Truth Be Told (33 page)

Together, they said, “Amen.”

Solomon tried to bend his lips into a smile. Then he hugged Grace as if he never planned to let go.

“Mom,” Grace yelled as she entered the house.

Lily rushed from the kitchen with a dish towel around her arm. “Hi, sweetheart.” Lily kissed Grace, then looked down at Solomon. “I've been looking forward to meeting you.” She hugged him.

“Solomon, this is my mother.”

“Call me Nana. Just like Amber and Jayde.”

Solomon nodded. The smile that he always wore had been missing for hours.

“Hi, Solomon.” Amber stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“Hi.”

Solomon's wide smile made Grace want to kiss her daughter.

Amber walked to Solomon and hugged him like she'd always known he was her brother. “I'm sorry that your mother is sick.”

“She's going to be all right now.” Solomon looked up at Grace, and she nodded.

“Do you want to watch TV with me?” Amber asked.

“Sweetheart, it's almost bedtime.” Grace glanced at her watch. Then she added, “You can watch for a little while. I'll come in there in a few minutes.”

Amber led Solomon away, while Grace followed her mother into the kitchen.

“Honey, you look tired.”

Grace massaged her eyes. “It's been the longest day.”

Lily put down the dish towel. “You need to rest.”

“So everything is fine here?”

“Of course. The girls have eaten. Amber was getting ready for bed and Jayde …” She paused. “She's in her room. Been there since after dinner.”

“Still in her mood?”

Lily nodded. “How's Pilar?” she asked as she joined Grace at the table.

“The doctors haven't said much. Conner's there making sure she gets settled.” She sighed. “But, Mom, I don't need the doctors to tell me anything. Pilar's getting worse … fast.”

Lily tsked.

“It's as if she's worsened since Conner and I agreed to take Solomon.”

“That makes sense.” Lily continued when Grace frowned. “Pilar knows that her son is going to be fine now. She doesn't have to try so hard to live anymore.”

“I'm not ready for this.”

Lily laid her hand on top of her daughter's. “You've known this was going to happen. This is God's will.”

Grace pulled her hand away.
This isn't God's will!
she wanted to scream.
God doesn't take mothers from their children.
But she didn't have the strength to debate.

She stood. “I'm going to get the kids to bed.”

“Do you want me to stay until Conner comes home?”

“No, Mom.” She hugged Lily. “You could use some rest too, and I'm going to need you tomorrow.”

Lily smiled. “I'll be here first thing.”

They went into the family room, and Lily kissed Amber and Solomon. After she watched her mother drive away, Grace retrieved the bag that she and Solomon had packed.

“Come on, you guys,” she said to the two who had settled in front of the television. “Time to turn in.”

Amber clicked the remote, and she and Solomon followed Grace up the stairs.

“Where's Solomon going to sleep?” Amber asked.

“In your room, and you're going to camp out with Jayde.”

“Okay.” Amber turned to Solomon. “You're going to like my bed. I got it for my birthday.”

“I saw your room the other day,” he reminded her.

When Grace stepped into Amber's room, it was as if this was the first time she saw the candy-pink walls and the lacy curtains that hung from the canopy bed. She laid Solomon's suitcase on the dresser.

“Amber, get your pajamas. We'll get your school clothes in the morning.”

Solomon edged onto the bed and folded his hands. Grace watched his sadness slump his shoulders.

“The bathroom is right through there.” Grace pointed, wanting to rescue him from his thoughts.

“But lock the door if you use it, or else Jayde will burst in,” Amber nodded, giving advice from her experience.

Solomon frowned.

“Jayde's bedroom is on the other side,” Grace explained. She cupped his chin in her hand. “Let me get Amber settled in, and I'll come back. Okay?”

He nodded, but said, “I go to bed by myself.”

“I know.” Grace smiled. “I just want to say good-night.”

He tried to smile back.

“Good night, Solomon.” Amber waved.

He tried to wave back.

Grace closed the door, wishing she could fill him with peace.

Amber knocked on Jayde's door. “Jayde, let me in.”

“Sweetie, you don't have to scream.” Grace knocked on the door and then opened it.

Jayde was sprawled across her bed with headphones covering her ears. Her head hung over one side and her feet swung from the other.

“
Took the shackles off my feet so I could dance,
” Jayde sang off-key. It wasn't the first time that Grace was glad Jayde played the flute.

Grace tapped Jayde's shoulder. She jumped, jerking the headphones from her ears. Grace could still hear Mary, Mary blasting from the earpiece.

“Amber is going to sleep with you tonight,” Grace said handing Amber her nightgown.

Jayde's mouth opened as wide as her eyes. “Why?”

“Because Solomon is staying in my room,” Amber said before Grace could respond. She made a face, then went into the bathroom.

Jayde tore the earphones from around her neck and threw them onto the bed. “Solomon is staying in our house?”

Her daughter's question made her think back to the way her day had begun. She had to take crap from Sara Spears. She didn't have to take it from Jayde.

Grace folded her arms. “Yes.”

“Why can't he sleep in your office, like you did?”

Grace grinded her teeth, took a breath, and held up her hand. “Unless you've started paying some of the bills around here, I don't want to hear another word.”

Jayde scooted back on the bed. “I guess you only care about homeless orphans.”

In less than a second, Grace grabbed Jayde's arm and dragged her from the bed.

“Mom,” Jayde screamed.

Grace lifted her other hand.

“Mommy!”

She turned toward the voice. Amber was standing in the bathroom's doorway, her eyes filled with terror.

Grace's hand shook above her head, then she lowered it. It still took a moment for her to release Jayde's arm.

Jayde scampered away, her eyes wide with fear. She massaged her arm where Grace had held her with a death grip.

“I want the two of you to go to bed.” Grace's voice was low and steady. “I don't expect to hear a sound from this room. Do you understand?”

Only their heads moved as they nodded. Their eyes were plastered on their mother, afraid that she might make a sudden move.

Grace backed out of the room, closed the door, and then leaned against it. She closed her eyes, praying that would hold back her sobs.

“Grace?”

She opened her eyes, and Conner was staring at her. She didn't know where the trembling began, but by the time it got to her lips, she ran into his arms.

“Sweetheart.” He held her tight.

“Jayde said … then Solomon cried … and, Pilar's sick … and then Sara did …”

Conner squeezed her tighter, pumping the tears from her. And in her husband's arms, she released her pain from the day.

I
t was the first time that Grace had seen Sara Spears's column so far front in the newspaper. Page three was a coup for the ACC leader.

Conner came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another in his hand. He paused when he saw the newspaper.

“The headline alone will make you scream,” she said before he could ask. “Councilwoman's Husband's Hidden Love Child.”

Conner moaned.

“She's calling for my constituents to question whether I can truly represent them since I am not the moralistic, righteous, upstanding Christian that I claimed to be.” Grace looked down at the paper and read, “Councilwoman Monroe is not an example that anyone can hold up—especially not the children that she claims to care so much about.”

Conner settled onto the bed.

Grace continued, “She ends with, ‘If Monroe wants to impart her Christian values on the people of this city, we suggest that she begin at home. When she can pull her family together, then maybe Angelinos will be willing to listen to her holy message. Until then, we hope that Monroe will do the righteous deed and place her letter of resignation on the mayor's desk by noon.” Grace closed the newspaper.

Conner sighed.

Grace moved to the window. Outside, the air was gray, broken only by the weary palette of the homes planted in the Palos Verdes hillside: steel-blue, earthen-tan, dried-grass green. It seemed the city was in mourning.

Maybe the air's sorrow was a sign. Since she'd been elected, the challenges had been mounting, piling high on her family's emotional shoulders. Anything more was bound to break them.

Conner stood. “This is not about you, sweetheart. This is an attack on your faith.”

Her examination of the view beyond her window continued. “But now the war's being waged against my family. It's not worth it anymore.”

He spun her around so fast she rocked on her heels. “This is definitely worth it, Grace. People have been and will be touched by what you're doing and what you stand for. If you back away now, what will you be saying?”

She let a few silent moments pass. “I should keep on fighting.”

“Fight the good fight.”

She smiled. “Well, if I'm going to wage a war, I'd better get dressed.”

“That's my warrior!”

In the bathroom, she turned on the shower, then looked in the mirror. She would fight for herself and for her family. She really didn't have to worry about her family's emotional burdens. With all they'd been through, they were definitely in the basement. It was time to start taking the elevator back to the top.

Conner waved to Amber as Lily drove around the driveway. He closed the door and smiled as he looked up to the second level. Solomon had been asleep when he checked on him earlier, but he was sure to be awake now.

He knocked on the door and stepped into the bedroom. His smile evaporated. Solomon was sitting in the middle of the pink bed with his knees pulled into his chest.

“Hey, buddy. How're you?”

Solomon's eyes were dry but full of sadness.

“Fine.”

Conner sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you sure?”

He nodded, but then with quickness rocked to his knees and hurled his arms around Conner. “I'm scared.”

“I know you are.” Conner held his son as if there were no missing years. “But the doctors are working hard to make your mother well.”

“Mom said there's nothing the doctors can do.”

Conner swallowed the reassuring lies he wanted to offer and squeezed Solomon's hands. “Your mother is very sick, but the doctors are doing their best to keep her with us as long as they can.”

Solomon's brown eyes became clearer. “Mom is going to die soon.” He stated the words so calmly that Conner wondered if he understood what he'd uttered. He added, “Maybe we should pray so that God knows how we feel.”

Conner nodded and held his son's hands. “That's a great idea.”

“I'll do it,” Solomon exclaimed. He closed his eyes. “Father, God, I'm scared. But I know that you don't want me to be. My mom told me that if I ever got scared, I should talk to you, and then I wouldn't be scared anymore. I want my mom to get well. Please help her, God.” He paused. “And if she can't get well, please don't let her be scared and don't let her hurt. I don't want to see my mother cry. Amen.”

Conner kept his head bowed a bit longer, blinking to soften the burning in his eyes. Then he pulled his son into his arms, holding him for the moment and all the days, months, and years that he'd missed with him.

“Can I see my mom today?”

“After you finish with your tutor, I'll take you.”

It was the first time Solomon smiled. “Thank you … Dad.” The statement shook from his lips as if he was unsure how his words would be received.

It took a moment for Conner to move, but his trembling matched Solomon's when he held his son once again.

The phones hadn't stopped ringing, and Grace was pleased that Zoë had called Claudia and two other staffers in. She didn't think she'd need an administrative assistant until she officially took office, but after yesterday's conference, Zoë decided they needed Claudia now.

Grace's fingers whished across the computer keyboard, and then she paused, reading the paragraph she'd written.

This was supposed to be her response to Sara's article. Zoë had the newspaper executives itching for her retort. But Grace hadn't decided if she was going to submit this. Her theory remained the same: the way to manage Sara was to pretend that she had leprosy.

Zoë knocked once and walked into Grace's office.

“I just got off the phone with Channel 2. They would still love to have you.” There was hope in her voice.

Grace smiled at her chief of staff, who had reverted to her campaign manager's stance. The pencil was propped behind her ear, and her hands were filled with media contact sheets. Zoë was spinning this story.

“I'm sure Channel 2 does want me. Then this can be blown into a full-size scandal.” She held up her hand, stopping Zoë's protest. “I know they wouldn't do that. I just don't understand the interest.”

“Maybe it's a slow news month. But we need to find a way to control this.”

Claudia tapped on the opened door. “Grace, your sister is on the line.”

Grace sighed but said, “I'll take it.”

Zoë pressed her lips together and shook her head as if she couldn't believe Grace would take a call over a discussion about a prime-time interview. “Think about Channel 2,” she said, tapping her fingernail on the desk to emphasize each word.

Grace waved her out of the room, then picked up the phone.

“Good morning, Starlight.”

“Grace, how're you?” she asked, then continued without giving Grace a chance to respond. “I saw the article, and I'm very upset. Is there anything I can do?”

Grace half-smiled. “No, but thanks for asking.”

“I can't believe how they've gone after you.” She paused. “You know, I have some important contacts. I'm personal friends with Senator Bonet.”

Grace's eyebrows rose. Her sister's star was certainly rising.

Starlight continued, “She might be able to do something about Sara Spears.”

“Short of pulling out her tongue, there's nothing anyone can do. And I support free speech.”

“Well, let me know if you change your mind.”

The bold knock on the door startled Grace.

“Starlight, hold a second.” Grace covered the mouthpiece and called for Claudia to come in.

“There's a call from the principal at Jayde's school.”

Grace nodded. “Starlight, I've got another call.”

“Grace, if you need anything …”

“Thanks.” Grace hung up and her hand shook as she pressed the button for the other line. “Mr. Thomas.” Grace spoke without breathing. “Is Jayde all right?”

“Yes, Ms. Monroe. But she's been suspended, and someone has to pick her up.”

“I'll be right there.” She hung up without asking questions, though all kinds of queries sped through her mind.

Grace grabbed her purse and waved at Claudia before she barreled through the door. “I'll call you” was all she said.

She rushed to the car, grateful that she'd driven this morning. She trembled as she drove, imagining what kind of trouble had found Jayde. This morning, Grace had been sure that their lives couldn't get worse. But this was proof that she'd been wrong: they were still sinking toward what seemed to be a never-ending bottom.

“You're on top now,” Lexington exclaimed as he burst into Starlight's office just as she was hanging up the phone.

She shook her head, her thoughts still with her sister.

“What's on your mind?”

“Nothing.” She stared at the phone.

“I come here, ready to sing your praises and you're not interested.” He settled into a chair.

She fingered the telephone cord. “I talked to my sister.”

“Yeah, I heard about that article,” he sneered.

“It's not fair.”

He reclined. “You're feeling sorry for her?”

“No.”

“Good,” he said with narrowed eyes. “Because there's no need to focus on falling stars when yours is rising.”

For the first time, she met his eyes.

He shifted under her stare. “I'm just saying that after the Revival, you're going to have everything that you deserve.” He grinned. “There's no doubt about it with what I just learned.”

Starlight rested her chin on her folded hands. “Let's hear it.”

“Pastor Carey is on board. He's going to promote the Revival on his radio show. The announcements will begin this week.”

“You're kidding.” She dropped her hands. “That's major.” But then she frowned. “How much does he want?”

Lexington sat up straight. “Nothing,” he sang. “He said he's doing this for you, and the two of you would work out something later.”

Starlight imagined what the pastor would accept as payment. She couldn't begin to conceive of the blessings that would flow if she bedded one of the most influential men in the city. She squeezed her legs together. “So how is everything else coming?”

He opened a folder that he'd laid on the desk. “We can get twenty-five hundred, Maybe three thousand more people in there.” His excitement had faded. “There's a bit of room on the first level, but the balcony has a lot of space. Still, that's a lot of people to put in that arena.”

She brushed her hand through the air. “Others have stuffed more bodies in there than the law allows. Think of those rock concerts in the seventies and eighties.”

“What about the Coliseum or the Forum?”

She sighed. “How many times do we have to go over this? The arena is less than half the price, and you're the one who said that by paying less, we'd have our chance at our first million-dollar event.”

“I know.”

“And with the Revival so close, it's too late to change.”

“True, but still …”

Starlight held up her hand. “So what do we have to do?”

He sighed, his signal of surrender. “We won't be able to get permits for ten thousand.”

Starlight shook her head as if he didn't get it. “Get the permits for whatever is allowed.”

“We may have to pay off a few people. The promoter will know that we sold ten thousand tickets.”

She stared at him for a moment. “Lexington, do whatever you have to. Just do it in cash.”

He shook his head, stood, and slipped a paper across the desk. “The contract says that we must have security.”

“It's a ploy to get more money.”