The Real Housewives of Adverse City 2

by Shelia E. Bell

  “But I do trust him. If it wasn’t for Harper, my family wouldn’t be living better lives. I would still be in Bolivia, poor, often hungry, and with nothing going for myself.”

  “Yes, I understand you, but I hope that’s not why you went back to him,” Meesha piped in. “Yes, you have everything money can buy, but money can’t buy true inside happiness and love for self, Eva. Now if you really love this man for who he is and not what he has done or can do for you, and your family, then I say what I said, earlier – congratulations on reconciling. But if you only went back to him because you don’t think you or your family can make it without him, then you’re giving him too much power.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I love Harper. I was wrong to sleep with another man. I’m just thankful that he still wanted me back, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure he knows that I love him and that I appreciate him.”

  Without saying anything, unconsciously Avery’s brow furrowed, as a look of dissatisfaction showed on her face. “You can be so…ughhhh,” Avery huffed.

  “What are you talking about?” Meesha frowned.

  “Please, don’t start you two.”

  “She’s sounding like Peyton,” Avery said. “We expect Peyton to be judgmental and smart mouthed, but now Miss Goody Two Shoes has started passing judgment on people.”

  “When did you hear me being judgmental?” Meesha snapped at Avery. “You know what? Something is wrong with you. Seriously.”

  “Don’t you call me crazy!”

  Meesha and Eva looked at Avery like she was crazy.

  Meesha threw up her hand, waving Avery off. “Anyway, I hope you understand where I’m coming from, Eva. We all have gone through some trying stuff lately, but with God’s help, it’s my prayer that we come out on the other side better for it.”

  “I hope so,” Eva said somberly. “I really do hope so.”

  Chapter 23

  “You can't wait around for something to become good, it either is, or isn't.” Toni Aleo

  With emotions running in a hundred and one directions, Carlton exited the attorney’s office, still reeling over the results of the DNA test. The first person he called was Meesha.

  “Hey there,” Meesha said.

  “I just left the attorney’s office. I learned the results of the test.”

  “And?” Meesha replied, placing her hand over the phone and saying, “This is Carlton I’ll be right back,” she whispered softly to Eva and Avery. She stood up from the table and walked out into the hospital corridor.

  Removing her hand from the phone, she began talking to her husband again. “What did it say?”

  “There is a ninety-nine point nine percent chance that someone else out there, only God knows who, is Liam’s father, but it’s certainly not me.”

  Meesha placed her right hand over her chest, closed her eyes, and exhaled. “Thank you, God.”

  “It’s over, Meesha. It’s such a relief. I just knew he was my son, but God said otherwise. The sad part about this whole thing is with Breyonna being dead, that young man will never know who his biological father is.”

  “Yes, but he has a good father in Derek, and he can move forward with his life. He’s young, and he will get pass the hurt, and everything else that’s been going on in his life. We have to continue to pray for him.”

  “Yeah. What are you doing? I thought maybe we could meet somewhere for lunch. You know, like have a celebration of sorts. How do you feel about that?”

  “Well, I’m here at the hospital. Peyton should be coming down from surgery anytime now. I at least wanted to hang

  around until that’s over. I was actually in the hospital cafeteria with Eva and Avery. Harper treated us to lunch. He was with us but he just left to go back to work before you called.”

  “Harper? How did that happen? I thought he and Eva were a done deal.”

  “That’s a whole other story. We’ll talk more about it when I see you later, but I can tell you this much—she moved back home.”

  “If they can work it out, then we aren’t the ones to judge. I’m thankful you gave me another shot, so I’m happy for them if they want to do the same.”

  “Did you say that Avery’s there too?

  “Yeah, she is. Why?”

  “Uhh, nothing. My phone broke up. I wasn’t sure what you said,” he quickly lied.

  “You know what, you’re right about Eva and Harper. If they want to give things another go, who am I to say anything different.”

  “Since you’re going to be at the hospital for a minute, I guess I’ll stop and get a bite to eat. I’ll probably call home to see if the boys have eaten lunch yet. If they haven’t I’ll take something home for them.”

  “I’m sure they’d like that.”

  “Yeah, so just call me when Peyton comes down from surgery. I’ll come back to the hospital then.”

  “Okay.”

  “Talk to you later,” Carlton said.

  “And Carlton, congratulations.”

  “I’m just glad it’s all over. When Peyton hears this, she’ll probably be just as stunned as I was to know that I’m not Liam’s father.”

  “Maybe she will and maybe she won’t. All I know is that I’m glad you are not the father.”

  “You can say that again. Anyway, we’ll talk later.”

  “Okay. Buh-bye.”

  To learn that Liam wasn’t his kid was a huge relief. He honestly thought the boy was his son, but DNA doesn’t lie so Carlton rejoiced. Then he thought about how he almost ruined everything by getting involved with Avery. Thank God Avery had totally backed off. They hadn’t had any real communication after he was finally able to convince her to believe that the baby inside of her was Ryker’s and not his. He used his gift of gab to make the woman have a total change of heart, and he hoped that their affair was history. For a minute, he thought she was crazy as heck. But God had spared him from a situation that could only have messed up his life and his ministry. Now all he had to do was keep his nose clean and do the right thing by his family. Yet, part of him was curious about whose kid it really was that Avery was carrying.

  Meesha returned to the cafeteria to share the news with Eva and Avery. As she walked back into the almost empty cafeteria she looked at Avery. What in the world was wrong with her? It wasn’t like her to be so snappy and short.

  “Guess we all have our days,” Meesha said under her breath as she approached the table and sat back down.

  “It’s Derek,” said Eva, reading her text message. “He says Peyton is out of surgery and in recovery. We’d better get back to the Waiting Room.”

  The three of them got up and walked out of the cafeteria and toward the elevator.

  “How did the surgery go?” Eva asked as the three friends walked up to Derek and Liam who were standing outside of the Waiting Room.

  “The doctor just came and talked to me. He said the surgery went well. She’s going to have a long recovery, but he’s hopeful that she’ll walk again.”

  “Thank you, God,” Meesha said.

  “I’m so glad she’s okay,” Avery said.

  “Liam, aren’t you glad your mother is going to be okay?” Eva asked, walking up and giving him a side hug.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Have you talked to your husband?” Derek asked, looking at Meesha.

  “Yes, I just talked to him. He told me everything,” she replied without saying anything about the DNA results in front of Liam. She wasn’t sure if Derek had told him about the results yet.

  “Okay, good,” Derek said. “It may be some time before Peyton will be up to visitors so if you ladies want to leave, I’ll call or text you to let you know when she can receive visitors. I’m waiting on Ryker to call me back. I talked to him and he’s working on addressing the DUI charges and any other added charges. He said he’s going to meet with the judge about setting bond, get it paid, and that way when she’s discharged from here, which probably won’t be until
tomorrow or the next day, she won’t have to go through the humiliating process of being booked into jail.”

  “I hope he can work everything out,” Eva said.

  “He feels confident that he can.

  “Don’t worry; Ryker is good at what he does. Why do you think all the celebrities, ballers, and the wealthiest of the wealthy come to him,” Avery spoke up.

  “Exactly,” Derek stated.

  “Since you say we can’t see her tonight, then I’m going to head home,” Meesha said.

  “I am too,” followed Eva. “Derek, call me if you need me.”

  “Well, I’m right behind you. Liam, do you want to come home with me?” Avery asked.

  “No, I’m going to stay here with my dad,” the teen said.

  “Okay, but if you change your mind, just have your dad to give me a call and I’ll come back and pick you up.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “See you all later,” Avery said, walking off and through the exit doors.

  “Do you want me to bring you something back to eat?” Meesha asked.

  “Uhhh, okay,” he said, looking at his father.

  “It’s okay with me,” Derek confirmed.

  “Fine, what do you want?”

  “There’s a Mexican restaurant and a Chinese restaurant on the next street,” Derek suggested. “What about something from one of those places?”

  “That’ll be fine,” Liam said nonchalantly.

  “Here you go.” Derek reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and took out a fifty dollar bill.

  “No, I’ve got it,” Meesha said, pushing the money back. “What do you want? Derek, do you want something too?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  Father and son decided on Chinese. Liam asked for plain fried rice and spring rolls and Derek asked for veggie lo mien and spring rolls.

  “Why don’t I take you over there. That way you won’t have to go get your car and then park it again to bring the food back in,” Eva offered.

  “No, you don’t have to do that, Eva,” Derek insisted. “Meesha, just give me a call when you’re outside, and me or Liam will come out and get the food,” Derek told her.

  “Okay, then I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Eva hugged Derek and Liam. “Call me if you need me,” she said. “Meesha, come on, I’ll walk out with you.”

  Chapter 24

  “Sons are the anchors of a mother's life.” Sophocles

  Peyton had been wheelchair bound since being released from the hospital four weeks prior. The orthopedic surgeon had told her that she was to put no weight on her legs for at least eight weeks. After that time, she would be reevaluated and a determination would be made whether it would okay to put weight back on her ankles.

  Days after her surgery, Derek told her about the results of the DNA test. She was just as shocked as Carlton when Derek told her that Liam was not Carlton’s son. Breyonna never hinted once that Liam could be another man’s child. It was bittersweet but one thing that Peyton, and Liam, could be assured of was that he had a father in Derek. That was one thing Peyton couldn’t deny, Derek loved Liam like he was his own flesh and blood son. He would always be able to look back on his life and know that he was loved and cared for. She hoped and prayed that one day Liam would let go of his anger toward her for lying to him and forgive her.

  What made things better for Peyton was Derek and Liam moved back into the house when she was discharged from the hospital. With Liam back at home, their relationship slowly became civil. Liam would come to her room and check in on her to see if she needed anything. He would even bring meals to her from time to time and sit and chat, even if it wasn’t for long periods of time. Peyton felt hopeful. When she talked to him about his feelings concerning the DNA test results, he opened up more than he had in a long time.

  “I’m glad Pastor Porter isn’t my father,” he admitted the day she convinced him to talk to her about the results. “I only have one dad and that’s the way I wanted it. I prayed that prayer.”

  Peyton was surprised to hear her son say that he had prayed that Derek was his dad. He didn’t act like he was too upset about never knowing who his biological father was.

  “Will you forgive me for not telling you the truth about your birth mother and how I got you?” she asked him during the same conversation.

  “I guess I forgive you. You are the only mother I’ve known, but you always talk about being honest and truthful, about how important it is for me to have integrity and good character, and all the time you were living a lie. You could have told me the truth, then none of this stuff with my birth mother would have happened. She wouldn’t be dead and maybe we could have had a relationship. Now, because of you, I’ll never have the chance to know her. Maybe she would have told me who my father is.”

  Peyton reached out to Liam from her wheelchair as he sat on the side of her bed. She laid her hand on top of his.

  “I didn’t want to lose my son. You’re the only child I have. You mean the world to me, Liam. And I’m so sorry that I messed things up between us. My drinking played a role in my bad decisions too. I regret the way I handled everything.”

  “I’m not totally blaming you because I understand that you say I was in a bad situation when I was a little kid so I’m grateful that you wanted to get me out of that environment. I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell me. And then with you drinking all the time. I can’t bring friends to the house because I don’t know if you’ll be drunk. It’s embarrassing. You always say you’re gonna stop, but you never do. You could have died in that accident, Ma. Those police officers could have died,” Liam said sadly, not bothering to look at Peyton.

  “You’re right. I’ve messed up so many times. I planned on going to rehab, but one night, one more bad decision and look at where it landed me, in a wheelchair for God knows how long, Peyton cried, something she rarely did. “I’m sorry, Liam. I’m sorry for the drinking. I’m sorry that I lied to you and kept the truth from you and from Derek all these years. I guess I was afraid, afraid that you would want to leave and go be with Breyonna. I knew that wouldn’t be good for you and I had lived a lie so long that I guess I didn’t see the need to tell you or your father the truth. I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

  The best thing that came out of that terrible day was Liam slowly began opening up. The signs were subtle, but Peyton clung to every moment that he came and stuck his head in her door to say hello. She took in every smile, every light hug he gave her as signs that their life as mother and son was on the mend.

  As for Derek, the night of the accident, she thought there was a chance of them getting back together. But that night, like she always did, she managed to ruin any chance of that.

  Not one to give up hope, she prayed that Derek’s decision to move back in the house might lead to a reconciliation, but that was not the case. Derek made it clear that he was there to help her during her recuperation and give her and Liam a chance to strengthen their relationship. Outside of that, his intention was to file for divorce and ask for full custody of Liam.

  Chapter 25

  “Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.” Aesop

  Peyton sat in her bedroom, depressed about how she had made a mess of her marriage, her family, and her life. Her plans to enter rehab had been thwarted because of that one bad decision, and her marriage and chance for her family to be mended was no longer a possibility. Now she faced the possibility of being locked up. She had court coming up in a few days. Ryker said he would get the hearing put off until she was able to get up and around. Plus, he was working on getting the stiff charges reduced or dismissed altogether. Peyton knew the only way that would happen was if God stepped in and performed a miracle. Unlikely, after all she’d done.

  Ryker arranged for at-home treatment for her alcohol addiction, and for the next ninety days a drug and alcohol counselor would visit her daily, set up a detox program and also connect with her through mandatory teleco
nferences.

  The program was helping Peyton, but she still had that nagging urge for a drink. The very thing that had caused the major discord in her life was the very thing she still longed for. She was no better than a dope fiend.

  If Derek went through with the divorce and took Liam, Peyton didn’t know what her future would look like without the two most important men in her life, but once again, she made a promise to herself and God that she was going to make a change. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too late to make things right. Her parents had called when they learned the news about the accident and her injuries. Her mother was not pleased with Peyton, but then again, that was the story of Peyton’s life. It was hard to do anything right in the eyes of her mother. After finding out that she would be fine over time, her mother scolded her each time she called until the point Peyton looked at her phone and disregarded the call when she saw it was her mother.

  Peyton’s father was somewhat more sympathetic. Unlike his wife, he was more concerned with Peyton’s overall wellbeing and her marriage.

  Peyton was glad they lived out of town and that she didn’t see them often. Liam knew them but he rarely visited or spoke to his grandparents. They were still active seniors and did lots of overseas travel and went on cruises all the time, so they had little time for a kid under their feet.

  Liam knocked lightly on his mother’s bedroom door, temporarily giving Peyton a reprieve from the depressive state she was in.

  “Yes?” Peyton responded to the knock and sat upright in the bed.

  “Mom, Miss Avery is here.”

  The housewives had called the day before and arranged to pick her up for Ladies Day Out today. She agreed that she would go out with them, but she had changed her mind and didn’t bother to tell them. Going out in a wheelchair wasn’t exactly what she could see herself doing. The only times she had ventured outside of the house was when she had a doctor’s appointment.