Chapter 10- Family Feud
Fine china stacked by the kitchen sink
Aunt Tammy's in there claiming all the diamond rings
Uncle Bobby's holding up the TV set
The only thing they're grieving over is what they ain't gonna get
She's only been in the ground a day or two
I'm glad momma ain't around to watch this family feud
Family Feud by Pistol Annies
November 6th 2004
It was my day off and I had decided to visit Lucinda today, try to pry more information about my Uncle's suspicious death. I was sitting on the same lounge as yesterday, except now I had a glass of lemonade in my hand.
"It's lovely to see you again, Valerie" she said
"Yes, it's good to see you too" I said
"Thank you for coming to help me pack up Jonathan's stuff, Marissa couldn't get away from work" she said
Marissa Anderson was the only child they had, and was rather spoilt. She had gotten some big job in New York and moved there three years ago, never coming home again for visits, not even at Christmas. She was engaged to some big hotshot lawyer, he probably wouldn't be impressed with her fathers criminal activities.
"Is she coming to the funeral?" I asked
"No, she has a lunch with Roger's parents, can't make it" she said looking away in shame
"Thats too bad" I said
"Oh well, at least you'll be there" she said brightly forgetting about her horrible daughter "That reminds me, in Jonathan's will he left you the lake house, a quarter of his money, and I was supposed to give you a letter" she said
"Wow, I didn't expect anything" I said surprised
"Well his only living relatives are you, me and Marissa. He did always hope to make up with your father, never got the chance" she explained
"Okay, makes sense" I said
"Here I'll get the letter for you" she said getting up and walking away
I was left sitting there in silence, wondering what was in the letter, hoping that it would shed some light on this situation. Lucinda returned and handed me the letter.
"I have to go home now, it was good to see you" I said getting up, letter in my hand
"It was, see you at the funeral tommorow" she said hugging me before I left
As soon as I got home I dropped my bag on the counter and ripped open the letter, sitting at the table to read it.
Dear Valerie
If you are reading this, then I must be dead. I hope that Lucinda has given you this letter without reading it, I always said her curiosity would kill her. On that note, keep this letter hidden, away from prying eyes. I have been keeping tabs on you since my brother cut off contact with me, and my only regret was that I was not there for you when you needed your family. Unfortunately my estrangement from my brother was your mothers doing, afraid my business deals would hurt her family, strange considering who she hung around with. I know that you are involved with a son, I know that a son helped raise you, but you must be cautious. Trust few people. Lucinda is one of the few you can trust, she will keep you safe. I assume you have become suspicious about my death, be smart about it. Do not ask questions just yet, not until you are ready for the answers. To be blunt, the Sons Of Anarchy had something to do with my death. Keep your friends close, trust few, and be smart.
Uncle Johnny
I dropped the letter on the table, holding my head in my hands, as I let the information sink in. My Old Man and father figure had both played a part in the death of my Uncle. I wanted to confront them with the letter, demand to know what was going on. But Uncle Johnny was right, I needed to be smart about this. I needed to know more of the facts before I started accusing anyone. Only burn the bridges I had to. I hoped that Kozik would tell me, but that would never happen. We hadn't agreed on full disclosure and he didn't talk about the club with me much.
I trusted my Uncle, but I wanted to know more. Like what had he done that was so bad he had to be killed? He told me I could trust Lucinda, looks like I'm going to be getting closer to my Aunt.
SOASOASOA
I was getting ready for my Uncle's funeral. I was wearing a black dress that went down to my knees, showing off my baby bump. Kozik was reluctant to let me go, we had fought all night about it. I said that I was going whether he like it or not and that it wasn't any of his business. He of course yelled back that I was his Old Lady, making it his business. He had actually forbid me to go, but that wouldn't stop me. He wouldn't tell me why I couldn't go so I told him to sleep on the couch for the night. He had left early in the morning, not bothering to try and stop me.
I drove to the cemetery, parking my car next to Lucinda's Mercedes. There were lots of people here, the little family he had he made up for with his friends.
"Valerie, thank you for coming" said Lucinda walking towards me
"Of course Aunt Lucinda" I said hugging her
I looked around at everybody here, my Uncle would be sorely missed. I turned my head when I saw a taxi stop in the parking lot. A woman stepped out, wearing black 5 inch louboutins, Chanel sunglasses, a long tight black dress and a scowl on her face.
"Marissa" said Lucinda walking towards the woman with me following
So this was my lovely cousin, she actually came to her own fathers funeral.
"Hello mother" she said
"Marissa, I thought you couldn't make it" said Lucinda, hugging a reluctant Marissa
"Plans changed, my schedule opened up and I could come" she said
"Marissa, this is Valerie, your cousin" said Lucinda pointing to me
Marissa looked me up and down, scowling at me even more when she saw my baby bump.
"Hello Valerie, almost forgot I had a cousin, haven't seen you since you were little" she said stepping forward
If she was trying to intimidate me then she was sorely failing, I wouldn't back down so easily, especially not to the prissy bitch.
"It's good to see you Marissa, it has been to long" I said a fake smile plastered on my face
She nodded and walked past me. I followed her and Lucinda into the cemetery, taking our seats for the funeral.
The funeral was lovely, so many people have speeches about how great a man he was. It made me think back to my own fathers funeral. The only people there was me, Kozik, Lee and Lana; and they were only there to support me. It seemed out of the brothers Johnny was the better one.
We went back to Lucinda's house for the wake. Everyone was drinking champagne, making toasts to Uncle Johnny, celebrating his life. Marissa stood in the corner drinking glasses of champagne, a scowl never leaving her face. She really didn't want to be here. I walked over to her, hoping to have some sort of civil conversation with her.
"I'm sorry about your dad" I said
"It's okay, we haven't spoken in three years, won't be much different now he's gone" she said with such indifference it was almost scary seeing how little she cared about her own father
I mean my father was alcoholic who occasionally hit me, but I still mourned his death, cried for days, didnt have to be forced to go to his funeral.
"Want some?" She asked offering me her champagne
"No sorry, can't" I said patting my stomach
"Right" she scoffed
We stood in silence until she finally spoke.
"How old are you anyway?" She asked
"I'm eighteen" I said, unsure where this was going
"Eighteen, isn't that a little young to be having a kid?" she asked
"I suppose" I said but she cut me off
"Though from what I heard your mother was a biker whore, makes sense you are too" she said
"I think you've had a little too much to drink" I said, trying to ignore the anger bubbling up inside of me
"Of course with your drunk daddy it makes even more sense, probably abused you. Screwed you up so now your pregnant and alone, probably going to end up as a stripper, or at least something along those lines" she said
"Don't you dare talk about my parents" I growled stepping close to her "I am not a biker whore, I am not alone, and I will never be a stripper" I spat
Marissa just stood there blinking at me, obviously not expecting me to say anything back to her.
"Now I suggest you get off your high horse and at least pretend you sad that your father's dead" I said straightening out my dress "And also wipe that scowl off your face, the wind might change and you'll be stuck with it" I said before walking away, leaving a stunned Marissa who was watching me shocked
"I think I'm going to go home now" I said to Lucinda
"Ok, honey, I hope Marissa didn't say anything awful to you" she said, a guilty expression on her face
"Nothing I can't handle" I assured her "Goodbye" I said