Chapter 13 Meet Turners

Waking up in the morning with a stranger's arm wrapped around me was surreal. Who was this guy? Jamal, Kinavieve's boyfriend... or so I thought. I barely knew him, but Kina seemed to know him well enough. How did I end up here, married to a man I hardly knew?

'Hey...' He said, his voice low and gentle, as he got up and sat on the bed beside me. I didn't respond, my mind still reeling with thoughts and emotions. I couldn't focus on him, or our situation, or anything else for that matter.

'Are you okay?' he asked, his brow furrowed with concern. 'I heard you talking in your sleep last night, by the way. Do you know Kinavieve?'

'Kinavieve?' I echoed, a spark of unease igniting within me. What did he know? Was he piecing together the tangled threads of my life?

'Kinavieve,' he repeated, a hint of a smile on his lips. 'You were calling out her name in your sleep last night. And didn't you know, she lives just a stone's throw away from here? I've dropped her off there many times after our nights out.'

'No, I don't know her,' I lied, trying to sound convincing.

But Jamal swiftly changed the subject. 'My love, my family hasn't met you yet, and they would love to meet you.'

I panicked. 'What?! Please don't!' I begged, my voice laced with desperation.

"'Come on, we're married now,' he said with a charming smile. 'Are you comfortable with me calling you wifey?'

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. 'You can call me anything, just like you've made me your property now,' I replied, my tone laced with sarcasm and resentment.

'Okay, whatever,' he said with a dismissive smile. 'Ladies first, you need to take a bath.' The casual gesture felt emasculating, like he was treating me like a child.

I sucked my teeth, producing a loud, annoyed click, and dragged my feet to the bathroom, frustration simmering within me."

As I stepped out of the bath, the warmth still radiating from my skin, I was taken aback by Jamal's thoughtful gesture. He had left the room, but in his wake, he'd carefully laid out an outfit for me. The yellow sweater and baggy trousers seemed to echo the brightness of the day, while the white T-shirt and sneakers added a touch of crisp simplicity. I couldn't help but wonder if this was his attempt to make amends for earlier.

As I slipped into the outfit, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and was taken aback by my own reflection. The yellow sweater and baggy trousers transformed me into a cheerful, vibrant version of myself. A wry thought crossed my mind: 'Is Jamal trying to turn me into his perfect little doll?' But as I delved deeper into my own eyes, I saw a flicker of happiness there, a sense of playfulness I thought I'd lost.

"Ah, perfect timing," Jamal said, strolling into the room and plopping onto the bed. "I was starting to think I'd have to drag you to breakfast. I've been itching to show you off to the family. You look stunning, by the way

"Jamal, seriously, stop being dramatic. I didn't take days to get ready, I just needed a moment to myself to wrap my head around everything. You're making a big deal out of nothing."

"Okay, my love, you're absolutely radiant today. Now, shall we head downstairs for breakfast? And, of course, don't forget to wear your wedding ring – I want the whole world to know you're mine."

We made our way down the stairs, the soft creaking of the steps announcing our arrival. The dining room was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the savory scents of breakfast wafted through the air. The family was gathered around the table, their faces turned toward us with a mix of curiosity and expectation. As we took our seats, a brief silence fell, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware and the soft clearing of throats. Jamal's hand rested on the back of my chair, a subtle yet unmistakable gesture of ownership.

"Jamal..." A young teen girl called out as her eyes were on me, still speechless.

Jamal's mother, a poised woman with a warm smile, spoke up, her voice dripping with a mix of curiosity and playful sarcasm. "Jamal, darling, when did you get home? And what's all this fuss we're hearing on the news? And who's...?" Her eyes widened as she took in my presence, her gaze lingering on me like a puzzle she was eager to solve. "Whoa, don't tell me..." She let out a theatrical sigh, setting her glass of plum juice down on the table with a gentle clink, her eyes never leaving mine.

Jamal's gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of his family members before settling on his mother. "Mom, everyone," he began, his voice clear and strong, "I'd like to introduce you to Kim... Kimbal, my spouse," he said, his words enunciated with a sense of pride and finality, as if daring anyone to question or challenge our union.

Jamal's sister, her brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and suspicion, leaned forward in her seat. "And what about Rubie?" she pressed, her voice firm but controlled, as if trying to gauge Jamal's response and uncover the truth.

Jamal's dad, his expression transforming from curiosity to shock, leaned back in his chair. "What do you mean 'what about Rubie'?" he asked, his voice firm but bewildered. Then, as understanding slowly dawned, his face fell, and he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "Wait a minute...is Kimbal a boy? Son, are you...gay?" he asked, his voice cracking with a mix of emotions, his eyes searching Jamal's face for answers.

Jamal's eyes sparkled with amusement as he shot back, "Maybe gayer, Daddy?" The room froze, awaiting his father's reaction. But Jamal didn't pause, his grin growing wider. "This is Kim, my husband, and he's absolutely gorgeous, don't you think?" He turned to me, his gaze filled with adoration. "Show them your ring, baby." The diamond on my finger glinted in the morning light, and Jamal's family stared, their faces a mix of shock, confusion, and fascination.

I lifted my left hand, and the diamond ring caught the morning light, sending shimmering rays across the table. The room fell silent, as if everyone was mesmerized by the sparkles. Then, Jamal's mother, with a gracious smile, invited us to begin eating. "Let's enjoy our breakfast, shall we?" she said, her voice warm and welcoming. The others had already started eating, the sounds of sizzling food and muted chatter filling the air. Jamal and I joined in, passing dishes and serving ourselves, the initial awkwardness slowly giving way to a sense of normalcy.

The little brother, who had been quietly observing the scene, suddenly exploded in a fit of rage and despair. "No! This can't be! How could you marry him, brother? Noooo!" he shouted, his face red and his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt. He slammed his fist on the table, causing the glasses to shake and the plates to rattle. "You're my brother, Jamal! My own brother! How could you do this to us? To Mom and Dad? To our family?" he cried, his voice breaking and his body shaking with sobs.

Jamal's declaration was met with a mix of shock, anger, and disgust. "It's done now, we're married," he said, his voice steady and unwavering, a hint of triumph in his eyes.

His dad's face turned beet red with rage and shame. "That can't be, Jamal! You're bringing shame to our family, to our name!" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "What will people think? What will our friends and neighbors say?"

His dad's distress turned to desperation. "Wait until the media gets hold of this! I can't have a gay son, it's unacceptable! Something has to be done, this can't be allowed to stand! We'll fix this, Jamal, mark my words!"

Jamal's words hung in the air like a challenge. "I'm sorry, Papa, but all your sons are gay." The family's shock was palpable, their faces frozen in a mix of disbelief and dismay.

Kim, sensing Jamal's tension, reached out and took his hand. "Baby, don't worry about the homophobia. They'll come around soon. I mean, they already understand, don't they?" Kim's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of acceptance.

Jamal, taking a deep breath, began the introductions. "Okay, so that's my mom, Joey, and my dad, Jason. My little sister June is here, but my elder sister Jamie is married and couldn't make it. Her name is Jamie, by the way. And that's my younger brother Jake. We're all J's, kinda funny, huh?" Jamal forced a smile, trying to break the tension.

Jake's eyes blazed with anger and hurt as he confronted Jamal. "Brother, why are you doing this to me? You know that Kim is mine! I had my heart set on him, and you knew that! We talked about it, Jamal! You knew I was interested in him, and yet you went behind my back and married him? How could you be so selfish, Jamal? How could you steal him from me like this?" Jake's voice cracked with emotion, his body shaking with rage.

I set my coffee down, my eyes locked on Jamal's, seeking clarification. "What is he talking about?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion. There was clearly more to the story, and I sensed a deeper drama unfolding within the J-family.

Jamal's expression turned uneasy, and he opened his mouth to explain, but Jake cut him off.

"You think you've won, don't you, Jamal?" Jake snarled, his eyes blazing with resentment. "You think you can just swoop in and steal Kim away from me?" Jake took a step closer, his fists clenched.

I felt like a prize in a twisted game, and my mind reeled with questions. Why were they fighting over me? What had I gotten myself into?

"No wonder you rushed me into marriage," I said, my voice laced with realization. "It was a gold rush, wasn't it? A competition between brothers."

"Yeah, you're mine, bitch!" Jake shouted, his face twisted in anger.

Jamal didn't respond, but instead, he grasped my hand firmly and led me out of the house, away from the toxic atmosphere. We walked in silence to the driveway, the tension between us palpable.

As we reached the car, Jamal opened the door for me and helped me in. He then got in behind the wheel, started the engine, and began to drive away from the chaos.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Away from here," Jamal replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Somewhere safe, where we can be alone."

I nodded, still trying to process the events that had just unfolded. The J-family's drama was more complex than I had ever imagined.

"Jamal, what's going on?" I asked, my frustration and confusion boiling over. "Are you going to tell me the whole story or what? You owe me an explanation."

Jamal's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I'll tell you everything, Kim. I promise. But first, we need to get out of here."

"And where are you taking me?" I pressed, my voice firm.

Jamal's expression softened, and he glanced at me briefly. "We're going to meet your family."

"My family?" I repeated, shocked. "What do you mean? You know my family."

Jamal's smile was enigmatic. "Not your biological family, Kim. The family you never knew."

My mind reeled with questions and doubts. What secrets had Jamal uncovered? What family was he talking about?

"Jamal, what are you talking about?" I asked, my voice laced with trepidation.

He took a deep breath before responding. "You're in danger, Kim. And the only way to protect you is to take you to the one place where you'll be safe."