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Virginia
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In a rental car, Jeff drove recklessly down the curved mountain highway with the windows down and a cigarette between his lips. He was going the wrong way but needed to clear his mind before he reached his destination.
At 9 am, he parked at the gate surrounding a Colonial mansion. Tilting his head back, he gulped the last from a flask he had kept perched on his lap during the drive. He winced at the bitter taste of gin and shut off the engine. He felt more comforting effects of his longtime vice on the walk up the modern paved driveway of his family home.
Shaking his head, Jeff looked out at his family's southern estate and watched the surrounding trees slowly release their dying leaves. They fell like tears upon the red bricks, reviving moisture to his own eyes.
Jeff shook off thoughts of his dead father, and kept his features sharp, occupied with money losses. His Vegas trip had ended in shambles and he cursed the dumb decisions he made. He wasn't a down hard gambler but he sometimes enjoyed the rush of betting and winning.
Jeff looked up when two overly excited maids opened the door of the side entrance. Their welcomed greetings put a youthful smile on his stern face.
"Miss. Marla. Mrs. Lucy," he nodded toward the older women.
"Look at you," Marla beamed, wrapping her arms around his waist, "You should be ashamed," she fussed and playfully hit his hard stomach, "I ain't heard from you in a month, boy. You don't care at all to come see me anymore."
Jeff laughed and swayed the petite, brown-skinned woman in his arms for a moment of peace. Despite his step mother, Marla had been a mother figure since he moved with his father in the summer of 98. She had been his father's mistress until he took his last breath. She loved his father and had served him through two wives.
"Oh I've missed you," she beamed.
Knowing Marla may easily pick up on his strong booze scent, he stepped back
"You know I've been so busy, trying to sort all of this out. When I do, I hope y'all move out to Texas with me. I've got the house ready for you," a satisfied grin crossed his hairy face at being able to take care of her.
Marla shook her head, "Jeff. I can't just up and leave my grandbabies."
"Bring them. Bring all of 'em. Your daughter can work for me. You know I will look out for my brother Derek too."
Even though his dreams were on pause, according to his financial situation, Jeff still felt he could promise the world to his favorite people.
"Lucy," he spoke, "You know that you and your folks are welcomed as weΔΊl. When I get this inheritance settled, I will look out for you both, I promise to God. I-"
Jeff fell short when Marla punched his arm, "Quit swearing, boy."
"Don't you go raise Marla's blood pressure," Lucy teased, and gave him a quick causal hug, "I sure thank you for all you've done, honey."
"Nothing off my back, Lucy." Jeff smiled and rubbed her back, "How's Frank?
"He's weak but he's coming around. Where's Anna?"
"Ah, yes," Marla sounded, "where's my baby?"
Over the few weeks Anna had spent at the house, she had bonded with Marla and Lucy. They shared a dislike of his family and Jeff's reckless flaws over meals in the kitchen.
"She started school last week, so she stayed home. She wants to be a nurse." Jeff rolled his eyes. He smiled when their eyes lit up with excitement, "This was your idea?"
"Sure was," Marla nodded, "She don't want to work for you all her life, and she shouldn't have to. Anna is her own woman."
"She's my property." Jeff smiled.
"Hmph." Marla waved her hand at him, "She'd give you a piece of her mind if she were here. I need her telephone number before you leave so that we can chat."
"Why? So you can egg her on?" Jeff laughed.
"I sure will," Marla laughed and patted his broad shoulder, "I sure miss that sweet girl."
"I do too," Jeff rubbed his hands together, "She keeps me together."
"Someone has to do it, you crazy boy," her worried eyes spoke disappointment, "You smell like a hole in the wall. I sure hope you weren't drinking that mess on the road."
Jeff breathed into his palm, "No. It must have been from last night," he smiled and changed the subject, "Where's my sister?"
"Alicia left early this morning, her husband, too. She sure didn't mention you were coming. Is this another surprise visit to torture that woman?"
"This is my house." Jeff rubbed his jaw, "she's lucky I stepped back."
"You need to get a lawyer and fight her and quit playing these dirty games. The three of you should be ashamed of yourself. I know Alicia is stubborn but I raised Ray better than this. And you, you know how much I love you, boy. But I hate seeing you stooping to her level."
"I don't know if I want it anymore," he sighed, toying with the flask in his pocket, "I do want my money, and I am not leaving without it this time."
"You deserve it all," Marla commented, to which Lucy nodded in agreement, "Carl thought the world of you. He loved you. He wouldn't have wanted you to move back to Texas, knowing all you've been through there."
Jeff nodded and scanned the hallway leading to the main house.
Marla held her hands up to her heart with an idea brewing, "Do you want to walk down and visit him? I put new flowers out just yesterday."
Jeff shook his head from a minor ache and declined the offer, "So, I've got the house to myself then, huh?"
"Kate is around here, somewhere," Lucy spoke with annoyance, "She'll be down here shortly. Requesting a green juice or whatever the hell she drinks to be so skinny."
"She puts Collards in it," Marla added with a frown, "I ain't never heard nobody do that."
The news of Kate's presence in the house piqued his interest enough to turn around, "Is Ray gone?"
"He's at work," Marla answered, "Is Everything okay between you two?"
"Of course. He married my whore, why wouldn't we be best friends, Marla?"
"Jeff," she lightly chastised, "I know you're upset, but be nice."
"It's not even that. It's Anna." Jeff stuck his hand in his pocket and shifted his shoulders, "I hate the way he talks about her. Ray, he doesn't understand. He...."
"I don't understand why. Anna is a sweetheart," Lucy said.
"I shouldn't have...." Jeff paused to grin, "You know what? Marla you're right. I should be nice. I should march upstairs and see if my pretty sister-in-law needs anything."
Marla folded her arms, catching the mischief in his eyes, "Jeffery West Anderson. Don't you do it," she poked at his shoulder with her pointer finger, "No, no. Both You and her are married. No."
"I've missed you, cock blocking. You haven't changed one bit."
"You crazy boy," she hissed, "don't you do nothing with that woman. Anna would have a fit."
"Anna isn't as innocent as she looks. She's hell. I caught her cheating on me last week."
"I don't believe that. She's a good, real good girl. Don't you go breaking her heart, Jeff. Anna doesn't have anybody on her side and you are the only person she can rely on."
"I love her, but trust me," Jeff bitterly chuckled, "Anna is heartless."
Marla continued to rave, but he walked down the hall to his father's office and ignored her following rebuttal. He was only teasing her. He wanted nothing to do with his ex-girl, especially now that she was serving his brother.