Fallen Angel From Revenge to Redemption (7 page)

              ~Sam~

When it rains, it pours…

I left the police station as soon as my shift was over. The air in there was thick. A dark cloud was hanging over everyone with the news of Darren being sued for a wrongful death. Situations like this make it hard to do your job without second guessing yourself.

I threw my things into the bed of my truck and hopped in.  I called Domonique and cancelled our plans for the evening. I explained the situation to her regarding Darren. She gave me her blessing to go out there and take care of my friend.

I knew Darren like the back of my hand. He was the brother I never had.  He always drove to his cabin in the mountains whenever life threw him lemons. He would build something, tear something up or drink a few beers. I went buy a little country store to get a few cold ones for us just in case, he was out.

Damien and the others had offered to come with me but I preferred to handle this solo. Pretty soon I was on the highway and alone in my thoughts. The only thing that I could think of was how messed up this situation was.

This situation was wrong on so many levels. Darren is a good cop, not just a good cop but a good person. Situations like this can break a person. Change them from people with a passion, from a person who wants to make a difference in the community to someone who is just on the beat waiting to retire.

Understandably Aiden’s mother and father are grieving right now and this senseless lawsuit was their way of honoring their son I guess. Where were they when he was beating and abusing his family? Why didn’t they get him some help earlier? That’s what I wanted to know. People are a trip.

I arrived at the log cabin after driving for two hours. Darren was sitting on the outside in the porch swing. He was staring off in space. He was sweaty and exhausted. I grabbed the beer from the cooler and started to walk up the steps.

              “I come bearing gifts,” I said as I handed him an ice cold beer.

              “Thanks man, you didn’t have to drive all the way out here,” he said as he opened the can and took a long drink from the can.

“Yeah, I did. Life has kicked you in the stomach and knocked the wind out of you. It is my job to help you catch your breath,” I responded sincerely.

“Appreciate it,” he said.

“You are intending to fight this aren’t you?” I asked as I opened a can of beer for myself.

              “I have no choice but just not today. Today we drink. Tomorrow we fight,” he said looking defeated.

              I took a seat beside my friend and raised my glass to his, to salute him before taking a drink.

              ~Darren~

Friendship needs no words
…

Sam and I drank a few more beers. I put some charcoal on the grill. I grilled some chicken, smoked sausage, and a few pork chops. I wasn’t planning on going home until Sunday night. I would face the music then. As the meat cooked I walked into the kitchen and opened a can of baked beans and poured the contents into a long glass pan. I put a little bit of barbeque sauce in them and then placed strips of bacon across the top of it and placed it in the oven. I also boiled a couple ears of corn and made a seafood pasta salad. 

When that was done I checked on the bigger pieces of meat and handed the grilling over to Sam before I ran back inside to take a shower.

Sam was a good friend. He wasn’t talking things to death. He was just letting me be. That was just what I needed. I felt bad because I haven’t spoken with Shanice seen I got the news. Right now in this moment, I was not myself and I didn’t want to show her that side of me.

Sam and I ate the food I had prepared and put the leftovers up. We watched the movie Divergent and then called it a night. I had only been in the bed for a little while when I heard a car pull into the driveway.

I closed my eyes tight fearing that reports had found out where I was hiding. No not hiding, just taking a break from the real world. I heard multiple voices. I climbed out of bed and pulled my shirt over my head. I walked to the door ready to go in on someone.

When I yanked opened the door and turned on the porch light, I was shocked to find Shanice, Dominique, Vanessa, Lamar, Maribel, and my brother Mario.

           ~Shanice~

Be strong because things will get better. It may be stormy now but it never rains forever.-Unknown

“Do not be mad at them. I spoke with your mom and she told me were you were. I didn’t want to travel by myself and your mom made your brother come with me. While I was packing, the rest of them came over and the next thing I know Lamar was yelling road trip and we are here now. We saw everything on the news, as well as Sam told Domonique what was going on. I have been trying to call you and I am going straight to voicemail. I just had to know for myself that you were okay? If you don’t want us to stay, then we will leave,” I finished.

Lamar said, “In the morning, I am not getting back on the road tonight. If you want us to leave then we will in the morning, so step aside and let us in.”

Darren moved to the side and allowed everyone to enter. He took my things from my hands. I followed him to his room.

Once we were in the room, I wrapped my hands around his thick athletic body. A wave of relief had washed over my body when I finally had laid eyes on him. When I saw him some of the anger had left me. He was beat down by life the last thing he needed was for his woman to be giving him hell as well.

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight, like he was borrowing my strength.

“I was worried about you,” I said looking up and meeting his cognac colored eyes.

“I am sorry that I worried you needlessly. I just needed to clear my head,” he responded, dropping his hands to his side.

“I know. I hope that you know that you are not alone in this unless you want to be. I care about you, Darren.”

“I care about you too. I can’t even get my head wrapped around this. My career is on hold. I do have some money set aside for rainy days, so I can pay my bills. All of my dirty laundry is being aired for everyone to see including my child’s mother. This situation has the ability to kill every dream that I have ever dreamed,” Darren said as he paced around the room like a caged animal.

“Darren, you can’t change who your father was. In regards, to your career, yes, this could make you or break you. I still believe that what was designed to break you will make you stronger and better. In regards to your dirty laundry 8 Mile it.

“What do you mean 8 Mile it?” Darren interrupted me.

“Like Eminem in 8 Mile, if you step out there and talk about your dirty laundry yourself, then it takes away all their power when they try to use it against you.  It becomes old news. When you win the case then even your child’s mother can’t say a word. The way you carry yourself during this situation might actually propel you forward into your true destiny,” I finished letting what I said sink in. Darren believed in God and he knew for himself that all God’s promises are yes and amen.

            ~Darren~

When it rains look for rainbows, when it is dark look for stars.-Unknown

“Baby, you are right,” I said feeling some relief for the first time.

My girl was standing on the promises and she was encouraging me to do the same. There is nothing like a praying woman.

“Another thing you could do is bring up his record. Tell his story. Who was Aiden? How many times had police been called to that address for criminal domestic violence situations? Was there a restraining order in place and was he violating it by being there? Had his family tried to get him help previously for anger management? You know what I mean?” she asked looking at me with those big huge brown eyes.

“Yes, I know what you mean. You could have been a lawyer in a former life or a PR agent,” I said teasingly.

She was worried about me and wanted to help me to get out of the situation. I just wanted her to relax and not worry so much. Yet, I couldn’t tell her everything was going to be okay because I wasn’t sure of that myself. She needed to take it down a notch before she made herself sick with worry.

“Have you eaten?” I asked

“No, I was just trying to get here to you. I just had to be here with you, for you,” she replied.

“Thank you, baby. Go take a shower and I will warm you up a plate and have it ready for you when you come out,” I said trying to take care of her.

The rest of the night we just talked and laughed. I fixed her a plate and she ate.  To our surprise we fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

***

Everyone stayed put for the rest of the weekend. We went fishing, drank beer from the cooler, and watched movies. We cooked on the grill, turned the radio up loud, played volleyball, and basically talked a lot of junk. Most everyone respected the fact that I didn’t want to talk about the courthouse. Lamar brought it up one time and that was to say that I should fight fire with fire. I should sue them for deformation of my character, slander, loss wages, and pain and suffering. We all had a good laugh at Lamar’s expense. He was a good guy even though he was a little over the top. No one could say that he didn’t keep it real.

Sam and Domonique were enjoying their relationship. They looked like teenagers in love. Lamar and Maribel were getting super close; he was playing with a little fire himself. Mario kept trying to flirt with Vanessa but she would not give him even a little bit of play.

As for me, I know that I am in love with Shanice but she wasn’t ready to hear that. She cared for me and that was enough for now. The fact that she was here, offering support and throwing out good ideas to help spoke more than any words that she could have spoken aloud.

I probably have loved Shanice since my eyes caught hers from across the dance floor. The lights changed the color of her highlights as she danced back and forth to the rhythm of the music. There was so much positive energy wrapped around her. Everything was so light and carefree. Now they were heavy. She was doing everything that I needed her to do by just being here.

I am a man, I can handle my own. Yet, it is nice not to have to travel this road alone.

          
        ~Shanice~

     4 months later

When everything feels like an uphill struggle just think of the view from the top. -Unknown

I am sitting in a coffee house across from the county courthouse, waiting on Vanessa, Domonique and Lamar to arrive.  It is a registered historical landmark. Yet, its beauty is lost on me. Our lives have been turned upside down on this witch hunt but we have stayed strong through the whole experience. Please don’t get me wrong, we have had our moments.

Darren has done his part to try to make the best of a bad situation. He has worked odd jobs for people in the community. He volunteered more at The Help Center. He worked with a lot of boys from the Boys and Girls club. We had eaten dinner with both his family and mine.

On the downside his child’s mother did use this situation as a means to keep him from his son. This almost broke Darren. It was hard sitting beside him and not having the means to help him or comfort him. I did the only thing that I knew to do, which was pray for God to right this wrongs. If it wasn’t for my belief in a Higher Power, I would have gone crazy.

Darren decided to wait until all the court stuff was settled before going to court to get visitation and custody settled.

I had met Manny a couple of times before this mess. He was a kind and sweet little guy. He loves his daddy. I didn’t know that I could love someone’s child as much as I love Manny, but I do. I thought that it would be hard seeing as I wouldn’t be able to have any of my own. Surprisingly, loving Manny came to me easy.

My crew arrived and we quickly placed our order. The waitress left and we began to talk immediately.

“How are you holding up?” Lamar asked showing his concern.

“I am good,” I replied looking up to meet his eyes.

“Lair,” he said as he leaned in and rubbed my back as a show of support and comfort.

“You know me so well,” I said smiling just a little.

“How is it going in there?” Vanessa asked.

I let out a sigh before answering, “Several key witnesses have been called to testify. Alyssa, Omar, and Darren are the last ones to testify. They will go up after the break.

“That is going to be hard for Alyssa,” Lamar said.

“It’s going to be hard for all of them,” I responded. None of them are the same anymore. I am not the same anymore. I betcha that anytime I think that abuse and neglect is going on I am calling the Department of Social Services. I waited too long on this situation and maybe this didn’t have to happen,” I finished.

“I feel you, but at the same time, if we call too much we lose our creditability,” Vanessa said.

“Children need for someone, somewhere to be able to protect them. Children should feel safe at home and it is sad that we live in a society where our children can’t walk in a neighborhood that they didn’t grow up in without getting shot. It is sad that our children can’t listen to music in the car without getting shot. It is sad that our children can’t go the park and play without getting shot,” Domonique said becoming emotional.

“You are preaching to the choir, honey,” Vanessa said.

“It’s even sadder that our children aren’t safe in some of the communities that they did grow up in. Our kids can’t go to school and not get killed in a bathroom over a boy. Our kids can’t play outside without catching a stray bullet. They are being taught by society to hate themselves and to hate each other,” I said back in earnest.

“There is only so much that we can do,” Lamar said clearly disgusted.

“I know, I know,” I said getting my emotions back under control.

Y’all it is almost time to be back in the courtroom, Vanessa said bringing us back to our current situation.