Living with the drama

Trying to mend broken pieces

Goldie knocks on James' bedroom door
He answers
"Hey Goldie" He sighs
"Can we talk?" She asks
He nods and let's her in
"I talked to Toni the other day...I think you should try again with talking to her" She suggests
"She not going to forgive me" He sighs
"I think she will. She forgave me." Goldie tells him
"Yeah but you didn't mess up as bad as I have"
"WHO says I haven't?"
"What do you mean?" He asks
"Well I have messed up really bad before but I didn't give up to regain her trust back. I think
You shouldn't give up either. Talk to her for me" she hugs him and leaves
Next day at the "Tree house"
James goes inside with Goldie and Valeri
Toni is waitressing
"You think she really going to talk to me?" James asks
Goldie nods
"We just need to get her to take our order and boom YALL can talk" Goldie tells him
Goldie calls over Ms.May and asks her to have Toni take their order
Toni comes over not paying attention who is sitting down
"Welcome to the Treehouse. We have signature burgers and salads. How May I help you guys today?" She greets them
"I'll have the 'Best friend Meal' with a sprite" Goldie tells her
"I want the same thing as her" Valeri says
"And for you—" Toni looks up
"Hey..." James waves
She gives him a death stare
"Goldie and ValVal! I didn't see y'all there. I'll make sure I get y'all orders ready"
"Wait you have to take His too" Goldie tells her
Toni sighs
"Fine. What do you want? You want the 'Cheater meal'? Or the 'Trifling Ex' meal? Oh and here's my favorite one...the 'we are never ever ever getting back together' meal named after the Taylor Swift song." Toni says sarcastically
James clears his throat
"I would like the apology meal with a water" James frowns
"Ok...coming right up" Toni walks away
"Well that could have went way worst" Goldie smiles awkwardly
"Yeah you really need to never ever mess this up again or next time I'm going to jump you" Valeri threatens him
"I won't! I promise I won't" James promises
"Good." Valeri looks at the menu
30 minutes later
Toni arrives with everyone's food and drinks
"I hope y'all like the food" Toni smiles
"Wait...when do you get off?" James asks
"At 2:30 why?" She asks
"Can we possibly talk? Please" He pleads
She nods and leaves
2:30 hits and they sit in her car
"I know I say sorry all the time"
"Yeah. You do" Toni snaps a little
"I know me saying it again isn't going to make a difference..."
"You know...I let you sleeping with Tamika the first time slide cause I get it she still has a place In your heart. It's hard to commit to someone else so quickly. I might have gotten over you doing it again. But Goldie? Goldie is the one who introduced us. Goldie is the one who was Team Us and you slept with her"
"It was only once" James tells her
"Whether it was once, twice, for a few seconds, or few minutes, it shouldn't had happened at all. How can I trust you when you never tell me the full truth. What's going to happen next? I find out you got someone pregnant? Are you going to do this when we get married like how am I supposed to trust you like that" Toni asks
"Let me show you. That's all I can do is show you that I'm not that same boy you were dating years ago."
"One more chance. ONLY ONE. If you mess up again. Don't ever speak to me again" Toni warns him
"Does this mean the wedding is back on?" He asks
"Yeah..." She smiles
He puts back on her engagement ring and they leave for the house
At Charles' and Sara's house
Kate knocks on Charles' office door
"Hi dad" Kate says
"Hello, Katherine" He keeps his eyes on the papers
"I know you are mad at me from last year but can we just talk it out" Kate asks
"Katherine, all I ever asked was for you to tell me the truth" Charles puts down his glasses
"That's the thing dad. I couldn't tell you the truth"
Kate sits on a chair
"When I first brought Mindy around you, you said I shouldn't hang out with her as much because her lesbianism may rub off on me"
"I was joking"
"Well it wasn't funny to Mindy. Dad, you always had this picture perfect idea that I'll be dating a wealthy man. Keyword... man. You never opened up the possibility of change."
"I'm sorry. I just don't want you to struggle like I had to. I want you to marry for love more than anything just like me and your mom " he explains to her
Kate chuckles
"Mom married you for money. Dani married you for love. I want to be like Ms.Dani. Unlike y'all she is kind and she treats me like I'm her own without judgement. I came here to mend everything but more so to tell you that I will be seeing Mindy more and if you aren't happy with that picture then don't be my father"
She gets up and leaves
Travis knocks on the back door
Valeri comes to the back door
"What are you doing here?" Valeri asks
"I want to see him" Travis replies
"No. Where were you when I was high risk with him? Why now?" She asks
"You know your father wouldn't let me see you" he responds
"It's not a valid excuse Travis."
Their son starts to cry
"I have to go"
"Valeri!" He yells
She leaves
10 minutes later
Charles knocks on Kate's door
"It's open" Valeri yells
He comes in
"Valeri do you mind if I talk to Kate for a minute?" He asks
"No. She stays." Kate tells him
"No I can go." Valeri attests
"No. You're staying. Whatever he wants to say, he can say to me in front of you"
"I want to say I'm sorry Kate" he tells her
"For what?" She asks
"For the dinner last year and my behavior from then on" he replies
"Ok"
"I also want to Apologize to Mindy if she would let me"
"She's not. I won't allow that" she informs him
"What can I do?" He asks
"Call her yourself and ask her for dinner." She tells him
"Fine. I will"
He starts walking away
"Umm you are forgetting someone"
"Who?" He asks
"You need to apologize to Val and Little TJ" Kate tells him
"Why?" He asks
"You haven't talked to her. You act as they don't exist"
" Well I don't think I need to"
"It's fine Kate. I'm use to him making me seem nonexistent." She sighs
"I just feel bad that your grandson has a horrible grandfather"
Valeri leaves and Kate chases after her
Valeri starts packing her stuff
"Where are you going?" Kate asks
"I'm leaving"
"Don't go Val. Dad is just a stubborn man. Talk to him" she tries persuading her
"Kate, there's no more talking. I gave him chance after chance. You heard him he feels he shouldn't apologize. I can settle with the disrespect but not TJ. TJ is not the one who disobeyed our father's rules. I did. So I think it's best I go so dad can have his perfect family"
Valeri picks up a sleepy TJ and leaves
Kate storms into the office
"If Val or TJ gets hurt. I will personally make sure you regret ever being my father" Kate warns Charles and leaves
"What did you do?" Sara asks
"Nothing. Valeri left with TJ." He informs her
"What! What did you do" she pushes him
"Kate wanted me to apologize I refused to." He told her
"As much as I hate Val's choice in lovers...I wouldn't chase her away or Little TJ. I thought you of all people would love TJ since he's named after your father"
"What do you mean?" He asks
"TJ stands for Thomas Joseph after your dad... what did you think it stood for?" Sara asks
"Something else" he shrugs
"I think you should find out where she went so she's safe" Sara suggests
Charles gets on the phone and makes some calls
At Toni's house
Valeri knocks on her door
"It's open" Toni yells
Valeri comes in
"Thanks again for letting me stay here. I'll be out before you and my brother move in here" Valeri tells her
"Stay here as long as you like. Me and James actually will be moving somewhere close to your parents after we get married. I actually was going to sell it at first but you can use it." Toni says
"I was goin to call Travis but I don't know if I want to go stay with him"
"It's understandable"
Toni's phone rings
"Hello" she answers
"Is Valeri there" Kate asks
"Yeah. Her and TJ"
"Good. I was worried. I'll be over there tomorrow. Thanks Toni"
"It's not a problem. Y'all are my family."
She hangs up
"I'm about to head to bed but there's food in the fridge. Take my car if you need anything. Good night" she tells her before leaving