No, Tiffany instigated it. There was no other plausible explanation for why Clifford would have sex with her. Merle had never denied him any sexual favors, but Tiffany seduced him with her fast-trotting behind, and Clifford had been too drunk to turn that down.
Now, that Merle could understand. It was a classic case of the apple not falling far from the tree. Tiffany’s daddy had seduced her and then run off with another woman without a backward glance. Clifford had been her father until he succumbed to emphysema, and Tiffany was so ungrateful to accuse Clifford, who had doted on her, of raping her.
Still, Merle felt a pull to draw close to her only child.
Tiffany was her blood.
“No.” Stubbornly, she resisted. If she tried to repair her relationship now, it would be an admission of her doubt. And she wasn’t doubtful. She was sure about her, even though Tiffany seemed to have everyone fooled. A mother knew her child, and Tiffany’s innocent act did not wash with her. Despite the fact that she sang like an angel, her daughter was still common trash.
“No. Sorry, Neil. Let Tiffany find her way out.” Merle pressed the delete button and erased Neil’s message from the machine and from her heart and mind.
“Hi. I’m looking for Tiffany Knightly’s room.”
“Sure. She’s in room three-sixteen.”
He saw Karlie with Neil from high school. Guilt attacked him with a renewed vengeance. He should have been there, and he could’ve kicked himself for not agreeing to the paternity test earlier.
Karlie spotted him and walked over to him. “Hi. Are you here to see my mom?”
“And you,” Thomas replied. “I just wanted to check on you.” Karlie hugged him, and his heart melted. “Oh, Karlie, I don’t know why it took me so long to take the test, and now I fear I am too late.”
Karlie looked up at him. “No, it’s not too late.”
“I just want you to know that no matter what the results are, I love you.”
“I have loved you all my life. Mom didn’t teach me anything else.”
Overcome, Thomas decided to depart. “I’ll come by and see your mother once she is out of the hospital.” He nodded at Neil before heading home, feeling lighter than he had in years.
Days after she went into the hospital, the nurse escorted Tiffany in a wheelchair out of the hospital and into Neil’s Benz. She put on a cheery face for Karlie, not wanting her to see how her heart was aching that Darnell had not visited or called. Tiffany understood why, but that had not eased the pain in her heart.
Karlie had noticed his absence and wanted to choke Darnell with her bare hands. When she returned to school, she was going to confront him and give him a piece of her mind. Teacher or not, nobody treated her mother that way.
Neil and Karlie settled Tiffany in the rear seat. Once they arrived at the house, they fussed over her until she was safely inside. There she greeted by a small group of friends. Tiffany saw the balloons and the WELCOME HOME banner and fought back tears.
“Myra even baked some of your favorite pies,” Karlie told her.
“Oh, this is just too much.” Tiffany held on to her heart. “Thank you, all.”
Their love and concern made Darnell’s absence easier to bear—almost. However, Tiffany would trust and lean on God.
Pastor Johnston walked over to her. “I am going to share a brief word with you, Tiffany. Remember, you are not alone. God is with you. All you have to do is cast all your cares upon Him. God can bear it all. Whatever you are facing, God can take it.”
She held on to those words in the ensuing days, until she got on her feet and felt like herself again. Her appetite returned, and Myra had her on a newer and stricter holistic regime. She hired a night nurse so Myra could be home when Neil got in from work.
She was alive. That was what mattered. She’d been given more time, and she was going to grasp it with both hands.
Myra sat nervously at her kitchen table, waiting for Neil to come home. She wanted to discuss an urgent matter with him.
“Hi, babe,” she called when he walked through the door.
Neil raised his eyebrow at his wife’s cheery greeting. “Hi,” she said as he walked in the kitchen. He was scared to say anything more for fear it would change her mood.
“I wanted to run something by you,” Myra said.
Uh-oh. Neil sat down cautiously into the nearest chair, unsure what Myra had up her sleeve.
Myra read his dubious expression and laughed. “Relax. I just wanted to ask how you would feel if we were to take Karlie in.”
Neil pulled his chair out and looked at Myra with amazement. That had to be the most selfless thing he had ever heard her say.
“I mean, if Tiffany agreed, it would be the perfect solution for everybody. Tiffany would have us to take care of Karlie, and I would finally have a child to call my own.”
He had thought too fast. Myra was still always about Myra. He put his hand to his chin in thought. Even though her motives were selfish, Myra’s suggestion was a good one. It was something that he had considered, but Neil had not broached the subject, unsure of how Myra would react.
“It is a good idea,” Neil finally said.
Myra whooped and gave him a hug. “It’s settled, then. I think you should be the one to tell Tiffany. If I do, it I might sound too desperate.”
“Whoa.” Neil attempted to slow Myra down. “Myra, Ryan and Thomas still have to take the paternity test, and then one of them has to make a decision. We have to wait.”
Myra’s face fell. Then she perked up. “I am going to trust God to work things out for me. I have been praying for a miracle, and I figured that Karlie is it. Karlie is my miracle child.”
“Myra,” Neil cautioned, “you know the saying about counting your chickens before they hatch.”
“Yeah. Yeah,” Myra declared, unconcerned. “But this chick has already hatched, and she is practically full grown.” She chuckled at her own joke before going to busy herself upstairs.
“I’ll go see Tiffany tonight and talk to her about it. But first let’s pray about it and seek God’s face.”
When Neil arrived at her home, Tiffany was already in bed. He patiently waited as the night nurse took all the necessary vitals and filled in the chart. As soon as they were alone, he broached the subject of Karlie. Myra had already texted him to ask about Tiffany’s response to their suggestion.
“Tiffany, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Neil began.
Tiffany gave him a wide, trusting smile and patted a spot on the bed. Neil complied and sat on her left side near the edge of the bed. Gently, he took her hand in his.
“Myra and I had a talk, and we both would be delighted—honored, actually—to . . .” Neil paused, not sure how to put it into words.
“Just say it,” Tiffany urged.
“Well, Myra and I were thinking that we would love to have Karlie. I mean that is if you need us to, we would welcome the idea of caring for her as our own.” Neil knew his words sounded jumbled, but was there a correct way to tell a mother you wanted her child? He didn’t think so.
“Neil, are you saying that both you and Myra would be willing to take care of my daughter when I am gone?”
“Yes,” Neil said, “I like the way you phrased it better. It’s not that we want you to die, but we just want you to know that the offer stands if you need it.”
“Oh, Neil,” Tiffany said. “I am so touched by your willingness to bless me. I cannot explain what it would mean to me.” Tiffany burst into tears. It was as if a fifty-pound weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “I would love it, actually. You and Myra would be the most amazing parents for Karlie.”
Neil smiled and patted Tiffany’s hand. Tears filled his eyes. “No, Tiffany, it would be you blessing us by entrusting us with your most prized possession.”
Tiffany gulped and whispered again, “Thank you, Neil, and thank Myra for me. Well, I’ll thank her tomorrow.”
“Well, I know that this is all contingen
t upon Ryan’s and Thomas’s test results and decisions. But if they have any qualms at all about caring for Karlie, then you know you have us.” Neil felt a peace come over his being. He began praising God, and Tiffany joined in.
Neil called Myra to let her know Tiffany had accepted their offer. Myra was so overjoyed that her whooping boomed through the phone.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Darnell’s palms were sweating, and it wasn’t because of the warm spring weather. He sat in his car, parked outside Tiffany’s house, filled with apprehension. He had considered calling, but he did not want Karlie blocking his call. She gave him mean looks whenever he passed her in the hallways, and Darnell felt two feet high. Walking out on a sick woman in the hospital was abominable. His mother had chewed his ears off when she heard how he had handled things with Tiffany. Darnell heard a sharp rap and pressed the automatic button to lower his window.
Karlie had spotted him. “What’re you doing here?” She dispensed with any formalities and pretense of being polite.
“I am here to see your mother,” Darnell answered.
“Why? You just up and left her in the hospital.” Karlie’s fiery eyes scared him. “She did not deserve that.”
Darnell pressed the button to roll the window up and got out of the car. His tone was apologetic when he said, “I know, Karlie, and that is why I am here.”
Karlie crossed her arms defiantly, feeling torn. A huge part of her wanted to insult him and send him on his way, but she knew that her mother would probably never forgive her if she did that.
Darnell noticed Karlie’s offensive stance and decided to wait it out. He could be just as tough and stubborn. But if he had Karlie pegged right, Darnell knew that her impeccable upbringing would win out against her rebellion.
He was right. Darnell silently observed Karlie as she turned around and stomped to the gate. She opened it with a wide swoosh and then opened the front door with one huge swoop, making her displeasure known. She ventured into the house, then disappeared to her room.
Darnell wasn’t bothered by Karlie’s antics. He was just grateful that she had let him in. From where he stood, Darnell could see that Tiffany was in the living room. What could he say to make things right? Saying a silent prayer, Darnell walked forward and entered the house.
“Hello, Tiffany,” he called, but she did not answer. He repeated his greeting as he strolled into the living room but still received no response.
Tiffany hadn’t turned around, so Darnell walked around to look her in the face, determined that she was not going to ignore him.
“Tiffany,” he said again. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry for walking out on you like that, and I know it’s been a couple weeks, but I was scared. It seems dumb, I know, but it is the truth. I could not bear to see you like that, because I am in love with you, Tiffany. I did not plan to feel that way, so I retreated. I do not know what I could ever say to mend things between us.” Darnell stopped. He did not know how else to say he was sorry.
“Actually, it’s been three weeks, and you could start by telling me that again,” Tiffany answered.
“What?” Darnell scrunched his face. She’d lost him with that comment.
“Repeat the part about how you love me,” Tiffany reiterated with a huge smile.
“I love you, Tiffany.” Darnell rushed over to her and got on his knees. “I know we had an agreement that we would not fall in love, but I did fall in love with you. I am miserable without you, and I want to spend whatever time you have left with you.”
Tiffany cried. “I love you too, Darnell. And I do understand why you left the way you did.” She reached over and hugged Darnell before kissing him passionately.
“I am so glad you could find it in your heart to forgive me,” Darnell said, trailing kisses all over her face.
“I just knew all you really needed was time. Time to find your way back to me.”
Ryan and Thomas both went in to take the paternity test. It was over in a matter of minutes. Both men returned home for the weekend, pondering how their lives would change with a teenage daughter. The results would be in that Tuesday.
That same Saturday, Tiffany took a turn for the worse. She had a fever from pneumonia, which racked her body. She spat up so much mucus and blood that it had to weigh a good six ounces. Myra drove her to the doctor’s. Dr. Layton took one look at her and hospitalized her instantly.
Her condition was so dire that Dr. Layton proposed moving ahead with the risky surgical procedure to remove the tumor from her lung.
Tiffany discussed the proposal with Karlie. “What do you think, Karlie? Do you think I should do it? I will do it for you if you want.”
Karlie scrunched her lips and thought for several minutes. “Mom, I don’t think you should take the risk. Not with a fifty-fifty percent chance.”
“Okay. I understand,” Tiffany agreed. She had blockage in her airways and was in tremendous pain, and the doctor promised to increase her medication.
Karlie spent the entire weekend filled with worry. Neil and Myra opened their heart and home. She would stay with them when she was not by her mother’s bedside. With Myra’s help, Karlie made some chicken soup and tenderly spoon-fed her mother the broth. Karlie became frightened when she saw how much of an effort it took Tiffany for to swallow and keep down the soup.
Karlie was in Neil’s kitchen, eating some ice cream but mostly staring into space, when Neil walked in the room to check on her.
“Karlie, what’re you doing up at this hour?” Neil asked. It was almost three o’clock in the morning.
“Just thinking.”
“Speak what’s on your mind,” Neil commanded and took a seat next to her.
“I don’t want to burden you anymore, Neil,” Karlie said. “You have done enough.”
Neil rested his hand across Karlie’s back to comfort her. “Karlie, you can never be a burden to me.”
“I hate this disease with every fiber of my being. I hate what it is doing to Mom physically and emotionally. I’m trying to remain hopeful, but Mom is not going to make it to my sixteenth birthday.”
“That’s right!” Neil slapped his head. “I didn’t even realize your birthday is almost a month away. I tell you, March drags on and on.” He patted Karlie on the shoulder. “No matter what, Karlie, you’ll always have me.”
“Yeah, until the tests reveal my father’s identity,” Karlie replied.
“No, Karlie. I won’t stop caring even then,” Neil promised.
“The thing that bothers me is that either way it goes, my father won’t really know anything about me,” Karlie confessed. “Thomas will have a heads-up, of course, but still. . . .”
Neil understood her dilemma. He put his hands up in a silent command to wait a minute before he left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a lockbox.
Karlie looked at him curiously.
Before Neil opened the box, he swore Karlie to secrecy. “What I am about to share with you, nobody knows about. I am showing you only because I want you to believe that I do care about you.”
Neil opened the old box and took out several pictures and letters.
Karlie gasped. They were pictures of her in all stages of her life. “How did you get these?”
“Tiffany and I kept in touch over the years,” Neil admitted. “She sent me pictures and kept me abreast of how you were doing. To Tiffany, you were so precious, and she shared her most valuable treasure with me. Anyway, I will give these letters to your father so that he’ll get a chance to know you a little better. How does that sound?”
Karlie had tears in her eyes when she blurted, “Why can’t you be my father?”
Neil’s heart swelled at her outburst. “I wish I were. I may not be your biological father, Karlie. But I have loved you from the start.”
“I know, Neil,” Karlie said. “Thank you for always being there for us. We couldn’t do it without you.”
Before going to the hospital later that Monday morni
ng, Darnell stopped by Neil’s house to see Karlie.
“Hey, Neil. I came by to check on Karlie before I head over to see Tiffany,” he announced.
“She’s asleep,” Neil told him. “Actually, she was up pretty late last night and was real upset that Tiffany might not make it to her sixteenth birthday.”
“Who says she has to wait to celebrate her birthday?”
Neil creased his eyebrows at Darnell’s question until understanding dawned. “I like the way you think.”
Darnell became excited. “Leave everything to me. I will call when it’s time.”
Neil and Darnell gave each other a high five.
“Wait out here a minute,” Neil told Karlie before entering Tiffany’s hospital room.
Karlie’s heart skipped a beat. Why does he want me to wait out here? Suddenly, Karlie was afraid to see her mother. Afraid of what she might see.
Neil opened the door a crack and peered out. He gave a barely perceptible nod before closing the door.
Karlie walked forward as if she were going to an execution. Her feet dragged, and her heart pounded mercilessly. Taking a huge gulp, Karlie opened the door.
“Surprise!”
Karlie was so shocked, she almost tripped over her feet. Everybody was there. There were balloons and all sorts of decorations.
The small crowd sang, “Happy Birthday to you.”
Touched, Karlie started laughing and crying. She looked over at her mother, who was also smiling.
“Happy Sweet Sixteen, Karlie,” Tiffany said. Her gaunt, pale face radiated.
Karlie ran over to her mother with elation and gave her a hug. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, but who you really need to thank is Darnell. It was his idea.”
Spontaneously, she went over to Darnell and gave him a hug. “Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Sing A New Song Page 23