S1. E2. - Sister Secrets
Genie inadvertently lets Honey
in on a secret. One so important that she will kill to protect it.
It's been two days since Dana broke the news to her
family that she's going to federal prison. The 3 a.m. meeting left everyone devastated
and confused. She's been locked in her room refusing to see or speak to anyone.
This silent approach was not like open, honest Dana. Keeping the details of her
situation from her family was hurting them. She felt bad about that but it was
necessary so they would just have to understand.
Her husband, Henry, didn't get to the bottom of
things like he promised his children. He asked no questions. He simply packed a
suitcase and left the second he made it to their bedroom. Henry wanted to
"giver her space" he said. Dana knew better than that though. She
shook her head as she stared out her bedroom window into the dark, early
morning sky. After over 40 years of marriage she knew Henry well enough to know
that he was out chasing women. Instead of staying home to be that man that his
wife needed him to be he was looking for comfort in the arms of a high paid
prostitute.
The sun began to peek up over the horizon. Dana
smiled. For the first time she didn't miss Henry. Her heart wasn't shattered
into a million pieces. Her entire life had been built around the love of Henry
Cooper. Everything she was most proud of was created with him or for him.
That's just what being a wife was all about. Now that she was facing prison
time alone, that love doesn't seem to mean as much anymore. She was enjoying
the peace and solitude that she would have before going away. "Thank you,
Father," she whispered.
Dana sat down in the large oak rocking chair she
kept by her window. She slid on her reading glasses and picked up her Bible
from the side table. Dana began to read her favorite book, Job. This was her go
to scripture when things got stressful. Reading about Job's undying faith
through times of tragedy always put things in perspective for Dana.
A few sentences in Dana's telephone began to ring.
She ignored it and put her attention back on her book. The caller eventually
hung up but a few seconds later her cellphone began to ring. She ignored it,
too and finished reading.
~
"I don't know what your problem is but you need
to get it together fast! You've always been selfish but this! I mean, this is
just crazy! I swear to God you got ten minutes to call me back then I'm coming
over there! No more hiding I'll be at your door!" Genie tapped end and
threw her cellphone on the bed. "Oh, my God I hater her!" she
screamed and paced back and forth. She was fed up with Dana. What type of
mother just blurts out "I'm going to jail" and runs off? No
explanation. No nothing.
"Give her time, Genie. You gotta calm
down," Honey said.
Genie ignored her comment. "What the fuck did
she do? Huh?! What she do, Honey?!"
Honey shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know
but that's not important right now. What we need to be focused on is how we can
be there and support her. Genie, think about how she's feeling."
"Ugh!" Genie threw her hands up in
frustration and plopped down on the bed next to her sister. She let out a deep
sigh. "How can we support somebody who won't even answer your damn phone
calls?" Suddenly her voice was soft and childlike. She looked over at
Honey and searched her eyes for an answer.
Honey was caught off guard at Genie's sudden
vulnerability so it took her a few seconds to respond. "I guess we just pray
for her until she does."
To Honey's surprise Genie bowed her head and extended
her hand to her. Honey slowly reached out and took it. She closed her eyes
bowed her head and began to pray.
"Father, I come to you asking that
you protect my family. I pray that you open mom's heart so she can talk to
us..."
As Honey continued to pray Genie became overwhelmed
with emotions. Emotions that she had kept buried for years. Love, sadness,
fear. Her mother's face entered her mind. There's
no way she can make it in there, she thought. For the first time since she
was a little girl, Genie was worried about her mother. Scared for her...
because she loved her.
Honey went on to say:
"We may not be perfect, Lord but
we're yours. So please, please help us."
"Please," Genie said. Moisture formed in
the corner of her eyes. She held her breath in an attempt to stop tears from
flowing but it was no use. She began to sob.
Honey snatched her hand away. "Oh my God!
Genie, are you crying? Girl, I ain't never seen you cry before." She
rubbed Genie's back.
"I don't know what's going on with me. This shit
with Ma is driving me crazy."
"Aw, Genie... Genie, Ma gon' be alright."
"I'm so pissed right now!"
Honey gave her sister's back one last rub then got
up. "Let me get you some tissue."
Genie jumped up and got in Honey's face. "I
don't need you to get nothing for me! Get out!" She shoved Honey with
every bit of strength within her.
Honey fell backwards against the wall. "What
the hell, Genie!"
Genie grabbed Honey by the throat with one hand and
had a fist full of her hair in the other. She squeezed Honey's throat cutting
off her airway. "If you tell anybody you saw me cry today the whole world
will know about what happened in Detroit... And I'll kill you. You
understand?"
Honey who had been paralyzed in fear, nodded as
best she could while fighting to breathe.
Genie sustained her grip. "I'm not playing
with you. You will die... I'll kill you. I've done the shit before."
Honey's eyes bulged. Genie had to be lying.
"You're my baby sister and you know how much I
love you, but I won't let you make me look weak." She slowly released
Honey. "Now get out."
Honey snatched up her purse and keys from the bed
and ran out of the house.
Genie stormed into her master bathroom and got her
Feel Good Pills from the medicine cabinet. She went downstairs to the kitchen.
As she began to fill a glass with water from the sink her doorbell rang. Genie
placed the glass on the counter and headed for the door. She swung it open
ready to commit a homicide by tongue on the uninvited guest. A gasp escaped her
lips at the sight of Dana.
"Hey, Genie," she said cheerfully. Dana's
hair was pulled back in a classy chignon. There was little makeup on her face.
Just some mascara and a rosy pink gloss. Her flawless skin was the star of the
show today. She was dressed in a pretty floral dress with pink pumps to match.
Sunglasses with gold circular frames shielded her eyes from the sun. In one
hand she held a brown paper bag from The Olive Garden and a bouquet of pink
roses in the other.
"I guess I'll invite myself in," she said
and stepped inside.
Genie closed the door behind her. "I guess
so..."
Dana sat the bag down and handed Genie the flowers.
"For you, my darling." She took off her shades and kept the beaming
smile on her face.
"Thanks." Genie smiled back.
"I got your message," Dana said. She
looked Genie dead in the eye. Suddenly her smile did seem so friendly anymore.
~
Honey got in her mother's car and searched the
glove compartment for some Kleenex. "This bitch is losing her goddamn
mind!" She snatched a couple of tissues from the small, plastic package
and wiped her face. She hadn't been crying but the choking she just endured
made her eyes water.
Honey was upset as she drove away from Genie's
house but she wasn't angry. Seeing Genie cry for the first time broke her
heart. She felt more sorry for her than anything. She now realized just how
serious things were for her family. Honey was a girl that believed the grass
was greener on whichever side she was standing on. God had blessed the Coopers
her entire life. Even through the few bad times they endured, the family always
came out better. They were rich, successful, and respected. From the moment she
knew her mother was going to prison she knew that they would make it through
this just like anything else. Dana being so secretive and Genie falling apart
raised some doubts.
Honey almost fainted when she ran into her mother
on the way out the house. She couldn't believe how fast God had answered her
prayers. Her mother's heart was open and she was ready to talk. Not only that,
the first place she came to was Genie's house. The two of them never got along
so this was a miracle in itself. The only snag in the sweater was her father.
She asked her mom why she hadn't heard from him either. Dana informed her that
he was at the rental. They gave each other the look. Honey knew what that
meant. "He gotta come home. Fuck that, we need him here. He's the only one
that can talk to Genie right now. She's messed up, Ma."
Dana gave Honey her keys and told her to go do what
she had to do. She tried her best not to panic as she drove to her father's
rental home. The family was falling apart and Honey refused to just sit around
and let it happen. She knew that everyone of them needed to quit bitching and
come together. "We gotta focus on the Coopers," she said aloud to
herself.
For twenty minutes Honey drove in silence on the
journey to her destination. She hit the brake and slowed down to exit the
highway. She noticed a silver Chevy Tahoe in her rearview exit the freeway
right behind her. She continued on her way and the truck turned off. Honey let
out a sigh. She was extra paranoid these days. Having the Feds in your business
will certainly do that.
Honey pulled into the circular driveway in front of
her fathers beautiful mansion. She popped the trunk and got out. She pulled out
her brown leather shoulder holster and slipped it on. She pulled her Taurus 945
.45 ACP pistol from its case. Honey looked the gun over and smiled. She had a
beautiful love affair with pistols. It was such a pretty piece of hardware. The
gold accents and Mother of Pearl grip matched perfectly with Honey's
personality and style. "Too bad such a pretty gun is about to start
something so ugly."
Honey tucked the gun in the holster and put on a
denim blazer to cover it. After slamming the trunk of the car closed Honey said
a prayer and approached the front door.
