Ivy, Winter, Winston, and J.R. stood and stared in puzzlement. “I know he’s not getting in to see our mother when her children are sitting outside waiting,” Winston said.
“Pop isn’t going to let him get within five feet of Mom,” J.R. interjected.
“Okay, you guys,” Ivy began. “Although I love you all to death, Malik is my husband. I know I don’t deserve my mother’s love right now, but I love that woman with every fiber of my being and all I want is for her to be well. I only hope that she can forgive me for how I’ve treated her.”
Winter held Ivy in an embrace. “Mom loves you, Ivy. You’re her favorite.”
“You’re lying, Winter. Mom loves your behind better than me because you’re just like her.”
“Well, that may be true.” Winter laughed. “But you look like her. Anyway, she loves all of us the same; she told me so. She’ll be glad that the prodigal daughter has come home. And . . . I want to say while I’m thinking about it, that I’m sorry for how I showed out at The Mint. I was hurt because my mother hurt, but it wasn’t my place nor was it becoming of me to act like a jackass out in public.”
“It’s okay, sis. We’re cool now, okay.”
Winter kissed Ivy, and they hugged again.
“I’ve got a surprise,” Ivy said.
“What?” Winter asked, looking into Ivy’s eyes for clues. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“Hey,” J.R. said, cutting Ivy and Winter’s conversation short. “They took Malik to the back. What’s that all about?”
The four of them—Winter, Ivy, J.R. and Winston—looked from one to the other. Winter wrinkled up her nose like she might have an idea as to what it meant.
“I guess we’ll soon find out,” Winston said.
• • •
Instead of waiting on Jefferson and his sons to get her website operational, Toni went back to her condo, sat down at her desktop computer, and began typing on her blog. Several hours had passed with no word from Jefferson. He had left her high and dry the moment Margo had come calling.
Toni had a huge email distribution list that crisscrossed the state of North Carolina as well as the entire United States, and the recipients were going to get their fill tonight. She’d been gathering information on the candidates who were running for state office, and she was surprised to learn that Malik Mason out of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was running for a senate seat but had also recently married Jefferson and Margo’s daughter, Ivy. That story had been told, but who knew what might come of it, and she began her blog.
Thirty-Five
Tension in the emergency room tightened when nurse Cassandra approached with Malik in tow. Jefferson glared, but this was not the time to display his animosity toward his archenemy. Jefferson’s hatred for Malik had mounted upon learning that he had slept with Margo, but it went through the roof when he learned that behind his back Malik had married his daughter.
Now he’d been served with another slap to the face. It appeared that his enemy was not only the husband of his daughter, Ivy, but he was also the father of his soon-to-be ex-wife’s babies. Genetics didn’t lie, and right then and there he wanted to kill somebody. But he reserved his hostility for one of civility, although it was difficult to keep up the façade for long. For a brief moment he thought about Toni who he left in his office . . . who ached to be with him and he with her. But he quickly concentrated on the present.
Malik presented himself but didn’t look at Jefferson. Jefferson watched as Malik seemed shaken seeing Margo laying on the gurney. Dr. Anderson looked to Jefferson for an explanation.
“He’s the babies’ father,” Jefferson said with a sneer.
“Oh, I see,” was Dr. Anderson’s reply.
“We’ve just got clearance for the OR,” Dr. Betts said, getting off of his cell phone. “We’re out. Jefferson, you are going to hang around?”
“I’ll be here.”
Malik listened as Dr. Anderson spoke about what baby Ian was going through, and before long, an orderly came and whisked Malik away to obtain his blood.
“I’m sorry if that was awkward,” Dr. Anderson said, looking at Jefferson, “but saving the baby’s life is what we’re interested in.”
“Understood,” Jefferson said flatly. “Here are the signed papers.”
Before Dr. Anderson turned to leave, another orderly came into the room. “Something’s strange about the other twin’s blood test. He tested O positive . . . not A with an RH factor.”
Dr. Anderson looked up at Jefferson. “Congratulations are in order. We’re taking Ian to the operating room.”
“May I see, Evan?” Jefferson asked, a sudden flush of excitement coming over him.
“Yes, follow me. I’ll do a last check on him while they take Ian up to the OR. We may be able to release him today.”
Jefferson grinned from ear to ear. Somehow he felt vindicated. He followed Dr. Anderson to where Evan was being cared for by a nurse. Dr. Anderson checked him thoroughly, noting that he’d been cleaned up and the small lacerations had been tended to.
“He was very lucky,” Dr. Anderson said. “Now, I’ve got to take care of Ian. I hope you’re still here when we’re finished.”
“I’ll be here,” Jefferson said a second time, his thoughts totally on Evan. He reached down and kissed him on the cheek. Evan smiled back. “My son,” Jefferson said. “My son.”
• • •
“Damn,” Perry Rush said out loud, running his eyes over the text in the blog that BlackAmericaWeb.com puts out daily. “Who in the hell is this Toni Gillette?” He re-read the excerpt that appeared in the blog. State senate campaigns are well underway in North Carolina. Black candidates seem to be cashing in on the Barack Obama coattail as an astounding record number have put their names in the hat. In particular, the race in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in a black supported district, is heating up as Sterling Garrison, a former basketball star standout for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who turned pro for the Los Angeles Lakers over a decade ago, just moved ahead in the polls over favorite, Malik Mason. Mr. Mason is heavily supported by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
It’s interesting to note that Malik Mason recently married the daughter of Jefferson Myles, a once celebrated businessman in Fayetteville, and Margo Myles, a prominent real estate broker in the same city. Sources say that candidate Mason’s wife is twenty-two years his junior.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. Shelton Wright, well-known psychologist, is well ahead . . . .
“I’ve got to find out who this woman is,” Perry said out loud. “If Malik Mason thinks he’s going to win this campaign without a fight, he’s got another thing to think about. He needs to focus on what’s important.” Perry hit the FORWARD button, checked URGENT and sent the email to Malik. “Maybe he’ll pay attention to this since he seems to be ignoring me.”
Thirty-Six
Happiness and delight were painted on Jefferson’s face and spilled over to his body language as he emerged from the inner sanctum of the ER with a bandaged Evan. His older children stood when they saw him and rushed toward the pair to get an update.
Jefferson stopped his advance when he saw Ivy among the group but put on a smile when she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Hey, Daddy, I’m so sorry. I love you.”
Jefferson gave Evan to Winter and hugged Ivy. He pushed back to get a good look and kissed her on the cheek. Moisture formed in his eyes as Jefferson scanned her face. He hugged her again. “I love you, too, baby. Welcome home.”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Winter started, trying to break up the love fest between her dad and sister.
“Don’t hate, Winter,” Ivy said. “I haven’t seen Dad in a long time, and I’m so happy.”
“What’s up with Mom?” Winston asked. “Is she in surgery or what? And is Ian going to be all right?”
“One question at a time,” Jefferson said, taking Evan back from Winter. “Your mom is in surgery. She has a broken hip and bus
ted leg. She’s going to need help, which may mean we’ll have to get a live-in nurse. She won’t be able to do anything for awhile, let alone care for two little ones.”
“What about Ian?” Winter asked, anxious to hear about the other twin.
“He suffered more trauma than Evan, and the doctors will have to perform minor surgery on him since they believe he’s had some internal bleeding.”
“My God,” Winter said, holding her face as if she couldn’t fathom her father’s words.
As if she noticed Malik’s absence for the first time since celebrating her triumphant return to her family, Ivy scrunched up her face as if trying to reason things out. “Daddy, where is Malik? You didn’t beat him up back there, did you?”
A painful look crossed Jefferson’s face. He repositioned Evan in his arms then looked thoughtfully at Ivy. As if on cue and before Jefferson was able to offer an explanation, Malik resurfaced from behind the walls that were intended for patients and medical staff only.
A look of concern and bewilderment enveloped Malik’s face. He stared at the group, who in his mind were there to lynch him, until he turned and zeroed in on Ivy. His silence heightened the questionable looks that everyone gave him, and Malik knew there was little chance that he’d be able to avoid the inevitable.
“What’s wrong, Malik?” Ivy asked, all eyes trained on him. “What were you doing back there and what did Momma want with you?” Ivy looked from Malik to Jefferson who eventually turned his head.
As if an answer had finally materialized, Malik answered with confidence. “They needed to draw my blood.”
“Daddy was back there. Why didn’t they draw his blood?”
“Uhm hmmm,” Winter murmured, turning away from Malik to give her brother Winston the eye.
“Ian has a rare blood type, and Margo somehow must have remembered me talking about my blood type in a conversation I had had with her some time ago.”
“I’m not getting it. Why call you?”
“Why don’t you tell the truth?” Jefferson said, his mood suddenly not so cordial. “Your wife deserves an explanation.”
“Uhm hmmm,” Winter muttered again under her breath but loud enough for Ivy to hear.
Ivy turned and looked at her sister, then back to her father, before looking at Malik head on. “Tell me what?”
“Why don’t we go outside? This is a personal matter that I need to discuss with you in private.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t say it in front of my family since it appears they seem to already know what you’re going to say. Right, Daddy?”
“Oh, your husband knows we know.”
Malik was seething and drew in a breath. He looked at Ivy with disgust. “Ask your daddy since he knows everything.” Defiant and angry, Malik turned on his heel and marched out of the emergency room.
“Malik, wait,” Ivy said as she ran after her husband. Jefferson, Winter, Winston and J.R. watched in silence.
“So what is the deal?” Winston asked Jefferson who held onto Evan like his life depended upon it.
Jefferson dropped his head, then looked back at his three children who looked as if they would pick him apart if he held out on them any longer.
“Okay, Dad,” Winter cajoled. “We aren’t your little babies anymore. We are grown-ups, adults . . .”
“I get it, Winter,” Jefferson said with a frown on his face. “The truth is Evan is my biological child and Ian is Malik’s biological child. Go figure.”
“Shit!” J.R. said. “No disrespect, Pops, but how in the hell did that happen?”
“Uhm hmmm,” came Winter’s unrelenting chant.
“I’m the wrong person to be asking that question to, son. I have a gut feeling that Ivy’s family reunion isn’t going to have a happy ending. Winter, maybe you should go outside and check on your sister.”
“Dad, I just got my sister back. I’m not meddling in that mess.” Winter exhaled. “I’m going to the machine and get a Coke. Anybody else want one?”
“I need something stronger than that,” Jefferson said.
“Ditto,” Winston chimed in.
“How in the hell did this happen?” J.R. repeated again.
Thirty-Seven
Toni Gillette pulled herself up from in front of her computer and headed for the kitchen to fix a salad. She was hungry, but more than that she seemed agitated because she wasn’t getting the kind of fix or better said, satisfaction from what she was doing. More than she had let on, Jefferson Myles had pricked something in her . . . something that made her feel needy, vulnerable, and made her realize that her heart wanted more. Jefferson was more than a good catch and a good lay, he was a man with intelligence—a true businessman with goals and a plan to back it up.
She looked at her watch. Several hours had passed since she left Jefferson’s office and she’d posted her political blog. Toni thought for sure Jefferson would have called by now. Maybe Margo’s accident was more serious than she first thought, and she didn’t blame him for being the man he was because Toni hoped that one day Jefferson would be as attentive to her.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, Toni went to the refrigerator and pulled out some romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber and some chicken breasts she’d grilled the day before. She heated the chicken in the microwave and placed it on top of the salad greens and sprinkled bits of the onion and grated cheddar cheese on top. Next, she poured a tiny bit of vinaigrette on top of her salad and proceeded to the table.
Before she was able to sit her food down, her BlackBerry began to hum on the counter. Toni quickly sat her food down, picked up the phone, looked at the caller ID and smiled.
“Hi, Toni.”
“Hey, Jefferson. I’m glad to hear your voice. How’s everything?”
“I wanted to apologize for how I had to run out on you this afternoon.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“While Margo and I may be going through a divorce, she’s still a part of my life . . . we share children together.”
“No need to apologize,” Toni said, not sure where Jefferson was headed. “I’m just glad you called.
Jefferson coughed as if he had to get something out of his throat. “Anyway, ahh, ahh, Margo is in surgery, and the kids and I are hanging tough. The twins . . . well, Evan is okay; he suffered a few lacerations on his head and hands, but he made out better than the other. Funny thing is . . .” There was quiet.
“Jefferson, what’s wrong? What happened to the other twin? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay.”
“What is it, Jefferson?” Toni asked, giving Jefferson her full attention and ready to hear a bit of news.
“Are you sitting down?”
“No, but I can find a seat. Hold on; this sounds serious.” Toni sat in one of her kitchen chairs and laid her elbows on the table. Her eyes were bucked in anticipation. She had no idea what Jefferson was going to drop on her, but she was glad that he chose her to share his obvious concerns with.
“The twins . . . the twins,” he repeated, “the twins that Margo birthed are not identical twins.”
Toni arched her eyebrows and made a face. What was the big deal? Twins either are or aren’t. But it was what Toni heard next that almost made her drop her BlackBerry.
“That’s not the big deal,” Jefferson continued, prolonging his mysterious reveal to Toni. “I have little Evan in my arms, and I found out today that he’s my child.”
Toni frowned. Whoop-de-do-do-do, she thought to herself. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
“And Evan’s twin, I also found out is not mine.”
“What are you talking about, Jefferson? You’re not making much sense.”
“I didn’t make much sense to me either at first. But it’s all crystal clear to me now.”
“What is? I don’t mean to rush you, but this is agony, the way you’ve got me wondering and guessing at the suspense of it all.”
“I’ll just say it.”
“That would help.”
“Toni, you’re not letting me tell it in my own way.”
“Tell me what, Jefferson?” Toni’s patience was running thin.
“Malik Mason, my former best friend and my daughter’s husband, is Ian’s father.”
“Shut the hell up.”
“Now you get it?”
“Oh my goodness. I see why you had a hard time conveying this. But exactly how did you find out?”
“Ian has a rare blood type, and without going through all of the things that transpired after hearing about it from the doctor, Margo knew whose blood type Ian was carrying. And Ian needs surgery and Margo had to call Malik because his blood may possibly be needed in the event they have to do a blood transfusion.”
“This is too much.”
“Tell me about it. Look, I’ve got to go. My daughter, Ivy, is on her way back into the hospital and she doesn’t look happy.” Almost as an afterthought, Jefferson asked, “Would it be all right if I stop by tonight?”
“My door is always open to you. Call me and let me know when you’re on the way.”
“Will do; gotta go.”
Toni hit the END button on her BlackBerry and began to smile. “Oh my God,” she said out loud. She put her hand to her mouth to keep from grinning. Toni picked up her fork and nibbled on the lettuce leaves. This is a headliner for sure, she thought to herself. Watch out, Malik Mason. My cousin, Sterling, is getting ready to whoop your ass. And not only that, this will not only shape up the Fayetteville senatorial race, but it’s going to put me on the map as well. I’ve got to be the one to break the news first, but I must be careful how I go about it since the man I want for myself is the source, and the last thing I want to do is run him away.
Jefferson may have taken his time getting his news out, but it was news worth waiting for. And later, she would bestow the most fabulous reward to the man of her dreams; she was going to love Jefferson up something fierce for dropping the biggest piece of sensational journalism in her lap. She was going to make him feel so good—from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet—that Jefferson would spill everything and beg for more of her at the same time.
In My Rearview Mirror Page 15