"Willetta," the cold feminine voice said, "this is Olivia. Aunt Olivia doesn't think today would be a good day for you guys to come out."
"Why is that," Willetta asked.
"We've had an unexpected visitor and we do not want a repeat of the histrionics you displayed the last time you were here," she said suggestively.
Willetta remained silent. Her hand shook and she almost dropped the phone.
"Are you there," Olivia asked impatiently.
"Yes, I'm here," Willetta said as calmly as she could. "There will be no more fainting. This is not about me, Olivia. We will be there as planned."
She hung up the phone without saying goodbye or giving Olivia another chance to say something hateful. So, Orlando was home. Samuel said he was due to be released soon. This was obviously sooner than any of them expected.
"Who was that," Andrik asked from the foyer.
Willetta looked up into his darkly handsome face. His size no longer overwhelmed her. Although huge and muscular, he was gentle as a lamb. She'd been watching how well he and Chance got along. Chance was good for Andrik. They talked and talked. It was a shady area as to who the talks were helping the most, Andrik or Chance. Vivica had given the child so much freedom of speech that he had no qualms about discussing anything and the deeper the conversation the more animated he'd become. He was precocious and Willetta was proud of him.
She was also proud of Andrik. When she'd first met him, he had been closed off and arrogant. He'd carried himself as if he could make it in the world on his own. But he'd been brave through this whole ordeal and in the end had made some real connections, not just with her, but with everyone. His attitude toward Mr. Ricky had even softened. He wasn't eager to converse with the old man, but he was kind and courteous to him. Willetta had great hopes that before Mr. Ricky died, he and Andrik would have a real breakthrough and find some resolution to the painful issues of the past.
As for herself, she'd grown too. All the pent up emotion she'd hidden since seeing her mother cough up blood when she was eight was finding its proper place within her mind and heart. She'd never talked about how afraid she'd been and how much she'd really known. It was safer and easier to believe her mother had just abandoned her. She was ready to start at the beginning and let it all out now. She would write her own journals and she would talk to Andrik. She knew Andrik had no idea how deeply wounded she'd been over the course of her life and she hoped he was ready to deal with what he was signing on to.
But first things first, she had to face Orlando and she would. After today, she would no longer be afraid of anything ever again in her life. She could almost feel Mama Jean's eyes on her and she knew what she had to do. People always talked about leaving the past behind and moving forward.
"Well that's just mad science, because there is no future without the past," she whispered.
"So, that's who was on the phone," Andrik said.
Willetta burst out laughing, "No, it was Olivia. She wanted to make sure we were coming."
"Darn skippy, we coming. We gotta get all this mess done so we can get on with our lives," Andrik said.
"I totally agree," Willetta said. "I'm going to get dressed. Tell everybody to start getting ready."
Andrik watched her climb the stairs two at a time. He'd seen the kaleidoscope of emotions crossing her face. He would have paid money to know what she'd been thinking.
#
Willetta made a couple of important phone calls before leaving. She'd been in marketing too long to miss this golden opportunity. It was remarkable how once a person's fears were allayed the mind became a power machine. She'd told Olivia that today was not about her, but in a way it was. This was her opportunity to be all the things she needed to be. She needed to be a strong woman grappling with a past victimization, she needed to be a mother, she needed to be a daughter, she needed to be worthy of being someone's future wife, and she needed to finally and most importantly be judge and jury.
She felt strong as Samuel's suburban headed out the gates of Thompson Estate. Her comfortable faded blue jeans, black t-shirt and dirty tennis shoes screamed self-confidence. Her long hair was pulled back in a pony tail and she knew she looked about eighteen. The only cosmetic she wore was lipstick. If anyone felt she was dressed oddly, they didn't say so.
The suburban was loaded down with all eight of them. Gwenneth sat in the front and Samuel drove. Mr. Ricky, Chance, and Martha sat in the middle seat. Vivica, Andrik, and Willetta sat in the back seat. Samuel made the decision that everyone should go. He was acting mysteriously again, which only added to Willetta's anticipation. #
"This is beautiful," Gwenneth said as they drove through the dense Magnolia trees.
"I guess she rich as they said she was," Mr. Ricky said. He looked from one side of the massive yard to the other.
"Why is there a Fox News truck in the yard," Andrik asked.
Everyone craned their necks to see what was going on. There was a whole crew gathered on the lower level of Aunt Olivia's porch. Samuel parked the suburban and unlocked the doors. His face turned up in a frown.
"I invited them," Willetta said cheerfully. "Now let's get out. Open the door, Chance and help your grandmother out."
Everyone started asking questions at once. Willetta ignored them and after everyone was out of the suburban she made her way over to the man with the microphone. Everyone followed her.
"This is my family, Mr. Nelson. We are glad to give you first dubs on this amazing story. Mr. Orlando Jr., is in the house. He was just released from prison for raping another woman, but this will be his first time seeing me since he raped me eleven years ago. I was fifteen when it happened. This is Chance. He's my son, but his grandmother has raised him. I think it's safe to say that Mr. Orlando is interested in adopting Chance, but we're not having that and I think you know why. So, if you'll just follow us to the door, we can get some really good documentation of this first meeting. Oh, by the way, this is Samuel Gray, our attorney."
Willetta's conscience bothered her for a split second when she saw how outdone everyone was. The looks on their faces ranged from
embarrassment on Vivica's to anger on Andrik's. She didn't care at the moment, because she knew exactly what she was doing.
CHAPTER 49
The door opened and Olivia stepped out. "What is going on," she asked haughtily.
"We're here to see Orlando," Willetta said boldly.
Olivia's eyes narrowed and she walked towards Willetta, "I don't know what you think you're doing, but my ninety-two-year-old
grandmother lives in this house and she doesn't need this drama."
Willetta turned to Mr. Nelson whose eyes eagerly flit from her to Olivia, "This is Mr. Orlando's sister. She was one of the first people to see me when I came out of the bushes with my clothes torn after Orlando raped me. She also is the one who gave the young Mr. Orlando money to help me run away." Willetta looked away from Mr. Nelson and turned to Chance. "Chance, come meet your aunt. This is Olivia."
Olivia hung back. Her yellow skin was mottled with anger and the freckles across her nose stood out like neon signs. Chance moved closer to Vivica and she wrapped her arms around him protectively.
"Vivica, how could you let her do this to us," Olivia said accusingly.
"I didn't know about any of this. I am just as surprised as you. By the way, how are you," Vivica asked mildly, but her eyes shifted disapprovingly to Willetta.
"Olivia, get Orlando. Tell him that if he doesn't get out here and sign away his parental rights this thing is going to get more embarrassing. That's all I want from him and then the cameras will go away," Willetta said.
"You didn't have to humiliate yourself and everyone else to get that, Willetta. I'm sure he doesn't want the responsibility of raising a child," Olivia said incredulously.
"Get him now," Willetta said between clenched teeth.
As she talked, Samuel nearly skipped back to the truck. He opened the trunk and fished around in his files until he found
what he was looking for. He was about to shut the trunk when he thought better of it and rummaged around some more until he found an ink pen.
Olivia went inside and came back out. "He refuses to come out here. He said you and your attorney can step inside without the cameras."
Andrik stepped forward and put his hand on Willetta's arm. "Will you be okay," he asked. He'd finally caught on to what she was doing and was caught between being amazed and downright giddy with pride.
"I'll be just fine," Willetta said as she stepped up onto the porch and pushed the doors open with more force than necessary. Samuel was right on her heels with his pen and paper.
Orlando stood in the foyer waiting. Willetta stopped abruptly and Samuel ran into the back of her. She didn't even notice nor did she hear him murmur his apology. She had eyes only for Orlando.
"What's up cuz," he said.
He'd obviously spent most of his time in prison working out. His arms were huge and he flaunted them disgustingly with a sleeveless rayon shirt that was plastered to his chiseled abs. His arms hung down on either side of him like a monkey, but Willetta knew he was trying to pose. To an unsuspecting girl, he would be attractive, but Willetta knew first hand what he was and it took all she had not to slap his face and spit at his feet.
"Sign the paper," she said coldly.
"What, I don't get no hello, how you doin or nothing," he said. "And what you doing with the cameras, Willetta? I'm supposed to be shame or something?"
"Sign the paper," she repeated.
"I don't like women who go for bad," he whispered. "I'm not signing nothin until you apologize for trying to shame me."
"Sign that paper, Orlando," Aunt Octavia said from the doorway.
"I thought I told you and Nanna to stay in the office til I said you could come out," he yelled angrily.
Aunt Octavia jumped and looked afraid.
"You had your opportunity, Orlando," Willetta said and turned to go back out the front door.
Orlando moved quickly. He pushed Samuel into the wall and grabbed Willetta by her hair. Pictures fell off the wall as Samuel landed against them. He tried to keep from falling all the way down and only managed to rake more pictures off the wall. The sound of breaking glass must have made its way outside because within seconds the doors slammed wide open and Andrik made his entrance with the camera crew hot on his trail.
"Let her go," Andrik growled.
Orlando instantly pushed Willetta away from him and put his hands in the air. "I was just playing with her man. You know how chicks are when they go for bad," he said nervously.
"Are you okay," Andrik asked without taking his eyes off Orlando.
Willetta said yes and took the paper and pen from Samuel who had finally regained his balance. Everyone crowded into the foyer and watched as she approached Orlando with the paper and pen. Without even looking in Chance's direction he snatched them out of her hand and scribbled his signature.
"Now get the hell out of my house," he said. "All of you get out," he screamed.
"Orlando," came a frail voice from behind the wall. "I'm an old woman and I don't have many more days. I can't have you screaming at me or your momma. She's old too. You and Olivia need to pack your bags and go find somewhere else to stay," Aunt Olivia said.
Aunt Olivia watched with steely eyes as they left the foyer like too naughty children. Except in truth they were dangerously self-centered adults who could make a lot of trouble and most likely would continue making trouble for someone.
"Come here, Willetta," Aunt Olivia she said. "Did you bring the picture?"
"I did, but according to the journals the picture was here before Etta started stealing babies," she said.
"That's disappointing to hear. I guess I won't find out who my momma was before I die," she said sadly.
Willetta patted her on the back and said, "I brought you and Aunt Octavia another surprise though. Aunt Olivia and Aunt Octavia, I would like you to meet Chance. I think at this point you know exactly who he is."
"I see he got those freckles," Aunt Octavia said. "Come here baby and give us old women some sugar."
Chance rushed over and let himself be gathered up in hugs and kisses from Aunt Olivia and Aunt Octavia. Mr. Nelson's camera crew kept filming throughout all the introductions and reunions. Aunt Octavia and Vivica hugged one another tearfully and Aunt Octavia summed it up eloquently when she quoted a scripture and said, " Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
Everyone in the foyer including the cameramen nodded or either quietly said, "Amen." CHAPTER 50
"I wanted everyone to act normal," Willetta said by way of explanation, when Mr. Ricky asked her why she hadn't let everyone know what she was up to.
"Well, I must say it worked out in everyone's favor," Vivica said quietly. She, Chance and Martha occupied the middle seat of the suburban. Chance leaned heavily against her side. He'd been clutching her hand ever since seeing his father face-to-face and witnessing his deplorable lack of character. Vivica was relieved that her grandson would grow into a young man without blinders on concerning his father, but she was sad that a child of hers could be so degenerate.
"Yes it did," Samuel said enthusiastically. "Now I can finalize my business here and take my wife and go home. Not that I haven't enjoyed myself, but I'm missing my own bed."
"What's left to do," Martha asked. She sat on the other side of Chance and patted his knee every once in a while in an effort to soothe him. Everyone knew he had been traumatized. His little leg trembled against her thigh.
"I have to read Mama Jean's will," he said.
"Well this should be very interesting to say the least," Gwenneth said. "I've been wondering what's in that will. I read the journals, but Sam said it was unethical for me to read the will. So, I need someone to tell me word for word what's in it after Sam finishes reading it," she said unashamedly.
Everyone in the suburban laughed, but all of them were just as curious, as Gwenneth, about the contents of Mama Jean's will.
#
Andrik sat quietly in the back seat of the suburban. All of his senses were tuned into Willetta. She sat in between him and Mr. Ricky. The bravado that she sported was not quite in harmony with the tremors he felt as he held her hand. She'd been brave, but at a cost. She was far from okay and he couldn't wait to get her home so they could talk about it.
The past few weeks had been a virtual conundrum. Mama Jean's death had sparked an unraveling of events that made no sense
whatsoever. Even now on the precipice of a conclusion, Andrik had no idea why all the secrecy over the years had been necessary or even supported by so many people. At any time, any of them could have asked questions or given answers that would have shed light on the reasons for the majority, if not all, of the seemingly unnatural choices they had made. Andrik squeezed Willetta's trembling hand and was silently glad that she'd been the one to go through all of this with him. She was strong and she had the character and wherewithal to bring people together. On his own, he would have instigated a family war and a campaign of revenge and hate.
#
Willetta shifted and leaned into Andrik. She was tired and very upset. Orlando was worse than she'd expected him to be. Her head hurt where he had yanked on her hair. Being brutalized by two different men in such a short time frame kind of wilted a girl. She had not forgotten how Damion Racy had slammed his fist into the side of her head. She was in desperate need of some kindness. She was afraid to look into Andrik's face, because she knew what she would see and his gentleness would make her cry. So, she satisfied herself with holding his hand and with the knowledge that he cared.
She watched the back of Chance's head and thought about how he must feel. Orlando had been ugly and overtly simple. It was as if he was another species from them entirely. He was like the gangsters in the R-rated movies. The kind of people she didn't even want to see on T.V. and least of all in real life. He
must have been a horribly nightmarish disappointment to Chance. Willetta was glad Vivica had not shrank from telling him the truth. Chance knew what sort of man his father was by simply understanding what it meant to rape someone. So, though he may have been shaken up a little bit, he surely didn't have any expectations of his father.
Willetta closed her eyes and leaned even more into Andrik. Mr. Ricky's halting snore resonated throughout the van. Everyone was too mentally preoccupied to care. She found herself dwelling on how hard Andrik's chest felt pressed against her breast. The muscular curve of his thigh pressed into her leg. She wiggled a little to get closer. When that didn't satisfy her, she pulled her hand out of his and slid her arm behind the arch of his back wrapping both arms around his waist. Her head lay in the curve of his shoulder and she felt safe and warm. Taking a deep sigh, she closed her eyes in utter contentment.
#
It felt good to have Willetta in his arms. Andrik rested one long arm along her back and pulled her closer. He tried to ignore the baser reactions of his body and focus on providing her the comfort she obviously needed. But he could feel every breath she took in far too many ways. The subtle movement of her soft breasts as she inhaled and exhaled; the tantalizing heat of her breath against his neck; and the soft sighs from deep within her throat were arousing to him. He sat very still and hoped her arm didn't drop into his lap. He was embarrassingly erect and there was nothing he could do about it save push her off of him and jump out of the suburban. So, he muffled a groan, closed his eyes, and prayed that the trip would end sooner than later.
#
The first thing Samuel did when they reached Thompson Estates was to announce a family meeting.
"I want everyone in the living room except for Martha, Ricky and Gwenneth," he said.
"Don't you guys want to eat first," Gwenneth asked.
Everyone looked at her like she had two heads and Chance was the first to answer, "No ma'am! I want to know what the will says right now."
Gwenneth laughed. The tension in the room spoke for itself. Nobody was interested in prolonging the mystery of the will. So, she volunteered to take Martha and Ricky home to allow more privacy for the meeting.
Journals of the Secret Keeper Page 18