The Other Side of Dare

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  “It was really nice.”

  “Tiffany was there all by herself with the children. She said Darius had planned on going, but he started a new job and had to work or something.”

  “Indeed, it was a beautiful ceremony. They’re on their honeymoon now in Jamaica. It’s our turn to do this. Come on. Let’s go for it.”

  “Oh, I get it. You’re just trying to get to the honeymoon.” She laughed.

  He laughed as well. “Now I’m not going to lie to you: I can’t wait for that part. But honestly, the part I’m really trying to get to is the ‘you may kiss your bride’ part.” Zachary smiled. “I want to kiss my bride.”

  “But May twenty-ninth . . . a day before my birthday?” She shook her head. “I don’t know about that. I don’t know that I’d want our wedding date to be that close to my birthday.”

  “I promise you we’ll still celebrate both . . . royally. I won’t shortchange you. You can believe that.” He took her by the hand. “So what do you say? May twenty-ninth?” He made his eyebrows rise and fall several times as he plastered a smile on his face.

  Gabrielle shook her head. “A little less than two weeks is not enough time to plan a wedding. It’s not enough time for folks to make plans to be here, not that we’d invite that many people. But your family is mostly in Chicago, with Queen in Florida.” Gabrielle bit down on her bottom lip. “It’s funny. When I was a teen growing up living with my aunt and thinking about my wedding day someday, I always said I wanted a big Cinderella-type wedding.”

  “Well, I’m no prince, but we can still put together a beautiful wedding. And as for my family, they can all fly in.”

  “The tickets will be higher because they’ll be last-minute purchases.”

  “My family should have some money, and if not, there’s always a credit card.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “You’re determined for us to do this, aren’t you?”

  “When I asked you to marry me, I thought when you said yes it was because you actually planned on marrying me.”

  Gabrielle let out a short laugh. “I did. I do. I will.” She sighed. “I just don’t want to plan this with all of these things still in limbo. If I knew for sure that Paris was dropping this notion of trying to either take Jasmine or just make sure I don’t get her, we could plan a wedding. But I don’t want to have our special time ruined by things happening outside of us. I need to stay focused when it comes to Jasmine. I’m not saying I’m choosing Jasmine over you, but for now, I need to put Jasmine’s welfare first.”

  “You know I’m going to wear you down, don’t you? You’re going to marry me if I have to pull a troglodyte move on you.”

  Gabrielle let out another short laugh. “‘A troglodyte move?’”

  “Yeah. You know a caveman move: Grab you by the hair and drag you where I want you to go.” He then lowered his bass voice to sound primitive. “Come here!”

  Gabrielle grinned. “You wouldn’t.” She tilted her head ever so slightly as she chuckled.

  He shook his head. “Nah. I wouldn’t grab you by the hair.” He lifted a spiral curl of her hair, then let it drop back to her shoulder. He smiled. “But I would throw you over my shoulder and carry you to the altar. Don’t make me prove it, because I will now.”

  She lovingly placed her hand on his face. He closed his eyes as he experienced the warmth of her touch. “I love you. I really do.” He opened his eyes as she continued speaking. “We’re going to get married. Just not right now. When we do, I want it to be all about you and me standing before God. I don’t want to feel you’re doing this because of what I’m going through and your need to protect me.”

  “But I’m not trying to just protect you. I love you. I want to be there beside you: for better or worse. I don’t care about right timing. I want to spend the rest of my life with you as your husband, and I want to get started now.” He looked at his watch. “In fact, we could call Pastor Landris and see what’s on his schedule for tonight.”

  “Sorry, but we couldn’t do it tonight even if we wanted to.”

  “And why not?”

  “We need a marriage license. Nobody will marry us without a license.”

  “You know, by plane, Las Vegas isn’t that far away . . .”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “You really know how to court a woman, don’t you? We’re going to be okay. I know we are. For now, we’ll just wait.”

  Zachary took her by her hands. “Let’s pray.”

  Gabrielle gave two quick nods. Zachary saw her eyes fill up with tears, then one spilled over and made its way slowly down her cheek. He took his thumb and gently wiped it way. She closed her eyes, and he began to pray.

  Chapter 18

  As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

  —2 Corinthians 6:10

  Gabrielle sat in Robert Shaw’s office. He was the lawyer Jessica Noble had retained to handle her affairs before she died. He was the one who had filed the power of attorney paperwork, enabling Gabrielle to act on Jessica’s behalf in all matters. He was the attorney working to ensure a smooth adoption for Jasmine over to Gabrielle, the person his client had desired to have custody of her child in the event of her death.

  Robert had all but promised in the beginning that this would be smooth and pretty simple. Jessica had a will. She’d specified her desire for Gabrielle to take Jasmine upon her death. She’d left a nice amount of money in a trust fund and her house to Jasmine with the trust that Gabrielle would handle and manage things as needed with honesty and integrity. Everything was in order. Everything except for Gabrielle having to fight with Paris Simmons-Holyfield about Jasmine’s custody.

  “Who could have anticipated any opposition or problems?” the short, balding Robert Shaw said to Gabrielle as she sat in his office across from him. “This absolutely baffles the mind.” He rubbed his hairless part of his head. “This woman is not going to quit or let this go.”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “Jasmine doesn’t need this in her life. She doesn’t need this right now. She hasn’t gotten over losing her mother yet. She doesn’t even know Paris.”

  “Well, Paris Simmons-Holyfield is not backing down. I petitioned the court to dismiss her objections and her petition for custody of the child,” Robert said. “At this time, anyway, it doesn’t look like the court is inclined to dismiss it, not saying that they won’t later. And Mrs. Simmons-Holyfield doesn’t appear to be poised to let it go. So we’re sort of stuck at an impasse.”

  “Well, I’ve already told you I’m going to fight Paris on this. She’s not going to take Jasmine from the only safe home she has right now, I don’t care how much Paris claims she can give her a better home than I can.” Gabrielle rubbed her forehead. “This is crazy!”

  “Barring her dropping this, we’re headed for a court battle to fight it out there. But I have someone coming by to help with this case. He’s a really good lawyer. He’s not with our firm, but we have an association with them. He’s coming to meet with you today.”

  “Today?” Gabrielle said.

  There was a knock on the door. Robert smiled. “Right on time. That’s probably him.” Robert went to the door and opened it. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were—”

  “Neal Michaels? He had an emergency. They sent me to take his place.”

  “Come on in,” Robert Shaw said. “It’s good to see you again.”

  Gabrielle turned as the man stepped inside.

  “Gabrielle?” he said.

  “Andrew?”

  Gabrielle stood and they hugged.

  “So I take it you two know each other,” Robert Shaw said.

  “Yes, we do.” Gabrielle took a step back and looked at him. “What are you doing here?”

  “Our firm was asked to help out with a case Attorney Shaw is working on. I wasn’t told the client’s name, only general information concerning the nature of the case,” Andrew said directly to Gabrielle.

 
“Please, Andrew, have a seat,” Robert said.

  Both Gabrielle and Andrew sat across from Robert.

  “Well, I suppose we can skip the introductions,” Robert said. “But before we proceed, I need to ask you, Gabrielle, whether you have any objections to Andrew here taking part in your case.”

  Gabrielle swallowed hard. “No offense to Andrew, who I’m sure is an awesome and competent lawyer, but the person causing all the havoc in my life right now happens to be his wife.”

  Robert frowned as he looked down at the open folder before him. “Paris Simmons-Holyfield . . . Andrew Holyfield.” Robert looked up. “Mrs. Simmons-Holyfield is your wife?” Robert looked at Gabrielle. “I am so sorry. I didn’t even immediately make the connection. In fact, I didn’t know they were sending Andrew. I only relayed general information about what I needed. They told me they were sending Neal Michaels.”

  “As I said, Neal had an emergency so they asked me to come in his place.” Andrew turned to Gabrielle. “But if I can help you with this, I really want to do it.”

  Gabrielle slowly shook her head. “That won’t work. Aren’t you standing with Paris on this?”

  “Actually, I’m completely opposed to what she’s doing.” Andrew looked at Robert. “Would you mind giving me and Gabrielle some time alone to talk?”

  Robert looked at Gabrielle, who nodded her okay. He stood. “I’ll be right outside. If not, just ask one of the secretaries to find me.” He stepped out.

  Andrew stared at Gabrielle without saying anything for an entire minute after Robert closed the door. “It’s truly good to see you again.”

  Gabrielle smiled. “You, too. The last time was sort of awkward.”

  “To say the least. And believe me, when I got home, it didn’t get any better for me.”

  Gabrielle chuckled. “I take it Paris gave you the what for and ‘how come’?”

  “Yes, except more like the ‘when did you.’ She picked up on you calling me Drew and wanted to know what was going on between us. She thinks you and I have some secret we’re hiding.”

  “Well, she’s right,” Gabrielle said. “We do.”

  “Yeah,” Andrew said. “Now here we are again.” There was a moment of silence. “Listen, Gabrielle. I’d really like to help with your case. I came thinking I was working on something that had to do with garnering child custody. They didn’t tell me much else, so I certainly was surprised, pleasantly though, when I saw you sitting here.”

  Gabrielle shook her head slowly. “I don’t know about this, Andrew. You’re sleeping with the enemy. And Paris really is portraying herself as my enemy, that’s a fact.”

  “And you don’t think you can trust me,” Andrew said in a matter-of-fact way.

  “I don’t. I’m being honest with you.”

  “But you know me, Gabrielle.”

  Gabrielle smiled. “I knew you. And if you asked me to be honest on this, I would say that I know you wouldn’t deliberately try to hurt me, not deliberately. But you’re married to Paris. I would think both of you are together in trying to take Jasmine from me.”

  “Well, you’d be wrong. I completely disagree with what my wife is doing. And I’ve told her as much.”

  “And yet, she’s moving forward, full steam ahead.”

  “You know Paris.”

  “Yes. Unfortunately, I do.” Gabrielle stood up and walked toward a glass case with awards and knickknacks inside of it. Her back was now turned to Andrew.

  “I’d like to stop her,” Andrew said. “This just might be the answer to a prayer.”

  Gabrielle turned around. “You would actually team up with me against your own wife? Even if anyone allowed it, it just doesn’t seem right.”

  “Paris shouldn’t be doing this. I realize she doesn’t care much for you. I just didn’t know how much she didn’t care. Part of this may even be my fault.”

  “How so?”

  “Paris wants to get back at you because she thinks you and I are keeping something from her.”

  Gabrielle came back over and sat down next to Andrew. “Then why don’t you tell her the truth?”

  “Because if I tell her that I was the one who picked you up after she put you out that day and took you home with me, she’ll never forgive me for having kept that information from her all this time.”

  “So you’re being a coward and making me and Jasmine pay.”

  Andrew shook his head as he frowned. “That’s not it. Paris really wants a child.”

  “Then tell her to have her own and leave mine alone.”

  Andrew tilted his head. “What do you mean yours?”

  Gabrielle threw her hands up in frustration. “Listen, Andrew. I appreciate you for coming. I’m sorry it ended up being a waste of your time. I’m going to fight Paris, you can believe that. But I’ll be doing it without your help.”

  “I’m good at what I do, Gabrielle. I can help you win this. I can.” His dimples were really doing a number on her. She always thought he had the cutest dimples.

  “Why don’t you just give Paris her own baby and maybe she’ll go away and leave us alone,” Gabrielle said.

  Andrew covered his face with his hand. He took his hand down and looked at Gabrielle. “We have been trying, for almost two years now. That’s why she’s acting so crazy. She’s having a hard time dealing with not being able to conceive.”

  “So for sport, and to take her mind off her troubles, she comes after the only child connected to me. All the other children in the world praying for a home, and she decides to go after one who is already spoken for. And for what reason? Because she wants to hurt me? She wants to get back at me? Because she thinks I was trying to take her boyfriend some ten years ago?” Gabrielle began to laugh. “It’s crazy. And the funny thing about all of this is: She was the one who went after her boyfriend’s best friend—that would be you. And she ended up marrying you. If she only knew the whole truth about everything.”

  “Then maybe you should tell her. Maybe that will make her back off.”

  “Andrew, I’m trying to make sure that little girl doesn’t have to deal with any more drama in her life than she’s forced to. Paris is a loose cannon right now. Telling her the truth won’t shut her down. She’ll either not believe it or try and use it against me.” Gabrielle touched Andrew’s hand. “You’re a good man, Andrew. But if your wife wants a fight, then I’m going to give her one. But she won’t be taking Jasmine from me. That’s one thing I can promise. As God is my witness and as God is on my side, Paris will not take Jasmine from me.” Gabrielle primped her mouth.

  Andrew took out a business card and held it out to Gabrielle. “I want to stop Paris on this as well. Together, I believe we can do it and with minimal damage. Think about it. Pray about it. And if God leads you to, then give me a call. Okay?”

  Gabrielle took his card. “I’ll pray about it and we’ll see what God says.”

  Andrew stood to his feet. “I hope to hear from you soon.” There was a quiet rap on the door. Andrew went and opened it. “We were just finishing up,” Andrew said to Robert. “I’ll call you later.”

  Robert nodded as Andrew brushed past him. He came and sat down at his desk. “I apologize for any discomfort that may have caused. But what are the chances of something like that happening?”

  Gabrielle nodded. “It’s okay. He once was a good friend to me.”

  “So, how would you like to proceed? I can ask that they send another lawyer—”

  “Let me get back with you on that. I want to think about it.” Gabrielle put Andrew’s card in her wallet in her purse. She stood up; he stood. She started for the door, then turned around. “It looks like I have something else to add to my prayer list.”

  Robert walked to the door with her. “If I may, let me say this. I’ve worked with Andrew before a few times. He’s a good man and a really good lawyer. He doesn’t do things for the money. If there’s anything he can do to help with this—”

  “I know.” Gabrielle smiled.
“I’ll be in touch.”

  Robert opened the door and Gabrielle left.

  Chapter 19

  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

  —Ephesians 1:11

  Zachary called Gabrielle to see how her visit to the lawyer had gone. She’d gotten home mere minutes before Jasmine got in from school and didn’t want to tell him anything over the phone for fear Jasmine might overhear her.

  Zachary came over around six o’clock that evening.

  Jasmine greeted him at the door. “Dr. Z, would you like to play Jenga?”

  “Sure, Miss Jazz,” Zachary said to Jasmine before looking over at Gabrielle. “You set up the blocks, and I’ll be with you as soon as I speak to Miss G.” He and Gabrielle stepped privately into the kitchen.

  He lowered his voice. “Okay, you know I want to know how things went with the lawyer.”

  “Something happened while I was at Mr. Shaw’s office that I’m praying about. Andrew Holyfield showed up.”

  “Andrew Holyfield? You’re talking about Paris’s husband?”

  “Yes . . . him.”

  “What was he doing there?” Zachary shook his head deliberately. “And don’t dare tell me he was trying to strong-arm you and your attorney. I knew I should have rescheduled my appointment and gone with you. I had a feeling in my gut today—”

  “No, it was fine. Andrew’s not like Paris at all.” Gabrielle sat down at the kitchen table. “It was actually kind of funny.”

  “He’s a lawyer. I don’t see how there can be anything funny about the lawyer slash husband of the woman who’s causing you so much trouble showing up at a meeting you had scheduled with your lawyer. Maybe you should consider finding another lawyer entirely. It looks to me like they may be in cahoots or something.”

  “Mr. Shaw didn’t know Andrew was coming to see me. Not exactly.”

  “I’m ready, Dr. Z!” Jasmine yelled from the den.