The Best-Kept Secret

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

  “What did you do today?”

  “We went to the movies and then to the arcade. And then they bought me a Game Boy Advance.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yep. And they said I could bring it home with me, too. It’s so fun.”

  “Well, it sounds like you’re having a good time.”

  “Yep. But I can’t wait to come home because I miss Jonathan and Elijah.”

  “What about us? Your mom and me?”

  “I miss both of you, too.”

  “And we miss you. A lot.”

  “I know.”

  Curtis couldn’t help chuckling. Matthew had so much confidence in himself because Curtis had made sure of it. He’d made sure that Matthew knew he was loved by his parents and was worthy to be loved by anyone for that matter. A self-esteem issue he would never have if Curtis could help it. He would walk with his head held high at all times and know that he was just as good as the next person.

  “Well, son, I need to finish getting dressed, so I’m going to let you speak to your mom.”

  “Okay. Bye, Dad. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Charlotte came back into the bedroom and Curtis passed her the phone. She talked to Matthew for maybe five minutes before hanging up.

  “I miss him so much,” she said, and Curtis could tell she wanted to cry.

  “I know,” he said, hugging her. “But he needs that time with your parents, and he’ll be back on Tuesday. The days will pass by before you know it. Plus, we needed some time alone to ourselves.”

  “You’re right. This has been one of the best weeks of my life.”

  Curtis had to agree. He’d learned that he would soon be able to give Charlotte some of the luxuries she wanted, and they were loving each other like wild animals. What more could a man ask for? Not a single thing. He was in excellent health, had a beautiful wife, a handsome son, a great church, and a comfortable income. There wasn’t a thing he could truly complain about. Finally.

  When they arrived at the restaurant, they were seated immediately. It was a bit crowded, which was the norm on a Friday evening, and Charlotte was glad she’d made reservations.

  “So what are you having?” she said.

  “Prime rib, I think.”

  “Then I’ll probably have the same.”

  “Why don’t we order a couple of appetizers?”

  “Whatever you want. It’s your night, remember?”

  “Does that mean you’re paying, too?”

  “As a matter of fact, my published author, it does.”

  “You mean, almost published.”

  “You will be. And soon.”

  The tall and slim waitress walked over to the table.

  “What can I start you with?”

  “How about the stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta?” Curtis answered.

  “Okay. And to drink?”

  “I’ll have cranberry juice mixed with 7UP or Sprite,” Charlotte said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Curtis told her.

  “I’ll be right back with your drinks, and then I’ll take your dinner order.”

  “Thank you,” Curtis said. “So. How was work today?” he asked.

  “It was good. It’s always good, but yesterday I made a major decision about my career.”

  “Meaning?”

  “On Monday, I’m planning to give the firm a one-month notice of my resignation.”

  “Whoa. Now don’t make me have a heart attack. Where is all this coming from?”

  “It’s true. I’m quitting.”

  “But why?”

  “Because you’ve been asking me to and because I know now that you’re really going to need me at the church full-time. Especially once you start traveling to more and more speaking engagements.”

  “True. But actually, that’s what I was talking to Aaron about the other night when he came over. I told him that I’ll need him to play a much larger role at the church than he has been. I wanted to discuss it with you first, but within the next few months, I’d really like to offer him a full-time position, so that he can leave his current job for good. He’s not that happy with it anyway, and not only does Aaron care about the church, but he cares about you and me. And that’s the type of person we need to run things.”

  Charlotte was stunned and felt somewhat disoriented. Curtis had always been such a great judge of character when it came to men, but he didn’t have a clue about that maniac he called his best friend. He had no idea how much Aaron despised him and how he envied everything about Curtis. She knew she had to tell him the truth before the night was over.

  “But Deliverance is our church, Curtis,” she said. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea to give anyone other than you and me that kind of control. So, as much as I hate to disagree with you, I don’t think hiring Aaron full-time is the right thing to do. And even though I know you trust him, you really can’t trust anyone when it comes to money.”

  “I guess I don’t know what to say. I mean, I hear you, but I was so sure you would be even more happy than me about this, especially since hiring Aaron would mean I could stop harassing you. It took me a while, but I finally realized that you deserve the opportunity to work wherever you want to.”

  “And I appreciate knowing that, but my mind is made up. I’m giving my notice and taking over whatever you want me to at the church.”

  “Wow. Well, if you’re sure. Because you know I’ve wanted that all along, but you were so against it.”

  “I was just being rebellious is all. But those days are over.”

  The waitress set down their drinks and took their prime rib orders. Shortly after, she brought out their appetizers. They took turns, sampling each.

  Curtis scanned the restaurant and then smiled at Charlotte.

  “This was such a great idea,” he said. “You know Antonio’s is my favorite. No matter how many times I come in here, I’m still fascinated by the waterfall in the lobby and that marble flooring.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Because, baby, from now on, things are only going to get better. Life is much too short, and we need to start living it to the fullest.”

  “I agree.”

  “The thing is, I love you with everything in me,” she said, holding his hand. “I haven’t always been the best wife, but you’ve always treated me like a queen. And most women will never know how that feels. You made such major changes in your life, and I know they were all because of Matthew and me.”

  “But I’m glad I did. I’m glad that I finally learned how to love one woman and stay faithful to her. I was so terrible to Tanya and Mariah, and even now, I still regret it. They deserved so much better than that.”

  “But at least you learned from your mistakes. Some people never do.”

  “I even did wrong by you before we were married, and I’m just glad you forgave me.”

  “We all deserve to be forgiven,” she said, hoping he felt the same way. “And you said yourself we all deserve a second chance when we mess up.”

  “Actually, I’ve been given a third, so I’m even more thankful than most people.”

  “I’m just glad we were able to reconnect after five whole years.”

  “I am, too. It was the best thing that could have happened, because you slowed me down, girl. Wayyyy down.”

  They both laughed.

  “Yeah, you were pretty wild,” she said.

  “But everything happens for a reason, and our marriage is no different.”

  Charlotte squeezed his hand tightly. She knew she had a tough night ahead of her, but she felt confident that Curtis would be there for her in the end. He would be hurt at first and then angry, but everything would work itself out in no time. She had to believe exactly that because there wasn’t any other way.

  Chapter 18

  CHARLOTTE SAT INSIDE THE SUV, AND THE VALET ATTENDANT CLOSED her door. Curtis tipped him five dollars and drove away from the restaurant. They would be home in a matter
of minutes, twenty to be exact, and Charlotte was already trying to prepare her words. Nothing would soften what she had to say, but still, she wanted to say what she had to say in the best way possible.

  “I’m full,” Curtis said.

  “Does that mean I won’t be getting any loving tonight?”

  “No, I’m not saying anything like that. Not at all.”

  “I didn’t think so. And you won’t regret it either.”

  “Don’t make me fly through all these red lights out here.”

  They both laughed.

  But in the midst of their humor Curtis’s phone rang. Not his cell but the one inside the Escalade. Charlotte wondered who had passed away because the answering service only called this number in case of an emergency.

  “Hello?” he said.

  “Hey, man,” Aaron said, his voice booming through the speaker just above Curtis’s head. “I just saw you guys leaving the restaurant and thought I would call to congratulate you again. Man, I’m truly proud of you.”

  “Thanks, man. You know how much I appreciate that, and it’s good to know somebody has my back and is happy for me.”

  Charlotte wanted to jump out of the car while it was still moving. She knew Aaron was purposely calling Curtis’s car phone and not his cell because he wanted her to hear his voice. He was doing that taunting thing again, and she wished she could strangle him. She wished he would have some fatal accident. If he did, it would make life a whole lot easier.

  “True,” Aaron commented. “But sometimes even people who have your back have to rain on your parade. They have to tell you things you need to know even if it hurts.”

  Charlotte’s body trembled.

  “Rain on my parade?” Curtis said. “Meaning what?”

  “That I wonder when Charlotte is planning on telling you that Matthew might not be your son.”

  Charlotte slowly closed her eyes and felt tears running out of them.

  Curtis was speechless.

  “Did you hear me?” Aaron continued. “Because I know your wife hears me loud and clear.”

  Curtis pulled to the side of the road and turned on the interior light, but he still didn’t respond.

  “I know you can’t believe what I’m telling you, but it’s true. And just so you know, Charlotte, I already called Anise an hour ago and told her the whole story. And I have to say, she wasn’t very happy when I told her how you’d slept with her husband in her own house in her own bed eight years ago. She wasn’t happy about it at all.”

  “Aaron, are you crazy?” Curtis finally said. “Joking about my wife and son like this?”

  Charlotte stared straight ahead. Her insides were burning up.

  “Joking? Man, if you don’t know anything, you should know I wouldn’t joke about anything this serious. I’m telling you what your wife told me a few months ago. And I won’t even go into how she slept with some guy she used to date the night before you married her. Or how she slept with one of her college professors just so she could get an A in his class. No, I won’t go into any of that.”

  “Is all of this true, Charlotte?”

  “Hell, yeah, it’s true,” Aaron said. “Tell him, Sister Black.”

  Charlotte looked at Curtis and wept silently. Veins were bulging at his temple, and she knew life as they’d known it was over. It would never be the same for as long as they lived.

  “Anyway, good people,” Aaron said. “I do hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. I know I’ve certainly enjoyed mine.”

  Charlotte felt as though she was having an out-of-body experience. She wanted to say something to Curtis, anything, but she didn’t want to anger him any further. She didn’t want him to beat her down the way he must have wanted to.

  But to her surprise, he pulled back into traffic and drove home in silence. She’d tried to read his facial expression, but it told her nothing. Only a few minutes had passed, yet he was already acting as if nothing had happened. She knew his defense mechanism had kicked in because there was no way he or any man could remain this calm, not after hearing that his only son might be someone else’s. Charlotte had known all the time that when Aaron had sworn he would tell everything, her fling with Anise’s husband, David, and the fact that David might be Matthew’s father would rise to the top of the list. But she’d told herself he would never do that. He would never try to hurt Matthew. He would never try to hurt any child he knew.

  How wrong she’d been, though, because now Curtis knew everything. Everything except that she’d been sleeping with Aaron. It was so amazing how he’d conveniently kept quiet about that part of the equation. He’d said all that he could to damage her and said nothing to incriminate himself. But in all honesty, it was probably best he hadn’t mentioned anything more. It would only have made bad matters worse.

  Curtis drove into the driveway but didn’t open the garage door.

  “Get out,” he demanded.

  “But Curtis—”

  “I said get the hell out!”

  “Curtis, baby, I’m so sorry.”

  “Charlotte, I’m warning you. Open the door and get your ass out, before I do something crazy.”

  She did what he asked and as soon as she did, Curtis sped out of the driveway, screeching his tires and flying through the subdivision.

  Charlotte stood there, wondering what he was going to do— to her, Aaron, or both of them.

  Curtis was so furious, he burst into tears. He’d been driving around town for more than an hour, trying to piece things together, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t understand why Charlotte would lie to him about Matthew. Why she’d done any of what Aaron had told him. But more than that, he wondered why Aaron had felt the need to disclose what he knew in such a cold and sarcastic manner. Almost as if he was deliberately trying to hurt both Curtis and Charlotte for different reasons. Nothing was adding up, and Curtis was to the point now where he needed to talk to someone who could identify with what he was going through. He needed to speak to someone who had a level head, someone he admired and had a lot of respect for—someone who was much more respectable than Charlotte.

  Curtis loosened his tie, drove another five miles or so, and pulled into Anise’s driveway. He got out of his vehicle, took off his suit jacket, laid it across the driver’s seat, and set the alarm system. As he walked up the sidewalk, leading to the condo, his cell phone rang. But when he saw that it was Charlotte, he turned it off and pressed the doorbell. He pressed it four times before Anise finally opened the door.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey,” she responded.

  “I’m sorry for showing up over here unannounced, but I need someone to talk to.”

  “Come in,” she said.

  They walked into the great room and sat down. Anise on the sofa and Curtis on the loveseat.

  “So do you believe any of what Aaron is saying?” he said.

  “At first I didn’t, but he knew way too many details about the time Charlotte was visiting David and me. And there’s no way he could have known any of it without Charlotte telling him. Plus, it’s not like Charlotte is ringing my phone off the hook, trying to deny anything.”

  “All she said to me was that she was sorry. Can you believe that? Matthew might not be my son and all she has to say is that she’s sorry?”

  “Well, I’m telling you right now, Curtis. I’m through with her.”

  “I’m feeling the same way, because she knew from the very beginning how much I loved Matthew, and she took advantage of that. She wanted me to think he was my son so that I would marry her.”

  “Charlotte will do and say whatever she has to to get what she wants, and the more I think about her sleeping with David, the more I hate her. I hate everything about her and to think she slept with my husband in our own bed. I mean, nothing gets much lower than that. And on top of that, we’re family.”

  Curtis could see the pain and rage in Anise’s eyes. He’d never seen her like this before, but he totally understood what she was fe
eling. He understood because he was feeling the same or worse.

  “You know, Aaron even told me that she slept with some guy the night before we got married and that she slept with some college professor,” he said.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised. Not now.”

  “I really underestimated her. And I’ve been so committed to her. I haven’t been with another woman since the day I was shot.”

  “Well, not every woman realizes what they have, and I just told Charlotte that the other day.”

  “Now I’m wondering what else I don’t know.”

  “A lot.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, like the fact that she’s been using my address to hide bills from you. I always knew it was wrong of me to let her do it, but I loved Charlotte like my own sister. And sisters do things for each other.”

  “What kind of bills?”

  “From credit card companies.”

  “Credit cards?”

  “Yeah, she gets at least eight different statements every single month. From both major banks and department stores. And three of them have your name on them as a joint owner.”

  “What? How?”

  “I’m assuming she’s been signing your name on the applications and then changing your address to mine once the accounts have been opened. But who knows with Charlotte.”

  “She’s unbelievable.”

  The saga was still continuing, and Curtis didn’t know how much more news he could digest. He wondered who Charlotte was. Because from the sound of it, he was married to a stranger. He was married to a woman who told one lie after another whenever it was convenient. A woman who was no different from the way he used to be years before. From this day forward, Charlotte deserved whatever she got—from him and anyone else.

  “What still bothers me is why Aaron called me on a car phone to tell me all of this crap and then basically just hung up. It doesn’t make any sense, because even if he wanted to let me know what Charlotte was up to, I’d think he would have told me when she wasn’t around.”