Delilah's Daughters

by Angela Benson

  “You don’t give them enough credit. They’re grown women. They know life is not always pretty.”

  “Not pretty is one thing, but to learn your mother had an adulterous affair and brought home another man’s baby, well, that’s major.” She closed her eyes again. “Rocky is going to look like a saint and I’m going to look like Jezebel.”

  Tommy squeezed her shoulders. “It won’t be that bad.”

  Delilah tried to take comfort in Tommy’s words, but deep down inside she knew he was wrong. Her girls, all three of them, were going to be devastated by this news. And Rocky’s sacrifice would have been for naught. “I’m so sorry, Rocky.”

  “What did you say?”

  She didn’t realize she had spoken her thoughts. “I was thinking about Rocky. He didn’t want the girls to know. He especially didn’t want Alisha to know. He feared she would doubt his love for her. The only good thing about all this is that Rocky is not here to see it. It would break his heart to see another man claim his daughter.”

  “Rocky loved Alisha like she was his.”

  “She was his,” Delilah said. “In his heart, she was his. I’m still amazed that he forgave me, really forgave me. That forgiveness was the best gift he ever gave me. That and his obvious love for Alisha. It would have broken my heart if he had held any animosity toward her because of me. But he didn’t see me and Morgan when he looked at her. He saw her as the second chance for our marriage. Rocky and I didn’t love each other perfectly, but we did love each other.”

  “I know you did.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know if I have the strength to do what needs to be done.”

  “That’s all right,” Tommy said. “I’ll be strong for you. You don’t have to do this alone, Delilah. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  She looked up into eyes that shone with love for her. “When this is over, I’m going to be angry with you.”

  “Why?”

  “For keeping secrets. For talking with Morgan behind my back. For not telling me he was going to see Alisha at ASCAP. You have a lot to answer for, and I’m not going to give you a pass, but it’ll have to wait.”

  “Why is that?”

  She curled into his side. “Because now I need you to hold me while I cry for the innocence of my children and the pain I’m about to inflict on them.”

  He pressed his lips against her head as her tears fell unheeded.

  Chapter 35

  So why are you and Washington shutting me out?” Dexter asked Tia on Monday morning after a car had picked up Veronica to take her to see the plastic surgeon about breast augmentation surgery. He’d wanted to go with her for support, and Veronica had wanted him there for the same reason. Tia had other plans.

  Tia lowered her coffee cup from her lips and placed it on the counter of the kitchen bar. “Get real, Dexter, nobody’s shutting you out. Your little wife had a doctor’s appointment. Besides, you’re supposed to be working on a book. Shouldn’t you be getting started?”

  “That’s exactly my point,” he said, after taking a sip of coffee. “How am I supposed to chronicle Veronica Y’s rise to stardom if I’m not allowed in meetings or on trips?”

  Tia tapped her finger against her cheek. “I knew it. You’ve got your nose out of joint because Mr. Washington wanted to meet with Veronica alone on Sunday night. That’s it, isn’t it?”

  It was, but Dexter refused to admit it. “No, that’s not it. I just want to do this book justice. Give the readers the real picture of what the business is like.”

  She stared at him as if he had two heads. “You don’t get it, do you?” she asked.

  “Get what?”

  Tia tilted her head to the side. “Are you sure you and your wife didn’t just fall off the turnip truck or something? How far away from civilization is Birmingham exactly?”

  “There’s no need to be insulting or condescending,” he shot back. “Veronica’s right about one thing. You do overstep at times. I guess sleeping with the boss makes you bold.”

  Tia’s lips curved into a sly smile. “What? Do you expect me to deny it? Please. I’m a grown woman. I can do whatever I want.”

  Dexter studied her. Her practiced nonreaction told him that he had chosen the right moment to use this tidbit Alex had given him. “What do you get out of it—sleeping with Washington?”

  Tia tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “I enjoy it,” she said. “Charles is a great lover.”

  Dexter wasn’t fooled by her nonchalance. He knew his words were getting to her. “Were you sleeping with him when he canceled your contract, or did this start afterwards?”

  Bam! Those words knocked the smile off her face.

  “That’s none of your business,” she said, sliding off her stool. “And I advise you to keep what you know to yourself. Charles doesn’t like gossip, especially when it’s about him.”

  “That ship has sailed,” Dexter said. “How do you think I found out?”

  “Who told you?” she demanded.

  Dexter got up from his stool and faced her. No way was he giving her a name. “I can’t divulge my sources. Professional integrity and all that.”

  Her smiled returned. “You’re out of your league, Dexter. You’d best focus on keeping your wife on track and getting that book written. That’s your job. And let me be straight up with you: the former is more important than the latter.”

  Tia had already made it clear that the book didn’t mean much to Legends. It was only a bone they had tossed him to sweeten the deal for Veronica. Dexter was determined to make the most of his opportunity, though. Alex had the right idea: use them before they use you. “So we’ve come full circle. I’m going to need access if I’m going to do this book the right way.”

  She moved to stand close to him, her nose almost touching his. “Look, let me put it out there for you. If you’re not invited to an event, that event shouldn’t be in the book. Do you really think we want the public to know we strongly encouraged Veronica to get a boob job? Do you think Charles wanted his Sunday conversation with Veronica to one day show up in a book? In case you haven’t figured it out, the answer to both those questions is a resounding NO!”

  The buzzing of Veronica’s telephone, which she had forgotten in her haste that morning, got the attention of both of them. Dexter walked over to the counter near the refrigerator and looked at the caller ID on the phone. He turned back to Tia without picking it up.

  “Who was it?” she asked.

  “Veronica’s mother,” he answered.

  A slow smile formed on Tia’s face. “Smart man. It’s best she not have contact with them for a while. She doesn’t need the distraction. Maybe you’re doing your job, after all.”

  When the phone gave the beep it normally gave after a voice mail had been received, Dexter picked up the phone.

  “What are you doing?” Tia asked.

  He looked over at her. “Duh. I’m erasing the message.”

  “Duh,” she repeated. “Don’t you think you should listen to it first?”

  Dexter shot her a glare. Then he played the message.

  “This is Mom, Veronica. The checks arrived on Saturday. Thanks for sending them so soon. I know you’re busy, but call us when you get some time. I’d really like to talk to you.”

  Dexter looked at Tia. “Satisfied now?”

  When she nodded, Dexter deleted the voice mail and also deleted Delilah’s number from the recent calls list.

  “Good boy,” Tia said. “There may be hope for you yet.”

  “I’m not an idiot, Tia,” he said. “And I’m not a pushover. We’re going to have problems if you don’t start treating me and Veronica with a little respect.”

  Tia walked over to him. This time she stood so close that he could hear her heartbeat. “Are you sure respect is all you want, Dexter?”

  He took a step back. “I’m a married man.”

  She chuckled. “So?”

  Dexter wasn’t surprised by her response. N
ot after Alex had told him how she’d seduced him and broken his wife’s heart, effectively ending their marriage. He didn’t want that end for himself. He loved Veronica. “What kind of game are you playing?”

  “I don’t play games,” Tia said. “I live my life, and I do it on my terms. What about you? Are you going to be content to be Veronica Y’s leech of a husband, or do you want more?”

  He took the blow of her words for the payback he knew them to be. “Okay, now we’re even.”

  She smiled and stepped back from him. “Don’t start something that you can’t finish, Dexter. And if you don’t know the rules of the game, don’t engage an opponent. You’ll lose every time.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got things to do and people to see. I’ll leave you here to do whatever it is that you writers do when you’re alone at your computer.”

  Chapter 36

  On Thursday, after her return from the ASCAP conference, Alisha followed her mother into the office of Tommy Johns, president of Magic City Studios. She’d been excited that Mr. Tommy had agreed to meet with them on such short notice. It wasn’t a problem for her that her mother’s relationship with the man probably influenced his decision to open up his schedule for them. No, the only thing bothering her that afternoon was Roxanne’s absence. Her sister had been scheduled to get in on Wednesday, but she hadn’t arrived until this morning, and she’d looked as though she’d been in an emotional battle and lost. She’d tried to tell them that her problems were physical in nature, but Alisha didn’t believe her for one minute. She might not have a lot of experience with men herself, but she knew heartache when she saw it. Her guess was that something had gone badly wrong between Roxanne and her secret man. Alisha would get to the bottom of the matter soon. Neither Roxanne nor her mother, nor she herself, could afford the distraction. There was too much on the line.

  “Thanks for seeing us, Mr. Tommy,” Alisha said.

  He gave Delilah a quick embrace, and then he offered his hand to Alisha. “It’s good to see you, young lady.” He glanced at Delilah. “I know your mother has told you about our relationship, and I want to thank you for your understanding.”

  “There’s nothing to understand, Mr. Tommy. All of us want Momma to be happy, and you make her happy. You’re good for her.” She glanced at her mother. “And it seems you’re good for Delilah’s Daughters too.”

  Tommy met her eyes. “I want you to know that it’s easy for me to separate business and pleasure. My interest in Delilah’s Daughters was based totally on your talent. I’ll admit that my relationship with your mother—and your father too, rest his soul—brought your talent to my attention, but it was your talent that led me to offer you a contract. It’s important to me that you understand this. I’m very sorry things didn’t work out for Magic City and Delilah’s Daughters. We could have made a special kind of magic together.”

  Alisha nodded. “Thanks for saying that, Mr. Tommy. It’s always encouraging when somebody believes in your talent.”

  Tommy lifted a brow in Delilah’s direction. “Your mother tells me I’m not the only one who believes in your talent.”

  Alisha smiled. “So she told you about Morgan Sampson.”

  He nodded. “That’s big news.”

  “I thought so,” Alisha said. “I’m honored he sees something in me and in the group, but I’m not quite sure how to make the best use of his support.”

  Tommy leaned forward, resting his hand on the desk. “Tell me what he said.”

  Alisha did as he requested. Then she said, “I hope he wasn’t just being nice.”

  Tommy laughed. “I know Morgan. He wasn’t just being nice. There are a lot of ways to be nice. If you didn’t have the talent, being nice would have been to be honest and direct with you and tell you so. No, Morgan wasn’t being nice; he was giving you his honest appraisal and truly opening up his experience and knowledge for your use. He sees something in you.”

  “Your confirmation means a lot, Mr. Tommy,” she said, finally allowing herself to fully accept Morgan Sampson’s appraisal as sincere. “So what do we do next? I don’t want us to miss out on this opportunity.”

  Tommy sat back and steepled his fingers across his nose. “The first thing you need is a demo that we can send to Morgan. Do you have a song in mind?”

  Alisha swallowed hard. “I have a couple,” she said.

  Tommy smiled. “That’s even better. Magic City will help you cut the demo, but Delilah’s Daughters would be better off letting Morgan handle things from there, if he’s willing.”

  “I pray he’ll love the demo,” Alisha said.

  Tommy chuckled. “Pour your heart and soul into it, and I’m sure he will.”

  “You make it sound easy,” she said.

  He shook his head. “You know it’s not easy, but when you love it the way you, your sister, and your mom do, it’s good work—hard work, yes, but also good work. You’re going to work until you’re bone-weary, but you’ll wake up every morning refreshed and ready to keep working. That’s how it is for all true musicians. It’s hard work, but it’s work you have to do and work you love doing.”

  Tommy’s words told Alisha they were kindred spirits who would work well together. “So when do we get started?”

  He steepled his fingers across his nose again, and Alisha held her breath while she waited for what he would say. He looked from mother to daughter. “You’ve taken the first couple of steps already. Adding your mother to the group was a brilliant idea. I’ve often wondered why she hasn’t made more use of that beautiful voice of hers.”

  “She’s been busy doing other things, like raising a family,” Delilah said, apparently not appreciating being discussed as if she were not there. It was unlike her to remain so quiet, but Alisha appreciated her mother letting her take the lead during the meeting.

  Tommy glanced over at Delilah and smiled. “Nice of you to chime in,” he said. Then he turned back to Alisha. “I think you’ve hit on something here that could be really big.”

  Alisha gave a sigh of relief.

  “You two girls and your mother as a gospel group is perfect. It’s such a great idea that I’m disappointed I didn’t think of it myself.” Looking from her mother to Alisha, he added, “There is one thing to keep in mind, though. To work in gospel, not only do you need songs and a sound, you also need a testimony, a story about your lives that you can share with your listeners and fans. In the pop and R&B world, it’s fairly common and fairly easy to fabricate backgrounds. That won’t work in gospel. That market requires a level of transparency that other markets don’t.”

  “We haven’t really thought about that,” Alisha said, already seeing the value Mr. Tommy brought. She glanced at her mother. “We tell our stories in the songs, don’t we, Momma?”

  “That’s good,” Tommy said, not waiting for Delilah to answer, “but the three of you also have to be ready for the criticism of your lives and lifestyles that is going to come from both the church and secular communities. When you sing about God’s love, the public expects you to be living a godly lifestyle, where they define what that means. Living under that kind of scrutiny can be tough.”

  “We were brought up singing in church, so we’re ready for the scrutiny. We don’t have anything to hide.” She glanced at her mother again. “Do we, Momma?”

  Delilah shot a quick glance at Tommy. “No, we don’t,” she said. “We were under a lot of scrutiny during Sing for America. We can handle it.”

  Tommy nodded in Delilah’s direction. “Don’t forget that on Sing for America Delilah’s Daughters modified themselves a bit. You moved from your natural gospel-pop blend to more of a pop-gospel sound. We can talk more about the different markets for the two at a later time. Now the next step is the actual demo. The quicker we can get it to Morgan, the better. It’s good to strike while the iron is hot, as they say. It would be great if we could have it ready by the time of Gospelfest. That way, we could get some listener reaction before sending it to Morgan.”


  The timeline was short, a little more than four months, but Alisha thought they could do it. She looked at her mom for assurance. When the older woman nodded her confirmation, Alisha said, “We’re serious about moving forward with these ideas, Mr. Tommy. I’ve quit my job so I can write full-time, and Roxanne can arrange time away from work when we need to be in the studio. I’m certain we can have a demo by Gospelfest.”

  Tommy sat back in his chair. “That means you and I will start spending a great deal of time together, young lady. I want to work closely with you on your arrangements once you’re ready to share what you have. Once we nail down the music, cutting the demo will be a piece of cake. When do you want to get started?”

  “Now, today,” Alisha said, knowing her emotions were running too high for her to even think about focusing on something other than the demo.

  Tommy laughed. “Next week is soon enough. You, your mom, and your sister should celebrate before the hard work starts. You won’t get another break until after the demo drops. Your mom and sister will have a bit of time until we get ready for them in the studio, but your work starts next week.”

  “I’m ready, Mr. Tommy,” Alisha said.

  Tommy stood and extended his hand to her. “I can see that you are. Welcome to Magic City Records, Alisha. We’re going to make a beautiful demo together.”

  Chapter 37

  Veronica sat in a hospital gown on a table waiting for the plastic surgeon to give her the results of the series of tests she had taken in preparation for her upcoming breast augmentation surgery. A part of her hoped the doctor had uncovered some health condition that made her a bad candidate for the surgery.

  “Now that’s some crazy thinking,” Veronica said aloud.

  What she needed now was a good, nurturing conversation with her mother. How she missed talking to her! And if she hadn’t forgotten her cell phone this morning, she’d have called her by now. She was done with waiting for her mother or one of her sisters to call. Too much time had passed already.