Third-Person POV

Seven days after Hezekiah's death...

Andrew Nicholas Coleman.

Remember that name, gentle reader, as he is the son of state senator Michael Coleman and Blanche Coleman (nee Sullivan) with the former being the most-respected politician of the commonwealth while his wife was a former Broadway starlet back in the sixties. And despite their best intentions for their son with wholesome family values as practicing Catholics, their son Andrew wanted to live the life of the rich and famous and doing whatever it takes to go after the high life.

And when it came to the Chamblee family, Andrew admired their social wiles as much as he admired (and soon fell  in love with) one Mariah Chamblee, one of the youngest fashion models in the world alongside her twin sister Leigh-Anne. From the moment that they met when they were both in college, it was love at first sight and Andrew knew that she was not only his ticket to his dream life but also his true love.

Unfortunately for him, his father thought otherwise. "Her family are nothing but bad seeds save for two of their sons," the older man commented after Andrew brought Mariah for Thanksgiving dinner during his senior year at Boston College.  "She is not what we stand for in our family. Mark my words, boy. She will only bring you down and ruin your reputation and our family name."

"Your father's right," Blanche agreed, sending a sharp glance at the socialite in question who was busy on her phone. "Something tells me that the Chamblee family is going to be only trouble for you the longer that you stay with that girl. It's best to break things off with her."

Andrew was not to be denied. "Ma, I assure you that Mariah is an angel once you get to know her," the young man defended. "You'll see. Her family has high morals that-"

"They have morals that are deemed impossible to fulfill," his father interrupted. "If you continue to pursue after Miss Chamblee, you will surely regret it. I will never give you my blessing to marry her, Andrew. And if you continue to fight me on this, you will be disowned from the family."

Despite that threat, Andrew stood by Mariah's side and started abandoning his family for Mariah's, her parents Jeffrey and Adelle  immediately taking a liking to him right away during a family dinner after graduation. He was soon charmed by Mariah's twin Leigh-Anne and was idolized by their younger brother Alex. Cameron, however, didn't like Andrew one bit and was immediately cold to him. "You're not good enough for my sister," the pre-teen said when his sisters insisted that he spend time with Andrew during the dinner. "Though you do fit in with this family, there is no way in hell would I see you as my brother. I only have one whom I love more than anything and yet this family treats him like dirt."

That young man in question was none other than Hezekiah Chamblee, the middle child of the family who was kept in boarding schools and camps for the summer and put under lockdown while at home for the school year. "Hezekiah's the oddball in the family," Jeffrey had explained the following weekend. "He's only here because his maternal grandfather wouldn't allow his mother to abort him. He's only the product of a rapist's insatiable desires, though Hezekiah isn't like that rat. He's...well, let's just say that he's not what we stand for. It'd be easier if he was swiftly eliminated."

And when Andrew had the chance to meet the male wallflower when Mariah begrudgingly introduced him during a dinner party (as ordered by Minnie Jean, the head maid), he immediately disliked the young man's bookish appearance and quiet disposition. "He looks like someone who needed to be shot," the young man remarked. "And he still stays in this family?! He should've been done away with a long time ago."

"Trust me, Andy," Mariah replied as they headed back to the main party. "Everyone other than Cameron agrees with you. We all rather see him dead than alive. But as long as he stays out of the way, he'll be fine."

That wouldn't sit well with Andrew's parents if they heard about how the ill-fated teenager was treated like old furniture. Just like word of Andrew proposing to Mariah to be his wife last year didn't sit well with them at all, the father immediately cutting ties with his son once word spread to him. "This is a new low, even for your standards," the man said angrily. "You're selling your soul for the devil and his brood incarnate by proposing to that little nothing of a socialite. This proves that your mother and I have failed in raising you as you should've been. I have nothing but contempt and disgust for you, Andrew Coleman. As long as you continue with this madness, you are cut off from the family."

"Fine with me," Andrew had shot back. "You and Mom were just dead weight, anyhow. Mariah's family can take me higher."

Andrew Coleman didn't know it yet, gentle reader, but his father's words would ring true in the days to come, especially when word of Hezekiah's "suicide" began to spread across the greater Boston area.

*********************

"So your brother finally bit the dust," Andrew commented after hearing of the young man's death from Mariah when she greeted him at the airport, he coming from a business trip in New York City for his financial firm. "And by his own hand? I'm not surprised other than why he did it on the day of his graduation."

"Well, Hezekiah never did fit in with the family no matter what he did or how often he stayed out of the way," Mariah commented as she drove her BMW sedan through the gated community en route to her family's manor. "Him killing himself was against the family beliefs, but I guess he never cared about that. Anyway, no one really cares about him other than Cameron and the former maids and servants who liked him."

"How's your brother, by the way?"

Mariah sighed heavily. "Still pissed off at us," she replied. "When our old servants resigned over how we all treated Hezekiah, Cameron cussed us out before punching his own twin, blaming us all for treating him like trash one time too many. He still hasn't apologized to Alex and has completely shut us out."

"He'll come around," Andrew assured his fiancee as they arrived at the Chamblee manor, the valet arriving at the entryway to collect the car as the couple got out. Once they were inside, Adelle and Jeffrey greeted them warmly and led them to the family parlor where the maids and servants were finishing up preparations for a late lunch. "Andrew, it's so good to see you once again," the patriarch commented happily. "I take it that Heinway and Barnes are treating you right?"

"As always, sir," Andrew replied just as Leigh-Anne, Alex, and a petulant Cameron arrived into the parlor. "Leigh-Anne and Alex, nice to see you again."

"Likewise," Leigh-Anne chirped. "I can't wait to see you and my sister tying the knot this summer. It'll be  good to have you as an official member of the family."

"That's for sure," Alex agreed, nodding in assent. "Hezekiah's death was perfect timing for you to make this family and the Diamond Standard shine brighter than before."

Cameron fought the urge to roll his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Cameron, I'm sure that you can find a brotherly figure in Andrew if you give him a chance," Jeffrey commented. "Hezekiah's gone, son. Try to accept that."

"Not a chance," Cameron replied crisply, narrowing his eyes at his family. To Andrew, "You may have fitted in with my parents, sisters, and my twin brother with their beliefs and how you all hated Hezekiah. But I was the only one who saw him as my real brother no matter what you all thought."

"He was dead weight," Mariah insisted, scoffing at the mention of the deceased teenager. "Cameron, I don't see why-"

"No, Mariah. I don't see why you all want me to accept someone who will never take my brother's place." Cameron said vehemently. "I know that he was born out of rape and everything, but Hezekiah had ten times more class and sensibility than neither you nor anyone else will ever had. He did right by all of us, yet it was y'all who cast him to the side like he was nothing more than the runt of the litter."

"Come now, darling," Adelle said. "Hezekiah was just-"

"No, Mom. I'm sorry, but I will never forget my brother and I will never forgive either of you all for treating him like trash!" Cameron interjected, rising from his seat. He turned to glare at Andrew. "And as for you, Coleman? You're never going to replace my brother no matter how hard you try. I'll never accept you as my brother-in-law, so just save your breath and stop wasting my time."

"That's enough," Mariah said, glaring at her younger brother. "You're really starting to act like that worthless waste of space, Cameron."

Cameron smiled ruefully. "Well I rather be like Hezekiah than a chess pawn like you," he said. "So for all I care, you can kindly drop dead, you fucking bitch!"

Mariah grabbed Cameron's arm, but he wrenched away from her grasp before backhanding her and storming out of the room and bounding up the stairs.

Mariah was livid as she was being helped to her feet by her fiance. "I can't believe this," she muttered lowly. "Cameron's being ungrateful and pathetic. My fiance wants to be a good foster brother to him and he turns him down. Fine younger brother he turns out to be."

"I'll straighten him out," Dad said as he prepared to stand up, motioning for Alex to join him.

"No, what's the use?" Mariah said. "He's still going to hate us no matter what we all say to him."

"Maybe it's best to start sending him away," Leigh-Anne said, accepting a glass of wine from a maid. "Have him attend boarding school in England or France and make sure he stays there."

"It'd be the right thing to do," Adelle agreed, nodding her head. "Besides, we still have Alex and you on our side, young lady."

"That's for sure," Alex replied. "I love my twin and all, but he's starting to act like a nobody again."

"That's what happens when someone starts to be too friendly with the maids and servants," Jeffrey intoned. "But let's talk of something more pleasant, like the incoming wedding. My wife and I will deal with Cameron later."

And for the rest of the afternoon, talks of wedding plans filled the air as the members of the Chamblee family and Andrew Coleman enjoyed each other's company. However, Andrew had a nagging feeling that what Cameron had said was going to haunt him for the rest of his life alongside the words of his parents.

Mark my words, boy. That family is going to bring you down as long as you continue this madness.

The Chamblee family is nothing but trouble. They will be your detriment and your ultimate demise.

Andy shook those words out of his mind and focused his attention on his future wife. I cannot wait to make her the happiest woman on Earth, he said to himself. Dad doesn't know what he's talking about.

Gentle reader, time has a way of proving people right or wrong. And for one Andrew Coleman, he would soon realize that statement was going to ring true in so many ways.

Well, folks, you've met Andrew Coleman and how Cameron dislikes him for all he's worth, just like Andrew's family hates Mariah and her parents. Personally, I think that Cameron and Hezekiah would've been better off as members of the Coleman family while Andy becomes a Chamblee. But I digress.

Anyway, we'll check in with Cameron as he and Jana read more entries from Hezekiah's journal in the next chapter, so don't go anywhere!

Vote.
Comment.
Share.
Follow.
Add.
FAN!