The Preachas Son

Secrets

Jamal sat at the table confused ….. why was there like 6 seats and it was only the three of them???  Jamal felt a trap coming on …. And he knew Marcus and them was behind it….. just he didn’t know what “it” was …… He decided to call Deuce one last time …. He pressed the speed dial and let it ring …. 
He thought it was strange that he heard the ringer Deuce gave him …… Kim Possible … and before he knew it …. He walked over ….. “OH MY GOD!!!! DUECE???” Jamal screamed as he hugged him …. “Not so tight shawdi ….”  Deuce smiled as he hugged back ….. “Um is that all you see???” Jay and Q asked as they took their seats at the table …… Jamal couldn’t believe it ….. everyone that he cared about .. his family …. Was there … 
“I knew you was up to something … both of you ….. I been calling and none of yall would answer … I just …… Thank you ….” Jamal said as Marcus and Akeem took their seats along with Berry ….. “Dude you are so emo at times ….. but we love you …..”  Akeem said ….. Everyone laughed as the waiter came and took their orders ….. Jamal couldn’t believe his luck …. For once .. everything was right ….. He didn’t notice the quick glances between Jay Deuce and Berry ……
As they ate, the story came out about how they got down to Miami …… and then of course everyone started telling funny stories about Jamal ….. Jamal didn’t appreciate that too much …. But he enjoyed seeing everyone have a good time ….. when the cake was brought out and the staff sang … he thought the evening was over …. “Gift time!!”  Marcus yelled … Jamal looked around as everyone pulled out gifts form under their seats ….
“Oh no … yall didn’t have to …. I’m …”  “Shut it lil cuz ….” Berry spoke up …… “well we all know how special you are ….. everyone here can kinda say why …. But me and you go back to when I used to lock u in the closet back in the day …..”  He laughed …..alone …. “ Well … I know you bout to get your grown man on … so I just wanted to help you along the way ….” Jamal took the bag and saw the new Blackberry storm …. “Wow … I … I don’t know what to say …”  Jamal said as he hugged Berry …… “Just say that no matter what .. you will always love your family ….”
“Well we next then ….”  Marcus stood up with Akeem ….. “Jamal .. you have …”  Akeem cut Marcus off …. “Lemme get this bae ….” He said …. “Jamal ….. from the start you have been nothing but good to Marcus and I ….. and to my boy Kevin …. I knew you was special when we first hung out ….. but I never thought that I would learn anything from you … In your own way .. you taught me that no matter what .. Love conquers all ….. and I wanna thank you for showing Marcus and I what real love is ….. I know we bout to go our separate ways, but no matter what … no matter how famous or rich we get …. Jamal you will always be a part of us ….. We love you man ….”  Akeem ended and Marcus looked surprised …..
“I can’t even get a speech like that …”  He hugged Jamal and Akeem …. They handed him a bag with some clothes from Up Against the Wall ….. “I guess you trying to get me to dress more urban ….. still …”  everyone laughed as Jamal took his gifts …… “Well I guess its our turn ….” Jay started … Q came and stood beside him …. “We are family … and sometimes .. the tings family does isn’t understandable at first … but know we always have the best of intentions …..”  Jay continued ….. “What he’s trying to say is …” Q continued …. “Family is the most important thing …. Especially in this life .. Jay and I wished we had support while we was ur age …. But that’s not important now … We are here for you … always will be ….”
Jamal fought back tears ….. as they handed him an envelope …. Jamal looked at it and opened it … It was the title to a 2005 Jeep …. “Your Jeep Q???”  Jamal asked …. “Well its yours now …. We don’t need so many cars ….. Your parents agree that you could have it … so Happy Birthday Jamal ….” Jay said ….. “As soon as you get back …. Its yours ….”  Q said as he hugged Jamal also ……
That left Deuce ….. All eyes focused on him ….. “Wow bae … you have great family and friends …. They love you so much ….. and they should … you are a special kid .. I mean man ….. and I don’t deserve to even have you in my own life ….. but I do …. For a reason …..for what I believe is a lifetime … but I have to be honest with you … I have to tell you …”  Jay stopped him …. “Everyone knows you love him ….” He interrupted giving him a look …. “Let the man finish Jay ….” Q said ….
“Um … well that what I wanted to say ….. Jamal … you are the best thing that ever happened to me … and” he continued as he reached in his pocket …. “I know you are about to graduate …. But I will always care for you ….always in my heart …..”  Everyone gasped as he pulled out a box with a ring and chain ….. “I …. I …uh I don’t know what to say ……” Jamal stammered as he started to cry …… “Don’t say a word … Just the smile on your face is what I need …” he said as they hugged and kissed ….. “Awwww ….”  Everyone chimed in …… Jamal blushed as everyone clapped ….. “Thank yall soo much ….” He said …..  
After dinner everyone was walking toward the car … They decided to walk on the beach before taking Jamal, Akeem, and Marcus back to the hotel …. Berry of course went his own way …. “Y you so quiet Deuce??? “  Jamal asked as they walked along the beach ….. “Sorry Shawdi …. Just a lot on my mind … Did u enjoy the night???” He asked trying not to think about T.O.N.Y(Solange song) ….. “Deuce …. You guys have made my birthday the best ever .. I just don’t even know what to say …..”
Jamal thought about the evening …. And it finally hit him …. He stared at Deuce ….. and he knew in that moment … he was in love ….. “Wat??”  Deuce asked …. “nothing …. Just tired I guess …. So you gonna come hear me sing at the talent show tomorrow???” Jamal asked …. “You kno it eagle tren …. I mean Jamal ….” Deuce laughed …..  “I .. I gotta tell you something tho Jamal …. Its really important ….” Deuce grabbed Jamal’s hand ….
“What is it??”  Jamal asked ….unsure of what Deuce had to tell him …. But anxious …. It didn’t matter … He was in love … again….. but this time …. It was with someone who cared about him ….. Deuce started ….. but looking in his eyes … he couldn’t break his heart …. “Um … I just wanted to tell you that I was looking at going back to school …”  Deuce smiled ….. he lied .. again …
“That’s great Deuce …. Get out and do something …..”  Jamal smiled … he couldn’t believe he had it all ….. Life couldn’t get any better …. 
*back in Virginia*
“Uh .. Walter … Sugar … I … I didn’t see you there ….”  Rev. Brown stammered …. “Well I am and I heard …. Who isn’t my son??? You cheated on me?? On us??? I can’t even believe you Mildred…..”  Dea. Brown punched the wall ….. “NOO…. Its not what you think ….. Walter .. How could you ever think that I would violate the bond we share??? You were the saving grace my life needed …..”  She cried as she spoke ….. remembering things that happened long ago …..
“Then what??? I’m confused .. on the phone you said to someone that one of our children … wasn’t mine” Rev. Brown paused and spoke not wanting to look at her husband …. “Remember when you met me …. It was at the single’s ministry meet and greet ….. and … when we saw each other, we both knew that God has meant for us to be together??” Rev. Brown continued … Dea. Brown stared at her with confusion …. “What does this have to do with that conversation??? He asked …. “Well…. I wasn’t fully honest with you about my past then ….. At the time …. I … I wasn’t single …. I was separated from my husband …. Vernon … Vernon Gibson ….”

“We married when I was fresh out of high school ….. and everyday was hell ….”  Rev. Brown continued as the tears flowed from her eyes … “I was in the church … but he wasn’t … and everyday he beat me, humiliated me ….made me think I wasn’t worthy of being loved …… That week before I had enough … and left him … My friends at the church thought it would be a good idea if I went to the social …. To get my mind together …… I wasn’t going to meet anyone … but as soon as I saw you .. it was as if God himself finally showed me the man He wanted me to be with ….”
“But … why didn’t you tell me?? It didn’t matter that this guy was your husband … he didn’t deserve you  …..” Dea. Brown asked as he held his wife ….. “I was ashamed …. And then within two weeks you proposed … I .. I didn’t know what to do … I had discovered that after 3 miscarriages I was with child …. I asked for a divorce … and was granted it on the conditions I don’t try and impose spousal or child support ever …..I ..I always knew Jamal wasn’t your child … but I couldn’t bear to take the chance that he would hurt Jamal …. So I lied .. and said I miscarried …..”
Dea. Brown got up …. “ Please say something Walter …. I .. I didn’t know what else to do ….” She pleaded … “I don’t know you .. You … lied … our marriage was based on lies … before God … We counsel couples together that you have to be fully honest with your partner about everything …. EVERYTHING…. And you tell me that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me all of this before we got married???” Dea. Brown raised his voice …. “Would it have made a difference??? We …We belong together … God ordained our relationship …..”  Rev. Brown replied … “You took the choice from me!!!! I .. I can’t look at you right now ….” Dea. Brown walked out the room ….
“OH God .. please .. what have I done??? Lord please forgive me … Please I can’t do this without you ….” She screamed as she knelt on her knees …. “I’ll be at mom’s ….”  Dea. Brown said as he walked out the door …. Leaving Rev. Brown crying on the floor …… “WHHYY??”