Mama's Boy (18 page)

41

I
n all her years in law enforcement, Kay had never done anything like this. No one could have ever paid her to even believe that she would violate every ethical thing she believed in by using her position to get information for personal purposes. Normally, Kay was a by-the-book type of woman. She wanted to make sure that there were no improprieties when it came to handling her business. But desperate times called for desperate measures. She'd overheard Gloria on speakerphone telling Phillip that she was staying at her mother's house in Fifth Ward this week and Kay had someone at the DMV find out where Gloria's mother lived.

That's where she sat now, in front of the small rickety wood-frame house, waiting and trying to get up the courage to go knock on the front door of Gloria's mother's home.

After she'd left Camille (and snuck away without exchanging numbers with Maxine), Kay had planned on heading home and in fact had gotten about five minutes from her house. But she hadn't figured out what she was going to say to Phillip just yet and she
had something else she wanted to deal with first. Her life was about to fall apart. There was no doubt Marty would make good on his promise and Kay needed to prepare for that. But first, she needed to look Gloria Jones in the eye and find out what type of game she was playing by giving Marty that information. Kay didn't exactly know why she needed to see Gloria. The damage was done, Marty knew, so what purpose would confronting Gloria serve? Kay didn't know, but she was no longer a scared, timid child. She was a woman who was not going to sit idly by and let Gloria Jones hurt her. Again.

Kay shut her car off and then walked up the sidewalk. It was almost nine o'clock at night, so she was sure her arrival would catch Gloria off guard. She had just hit the first step when the door swung open.

“Kayla?” Gloria said, looking at her surprised.

Kay pursed her lips and glared at Gloria. “I don't know how many ways to tell you or how many times I need to tell you, but my name is Kay. Just Kay.”

“Sorry,” Gloria said, “but ah, yeah, what's going on?”

“I need to speak with you.”

“Umm, okay,” she said. “My mother is inside, but I can ask her to step out so we can talk.”

Kay had no desire to go into that woman's house. “No, I can say what I need to say right here.”

“Okay.” Gloria closed the door as she stepped outside onto the porch.

“You came to me and told me all you wanted was to save your son,” Kay began.

“And that's the truth.”

“And you think blackmail is the way to do it?”

Gloria looked confused. “I'm sorry. I'm not quite sure what you're talking about.”

“Of course you aren't,” Kay snapped. She wasn't going to be fooled by Gloria's fake act. “So what did you think you would accomplish by selling my story to the highest bidder?”

Gloria shook her head in protest. “Kay, I'm sorry. I really have no idea what you're talking about.”

“My competition in the mayoral race, Marty Simon. He knows everything, all about Jamal,” Kay spat. “And don't try to pretend that you aren't the one who gave the information to him. I'm just trying to figure out why.”

“I'm sorry,” Gloria replied, “but I don't know this Marty Simon. I don't know what you're talking about and I hadn't nor would I ever try to blackmail you. My son's fate is in your hands, so why would I make such a horrible decision to infuriate you?”

“Cut the crap,” Kay said. She was conflicted. Either Gloria was a great actor or she really didn't know, because she was really looking clueless. “Let me just be very clear with you,” Kay continued. “The only thing you've done is piss me off. Which is not what you want to do when you're trying to get the best possible outcome for your son.”

“Kay, calm down,” Gloria said. “I'm telling you the truth. I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't have anything to do with telling anyone about you. What would I stand to gain? I don't know anything about a mayoral race. I'm not concerned about a mayoral race. The only thing I'm thinking about is my son.”

Kay studied her. She really did look like she was telling the truth. But Gloria probably had learned to master the art of lying over the years.

“Kay, I know you have a bitterness toward us. I know you hate us. I know you wish this had never happened. I wish it had never happened. But it did. I promise you, though, it would serve me no purpose by selling this story. We built a good life and all we want is to return to that life. Me letting the public know you're Jamal's mother wouldn't do anything but hurt us.”

“I'm not his mother,” Kay countered. She'd stopped being his mother the day she gave him up for adoption.

“Okay, fine. I wouldn't let anyone know that you gave birth to him,” Gloria corrected. “That wouldn't serve anyone any good.”

“You're doggone right about that,” she said.

Gloria took a step toward her. “I'm sorry you feel like I'm somehow responsible for this getting out, but I assure you, you need to be looking elsewhere because I didn't have anything to do with this. You've got to believe me.”

Now Kay didn't know what to believe. On her way here, she had been so sure that Gloria had been the one behind this, but now she simply didn't know. But if Gloria wasn't the one who gave her story to Marty, who was? And why? She had no ties to her past. There was no way anyone could have just figured this out.

“You might want to check your circle,” Gloria said. “But you can cross me off the list. I'm guilty of a lot of things, but that's not one of them.

They stood in a silent face-off before Kay said, “Forgive me, if I don't trust you. Been there, tried that. I trusted you more than my own mother and you repaid me by telling your friends I was a whore.”

The grimace on Gloria's face told Kay that those words opened the door to some painful memories. But Kay didn't care. The pain couldn't be worse than what she had felt.

Gloria's eyes were downcast as she said, “I want to apologize. That day you saw me at Wal-Mart, the day you overheard me say that . . .” Her words trailed off.

Kay remembered that day well. It had been ingrained in her heart for years. She hadn't intended to address that memory, but she couldn't help it. “The day I overheard you telling your friends about the young whore that threw herself at your husband.”

Gloria's eyes misted. “I-I was just trying to defuse some of the gossip.”

“At my expense,” Kay snapped. “It was bad enough how utterly vile my parents treated me. It was painfully disgusting how your husband forced himself on me, taking away my virginity, but I don't think anything hurt as much as hearing you say the stuff you did. You, a woman I adored and respected, who I helped at Sunday school, who I actually wished was my mother instead of my real mother. Do you have any idea what it did to me to hear you utter those words?”

“I-I was just . . . I'm so sorry, Kayla, I mean, Kay. I'm just so sorry.” Gloria was in full-blown crying mode now.

“Keep your apologies, Madame First Lady,” Kay spat. “I needed them then. I don't need them now. Just know that if I ever find out you had anything to do with this conspiracy with Marty, all the hate I've held on to all these years will rear its ugly head. And you will regret the day you ever met me.”

Kay didn't give Gloria a chance to respond as she turned and raced back to her car. She hadn't known why she felt compelled to see Gloria but as she sped toward the freeway she decided she didn't need to understand why. All she needed to do was forget the day she'd ever met Elton and Gloria Jones.

42

G
loria had hoped the drive to Jasper would calm her nerves. She'd been a basket case when she went back inside after talking to Kayla last night. Luckily, Gloria's mother had dozed off so Gloria didn't have to answer any questions.

She'd left early this morning so that she could get home, get some more clothes, and get back to Houston in time to visit with Jamal.

Elton had called yesterday morning and agreed to come with her to visit Jamal. That was part of the reason she went ahead and came home first. If she left it up to Elton to drive up, he'd concoct some excuse, yet Jamal needed to see his father.

But Gloria was surprised to find Elton sitting at his desk, still in his pajamas.

“Why aren't you dressed?” she asked.

“Hello to you, too,” he casually replied.

“Hello. But why aren't you dressed? I told you we needed to get back up to the jail by four.”

“We still have time.” He gave her his undivided attention. “But I need to know about Kayla.” Gloria had still been upset this morning when Elton called and she'd made the mistake of telling him Kayla had come to see her. He wanted her to tell him what they talked about then, but she told him she'd talk about it when she got home. Now she really didn't want to go into it.

Watching her husband sit there, for a fleeting moment, she wondered if he had anything to do with the blackmail. But she shook away that thought. No, Elton wanted to stay as far away from Kay as possible.

“It's nothing,” she said.

“Gloria, can we stop with all the lying? Please?” he said.

“She wanted to ask me if I was behind blackmailing her, or rather playing a part in providing information to her opponent in the mayoral race. He's using the information about Jamal to blackmail her.”

Elton gasped. “You mean someone knows?” he asked.

“Apparently the guy she's running against for mayor approached her about it. He wanted her to step down or he was going to take it public.”

Elton fell back in his seat. “Oh, my God.”

“Needless to say she wasn't happy. She thought maybe I had something to do with it, which of course is crazy. I told her I didn't. Neither of us did.” She narrowed her gaze at her husband. “Did we?”

“What?” he said, then it dawned on him what she was saying. “Absolutely not. Why would I want to help anyone blackmail her?”

“That's what I told her. So she caught me off guard yesterday. I wanted it to be very clear. I don't want her taking anything out on Jamal.”

“Great,” Elton mumbled, “this is exactly what we need. More negative publicity.”

“I can't argue with you today,” she huffed. “Can you just go get dressed so we can go?”

Elton busied himself with some papers on his desk. “I'm not going today.”

“What? You had me come back here to get you.”

“I wanted you home.” He looked up at her. “You need to be home.”

That she was not about to do. “Elton, get dressed.”

“I'm not going,” he repeated. “Besides, I have a meeting at the church.”

“Hold on.” She moved closer to his desk. “You are seriously talking crazy. This is our son we're talking about. He's been up there for three weeks and you haven't bothered to see him.”

“You're there every day,” Elton snapped. “Neglecting home to baby him.”

“Are you serious?” she asked, dumbfounded. Then, determined not to fight, she added, “Just please come. He's always asking about you,” she lied. Jamal had asked once where Elton was. Now he didn't bother.

“I have a meeting at the church,” he said, dismissing her.

“That church needs to take a backseat.”

“Why? Because our son decided to get wrapped up in some foolishness? Now I'm supposed to neglect my duties as pastor?”

“Damn your duties!” she snapped. Her outburst obviously horrified him because his eyes widened in disbelief.

She couldn't take it. The stress of Jamal, the frustrations of everything, she was simply fed up with Elton Jones. The fact that in
the midst of all they were going through, all he kept talking about was negative attention pushed her over the edge.

“You know, Elton,” Gloria began, “you're mad at the world behind all of this. Like no one can be forgiven. And you're the biggest transgressor of us all.”

“Excuse me?” he said.

Years of pent-up emotion reached a boiling point. “I didn't stutter,” she snapped. “You sit there so self-righteous and acting like you can do no wrong. But in reality you're at the root of what's wrong with this family.”

“Woman, you better watch it and tread lightly,” he warned.

“Or what?” She didn't back down. “I'm tired of biting my tongue. You raped that child and instead of owning up to what you did, you blame everyone but yourself.”

He was so angry he was shivering. “I atoned for my sins. I was forgiven.”

“By God, yeah. But I'm not sure if you've ever forgiven yourself. If you had, you wouldn't be so mean and resentful to a son that didn't ask to be brought into this world.”

“I am not resentful.” He didn't sound like he even believed that.

“Tell that to someone who doesn't know you,” Gloria said. “Jamal ruined your picture-perfect existence. He reminded you of your great sin and you have hated him for it.”

“Don't turn our son's crime around on me.”

“Don't you get it, Elton?” she cried. “Your resentment of your son is why you turned him in in the first place.”

“That is not true!”

“Whatever, Elton. But there is a wall between the two of you built by you and your contempt. And I'm just tired. Tired of the
lies. Tired of pretending you're this perfect infallible man. Tired of being the only one on earth who has any love for that boy.”

“I-I love my son.”

“You tolerate your son. I don't know if you even know what love is.”

“You will not make this about me!” he bellowed. “I lost one church behind that boy, I'm not about to lose another,” he said with conviction.

And just like that, every piece of contempt she'd had for her husband recently returned. In that very moment, she knew it was over. Any feelings she had left for Elton Jones left with that one statement.

“So, that's what this is all about. You lost a church.”

“N-no. I didn't mean it like that,” he stammered.

“Whatever. I can't do this with you.” She walked back into the bedroom. She had planned to just grab a few things but Gloria reached up onto the top shelf and pulled down her luggage.

She opened her drawers and just started snatching out clothes and stuffing them into the suitcase. After emptying several drawers, she repeated the process in the closet, until there was no more room in her suitcase. After grabbing a few toiletries, she wheeled her suitcase back into the living room.

“I'm leaving,” she muttered. Elton had sat back down and returned to working.

“Fine.” He released an exasperated sigh and looked up at her. “When are you coming back?”

She stood in silence for a moment. Then she said, “I'm not.” Uttering those words, which she had never truly considered, felt freeing.

He had the nerve to chuckle. “Oh, so you're really leaving me?”

She nodded. “I'm doing what I should've done a long time ago. I'm leaving. I'm going to stop putting you and your feelings first. Right now, I'm doing what's best for my son. And once I help him get out of this situation, then me and my son will figure out what we're going to do next.”

“Wait. You're serious?”

“More serious than I've ever been about anything in my life. Take care of yourself, Elton.”

Gloria headed out the door, ignoring the sounds of her husband screaming her name.