“Loving the fact that I’m bringing in a nice, fat paycheck biweekly. There’s nothing that makes a marriage work better than having enough money to keep down frivolous arguments.” He glanced at Paris. “We still need to get our spouses together one of these days. Tiffany really wants to meet you.”
“Then have her stop by our office one day, whenever we’re there.”
“Truthfully, I’m not that crazy about the two of you meeting.”
Paris frowned. “Why not?”
He smiled, looked at Paris, then back to the road, where he was now turning into the barbecue place. “Some things I just like keeping exclusively to myself. So what’s your husband saying about you working the way we’ve been doing, out all hours of the night with a hunk of a man like me?” He laughed.
“He’s not crazy about the nights we’re out late or the various nightly events we attend. But he’s the type of man who wants me to be happy. And he can see that I look like I’m happy.”
Darius parked the car. “You two still trying to create a mini you or mini him?”
“Look at you: all up in my Kool-Aid.” She quickly opened her car door.
“That’s what friends do. At least I hope you consider me a friend.” He opened his door and stepped out, meeting up with her. They walked toward the restaurant.
“I do consider you a friend. All joking aside, I really do. You’re the only person, other than my new lawyer, that I can confide in about Gabrielle.”
“So you haven’t told your husband that you’re still pursuing this?” Darius opened the door to the restaurant and held it open for Paris.
“Nope. He’s made it clear that he’s not going to support me on this. So why bother talking to him when he’s becoming more and more like the enemy.”
“Two?” the hostess asked when they walked up.
“Yes, please,” Darius said.
“Oh, and can you put us in a place where we can talk more privately?” Paris asked.
“Of course.” She led them to a booth away from where most people were seated. “Is this okay?”
“Perfect,” Paris said as she beamed.
Paris and Darius sat down.
Darius leaned in. “So what do you think Andrew is going to do when he learns you haven’t dropped this?”
Paris picked up the menu and looked down at it. “I don’t know. I hope he’ll come around and see things my way.”
“But if you’ve learned that Jasmine was adopted, then it sounds like she’s really not your father’s child, just like he said she wasn’t. And if that’s the case, then there’s no real reason for you to care anymore.”
“I thought about that . . . that Jasmine’s not my father’s daughter the way I was thinking. But the truth is: My father still has never denied this is his child. My father denied that he ever slept with Jessica Noble. Think about it: My father is a true politician from his heart. And true politicians are skilled at word manipulation.”
Darius laughed. “You’re so cute. The way you come up with those sweet little phrases like ‘word manipulation.’ Okay, so that means you still think he’s lying.”
“No. He would say he didn’t actually lie. He told the truth. He didn’t have an affair or sleep with Jessica Noble. But now that I’ve learned Jessica Noble is not Jasmine’s birth mother, I just need to dig a little deeper and see if we can’t find out who is. That just might be the person my father did sleep with to produce Jasmine. See? Simple enough.”
“You know you have some kind of an imagination on you.”
“Not really, but picture this. What if Jessica Noble knew the person my father slept with and agreed to adopt Jasmine to throw my father off the trail? My father may honestly not know that Jasmine is his child. Then again, maybe he does and everybody involved was in on this deception from the start.” She shrugged.
“See what I mean,” Darius said. “The little wheels inside your head just be turning. Remind me not to ever lie to you. You’d bust me for sure.”
Paris sneered. “And don’t you forget it.”
“But it’s also possible,” Darius said, “that Jasmine is not your father’s child and everything was just a coincidence. The fact that he got involved with trying to help find her a bone marrow donor, the fact that one of his children turned out to be a perfect match . . .” Darius shook his head. “I’m not helping his case any, am I?”
Paris shook her head. “Not at all.”
The waitress came over, took their orders, and left.
“So tell me,” Paris said. “How many affairs have you had?”
Darius leaned in on his elbows. “You mean counting you?”
Paris laughed. “I’ve never had an affair with you.”
“But you will.”
Paris chuckled again. “No, I won’t.”
“Care to put some money where your mouth is?” Darius leaned back and leered.
“Nope.”
“Because you know you’d lose,” Darius said with a smirk.
“Nope. Because I don’t take money out of the mouths of babes. And if I bet you, which I don’t bet, but if I were to bet you, you would lose. Of course, I could use a new pair of shoes. I saw this pair of Christian Louboutins I’d love to have, and they would look so good on my feet. They’re gold glittered, which looks good with those red bottoms, and about five inches high. But they cost too much for me to feel right paying with my or my husband’s money. But I wouldn’t have a problem winning the money from you and using it to buy them. So don’t you dare tempt me.”
“You’re that confident, huh?”
“I know me,” Paris said.
“Are you saying I’m not your type?” He leaned in even closer, licking his lips.
“You’re my type. You’re not bad on the eyes . . . have a little charm on you.”
He sat back against his seat. “Why thank you, ma’am, and right back at’cha.”
“And you can be funny at times.”
“I’ve been told that.” He rubbed his chin. “You women seem to like a man with a sense of humor.”
Paris chortled. “Okay now. Don’t push it.”
“So why do you feel you and I would never have an affair?”
“Because I’m not like those other weak women you’ve likely tricked into sleeping with you.”
Darius sucked his teeth. “I wouldn’t call any of them weak now. And I don’t have to trick any woman into being with me. It’s something they wanted to do.”
“Aha! I knew it! You just confessed.” She grimaced as she shook her head. “You’re such a jerk. Cheating on your wife. Well, you’ll never cheat on her with me.”
He simpered. “We’ll see. A lot can happen in five months working closely together.”
“Yeah, we’ll see all right. So far you’ve tried getting me drunk and that hasn’t worked.”
“I’ve never tried to get you drunk. I don’t have to get a woman drunk for her to want me. And I’m offended you’d even think that about me. She may get drunk just to let her true feelings run free. But I don’t need a woman impaired to want to be with me.”
Paris laughed. “Yeah, you’re offended, all right.”
The waitress came over with their orders.
Darius looked at Paris after the food was on the table. “These ribs look good.”
“Yes, they do.”
“It’s your turn to say grace,” Darius said.
“But I did it the last time.”
“And you do it oh so well, too.” Darius bowed his head.
Paris made a loud, deliberate sigh, and then said grace.
Chapter 27
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
—1 Timothy 5:25
Gabrielle, Fatima, and Tiffany pulled up at the restaurant at the same time.
“I’m so glad you suggested doing this,” Fatima said to Tiffany as they hugged. “I haven’t been to this place in years. And I definite
ly needed a girls’ night out.” Fatima looked at Gabrielle before they hugged. “You look like you needed a night out with the girls, too.”
“It’s always good seeing the two of you,” Gabrielle said. “I’ve never been to this restaurant before.”
“My husband was telling me about it the other day,” Tiffany said. “He says the food here is outstanding. I told him I was going to check it out.”
“So he’s never brought you here before?” Fatima asked with a frown.
Tiffany smiled. “No. But he’s been working so hard these past few months; we barely ever see each other lately.”
“I’m sure you’re glad he got another job,” Fatima said.
Tiffany nodded with a smile. “Yes, thank the Lord. It was getting so hard with just me working. Bills get behind . . . folks calling the house looking for their money.”
“But at least he was getting unemployment, wasn’t he?” Fatima asked.
“Oh, yeah. But that’s only enough to keep you thinking you might be able to stay afloat until another boat comes along.” Tiffany smiled.
“I’m surprised he was able to find something in this economy,” Fatima said. “My husband says—”
“Oooh, listen at you,” Tiffany said in a singsong way. “‘My husband.’ Trent is such a nice guy. God really blessed the two of you to find each other.”
Fatima blushed. “Yes, God did. And I couldn’t have asked for a better man.”
“I know how you feel,” Tiffany said. “That’s how I feel about Darius. Don’t get me wrong, now. He has his faults. But we’re still together after all these years. All in all, he’s a pretty good man. Like when he found out we were talking about meeting up. He shocked me by volunteering to keep the children tonight. He never volunteers. Never. Yes, Fatima, you’ll have your ups and downs. But with lots of prayer and lots of love, you can make it. Darius and I are a living testament of that.”
Fatima turned her attention to Gabrielle. “So why are you so quiet tonight?”
“Because she’s going to be the next one inducted into our marriage club,” Tiffany said.
Fatima scrunched down and tilted her head slightly. “Gabrielle, are you all right?”
Gabrielle smiled. “Oh, yeah . . . yeah. I’m fine. I’m sorry. I was just sitting back listening to you two. I’m excited that things are going so well for both of you. That’s a blessing for sure.”
Fatima reached over and touched Gabrielle’s hand. “I’m the one who’s sorry. We’re over here being all cheery . . . going on and on, all happy-go-lucky about how great things are going in our world, while you have stuff going on in yours.”
Gabrielle shook her head and stretched her neck, causing her head to rise higher. “No. No. Please don’t feel bad about the good reports you have in your life. It’s good for me to hear great things like this. It gives me hope.”
The waiter came over to their table. “Are you ladies ready to order?” he asked.
“We’ve been sitting here running our mouths,” Tiffany said. “We haven’t even had a chance to look at the menu.”
“You work here,” Fatima said to him. “What would you suggest?”
“The platter meals are our best bang for the buck. The platters come with our famous coleslaw, the best French fries around, and light bread toasted on a grill. We have one with chicken, one with ribs, and our combo that gives you a little taste of both. If you happen to be a vegetarian—”
“Oh, no. No vegetarians here,” Fatima said. They all laughed.
“I’d like the rib platter,” Gabrielle said.
“Chicken platter for me,” Tiffany said, holding her hand up and waving her fingers.
Fatima closed her menu and handed it to him. “Both of those sound good. I think I’ll stick with what I’ve done the last time I was here and go with the combo platter.”
“And to drink?” the waiter asked.
Tiffany lifted her hand. “Sweet tea for me. Love my sweet tea.”
“We have raspberry tea,” the waiter said.
“Raspberry?” Tiffany said with excitement. “Oooh, that sounds good. I want to try the raspberry tea.”
“Raspberry sweet tea sounds good to me as well,” Gabrielle said.
Fatima laughed. “Cola for me, please.” She looked at Gabrielle, then to Tiffany. “I always have to be the odd woman out, huh?”
“You just know what you like.” Tiffany handed her menu to the waiter.
“There’s not a thing wrong with going in a different direction from the crowd,” Gabrielle said, handing her menu to the waiter.
“I’ll be back shortly with your drinks,” the waiter said. He came back within minutes and set down their drinks in boot-shaped glasses. “Your food will be out soon.”
“Thank you,” they said, to which he bowed slightly from the waist and left.
“Okay, so what were we talking about before we were interrupted?” Tiffany said. “Oh, yeah. Gabrielle and what’s going on.”
“Have things settled down any better yet?” Fatima asked. “I mean from the last time we talked?”
“It seems like it has. I have a new lawyer, sort of, working on it. I’m hoping things wrap up soon and that there are no more complications. But there’s still a lot of time between now and when things become final. I just continue to pray without ceasing, standing on God’s promise that all is well. And Zachary has been so wonderful. He’s been right there by my side.”
“You always have such a positive outlook on things,” Fatima said. “Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve seemed so strong in your faith in God. I was saved long before you were, but your faith always seems to surpass mine.”
“It’s not a competition. I merely take God at His Word,” Gabrielle said. “And Pastor Landris said the only way you can know the promises of God is to read the Bible and find out what’s in there for yourself. I’ve read it. I know some of the promises that speak to my life and situation. I know that I’m more than a conqueror. I know that the prayers of the righteous availeth much. I know that I’m made righteous not by my works but by what Jesus did on the cross and Him declaring me the righteousness of God.”
“Preach!” Fatima said, throwing one hand up in the air. “See there? Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
“I know Pastor Landris and Johnnie Mae have been a blessing to me,” Tiffany said. “I’ve learned so much from both of them. Then seeing someone like you, Gabrielle, come in and do what you’ve done in the short time that you have. It encourages me as to what I can do.”
“The Bible says we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us. I just take God at His Word. The Bible says I can, so I say I can.” Gabrielle picked up her glass of tea and took a sip. “This raspberry tea is delicious.”
Tiffany picked up her glass and took a swallow. She nodded. “It is.”
“Not that I want to divulge anything I’m not supposed to,” Fatima said. “But how are things going with Jasmine? Is she continuing to adjust okay?”
Gabrielle nodded. “She is. Both of you know that I told Jasmine she was originally adopted.”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to say anything I wasn’t supposed to, just in case,” Fatima said.
“It’s okay. Tiffany knows.” Gabrielle rubbed her hands together as though she was warming them.
“I didn’t mean anything by that,” Fatima said to Tiffany. “I just don’t want to say the wrong thing. That’s how gossip grows wings and takes off flying.”
“I understand,” Tiffany said. “I wasn’t offended. Actually, I was thinking the same way. I didn’t know whether you knew. Jasmine told Jade and Jade told me. I called Gabrielle to let her know what was going on, and she told me everything.”
“Well, after the initial shock wore off, Jasmine seems to be taking it fine now. I’ve tried talking to her about it to see where her thoughts are. But she’s nine. And I’m not sure if it really matters to her as much as we think. She knows she was loved by her parents, the
Nobles. And I believe that’s what’s most important to children.”
Tiffany frowned. “It does matter though. Because she still talks about it a lot with my daughter.”
“I’m just glad she has someone she feels comfortable enough to open up to and to express her thoughts and feelings,” Gabrielle said. “I just wish she would talk to me like she seems to talk to Jade about it.”
“Maybe you should take her to see a professional counselor,” Fatima said. “There’s a woman at our church who does that. I don’t know if you know her. Her name is Sapphire.”
Gabrielle nodded. “Yes, I know Sapphire. She and I have already talked. Johnnie Mae introduced me to her when I first became involved in all of this. I talked to her about Jasmine. She asked me a few questions after I told her that I’d told Jasmine. She said I shouldn’t worry because Jasmine appears to be handling it fine.”
“Well, I know she seems fine whenever I see her,” Tiffany said. “Not that I’m any kind of an expert or anything. Oh, and Jade’s been on her head for Jasmine to come over. You know how bored children get after about two weeks of summer vacation.”
“I was thinking about having Jade come to my house for a sleepover or maybe a slumber party,” Gabrielle said to Tiffany. “I don’t know if there’s a difference in the two, but it’s something Jasmine said she’d like to do.”
“That would be great! Like I said, school’s out, and Jade is past bored. The younger ones do okay; they’re content at daycare and sitting in front of the TV when they’re home and playing video games. Not Jade. So whenever you want to do that, let me know.”
Gabrielle nodded. “Wonderful. Then we’ll do it.”
“I want to come to a slumber party,” Fatima said. “Hey! We should have one for the three of us. That would be so much fun.”
“What?” Tiffany said with shock in her voice. “Are you trying to figure out how to get away from your husband this soon after the wedding? Is the honeymoon over already?”
Fatima laughed. “No. But I was just remembering back when I was growing up and how my friends would have slumber parties. I was thinking that might be fun for us now. Just because we’re grown doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun, right?”
The Other Side of Dare Page 15