Best Dressed Lie (Keisha Jackson) (12 page)

When we arrived at the fresh market, I received a call
from Bill. “Baby, I’m not going to make it home in time to
make dinner, I have a mandatory meeting.”

“That’s okay. Amy and I are at the fresh market. I’ll get the
shrimp anyway….”
“Do I have to be there?” Amy interrupted.
“Babe, Amy wants to know if she needs to attend the meeting?”
“No, she doesn’t.” That gut wrenching feeling of insecurity
started to weigh down on me again. “Okay, we’ll talk later
honey. Be safe.” I could not wait to disconnect the line with
him. “Amy, did you know about this mandatory meeting?”
“Every now and then, the company has these select
meetings. I’m the secretary, so I’m hardly ever invited,” she
explained. “Why?”
“No, I’m okay. Let’s go ahead and pick up the shrimp,” I
said, unpersuasively. I didn’t want Amy to know about the
insecurities I built in my heart due Randy. I kept a no-worry
face on until I got home.
We entered the market. The word ‘Fresh’ definitely stood out.
The store was so clean and well organized. They had beautiful
flowers everywhere. “I love this place!” I said, amused. I
inhaled the scent of fresh baked bread. “Oh my goodness
gracious,” I said, rubbing my stomach.
“Definitely!” Amy added. “I wonder where the
restroom is?”
“They should have one. Check with the clerk.” I strolled
over to the Fish Department Everything was laid out so neatly.
“Yummy,” I said, licking my bottom lip.
“Excuse me? Keisha there is nothing yummy about raw
seafood,” Amy said, tickled.
“Ma’am can I help you?” The butcher asked.
“Yes Sir, let me get five pounds of Amano Shrimp and
one pound of ground turkey.”
“Is shrimp healthy for the baby?” Amy asked, curiously.
“Yep. It has little or no mercury in it.”
“Your total is twenty dollars and ninety five cents,
anything else?”
“That’ll be all.”
“You can pay at the front register,” he said.
As soon as I grabbed my purchase from the friendly
man behind the counter, I heard someone calling my name.
“Keisha Jackson?”
I slowly turned around. There she stood, a tall goodlooking woman who favored Nicole Murphy, Eddie Murphy’s
ex-wife. “Who the hell is that?” I wondered.
“Hi, Miss Jackson I’m Monica, Bill hired me as your
wedding planner,” she said, reaching out her hand.
I stood there looking like a whale. I had on white flipflops a size too small, my huge favorite blue dress and my hair
pulled back in a ponytail. The first thing that came to mind
was, ”Why in the hell did Bill hire this sexy wedding
planner?” Something wasn’t right about this picture.
Furthermore, how did the heifer know my face?
“O….Kay,” I said, nodding my head. “Did Bill hire you
by phone or…?” I said curiously, giving her an opportunity to
finish my sentence.
She smirked. “We met over lunch, but if it’s a problem
then…”
“No you’re fine,” I interrupted. “I was just interested in
how you recognized me, considering we’ve never met.”
“When Bill and I met over lunch, he expressed how
happy he was and how beautiful you are, so I asked if…”
“So it was a personal lunch not business,” I interrupted.
“Will you at least let me finish what I’m saying Keisha,” she
said, irritated.
I was hormonal and out of control. I didn’t know what
came over me. I was rude to the woman for no apparent
reason.
She hesitated. “I’m sorry Ms. Jackson for prying. I sincerely
apologize and recommend that you find a wedding service
elsewhere.” She walked off with an attitude.
“Did you see her ass?” Amy asked, frowning.
We both giggled. “That’s exactly why I was not working with
her. Out of all the wedding planners out there, he hires the
prettiest woman I’ve ever seen; beside me of course.”
“Men, they always push the wrong buttons.” Amy said,
shaking her head. She was standing beside me starring at the
woman’s ass until she disappeared. “I wish I had an ass like
that.”
“Let’s go home. I have a bone to pick with Bill about this.”

Amy drove me home. “Thanks for this much needed
day of catching up. We didn’t get anything done as far as the
wedding...” I chuckled. “We sure didn’t,” she laughed. “Don’t
tell Bill, but then again, he knows when the two of us get
together we spend more time laughing than anything else.”

“That’s true,” I smiled. “Call me tomorrow. I’ve got some
meetings to set up, if you know what I mean.” I said, winking.
“Good luck with that and tell’ em I sent ya!” she said,
driving off.
I could not wait to get inside and call the investigator. Bill
was not home, so this was perfect timing. I dropped my bags,
put the meat and shrimp in the fridge and grabbed an apple.
After
plopping on the bed, I
figured I’d dial
the
investigator.
“This is John,” he answered, in a deep voice.
“Hello… my name is Keisha Jackson. I got your number from
a friend by the name of Amy…”
He interrupted. How can I help you Miss Jackson?” he
said arrogantly. I didn’t want to beam around the bush I got
straight to the point.
“I need your help Mr. John. I was detached from my sister
at birth and I want to find her. Will you be able to help me
with that?”
“I’d gladly to assist you Miss Jackson. I’m going to need a
little more than that. Do you have any information on your
sister?”
“No Sir, I can’t remember.”
“That’s fine. Do you
have your
birth certificate
or
your
parents’ names?”
“I can’t remember. I’m sorry,” I said, tearing up. “They died
when I was really young. I lived in a foster home that refuses
to give me any information.”
He got straight to the point. “All I need is the name of
the foster home, your full name, and date of birth and around
how old you were when you entered the home. Also I need a
$500 deposit, which is 50% of my price and a contact number
for you.”
“Can I pay by phone?” I didn’t hesitate to pay him.
“I only accept cash. You can pay me at our first meeting.
For now, I need your information.”
Finally, I felt like I was getting somewhere. I didn’t waste any
time providing Mr. John with my information. “My full name
is Keisha Jackson, born June 29, 1977. I was place in the foster
home around nineteen-eighty two, I think.”
“What’s the name of the foster home, Miss Jackson?”
“Cherish the Children,” I said.
“Give me two weeks to gather some information. Again,
Payment expected at our first meeting. I will call you with the
time and place where we will meet,” he said, assuredly.
My heart dropped. I was ecstatic. “Are you serious? In
two weeks, you’ll find my sister! My birthday is in two weeks
Mr. John, I’ll be thirty-six years old,” I said, excitedly.
“Let’s make it a great birthday,” he chuckled.
I heard Bill coming through the front door, “Baby, I’m
home.” He shouted.
“Thank you so much Mr. John. I can’t wait to hear
from you.” I said, quickly, ending the conversation.
I knew that I had to hurry and wrap the conversation
up considering Bill didn’t know about this. I decided to wait to
ask the investigator about finding Bill’s mother. I was going to
let him focus on finding my sister first.
“Likewise,” he said. “I’ll call you in two weeks.”
As soon as I placed the phone on the hook, Bill walked
in. “Baby, who were you talking to?”
I was not ready to tell Bill. “Amy. I was giving her my
input on the wedding planning.” I lied then quickly changed
the subject. “What are you doing home so early? I thought you
had a meeting tonight.”
“It was cancelled,” he said, loosening up his blue tie.
“Thanks for telling me,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“What’s that all about, rolling your eyes at me?” he said, with
a smirk on his face. “Daddy’s sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I
promise.” He smothered his face on the side of my neck,
kissing me.
As handsome and charming as he was, who could stay
mad at him? Besides, I just lied to him.
“I love you baby,” I said, turning my face towards him.
“I love you more,” he whispered, looking into my eyes.
I wanted nothing more than to share the amazing news with
Bill, but I also wanted it to be a surprise. If he decided to get
the investigation started as promised, then two investigators
would be searching for my sister, the more the better.
“By the way, I contacted the investigator.”
“You did?” I said, surprised.
“Yep,” he said, undressing. “He said it will take around six
months to a year, which means it will be after the wedding
and the birth of the baby. I’m sorry baby. I know how much
this meant to you.”
“It’s okay. Thanks for trying.”
I knew in my heart this was bad news. However, Mr.
John told me two weeks. I could not wait to surprise Bill. He
was going to be so proud of me.
“That’s it? I was afraid you would be kicking and
crying, considering you’ve been waiting for this moment your
entire life.”
“I’ll just put it in the Lord’s hands,” I said, hanging up
his slacks.
“I’m proud of you honey. Do you think our baby girl
will mind if Daddy hit that? ” he said, spanking my ass,
leaning in for a kiss.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind at all,” I said, seductively,
kissing his soft lips. “But before you hit this, can I ask for a
huge favor?”
“Anything for my queen,” he said, rubbing my
backside.
“Can we hire another wedding planner?”
“You want another wedding planner babe? Let me
guess, you met Monica?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about her? And where does
she come from?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise; one of the guys at the
office referred her. She planned their wedding.”
Since when had he referred to his co workers as “one
of the guys?” I guess the question caught him off guard; didn’t
give him time to think. Bill knew I was friends with Amy. He
better not be lying to me.
“Does this “guy” have a name?” I asked sarcastically.
“Actually, I don’t know his name. Dave referred that guy to me
and that guy referred Monica.” He was fumbling over his
words. “Why does it matter? You asked for a new planner, I
will hire a new one tomorrow.”
“This time, keep it professional,” I said, giving him the side
eye.
I trusted Bill, but every now and then, my old ways came
out. I tried not to let him see that side of me. I came to
realization that my trust issues were going to take longer than
I thought to heal. This situation was a test and I failed.
I really needed to focus. The last thing I wanted was to
have a child out of wedlock all because of my insecurities. I
needed to move forward and concentrate on the investigator.

It was two weeks later and I was impatiently waiting for
the investigator to call. I couldn’t believe I held out telling Bill
about this. The only person who knew was Amy. I called her
to make sure she had not spilled the beans.

“Hello and happy birthday my friend,” She answered
cheerfully. “Thank you Amy,” I said. “Today is also the day I
am supposed to hear from Mr. John.”

Bill about this amazing day?”
“Not yet. I wanted to surprise him.”
“Oh boy, he will be surprised!” she laughed. “I’m so happy for
you sweetie pie. I feel like I’m getting ready to meet my new
found sister as well.”
“Amy, I gotta tell ya, it’s been a long wait and it’s definitely
nerve racking.”
“I’m sure it is. The wedding is in two weeks. It will be
awesome to have her there with you. Just the thought of all of
this brings happy tears to my eyes.”
As our conversation got more excited, my line beeped. I
glanced at the caller ID and it read, “John Green.”
“It’s him!” “Answer and call me back,” Amy said.
My heart was racing. I felt like a squirrel on crack. I was
bouncing around as I clicked to the other line. “He…Hello,” I
stuttered.
“Miss Jackson?” He asked in his deep voice.
“Yes, this is Miss Keisha Jackson,” I said, overexcited.
“This is John, the investigator. I have some news for you. If you
can, meet me at the Florida State Library.”
“I’m there, what time?”
“Now would be great.” My heart dropped. “I’m on my way.”
Tears rolled like a faucet turned on high. I was not sure if he
had good news or bad news, I was so nervous I couldn’t go
alone. I had to tell Bill so he could be there with me. I rang his
number with shaking fingers. He answered, “Birthday girl I’m
on my way home,” he said, not giving me time to say anything.
“Bill,” I said, choking up.
“Keisha, what’s wrong!” he said, fearfully. “Why are you
crying baby? Are you in labor?”
“No,” I snickered. “I think I’ve found my sister.”
“How?” he asked confused.
“I want you to come with me to meet her.”
I was shocked at Bill’s response. He wasn’t very happy for me.
He was very dry and it rather hurt my feelings.
“Who found your sister baby? Stop playing with me. I
don’t have time for childish-ass games.”
I was shocked. Bill never spoke to me like this. “Baby,
why are you speaking to me like this? What is wrong with
you? I thought you wanted this for me as well.”
“I’m sorry. I’m on my way home baby. I am sorry for
yelling at you. I just don’t like that you kept this from me.”
“I’ll go alone,” I said defensively.
Before he could respond, I disconnected the line and
headed out the door.
“I like his damn nerve, speaking to me like that.”
I knew Bill was not giving up without a fight; he loved
me too much. I called Amy. I knew he was going to contact
her.
“What did Mr. John say?” she asked eagerly.
“He wanted me to meet him at the Florida State
Library. The reason I’m calling is to tell you that Bill and I had
a fight. If he calls you, please tell him where I am. I purposely
didn’t give him an address. I’ll explain everything to you
later,” I said hurriedly.
“O…Okay” she stuttered. “Bring your sister home!”
Amy was more excited than I was.
“Thanks Amy.”
I was ten minutes away from the library. I could not
wait to hear
the news
that Mr. John had for me. The
overexcitement caused my stomach to tighten. The baby was
doing backward flips inside.
“We’re almost there baby girl,” I said rubbing my belly.
Bill was calling my phone non-stop, but I was on a mission. I
did not want to speak with him.
Slowly I pulled into the library parking lot. Before heading
inside I said a small prayer, “O Lord, help me know you’re not
going to let anything come my way that I can't handle. Amen.”
I slowly climbed out of my white range rover. I had on my
maternity denim blue jeans, a short-sleeved peach blouse that
complimented my caramel skin tone, and my favorite black
flats. I was ready to get this over with. My long beautiful hair
was blowing in the wind as I approached the library door.
My heart skipped a beat as I got closer. My stomachs had
butterflies. The mild pinching cramps
came every two
seconds. My skin was damp with sweat.
“I’m so nervous, Lord be with me. This is the day that the
Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I opened the
door and there he was, Mr. John standing beside an empty
table. I felt there was bad news.
“You couldn’t find her?” I said breathlessly, not giving him
time to speak.
He smiled, “As a matter of fact, I did find her.”
“You did?!Where is she?”
“She’ll be here in a minute. I wanted to explain
everything to you before she got here. That’s why I asked you
to come early.”
“What’s her name? Does she look like me? Have you
seen her? Does she have kids?” I was going forty miles a
second. I was afraid I was going to go into labor.
“Slow down Miss Jackson, have a seat,” he said calmly,
pointing towards the chair. “I found your sister. She is very
happy, but doesn’t remember you. She is younger than you
are and had mixed feeling about meeting you. She asked me
not to reveal her identity until she gets here.”
“Oh my goodness gracious, Oh my goodness gracious,”
I repeated. I was crying tears of joy with snot running down
my nose. This was going to be the best birthday in my entire
life.
Mr. John and I waited. Two hours went by and there
was no sign of her. I was getting restless and the cramps were
getting stronger. “Thank you Mr. John for everything. I needed
to leave and get these unbearable cramps checked out. They
were getting stronger. Now it was almost three hours.
“I don’t believe she’s coming,” I said sadly.
“She promised that she would be here.”
“I’m sure she did I can’t wait any longer.”
“Okay, I’ll stay thirty more minutes. If she comes, I’ll call you,”
he said, helping me out of the chair.
As heartbreaking as it was to walk away, I had no choice. I
could no longer tolerate the excruciating pain. I told myself, if
it was meant to be then it would be.
“Maybe I was not meant to see her at this time,” I muttered.
I walked away from the table and headed to my car.
As soon as I got into the car, I called Bill. His phone went
straight to voicemail. “Darn it,” I whispered. Amy was the
only person left to call.
“How did it go?” she answered cheerfully.
I hesitated and then burst into tears. “She never showed up.”
“I’m sorry Keisha,” she said, disappointed.
“I’m having sharp cramps. Will you meet me at the
hospital?”
“Of course I will. I left a detailed message on Bill’s phone
about the meeting with Mr. John. Did he show?”
“No, he didn’t,” I said, sadly. “I’m not going to worry
anymore. At least I know that I tried. Which reminds me; I left
my sweater at the library. Do you mind stopping by to get it
before you come to the hospital? Mr. John said he’d wait
around for her, so hopefully he’s still there.”
“I’m leaving the house right now. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Thank you so much Amy. If you happen to bump into Bill, tell
him I’m headed to the hospital.”
“I certainly will.”
I
continued
driving.
Although
I
was
in
pain,
somewhere deep in my heart, I was praying that she would
show up. “I wonder if Mr. John really waited.”
I made it to the hospital intact. Meanwhile Mr. John
was still waiting at the library.
“Where are you?” he muttered under his breath.
As soon as he spoke, he heard footsteps. He glanced up.
Bill startled him.
“Hello,” Bill said in a scratchy tone, reaching his hand
out to shake. “I’m Bill, Keisha’s fiancé. I tried to get here
sooner, but got stuck in traffic. Is she here?”
“Pleasures all mine. I’m John Green, investigator,” he
said, accepting Bill’s handshake. “No, Miss Jackson was having
pain and left to go to the hospital. She waited for hours, but
her sister never showed up. Since I arranged this, I decided to
wait a little longer.”
“I’m sorry, how do you know Keisha?”
John became very suspicious of Bill actions. He asked too
many questions, things that he should have known. “That’s not
important Mr. Bill…?
“My last name is not important either,” Bill said.
“Well, I’m leaving. Did you come here to wait for her
sister or to interrogate me, Mr. Bill? Matter of Fact, shouldn’t
you be concerned with your wife well-being?”
The two were just about at each other’s throats. They chose to
cool off and headed towards the door. Heels clicked on the
hardwood floors. The heels echoed throughout the room. The
sound was getting closer and closer.
Suddenly, there she stood,
a beautiful young
woman,
Keisha’s sister. She was a young version of Halley Berry. Her
skin was radiant, and her hair sophisticatedly pulled back. She
did not speak. She just stood there, staring at the two of them.
Mr. John walked towards her. “Hello! You made it! Your
sister was in pain, so she had to leave. Remember I told you
she was carrying a baby.”
She did not respond and he continued to talk. “Her fiancé
is here. Come over and let me introduce you to your future
brother-in-law.”
Mr. John gently reached for her hand and walked her
towards Bill.
“Bill this is….”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Bill interrupted angrily.
“I should be asking you the same thing, jackass!” she said
ferociously.
Mr. John was in shock. “The two of you know each other?
That is great! I can’t wait to give…”
“Shut up old man,” Bill interrupted. “You’re not going to
give her anything! Let me talk to you for a second.”
Bill aggressively grabbed Mr. John by the collar. “What’s
happening here?”
“How much does Keisha know about this?”
“She doesn’t know much, why?”
“How much?” Bill yelled.
“I did not reveal names to neither of them; to protect them.
They have to introduce themselves face to face. That’s my
policy.” “So she doesn’t know Keisha’s her sister and Keisha
doesn’t know her name. Right?” he said, showing Mr. John a
thousand dollars cash. He was trying pay him off to keep his
mouth shut.
“Right,” he said, nervously. “I can’t do this. I could lose my
job.”
“You can do this and you will do… this,” Bill said, shoving
him into the wall. “Would you rather lose your job or your
life? You choose. Now text Keisha right now and tell her that
you are closing this case and for her not to contact you, ever.”
“Let me go!”
Bill’s tight grip around his tie was choking him.
Bill put a pocketknife up to John’s throat, shoved the money
into John’s pocket, and forced him out of the door.
Mr. John felt his pocket and realized he didn’t wear his
gun, so he followed Bill’s orders. “I’ll leave but the woman
comes with me.”
“Leave!” Bill demanded.
Meanwhile, Bill’s back was turned to the girl. He stood
there for a second, hoping that when he turned around she
would gone .
She started laughing hysterically. “Well, well, well Bill. Is
that what they call you? I know you as a vindictive, devious,
abusive man. What woman in her right mind is going to
marry you? Oh, I know, my long lost sister. Whoever she is,
she’ll change her mind once I …”
“You keep your fucking mouth shut!” he interrupted,
clamping his hand around her neck.
She tried to pull his hand away, but it was too tight. Her
face started turning red. She struggled. He saw how the red
was darkening in her face and let her up for air, “How much?”
he whispered.
“You haven’t changed,” she said breathlessly.
“Since it’s my sister, I don’t want your dirty money. You
sick bastard!” She was crouched on the floor trying to catch
her breath.
“How much?! God damn it,” he said in rage.
“You are pathetic. What about your daughter? She needs
you. You’d rather pay me off to save your phony-ass life.”
“What daughter? I have one child and she’s not here yet.”
There was a malicious look on his face.
She started shaking her head left to right in disbelief and
her eyes teared up. “Wow. “What did I ever do to you? What
did I ever do to cause this hate in your heart towards your
only daughter? We’ve been through hell since you left us. Do
you even care about your daughter! She’s nine years old for
goodness sake.”
“Listen; don’t think your tears are going to…”
She interjected in a tearful voice, “She was raped for goodness
sake! No one was there to protect her. Instead, I was out
tricking for you! Sleeping with old men to get money so you
could be successful, sleeping with dirty old men to help get
you to the top! You left us and I will never forget that, ever!”
A door slammed. Bill was livid. The thought of someone
ease dropping petrified him. “Did you bring someone with
you?” He slowly moved towards the door. He tiptoed towards
the door. He stopped at the door then swiftly looked back
towards her and whispered, “Did you”
“No,” she shouted.
Bill hurriedly opened the door but no one was there.
“Someone was here! Someone was here and I think I know
who it was,” he said, holding a pen with his company logo
imprinted. “I need to go to the hospital,” she yelled, startling
Bill. “I need to go to the hospital now!”
He moved towards her and shouted, “Shut the fuck up!
You are not going to destroy my life with your lies and
manipulative ways! I’ll kill you before I let you do that. All of a
sudden you’re in pain?”
“It’s my kidneys and I need to go the hospital. For once in
your life, help me. My child needs me, I can’t die here !”
He laughed. “That’s great news; at least I wouldn’t have to
worry about you, now would I? Get your shit and let’s go! I’m
dropping you off at the nearest hospital. I will not carry your
ass. You got two feet use them.”
The woman had been on dialysis for 6 months. Her
kidneys were failing. The only reason she agreed to meet her
sister was that she needs a kidney transplant. She knew that it
was a possibility she would be a match, if DNA turned out to
be true.
“I can’t. I’m too weak to walk. Call an ambulance !”
“For what? So they can air it on the news? Hell no. Get
your ass up or I’m leaving you here!”
Bill was enraged. She was the missing pieces to Keisha’s