Bitter Roots

Chapter 8

Grace and Jacob sat like statues on their father's couch. Like her mother, Grace held her breath, and the tension in her soul pulled at her nerves, overstretching each one until each nerve felt like it was breaking.

Jacob didn't know how to act. Seeing his father kissing the lips of another woman and telling her he loved her was too much for him. He pressed his feet into the wooden floor and gripped the game in his hands. He was losing more respect for his dad. Jacob wanted to use his love, like a net, to catch his father's loyalty for his family, but he didn't know how.

Appearing before Jacob, Jezebel sang, "Hey baby, can I get you something to drink?"

"No," he replied softly. Jezebel turned her head and asked Grace the same thing.

"What about you Nikki?"

Grace snapped, "Don't call me that. Only certain people can call me that." Jezebel released a fake sign as though she were an innocent dog being mishandled.

She used her long fingers to brush hair from her eyes. "I'm sorry, your dad said you liked to be called by your middle name."

Looking the woman straight in her eyes, Grace said sternly, "Like I said, only certain people can call me that and you're not one of them." Michael took giant steps to stand next to Jezebel.

"Ok now," he chimed in trying to stop any argument from arising.

"Honey, I was only trying to be nice," Jezebel whined like a hurt pup. Michael lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them. Jezebel smiled and told him she'd just go and finish up dinner.

He sat in the middle of his children. Grace crossed her hands. Jacob's face wore a frown.

"Let's just have a good time," Michael suggested.

"Well, tell her to stay away from me," Grace answered evenly, but firmly and Jezebel heard her.

"This ain't gonna work," Jacob complained.

Placing his arm around Jacob, Michael said, "We have to work together."

Not liking Michael's intimacy with his kids, Jezebel moved quickly in the kitchen. She felt perspiration on her face. She clenched her teeth. "Dinner is ready," she called out. It don't even smell anything, Grace thought. I ain't eating your crappy food.

They all sat at the table and Jacob and Grace stared at the table in disbelief. They couldn't believe that Jezebel was calling that white, bland chicken with soggy rice dinner. Gross, the siblings thought.

"I'm not hungry," Grace lied and removed herself from the table. She wanted to be alone. "Dad, there's only two rooms...me and Jacob have to share room?"

"Yes." Michael didn't like how things were turning out.

"I'm calling mom to pick me up. I'm not sharing a room."

"Me either, " Jacob jumped in.

"Ungrateful!" Jezebel said angrily. Yep beast. Show your true colors. Trying to act all nice, Grace said within.

Michael stood up, "Come on. I miss you two. We can make this work."

"Get rid of that woman and let's make our family work!" Grace screamed. Michael moved closer to her to calm her down.
"Don't touch me! You allowed her to destroy our family and I hate you for that!"

"Calm down," Jezebel snapped, still sitting, eating her food. I can't wait for these brats to leave.

"Don't ever tell me what to do!" Grace yelled. "You ugly witch!" She decided to call LaToya at that point.

LaToya heard the raucous and had an idea of what was going on. "Grace, what's going on?"

"I ain't staying here."

Running her hand through her hair, LaToya asked to speak to Michael. Grace handed him the phone. "Mom wants to talk to you."

"Hello," he said.

"Michael, what's going on?" He walked toward the sliding door to talk to LaToya.

"That's right. Go talk to your wife in private," Grace said rolling her eyes at Jezebel.

"Grace doesn't want to share room."

"Lord. I know them...They were trying to be mature about this whole thing, but..." LaToya went quiet.

"What should I do?" He asked her.

"Ask them if they want to come home." Michael turned and asked his children that question and his heart sank to the bottom of the ocean when they both replied, "Yes." And Jezebel's face beamed with joy. She had Michael all to herself and she was glad about that.