Truth Be Told (31 page)

T
he children had been gone for thirty minutes before Conner pulled out of the garage. The moment the door closed behind him, Grace grabbed the kitchen phone. She dialed, and when it was answered, Grace said, “Devry, can you meet me for breakfast?”

“Good morning to you, too.”

“I'm sorry, but I need to talk to my best friend.” Grace paced the length of the kitchen.

“And who would that be?”

“You.”

“Of course. You don't have any other friends.”

Grace laughed, knowing that had probably been Devry's objective from the moment she'd heard Grace's voice.

“So what's the emergency?” Devry asked.

“I can't do it over the phone. I'll treat you to a fabulous breakfast.”

“No.”

Grace frowned.

“And get that grimace off your face,” Devry said, as if she could see her friend. “I'm not saying no officially. I'm going for a walk, so if you want to talk, you'll have to use some muscles.”

Grace's shoulders slumped even more. “You want me to work out?” She sighed, thinking it would be much better to go somewhere and order butter-soaked grits and fried catfish. “You're weeks away from having a baby.”

“That's why I'm working out. And I'm only going to wait for twenty minutes.”

Grace measured her choices—food or friend. “I'll be there in fifteen.”

A foot-tapping Devry was waiting at her door when Grace parked, and she was at Grace's car before Grace could even get out. “Let's go.” Devry took Grace's hand.

One block later, Devry was swinging her arms and breathing like she was training for a triathlon. Her swollen belly was hidden under the oversized T-shirt that reached her knees.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Devry asked, granting permission for them to speak.

“I missed you in church yesterday.”

Devry looked at Grace though she kept her pace. “That's not what you want to talk about. How was dinner on Saturday?”

“How'd you know?”

Devry chuckled, making her take a stutter-step. “Maybe it was the ninety thousand messages you left or the fact that you're beating the pavement with me now instead of scarfing down chicken and waffles.”

Grace laughed, though her chuckles faded quickly. “Girl, if you had been at that dinner, you would have had me committed. It was a disaster. Jayde acted like Blair Witch from the projects.”

“Sounds awful.”

“It was worse than that. I didn't know if I should reach out to Pilar or squeeze the life out of that white woman.”

Devry frowned. “Why do you have to call her that?”

“What? White woman? That's what she is.”

“Why do you have to put a label on her at all?”

“Well, to me, she's a woman who's not black. So that makes her white.”

Devry hesitated before she said, “You know that's messed up.” She kept her eyes straight ahead and pumped her arms higher and harder.

Grace had to trot to keep up with her pregnant friend. “Okay, what I said wasn't Godly. I know it,” she said through heavy breaths.

“I'm not even talking about God. He'll deal with you.” She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Grace, you're a councilwoman in the most diverse city in the country. How can you talk like that?”

Grace matched Devry's stance. “I'm not talking about people who live in my district. I'm talking about the woman who slept with Conner, knowing he was married. I can do my job and hate the fact that my husband had sex with a white woman.”

Devry rested her arms on her belly. “So this would be acceptable if Conner had bedded a black woman?”

Grace glared at Devry and swallowed the curse she wanted to spit at her friend. She turned away, swinging her arms, propelling herself forward, faster than she'd been walking before. But she could hold the pace for only a few minutes. She stopped, resting her hands on her knees.

“Are you okay?” Devry asked, breathing as if she'd been strolling.

It took a moment for Grace to look up. Perspiration poured from her hairline like slow rain, dripping into tear-shaped puddle son the sidewalk. “It hurts, Devry. Every time I think I'm over it, My heart aches again.”

Devry pulled Grace into her arms. “I know, sweetie.”

“And I feel like I don't have a right to hurt because of all the pain I caused Conner with my affair and …” She stopped, not knowing if it was her tears or that she was still breathing hard that made her pause.

“Of course you hurt, sweetie. But I'm scared of the hate that is resting in your heart,” Devry said. “The woman who slept with your husband was Pilar Cruise, all those years ago.” She paused. “The Pilar Cruise who was at your home is the dying mother who trusts you with her most precious possession.” Devry took Grace's hands and rested them on her stomach. “She trusts you with her child. Nothing else should matter.”

Grace smiled through her tears. “Every time I see Solomon, it gets easier. He's a joy. And quite the psychiatrist. He told Amber not to worry about Jayde because teenagers are crazy.”

Devry laughed and squeezed Grace's hand. “Come on, let's go back. I'll scrape up some frozen waffles for you before you go to serve the city.”

They walked several blocks, hand in hand, before Devry interrupted their silence. “That observation that Solomon made was a good one. Maybe one day, he and I can go into practice together.”

Grace laughed and hoped that in the days ahead, she'd find a way to keep laughing.

It was almost noon when Grace stepped into her office, still smiling from her morning with Devry.

“The press conference is scheduled for tomorrow.” Zoë's announcement made the smile fade from Grace's lips. “But I have a better idea,” Zoë said. “My contact at Channel 2 wants an exclusive. You wouldn't have to do the conference, and Channel 2 would feed the other channels after they air the interview.”

“Why would they want an exclusive? What did you tell them?”

“Just that you had a personal announcement.”

Grace shook her head as if she doubted Zoë's words.

“Grace, you're not just a councilwoman. You're a Christian councilwoman. For now, everything you say is news.”

“Yeah, so they can attack me,” Grace said, seeing Sara in her mind. She sat behind her desk. An interview would be better than facing reporters who would be eager to put their own spin on the story. It was tempting.

“The interview is the better way to go,” Zoë encouraged.

Grace remained silent.

“You and Conner could do it together, like Bill and Hillary's
Sixty Minutes
interview in ninety-two.”

Grace imagined Conner and her sitting shoulder to shoulder, mighty in their offense against her assailants. “Can I review the questions ahead of time?”

Zoë shook her head. “Channel 2 doesn't do that.”

“So my choices are a full interview …”

“Under friendly fire,” Zoë interjected.

“Or a three-minute statement where I speak and then walk away. No questions.”

“But the reporters won't make it easy. They'll be shouting questions. It'll be difficult not to address some of them.”

Grace debated the options. “I'll keep it my way.”

Zoë twisted her lips. “I don't agree, Grace. With an interview, the audience will be more sympathetic. They'll feel as if they know you, and they'll be able to relate to your pain. Then after the interview, I'll really be able to work it. And,” Zoë paused as if she were about to make a major declaration, “it would keep Sara Spears away.”

More temptation. Grace wasn't excited about facing her adversary, who would be slithering somewhere around the front row. “You make a good case, but the thing is, I'm not looking for sympathy. I don't want to do this at all because no one belongs in my business. I'm going to make it clear that I'm being forced into this by the media.”

“You could do that in an interview.”

Grace shook her head. “I'm going to make this statement alone. Not with Conner, not with the kids. Just me facing the people who voted for me.” She paused. “And I want to look like the reluctant participant being bullied by the big bad media.”

With a final nod, Zoë said, “Okay. The press conference stands. I'll prepare the statement. Do you want to give it to anyone ahead of time?”

Grace shook her head.

“It's scheduled for two.”

Grace nodded as she thought about what awaited her. She wished she could do the conference earlier; she didn't want Sara preempting her, leaking whatever she knew. But she'd just have to leave this in God's hands.

Grace pulled a folder from her briefcase. “Here's the education plan.”

“I'll summarize it and include a bit in the statement.”

“Good. That'll show people where the focus should be: on the public schools and not in my home.”

“Now I have something for you. Here are some résumés.” Zoë slipped the bios one by one across the desk. As Zoë reviewed the names, Grace tried to concentrate on her chief of staff 's words. But her mind raced with images of Pilar, Solomon, and Sara. It was going to be a long afternoon.

T
here were times when Lexington's leer annoyed her, but tonight Starlight loved his gaze. She stretched her naked body, making it longer.

“You really are beautiful, Starlight.” His words came from deep inside his throat.

“Get naked with me.”

It took seconds for him to dispose of the starched shirt and navy suit. And with the smoothness of a sixteen-year-old, he lay atop of her. Starlight didn't direct him the way she usually did. Tonight, it wasn't his sophomoric moves that were going to please her. She lay moaning, wanting to edge him toward his peak. She wanted his quickness. She just hoped she could hold on.

She reached for the telephone. It took a moment for Lexington to notice.

The grimace on his face was between a frown and simper of arousal. “What are you doing?” His hands continued to fondle her.

“I have to make a call.”

“Now?”

“Now,” she said pushing his head so his lips would meet her chest.

He paused for only a moment before he returned his attention to her body. He moved with new urgency, excited about this twist Starlight brought to their union.

The telephone number was programmed into her phone in anticipation of this moment. She pressed the button, and as Lexington traced his tongue along her neck, she muttered an awkward prayer that her call would be answered.

She closed her eyes when she heard, “Hello.”

“May I speak to Pastor Walsh?” she breathed.

“Speaking.”

His voice was deep and rich, and she pulled an image of his face into her consciousness. “Pastor Walsh, this is Starlight,” she said positioning Lexington on top of her. She wanted to be ready. “Pastor Carey asked me to call you.”

“Ah, Starlight. How are you feeling this evening?”

She placed two fingers into Lexington's mouth, sighing as he sucked. “Just fine, Pastor.”

“Starlight, I understand you had quite a successful program with Pastor Carey, and I wanted to discuss what you could do for me.”

She closed her eyes as Lexington's tongue traced the curve of her waist.

Pastor Walsh said, “When would be good for you, Starlight?”

She opened her mouth.
Now,
she mouthed to Lexington.
Now.
She rolled over and straddled him, looking into his eyes as she said, “Pastor, any time would be good.” She wondered if he could hear the quivering in her voice. She moved slowly, closing her eyes with her motion.

Sweat trickled from Lexington's forehead, and he moaned.

Pastor Walsh said, “I have some time tomorrow. Can you come to the church?”

She moved faster and almost laughed at his words. “I certainly can come … to your church, Pastor.” She folded her bottom lip under her teeth trying to hold back the utterances fighting to break from inside.

“Starlight, are you all right?”

“Oh, yes, Pastor.”

Lexington moaned louder.

“Not yet,” she slipped.

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, we haven't set a time yet. What time tomorrow … do you want me to come?” she squeaked.

She could tell by the pastor's pause that he was trying to figure out what was happening on her end of the phone. She wondered what he would think. Would it turn him on?

“Ah, Starlight, why don't we try two?”

“I'll be there.” She put her hand over Lexington's mouth as his eyes rolled back. “Good night, Pastor Walsh.”

She clicked off the phone, and tossed it behind her. Moments later, the room echoed with sounds of their ecstasy. When she collapsed onto Lexington's chest, she wondered what she would do when she ran out of ideas.
Maybe I'll try a pastor,
she thought.

She sat up and looked down at Lexington. And before he could open his mouth, Starlight said, “I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.”

Lexington balanced two mugs on a tray and closed the door with his foot.

“I think we scared Carletta this time.” He chuckled. “You should have seen her. She was hovering at her door, doing her best not to peek into the hall.”

Starlight waved her hand as she took her cup of tea. “She's heard us before.”

He sat on the bed and let his robe slip from his arms. “She might have heard sex before, but tonight we made love.”

She moved the cup to her lips and gazed at him over the rim.

“Don't you feel it, Starlight?” His fingertips traced a line along her face. “We're great together.”

Outside she smiled. Inside she groaned and prayed that he wasn't going to start talking about marriage again.

“We're soulmates, Starlight. How much better could we be … really together?”

Why did he want to get married? But she let her smile convince him that her desires were the same.

“We shouldn't put our focus on too many projects,” she said. His smile turned down, and she placed her mug on the night stand. “Let's get through the Revival.” She put her arms around his neck and pressed her naked torso against his. “I wouldn't want anything to interfere with our wedding plans,” she said before she kissed him.

His smile returned. “After the Revival.”

She lounged back on the bed, picked up her cup, and wondered how much longer he was going to accept her excuses.

“Speaking of the Revival, I have some information.” His tone was light and Starlight sighed, relieved. “We won't be able to get ten thousand into the arena. It only holds eight.”

“Do you really think we can sell ten thousand tickets?”

He nodded. “We've sold six thousand tickets in the first week, and we still have four weeks to go.”

She clasped her hands trying to hold her excitement within. “So we need to find a way to get two thousand more people in there.”

“I don't know how.”

She stood and paced in front of him. “There's got to be a way.”

He stared at her nakedness.

She stopped moving. “Lexington. Look at me.”

He cleared his throat before he lifted his eyes, meeting hers. “I don't know how we can get more in there unless we put chairs in the aisles on the balcony. But the city inspectors …”

She held up her finger, stopping him. “There's room for extra chairs?”

He closed his eyes as if the memory of the space was behind his eyelids. “On the balcony. But the inspectors won't allow it.”

“How many extra chairs? What does it look like? What about downstairs?”

“I'll do some more work on this.”

“Find a way to get another two thousand people in there.” Before he could protest, she straddled his lap. “Come on, Lexi.” She planted short kisses over his face. “You can make anything happen.” She moved her lips to his. “After the Revival's a success, it's all about us.”

“I love you, Starlight.”

She smiled. When his eyes told her he wanted to hear the same, she kissed him.

Lexington's fingers teased her skin, and goose bumps rose all over her. But the excitement she felt had nothing to do with him. It was about the biggest event of her life. The Revival was sure to change her forever.