Broken Family Ties excerpt:

Hurricane Alicia Brooks

Grandma never left the table. She was clutching the seventh picture to her heart. Her mason jar of ice water was half empty. Charles was sitting by her side.

In true form, Grandma Alicia began speaking as if the fight witnessed had never occurred. "This picture here is of Carl and Charles' father. That Jezebel of a momma of yours cheated on Mr. Grover twice. Your momma liked weak men like her Daddy here," she said pointing nonchalantly to Grandpa Henry. "He kept forgiving her over and over until you were born Charles."

Charles said nothing. He looked straight ahead. His focus intense.

"That's what broke his spirit. He knew there was no way you could have been his Charles. He suffered a hernia and was told he could father no more children shortly after his one child he bore with your momma. Caroline is the only child that Kevin and Ann had together. You other two are her dirty little secrets, bastards actually," she said.

Caroline was visibly relieved to find Kevin was in fact her biological parent. She breathed a sigh of relief. "So Grandma is the money mine? Is that what this is leading up to? There is some sort of clause to reveal who their real father is upon our parent's death? You didn't know how to tell Carl and Charles?" she asked.

"Unbelievable, you are truly ill in the head. After all I have tried to do for you! After the talk we've had not five minutes ago! All you can think about is money. Would you really let Charles and I finned for ourselves! Caroline, how do we know any of what she is saying is true," Carl's said staring at his sister. "Already you are turning on us, what the hell," he screamed.

Grandpa was standing behind him as if he was a fragile piece of China about to crumble to the floor. He was not about to let that happen. Carl refused to give them the satisfaction of watching him crumble up and die.

Carl and Caroline had been asking for years what had happened in New York. Their ears became radars. It was finally about to be revealed. Carl couldn't stop himself from interrupting.

Grandma stood up swiftly. "I am tired. We will finish this tomorrow. Goodnight Miss Grover. Goodnight to the young Misters Smith." She strutted away from the table with her head held high like a peacock.

"Hold the hell up, old lady. This was never in the plan. You told me that my dad was this Kevin Grover person," Charles

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