The Other Side of Goodness

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  Lawrence jumped to his feet. “You did what!”

  Paris stood as well. “I took Imani to meet her.”

  “Who told you to do that?”

  “I didn’t need anybody to tell me I could do it. I told myself. You knew Imani wanted to meet her. You knew how much meeting her meant to her.”

  “Yeah, and I told Imani I would arrange something at the end of the year.”

  “Why, Daddy?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why did you want to wait until the end of the year to let my sister meet the person whose life she saved?” Paris took a step back from her father. “Why?”

  “I do not believe you did that! You went behind my back and deliberately defied my wishes! You’re practically sabotaging everything I’m trying to do, Paris!”

  “Taking Imani to see Jasmine doesn’t hurt you nor will it affect your reelection campaign. But you were definitely hurting Imani by keeping her away like you were doing.”

  Lawrence shook his head. “So you decided you knew what was best and took my daughter to do something I said I didn’t want her doing. You completely disregarded my authority as her parent and just decided you’d . . .” He nodded his head. “And just how did you happen to find out where she was in the first place?”

  “Why won’t you say her name? It’s Jasmine, Daddy. Jasmine. Her name is Jasmine Noble. And I’m not going to tell you where I got the information.” Paris said it like a scared yet defiant twelve-year-old.

  Lawrence nodded. “Oh, you don’t have to tell me. I know how you got it. You were snooping around in our house again, weren’t you?”

  “You’re just trying to shift the attention away from the real truth and what we ought to be discussing.”

  He looked at her with a cold stare. “And what truth is that, Paris? You think you know so much. What truth might that be?”

  “The truth that you are the father. You’re actually Jasmine’s father.”

  “Humph! And exactly how did you come up with that? From some stupid photo you took? Because you say Imani and that girl favor? Do you know how often white folks say that all black folks look alike?”

  “Stop denying the truth. Just admit it.”

  “Admit what? I want to know how you’ve come to this asinine conclusion that I’m that child’s father.” Lawrence folded his arms. “That’s what I want to know.”

  “Imani happened to be a match for her. Imani and Jasmine favor . . . a lot.”

  “And? That’s it? That’s all you have to be saying something crazy like this? The fact that my daughter turned out to be a match for that little girl. And because of that, all of a sudden I’m supposed to be that child’s father? That’s your brilliant deduction, Sherlock Holmes?”

  “Look at her, Daddy.” Paris flicked the photo at her father’s face. “Look at her! Look at her and tell me she’s not your child.”

  “Stop flicking that thing in my face. I don’t need to look at it again. I saw it.”

  “Did you know that Jessica Noble died?”

  Lawrence stopped, unfolded his arm, and looked at Paris. “She died? When did she die? Who told you that? From where did you hear that?”

  “Oh, so you’re going to tell me that you didn’t know? You really want me to believe you didn’t know Jessica had died, the mother of the little girl that you went all out for in order to find her a donor?”

  “I promise you: I didn’t know. Why would I? This is my first time hearing this.” He sat down on the couch and appeared visibly and honestly shaken.

  Maybe he really didn’t know. Paris sat down beside him. It hurt her to see him shaken in this way. “You really didn’t know, did you? So nobody told you?”

  He shook his head. “No.” He then looked up at her. “But there really would be no reason for me to have been told. I only met this woman once, and it was only after I started the campaign to help get a bone marrow donor for her daughter. I promise you, Paris: That was my first time ever laying eyes on that woman. And it was only that one time.”

  Paris gazed at the picture as she spoke. “I heard that she died about a week after her daughter went home. They say she died on her daughter’s birthday.”

  Lawrence looked over at Paris. “Who told you all of this?”

  “Someone in the know of what’s going on told me.” Paris didn’t dare reveal her source. She knew how her father felt about Darius. After Darius told her, she’d checked on the Internet, doing a search on Jessica Noble’s name, and verified she had indeed passed away. “I also hear that Jasmine is with Gabrielle Mercedes now.”

  Lawrence frowned. “She’s what?”

  “She’s with Gabrielle Mercedes-used-to-be-Booker. Gabrielle has her now.”

  “Why would she have her?”

  “I don’t know, Daddy. I was thinking you would know enough to possibly shed some light on things. Maybe your investigative folks can find out why she has her. But I’ll tell you this. I don’t care how much you deny it. I believe Jasmine is your child. And I’ll be doggone if I’m going to let my half sister be raised by someone like that woman! So if you’re not going to do anything to save Jasmine from Gabrielle, then I’m not going to just sit around and do nothing, hoping for the best.”

  “I’m telling you, Paris. I didn’t have an affair, a one-night stand, or anything else with Jessica Noble. I’ve never had sex with her a day in my life. I’m telling you: You’re barking up the wrong tree. This doesn’t concern us. We need to stay out of it.”

  Paris smiled. “Well, I’m going to do the right thing for Jasmine. If Gabrielle has custody of her right now, as I hear that she does, then it sounds to me like Jasmine doesn’t have anyone to take her in. Therefore, I’m going to see about getting her.”

  Lawrence grabbed his daughter up by her shoulders. “I’m telling you, as your father, you need to stay out of this. Leave it alone, Paris. Let this go.”

  Paris broke from her father’s grasp. “I’m not going to let that beautiful child be raised by the likes of Gabrielle Booker, oh, excuse me, I mean Gabrielle Mercedes. Jasmine would be better off with us. I’m married; Gabrielle is not. I have a college degree; Gabrielle doesn’t. I can raise Jasmine up with the finer things of life the way I’m sure she’s already accustomed to. Gabrielle doesn’t have what we have. Jasmine needs someone who knows culture. Gabrielle doesn’t know which fork to use when. I can introduce Jasmine to a world of beauty pageants and glitter, if she’s interested.”

  “What about Andrew? Have you discussed this with him?”

  “Not yet,” Paris said. “But unlike you, who won’t step up to the plate, even though it may mean your daughter will end up with someone substandard like Gabrielle, Andrew has a kind and good heart. And you can deny that she’s your child until the cows come home. But in my heart, I know the truth. Andrew and I have been praying to have a family. Maybe this is God’s answer to our prayer. Maybe God wants us to start our family by adopting Jasmine.”

  Lawrence rubbed the side of his head. “Let it go, Paris. Don’t open this up. I can’t afford a fight like this, not now. You know the media takes things and blows it up. They’ll have a field day if you go after this child. For me, please, leave it alone.”

  “Daddy, all of my life, I’ve been selfish. I’ve only thought about what was best for me. Well, for the first time in my life, I’m not going to think about only me. I’m going to do something for someone else. Whether Jasmine is your child or not: She still needs a good home. Andrew and I can give her that home right here with us.”

  “You don’t know what you’re doing,” Lawrence said. “I’m telling you: You don’t know. So I’m asking you . . . begging you actually, as your father, leave it alone.”

  “Well, Daddy, you need to get going. I have a lot to do.” She escorted her father to the door. “Kiss Mom for me when you get home.” She pecked his cheek.

  Chapter 47

  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?


  —1 Peter 3:13

  “I’d like to come to your church for Bible study tonight,” Paris said to Darius as soon as he answered his cell phone. “Can you give me the address?”

  “Oh, so you’re coming to our Bible study? Cool. Why don’t I just meet you somewhere and you can follow me over there?” Darius said. “I’ll tell my wife I have something to do and that I’ll be coming on later.” “Listen, I’m not trying to get me or you in trouble with your wife. So just give me the address if you know it or I can just look it up.”

  Darius laughed, then rattled off the address. “So Paris Simmons is coming to visit us at Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center for Bible study? Wow.”

  “Looks that way. And the name is Paris Simmons-Holyfield, with a hyphen.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Simmons-Holyfield with a hyphen. Is there any particular reason why you’re coming to visit us?”

  “If you must know: I’m hoping to run into Gabrielle.”

  “I see. So it has nothing to do with the great Word we get there? Well, I’ll tell you what: If you’ll park in section D and wait for me if I’m not there when you get there, I’ll be more than happy to show you the general area where Gabrielle sits. You know how folks have an area they prefer more than others. That will help make it a bit easier for you to ‘run into her,’ although I must warn you: She’s generally with that little boyfriend of hers. Now it’s her, that little girl, and her boyfriend.”

  “Her boyfriend is a doctor, isn’t he?”

  “That’s what they say,” Darius said with a slight singsong to his words.

  “That’s fine. I’m not coming to start any drama. I just want to let her know in person that I’d like to sit down and talk to her about something, woman to woman.”

  “Why does this not sound like it’s going to be good?”

  “I don’t know,” Paris said.

  “Now, if you just want to call her, I can get you her phone number.”

  “I had her business card with her church phone number. I threw that thing away. No. I’d prefer to look in her face when I tell her some of what I have to say.”

  She and Darius discussed the time she should aim to meet him in the church’s parking lot.

  Paris arrived and saw Darius standing outside his car.

  “Where’s your wife and family?” Paris asked when he opened her car door.

  “They’re coming later. I told her I had an errand to run,” Darius said. “Come on. Let’s go in.”

  “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble if someone sees you walking in with me?”

  “We’re walking into church. People walk into church alongside other people all the time. Last time I checked, it wasn’t a sin to walk in church with someone other than your spouse.” Darius laughed.

  Paris kept space between her and him even though she could feel Darius making an effort to veer closer to her, “accidentally” bumping into her a few times. It did make her a little nervous that he was with her. When they got inside and he led her to the side where he indicated Gabrielle sat most times, she smiled at him. “Okay. Thank you. You can go find your family now. I can take it from here.”

  “Find my family?” He chuckled. “I have no idea where they’ll be. My wife sits all over the place. It’s according to what time she gets here. Most of the time she’s late because of the children. That’s when she doesn’t just give up and opt to stay home.”

  They sat down and Paris tried to pretend she didn’t know Darius, just in case anyone was watching them.

  She really enjoyed Pastor Landris’s teaching. She was shocked at how much he touched on things she was dealing with in her own life. He spoke about going on after disappointments, knowing that God has already gone before you and taken care of things before you ever even arrive.

  “Even when things seem like they’re going bad for you and cause you to wonder if God is actually listening to you, God is there,” Pastor Landris said. “If you’re going through something, you need to be praising God because it means one of two things. Either God has worked it out and this is for His glory, or God knows you can handle it and that you’re going to come through. When things are at their lowest point, that’s when you need to be looking up and praising the loudest. God will not put more on you than you can bear. God is there with you, whispering in your ear that you can do this; you’re going to make it if you just hold on to His hand. You’re stronger than you think. God is helping you work those faith muscles and you’ll see just how strong, through His power and His might, you truly are.”

  After service dismissed, Paris almost hated to ruin the wonderful feeling she was having, following that message, to confront Gabrielle. But she had come here for a reason, and she was not going to be denied. She was going to carry out her mission.

  She spotted Gabrielle and stood out of the way as the congregants filed out. “Hi, Gabrielle,” she said when Gabrielle was passing by her way.

  Gabrielle looked; bewilderment registered on her face. “Hi.”

  “May I speak with you for a moment?” Paris said. “In private?”

  Gabrielle looked at Zachary, who was holding Jasmine’s other hand. “I suppose. Sure.” She let go of Jasmine’s hand.

  “We’ll meet you at the car,” Zachary said to Gabrielle, although it was obvious to anybody looking that he didn’t want to leave Gabrielle alone with Paris.

  Paris and Gabrielle walked out of the sanctuary over to an area away from the crowd making their way out the doors.

  “Listen, I hear you have Jasmine Noble,” Paris said.

  “Yeah. You just saw her with me.”

  “Is this a temporary thing or what?”

  “Personally, Paris, I really don’t care to discuss this with you,” Gabrielle said.

  “Well, you may want to rethink that. You see, I think that beautiful little girl deserves a good and stable home. She’s already been through so much.”

  “I won’t argue with that. In fact, I absolutely agree with you.”

  “Personally, I don’t think you’re the right one to offer her what she needs. Not like what my husband and I can.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Excuse me? You’re kidding me, right?”

  “No, I’m not kidding you.”

  “Okay, Paris, let’s cut through the noise. What exactly are you trying to say?”

  “I’m just letting you know up front that I’m planning on petitioning the courts to get Jasmine.”

  Gabrielle looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “You’re planning to do what?”

  “I’m going to petition the courts to get Jasmine, and then I’d like to adopt her.”

  Gabrielle snapped her head back. “Why? For what reason? I don’t get it? You don’t even know Jasmine. You have no association with her at all. I know this can’t be you just trying to get back at me. Not even you can be that small and petty.”

  Paris lowered her head downward. “Small and petty? Is that what you think of me? That I’m small and petty?” Paris’s voice rose slightly.

  “Listen, I’m not having this discussion with you, Paris. Things are already in the works for me and Jasmine to be a family. So whatever you’re calling yourself doing, you need to back off. I’m telling you . . .”

  “Gabrielle, be reasonable, okay,” Paris said. “Save yourself some trouble. Because I know you don’t want to battle with me. If it comes down to a court having to look at you and what you have to offer that little girl, and me and my husband, not even counting the weight I can summon with my father on my side, you’re going to lose. That’s a fact! And I don’t want to go there if I don’t have to. But your stint as Goodness and Mercy may well come back and haunt you, if we have to fight this out. I don’t know what your role is in Jasmine’s life, but I know Andrew and I can give her a better home than you ever can.”

  “As I said, I’m not having this discussion with you, and specifically not here. In fact, there’s really nothing for us to discuss period! I don’t know what you know or
what you think you know, but I’m going to tell you: There’s the other side of goodness that you know nothing about. Please don’t make me go there. Because if you really want to see some real weight, then just wait until you see me with the weight . . . the glory of my Father”—she pointed toward Heaven—“on my side. That’s the other side of goodness I’m speaking of; the Lord fighting my battle.”

  “Oooh, I’m trembling. The other side of goodness, huh? Well, don’t let my beauty fool you, either. When I want something bad enough, I can get down in the trenches as well. But know this: I will be moving forward to get custody of Jasmine. So, we can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. But I promise you: We will do it.” Paris then turned and walked away. She was trembling, and not totally sure why.

  But she had now, in fact, thrown down the gauntlet. Now she would just have to convince Andrew of how much she truly wanted Jasmine and to be sure that he was ready to fight right along with her.

  Chapter 48

  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

  —Romans 11:22

  Lawrence and William were in his office discussing the latest problem to present itself: Paris deciding she wanted to adopt Jasmine Noble.

  Lawrence knew the truth that Paris thought she knew, but in truth, only knew a part of. Yes, Jasmine Noble was Lawrence’s biological daughter. But not in the way Paris believed it was so.

  Paris was convinced Lawrence had had an affair with Jessica Noble. Jessica was dead, as was her husband. And apparently there was no one to take their daughter, Jasmine. Paris didn’t know that Jasmine was adopted, so her conclusion was that Lawrence had gotten Jessica pregnant and kept this secret hidden. Things would have gone on without a snag had the child not needed a transplant. And although someone other than a relative could be a match, Paris apparently wasn’t buying that reasoning.

  Lawrence knew that if things escalated and Paris pursued this, it would inevitably come out that Jessica had adopted Jasmine. That would surely bring only more scrutiny to all of this. Lawrence knew it wouldn’t be long before Paris would start putting two and two together. If it ever came out that Gabrielle was the birth mother . . . well, it would definitely be like a glimpse of the full Armageddon to come.