Truth Be Told (24 page)

“M
ommy, Daddy,” Amber squealed. She ran toward them, with Jayde a few steps behind.

Grace hugged Amber, then she held Jayde. “How's my girl doing?” Grace whispered.

“I'm fine, Mommy. Glad that you're home.”

Jayde hugged Conner, but held Grace's hand as they weaved through the baggage claim crowd. Lily stood on at the edge, waiting and smiling.

Grace embraced her mother. “I thought you were going to meet us at the house.”

“Your children changed that.” Lily laughed and pulled one of Amber's pigtails.

“Let me find our driver,” Conner said. “I'll tell him we got a better offer.”

By the time they got into the Suburban, Amber had filled her parents in on every minute with her grandmother. In the car, Amber switched from reporter to inquisitor, wanting to know all about New York. While Amber chattered, Jayde stayed silent.

Even after they got home and Grace pulled the children's gifts from her suitcase, Jayde remained subdued. When Amber went to bed and Conner took their suitcases upstairs, Grace walked Jayde to her bedroom.

“So, anything happen while we were away?” Grace sat on the bed while Jayde hung her denim jacket with the “I Love New York” emblem on the back.

“No.”

“What about Philip and his cousin?”

Jayde sighed and sat next to Grace, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. “I didn't see him. I just stayed with Nana.”

“You didn't even go to the movies?” Grace asked, trying to remember the last time her teenager volunteered to stay home.

Jayde shook her head. “I was worried when you and Daddy went away.”

Grace put her arms around Jayde. “Why? We've traveled lots of times.”

She felt her daughter shrug against her. “This time seemed different. Like something was wrong.”

Grace cleared her throat. “Everything is fine.”

Jayde lifted her head. “Are you sure?”

She looked into her daughter's eyes and wondered what her child saw. “I promise.” She kissed Jayde's forehead. “It's getting late.” As she turned away, Jayde hugged her.

Grace closed her eyes. “Good night, sweetheart.” She stepped into the hall, closed Jayde's door, then rushed to her bedroom. “Conner, we have a problem.”

He came out of his closet already dressed for bed. “More teenage drama?” He chuckled.

She shook her head, and his smile disappeared.

“She knows something.” Grace repeated her conversation with Jayde. “She's scared.”

Conner sank onto the bed. “We've got to tell Jayde and Amber.”

Grace sat next to him. “They're not ready.”

“We have to get them ready. Pilar and Solomon will be here in a few weeks. Plus, I want them to know before we tell anyone else.”

“What are you planning to do, Conner?” She stood. “Take out a newspaper ad?”

“Grace, we have to say something. People are going to ask questions once Solomon moves in.”

She pressed her lips together. “What are you going to say?”

“I don't know yet. But it should be easy if we tell the truth.”

“Conner, nothing about this has been easy. So why should it be easy for two children who thought they were the center of your life?”

Conner pushed himself from the bed. “They are and always will be. That hasn't changed, and you know it.”

“I'm talking about the way the girls are going to feel. You're mistaken if you think it's going to be as simple as when you walked into Solomon's life. There, you were giving that boy something he's always wanted. With your daughters, they're going to feel as if they're losing something.” She paused. “Just like I felt.”

His chin jutted forward. “Grace, no one is losing anything.”

She turned away from him.

He asked, “So what are we going to do when Solomon is staring at Jayde and Amber across the dinner table?”

“I said we're not going to tell them now.” Grace stood and stomped toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To the office.”

He sighed. “We can't do this again, honey.” Conner took her hand.

“I'm just going to call Zoë to let her know I'm home.”

Conner let his fingers slip from Grace's.

“This situation has taken over everything,” Grace continued. “I need to take back my life.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just what I said.” She went into their office. For weeks, their life had consisted of what Conner and Pilar and Solomon needed.

Well, she was putting herself and her daughters higher on the priority list. And she would make sure that Conner did not reveal any of this to Jayde or Amber. Not yet. Not until she said so.

C
onner tapped on the conference room door, then stepped inside.

Chandler dropped the stirrer into his cup. “You're back.”

“Seems that way,” Conner said. He nodded at Albert, one of the new associates. “I need a moment with Chandler.”

“The Jacobys will be here in ten minutes,” Albert said before he stepped from the room.

Conner and Chandler hugged.

“How was New York? You could've called a brother.”

“Sorry.” Conner took a seat. “The days were filled.” He pressed his fingertips together as the days' images rewound through his mind. How could he express all that he thought, saw, felt, experienced? “You have no idea what it was like to meet Solomon. And what it was like to tell him that I was his father.”

Chandler whistled. “You did that?”

Conner nodded. “The results are in. I'm his father.” He pulled a photo from his wallet and grinned as he slid it across the cherry wood table. “The first picture of father and son.”

Chandler chuckled. “So, what's the plan?”

Conner's smile slipped away. “We're flying Pilar and Solomon out.” He took a deep breath. “They're moving here.”

“Moving in with you?”

“Solomon will, but we haven't set any dates. We're taking this slow. Although …” He paused and lowered his eyes. “Pilar doesn't look good, man.”

Chandler shook his head.

“But we're all still praying. There's a lot more, but right now, I want to get to work. Marilyn gave me the notes. Looks like we've got a case with the Jacobys.”

“Yeah, but if you need more time …”

Conner pictured Stefan Jacoby in his mind. “I've got this one.” He leaned across the conference table. “Nothing's more important than taking care of that boy.”

Chandler wasn't sure which boy his brother was talking about. But Albert's knock on the door didn't give him time to ask.

“The Jacobys are here,” Albert announced. “I'll get Monica.”

Conner stood and buttoned his jacket. He was ready for the battle.

“It is good to have you back,” Zoë said.

Grace looked up from the calendar Zoë had prepared. “You already said that.”

“I'm talking about really having you back.” She paused. “After the election, you seemed distracted, and I was worried. But New York was good for you. It's like it changed you.”

You have no idea,
Grace thought. She said, “I'm ready to take on the Eighteenth District.”

Zoë's eyes twinkled with the excitement she'd had as campaign manager. “As soon as you tell me how to schedule things, I'll get moving.” She stood. “We still have several weeks before you officially take office, but we should sure up the staff. I'll be in my office when you're ready.”

When Zoë closed the door, Grace leaned back in the chair, recalling her conversation with Conner last night.

She couldn't believe that he wanted to tell their girls about Solomon, even after she told him how Jayde had been feeling. Jayde was too unsettled, and Grace didn't know what this news would do to her. She knew they couldn't wait long. But making Jayde feel secure came first.

Second was her business. Her meeting with the mayor to declare her committee interests was scheduled for Friday. She already knew where she wanted to be—on Education. She had only days to prepare.

She shifted her chair to the computer. Pressing one button, she opened the Education Proposal file and sat back as the Word document filled the screen. Yes, New York had changed her. At home and in her office, she was determined to be in control.

S
tarlight sauntered into the Bel Air Hotel as if she'd been there before. Her eyes scanned the capacious space. Spotting the silver letters for the Bel Air Club, she glided across the vestibule past women in designer dresses and men in thousand-dollar suits. She kept her face stiff, as if she were totally unimpressed. But her skin tingled with the excitement of being in the midst of Los Angeles's elite.

Her heart hadn't stopped pounding since she received the call from Senator Bonet. For days, she imagined where the senator could take her career.

Even though it was early evening, the light in the bar was dim, providing added privacy to the movers who shook the city. It took a moment for Starlight and the senator to spot each other. Starlight walked slowly.
No need to be anxious,
she thought as she took in the senator's red Chanel suit. Her hair was fastened into a tight bun.

Starlight held out her hand as the senator stood. She wanted to gush but held back her words, letting the senator speak first.

“Starlight, it is a pleasure.”

“The pleasure is mine,” she said in the tone she'd been practicing all morning. The senator had to know immediately that she was fit for Washington.

Starlight sat first, and the senator followed.

“I hope I didn't keep you waiting.”

“Not at all.”

Starlight smiled as the senator closed a folder in front of her. Indeed she'd kept her waiting. Ten minutes—just long enough.

A waiter approached. “May I take your order?”

Starlight looked at the cup and saucer in front of Senator Bonet. “I'll have chai tea, please.”

The waiter nodded and left them alone.

“Thank you, Starlight, for meeting me. I know you're quite busy.”

“As are you, Senator.” Starlight rested her arms on the table, making sure her back was straight.

The senator leaned forward, mirroring Starlight's stance. “Then let's get to the point. I want you to work with my daughter.”

Starlight's eyes asked the senator to continue.

“I don't want to go into much detail, but Summer has had a difficult time.” Senator Bonet sighed. “You would think that with my position and her father and brothers being doctors, it would be easy for her. But she's a wanderer. We don't understand the problem.”

You're her problem,
Starlight wanted to say, thinking how familiar the disappointed expression that the senator wore was. “How old is Summer?”

“Twenty-four.” Senator Bonet stated the number as if her daughter didn't have much time left.

Starlight wanted to scream, hearing her mother's voice.

“Anyway,” the senator continued, “the only time Summer says anything positive is when she talks about you. And when she came home from the conference the other day …” Senator Bonet paused, trying to finish the sentence with her hands. “There's hope.”

“Of course, Senator Bonet. We all have to find our passion.” Starlight pulled the words from her heart. “Sometimes a person has to begin a number of paths to find the right journey. But each step has to be taken.”

“I like your passion, Starlight. Can you help my daughter?”

“I know I can.”

Senator Bonet pulled a yellow pad from her briefcase. “Let's make some plans.”

They developed a schedule. When Starlight told the senator what she could accomplish with Summer within weeks, the senator was pleased. “I appreciate this, Starlight.”

“This is why I believe …” Starlight paused. She didn't know if Senator Bonet was a Christian. Should she say God? “This is why I believe I was put here.” As she spoke, she made a mental note. Lexington would have to find out the senator's beliefs so that she could sprinkle her sessions with the right words.

Senator Bonet leaned forward. “Starlight, I promise that when this works, you'll have the keys to any doors you want opened.”

Starlight reached across the table, and shook the senator's hand. She smiled as she wondered if the keys would fit the door to the White House. There was no stopping her now.