Fortune & Fame: A Novel (28 page)

Mary pushed aside dreams of her son. She’d see him soon enough. Nathan had made her that promise as early as this morning—right after he kissed her and apologized for slapping her again last night.

Mary leaned toward the mirror and dabbed some more foundation on the bruise on her face. He usually was careful not to leave a bruise. This time, it was as if he didn’t care. The swelling had gone down and even though a purple mark had taken its place, Mary had covered it up pretty good. She’d even covered up the bruise on her side from where Nathan had kicked her earlier in the week. What she’d never be able to cover up was the bruise on her heart.

Mary stared at her reflection and fought back the tears. Who was this woman staring back at her in the mirror? Had prison made her into this? A self-loathing, low-self-esteem-having . . . victim? Where had her fight gone? Had she lost it in prison? Had she lost it when she lost her son?

Her son. The reason she was doing all of this. The reason she was enduring Nathan’s abuse.

When she left the Huntsville Women’s prison, Mary had been perfectly content to come to Atlanta and be Mrs. Nathan
Frazier. It wasn’t until he’d started talking about her son that she began to envision a different life. It wasn’t until he’d painted a picture of their happy family that she’d wanted more.

Now, Mary knew what her grandmother meant when she said, “Sometimes you need to leave well enough alone.”

She inhaled, then exhaled. She needed to pull it together. Nathan was waiting outside and she knew it would be a matter of time before he came poking his head in the doorway. Mary found herself wondering if Rachel had told Jasmine about Nathan’s abuse. She was banking on the fact that the two of them didn’t like each other. But Mary had no doubt it was something she’d shared with Lester. And with the courts.

She shivered as she thought of that information coming out in court. That’s why she hadn’t told Nathan that Rachel had seen them. He would just find some way to make that her fault.

With a new determination to get through this day, Mary dropped the compact back in her purse. But then the bathroom door swung open, and she wanted to disappear into thin air when she came face-to-face with Rachel.

“Excuse me,” Mary said, trying to step around Rachel.

Rachel took a step to the right, blocking her path.

“I said, excuse me,” Mary said as Rachel continued to glare at her. “What, you gonna hit me again?” Mary said. She was showing bravado that she didn’t really feel.

“Nah. Seems like you get enough of that at home,” Rachel casually replied.

That stung. Mainly because it was true.

“So, you’re okay with that?” Rachel asked.

Mary didn’t want to cause a scene because she knew Nathan was just outside the door and she didn’t want Alvin to see her and Rachel fighting.

“What are you talking about, Rachel?”

“So, we’re just going to pretend that I didn’t see what we both know I saw?”

Mary shifted nervously. There was no sense in trying to act like what Rachel saw didn’t really happen. “It’s not like it seemed at all.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because it seemed like he was beating the crap out of you and you just laid there and took it.”

“We just had a little argument that got out of hand.”

“So, that’s how you’re going to play it? Out of hand?” Rachel looked at her like she was crazy.

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” Mary said, taking a step around Rachel.

Rachel grabbed Mary’s arm and spun her around. “He kicked you in your side like a stray dog. And you’re okay with that?”

Mary swallowed the lump in her throat. “Of course I’m not okay with that. We talked about it, he apologized, and it’ll never happen again.”

“That’s what all abusers say.”

Mary snatched her arm away. “Don’t judge me.”

“I’m not judging you,” Rachel replied. She ran her eyes up and down Mary’s body, the disgust evident. “If you don’t love yourself enough to demand that your husband
not
lay his hands on you, that’s on you. If you’re okay with getting your behind beat, that’s on you. But what’s on me is making sure that my son never lives in an environment like that.”

Those words cut to Mary’s core. Deep down inside, she knew Rachel was right. Still, she said, “Nathan would never do that in front of
my
son.” She could tell that got under Rachel’s skin because her whole body tensed.

“You signed away your rights. He’s
my
son.”

“I wasn’t in my right mind,” Mary replied. “I gave him life.”

“And I helped him
live
.”

They stood facing each other until Mary said, “The bottom line is, I’ve gotten my life together and I want my son back.”

“So, your life is together, huh?” Rachel looked her up and down again. “Did you know that seventy-three percent of abusers grew up in homes where their fathers were abusers?”

Mary wondered how Rachel even knew that statistic, but she knew it was one Rachel wouldn’t hesitate to use against her.

Rachel continued, “My son, yes,
my
son—because were it not for me, he’d be in the system—
my
son will not have that life. Nor will he have a life where he sees his egg donor, because that’s all you are, getting her behind beat and thinking it’s okay.”

“He won’t be raised like that,” Mary said. Even as the words came out of her mouth, she didn’t know that she believed them.

Mary knew one thing, though, if Nathan did ever put his hands on her in front of her son, that’s when she would stand up and fight back.

“What’s the holdup?” Nathan said as he stuck his head in the bathroom.

“Um, excuse me, this is a ladies room,” Rachel snapped.

“So, what you doing in here?” He laughed like he really said something funny. His smile faded when he noticed he was the only one laughing. He turned to Mary. “Come on.”

Mary lowered her eyes and stepped around Rachel.

“Scurry along like the good reverend said,” Rachel called out after her. “Because we both know what he’ll do if you don’t obey him,” she added as the bathroom door slammed on the sound of her voice.

Nathan froze, then glared at Mary. She immediately felt knots in her stomach. Mary knew she was going to pay dearly for Rachel’s comment as soon as she and Nathan got home.

R
achel couldn’t believe it, but she was actually ready for this reality show to wrap up. She didn’t know how much more tension she could stomach. She’d almost bowed out of today’s taping because it involved the children, specifically Lewis. As much as she wanted to support Jacqueline’s Hope, having all of her children on was a deal breaker. Rachel had told Melinda she would walk away from everything (and face whatever lawsuits came as a result) if they wouldn’t let her tape without putting Lewis on. Melinda had reluctantly agreed to tape without Brooklyn and Lewis since they were so young, so Rachel had her stepmother, Brenda, bring the other children in from Houston. They’d gotten in late last night, and since Rachel had a hair appointment before coming to tape, Brenda was just going to meet her here with Nia and Jordan.

After taking a moment to freshen up, Rachel inhaled, said a silent prayer for a drama-free day, then made her way back outside.

She had just opened the bathroom door when she heard, “Mommmyyyy!” Brooklyn and Nia came racing toward her and threw their arms around her.

Rachel scooped Brooklyn up, while looking at her stepmother strangely. “Hello, my sweeties.”

Brenda shrugged. “Your sitter didn’t show, so I brought Brooklyn and Lewis with me. I’ll just keep them out of the way.”

Rachel wanted to wring her stepmother’s neck. Although she hadn’t given Brenda all the details about Mary and Lewis, she’d been adamant that only Nia and Jordan were to come.

“Hey, Ma,” Jordan said, hugging Rachel before she could go off on Brenda.

She hugged him as well, then looked around, “Where’s your bro—” Before Rachel could finish her sentence she saw him. Her son, sitting comfortably in that sleazy preacher’s arms.

Rachel almost knocked Jordan down as she bolted over to Nathan. “What are you doing with my son?” she screamed.

“I was just getting to know him,” Nathan said with a slimy grin as Rachel snatched Lewis from his arms.

Thankfully, Jasmine moved in from God only knows where and stepped in front of Rachel before her claws could make contact with Nathan’s face.

“Rachel,” Jasmine said.

“Move, Jasmine,” Rachel growled, her chest heaving.

“Don’t do this.”

Rachel was shivering she was so angry. Although neither Sonny nor Chauncey were around, Rachel didn’t care who saw her. She didn’t care about anything anymore except making Mary Frazier a widow.

“I was just holding him,” Nathan said, feigning shock at Rachel’s anger. “He’s such a big boy.” He reached over to toussle Lewis’s hair.

“You don’t touch my son,” Rachel hissed as she moved Lewis out of reach.

Nathan turned up his lips, and in a cocky tone said, “He needs to get to know me since he’ll be living with me soon.”

It was Jasmine who turned this time and looked like she
was ready to clock Nathan in the eye. Mary stepped up next to her husband. “Come on, Nathan. This isn’t the time.” Her eyes motioned toward a curly-haired boy standing next to them.

“Daddy, why is that little boy coming to live with us?” the boy, who appeared to be about ten or eleven, asked.

“He’s not!” Rachel screamed. She didn’t mean to yell at the boy, but at that moment, no one was exempt from her anger.

“Hey, what’s the problem?” Sonny said, rushing over.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Lewis asked, touching Rachel’s face. Rachel hadn’t even realized that she was crying until she felt him wiping away her tears.

“Hi, sweetie,” Jasmine said soothingly as she stroked the little boy’s hair. “Your mommy is just so happy to see you that she’s crying tears of joy.”

Rachel squeezed Lewis tighter as she continued glaring at Nathan and Mary. She was envisioning 101 ways she could murder them both and get away with it.

“Mom, who is that man and why is he talking about Lewis coming to live with him?” Nia asked, stepping next to her mother.

Jasmine quickly turned to the little girl. “Nia, guess who’s in the back waiting to see you? My daughter, Jacqueline! You remember her?”

Nia’s eyes lit up. When the two little girls first met, they didn’t hit it off too well, but they’d quickly become friends. “Yes! She’s here?” Nia exclaimed.

“She sure is. Why don’t you go see her?” Jasmine glanced over at Rachel’s stepmother. “Miss Brenda, right?”

Brenda nodded, confusion all over her face.

“Can you take all the kids in the back? We’ll let you know when we’re ready to get started.”

“Of course.” Brenda scurried over and tried to take Lewis from Rachel’s arms, but Rachel squeezed him even tighter. She still hadn’t said a word. She just kept glaring at Nathan and Mary as she tightened her arms around her son.

“Owww,” Lewis cried, squirming.

Jasmine eased up to Rachel. “It’s okay, Rachel,” she whispered. “Let him go with your stepmom.”

Rachel finally relaxed her grip enough for Brenda to slip the child out of her arms.

“Come on, children.” Brenda glanced at Jasmine, who nodded to let her know that everything was going to be all right.

Rachel didn’t know how Jasmine could be so calm. Maybe because it wasn’t her kid. All Rachel knew was she was a volcano on the verge of eruption and this stunt by Nathan was about to cause her to explode.

“Again, does someone want to tell me what’s going on?” Sonny repeated.

“It’s nothing,” Mary finally said.

“Yeah, I was just holding my wife’s son.” Nathan shrugged nonchalantly.

“You bastard!” Rachel leaped toward him, but this time it was Sonny who stopped her.

“Hey!” Sonny said, grabbing Rachel and pulling her back.

“Rachel, don’t let him take you there. You know he’s just trying to provoke you,” Jasmine said, trying to calm Rachel down once again.

“You have a son?”

Everyone stopped and turned to the little boy who was now facing Mary, a stunned expression on his face.

Shock filled Mary’s eyes and she knelt down next to the little boy. “Oh, Alvin, it’s a long story. We’ll tell you about it when we get home.” Mary’s eyes darted around nervously, like she didn’t want to get into this here.

“Is he gonna come live with you guys? Is that why you don’t want me to live there?” Alvin said, his voice quavering.

Mary cupped his face. “Don’t say that. We love you. What makes you think we don’t want you with us?”

“Because I live with Grandma and Paw-Paw and I want to
live with you!” he cried. “I heard Daddy say you guys were building up your church and you didn’t have time for me, that’s why I have to stay with Paw-Paw.”

“Oh, Alvin. You misunderstood your father.” Mary cut her eyes at Nathan, and the look actually gave Rachel pause. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear that was hate festering in Mary’s eyes.

“No, I didn’t misunderstand anything! I’m not stupid.” Alvin looked at his father. “Why you trying to get her son,” he pointed at Rachel, “and you don’t even want me?”

“Boy, shut up all that whining!” Nathan barked, causing the little boy to flinch. “I will knock . . .”

Mary instinctively jumped in front of Alvin and put her arms up to shield him. The whole scene caused everyone to stop and stare. Nathan must’ve noticed because he immediately relaxed, then smiled and said, “Yeah, son, you misunderstood. But like your mother said, we’ll discuss it when we get home.” Then, he took in all the eyes on him and chuckled. “These kids today, I’ll tell ya.”

Alvin didn’t say another word. He just clung to Mary for dear life.

The scene had also given Rachel time to calm down. Oh, she was still furious, but she had a new resolve. She’d die, or kill, before she let the Fraziers have her son. It was as simple as that. But there was no need to act a fool and give them ammunition against her. They would dig their own graves.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel noticed Chauncey off to the side—camera rolling as usual. For once, though, she didn’t care. She wanted him to get it all on tape because that video would be just the ammunition she needed in court.