Truth Be Told

by Victoria Christopher Murray

  “I had the tests done with my doctor because I wanted to get the results before they went to you and Conner. If they weren’t the way I wanted …” She stopped. “But by the grace of God, Solomon is with his father.”

  Grace blinked, not sure she understood. “The results are …”

  Pilar tried to nod. “Conner is Solomon’s father. I don’t want you ever to have any doubts. And if you do, please call my doctor. You’ll know for sure that I’m telling the truth.” She paused. “I had to tell you this because there is something I must ask of you.”

  In less than a minute, she’d gone from believing Conner was Solomon’s father, to knowing he wasn’t, and back again. Grace didn’t know what to feel. Still, she said, “What is it, Pilar?”

  Pilar pushed herself up further and twisted so that she faced Grace. “Please take care of my son.”

  Grace swallowed, needing to moisten her dry throat. “Conner and I have already …”

  “I’m not talking about his father,” Pilar interrupted.

  Grace pressed her lips together.

  Pilar continued, “I’m glad that Conner is in Solomon’s life.” She paused. “But to be whole, My son will need his mother, and I won’t be here.”

  This time she couldn’t hold her protest. “Pilar, you don’t know that. The doctors don’t have the final say. We have to trust God. We have to …”

  “Grace, please.” She held up hand. “I can’t fill my time with hopeful words. I’m dying. I need to take care of my business.”

  Grace had no words to match Pilar’s blunt ones.

  “I am grateful to Conner but more to you, Grace. You have opened your home to my son.” She paused. “Now I’m praying that you will open your heart.”

  Grace nodded and blinked back tears.

  “Solomon will always have my love,” Pilar said.

  “He knows that.”

  “But I want to give him more than memories.” She paused. “I want to give him a mother’s love. I want to give him you.”

  Grace took Pilar’s hand and waited for her lips to stop quivering. “Pilar, I don’t want to replace you.”

  She nodded. “I know that. But I wanted to give you my permission … and my blessing. I don’t want Solomon to have a stepmother. I pray that you can find a way to give him the same love you give your daughters.”

  Grace lost her battle with her tears as drops trickled down her face.

  Pilar squeezed Grace’s hand. “That’s my final wish.”

  Grace nodded because a mass in her throat constricted her words.

  Pilar exhaled and relaxed her grip on Grace’s hand.

  “I promise you, Pilar, I will take care of Solomon. I love him already.” She paused. “And I will always remind him how much you loved him.”

  Pilar released Grace’s hand. She pressed a button on the remote and lowered the bed’s mattress. “Thank you,” she said. Then she closed her eyes.

  Grace sat staring at the woman who had given her husband his son. She stood, not sure if Pilar was sleeping. Grace held onto the bed’s railing, leaned over, and kissed Pilar’s cheek.

  Pilar remained still, eyes closed, her breathing steady as if she didn’t feel Grace’s touch.

  Grace stepped away, took a final look back, and walked from the room.

  Through the hospital’s halls, on the elevator, and then as she rushed through the lobby, Grace held her sobs. Once inside her car, she released the agony that had filled her chest from the moment Pilar uttered, “That’s my final wish.” Grace knew that she would never see Pilar alive again.

  Chapter 52

  Grace inhaled as she stirred the spaghetti sauce. She sprinkled oregano onto the top, then replaced the cover on the oversized pot.

  “That smells good, Mom,” Jayde said as she peered over her mother’s shoulder.

  Grace smiled as she watched her daughter sit next to Amber at the kitchen table. Jayde opened her history book and a moment later was engrossed in homework.

  It was hard for Grace to believe that almost four weeks had passed since she’d been called to Jayde’s school. But time was medicinal. As the days advanced, the anger that had wedged itself inside Jayde was fading, and in its place were glimpses of a teenager playfully teasing her younger sister, poring over magazines, and falling to her knees in gratitude when Grace told her that she could listen to her CDs once again.

  Grace leaned against the center island taking in the view. Jayde, Amber, and Solomon sat, focused on their assignments. Usually it was only Amber and Solomon who did their homework in the kitchen. But when Jayde joined them tonight, Grace knew it was another one of her daughter’s peace efforts. Jayde had been offering small treaties over the past weeks, beginning when she and Conner announced that Jayde and Amber would no longer be sharing a bedroom.

  “Your mother and I have decided to give up our office so that you can all have your own room.”

  The three children had sat in silence at the news.

  “Amber, we thought you’d like the new room,” Conner said.

  But it was Jayde who spoke up. “I’ll take it.”

  Grace and Conner had exchanged surprised glances at Jayde’s exclamation, but asked no questions.

  “I need a change,” was her explanation.

  Grace thought it was Jayde’s attempt to relocate her living quarters as far from Solomon as possible. But on the day the family joined together to paint the office-turned-Jayde’s-bedroom from beige to sunshine yellow, Jayde had taken her first step toward peace.

  “It’s much easier with the brush, Solomon,” Jayde had said when she noticed Solomon struggling with a roller on the baseboards. “Here. Use mine.”

  Grace had tried not to stare at her daughter, though she was sure she was witnessing a first. She had never before heard Jayde speak directly to Solomon.

  As was his way, Solomon took the brush from Jayde with a smile that covered half his face. “Thank you,” he had said as if he and Jayde had had many conversations.

  The next day, it was Solomon who approached Jayde.

  “I’m having some problems with math,” he had said softly, standing in the doorway of Jayde’s new bedroom, still smelling of fresh paint. “Can you help me?”

  Grace eavesdropped from her bedroom, and when it took Jayde just minutes to explain the algebra problem to Solomon, Grace suspected that he was assisting the peace process.

  Since then, Jayde and Solomon had maintained an affable relationship, though they often still looked like strangers when they passed in the hall. But Jayde’s efforts were slowly lessening the tension that had become a sixth member of their household.

  Although there had been moments when Grace doubted, their lives were working out. Solomon was part of the Monroe household, just as his mother wished.

  The telephone interrupted her family reverie.

  “Hello.”

  “This is Dr. Brotman from Cedar Sinai. Is Conner Monroe available?”

  No more words were necessary. She turned her back to the children as she took the information that Pilar Cruise had passed away less than an hour before. She fought tears that wanted to fall for the woman who had first delivered heartache and then helped turn her family’s cries to joy.

  “Mom, are you okay?” Amber asked.

  “I’m fine.” Grace glanced at Amber, then Jayde, keeping her focus from Solomon.

  Jayde closed her book. “Mom, do you want us to go upstairs and get ready for dinner?”

  Grace nodded and turned away as tears burned her eyelids. It took a minute for the children to gather their notebooks, and when Grace heard their footsteps on the stairs, she collapsed on the counter.

  Although it was expected, sadness still engulfed her—grief for the passing of a woman who would forever be a part of their lives. But what overwhelmed her most was Solomon.

  “Excuse me.”

  She took a deep breath before she turned to the soft voice. Grace forced a smile when she faced Pilar’s son. �
��Yes, honey.”

  “Was that telephone call about my mother?”

  Her heart was falling. “The call was for your father.”

  His eyes told her that she hadn’t answered his question. But he nodded and returned upstairs.

  Grace didn’t exhale until she was sure Solomon was in his bedroom. She reached for the telephone and dialed Conner’s cell.

  “Hey, babe, I’m on my way,” he said. Without a breath, he added, “We settled the Jacoby case, and you’re not going to believe for how much.”

  “Conner, Dr. Brotman called.”

  “Oh, no,” he moaned, knowing the truth before she spoke it. “How’s Solomon?”

  “I haven’t told him. I think you should.”

  “I’ll be home in about ten minutes.”

  She put the phone down, turned around, and jumped. “Solomon, you startled me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He took a step toward her. “You were talking to my father.”

  She nodded and turned away. “He’ll be home soon. And then … we’ll eat, okay?” She couldn’t face him. When silence filled the air, she turned. Solomon was gone.

  She allowed her tears, then wiped them away. She needed strength for Solomon and the girls.

  Conner pulled Grace into his arms the moment he walked through the door.

  “Are the children upstairs?”

  She nodded. “They know something’s wrong. Solomon asked if the call was about his mother, but I couldn’t tell him.”

  Conner held her hand as they climbed the stairs and then knocked on Solomon’s door.

  When they stepped into the room, only Solomon’s silhouette could be seen. He was staring into the darkness.

  Wordlessly, he stood and bolted to his father.

  Conner held him, letting love and comfort flow from his arms. “I’m so sorry, son,” he whispered repeatedly as Solomon released his grief into his father’s chest.

  Grace turned on the nightstand light, then stood to the side. When Solomon turned to her, she knelt and gathered him into her arms, holding him until his tears began to subside.

  “Solomon, your mother loved you very much,” Grace said, still kneeling and barely noticing that her knees ached. She cupped his face in her hands. “You know she’s with God now.”

  He nodded. “For the godly who die will rest in peace.”

  Grace’s head jerked back as Solomon quoted Isaiah 57:2.

  “My mother told me to remember that scripture when this time came.”

  With burden-heavy legs, he dragged to his bed.

  Conner took Grace’s hand and lifted her from the floor. “I want to tell the girls,” she whispered.

  They hugged before she turned to Solomon.

  “We love you.” She kissed the top of his head.

  She glanced at Conner, and his smile delivered a million thank-yous that Grace knew were for much more than this night.

  Grace stepped into the hallway, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes, thanking God for harnessing her emotions in front of Solomon.

  “Mom, did Solomon’s mother die?”

  Grace opened her eyes and looked into Jayde’s. “Yes, sweetheart.”

  Her tears flowed, and Grace opened her arms, welcoming her daughter into her embrace.

  “I feel so sorry for him. It must be awful to lose your mother.”

  “Yes, it is, sweetie.” Grace stroked Jayde’s braids.

  Jayde sniffed and stepped back. “But we’ll take care of him.”

  Grace grazed her fingertips across her daughter’s cheek.

  “You think I don’t like Solomon, Mom, but I do. It was just hard at first.”

  Grace kissed her daughter. “Come on. We have to tell Amber.”

  Jayde nodded, but her eyes focused on Solomon’s bedroom door. “Is he all right?”

  “Yes, your dad’s with him.”

  Jayde stared at the door for a moment longer. “After we tell Amber, I think we should go in there.”

  “Good idea.”

  “He needs to know that his sisters love him too.”

  Grace covered her heart with her hand. In the middle of this pain, Jayde was bringing her joy. She was sure now that her family would survive and thrive.

  Chapter 53

  Grace twisted, opened her eyes, and glanced at the clock. It was almost eight, but instead of the normal morning noises, silence surrounded her. Amber lay next to her, in the center of the king-size bed, and Jayde rested near the edge on the side where Grace normally slept.

  Grace raised herself carefully, not wanting to disturb the girls. Jayde stretched as the mattress shifted; when her daughter settled back, Grace stood.

  Still drunk from fatigue, Grace stretched and looked at her mirror’s reflection. Her hair was flat against her scalp, all signs of her visit to her hairdresser forty-eight hours before gone. Her white shirt held wrinkles, evidence of her restless sleep.

  She turned back to her bed and covered Amber with the comforter that she’d kicked to the floor along with her red socks. They’d all slept in their clothes after her daughters announced they were going to stay with her.

  “We don’t think you should be alone, Mommy,” Amber had declared when Conner had fallen asleep holding Solomon.

  Grace agreed. “Why don’t you two sleep with me?”

  The question had barely departed from her lips before Jayde and Amber bounced onto her bed. It was after eleven when they lay down, but questions kept them awake.

  “Is Solomon’s mother in heaven?” Amber had asked.

  “I believe so.”

  Amber was the first to fall asleep just after midnight. Grace had stayed awake with Jayde until morning threatened to reveal the first light.

  “Dying scares me, Mommy.”

  Grace had tightened her arms around Jayde. “I know, sweetheart. But when you know the Lord, you don’t have to be afraid.”

  “That’s what Mrs. Watson said in Sunday school when we memorized 2 Corinthians 5:8.” She paused. “Is it true that when we die, we are with God?”

  “Is that what the Bible says?”

  Jayde nodded. “If you’re a Christian.”

  “Then it’s true. You can believe everything God’s Word tells you. That’s why when you’ve accepted Jesus into your heart, there’s nothing to fear.”

  “I know I don’t have to be scared,” Jayde said. “I remember when I was little and would get stomachaches. You told me to put my hand on my stomach and say, ‘In the name of Jesus, my tummy doesn’t hurt.’ And it always worked.”

  Grace smiled. Many years had passed since she remembered those times—when Jayde pretended to be sick to get her mother’s attention away from the new baby.

  “I should just say,” Jayde began, interrupting her mother’s memories, “In the name of Jesus, I’m not afraid.”

  Grace held her tighter.

  It was after five the last time Grace glanced at the clock and then drifted to sleep.

  Now she took a final glance at the girls before she stepped into the hallway—and almost collided with Conner.

  “Good morning,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

  “How’s Solomon?”

  “Still asleep.” He glanced behind him. “He woke up in the middle of the night, and we talked. He cried a lot, but Pilar prepared him and he’s strong. Sometimes I forget he’s only twelve.” He paused. “I checked on you and saw that my daughters were taking care of their mother.” He smiled. “We have three special children.”

  She returned his smile and held him, thinking of Pilar, grateful to have her husband so near.

  “I need to go to the hospital and make arrangements.” Conner hesitated. “I hope Solomon is going to be all right without a funeral. But I want to do what Pilar wanted.”

  “I’m sure she talked to him about that.”

  He nodded. “Are you going to be all right here?”

  She nodded. “The children will sleep for a few more hours, and I called Zoë las
t night.”

  Conner looked down at his sweat suit. “I’ll sneak into the bathroom and clean up.” He kissed her before he tiptoed into their bedroom.

  Grace walked down the hall and opened Solomon’s door. He was asleep, his eyes shut tight. Grace tiptoed inside and eased onto the bed.

  Her eyes stung with old tears as she stared at Conner’s son.

  She was still staring when Solomon stirred. He smiled when he opened his eyes.

  “Good morning.” She smiled and rubbed his head gently.

  “Where’s my dad?”

  Her smile faded a bit. Conner’s son. “He had to take care of some things, but he’ll be right back. How are you feeling?”

  This time, it was his smile that dimmed. “I’m sad.”

  “So am I.” She paused. “Are you hungry? You didn’t eat last night.”

  He shook his head. “I’m tired. Can I go back to sleep?”

  She nodded in understanding. Even children grasped the perfect escape of unconsciousness.

  She stood and turned toward the door, but before she put her hand on the knob, he said, “Would you stay with me, please?”

  Her smile was restored, wider than before. She took Solomon into her arms. In just minutes, his breathing returned to the steady tempo of slumber.

  As he slept, she filled her head with memories that she didn’t have of his childhood and drew mental pictures of his future. With each moment that passed, Grace held the boy tighter. Pilar’s son. Conner’s son. Her son now.

  Chapter 54

  “Starlight! Starlight! Starlight!”

  She smiled into the darkened half-moon-shaped arena. Starlight held her arms wide to the thousands, receiving their adoration.

  It had been this way from the beginning, when more than an hour before she had walked onstage. The audience had been told to be silent as she glided onto the platform in her white silk wide-legged jumpsuit trimmed in gold. She’d stood in the middle of the stage, pressed her hands together, bowed, and said, “May the light forever be with you and yours.”

  The ten thousand were supposed to return her greeting in the same manner, but instead, a deafening roar filled the arena.

  Since then, it had been difficult for Starlight to speak through the continous screams and ceaseless stomping. She loved this passion.