I knocked on my parents’ door.
“Come in,” my dad said.
When I entered, he was sitting on the edge of the bed with his pajamas on.
Mom was sitting on her side of the bed, covered up by her robe. Her eyes looked swollen. “Can you fix Jay and Jason some breakfast, dear?” she asked.
“Sure. Everything all right in here?” I asked.
“Yes,” they both snapped.
I knew they both were lying. I eased out of their room.
Jay and Jason were busy downstairs playing their video game. “Y’all need to go wash your funky behinds,” I yelled.
“You’re the one stanking,” Jason responded.
“I can smell your breath all the way over here,” Jay added.
They laughed, but I didn’t.
“I’m about to cook breakfast, and if you want to eat, you better get your baths.”
“You’re not our mama,” Jay said.
“But I’m your older sister, so you better do what I say.”
“Make us,” Jason said, holding the remote with both of his hands.
“Fine. Don’t do what I say. When I tell Dad you disobeyed me, then you’ll have him to deal with.” I crossed my arms in front of me.
“We were just playing,” Jason said, a sly grin on his face.
Jay added, “You need to lighten up. Can’t you take a joke?”
“Whatever. You two brats get on my nerves.” I stormed out of the room to the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, I had breakfast fixed. Jason and Jay were dressed in jeans and T-shirts and gobbled down the turkey bacon, eggs, and grits I cooked.
“These biscuits are hard,” Jason commented.
“No, they’re not. Now eat it.”
Jason threw the biscuit at Jay.
“Ouch!” Jay yelled.
“See? Told you they were hard.” Jason laughed.
“Good to see some things haven’t changed,” Dad said, as he entered the kitchen.
“Dad, I made enough for you and Mom too. Want me to get it for you?” I asked.
“No, baby girl. I’ll get it. You all just finish eating,” he responded.
Once seated, he addressed the boys. “I need to talk to you about something as soon as I finish eating, so don’t go outside.”
“But, Dad, it’s a pretty day for us to go bike riding,” Jason said.
“You heard what I said.”
“Yes, sir,” Jason said, as he hung his head down.
“You too, dear, don’t go anywhere. We’re having a family meeting.”
My mom never came down to eat, but she did meet us in the living room for our family meeting. She wore shades to cover up her puffy eyes. I looked at her and then back at my dad. Jason and Jay were wrestling.
She snapped, “Stop that, boys. What we have to talk about is serious.”
They stopped doing what they were doing.
My dad said, “Everybody listen up. The dynamics of our life is about to change.”
Now, I knew what he wanted to talk about. I wondered how it would affect my relationship with my brothers. I listened as my dad went on to say, “You all know that we love you, right?”
Jason, Jay, and I nodded our heads up and down in agreement.
Mom said, “I hope this will only bring our family closer.”
“Are you dying, Mom?” Jason blurted.
“No, dear, I’m in good health, as far as I know.”
“Well, what is it?” Jay asked.
My dad sat down near my mom. He sighed. “Porsha is your sister, but I’m not her father,” he said, his voice sounding pained.
“I don’t understand,” Jay said.
Jason informed him. “Porsha has another baby daddy.”
Since my parents seemed to have a hard time explaining things, I decided to take over. “What Dad is saying is, he’s not my blood father.”
“So you’re not our sister. That means I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do,” Jay responded.
“I’ll always be your sister. We share the same mom. We just have two different fathers. Like your friends Mike and Gerald.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, who’s your real dad then?” Jason asked.
“Dion McNeil,” I responded.
“The Dion McNeil?” Jay and Jason passed looks with one another.
“The one and same,” I responded.
“Cool. Well, it is cool, isn’t it?” Jay asked, as he looked directly at my parents.
“Yes, it’s a cool thing that Porsha has two men she can call daddy,” my mom said, removing the sunglasses and revealing her puffy eyes.
“So when do we get to meet him?” Jay asked.
“I want his autograph, so my friends at school can be jealous,” Jason added.
“Well, we really don’t know. Later on today, I will be taking Porsha to spend time with her father,” my mom said.
“While the three of us go to the park and hang out,” Dad added.
It appeared that Jason and Jay were the only two excited about Dion McNeil being my biological father. The rest of us were just going along with the emotions until we knew what would happen next.
22
“Where are you going with that on?” my mom asked.
“We’re going to a cookout. How else was I supposed to dress?” I responded. I had on my skinny jeans and a blue Dallas Cowboys jersey.
She ignored me and went to my walk-in closet. She walked back out with a pink and yellow knee-length design springtime dress and matching sandals. “Put this on.”
“But, Mom . . . ”
“But Mom, nothing. This is the first time meeting your sisters, and I want you to look nice.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with this.”
“Change! You got ten minutes.”
Without another word, my mom left, and reluctantly I did as I was told. I had to admit, after changing I did look nicer. I ran into my dad out in the hallway.
“Don’t you look cute,” he commented.
I blushed. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Now, if you need me, call me,” he said, as we walked downstairs.
My dad surprised me when he gave my mom a kiss on the lips before we left the house. I guess they had made up. Yes, indeed. The smile on her face confirmed it.
“Put your seatbelt on,” she said, while backing out of the driveway.
We didn’t have to drive too far to reach Dion’s house. Our house was a nice size, but Dion’s seemed more extravagant. There were several cars outside when we arrived.
“Don’t be nervous,” my mom said, more to herself than to me.
We both checked our reflections in the mirror. I retraced my lips with a tube of watermelon lip gloss, smacked them together, and exited the car with my mom.
“Let me do the talking at first, okay,” she said.
“Sure.” She didn’t have to worry. I wasn’t going to say anything, unless spoken to.
The walk up the sidewalk leading to the front door seemed to take us forever. I pushed the doorbell, and a woman dressed in an apron opened. “Come on in. You must be Porsha and Porsha’s mom,” the woman said.
“Yes. I’m Angela.”
We shook her hand.
“Well, Dion is expecting you. Everyone’s outside on the patio.”
“Nice,” my mom said, as we followed the woman toward the patio.
I stood at the patio door for a few seconds before following behind them. Dion was grilling. Jasmine was laid out on a lawn chair talking on her phone. An older woman and a younger woman, who I recognized from their reality show, were also seated.
“Your guests are here,” the woman announced.
“Betty, thank you,” Dion responded.
“You two make yourselves at home. I’m going to finish making the salad so you all can eat.”
My mom looked at me and gave me a reassuring smile. “Come on, dear.”
I walked side by side with her, closer to where everybody sat.
Kimberly’s mouth hung open. “Is this who I think it is?” she asked Dion.
“Angela, thank you for coming. Porsha, you look lovely,” he said, as he walked over and greeted us.
“Hi, Kimberly,” my mom said, as she sat in a chair across from hers.
“It’s been, what, fifteen years?” Kimberly said.
“More like sixteen,” my mom responded.
“So, are you and Dion trying to rekindle an old flame? Is that why he asked us over here?”
My mom laughed. “Please. I’m a happily married woman. Remember Trey Swint? Well, we’re still together.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. I think I read somewhere you two were still married.” Kimberly placed her shades on her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
“Happily, I might add,” my mom said.
“Oh, you don’t have to convince me. You’re the one here trying to seduce my husband. Correction, I mean, ex-husband.”
“Ladies,” Dion interrupted, “why don’t everybody fix a plate, and then we can talk.”
“I need to use the rest room,” I said.
“Jas, show Porsha where the bathroom is,” Dion stated.
“It’s through the door and down the hallway,” Jasmine yelled out.
“I said, ‘show her,’” he responded, waving the spatula in his hand.
Brenda, my elder half-sister, interjected, “I’ll show her.”
I followed Brenda into the house. She didn’t say much, but she wasn’t rude to me either.
“You have to excuse Jasmine,” she said. “She can sometimes act like a spoiled brat.”
Brenda was gone when I got out of the bathroom. As I returned toward the patio door, a portrait of Dion, Jasmine, and Brenda in the hallway caught my attention. It appeared to be hand-painted. I reached out to touch it but pulled back.
A lone tear threatened to slide down my face. I sniffled for a few seconds, pulled myself together, and went back out to the patio to meet everyone else.
My mom had fixed me a plate. I took a seat next to her. I didn’t like the looks Jasmine or her mom gave us, so I kept my attention more on the food than the company.
“So how old is your daughter?” Kimberly asked.
“Porsha will be sixteen next month,” my mom responded.
“So you and Jasmine are around the same age. Jasmine will be sixteen this year too,” Kimberly said.
“And I’m going to have the best sweet sixteen party Dallas has ever seen,” Jasmine said.
“Well, we’re throwing Porsha a party next month, so Jasmine you’ll be getting an invitation soon,” my mom stated.
“We’re not friends.”
Dion took that opportunity to interrupt. “Thank you all for coming,” he said. “I didn’t know how I was going to do this, but first I want everyone to hear me out, before saying anything.”
Kimberly pushed her plate away from her and gave him her undivided attention. The only sounds heard were the birds chirping and dogs barking in the background.
“I’m glad my family is here today,” Dion said.
“Then what is she”—Kimberly pointed at my mom—“doing here?”
My mom rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, why are they here?” Jasmine asked.
Brenda snapped at Jasmine. “If you shut up, maybe we’ll find out.”
Dion looked at Brenda and Jasmine. “I recently found out that Porsha is my—”
Before he could get it out, Kimberly had jumped up out of her seat and was trying to reach for my mother. “I knew you were no good,” she yelled out, as her hair swung all out over the place.
23
I blinked my eyes and realized that what I was seeing was only a figment of my imagination. Kimberly was still sitting in her spot, and Mom was still sitting in her spot.
Dion continued his statement. “ . . . daughter.”
“What?” Jasmine yelled. “How is she your daughter? We’re the same age.”
Brenda said, “Apparently, he had an affair on Mom. Duh!”
“With that wench right there?” Kimberly was now seated on the edge of her seat, her elbows on the table.
Dion said, “Ladies, I didn’t ask Angie and Porsha over here for a fight. I want my daughters to get to know each other.”
Kimberly said, “Angie, you were supposed to be my friend, and this is how you betray me.”
My mom responded, “We haven’t been friends in sixteen years.”
Kimberly squinted her eyes. “Why now? Trey running out of money and you want some of Dion’s?”
Brenda asked, “Yes, why now? Why didn’t you say something to us before now?”
Dion intervened. “If everyone will calm down, I’m sure Angie will be happy to answer your questions.” He looked at my mom.
My mom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened her eyes and said, “Dion and I slipped up one time and made a beautiful daughter. Kim, I apologized to you then, and I’m apologizing to you now. What happened between Dion and I was a mistake, and I’m sorry.”
“You can keep your sorry. I can’t believe this.”
My mom calmly said, “Believe it. Whether you want to accept it or not, Porsha is Dion’s child and your children’s sister.”
Jasmine jumped up from her seat. “She is not my sister.”
“Jasmine, sit down,” Dion said.
Kimberly stood up too. “You will not talk to my daughter in that tone. Jasmine, get your things. We are out of here.”
Jasmine grabbed her phone and e-book reader and rushed into Dion’s house.
“But, Kim, I need to talk to Jasmine,” Dion pled.
“You should have told her in private. You know how sensitive Jasmine is, and now she finds out you have a bastard child. Dion, hurting me was one thing, but you’ve hurt my child.”
“Kim, wait.”
Kim threw up her middle finger as my mom and I watched the whole scenario.
Brenda said, “I’ll talk to them.” She turned and looked in my direction. “Welcome to our crazy family.”
“Glad my child didn’t have to grow up with your lunatic ex-wife,” Mom commented.
“Angie, don’t start.”
“I’m just saying.” My mom chewed on her celery stick.
“None of this would have happened, if you were honest with me from the start,” he responded.
My mom threw the celery stick down on her plate. “Oh, no, don’t even try to put the blame on me. It takes two people to make a baby, and if memory serves me correctly, you were the one who came on to me first.”
Kimberly walked from behind. “I knew it. I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with you anymore.” She grabbed the car keys she had left on the table and jetted back toward the house.
Dion and my mom had apparently forgotten I was sitting there as they rehashed their affair.
“You should have told me Kim was going to be here, because we wouldn’t have come.”
“I thought it was best. Just in case Jasmine reacted the way she just did.”
“Well, anyway, it’s like this. You say you want a relationship with your daughter, but I do not want her around Kim, until she can keep herself calm.”
“Let me worry about Kim. Porsha, I hate you had to see that.”
Now, they remember I’m here. “I knew she was a drama queen, from watching your reality show,” I responded.
“Well, I don’t like drama,” he said.
My mom responded, “I can’t tell.”
“Angie, do you mind if I spend a little time alone with my daughter?”
My mom looked at me and then back at Dion. “This is something we hadn’t talked about. I’m not sure about leaving her alone.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere. Have Betty show you where everything is. Just go inside and relax. We’ll be right here.”
“Porsha, are you okay with this?” Mom asked.
“I guess.”
“I’ll be inside.” She held up her purse
. “My cell’s right here if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine, Mom,” I assured her.
This was our first time alone since the test results. An awkward silence hung between us.
“Sorry about Jasmine. She can be a little dramatic at times,” he said, once he did start back talking.
“She’s a drama queen. I’ve known it since freshman year.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“I meant what I said earlier. I really want us to develop a relationship.”
What did he expect me to say? Did he want a medal? Instead I responded, “Oh, okay.”
“I want you to know, if I knew you existed before now, I never would have disowned you.”
“It’s easy to say that now.” I looked him straight in the eyes.
“I’ve never been one to back down from my responsibility.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
“You and Jasmine are more alike than you think. You both have a stubborn streak in you.”
“I wonder where we get that from.” I leaned back in my chair.
“Your mamas.”
We both burst out laughing.
“My mom said you seduced her. So, is that true?” I asked.
“Probably. Back then I was a dog. Not proud of it, but I was.”
“I thought my dad—I mean, Trey—was your friend.”
“Porsha, I don’t want you to stop calling Trey your dad. He’s raised you. It’s clear that he loves you, or he never would have contacted me.”
“Are you trying to avoid the question?”
“No, I just want it perfectly clear that you calling Trey Dad doesn’t bother me. I’m hoping one day, you’ll bestow the honor on me and call me dad as well.”
“A girl can’t have two dads.”
“Who said they couldn’t? Well, you, my dear, do and hopefully, you’ll see that.”
24
Dion never answered my question about how he could betray his friend, but I didn’t press him to do so either. We talked for a few more minutes before my mom made an excuse to come back outside.
“Dear, we need to meet your father at six so, Dion, another time. Maybe.”
“Next time, I would like to see Porsha by myself. You don’t always have to be present.”
“For now, maybe I should be here.”
Secrets Untold Page 8