Scandalous

by Donna Hill

  Vaughn pressed down the flashing light. “Yes. This is Vaughn Hamilton. May I help you?” she asked, using her professional front, trying to ward off the terror that raced through her.

  “I don’t know quite how to put this, and I realize the high profile position you’re in and what the news of something like this could do…”

  “Please, Ms. Carlyle,” Vaughn interrupted, barely able to contain her growing alarm, “just say whatever it is that’s on your mind.”

  “Very well. Several months ago, a young woman called us requesting that we help her locate her natural parents.”

  Vaughn could hardly breath. “Yes…”

  “Well, Ms. Hamilton, we’ve traced her parentage to you.”

  A swift heat whipped through Vaughn, making her feel suddenly light-headed. “You must be mistaken. That’s impossible,” she whispered, gripping the phone to keep her hand from shaking.

  “Ms. Hamilton, believe me, if I weren’t 100 percent certain I never would have made this call,” Elaine said with assurance. “Under normal circumstances we contact the client first and advise them of our findings.” She cleared her throat. “However, in this case, with you being a public figure and running for office, I felt that it was best to notify you.” She waited for a response but only heard Vaughn’s heavy breathing. “Ms. Hamilton, this is highly irregular but if you wish, I can tell my client that you do not wish to be contacted by her. I know this comes as a shock and you probably need time to digest it all and think it over. Let me give you my number and you can call me with your decision on Monday.”

  Vaughn mechanically wrote down the number.

  “Ms. Hamilton…?”

  “Yes,” Vaughn said blankly, “I understand.” In a daze she hung up the phone. But once she did, she realized that she’d hadn’t asked the woman for the name of the girl who might be her daughter. But deep inside she knew that there was no need. She already knew. And with that came the knowledge of years of deception. Deception so deep and pervasive that acknowledging it crumbled the last remnants of the foundation upon which she’d built her life.

  Justin exited the courtroom during the brief recess and went directly to the bank of pay phones down the corridor. Pulling the business card for Child-Link out of his breast pocket he dialed the number. After being kept on hold for several minutes, he heard Elaine Carlyle come on the line.

  “Yes, Mr. Montgomery, this is Elaine.”

  “I want to know what you’ve found out,” he replied without preamble. Elaine hesitated.

  “Well?”

  “Mr. Montgomery, all I’m free to say about this case is that you are not Simone Rivers’s father.”

  “That much I’ve figured out myself,” he admitted with regret. He took a deep breath. “Did you find her parents?”

  “Yes, we did, but I really…”

  “Is Vaughn Hamilton Simone’s mother?” he demanded. Elaine hesitated a moment too long. “Thank you Elaine, you’ve just answered my question.”

  Chapter 27

  Vaughn went through the mechanics of her meeting. She smiled, nodded, and made all of the appropriate noises in all of the appropriate places. But her mind was racing to the confrontation that was ahead.

  The implications of what had been done was enough to swallow her whole. She felt herself sinking into the quicksand of her father’s malicious manipulations. But it was over now. It was over.

  Mercifully, the meeting concluded, and Vaughn graciously begged off an invitation to accompany the group to dinner. She had to get to Norfolk.

  It was already nightfall when Simone walked aimlessly through the streets, clutching the computer pages that spelled out her life.

  At first Simone felt a surge of elation when she was told that Vaughn—the woman who she’d admired from afar for years—was her mother. But then the cold reality of her situation loomed before her. Vaughn Hamilton and her family were wealthy and powerful. Vaughn had grown up with the best of everything. Getting pregnant and keeping a baby was an inconvenience, an embarrassment. So the child had been disposed of. Vaughn went on with her life of luxury and privilege, while Simone’s foster parents struggled to keep a roof over their heads. But what about the $250,000 in her account? Her foster parents had been vague in their explanation. Was it Vaughn’s way of making restitution for the abandonment? Was she only worth $250,000?

  The tears started again, flowing heavily down her cheeks. She swore that her heart was breaking. Somehow she found her way back to the station, but she knew she didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. She found a phone and dialed Chad’s home number.

  “Hello,” came the deep voice.

  “Rush,” she cried. “It’s me, Simone.”

  “Simone.” Rush sat up in his chair at the kitchen table instantly alert. “What is it? You sound like you’re crying. What happened?”

  “Everything. They…they found my mother,” she cried.

  “What?”

  “Y-es.”

  “Simone where are you?”

  “I’m at the train station. Can you meet me? My train is boarding.”

  “Of course. I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you,” she sniffed.

  “And Simone—everything is gonna be all right. Just keep it together, OK?”

  “OK.”

  The two hour drive seemed endless. As Vaughn drove through the darkened roads, she tried to formulate the words she would say when she confronted her father and mother. As much as she hated to believe it, she knew that her own mother was involved. That hurt most of all.

  As she approached the turn onto the property, her heart sped off at an alarming rate. She willed herself to be calm and for several moments she sat motionless in the car, the magnitude of her disbelief rendering her incapable of movement.

  Somehow, she called upon the remains of her strength and her determination. She knew that whatever lies were uncovered and laid to rest on the other side of that door, she could handle them.

  Clinging to that realization, she got out of the car and rang the bell. Moments later her mother came to the door, exquisitely dressed as usual.

  When Sheila saw Vaughn her face lit up, and she stepped across the threshold to embrace her daughter in a tight hug.

  “Vaughn, sugah, why didn’t you let us know you were coming?” Sheila quickly realized that Vaughn was stiff as a board. She took a step back and assessed her daughter. “What is it?” She put her arm around Vaughn’s shoulder and ushered her inside.

  “Where’s my father?” Vaughn asked stiffly.

  “He’s in the den. Vaughn, what on earth is wrong?”

  Vaughn walked down the hallway past her mother, and pushed open the door to the den, slamming it against the wall.

  Elliott scrambled upright in his recliner. “What the…? Vaughn,” he sputtered, “have you lost your mind?”

  “I thought I would when I received a phone call today,” Vaughn said in a voice thick with emotion. She crossed the room in angry strides until she stood above him. “Why did you tell me my baby was dead?” she screamed.

  “Oh, my God,” Sheila wailed.

  “Tell me, damn you! What sick plan could have made you,” her voice broke, “tell a young girl, your own child, that her child was dead?” Tears streamed down her face and her body trembled with fury.

  “Vaughn, please,” he began, his palms turned up in supplication. “You’ve got to understand that I did what I thought was best. You had a brilliant future ahead of you. I didn’t want you to spend the rest of your life wondering—”

  “No! You’d rather have me spend the rest of my life suffering and feeling guilty so that I’d continue to do your bidding! Did you know that every year on the date of my daughter’s birth I go to a gravesite that I erected in her memory? Did you? Did you? And you were so hell-bent on your plans for me that you used the man that I love against me! Yes,” she said venomously, “I know about that too.” Then she rounded on her mother, who stood off to the side with her
hands covering her mouth.

  “And you,” she pointed an accusing finger. “You knew all along. My own mother,” Vaughn added sadly. “How could you do that to me?”

  Sheila took a hesitant step forward. “Vaughn please. I—I didn’t know what else to do. He’s my husband. I had to stand by him.” Sheila’s shoulders shook as she wept. “But I kept tabs on her for years. I’ve been sending money every month so that she would have something.”

  “Does that somehow excuse you?” Vaughn asked icily.

  Sheila shut her eyes and slowly shook her head.

  Vaughn turned away, unable to bear the sight of either of them.

  “Vaughn,” her father said quietly, “I was on the verge of a promising career. Word of your illegitimate pregnancy by the son of the former D.A. would have been disastrous for everyone.”

  “Are you saying that Senator Willis was a part of this as well?” Vaughn asked, her disbelief kindled anew.

  “Yes,” he muttered.

  “Where does it end?” she screamed. “Where? How far are you willing to go with your twisted plans for me?” Vaughn took a deep, steadying breath. “I think you should know,” she said with an eerie calm, “that I’ve suggested to Paul Lawrence to begin a full investigation of you and your activities. My advice, since you’re so concerned with scandal, is to submit your resignation the first thing Monday morning. And if I ever lay eyes on either of you again in this lifetime, it will be too soon.”

  With that, she turned and ran from the room, ignoring her mother’s frantic appeals.

  Vaughn sat on the edge of her couch, staring sightlessly at the television, emotionally and physically spent. The scene with her parents played relentlessly in her mind. She wanted to talk to Justin. She needed to see Simone. But how could she ever find the words to explain the treachery that had colored their lives?

  Somewhere on the fringes of her conscience, she heard a ringing. She tried to ignore it, but the insistent sound drew her to the door. She pulled the door open and Justin stood before her startled eyes.

  Chapter 28

  “Justin,” she cried in astonished relief. Before he could react or respond, she flung herself into his arms, clinging. to him like a life preserver. “Oh, Justin, Justin,” she moaned over and over again. “My child, my baby, she’s alive! I’m so sorry…they…they…my father…he used you,” she rambled on hysterically. “I should have told you everything, but…I was ashamed…afraid…. Oh Justin, please forgive me…”

  All of the anger, hurt, and disappointment that he’d erected inside of himself slowly ebbed and flowed out of his body. She hadn’t known, he realized, relief surging through him. She hadn’t known.

  Like a man who’d been lost at sea, he grabbed hungrily at the hand she offered and wrapped her fiercely in his arms.

  He kissed her hair, her cheeks, her eyes, whispering soothing sounds in her ear. “It’s all right now,” he cooed. “It’s all right.” He pushed the door closed and, holding her snugly against him, they walked into the living room to the couch.

  Holding her shaky body securely next to his, he gently stroked her hair as he listened in pained silence to her halting story of her father’s cruelty.

  “I thought the worst,” he said. “I thought you knew all along that your child was alive somewhere, and that you’d erased her from your life. I didn’t want to believe that the woman I loved could be so cold.”

  She looked up at him through glistening eyes. “Do you still love me?” she asked, hesitantly.

  He cupped her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. “I’ll always love you, Vaughn. More and more with each passing day.” His eyes flickered over her face and then, slowly, he lowered his head until his lips were a mere breath away from hers. “Always,” he whispered.

  His moist, full lips touched down on her, feather-light and sweet, and Vaughn’s spirits soared to the heavens. Their mouths melted together. Their tongues taunted and danced with each other’s.

  Justin pulled her closer, his strong fingers kneading the last strains of doubt and tension out of her slender frame.

  Vaughn’s shaky fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, popping some in the process. Her body was suddenly on fire and she knew that only he could put out the flames. She practically ripped his shirt from his broad shoulders, exposing the smooth dark flesh.

  She pressed her lips to the warm skin and flicked her tongue across his nipples, hardening them. Justin moaned raggedly when his hands cupped her breasts and squeezed them until she cried out in delight.

  Suddenly, she pulled away and stood up. Slowly, provocatively she stripped out of her clothing until she was bare and beautiful before him.

  Justin reached out and ran his finger across the blade-thin scar that ran the width of her pelvis. Their eyes met, and in them was a silent understanding and an acceptance that this was not a mark of sin, but a badge of honor.

  She took his hand and pulled him to his feet, unfastened his pants, and pulled them and his briefs over his slim hips. His arousal was boldly evident, his erection seemed to throb for her touch.

  Vaughn took him in her hand and steadily stroked him until his knees became weak with wanting. He snatched her hand away and slid his fingers into the dark, wet triangle between her legs.

  Air pushed from her lungs in a gasp and she clutched him for support. Slowly, he lowered her to the floor and braced his weight above her on his arms.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said softly. “We’re never going to be apart again.” He spread her thighs with a sweep of his knee and rested his weight atop her. He pushed her thighs upward until her knees rested against his shoulders, allowing him the deepest entry.

  His eyes grazed over her face and his mouth came down on hers smothering her cries as he plunged deep within her honey-coated walls.

  Vaughn’s body instantly arched in response, wanting every inch of him to fill her. She rocked her hips, urging him on, calling his name, telling him how he made her feel.

  He took his time. Slow, deep, and steady was each rapturous thrust. He wanted her to know without question the depth of his feelings for her.

  This act, this thing that was called making love, would forever seal them as one. Together they renewed their ceaseless love for each other, created a new foundation upon which the rest of their lives would be built. They banished doubt, erased secrets, and opened their hearts to the beautiful power of their mutual love.

  When Justin felt the impending surge of her climax building deep within her womb, he knew that their release would transcend the physical, and transport them to a plateau where only those who have tasted magic could go.

  Hours later, nestled in each other’s arms, Justin and Vaughn tried to figure out the best way to tell Simone.

  “She may find out sooner than you plan to tell her,” Justin said as he stroked her bare back.

  “But I want to be the one to tell her, not someone from the foundation. The woman said that she’d give me until Monday.”

  Justin peered at the television humming in the background, and saw that the ten o’clock news was on. “She should be back by now. I sent her into Virginia today to file some papers. If Rush hasn’t spirited her away somewhere, she should be home,” he chuckled.

  Vaughn was silent for a long moment. “Hey, are you all right?” he asked.

  “It’s just that I’m wondering what kind of mother I’ll be. Will she even accept me now? I mean, she’s had two people who have been parents to her for nineteen years, and now here I come.”

  Justin hugged her tighter and kissed the top of her head. “I think you’ll make a wonderful mother,” he said sincerely. “And once you explain to Simone what happened, I think she’ll understand. After all, she’s been looking for you, too. We’ll just have to deal with it.”

  She smiled up at him and touched a finger to his lips. “I like the sound of ‘we,’.” she said softly.

  He returned her smile. “So do I, baby. So do I.” />
  Justin leaned back and stretched, then a flurry of activity on the screen caught his attention. He pushed himself up on his elbow and reached for the remote to increase the volume.

  “What?” Vaughn asked dreamily.

  Justin angled his chin toward the television as the newscaster’s voice filled the room.

  “…several hours ago, The Independent, an Amtrak train, derailed just outside of Richmond…”

  Vaughn clutched Justin’s arm. “…Investigators speculate that track trouble caused the derailment. Three passengers are dead, including the motorman, and hundreds more are injured.”

  “Oh my God,” Vaughn cried from beneath her hand.

  “…among the injured were several notables, including Senator Markam’s aide, who was on tour along with some members of his staff, and also Simone Rivers, the assistant of congressional candidate, Justin Montgomery…. The condition of the survivors is undetermined at this point. The injured have been taken to neighboring hospitals.”

  “No. No. This can’t be happening,” Vaughn screamed. She jumped up from the floor. “I won’t lose her, not now. I’ve got to get to her. I’ve got to…”

  Justin grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her. “Calm down,” he ordered. “We don’t know how bad it is. She’s a survivor, remember?” He looked down into Vaughn’s eyes, willing her to calm down. “First things first. Get dressed, and I’ll start making some calls and try to find out where they’ve taken her.”

  Vaughn nodded numbly. “Go,” he said.

  Justin snatched up his discarded clothing and started to get dressed. He tried calling Chad but got no answer. More than likely Chad was to meet Simone at the station. Then an idea occurred to him. Maybe Chad had the presence of mind to leave a message for him at home or on his voice mail at the office. He tried his home first and hit paydirt.

  Chad had left a rushed message saying that Simone had been hurt. She was unconscious and taken to Memorial Hospital. Apparently, Chad had been the one who’d identified her and that was how the media got her name. Thank heavens for that, Justin thought, as he sprinted to the bedroom.