“Mr. Mason, are you a proper fit . . . proper representative for the people in the state of North Carolina?” another reporter asked.
“Yes, my campaign has always been founded on principals of service to the constituents I represent. I will do all that’s in my power to fight for the rights of everyone in Cumberland County—be they Democrat or Republican, and . . .”
“Sir, did you sire a baby by your mother-in-law?” The question came out of left field; Malik didn’t see it coming.
“You’ve got it twisted. My wife was the one pregnant.”
“I have information that you found out that one of the twins your mother-in-law recently gave birth to has your DNA,” said the smooth, sultry reporter who was now in front of Malik. She was African-American and in her mid-to-late-thirties, and she was rocking a nice figure, although she was dressed appropriately. Her long, healthy mane was thick with a lot of body, and Malik felt sure that if he ran his hands underneath the top layer, he’d find a head full of tracks. Malik took a second look and then it was back to business.
“I didn’t get your name,” Malik began trying to resist danger, “but my private life is none of your concern.”
“So I take it that you not answering the question means yes.”
“Miss . . .”
She looked down her nose at Malik. “That’s Ms. Douglass.”
“I’m not denying or confirming it.”
“So it’s true.”
“Answer the question,” another reporter shot out.
Malik sealed his lips and pushed through the crowd that had gathered. “F y’all.”
“Did he say what I think he said?” Malik heard a reporter ask.
• • •
Malik pushed through the door to Ivy’s room. He stopped short when he saw Jefferson and Winston standing off to the side as they waited for Ivy to gather her things. Ivy looked up and then away as she continued to collect her things in preparation for departure.
“Ivy is going home with me,” Malik said bluntly. “I understand you are her father, but I’m her husband. I’m the responsible party who will be checking her out of this hospital and paying the bill.”
Irritated, Jefferson moved closer to Malik. He threw his hands up in the air. “Malik, I come in peace. I don’t want any drama today. Ivy is still ill, and I think it would be prudent if she went home with us so that her family will be able to give her the attention she needs.”
Brushing his mouth with his hands, Malik sighed. “I don’t know how to make this any plainer than I already have, Jefferson. As her husband, I will take care of my wife.”
“Ivy tried to take her life, and you’re the reason why. So you need to move out of the way and allow me to take my daughter home.”
“Over my dead body.”
“If that’s the only way, I guess that’s how it’s going to be. Ivy, are you ready?”
As soon as Jefferson turned his back, Malik pushed him in the back. Jefferson slid forward, regained his footing, and turned around and rushed for Malik. Before Jefferson could make contact, Winston caught him around the waist and pulled him back. “Don’t do it, Dad. He might have you arrested, and we don’t want that.”
“I’ll go with him, Daddy,” Ivy said as she stared Malik down.
Malik shook his head as if he was shaking off dust. “That’s more like it.”
“Ivy, you don’t have to go with him.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“You won’t need him,” Malik remarked snidely. “He’s not dependable when he needs to be.”
No one said a word but looked up when they heard the knock on the door. Before anyone could respond, two plainclothes detectives, one female and one male, entered the room.
“Excuse me,” Malik said, stopping the detectives almost at the door. “You must have the wrong room.”
“No, we have the right room,” the blonde female said. She pulled out a badge and flashed it in front of Malik. “I’m Detective Sabrina Martin and this is Detective Jim Levine,” he flashed his badge, “with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.”
“Again, you must have the wrong room.”
“Your name?” Detective Martin asked, preparing to write the answer down.
“I’m Malik Mason, husband of the patient.”
“You’re also running for state senator, I hear.”
Malik’s demeanor changed slightly. He still had to present himself as an upstanding citizen for his constituency regardless of how Jefferson was irritating the hell out of him. He spoke in a much calmer voice. “Yes, I am, Detective. Before you arrived, I was in a heated family discussion, which explains my tone of voice. So please forgive me for being a little abrasive when you first arrived. How may I help you?”
All eyes were on the detective. “It has come to our attention that in Mrs. Mason’s attempt to commit suicide, she may have killed her unborn child. We need to get some information from Mrs. Mason . . .”
“I object,” Malik said.
“She would not intentionally harm her unborn child,” Jefferson added.
“And who are you?” Detective Martin asked.
“I’m Mrs. Mason’s father and I’m here to take her home.”
“I’m confused,” Sabrina began, “You’re taking Mrs. Mason home. What about her husband, Mr. Mason?”
“Detective Martin,” Malik began, “there is nothing to read into this. While I’m out campaigning, Ivy’s family will be caring for her. We were working out the logistics.”
“All right. I still need to speak with Mrs. Mason.”
“I will stay with her while you ask your questions,” Malik said.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Winston and I will wait outside,” Jefferson said, nodding at Malik. “We’ll be ready to take Ivy home when the detectives are finished.”
Malik watched Jefferson and Winston exit the room without a word. So they won round one. Ivy sat down on the bed and waited for the interrogation.
Detective Martin approached and stood in front of Ivy while Detective Levine looked on. “Mrs. Mason, I know that this is a touchy subject for you right now, but I need to ask these questions.”
Ivy sat expressionless and waited for the question.
“Mrs. Mason, were you deliberately trying to get rid of your baby?”
Ivy looked into Detective Martin’s eyes. “Not at all. In fact, I was overjoyed at the possibility of becoming a mother. And if you’re going to ask me if I was trying to kill myself, the answer is still no. I was distraught at the time that I took the pills, but it was never my intention to kill myself.”
Detective Levine watched Ivy, analyzing her facial expressions and tone of voice. She dropped her head and glanced at a note that was written down on a piece of paper. “So if it wasn’t your intention to kill yourself, what prompted you to take the pills in the first place, even if it wasn’t a lethal dose you were trying to take?”
Malik was fidgety. His eyes darted back and forth, almost as if he was trying to give Ivy some kind of signal. But Ivy didn’t look in his direction. She mulled over the question and then opened her mouth to answer. She sighed. “A family matter . . . a family matter had upset me, and I only took the pills to get rid of the migraine headache I was having,” she lied.
“Does this family matter have anything to do with your husband . . .?”
Ivy turned her eyes sharply at Malik. “What about my husband?”
“Never mind. We will be in touch. Thank you for your assistance.”
Ivy sat without saying a word. She took a chance and looked up at Malik. Her eyes burned a hole in his soul.
“Are you ready to go home?”
“I heard it with my own ears. You told those detectives that I would be going home with Daddy and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Malik grabbed Ivy’s arm, thought better of it, and let her go. “Don’t do this, Ivy. My ca
mpaign is in full swing, and I need you by my side.”
“That’s all you care about . . . that damn campaign that you’re not even going to win. You’re pathetic; I don’t know why I stooped so low. It doesn’t matter anyway; I’m done. And my momma, she doesn’t want you either.”
“Ivy, please.”
“Forget it, Malik.” Ivy picked up her few belongings and left Malik in the room.
• • •
Ivy wasn’t ready for the host of reporters and photographers that lined the hallways. She spotted Jefferson and waited until he saw her. Immediately he went to Ivy with Winston following. They brushed the reporters aside and grabbed the elevator that had just deposited another reporter on the floor.
Safe in the elevator, Ivy hugged her dad and he hugged her back. As soon they hit the lobby, Jefferson whisked Ivy away to safety.
Sixty-Three
Winter was all smiles when she opened the door to her mother’s townhouse and saw her sister, Ivy, on the front porch along with her dad and brother, Winston, staring back at her. Spontaneously, Winter reached out and hooked her arms around Ivy’s neck. Ivy did the same, holding the embrace longer than she had planned.
“Are you going to let us in?” Jefferson finally asked.
“Sorry, Daddy,” Ivy said.
The trio followed Winter into the house. Ivy seemed calm as she settled into a chair in the den.
“How is Evan?” Jefferson asked.
“He’s fine and sleeping at the moment. He must be worn out from yesterday.”
“What time do you pick up Ian?”
“In another hour.”
Ivy looked from her sisters and brothers to her dad. “Thank you all for being there for me. You don’t know how much it has meant to know that my family has my back.”
Jefferson sat down next to Ivy and put his arm around his daughter. “You never have to worry about family . . . and that includes your mother.”
“That goes for me, too, sis,” Winston interjected. “We’re all we’ve got! Together the Myleses stand; divided we fall.”
All was quiet after Winston’s philosophy lesson. Winter wondered if everyone was thinking the same way. It would be great to see her mother and father back together, but it didn’t appear that it was going to happen.
“While I have you all here, I need to share this with you,” Jefferson stated. Ivy’s eyebrows arched while concern was written on her face. “Your mother will be coming home day after tomorrow. She has refused to go to rehab, preferring to be surrounded by her family. There will be in-home visits by a nurse a couple of times a day.” There was relief on Ivy’s face. Winter stood, trying to make heads or tails out of what her father was trying to say. “It’s going to be difficult for Winter to handle Margo and the twins by herself.”
“Don’t worry, Daddy,” Ivy said. “I’m feeling much better and I’ll be here to help Winter.”
“Your mother will be down for awhile, and she’ll need constant help because she won’t be able to do anything.”
“We’ve got this, Dad,” Winter said, holding her hands up in surrender.
“J.R. and I are going to do our part,” Winston put in. “Whatever running around you need us to do, we’ve got you.”
“Hear me out. I’ve called someone besides the nurse to assist your mother. This way, the pressure won’t be totally on Winter. Ivy, you need to take it easy. You’re in a vulnerable state and we need to take care of you, too. Your recovery time won’t be nearly the same as your mother’s, but I need you to relax for a little bit.”
“I agree with Dad on that, Ivy. So who is this mystery person?”
“Angelica.”
“For real, Dad?” Winter asked with a frown on her face. “Have you asked Mom?”
“Your mother and Angelica have mended their friendship.”
“Where is she going to stay?” Winston asked, his arms wrapped around his waist.
“Not with me,” Jefferson said, matching nasty looks with Winston.
“Momma has four bedrooms,” Ivy said. “I can go home if it’s going to be a problem.”
“You’re not going home, Ivy,” Winter interjected. “Mom’s master bedroom is downstairs and that’s where she’s going to be since she won’t be using any stairs anytime soon. You and I will sleep in the large room that Mom uses so she can be close to the twins and Angelica can use the room that serves as Mom’s office. It has a day bed in it. Look, I just got my sister back, and I’m going to take care of you.”
“I guess it’s all worked out, Daddy,” Ivy said. “Angelica will be good for Momma.”
“I still say Mom won’t like the idea of Angelica being here, but you’re her husband. You should know.”
“Enough, Winter.”
“Well, if you and Mom get back together, you could be here to help out, too.” Now she had finally said what was on her mind. “What are you all looking at?” Winter asked her sister and brother.
“Winter, Dad and Mom are getting a divorce,” Winston said. “Face it. It is what it is, and you knew it was coming to this.”
Ivy got up out of her seat and held her sister. “I would like to see Momma and Daddy back together again too, but they are grown people and they’ve made their decision.”
“It’s just that this family has been through so much. I want it the way it was.”
“Nothing stays the same, Winter,” Jefferson interjected. “I love your mother, and if it were up to me, we wouldn’t be getting a divorce.”
“Well, Daddy,” Ivy cut in, “if you feel that way, I’m with Winter. You need to tell your wife that you still love her and claim what’s yours.”
“Listen to my sisters,” Winston added, jumping into the fray. “Give Dad a break, although, I think he led you all into that one. What about it, Dad? Are you going to tell Momma that you’re still in love with her or do you have reason not to rush into this burning bush?”
Jefferson threw his hands in the air. “Okay, enough. I love your mother, but she doesn’t want to be with me. No, Winston, there is no one else that has captured my heart, even though I’ve done a little window-shopping.” Everyone laughed accept Winter. Jefferson went to her and gave her a hug and afterwards lifted her chin. “If your mother would take me back this very moment, I’d be with her.”
“I know you love her,” Winter said.
“Okay, we’ve had our reunion. Winter, you need to get to the hospital to pick Ian up and Winston and I need to run to the office. We’ve got some unfinished business. I’ll be picking Angelica up from the airport tomorrow around one-thirty. Winston and J.R. should have your mother home by then. This is a surprise.”
“I don’t know if that’s the best thing, Daddy,” Winter said, “but it’s on you.”
“Welcome home, Ivy,” Jefferson said. “We’re out.”
Ivy gave Jefferson a warm smile. “I love you, Daddy.”
Not to be outdone, Winter echoed, “I do too.”
Jefferson blew them both a hearty kiss, and then the men were gone.
“Time for you to get some rest,” Winter said to Ivy.
“Don’t go treating me like an invalid, little sis. Why don’t you sit next to me so we can have one of our old-fashioned sister talks? Anything you want to know, I’ll tell you, and we’ll talk until Evan wakes up.”
“Okay. First question. Do you really love Malik?”
Sixty-Four
Malik was seething. He was losing control of the persona that had gotten him close to the pinnacle of society that he was trying to claim as his. He had come a long way. His grandparents were sharecroppers in Alabama and was able by the grace of God to raise his father and his four siblings to be outstanding citizens. They all went to college, which is where Malik’s dad met his mom, and Malik’s dad, aunts and uncles, as well as his mom all became educators. Malik’s parents wed right out of college, had him, and as soon as Malik finished high school, there was no if, ands, or buts as to what he was going to do with the next
phase of his life. It was a short summer and before Malik could catch a breath, he was off to college in North Carolina at North Carolina A&T.
A&T changed his life. Malik knew immediately that he wasn’t going to return to Alabama. College life agreed with him, and it was there he met Jefferson Myles. They became fast friends and joined the fraternity together. They both joined ROTC, but while Jefferson made a life of the military, Malik did a short stint and got out, vying to make more money with his computer programming skills outside of the military.
• • •
With his head pounding, Malik drove around town and decided to go back to campaign headquarters. Talking with Perry would perhaps calm the stress in his body. Before he was able to move another inch, the Bluetooth in his car signaled a call. Peeking at his phone, Malik was happy that it was Perry calling.
“Hey, Perry, I’m on my way back to headquarters.”
“No, let me meet you somewhere. Have you taken your wife home yet?”
“She’s in Raleigh.”
“What happened, dawg? I thought you were picking her up from the hospital today?”
“The press and the damn police.”
“Okay, Malik. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I’ll tell you when I see you. Meet me at IHOP on Raeford Road.”
“I’ve got some news too, and you’re not going to like it. I’ve been trying to tell you to keep your personal life under wraps because if the press gets a whiff of your drama, they’re going to pick you apart like a school of piranha and scatter your bones across the airwaves.”
“I’ve done nothing wrong, Perry. I’m a victim of circumstance, and that doesn’t minimize the person I am. I’m still qualified to be a state senator.”
“Not after the public finishes ripping your ass apart. The piranhas aren’t going to leave much for them to suck on either, but whatever is left on the bone, they’re going to have a field day.”
“What is this news and whose side are you on, Perry? I’m not sure you’re the person I need to be speaking to right now. I’ve not conceded my spot in this election and for sure Sterling Garrison isn’t going to get it—at least not over my dead body.”
In My Rearview Mirror Page 25