Forbidden (A Chris Brown Love Story)

Chapter 13: Mr. & Mrs. Torres?

Charles Torres POV:

It was right after Sunday church service as I sat in my cramped office. Ushers, deacons, and choir members all kept popping in asking for ministry fund tickets and meeting times. My mind was preoccupied by the fact that I didn't see my sugar muffin, Auriella in the pews with her mother today. Trying to focus on the task at hand I took time to review the intake from today's offering and the treasuries current balance. The crimsom walls seemed to be caving in I had so much to think about. I had no idea how repairs for the church would get finished with how slow money was coming in. Before I could too deep into my thoughts I heard two faint knocks at my door. The walls reexpanded seeming even brighter as Katyana appeared from behind the door.

"Hey Pastor," she joked, the unusually makeupless face of hers curved its lips. It was the first time I'd seen her smile all day. I watched her earlier as I preached she seemed lifeless and out of it. After she took a seat in front of me I could see by the bags under her eyes. There was no way she had slept at all the night before. That's when I remembered something else strange from the service: my soon to be son in law, Deacon Terrence hadn't attended church with her either.

"Did Terrence take Auriella out of town yesterday? Is that why you look like you haven't slept all night? You miss them?" Something in her expression told me I was only understanding half her mood. "Oh and can you tell Terrence when he gets home that he needs to order more hardcover bibles for that back pews?" A nerve of anger struck through her when I said that.

"Daamnn," she hit the table arching her thick eyebrows. "Not even a Hi, Katy? Or a how did today's message make me feel? Or just a simple How are you?"

I wasn't quite sure why my statements bothered her so much. Her tan, pale face seemed to red as the walls. "Don't you raise your voice at me in my office!" I hit my desk just as hard as she did. She breathed in heavily as if trying to control her anger.

"You got to be kidding me," she mumbled throwing her hands up. "Why is everything always about this damn church for Christ sakes? Why instead of just always talking and assuming do you just ask me things?" Each question hurt me a little more. Was I really neglecting her feelings like she claimed? I stood up church robe and all and encased my daughter in a hug.

"What's wrong, princess? Enough about my worries tell me what's on your mind."

Melvin's POV:

I sat at my mothers grave site by myself like always, reading the engravings on her tombstone: 'Katherine Torres'. I missed her so much. A tear rolled down my chilled face as I placed the bouquet of roses in the grass. I looked up to God prayed for some kind of comfort. There was just so much I wanted to talk to her about: the new house with Ari qnd Katy, Chris coming back around, and the lil boo I met at the club last night. My father never accepted me for being gay but my mother she always did. All I wanted to do was tell her how much fun I had last night and how it was the first time I really enjoyed myself since she had passed but I was really alone this morning. My sister went to that corrupted church, my niece is all the way across the country, and the only other person I would've turned to, my mother, was long gone. An allergic reaction that's how she died... She was part of the one unlucky percent that have deadly reactions to medication. I knew that was why Katy was so concerned when she found out the reason why Ari was hospitalized she didn't want to go through the same loss twice

Katyana's POV:

What's wrong? What's on my mind? How could I be mad at my dad for not asking those questions when I barely knew how to answer them. I couldn't tell him the truth either about that day Terrence grabbed me up by my wrist and how he smacked me yesterday. He is just about ready for me to marry that man and would claim that all we needs is some counseling. The truth is I'm actually starting to see a different man from who I fell in love at church after our eyes met grabbing the same hymn book. Remembering that I never thought I would actually be scared of the person I slept next to you especially not him.

Then there was the other issue of me missing my daughter and wondering how I was going tell my father that Auriella is with her "father" right now. My dad never questioned me after I got out of high school so when Ari was born and I kept tbe father a secret he respected my wishes. He actually helped raise her up until I moved out with Melvin. Also he never particularly liked Chris to begin with so, the idea that I raised our daughter on my own for almost six years won't help him grow fond of Christopher either.

All these things roamed through my head as I jogged around the corner to meet my brother. It was right after church so I knew he was at our mom's grave sight; a place my father actually felt too guilty to visit. Melvin didn't know I was coming and after that heated argument with our father I knew it would cheer him and I up. With my mother was the perfect place. And by the time I got actoss the field to her tomb it seemed that Melvin knew that fact too he was knocked out right in front of her stone. I shook him, his eyes opened and all he could do was grab me down into a hug. I began to cry too and  for a split second I could hear my mother whisper "I love you both very much." I looked at my brother who seemed like he heard her too and we only cried more saying aloud at once "I love you too Mom."