penetrates my heart. For a moment, I'm frozen in time as bitterness consumes my soul. I still haven't forgiven him for last night. It wasn't even about Donovan harassing me nonstop for the past two days. Brandon saw those text messages and he actually thought I was that type of person. I'm already poor with low self-esteem, so why wouldn't I ride the closest eggplant for an extra five dollars? That's so Ebony.
Instead of just asking me about those dumb ass texts, it's like he wanted to have sex with me to see if the rumors were true. Exactly when was he going to bring up those text messages after he broke my virginity?
"Excuse me." I roll my eyes, snatching the glass from his grip.
Brandon reaches for my hand when his father looks away. "I promise I'll explain everything when we're out of here."
"I hope for your sake it isn't too late." I walk across the kitchen until I'm standing next to Evelyn. My mind instantly drifted to the look in Brandon's stormy eyes when he saw our house in ashes and rubble. Then, the moment I saw him waiting on the side of the street, refusing to return to his perfect life in Sunnyvale. He disobeyed his Father time after time, but when it comes down to it, he can't stand up to himself.
"Cloudy skies on the horizon?" Evelyn asks with a raised brow.
My eyes widen in shock as I carefully dry the plate she hands me. "It's a beautiful sunny day without any clouds in the sky," I say, slowly repeating the forecast.
"You must think I'm bout as perceptive as Charlie Brown's parents." Evelyn laughs softly while she scrapes the plate clean.
"Well, you don't 'wah' 'wah' 'wah' as much." I laugh nervously.
Evelyn shakes her head in frustration, her silky light brown hair cascading down her shoulders. She throws her washcloth on the counter and grabs my face. Her icy blue eyes gaze into mine, uncovering remnants of the girl I had buried years ago.
All the insignificant moments in my life where I was broken have steered me into the flashing pain that's still erupting inside my chest. I'm aware that through the depths of depression, I've been wandering around every place without a place to call home. My family used to be my link to the outside world.
Then, my mother's beautiful smile faded into the cosmos, and my dad wanted to bury it with our past. Amidst all the rubble and the ashes, I'm still buried with her, and I didn't know how to live without her.
"Why is he so confusing?" I ask quietly.
"What idiot would quit football in their senior year?!" William roars, slamming his fist against the table.
"Why does it matter?" Brandon calmly interjects. "In a few months, I'll just be enrolled in the military."
"I was the best damn starting quarterback in the state, and now I oversee three successful law firms. Football builds character." William argues, hitting the table.
"Well, I've been busy with other things."
Brandon looks away from his father with a disappointed expression. His fingers tap against the table as his gaze pierces into the mahogany.
"What could be more important than building lasting relationships and learning how to be a real man." William broadcasts, unable to read his son.
"I've been spending my free period helping Mrs. Hubbard with her students," Brandon says, avoiding eye contact with his dad.
Mr. Lockwood stares intensely at his son in disapproval. "I allow you too many luxuries to waste it doing someone else's fucking job!"
"Dad," Brandon falters, "I'm teaching kids with learning disabilities basic skills so they can survive in the world."
William stares into space for a moment, lost in thought. "You went from being a civil servant to teaching a class of dumbass kids. You really disappoint me."
Our introspective glances fall solemnly until our youthful eyes connect with a harsh reality. Evelyn watches us silently, piercing the veil and reading the room. Her hand reaches for my shoulder as my lips remain bolted shut.
"Apologize," Brandon mutters.
"Will, this has gone on long enough apologize to your son." Evelyn declares.
"For what?" William scoffs. "For talking about a bunch of dumbasses that'll never be anything but a fry cook."
"Being a man isn't about stepping over people weaker than you. Now apologize." Brandon puts both his elbows on the table, glaring straight at his father.
William shoves his finger in Brandon's face. "If you insist on dragging yourself down to the same level as those idiots, then you will never be a man."
"I'll never be a man, huh?" Brandon asks sarcastically. "You mean I'll never be a man like Donovan?"
"Don't you say another damn word about John's boy? I'm sick of you blaming your faults on him." William says, pointing his index finger in Brandon's face.
He rubs his face. "What you should be sick of is how you broke the law to save your own ass?"
"I did it to save my son's future!" William yells, standing up from his chair.
"If you got rid of Donovan's truck to save me, then why is John investing twenty percent more into all your law firms?"
"If you want to be a spoiled brat, then you can do it with your girlfriend's family on the streets." He yells.
"Dad, this is your last chance to apologize."
William sighs deeply, expressing his frustration as he stares at me. "Sorry, sweetheart, maybe next time I ask my son to get rid of the trash, he won't bring it to my doorstep."
"Are you sure about that?" Brandon fumes, "Because my testimony will bring hell to your doorstep."
"You would betray your father over another one of your sluts!"
"I wouldn't be betraying my father; I'd be betraying the devil." He curses, breaking away from their heated discussion as he storms across the dining room.
Brandon pulls me closer to him, closing the space between us. Before I can find the nerve to utter a single word, he holds my face in the palm of his hands. After stargazing into his intense eyes, Brandon presses his soft lips against mine and passionately kisses me. When our lips linger on each other for what feels like an eternity and a day, Brandon's the first to pull away. He searches my eyes for some time before he wraps his muscular arms around my waist, speaking softly into my ear.
"Why did you have to make things so complicated?" Brandon mutters in a deep voice.
"I'm sorry about your dad," I confess.
For a moment Brandon laughs genuinely into my ear. "That's not what I meant." He dismisses, "I'll always protect you, even if it's from my dad."
"Why?" I ask with tears in my eyes.
"Because I love you."
While his father remains stunned in anger, Brandon hugs his mother and kisses her on the cheek. "Don't be a stranger." She chuckles, softly slapping his face.
"I promise I won't keep you out of the loop anymore."
"I'm proud of the man you're becoming," Evelyn says, embracing her son. "I always have been, but if I have to find out about your life in an argument, I'm burying you next to your brother."
"But I don't have a brother," Brandon says in confusion.
"That's what you think." Evelyn hugs him aggressively. "He disappointed me, and now he's sleeping softly."
"That's a beautiful way of describing murder."
Brandon turns away from his mother with wide eyes as he grabs our matching suitcases. I instinctively follow him to the door, ready to get off this emotional rollercoaster. No one ever said meeting the Lockwood would torment my emotions like one of Adele's albums. Then again, I should have seen it coming with their extremely confusing offspring.
With haste, Brandon opens the front door, giving his mother a final longing glance before he walks outside. I rub the back of my head, searching for the proper words to express my gratitude. If it weren't for Evelyn, Brandon would have turned out a completely different person. The Perfect Pretender would no longer be a facade but a reality. I want to thank her, but I dont want to say something stupid.
What if I say the wrong thing, and it further separates me from Evelyn? Then I'll always be an idiot in her eyes, and the chasm between us will only worsen.
Before I can say anything, Evelyn beats me to the punchline. "It looks like those clouds are starting to clear up."
"Yeah, sunny skies and not a drop of rain in sight." I motion towards my face.
Evelyn opens her arms and gives me a tight squeeze. "You better take good care of him. I'd hate to bury you next to Cindy." Evelyn says, holding my shoulders.
"I won't even ask who that is."
Oddly, we share a smile that speaks to a warm future ahead. The path may be uncertain, but at least the person with the same striking blue eyes as Brandon doesn't hate me. As for William Lockwood, as I walk towards the elevator where his son is standing, I realize we may never understand each other. But Brandon will always be the better version of his father.
He presses the button for the lobby. "Going down?"
"And then back up and down again." I roll my eyes.
"I already talked to the police." Brandon falters. "They're waiting for my statement in Dodge City."
I drop my purse, rushing into Brandon's arms. His vision focuses on the sliding doors as his fist clenches shut. The elevator closes, and Brandon breaks down in an ocean of tears. I can feel his anger each time his fists pound into the steel.
Finally, I push him against the rail until he stumbles to the floor. His fingers ruffle through his hair while he relives his disagreement with his father. This was the last breakfast they'll have together as a family. After this encounter William will likely be brought up on charges, and Brandon will have to testify against him.
Authors Note
It's the beginning of the end!
I never intended for this book to exceed twenty chapters. I only wanted to show a different perspective that's closer to some of my experiences. There definitely is room for a sequel and I'm not denying it.
At this moment, I'm focusing on this epic Fantasy novel with Science Fiction elements called, The Gilded Throne. I've been working on this idea for years now.
Similarly, when I decided to write The Last Black Unicorn it was supposed to be a short, fun book. I had just experienced a devastating realization with my first novel called, Amidst Crimson Kisses. It was complete trash.
I wanted to have fun writing again, but I just kept second guessing myself. I will say that writing Ebony's tale was a very exciting point in my life. I wrote something and I smiled again. I'll never forget that and I also cried.
I was in Learning Strategies, but I got out of the program in my senior year. I graduated with an honor cord around my neck and I couldn't have done any of it without God. Thank you guys for listening to Ebony's story and thanks for not judging either of us!