The Bad Twin (17 page)

They both thanked everyone for coming as everyone went back to mingling. Violet spotted some members of the Community Center’s board and she shook each one’s hand. “Thank you all for coming. Under the circumstances, I wasn’t sure I would see you guys here.”

Andre was the spokesman for them all. “We wouldn’t have missed celebrating with you.”

Violet shook their hands. On her way to the patio, she heard the doorbell rang.  None of the people Rose hired to help were around, so she answered it.  A courier from one of the mail services stood on the other end of the door.

“I have a package for Violet Purdue,” he said.

“I’m Violet,” she responded.

She took the envelope he handed to her and put under her arm. Violet signed the receipt and closed the door.  She took the gift with her as she walked outside to the patio where Rose, Janice, Marcus, and Terrence were waiting.

Rose looked down at the gift in her hand. “What’s that?”

“Someone sent a courier here with one of my gifts. I’ll open it in a minute. I wanted to tell you again how much I’ve enjoyed this birthday.”

Rose hugged her.  Tonight they could not seem to get enough hugs. “You are the best sister, and no offense Carmen, and best friend, a woman could ask for.”

Carmen looked at the exchange. “No offense taken. I’m glad to witness this.”

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

Marcus pulled Violet to the side. “Dear. It’s time. I know you’ve waited all night for this, so I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. While you’re gone, I’ll go ahead and open up this last gift.”

Janice came over to see what she had. “Girl, hurry up. You’ve gotten some nice gifts tonight. Remember what you don’t want, you can send them my way.”

Violet laughed and carefully opened the gift.

“I tell you. We’re going to be here until your next birthday before you get that open.”

Violet continued to open it and after she briefly viewed the contents of the envelope, she fainted.

ROSE

Rose heard Janice yell, “Somebody help me. Somebody help!”

Rose rushed over to where Violet had fainted. Tina brought out a wet cloth and they placed it on her forehead. Marcus picked her up. Rose followed him and Janice inside. She yelled, “Take her up to my bedroom.” 

Marcus placed her on the bed as they waited for the paramedics to come. “Janice, what was she doing before she fainted? Was it something she was drinking?”

Janice recalled the evening’s events. “She was fine until she opened the envelope. We were laughing, but after she opened it, a blank expression went across her face and the next thing I knew she was falling to the ground.”

“Can you go get it? Maybe someone sent something poisonous. I hear the paramedics now.”

While Janice was retrieving the envelope and its contents from a downstairs table near where Violet fainted, Rose met the paramedics at the door and guided them to where Violet was located.

“I’ll move out of your way. I’ll be right over here if you need anything. Please tell me she’ll be okay,” Rose said.

The paramedics examined her and were able to wake her. She didn’t say anything when she first woke up. They looked her over thoroughly and found all of her vital signs in order. They diagnosed her systems as stress related.  They asked her a couple of questions and confirmed that she would be fine.  It was determined she needed rest. During the whole ordeal, Marcus and Rose both were on the sidelines watching.

The lead paramedic pulled Rose to the side and delivered a message from Violet. “She asked to be left alone and she’s also ready to go home.”

Rose responded, “I’ll make sure she gets home safe and sound.”

The paramedic continued to say, “She’s asked that someone named Janice take her. Can you call her and make sure she does?”

“Janice is downstairs.” Rose addressed the paramedic. “You said she was okay, so why does she look like she’s still out of it?”

“She’s just exhausted. She should take it easy for the next couple of days.”

Rose signaled for Tina to show the paramedics out. “Ask Janice to come upstairs and please get rid of the guests, reporters first.”

Tina responded, “Yes Madame Rose.”

The paramedics left and the only people still in the room were Violet, who was laying on Rose’s bed; Marcus, who sat on the edge of the bed looking down at Violet; and Rose, who was standing with her arms wrapped around herself worried.

Rose whispered, “Marcus, she should stay here for the night. I’ll make sure she gets home in the morning. I’ll tell Janice she can stay overnight too if she wishes.”

“I’m not leaving her like this.”

Rose still talking low, so she wouldn’t disturb Violet, said, “Marcus. Under the circumstances, I think you should go ahead and leave now.”

They both were startled when Violet spoke up. “Yes I think its best that you leave.”

Marcus moved closer and tried to hold her hand. “Baby. You had us both so worried. We were trying not to disturb you.”

Violet let out a fake laugh and said, “I’m sure you were.”

Marcus with a confused look on his face responded, “If you wish I’ll leave, but I’ll be back in the morning to see you home.”

Rose added, “I can go find you something to sleep in and you can stay here in my bed. Don’t move.”

Violet sat up. “Rose, it’s not necessary. I’ll be sleeping in my own bed tonight.”

Rose went near her. “The paramedics said you needed to take it easy and not get yourself upset. Just stay the night and we can get you home in the morning.”

Violet laughed again.

Rose was really concerned now. “Violet what is wrong with you? How much did you have to drink?”

Violet got up out of the bed and started looking for something. “Where are my shoes?”

Marcus volunteered a response. “They are over in the corner. Let me get them for you.”

She responded, “No. I think you’ve done enough.”

Rose walked up to her and tried to calm her down. “Violet, you are acting strange. I don’t know what has gotten into you. Just sit down. You don’t need any shoes. You’re not going anywhere tonight.”

Marcus chimed in and said, “Yes baby. It must be the champagne talking. Just sit down and relax.”

Violet stood in front of Rose. She took her finger and shook it back and forth in Rose’s face. Her words came out slurred as if she was drunk from too much champagne. “You know I’m the luckiest woman in the world. I have two people who care so much about me, that they would do anything to keep me happy.”

Rose took her hand. “Baby, you are exhausted. Come sit down by me. Marcus, go downstairs and get us some tea please.”

Violet yelled, “Marcus, when you go downstairs don’t bother to come back up.”

Rose was getting upset. “What is your problem girl? We’re only trying to help.”

Violet reached over and slapped her and Rose didn’t retaliate, because she was shocked. The next words out of Rose’s mouth were, “What the hell?”

Marcus turned towards the sound of the slap.

Janice walked in the moment Violet slapped Rose. Janice handed something to Rose. “This will explain everything.”

Rose only glimpsed at what Janice handed her. It’s a tabloid with a picture that showed her and Marcus arguing at the hotel in Mexico with a caption:
Hot and Spicy: Another Thorn in Sister’s Side-Reported Sighting of Hollywood Actress Rose Purdue in lover’s quarrel with twin sister’s boyfriend; professional basketball player Marcus Jameson.

Rose rubbed her left cheek, which still stung from the effects of Violet’s slap. She looked directly into Violet’s eyes and said, “I can explain.”

VIOLET

Violet spoke
in a calm voice. “Explain what? The two people I’ve trusted have betrayed me. You of all people.” She shook her head in disgust.

Rose tried to explain. “It’s not what you think. Let me tell you the whole story.”

Marcus intervened and said, “Violet we bumped into each other. The picture is all distorted.”

“Deny to the end. Why? Bet you both had some good laughs at my expense. What was it Rose? You stole my husband and you couldn’t stand for me to be happy with another man. Is that what it was?”

Rose wiped the tears as they streamed down her face. “No. You have it all wrong. Please, let me explain.”

Violet bent down and retrieved her shoes. “It’s in your best interest to stay clear of me. I am two seconds away from knocking you the hell out.”

Marcus tried to explain himself, but Rose stepped in and started cussing Marcus out. “I told you, you were trash. Get the hell out of my house. You’ve done enough damage for one night.”

Marcus looked over at Violet and started walking in her direction. Violet held up her hand. He stopped in mid-step. “Violet, I’ll let you calm down and I’ll call you in a few days.” He laid something on the bed. “This is your birthday present. I love you.”

As he walked out, she grabbed the box and threw it. It hit him on the back of the head. “You don’t know what love is. Take your gift and leave me the hell alone. Do not bother to call me at all. I never want to hear from you again.”

He continued out the door, rubbing the back of his head.

Janice was trying to calm her down. “Come on Violet. I’ve had Terrence load your things in the car and we can go ahead and leave.”

“I’ll be ready in a minute. I have a few more things I need to say to my darling sister.”

“You sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. Give us some privacy please.”

Janice left and closed the door behind her.  Tina stood by the door with a smirk on her face. Violet looked up at her. “You can leave as well. I promise not to kill her, but when I finish saying what I have to say, she’s going to wish she were dead.”

Rose gave Tina a reassuring nod, so she left and closed the door behind her.

Violet felt Rose’s eyes on her and Rose started to talk, but Violet interrupted her. “For once you’re going to listen to me.”

“But Violet you don’t know the whole story.”

Curious as to what lie Rose had this time, Violet said, “Okay. What is your story?”  Rose by now was standing near her, when Violet said, “If I were you, I would keep my distance.”

Rose backed up out of swinging distance and told her the real version of what actually took place in Mexico. “There was no lover’s quarrel. He was there with another woman and I was confronting him about it.”

Violet’s face was expressionless and her eyes pierced straight through Rose.  “Are you through?”

“Yes. It’s the truth and that’s all I have to say about it.”

Violet laughed. “Well we know how your truths are. They get a little distorted every now and then.”

“I know this must have been a shock, but you’ll realize I am telling you the truth. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to.”

“What I realize my dear sister is this, I realize that once again you have made me look like a fool. You have put on an award-winning performance.  I fell for it and boy did I fall. I thought you were getting over your selfishness and that for once you actually cared about me.”

“I do care, that’s why I didn’t know how to tell you about his affair.”

Violet looked out the window and watched as the remaining people left.  “Of course you couldn’t tell me about his affair, because it was with you. Answer this, why? Why do you want everything I have? You have the world at your beck and call. You are the prima donna. You are every man’s fantasy, but yet, every time I get a piece of happiness, you want it too.”

“Violet it’s not like that. I want you to be happy. I’ll do whatever I can to make you happy and you know it. You’re just upset now. Tomorrow you’ll realize you’ve made a mistake.”

“What I was mistaken on, was ever trusting you and letting you back into my life after the stunt you pulled with David. I should have known you couldn’t be trusted.”

Rose’s tone sounded desperate. “I don’t know what else to say. I’ve changed. I am no longer that woman. Please see my side. I’m begging you.”

Violet turned around from the window and clapped her hands three times. “Bravo for another award winning performance. You’re begging me for forgiveness. Now I have seen it all. I can’t believe Queen Rose is begging me for anything.”

“I know you’re upset, but please think about what I’ve said. I’ll have Janice take you home if you like, but you are welcome to stay here.”

“I would rather be homeless living on the streets, before I stay one night under your roof after what you did to me.”

Rose kept her distance, but continued to explain herself. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you as soon as I found out. He threatened to tell you I made a pass at him, that’s the only reason why I didn’t.”

“You’re going way out. Don’t blame him. You were in control of the situation and you decided to stab me in the back. You did it and as usual, you’re trying to push the blame on someone else.”