The next day I was more anxious than ever. I sat there, looking in the vanity, as the stylist did my hair and makeup. This was the day I had planned for months. The stage was being set for the rest of my life. Tonight I was going to tell Ashton what his brother had done to me. I was so afraid he would hate me or never want to see me again. But I couldn’t think about it now, I just had to get through the day. Caroline and all her assistants were rushing around, trying to make sure things were right. The wedding was set to start at 5:00.
My dress was perfect. Lucy had done an excellent job. It was an off white linen with pink chiffon, the bottom was lined in tiny pearl beading and fell to just below the knee. It was something you had to see to fully appreciate, simple, but beautiful. There was a pink, pill box veil to go with it. I wore the pearls my grandmother had given me. “Candice, you are breathtaking,” Brenda brought me out of my thoughts.
“So do you. This is the first day of the rest of my life.”
“It’s time we go down, are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”
“Here’s your bouquet. Everyone is waiting downstairs.”
“I’m so nervous, Brenda, and the babies won’t stop moving.”
“Maybe they’re just as excited as you are. Just take a few deep breaths.”
“Breathing. Ok. I’m ready.” We took the elevator downstairs. There stood Uncle Tee, looking dapper in his white tux. I hadn’t noticed what a handsome man he was until now. Aunt Sally was a lucky woman and he loved her so much. I took his arm as we headed to the beach. The weather was perfect, eighty degrees with a soft breeze.
As we walked down I could see Ashton standing there looking as handsome as ever, in his black Roberto Cavalli tux and a smile that could launch a thousand ships. All my friends and family were smiling up at me. I was truly happy in that moment.
~~~
Uncle Tee walked me down the aisle. I took Ashton’s hand and Bryan began the ceremony. The rings were exchanged and we said our vows. Then Bryan pronounced us husband and wife. We proceeded to a big tent where the reception was being held. It surpassed my wildest dreams. Words would never express it. The pink flowers were beautiful and the crystal chandeliers had everything sparkling, the cake was spectacular. It was all very regal.
The band was playing our song, Sentimental Mood. We walked to the dance floor, Ashton placed my hand in his, and we danced. He whispered in my ear, “I love you, Mrs. Williams.” Everyone joined us on the dance floor. I loved Ashton, now, more than ever. In the back of my mind I wondered what would happen after I told him my truth.
Before I knew it, it was time to cut the cake. We posed for the photographer. Our world seemed set forever, but I knew it was about to change. “Ladies and Gentleman, it’s time to toast the bride and groom.” Bryan and Sandra were first, Sabrina and Anthony next.
So far, the night was going off without a hitch. Sofia was behaving and Victor seemed to be MIA. The party was in full swing, when Victor showed up and pulled Ashton to the side. My nerves were in my throat, “Where are you going, Baby?” I asked Ashton.
“I’ll be back. Victor needs to speak to me.”
They left the table and Sandra came over. “What’s that all about?”
“I don’t know, but he needed to talk to Ashton.”
“I take it you didn’t tell him last night.”
“No, I was going to tell him after the party tonight.”
“I hope he doesn’t beat you to the punch.”
Suddenly we heard yelling coming from outside the party. Ashton was cursing at Victor, “…lying, drunken bastard! Will you stop at nothing? I will kill you if I ever hear you talk about my wife that way!” Then I saw Sofia get up and go outside.
“What’s going on with you, Ashton?” I heard her ask, “This is your brother. You two are embarrassing yourselves so stop this now.” I was afraid to go to Ashton, he was enraged. People were starting to stare. Ashton swung and hit Victor, knocking him down. I had to go to him, this was going too far.
Victor got up, stumbling backward, “You will regret this, Brother.”
“The only thing I regret is that you are my brother.”
“You just wait until I take my children from you and that bitch! This isn’t over.”
“Ashton, you are an embarrassment to our family! You would take this woman and her family over your own?” came Sofia’s voice.
“Mother, you’re an embarrassment to yourself. So you take your lying son and get the hell out of my face!”
“Let me tell you something about lying. Ask your wife why I saw your brother come out of her room.” Ashton stopped cold still, “Mother, you had better take that back.”
“Take back what, Ashton? Take back the truth? Ask her.” I was standing there in disbelief, my mouth gaping wide open. I couldn’t tell him. Not here, not now. So I just ran away, as fast as my swelling feet could carry me.
“Candice!” I could hear Sandra yelling behind me. My tears blinding me, I kept going. I wanted to get out of there.
I lay across what would have been our wedding bed, crying until I threw up. How could he? Didn’t he rape me? And now it was my fault? I could hear Sabrina and Sandra, banging on the door. “Candice, you need to open this door before we get security.” I just wanted to die. Ashton hated me and I wanted to die.
I lay there sprawled out on the bathroom floor, sick from a lie. My wedding was ruined, my life was over. I felt myself losing consciousness. I just wanted to forget. I could hear Sabrina saying to get a doctor, something was wrong. “What’s wrong? Sabrina, there’s blood on her dress.”
When I came to, I was in a helicopter and could hear the medics talking. “If we don’t hurry she’ll abort.” I started praying. I didn’t want to lose my babies. Then everything was silent and dark.
Sandra
Chapter 28
“Ashton, you better hope nothing happens to my sister.”
“Sabrina, I love Candice. Do you think I would wish her harm?”
“I don’t know or care what you wish, but I do know and care about my sister.”
“Just calm down, Sabrina,” Anthony said. “We don’t know the story.”
“I don’t care what the story is! My sister could die! Why the hell didn’t you get on that helicopter with her, is what I want to know?”
“Don’t worry about it, Sabrina. We need to catch this next flight to the main land. We have to leave now.”
Bryan and Uncle Tee were staying behind at the resort. Me, Sabrina and Anthony, and Ashton hurried to catch the flight. We took our seats and I stared out the small window thinking how our family was built on lies. Lies that stretched over generations. And now my father and sister were lying at death’s door. It was more than I could take, but I had to be strong. I made a conscious decision to tell the truth, no matter the consequences.
We quickly arrived in Honolulu, got a cab and headed straight to the hospital. Sabrina and I stopped at the nurse’s station for her room number, “Nurse, can you give us any information on her condition?”
“Sorry, Miss, you need to talk to her doctor, but I can tell you she’s resting now. You can go see her.”
When we walked in, Candice was on oxygen and well sedated. The doctor walked in, “I’m Mrs. Williams’ doctor. Is her husband with you?”
“Not yet, but we’re her sisters. We’ll sign whatever is needed.”
“I’m sorry, but we need her husband. Do you think he will be here soon? I’m going to need permission to treat her.”
Just then Ashton walked in, “I’m her husband, Doctor.”
“Ok, Mr. Williams, sign here. This will give us permission to treat your wife. Would you ladies kindly step out so I can discuss her condition with her husband?”
“Doctor, I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving. This is my sister.”
“It’s ok, Doctor. She would want them to know,” Ashton said.
“Alright. Mr. Williams. The stress your wife
has been under has put the infants in distress. The lining of her uterus has thinned and this could cause complications. She must be on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy.”
“Doctor, we live in New York. Will she be able to fly?”
“I’m afraid not. She will have to stay in our facility. It’s ok. I will contact her doctor for her records. The babies are thriving at this moment. They weigh a couple of pounds each. That’s good, being she is almost six months.”
“Six months? We were told she was only four.”
“I’m sure there was a mistake. It happens often when twins are involved. We have state of the art equipment and it’s not wrong. I assure you.”
Then these couldn’t be Victor’s babies was all I could think.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Ashton saying. “I’ll make arrangements for us to stay.”
“I’m going to stay too, Ashton. My sister needs me.”
“Sabrina, I think I can handle things from here. She’s my wife.”
“Sabrina, would you go and get some coffee? I’d like to talk to Ashton alone.” When she left the room, I told him everything that Candice had told me about the rape.
“Why didn’t she tell me, Sandra? Doesn’t she know I love her?”
“I’m sure she knows, but she didn’t want to cause a rift in your family. We had a hard upbringing, and I’m sure that played a part.”
“Candice never tells me much about your family. I can’t believe she would sacrifice so much for me.”
“That’s the kind of person she is and always has been. So when she told me what happened I believed her. She honestly does love you, Ashton, and you should never take her love for granted.”
“How could I have been so foolish? I know she loves me.”
“We all make mistakes, Ashton, only God is perfect.”
“How did you become so wise, Sandra?”
“I guess my life has had its own testimonies.”
“Thank you for all your advice and I’m glad you’re my sister-in-law.”
“Same here, Ashton. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother,” we hugged.
“Here are your coffees. Did I miss anything?”
“No, but you two are the best. I hope Candice knows how lucky she is.”
“We love her. She’s our sister.”
Candice began waking up, “Are you alright?”
“Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital. You had a little incident.”
“Are the babies ok? I thought I was losing them.”
“They’re fine, Honey. We have to stay here for a while though.”
“Ashton, there is so much I have to tell you.”
“Don’t worry. Sandra explained everything. It’s going to be ok. Just rest, Sweetheart,” and he kissed me. “Everything is going to be alright.”
“Sandra, you couldn’t hold water.” Candice told me.
Candice
Chapter 29
I stayed in the hospital in Hawaii for the next two months until the doctors said it would be ok to fly back to New York. But Ashton had already gotten an apartment, so I stayed put. I didn’t want anything to happen to my precious babies. Marbella had been staying with Ashton at the apartment. They had been coming to the hospital in shifts to stay with me and make sure I was ok.
The doctors thought it was best to have a C-section. The babies were born Febuary14th, Valentine’s Day. They were four pounds each, Nathaniel Ashton Williams and Cameron James Williams, both named after their grandfathers.
We were finally ready to move back to New York. Hawaii had been great, but I was ready to go home. We were packed and our things had been shipped. Getting the babies and everything else together was a handful. Marbella was there helping, but we still needed extra hands. “Candice, just calm down, everything will be ok.”
“Marbella, we have to catch a flight in two hours and I’m not nearly ready.” I was breast feeding the boys every two hours and where was Ashton? In New York. Sometimes I felt like I was doing this alone. I was going to hire a nannie as soon as I got back I thought, as I ran around getting everything done. “Marbella, I’m almost ready, I just want to double check everything to make sure.”
“Baby, do whatever makes you feel safe. You’ve checked everything three times already.” Candice was driving herself crazy, checking and rechecking. “Has the car arrived? It should be downstairs?”
“Yes, it’s downstairs. The babies and I are ready.” We got to the airport on schedule. Marbella was pushing the stroller with the babies and I was carrying our things. Lord, just get us home safe, I prayed. “I must say, I appreciate single mothers more now.” We boarded the plane, everything and everybody safe. “Shit, I‘m worn out.”
After our long flight, we finally landed at JFK. Ashton was there to pick us up. “I have a surprise for you and Mother.”
“I hope it’s a massage and a pedicure, I need them both badly.” I noticed we were not heading into the city. “Where are we going?”
“Candice, just relax.” We took the Jersey turnpike. We drove to Madison County, about twenty five miles outside of Manhattan, and into the Cambridge community. We stopped in front of the most extraordinary house, “Is this the surprise?” I know my mouth hanging open.
“Yes, this is my surprise. Welcome home, Family! This is what I was doing this last week while you were taking care of everything in Hawaii.”
“Ashton! This is beautiful, Baby. I love it!”
“Before you say you love it, let’s go inside so you can truly love it.” We walked in the door. It was breathtaking. Ashton had all the furnishing in place, but I knew I would put my touches to it. It had four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a pool. I was so glad we didn’t have to go back to that apartment. It had been ok enough for me, but not for our family.
“Mother, you will be staying here with us. You’ll have your privacy, of course.”
“Maybe Marbella has other plans, Ashton.”
“I’m sorry, Mother. I know I should have asked. I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay. It’s just we’ve gotten so close since Hawaii. But I will certainly understand if you want your own place. Staying with Sofia, all these years, with no privacy must have taken its toll.”
“I would love to stay, but there’s my gentlemen friend. We plan to be married in June.”
We stood there, shocked by her announcement. We hadn’t even considered that Marbella had friends. “Mother, I didn’t know…”
“Nor did I, Marbella.”
“Did you think I spent my life with only Sofia? I do have a life but I wanted to be there for you, Ashton. I also wanted to be there when my grandchildren were born. This is a beautiful house and I know that you will be happy here. I’m not that far away if you ever need me. Plus, I’m going to stay until Candice gets some help with the babies.”
“Thank you so much, Marbella. I’m going to need the help. I’m going to get a nannie as soon as possible so I can get back to work.”
After a few weeks, Marbella was able to go back to her own life.
Chapter 30
My father passed before I could go to Memphis. It was hard, but I was glad his suffering was finally over. The last months had been the hardest for him and the family. I had talked with him as much as possible, but he had been so weak from the radiation. We all flew to Memphis for the funeral, along with Marbella. Marbella and Aunt Sally had formed a lasting friendship.
We buried Daddy next to my mother. The two most influential people in my life were now resting. Life had to go on. That’s the way they would want it.
Ashton and I visited my biological father while we were in Brownsville. He wanted a relationship with me and his grandchildren. I took the rest of the three million dollars he had given me and put it in a trust for the babies.
The year passed quickly. Nathaniel and Cameron had their first birthday. I had decided to be a stay at home mother for at least two years. Ashton agreed it would be best for Cam a
nd Nate. I did finally hire a nannie. I had been hesitant at first, but now Katie was like part of the family.
A lot had happened this past year. Brenda and Lance had gotten married. They were now expecting their first child. We talked at least twice a week, mostly about childbirth. Her mother and father had moved to Atlanta permanently. She was so happy and she couldn’t wait to give birth. Lance had become one of the largest trucking companies in the US. Their life together was going well, and I was happy for them. They both deserved it. I made plans to visit her in the next few months.
My sisters and I were closer than ever. The twins and I had just left Sandra’s. She was busy with her designing business. She had become a designer to the stars. She’d shown her first collection at New York’s Fashion week. I was so proud of her. She was finally living her dreams. She’d always taken care of everyone else and it was her time now. She was getting ready to show her new collection in Milan and she and Bryan had decided to make it their second honeymoon.
Sabrina was doing her thing. She’d become a sports announcer for the Memphis Tigers. Who knew with her? I wanted do something I could be proud of, she’d said. I didn’t care what she did, as long as she was happy.
Marbella had gotten married. The funny thing was she had dated him for a little while after Ashton’s father had died. He was Clarence’s friend and band member, Sam. They had stayed in touch over the years. Marbella was happier than I had ever seen her. She was free to love again, her way. Marbella and Sam were always visiting the children and the kids loved being with them. Ashton and Sam became quite close. Sam was even teaching Ashton to how to play the sax. Ashton now had the father he had always longed for.
Ashton and Victor hadn’t spoken since Hawaii. He didn’t like talking about it. He constantly apologized to me about not loving me enough and I apologized to him for not telling him right away. That way we could have put the lies to rest right away.
Sofia has never seen her grandchildren, mostly due to her stubbornness. She wanted to be right and have things her way. In the end, she lost.
Life’s too short to lose family. Family is one of the most important things you have in life. Family defines who you are and what you will become.
Black Lies White Lies Page 24