Her eyes became as big as saucers as she saw Malik walk past. She ducked and turned her head to avoid detection. After what seemed like an eternity, Ivy took a chance and peeped out of the booth and was glad Malik was nowhere in sight. As fast as her body would allow, she bolted from the telephone booth and ran outside. She was in luck as the cab pulled up to the curb about the same time she arrived. Hurriedly, she got in and shut the door.
“Please take me to Fayetteville. My address is . . .”
“Ma’am, I don’t go that far.”
“I’ll make it worth your while. How about a fifty-dollar tip on top of the fare?”
“I don’t think anyone would miss me. Give me the address and we’re on our way.”
Ivy’s tears were gone, but she had an awful pain in the pit of her stomach. The hurtful things Malik said about wanting to be with her mother were still audible in her ears. Her husband loved her mother, Margo, more than he loved her, and she blamed her mother for some of it. If Margo hadn’t slept with Malik, regardless of what her father may have done in the past, the pain Ivy felt deep down inside wouldn’t be.
Ivy sniffed and closed her eyes, hoping to wipe out the memory of Malik pleading with her mother to give them a chance at love. Malik hadn’t even given any thought that she, his wife, was carrying their baby. The bastard was going to pay. There was no way in hell that she was going to stay married to that heartless son-of-a-bitch or have his baby.
When Ivy looked up, the cab driver was staring at her in his rearview mirror. She diverted her gaze, but when she looked up again, he was still staring at her. It frightened her a little, but so far he hadn’t veered off the interstate. And then she froze at the sound of his voice.
“Miss, are you okay? You seem troubled.”
Ivy stared at the face in the mirror. “It’s none of your concern. I need you to drive as fast as you can without breaking the speed limit.”
The cabby looked straight ahead and proceeded on in silence. But somewhere between silence and Ivy’s last words, she lost it. She began to cry uncontrollably and without ceasing. Before long, the car slowed to a crawl and then abruptly stopped.
The cabby leaned his arm on the back of his seat and turned toward Ivy. “Miss, what is it? I can’t drive with you screaming like that. Do I need to take you back to the hospital?”
“No, no, don’t do that,” Ivy shouted. “I don’t want to go back there. They’ve taken away my dignity.”
“Who, Miss? Who’s taken away your dignity?” There was silence. “Talk to me so I can help you.”
“My sorry ass husband, that’s who. He and my mother have stripped me of my dignity.”
“Is there anyone I can call? You don’t need to be by yourself.”
Ivy’s face was stained with her tears. Her chest heaved in and out as her inner turmoil got the best of her. “I don’t need anybody. I’ve had it up to here with people, especially the liars and cheaters. Every time I put my trust in someone, they disappoint me. People disappoint you when you think you can count on them the most. No more.”
“May I ask what happened?”
Ivy sat up straight and wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Do you really want to know? Do you really want to know?” she screamed.
“If it will help.”
“I’m going to tell you. I recently married what I thought was the man of my dreams.” Ivy picked up her left hand and fumbled with her rings. “He put this nice big rock on my finger, and I believed we were going to have a happy life together. I was hiding a secret when we got married. I was pregnant with our child, but when I finally told him, he seemed happy that he was going to be a father.
“Yesterday, all hell broke loose. My mother and her twin baby boys were hit by a car while crossing the street.”
“I’m so sorry . . .”
“Don’t interrupt. I haven’t even gotten to the good part of the story. Anyway, they were rushed to the hospital. My mother and one of the twins were pretty banged up. Come to find out that one of the twins sustained an injury that might require a blood transfusion. And because of that, my parents found out that the baby had a rare blood type that neither of them has. But guess who did? You guessed right if you said my husband. Can you believe that crap? My husband has the baby’s blood type and carries the baby’s genes. Do you want to know why? You don’t have to respond because the answer is obvious. My husband slept with my mother.”
“Whoa,” said the cabby. “Now I understand why you’re so upset. Don’t worry; they’ll pay for what they’ve done to you.”
Ivy pounded the back of the driver’s seat. She wasn’t about to tell the cabby that her mother and husband conceived those twins long before she’d been with Malik. In fact, her fascination of Malik started a long time ago, however, when she suddenly ran into him in Atlanta, she pursued him for the hell of it. Little did she know that they would end up as man and wife. “They sure as hell will,” Ivy said, continuing her rant for her lone audience. “They’re going to pay. I don’t care if I never see them again. If I was driving this damn taxi and saw my husband on the side of the road, I’d run over his ass and wouldn’t even look in my rearview mirror to see if he was dead or alive. I’d keep on driving.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“The hell I do.” Ivy took a breath. “I think I feel better now. Please take me home.”
The cabby started up the car and pulled back onto the interstate. He looked into his rearview mirror. Ivy had a severe frown on her face. “Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Don’t you worry about me. Your job is to get me safely to my destination. It’s the other folks that have used and abused me for the last time that need to worry.”
Forty-Nine
Toni quickly showered and dressed. She couldn’t wait to meet Anissa for dinner to get the four-one-one on Malik Mason. The itch was so great to get the scoop that she hadn’t heard the phone ring.
Picking up her BlackBerry, Toni smiled. The call was from Jefferson. He missed her already, she surmised. She’d talk with him later. Her focus was somewhere else, and this wasn’t the time to deviate from her train of thought. Not only was she helping her cousin, Sterling, to win a senate seat, she was about to get paid.
Ever since Anissa dropped that juicy tidbit in her lap, her mind had been racing. In order to realize the full benefit of this salacious bit of gossip, she was going to have to take it to a higher source, one that would be willing to pay top dollar for a good, juicy story that had all of the characteristics that reporters and editors called headline news—a story that was about to turn a political race upside down, cause a sensational scandal, and sell lots and lots of papers.
Toni took one last look in the mirror. She ran her tongue across her front teeth, sighed, put a dab more of her favorite MAC lipstick on, then exhaled. You look fabulous, she thought to herself.
Grabbing her hobo bag, Toni sashayed out of the door. She trotted to her red BMW coupe that sat parked in an underground garage, got in, and high-tailed it to the restaurant. Toni was excited and her adrenaline flowed like oil in an Alaskan pipeline. She felt giddy and anxious, as she salivated at the thought of the feast of gossip she expected to hear from Anissa. For sure, she’d have to break off a few dollars for Anissa when she got paid. The one thing Toni wasn’t sure of was how Jefferson would react to the whirlwind she was about to create that concerned his family, but it wasn’t her immediate concern. Getting paid for what America wanted to hear—the unflattering backside to a candidate’s good traits so they’d have something to talk about at the water cooler the next day—was all Toni cared about.
Toni found Anissa already nursing a Long Island Iced Tea when she arrived. They greeted each other with air kisses, then settled into their seats. Toni couldn’t hide her smile.
“Girl, you look radiant,” Toni said to Anissa, who was dressed in a pair of navy-blue crepe slacks, a white military style blouse with navy-blue trim
around the collar and around the base of the three-inch cuffs, with round gold buttons that ran down the front of the shirt and also down the length of the cuffs. On her feet, she wore four-inch navy designer pumps with the toes out.
“You look fabulous, too,” Anissa exclaimed. “That new man of yours must be polishing all of your bells and whistles.”
“And then some,” Toni confirmed.
“Well, you are blushing and I need some of that to rub off on me.”
“What about the guy you see off and on?”
“You mean Perry Rush? Toni, he’s a married man with no plans of leaving his wife. I see him now and again when I require an escort or need the fire between my legs extinguished.” Toni laughed at Anissa’s banter. “But that’s all he is to me, and frankly, I like the arrangement because it’s safe,” Anissa continued. “When the night is over, he goes back to his wife and I go back to my carefree life.”
“As beautiful a person that you are, you don’t need to settle for less. There are some good, single brothers out there that would love to take you home to momma and put a ring on it, as Beyoncé would say.”
“So is your man getting ready to put a ring on your hand?”
“Ouch. I’ll say this, Anissa. I’m working on it. I understand his divorce is getting ready to be final any day. I’m working on it. Now let’s talk about Mr. Malik Mason, the baby maker and heart breaker. Give me the full scoop . . . the uncut version.”
Anissa gave the rundown, as little as it was, while Toni’s voice recorder picked up every word. “Oh,” Anissa said, shaking her finger in Toni’s direction, “I forgot to tell you that Malik Mason’s wife is pregnant. He’s got a crappy-looking family tree to showcase in front of his supporters—a son by his mother-in-law and child by his wife. I can’t wait to see how that’s going to look in ink.”
“Believe you me, all of black America is going to hang their heads in shame, while the white folks will say, there must be something in the water in North Carolina because that state is full of scandal.”
“Edwards will probably welcome the diversion since the attention has been on him for so long. Scandalous.”
“Dinner was great, but I’ve got to run and write this story. Thanks for sharing with me.”
“While I’m not one to go and drop a dime on someone, there was no way I could keep this to myself. Be good, Toni. I’ll hit you up later in the week.”
“Sounds good. Love you, girl.”
“Love you back. And I hope I get to meet the new man in your life, soon.”
“You will.”
Toni sashayed out of the restaurant and jumped into her car. She felt like someone who’d won an Oscar—a golden statue in the hand that she’d melt into liquid gold as soon as she returned home. Oh yeah, the Associated Press, CNN, MSNBC, BET, Ebony magazine, Jet would all vie for the four-one-one. True it was a local affair, but by the time she put the finishing touches on this story it would not only draw the attention of the citizens in the great state of North Carolina but it’ll be publicized nationally. Given the political climate and all of the misdeeds of the past, whether senate hopeful Malik Mason realizes it or not, he’s going down in the archives entitled Political Hall of Shame. Shelton may be on his way to winning the seat in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but she, Ms. Toni Gillette, will be recognized for her journalistic capabilities.
Fifty
“Has anyone seen Ivy?” Winter asked, as she walked into her mother’s hospital room with Evan on her hip. She watched as her brothers hunched up their shoulders followed by blank stares. “I’ve called her cell at least a dozen times and she hasn’t answered.” It seemed no one was in any real panic at her announcement.
“I’m sure she was upset when she left here,” Margo offered, not knowing what else to say. “Set Evan on the bed with me.”
“Of course, she was, Mom,” Winter said, depositing Evan next to Margo. Margo kissed him. “To hear her husband professing his love for her mother would make anybody sick.”
“J.R. and I will go look for Ivy, Winter,” Winston said. “She may be in the snack bar or outside on the hospital grounds.”
“Maybe Malik caught up with her,” J.R. offered. “He may have taken her home.”
“Without saying a word to us? That would be just like him,” Winter said. “However, I hope Ivy isn’t with him. She needs to be around positive people right now. All they’re going to do is argue. Ivy’s got her plate full after what she learned yesterday. God, I hate Malik. He’s changed so much.”
“Some friendships weren’t made to last,” Winston said. He looked over at his mother who was watching the trio without uttering a word. Winston looked away. “Come on, J.R., let’s go look for Ivy.”
“All right. Winter, call me when Elaine arrives.” J.R. smiled.
“I like her, J.R.” Winter said. “She’d be a nice addition to the family.”
“Not so fast,” J.R. said. “We’ve talked about marriage, but we’re going to take it slow.”
“Oh my goodness,” were Margo’s first words in the last fifteen minutes. “My son is in love.”
J.R. grinned from ear to ear and before long, the room erupted in laughter. This was the first bright spot since Margo was hospitalized.
“I’m happy that you’re happy, J.R.” Margo said.
“Thanks, Momma. That means a lot to me.”
“Okay, scoot and find Ivy,” Margo said, trying to wave her hand. “And Miss Winter, I need for you to check on Ian. When will your daddy be back?”
Winter blinked her eye at Margo. “Worried about Daddy? He had to run home. Said he’d be an hour or two and then he’d be back.”
“Okay.” Margo turned from Winter and hugged and kissed Evan. “I love my babies, and I’m so proud of the way your daddy stepped up to the plate.”
“Mom, I’ve got to ask you this. It may be none of my business, but I’ve got to ask anyway.”
Margo stared at Winter without saying a word. Her face was void of expression, possibly anticipating Winter’s next words. She held Evan tight and braced for the question.
“What are you going to do about Malik being Ian’s father? You know Ivy is very hurt.”
“You’re right; it’s none of your business.”
“Ivy is going to always be reminded that her little brother is also her husband’s child.”
Margo found the remote on the bed and raised the head of her bed as far as she could stand it. She held Evan tight and glared at Winter. “Let me tell you something. I’m not proud of having made that one mistake of sleeping with Malik . . . and heaven forbid that I’d have a child because of it.”
“You know where babies . . . .”
“Don’t let me have to get up from this bed and knock you into next week, Winter. I’m still your mother and you need to be careful what you say to me. Now I’m going to talk, and all I want you to do is listen. No one knew that Ivy and Malik were having a relationship, but for your information, it was long after I’d been with Malik. I’m not sure why Ivy chose to be with him. I’ve always felt that Ivy liked older men because once she had a secret crush on Angelica’s husband, Hamilton. Whatever the reason, I’m not responsible for the complex situation Ivy is in, at least not directly.
“I love my daughter, and if she hadn’t shunned me for so long and was forthcoming about her relationship with Malik, I might have been able to save her from this awkward place we’ve found ourselves. I know she’s upset and hurting, but sometimes, we bring on our own calamity, although I’m sure Ivy never had any reason to see the train wreck that was about to enter her life.
“I hope the boys find her so we can talk. I need to talk with her right away before this situation is blown even more out of proportion. I want Ivy to understand that I love her and in no way would I ever try and hurt her. Malik is the one Ivy needs to worry about. I’m not sure his intentions were pure when he married Ivy.”
“He’s in love with you, Mom.”
“Winter, I
don’t love him. Not then and not now. Oh, I’ll admit he was great company when your father was in jail, but that’s all it was . . . a platonic relationship. In the five years your father was incarcerated, Malik never once touched me.”
“Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll take Evan. He probably needs to be fed and his diaper changed. I’ll see if Winston and J.R. have located Ivy.”
“What time did you say your daddy was going to return?”
Winter smiled. “Asking about Daddy again, huh? He’ll be here shortly.”
“Thank you for taking care of Evan. I appreciate you.”
“You’re welcome, Mom. I’ll go over and check on Ian and let you know what’s going on if Dr. Anderson doesn’t beat me to it.
“Okay, baby girl. Love you.”
Margo kissed Evan on the cheek. Winter picked him up from her mother’s bed and left the room.
Fifty-One
After stopping home for fresh clothing and checking in at the office, Jefferson headed back to the hospital. He wanted Margo to know that he was there for her if she needed him.
Driving along the busy Raleigh streets, his mind drifted to his liaison with Toni and what it all meant. Jefferson wasn’t sure how she fit into the equation, but in the back of his mind he still had reservations—something wasn’t sitting quite right. He recalled Toni’s sudden phone call that she had to take—in another room no doubt, and the blank look on her face when she came from behind the closed door and found him dressed. It was a look you see on children’s faces when they’ve been caught stealing cookies from Momma’s cookie jar.
Jefferson drove on and parked his thoughts temporarily. He was nearing the hospital, and all of his attention needed to be centered on the twins and Margo. Just as he was about to turn into the hospital parking lot, a car—a black BMW—whizzed by. Jefferson did a double take and realized it was Malik. He wished he had another opportunity to talk to Ivy. It felt good that he and his daughter were able to communicate.
In My Rearview Mirror Page 20