NOTHING STAYS THE SAME

by Suzetta Perkins

  “Is there any way Mr. Thomas can save his company?”

  “Now, who are you rooting for? The idiot made an offer to sell his majority shares in his company to my client, who accepted. Sounds to me like Thomas is fresh out of luck.”

  “But maybe this guy has seller’s remorse. It happens all the time. We do things without thinking them through first and act on it before we realize what we’ve done.”

  “You’re talking about yourself now, Ashley. As much as I hated William, I hate even more having to see you behind bars. I’m glad he’s not in your life anymore but at such a terrible cost. I guess that’s the price of passion.”

  Ashley sat still as her father recounted the story of how she’d ended William’s life. She didn’t need another reminder of what happened; the fact that she was here, in the maximum security prison, was reminder enough. Her mind was on Marvin, though, and all he and Rachel stood to lose. Marvin had worked so hard to build his business and to make it what it was today. There had to be something she could do, but she wasn’t sure what it was. She pulled herself out of her daydream at the sound of her father’s voice.

  “Where were you? Definitely not in the room with me after I drove all the way out here.”

  “Sorry, Dad,” Ashley said. “Something you said put me deep in thought.”

  “Well, why was it that you had to see me today? As I’ve said, I’m pretty busy, and I’ve got some research to do on this case. It may take me all day.”

  “There’s someone I need to help get out of a jam. It’s going to require a large sum of money. Dad, this may seem unorthodox, but I need you to tap into one of the trusts that Granddaddy left me and send the amount to an address that I’ll give you.”

  Robert Jordan looked at his daughter like she was insane. “You can’t be serious, Ashley. Who is this person and how much money are you talking about?”

  “Dad, I can’t disclose the name of the person at the moment, but the sum is five hundred thousand dollars.”

  “Have you lost your mind, Ashley? Is that woman who adopted your baby trying to extort money from you? I can have a settlement worked out for her in no time.”

  “No, Dad. No one has asked me for money. This is something I’ve gotta to do.”

  “I’m getting ready to leave. I want you to think about what you’ve asked me to do. Your grandfather is probably rolling over in his grave now. He didn’t leave you the trusts so that you can do frivolous things with them.”

  “But he did leave it to me to use at my own discretion.”

  “Well, I’m going to have a talk with the medical personnel to see if they’ve been neglectful of you and whether or not you need a psychiatric evaluation.”

  “Dad, you can leave now. My request was not farfetched, and I’m very much in touch with my faculties.” Ashley stood up and looked at her father. “I’d like to have my request taken care of within the next week and a half.”

  Robert Jordan stood and stared at his daughter. His anger was about to boil over. Ashley had gone against him all of her life, making one inexcusable mistake after another. Now that he had the upper hand and was executor of her estate since she was in prison, he was going to exercise his right. He took one last look at Ashley and walked out of the room.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  Sylvia and Claudette arrived at Mona’s at the same time. Sylvia brought along Serena, accompanied by Kenny Jr. She couldn’t wait to see Rachel’s face.

  “Hey, Sylvia.” Claudette climbed the steps to the porch and greeted Sylvia with a hug and a kiss, and then stooped to kiss Serena and Kenny Jr. Sylvia gave Reagan a kiss, too.

  “Hey, Claudette. Ready for some adventure?”

  “I’m not sure since you didn’t tell me anything. I called Mona, and she said you’ve got us going on some secret mission. I just want to come back in one piece so I can go home to Tyrone.”

  “You and Tyrone are doing so well.”

  “We’re blessed, Sylvia. Our family is back on track and I’m getting my health together. It couldn’t be better.”

  “Ring the doorbell, Kenny,” Sylvia said.

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  They waited on the porch. “Auntie Mona,” the children sang when Mona opened the door. Serena, Kenny Jr., and Reagan hugged Mona’s legs. She laughed.

  “Michael Jr. is in his playroom. It’s about time you heifers got here. It’s hard having a conversation with a zombie.”

  “Move out of the way and let us in,” Claudette ordered chuckling.

  The crew tumbled inside—the children’s laughter heard above everyone else. Sylvia began to tear up at the sight of Rachel’s face; shock replacing calm as Rachel saw Serena enter the house. She jumped up from her seat and clasped the sides of her face with her hands.

  “Baby, sweetie,” Rachel gasped as Serena ran to her mother. Rachel picked Serena up and hugged her tight, while Serena slapped kisses all over Rachel’s face. “Mommy missed you. How did you get here?” Rachel continued to shower Serena with hugs and kisses.

  “Auntie Sylvia,” was Serena’s reply, pointing her little finger at Sylvia.

  Rachel looked into the faces of Sylvia and Claudette. “What are you guys doing here? You were just here last night. I’m fine, really.”

  Sylvia walked over to Rachel and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Rachel, sweetie. Sit down. We’ve got something to share with you.”

  “What is it, Sylvia? Don’t keep me in the dark.”

  “Mona, why don’t you send the kids to little Michael’s room?” Sylvia suggested.

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s a good idea.”

  “What are you guys up to?” Rachel asked again. She looked from Sylvia to Claudette, who had yet to utter a word.

  “I’m in the dark like you,” Claudette finally chimed in. “I’m just following instructions as usual.”

  “Well, somebody needs to talk to me. My nerves are on edge, my marriage is going down the tubes, and you guys look like Abbott and Costello trying to fake the funk on somebody.”

  “Rachel, I called Mona and Claudette together because we’re going to become detectives, like black Charlie’s Angels,” Sylvia began.

  “Sylvia, please. Pray tell, what is Larry, Curly, and Moe going to do?” Rachel laughed.

  “I thought we were Abbott and Costello?” Claudette said, wanting to get in her two cents.

  “Let’s get on with it, Sherlock,” Mona said, re-entering the room. “I’m ready for the mission.”

  Rachel began to fidget in her seat. “What is it, Sylvia? Why are you being so secretive?”

  Mona and Claudette took a seat and waited for Sylvia to begin.

  “It’s like this,” Sylvia said. “Marvin was over at the house today.” Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes. Sylvia ignored her. “Kenny’s cousin, who’s a prosecuting attorney in the DA’s office downtown, happened to stop by. Out of the blue, Marvin told her about Peaches.”

  “What? What in the hell did he do that for?” Rachel yelled, rising from her seat.

  “Calm down, Rachel. After hearing Marvin’s side of the story from his own mouth, I’m inclined to believe that this woman may have set him up. Kenny’s cousin Trina was listening intently, and she advised Marvin to get some more information on this Peaches woman.”

  “Sylvia, his naked ass was underneath that cheap piece of...cheap piece of crap, who was also naked and doing you know what to Marvin. Do you have some theory other than what the photograph plainly showed that a jury would buy? Marvin is guilty as charged. Hell, I’m getting worked up all over again just thinking about it.”

  “Hear me out, Rachel,” Sylvia begged. “Me, Claudette, and Mona are going out on a limb for you and Marvin because we love you.”

  “All of you are idiots. I’m the person in possession of the photograph that shows her husband with another woman doing the nasty in living color. What if it was one of your husbands instead of mine? Would you be so fast to forgive, or rush to judgment because you can’t dispute
the evidence? For all you know, Marvin could be putting on a performance for you stupid people in order for you to believe his story, which apparently you have.”

  “Hold on now, Rachel, there aren’t any idiots up in my house. Further, Sylvia dragged me into this mess and told me I had to help her,” Mona said. “But to be part of something mysterious is just up my alley.”

  “That’s because your behind is nosey,” Claudette said. “You know Mona can’t help herself.”

  “Whatever,” Rachel said. “You all are wasting your time.”

  “Let us be the judge of that,” Sylvia said. “I heard Marvin speak passionately about what happened that night. All we’re going to do is try to prove it...well, maybe get a little something, something on the woman so maybe someone else can prove it. But what we need from you right now is to watch the children while we’re on our crusade.”

  “So what’s the plan, Sylvia?” Mona wanted to know. “Are we going to be undercover?”

  “We’re going to Earl’s Tavern, hang out, drum up some conversation with the regulars, and hopefully get the scoop on Peaches.”

  “Sounds mighty weak to me,” Rachel said. “You amateurs don’t know what in the hell you’re doing, and you can get yourself hurt. The photo doesn’t lie.”

  “There’s a possibility it might,” Sylvia said. “Trina said an expert might be able to determine whether the photo has been doctored or not.”

  “Ummph,” Rachel sighed. “I know what I saw on that piece of paper.”

  “Stop being so negative, Rachel,” Claudette cut in. “I know how you feel, but if there is an ounce of truth in Marvin’s story, why don’t you let your best friends help solve the mystery. The nerve of the woman to come to your house and deliver the photo so she can extort money. Smells like desperate to me. She ain’t on the up and up. I’m with the girls; we’re going to make Miz Peaches, whoever she is, regret that she ever stepped foot on your doorstep.”

  Rachel began to relax. “You think Marvin might be telling the truth?”

  “Honestly, I do, Rachel,” Sylvia said. “If he had something to hide, he wouldn’t have been pleading and searching for answers. He loves you, Rach. That man loves you with everything he’s got. Don’t give up on your good man so fast. We haven’t.”

  All eyes were on Rachel. She felt like the bare behind on the Pin the Tail on the Donkey game. “I’ll think about it. I appreciate you guys for doing this for me and Marvin, but can I ask you one little bitty question?”

  “What, Rachel?” Mona chimed. “I know you aren’t complaining about the accommodations. I’ve given you plenty to eat, plenty to drink, you’ve used two boxes of tissue and two rolls of toilet paper.”

  “Mona, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” Rachel laughed. “If these guys hadn’t come charging in here like they did tonight, I was ready to pay you a month’s rent.”

  “You ain’t got to change your mind about paying for room and board. My hand is out. But does that mean you’re not staying long?” Mona laughed and the others followed. Rachel kept her mouth closed.

  “Mona, girl, you don’t have any sense,” Claudette said. “So what did you want to ask us, Rachel?”

  “So is that why y’all look like hoochies?”

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  Alight drizzle forced the sun to recede behind the clouds that had formed and were moving fast over the Atlanta area. The autumn had been unseasonably warm and every bit of rain that fell was more than welcomed.

  Marvin and Kenny dashed to Marvin’s Lexus and headed downtown. Both men were silent as they rode out of their quiet subdivision and into the throes of urban sprawl, stopping and starting every few minutes on the congested streets like they were waiting to get into a ball game. Their victory in the boardroom had been overshadowed by Marvin’s demons, specifically the one named Peaches, and someway, somehow, the demon had to be eradicated.

  “A penny for your thoughts,” Kenny said, deep in his own.

  “Ahhhhhh,” Marvin sighed. “Just wondering how I got into all this mess. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me, Kenny. I’m the one who saves everyone else.”

  “You’re only human, bro. What you’re going through could happen to anyone.”

  “But I’m to blame for the mess I’m in. I’ve always said that I wouldn’t be the face of the successful white collar worker who made it big and ended up an Enron artifact.”

  Kenny managed a snicker. “Nicely said, my man. However, it’s happened, and you and I must face it head on. But first we’ve got to get this thorn out of your side. And just so you know, I believe you, Marvin, when you say that you didn’t submit to Peaches willingly.”

  Marvin was silent for a moment. “The bad thing is that I had not taken a drink in over two years because I wanted to live a different life as a father and a husband. I was brought up in the church, and I wanted to kind of go back to basics once Serena was born. Hell, I wasn’t even a recovering alcoholic. And to think that in one night, one night, Kenny, I tried to drink for all the time I hadn’t in the last two years, only to end up on the wrong side of right.”

  “No, man. You ended up in some woman’s bed naked as a jaybird. Got your freak on without really being there. What a waste.”

  “Kenny, man, this is not a laughing matter. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and realized I wasn’t in my house, with my wife. Lord, I know how Adam must have felt in the Garden of Eden when God looked down at him in all his nakedness after he’d eaten the forbidden fruit. And all he could find to cover himself with was a big fat fig leaf.” They laughed.

  “How was she, Marvin?” Kenny joked.

  “Shut the hell up, Kenny. I don’t want to joke about anything as serious as this. The truth is, I didn’t feel a thing because my blood alcohol level had to be over point ten. Let it go. We’re almost there.”

  Kenny rode the rest of the way in silence. All of this talking about Marvin reminded him of someone he had hurt some twenty or more years ago. While he wouldn’t acknowledge it out loud, Kenny knew he had been a whore in the worst kind of way. He’d love them and leave them and didn’t give a crap about what they thought. The one person who had his heart knew of his wanton behavior, and he counted himself blessed that as a changed man, he’d found her again and was able to rekindle that love. He knew in his heart he didn’t deserve Sylvia, but even a sinner deserves a second chance.

  Marvin looked at Kenny. “We’re here,” Marvin said. I hope we get lucky today. The sooner Peaches is out of my life, the better for all of us.”

  “Let’s do it,” Kenny said, jumping from the truck. The thrill of the hunt excited Kenny, and he, like Marvin, hoped they could catch a big fish today.

  Their eyes adjusted as they walked into the tavern. Not many patrons on a Saturday afternoon. A few stragglers sat at the bar, and Earl was in his usual place shooting the bull and entertaining the customers.

  Earl wiped down the bar with swift circular motions, and placed clean glasses in a small rack to dry. He stopped short when he saw Marvin and Kenny approach. The friendly face of a few days ago was gone and replaced with a scowl—no welcome sign here.

  “What do you two fellas want?” Earl asked in a gruff voice. “’Cuz if you didn’t come in here to have a drink, you might want to see yourself back out the door.”

  The other patrons moved their heads like zombies in Earl’s direction, trying to understand who had come in and interrupted their easygoing afternoon. They sat stiffly as if at any moment Earl would push a button and they would head into battle at the order of their commander-in-chief. In truth, none of them could hurt a fly because they spent their lonely days on a beat-up bar stool, glad to have Earl’s company.

  “We’ve come in peace,” Marvin said, almost pleading with Earl. “We just want to ask you a few questions, if we may. It’ll only take a few minutes, and we’ll be out of your hair.”

  “No questions and no answers.” Earl looked at Kenny and placed his finger in his face. �
�You told me that you and your partner weren’t going to do anything to Peaches. You boys upset her, and Peaches doesn’t take too kindly to being pushed around by no grown-ass man.”

  “Did she tell you,” Marvin interjected, “that she stripped me of my clothes...and hers too and took a picture of us as if we were having sexual intercourse and is now blackmailing me to the tune of fifty thousand dollars?” Marvin saw the surprise in Earl’s face. “She’s harassed me, my family, and my employees and has threatened to go to the newspaper with this photo and who knows what else if I don’t give in. I say that I’m within my rights.”

  “So why are you telling me?” Earl asked, visibly upset at Marvin’s account of things.

  “Because I’d hope you’d reason with me and see how I feel as a man...a man whose family has been threatened. I need to put a stop to it. All I need is a name—her real name.”

  “And what are you going to do with this information?” Earl asked.

  Kenny took over. “Earl, we understand that this Peaches might be a regular here and perhaps a good customer, but we need something as leverage to get her to quit this vendetta that she’s fabricated. If we had her whole name, maybe we can find something on her that we might be able to use.”

  Earl’s eyes shifted between Kenny and Marvin. His hand shook slightly, grabbing the edge of the bar to calm the nervousness that had become transparent. “Peaches is all I know. She’s never given another name, and I’ve never asked.”

  “As often as she comes in here, surely she’s told you things about her,” Kenny pushed.

  “So, you’re asking me to be disloyal to a loyal customer,” Earl said, giving Kenny the evil eye. “That’s like a psychiatrist violating a patient confidentiality clause.”

  “If that’s what it is, I guess you’re right,” Kenny responded.

  “Let me tell you something,” Earl began. “I don’t even like you. Peaches told me how nasty you were to her.”

  “Did she tell you how she propositioned us? Wanted to have a ménage à trois.”