Broken Family Ties excerpt:

Hurricane Alicia Brooks

Grandma never left the table. She was clutching the seventh picture to her heart. Her mason jar of ice water was half empty. Charles was sitting by her side.

In true form, Grandma Alicia began speaking as if the fight witnessed had never occurred. "This picture here is of Carl and Charles' father. That Jezebel of a momma of yours cheated on Mr. Grover twice. Your momma liked weak men like her Daddy here," she said pointing nonchalantly to Grandpa Henry. "He kept forgiving her over and over until you were born Charles."

Charles said nothing. He looked straight ahead. His focus intense.

"That's what broke his spirit. He knew there was no way you could have been his Charles. He suffered a hernia and was told he could father no more children shortly after his one child he bore with your momma. Caroline is the only child that Kevin and Ann had together. You other two are her dirty little secrets, bastards actually," she said.

Caroline was visibly relieved to find Kevin was in fact her biological parent. She breathed a sigh of relief. "So Grandma is the money mine? Is that what this is leading up to? There is some sort of clause to reveal who their real father is upon our parent's death? You didn't know how to tell Carl and Charles?" she asked.

"Unbelievable, you are truly ill in the head. After all I have tried to do for you! After the talk we've had not five minutes ago! All you can think about is money. Would you really let Charles and I finned for ourselves! Caroline, how do we know any of what she is saying is true ," Carl's said staring at his sister. "Already you are turning on us, what the hell," he screamed.

Grandpa was standing behind him as if he was a fragile piece of China about to crumble to the floor. He was not about to let that happen. Carl refused to give them the satisfaction of watching him crumble up and die.

Carl and Caroline had been asking for years what had happened in New York. Their ears became radars. It was finally about to be revealed. Carl couldn't stop himself from interrupting.

Grandma stood up swiftly. "I am tired. We will finish this tomorrow. Goodnight Miss Grover. Goodnight to the young Misters Smith." She strutted away from the table with her head held high like a peacock.

"Hold the hell up, old lady. This was never in the plan. You told me that my dad was this Kevin Grover person," Charles said. "You are lying, he is probably both are dads. I told your crazy old ass, I don't trust the living and walk careful around the dead. Did you think I was excluding you?"

Charles was in her face. Spit flying out of his mouth. His hands balled into fists. "I don't think you want to walk away from this right now. You may want to double check your facts. Sit down before I sit you down!"

Not a tear fell down Charles' cheek. His eyes turned bloodshot red. He seemed to have grown five inches overnight and there had been a rage never seen nor heard exuding from him.
Caroline and Carl sat and stared at their little brother. Grandpa's lack of reaction was even more frightening. He did not pray, he did not speak, he did not move. The tension inside was threatening to blow the roof sky high.

Grandma Alicia stood frozen in time. Charles was in a demonic trance with a killer grip on her wrists. Their arms trembling, suspended in mid air. Grandma's trembling caused by fear. Charles', pure uninhibited hate, and the desire to do bodily harm.

Finally Grandpa stood in place at the table. He walked toward Charles slowly. He got down on bended knee. He was eye level with Charles. Grandpa placed a hand on each of Charles' shoulders. He waited until Charles' grip on Grandma was subsiding. He quickly stood, picked Charles up and slammed him center of the table.

"Boy I heard more than I care to hear about the goings on of you and your Grandmother. Your Momma knew you would all go crazy. She voided all that mess you been reading. The last will and testament is locked in the vault at the bank. Only the Manager and I have a key. This madness is going to end tonight," Grandpa said.

"Alicia sit your behind down and tell this boy who his father is! Charles I think the real demon lives inside of you. Take your butt to my seat and think about your actions. What were you going to do, kill your own grandmother! None of you kids asked for this. It's the hand you were dealt." Grandpa continued shouting, "What in God's name is wrong with you?" Caroline, you are unusually quiet so I can just about figure you know more than you're letting on. Carl, you are a good man, you deserve better. God got good things planned for you. Charles, I will continue to pray for your soul, I will rebuke the devil in the name of the Lord."

Caroline and Carl hadn't moved. Charles was seated at the end of the table. Grandma was at the other end.

Tears flowed steadily down Grandma's face. She didn't bother to wipe the tears away.

The tables had turned and Grandpa had the upper hand. He began to finish the story. "I am going to go around this table with pure facts. I will start from the oldest and work my way down to the youngest. I will not be interrupted. If you have questions you will wait until I have told your whole story."

Grandpa exited the dining room. He was absent from the table a half hour. Everyone waited. No one spoke. No one made eye contact.

He returned with a serving tray filled with a pitcher of ice tea, lemon slices, and bucket of ice, sugar cubes, butter cookies and two stacks of napkins.

"Okay Alicia, I guess I got to clean up your mess again." Grandpa started to speak matter-of-fact