Flawfully Wedded Wives (24 page)

—
Sullivan Webb

 

Angel met up with Lawson and Sullivan near the treadmill at the gym. “Where's Kina?”

“She left,” answered Lawson, wiping sweat from her brow. “She said something about having to make an appearance at a retired educators' function.”

“Are you all right?” asked Sullivan, stretching. “You look tired.”

“I'm fine.” The truth was that Angel was lacking energy due to excessively self-medicating. Lethargy was a side effect.

“Don't overdo it in your workout today,” Lawson cautioned her. “Are you feeling any better about the baby situation?”

Angel climbed on the StairMaster. “I try not to think about it. What's done is done.”

Lawson stood next to her. “I don't know if it's healthy for you to repress your feelings.”

“I'm not repressing, but I'm not obsessing over it, either. I'm taking it day by day.”

Lawson hopped on the StairMaster next to Angel's. “Well, you know we're here if you want to talk.”

“I'll certainly be talking soon,” Sullivan revealed. “I have an interview tomorrow.”

“An interview?” Lawson had never heard Sullivan utter those words before. “Are you trying to get a job, Sully?”

“More importantly, has hell frozen over?” quipped Angel.

“It's not a job interview. I'm being interviewed by Keydra Parks. She tracked me down and is on her way to Savannah. She wants me to sit in for an interview about Kina.”

Lawson was aghast. “Why would you agree to do that? You know that woman makes her living slamming Kina in the media.”

“Has she said anything about Kina that isn't true?” Sullivan asked, firing back.

No one could say she had.

“Is this revenge for what happened with Charles, or are you acting out because of what happened with Samuel Sullivan?” Angel said. “Sully, I know you're feeling hurt and betrayed, but don't lash out at Kina for his mistakes.”

“This has nothing to do with my father or bashing Kina. This is me getting the truth out about what happened to Charles and why.”

“Sullivan, I'm begging you not to do this to Kina,” pleaded Lawson.

Sullivan sucked her teeth. “Don't do what to Kina? Don't throw her under the bus like she did me? Don't embarrass her like she did Reggie? Don't criticize her choices like she did Joan?”

Lawson stopped moving. “Sullivan, one more scathing interview and Kina will be ruined. Her publicist has already threatened to quit on her. She can't afford to have another negative story come out.”

“That's too bad,” said Sullivan. “I'm not covering up anyone else's lies or upholding any more fake Christians.”

Angel adjusted the speed on her machine. “You do realize that by exposing Kina, you'll also be outing yourself, don't you? Is that what you really want to do?”

Sullivan stretched across the fitness ball. “What I want is for the lies, charades, and facades to stop. If it starts with me being real about who I am, so be it!”

 

 

Kina, Angel, and Lawson huddled around the computer screen, waiting with bated breath for Sullivan's interview with Keydra Parks to begin.

“Why is she doing this?” Kina asked for the fifth time since Lawson had told her about Sullivan's plans. “Granted, we weren't back to being best buds, but after hashing everything out in the Bahamas, I thought we'd made enough progress for her not to go after me this way.”

“Kina, we all know that Sullivan can be unpredictable. She's still reeling from the fallout with her father. She feels paralyzed because she can't get back at him and expose his secrets. Unfortunately, she's taking that out on you,” Lawson said, assessing the situation.

Kina fumed. “Sullivan has nothing to gain by doing this. If anything, she stands to lose in a major way. I doubt that Charles is going to stand for another public scandal involving his wife, and everyone will know that Vaughn could be Charity's father, including Vaughn! Who knows how Vaughn will react when he finds out that Sullivan kept that from him?”

“I think a part of Sullivan is fed up with all the lies and secrets,” said Angel. “On some level, she probably wants the truth to come out. She doesn't want to live a life of secrecy like her father.”

Kina adjusted the volume on the speakers as Keydra began to speak.

“Good morning to all of our viewers out there. We're delighted to have as our guest today Mrs. Sullivan Webb, first lady of Mount Zion Ministries in Savannah, Georgia. As most of you know, we've been covering the story of the rise and fall of reality star Kina Battle as the drama unfolds. Our last guest, dancer Reginell Kerry, alluded to Sullivan Webb being the one person who could give us the truth about Kina, and she's here to give us our most revealing interview and insight into Miss Battle to date.” Keydra turned to Sullivan. “Mrs. Webb, thank you so much for taking time out to come talk to us. How are you?”

“I'm great . . . blessed.”

“I can see that you are. Can you tell my viewers how you know Kina Battle?”

Sullivan crossed her legs. “Kina and I have known each other since we were kids. We grew up in the same neighborhood.”

“So I am right in assuming that you know Kina pretty well?”

Sullivan narrowed her eyes. “I know Kina extremely well.”

“As a television audience, we've gotten to know Kina within the limited prism of the television screen. The image we have, or rather
had
before we started to learn more about her life off camera, is that of a sweet Christian who overcame the odds and inspired a nation. Is the Kina Battle we've gotten to know the real Kina Battle?”

Sullivan thought for a moment. “No, I think there are actually three versions of Kina.”

“Can you elaborate?”

“The Kina we knew before the fame was sweet but insecure. As you know, she was in an abusive marriage and struggled financially for a long time. She didn't seem to really know her place in the world. Then there was the Kina on
Lose Big
. She was starting to find her voice and gain confidence in herself, and I can see how that could be inspiring to a lot of people. Lastly, we have the Kina who dwells among us today. She has the money, the fame, and a platform. She has the attention of the world, but I'm not sure that she knows what to do with it.”

“So you're saying that fame has changed her?”

“I think it would change anybody who was suddenly thrust into that kind of limelight. Then again, maybe
change
isn't the right word. I think it reveals who you really are, and we're finally seeing who Kina really is.”

“Interesting,” noted Keydra. “What is the status of your friendship with Kina today?”

“We still talk. Admittedly, we're not as close as we once were, but I think that's just a part of life.”

“Is her newfound celebrity status the reason for the change in your relationship?”

“No. Kina and I started to grow apart long before she appeared on the show.”

“Now, I'll be honest with you, Mrs. Webb. Some people have suggested that Kina may have had an inappropriate relationship with your husband and that was the cause of the rift between the two of you. Do you care to address that?”

“No, I don't.” Sullivan sighed. “People are going to say and believe what they want to say and believe regardless of how I answer that question.”

“How is Pastor Webb, by the way? I know that your husband, who is also the pastor and former boss of Kina Battle, suffered a stroke about a year ago.”

“He's getting stronger every day. He's talking now, and he's a wonderful father to our little girl. We're so thankful that God has graced him to pull through this. To look at Charles today, you'd never know that we almost lost him.”

“But you did almost lose him. Our sources tell us that Kina was the one who found him passed out in his office.”

Sullivan nodded. “Yes, that's true. If she hadn't been there to call nine-one-one, who knows what would've happened?”

“So she was in his office that day?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“She was his assistant.”

Keydra nodded slowly. “So she was in constant close contact with your husband?”

“Not exclusively with Charles. She worked with everyone on the church's staff.”

“But her specific job was as your husband's administrative assistant, correct?”

“Yes.”

“You know, there's been a lot of speculation about Kina Battle, specifically that she isn't the good girl she wants America to believe she is. First, there's her questionable relationship with rapper Cut 'Em Cali, then the drug allegations made by her cousin. We've had her lesbian lover come forth. Now there's talk that there may have been something going on between your husband and Miss Battle.”

“I can assure that my husband is an upstanding man of God. He'd never stoop to sleeping with any of the church's staff members. Anyone who knows Charles will tell you that.”

“Uh-huh . . . Our sources also tell us that Kina may know more about what happened to your husband than she let on to the doctors and paramedics. Some have even theorized that she's the reason he had the stroke in the first place. Do you care to elaborate on that?”

Sullivan leaned in. “What exactly are you asking me?”

“Do you think that Kina Battle had something to do with your husband's near death? Do you think she did or said anything to cause his stroke?”

Sullivan shifted nervously in her seat. She knew she had the power to expose Kina and put an end to frauds like her and Samuel. She could do it for the Veras, Reginells, and Joans of the world, who were delegated to lonely, empty corners, while people like Kina rode high on their pedestal, propped up on the backs of other people. She could make Kina pay for what she'd done to Charles and her child. She could give Kina the swift kick in the behind she so richly deserved and certainly had coming, but would she?

Sullivan cleared her throat. “A stroke can be brought on by many things, Ms. Parks. Diet, stress, and overall health all play a part. I wasn't in my husband's office that night, so I can't tell you definitively what happened between him and Kina, but I know what I
can
tell you.”

“What's that?”

“I can tell you that Kina summoned help when she found Charles unconscious. I can tell you that she stayed by his side and prayed for him the whole time. I can tell you that she was there for me as a friend during his recovery. Kina has always been like a sister to me. As you may know, I'm no stranger to scandal myself, but Kina has never judged me for it or abandoned me as a friend, and I'm not going to do that to her now. I'll be the first to tell you that she's not perfect and maybe fame has gone to her head. But one thing that's real is that she loves her son, she loves her friends, and she loves her God.”

Keydra waited for more. “Is that it? Is that the scoop Reginell was talking about?”

“I don't know what information Reginell thought I had to share, but that's it. That's all I have to say about Kina.”

“So you don't want to address the allegations that Kina, who you've said was your best friend at one point, tried to seduce your husband, the pastor?”

“I don't know anything about that,” replied Sullivan. “All I can say is that I've never witnessed anything inappropriate between them, and Charles has never said that Kina was anything but professional.”

“But do you, as a woman, think that she was after your husband and your place as first lady?”

What was one more lie? Sullivan shook her head. “No, I don't.”

Keydra sighed heavily. “Well, folks, you heard it here, although I'm not completely sure that we heard anything new from our guest today. I'd like to thank First Lady Sullivan Webb for joining us today. Keep your comments and your posts coming, and you can catch me somewhere in cyberspace. This has been Keydra Parks with Celebonies, and we're out!”

Kina let out a deep breath. “Wow . . . I wasn't expecting that. Sullivan could've really screwed me over if she wanted to.”

“Obviously, she didn't want to, Kina. Sully is a good person at heart. We just never know when she's going to be good or do anything from the heart,” joked Lawson.

“I'm proud of her,” said Angel. “The one time she could've stuck it to someone else, she didn't.”

“Hopefully, her act of goodwill will sway some favor my way,” Kina said in anticipation. “Because at this point, barring a miracle happening, Ki-Ki's Tees will be nothing short of a colossal, epic fail!”

—
Sullivan Webb

 

Charles rushed into the house and found Sullivan sitting alone in the living room. “I got your message and came as soon as I could. What happened? Is the baby all right?”

“Yes, she fine. She's taking a nap. Charles, I called you because we need to talk.”

He sat down beside her. “This sounds serious.”

“It is. I'm sure you're not gonna want to hear it, but it needs to be said.”

“What's the matter, sweetheart?”

“We need to talk about Charity and the night you had the stroke.”

“What does one have to do with the other?”

Sullivan sighed. “Charles, I know what Kina told you right before you went down. I think you remember too. We haven't talked about it since I told you I was pregnant, but I think we should.”

Charles tried to stop her. “We don't need to get into all this, Sullivan.”

“Yes, we do, especially in light of all this drama with my own father.” She took a deep breath. “I love you, and you know that. But you also know that I've made some major mistakes in our marriage, none of which I'm proud of. Most of which, I'm downright shameful of. My affair with Vaughn is at the top of that list.”

“Why are you rehashing all this? The Lord forgave you a long time ago, and so did I. I haven't thought on it again. Neither should you.”

“If it was only about the sexual act, I wouldn't, but there's a child involved. As much as we'd like to pretend the whole Vaughn thing never happened, we have to face the possibility that Charity is Vaughn's child.”

Charles shook his head.

“Baby, I know that she's yours in every way that matters, but there may come a time that she wants to know, or even may need to know, who her biological father is. As much as I don't want to face it, both she and Vaughn have a right to know if she's his little girl.”

“Charity Faith Webb is my daughter, Sullivan. She belongs to you, and she belongs to me,” insisted Charles.

“Listen, honey, I want to believe that too. I've prayed till my knees were just about bloody for that to be true, but we've got to face facts. You were practically sterile during that time. There's an overwhelming possibility that Vaughn is her biological father. I can't ignore that any longer.”

Charles pulled her into a hug. “Oh, my beautiful, sweet Sullivan . . .”

“Well, I think it's safe to say your beautiful Sullivan hasn't been all that sweet,” she admitted. “Which is why I think it's time we had a DNA test done for Charity.”

“We don't need to do that.”

“Yes, we do, Charles. The truth is, I'm not just doing this for Charity or for you. I'm doing it for me too. I'm tired of having this question mark hanging over our daughter. I'm tired of looking in her face to see whose nose she's going to develop—yours or his. I hate watching you hold her and wondering if you're wondering whether or not you're holding your own little girl or someone else's. I need peace. This is one of those times where the only way out of a situation is to go through it. I made this mess. It's time I took responsibility and cleaned it up.”

“So if the test were to come back showing that Vaughn is her father, what does that mean? Are you going to leave me and take her with you to start a life with him?”

“Of course not! Charles, I love you, and I'd never take her away from you like that. My biggest concern is whether or not you'd even still want us here if the test came back that way.”

“When I took those vows, Sullivan, it was forever. The only way I'm leaving you is by way of six men in black suits. You hear me?”

She smiled weakly. “What about the DNA test?”

Charles sighed. “Stay right here.” He disappeared into his study and returned with a long white envelope. “You know, Charity's DNA never really mattered to me. I was going to love her, anyway. How could I not when I'm so in love with her mother? But I can see that it matters to you. Even though I thought you'd never admit it to me, I knew that one day you'd want to know who Charity's real daddy is, so . . .” He handed her the envelope. “I had a DNA test done right after Charity was born.”

Sullivan was taken aback. “You did?”

“I hope you can forgive me for doing it behind your back.”

Sullivan cupped her free hand around his face. “You're an awesome man. You know that, Charles Webb? After what I've put you through, there isn't a thing in this world I couldn't forgive you for! But I didn't take the test. Will the results be accurate without me?”

“Testing the mother improves the conclusiveness of the results, but it's not required,” he explained. “The test results are in there. I'll let you read them alone if you'd be more comfortable that way.”

She swallowed hard. “Have you seen them?”

“Yes, but like I said, nothing in that test was going to change my mind about raising Charity. She's my daughter.”

Sullivan's hands were almost shaking too much for her to open the envelope. She pulled out the spreadsheet that contained the results. “What's this chart? What does all this mean?”

“Those are the genetic markers. Keep reading,” urged Charles.

Sullivan scrolled down to the field labeled PROBABILITY OF PATERNITY.

“What do you see?” Charles asked.

Sullivan smiled. “The probability of paternity is greater than 99.999 percent.” She lowered the paper. Tears welled up in her eyes. “She's your daughter, Charles. Charity is our little girl!”

“That's right, Sullivan. She's
our
little girl.”

Sullivan threw her arms around Charles. Things were finally starting to fall into place for her, but there was still one piece missing from the puzzle. Sullivan knew where she had to go in order to find it.