The Secret First Lady: The Naked Truth (14 page)

              She pulled into her parents’ driveway and the little Jones’ instantly attacked the doorbell with their fingers until their grandmother answered. Mrs. Belmont flung the door open, greeting her daughter and grandkids with a Kool-Aid smile.

              “Grandma! Grandma!” The children exclaimed.

              “Hi, babies!” I missed you guys.” She showered them with hugs and kisses. “Where is my new son-in-law?” Mrs. Belmont said as she gave her daughter a hug.

              “He’s coming later, he had to work.” CJ chimed in and answered for his mother.

              Mrs. Belmont briefed her grandkids on their grandfather’s condition before escorting them into the family room where his hospital bed was stationed. He couldn’t pick them up like he usually did, but he was happy to hear their cheerful voices. Of course, the inquisitive Christina asked a million questions pertaining to his illness and wanted to know why there was a bed in the middle of the family room.

              After Mr. Belmont finished entertaining his grandchildren’s questions, Mrs. Belmont took them to the toy room set up for them. Mr. Belmont needed to talk to Rachel. Once his wife returned without the children he began talking. Rachel sat next to her father’s bed, holding his hand. “Princess Rachel.” That’s what he called her when she was a baby. It still made her smile whenever he said it.

              “Yes, Daddy?” Rachel gently stroked the top of her father’s hand.

              “You know I’m not going to be here much longer.” Rachel nodded her head. She bit the inside of her cheek trying not to cry. She would rather her dad go to heaven rather than to continue to suffer on earth. “Before I leave here, I have something to tell you. Your father hasn’t always been perfect. I know when you were growing up I always told you how important it was to be an honest person; I’m ashamed to say, I haven’t practiced what I’ve preached. A year after you were born I was unfaithful to your mother. I cheated with my brother’s wife.”

              Rachel didn’t understand why her father needed to confess about his infidelity that happened almost three decades ago. Obviously, the Lord and her mother had forgiven him. All these years she believed her father was almost perfect. Why did he have to taint his image on his death bed?  She didn’t know whether she should cry or be completely frustrated. She sat motionless as he carried on about his affair. Mrs. Belmont stood in the corner with her back against the wall, reliving her painful past that she kept concealed for so long.

              “I just hope that you can forgive me. I was the first man in your life to love you and the first to deceive you. I’m sorry, Princess Rachel, and I love you.”

              Before Rachel could respond, she was saved by the ringing of the doorbell. “That’s probably Mike.” She announced as her mother exited the room to answer the door.

              “Daddy, you didn’t have to tell me this. I guess it all makes sense now. My willingness to accept deceit, facades, and fantasies actually started in this house. I’m smart enough to know that no one walking this earth is perfect, but sometimes I don’t need to know!” Her voice started to crack. Just then Mrs. Belmont returned to the family room with a petite silhouette shadowing her.
That’s not Mike.
Rachel thought to herself. Her eyes bulged out when she noticed who it was.

              “Leah! What the hell are you doing in my parent’s home?” She remembered she kept her hand gun in her bag. Surprisingly, she made it through airport security. She stuck her hand in her purse preparing to do what she had to do in order to protect her parents and children. She came to the conclusion that Leah was either brave or flat out crazy. After all that she put Rachel through, it took guts to show up at the Belmont’s.

              Mr. Belmont cleared his throat and looked up at the visitor. “Hello Tamara. Thank you for coming. Rachel, this is your half-sister.”

              Rachel was sure she had lost control of her bladder and pissed her pants. She was trying to grasp what her father had just said. At least now she understood why her father felt the need to confess, but why wait all these years?

              “You cheated on my mother and created this monster! She ruined my marriage, almost killed my son, and tried to sabotage my business. I forgive you because you’re dying and I know it’s the right thing to do, but my heart is broken.” Rachel fell to her knees. Leah remained silent with arms folded.

              Mrs. Belmont rushed over to her daughter’s side. “I know this is too much to take in right now and you probably can’t bear much more.  Tamara Leah is not your father’s daughter; she’s mine.”

              Rachel looked at her mother and then Leah. It was at that very moment she realized her entire life had been a lie. All the people that she truly cared about deceived her and had her fooled. No wonder why her journey through life presented her with so much turmoil and confusion. Her unadulterated parents and her perfect upbringing never existed. She didn’t know who to be more upset with. She glared at her mother with pain in her eyes. Mrs. Belmont began to tell her the story as she tried to hold her daughter.  “After I found out your father cheated with your Uncle Thomas’ first wife Margaret…”

              Rachel’s thought overshadowed her mother’s words.
Margaret? That’s the name Leah used to open her bank account.
  She glared at Leah who remained motionless with a smirk on her face. She tuned back into her mother’s story.

              “I knew two wrongs didn’t make a right,” Mrs. Belmont continued. “But after I found about your father and Margaret, Thomas and I were both hurt.” She sniffled through every word. “We slept together only once and we both felt horrible about it. We decided never to do it again, but one month later I discovered that I was pregnant. I didn’t believe in abortions so we had to tell your father. He wanted to keep the baby, but I refused. I knew that looking at her would only remind me of both of our affairs. I gave her up for adoption, but I always stayed in contact with her foster parents and even made sure she was financially okay. Leah knew about you and always asked if she could meet you; I never allowed it.” Mrs. Belmont broke down into a loud uncontrollable cry.

              Leah finally chimed in. “See, big sis, I told you we were a lot alike,” she laughed and then started crying. “You had the perfect life growing up, the same life I should’ve had! I wanted to play dolls and dress up with you, but no, Mom, was too ashamed to admit she was a whore!”

              Rachel broke away from her mother and whipped her gun out. She pointed it at Leah. Her hands were shaking. “Oh yeah, little sis. You wanted to meet me so bad and then you tried to be me! So let me get this straight, your kids are my niece and nephews, and your son, Corey, is not only my children’s sibling, but their first cousin? Some things are better unknown, don’t you agree?” Rachel slowly took the safety off the gun. “Since you want my life, why not join me in death? I hope you’re ready.”

              The sound of two gun shots went off in the Belmont house. Blood quickly carpeted the family room floor. Mr. Belmont went into cardiac arrest. Rachel was covered in blood, she missed her chest and shot herself in the shoulder. She moved over to her father’s bed and stood over him.  “I forgive you, Daddy. You can rest in peace. I love you.” She kissed him on the cheek. Mr. Belmont took his last breath and closed his eyes.

Epilogue: Twenty Five years later

              Diana, the young nursing assistant, took Rachel’s vitals. Miss Jones was now in her fifties and a resident at the Lake Park hospital located in Sylvania, Ohio. The twenty one year old STNA had been in her room for nearly an hour listening to Rachel’s life story.  She told Diana about her marriage to Curtis and how she was wined and dined by Pastor Jackson; becoming his secret first lady. She also talked about Leah, her marriage to Mike, and their children.

              “He treated Christina and CJ as if they were his own children. We had another son, John Michael, three years after we married. Oh, how I miss my husband!”

              A heavy set older nurse walked into the room with a cart filled with medicines. “Good morning, Miss Rachel. How are you doing today, darling?” She handed Rachel a small cup that contained three small pills and another cup filled with water.

              “I’m good, Anita. Did my husband call today?” Rachel asked the nurse and then swallowed her medicine.

              “You don’t have a husband, Miss Rachel.” Anita responded, shaking her head and smiling at Diana.

              “She told me all about him and their children.” Diana said to the nurse as she recorded Miss Jones’ vitals.

              “Diana, Miss Jones doesn’t have any children and she’s never been married. I’ve been taking care of her for almost thirty years. She dated some guy name Curtis after she graduated from college and he was no good for her. She was so smart and drop dead gorgeous. He introduced her to different drugs and one day she went crazy. He eventually got his life together and married a beautiful lady named, Leah, who he had two children with. Unfortunately, Miss Rachel never recovered. Her parents brought her to this facility when she was twenty-five.  Back then, there was a pastor on television by the name of Christopher Jackson. He was a handsome Godly man. Rachel loved to listen to him preach. She started telling people she was his first lady.”

              Diana looked at Rachel and smiled. “Ooh, Miss Rachel, you mean to tell me that all those stories you told me never happened?”

              “Miss Rachel graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in Performing Arts. She could’ve been an actress and it’s obvious she still has skills,” the nurse laughed and shook her head again.

              Rachel looked around her room. Her long gray hair was silky and smooth. Her face was smooth and wrinkle free. She gave the nurse aid a look that said,
thanks for listening to my story; but it never happened.