Once You'Ve Touched the Heart (41 page)

Lena sat back. “What role do you see me playing, Mr. Brooks?”

“I see you as a mother who wants to make an honest attempt to redeem herself in her daughter’s eyes.”

Lena smirked. “What makes you think I need to be redeemed?”

James put his hands up, stopping her from going any further, and sat forward. “Please, Ms. Washington, don’t insult my intelligence or waste my time. You know, before I placed the call I did my background work. Let’s not play games here. What type of relationship are you willing to have with your daughter and what will it cost?”

Lena smiled. “A man that gets straight to the point. Then I will do the same. I like to live well, Mr. Brooks, without questions or restraints. I took a trip to Richmond. You could sit my house inside the condo Tracy lives in. The mini-mansion JD and Tracy are about to move into is worth what, close to a million on the market? Now, I don’t have to live at that level, but something comparable will do.”

Lena wondered if she had reached too high, too deep. She noticed Brooks did not flinch when she put the terms on the table. She took a sip of her drink. “Yes,” she replied.

The waiter delivered the meals to the table. When he left, James said, “Before we go any further into details of this arrangement, I have one or two questions. Now, Lena, before you answer, please know, I am not a man of patience. I want answers and will not tolerate being lied to at this point.”

“Am I to assume we have an agreement here?”

“No. You can assume we are negotiating and nothing is being thrown off the table, yet. Are you ready to answer my questions?”

Lena sat back. “Sure, what do you need to know?”

James pulled the picture out and laid it on the table. “Is it possible that either of those two men could be Tracy’s father?”

Lena smiled. “Where in the hell did you get that picture? Damn, I looked good.”

James raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you did. Now, answer the question.”

Lena said, “William Washington is Tracy’s father.”

James looked at her. “Are you sure of that? You should know, the conversation ends with the incorrect answer,” James said in a tone to let Lena know he wanted the truth.

Lena licked her lips. “I’m not sure.”

James accepted that. “Do you know who either of those men are?”

Lena shook her head. “That was a long time ago. I think this one was a police officer or something and the other was some politician. Why?”

“The date on the back of the picture is January 25 years ago. Tracy’s birth date is September, 25 years ago. I ask the question again, is it possible that either of those two gentlemen could be Tracy’s father?”

Lena honestly never thought about it. She put her fork down and looked at the picture. “That night was wild. We were at the Sahara Club all night drinking. I remembered one only because he was some rising politician. His friend was there to try to keep him out of trouble. We all left together and I woke up the next day in a hotel room. The politician was not there, but the friend was. He made sure I got home okay the next day.”

That did not help James. “Do you remember being intimate with either of them?”

Lena shook her head. “No, I don’t.” She thought for a moment. “It was a few months after that I found out I was pregnant with Tracy.”

Since Lena did not know who the other man was in the picture, James was not going to offer the information.

“I truly believed that Willy was Tracy’s father when I married him,” she said. “It wasn’t until we were in a car accident that I found out Willy was not her father.”

James had to ask, “Why do you hold Tracy responsible for your indiscretion?”

Lena exhaled. “I did not want that baby. Willy promised he would take care of me and the
baby. He begged me to have it. So I did. When he found out she was not his, he went back on his promise. I was stuck with raising a child I never wanted.”

“But she was just a child. She did not ask to come into this world. Why blame the child?”

Lena looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Who else would I have blamed?”

James shook his head; he motioned the waiter to bring the check. Lena had managed to redeem herself a little, but not much. James wasn’t convinced Tracy would benefit from having this woman in her life. He left the table believing she would be better off just the way things were.

“Lena, I will be in touch. In the meantime, here is an incentive for you to continue your path of honesty. The car is waiting to take you home.”

Lena stood. “When can I anticipate hearing from you?”

James had lost interest in making Tracy’s family whole again. Now he just wanted to make sure Tracy’s future stayed intact. “When I get all the answers I need to complete my investigation. Good night, Ms. Washington,” James said and walked away.

James stepped outside into the fresh air. He exhaled several times. He had a sinking feeling in his gut, this was not going to be simple. However, James knew, if he came to this conclusion, someone else could come to it also. James could not get the thought out of his head. Could James Harrison be Tracy’s father? Is it possible JD may be marrying his half sister? James did not know where to turn now. He went back to the hotel. He took a shower trying to relax, but it did not work. With no further reason to be there, James packed his bags, checked out of the hotel and headed back to Richmond.

On the drive home James felt trapped. If he kept this information to himself, JD and Tracy would get married and be happy; no one would be the wiser. But he would know they could be brother and sister. Is that why Ashley and Tracy had that instant connection in college? They have been closer than some sisters.

“Ohhh, Ashley.” James could not stand the idea of rocking her world with something like this. He pulled over when he reached Williamsburg; he had to think. Okay, there are three people in that picture; one is dead and one doesn’t know what happened that night.

“Let’s talk to the one person left,” James said to himself then called JD.

“James, what have you found out?”

He did not want to lie to JD, but he knew the information was premature. “I did get some information, but I’m not ready to release it yet.”

JD did not like that answer. “What the hell does that mean, James?”

James understood his frustration, but he wouldn’t cause JD or Tracy any undue stress or worry. “JD, you asked me to handle this part of the process for you. Trust me and let me do this my way.”

When it came to Tracy, he did trust James. JD knew James was the one friend outside of his family that Tracy could depend on. “You are right, James. I put it in your hands; I have to trust your judgment on this. What do you need?”

James exhaled. “I need an audience with Senator Roth, tonight.”

JD was taken aback by the request. He looked at his watch; it was getting late. “Can this wait until tomorrow?”

“No,” James replied, “this needs to be dealt with tonight.”

“All right, let me give him a call; I’ll get back with you.”

James hung up the telephone then pulled off again. Before he reached Richmond, JD called and indicated Senator Roth was at his estate and could see them tonight. James knew JD would want to know what was up; but he was not going to tell JD anything until he had to.

James stopped by to pick up JD. Boxes were everywhere. James could see Tracy’s touch. The boxes were labeled by rooms. Each had a detailed itemization of what the contents were, then a label indicating which box should be unpacked first. James laughed and shook his head. JD laughed with him. “I don’t know how you deal with it.”

“Tracy makes it easy, man. Only Tracy would take the time to put that much detail into packing a box. And every box is like that. I can find shit I haven’t been able to find in years.”

James needed a laugh. Seeing this put everything into perspective for him. He was going to get an answer to this question if it killed him. JD and Tracy are preparing to move into their new life together and he was going to do all he could to make sure that happened.

“It makes me wonder, now, how I ever got anything done before she came into my life,” JD said.

“Well, you don’t have to be concerned with that now. You two are on your way.” James smiled. “You ready to roll?”

JD grabbed his keys. “Let’s go
.”
As they got into the car, JD called Tracy.
“Hey, babe, I just left the house with James. He’s kidnapping me for the night.”

Tracy laughed. “Will he have you back by December 31
^st
?”

“Only if you pay the ransom.” JD smiled.

“I’m not sure. Will you wait up for me?”

“Only if you promise to make it worth my while.”

JD smiled. “Oh, I promise,” he said
with a tone of certainty.

James enjoyed the personal banter between the two. He sent up a small prayer:
You know what I need here, Lord.

JD finished his call with Tracy then looked over at James. “You ready to give me something?”

James looked out of his side window, then back to the front. “I met with Lena Washington tonight.”

JD raised an eyebrow. “Was it any better than before?”

James smiled. “Actually, it was. I now know, the woman shouldn’t be in Tracy’s life. Not even to give her away at the wedding. You probably couldn’t afford her.”

JD smiled. “That much?”

James nodded. “A house, comparable to the one you are about to move into.”

JD laughed. “Hell, I’m not sure we can afford that one. Tracy keeps telling me we can, but I don’t see it. Anything else?”

James nodded. “Yeah, a monthly stipend.”

JD looked out of the side window of the car. “What kind of mother demands payment to be a part of her own daughter’s life?”

“The kind that didn’t want the child. According to Lena, she was promised certain things if she carried the child to term. Of course, as time went on her husband was not able to fulfill that promise. She was left with a small child who she never wanted. If nothing else, Lena Washington is an honest woman. She tells it as it is.”

“I guess Tracy got that trait honestly,” JD said.

“She got her smile, too. If Lena is any indication, Tracy is going to age very gracefully.” James smiled.

JD looked at James. “Should Ashley be concerned here?”

James shook his head. “Oh, hell no! I was married to a Lena Washington for five years. That was enough for me.”

JD pointed. “The entrance is on the right.” James turned in.

As they got out of the car James turned to JD. “I will need to talk to Roth alone. If he chooses to share the information with you, then I will tell you everything I know. But it has to be his choice. Understood?”

JD stood with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ground. Something deep in him told him things were not right and James knew why. If this was Brian or Calvin asking him to trust them, he would without question. But this was Brooks, a man he knew was more dedicated to Tracy than to him. He was putting Tracy’s future in this man’s hands.

“Understood,” JD replied.

Senator Roth opened the door. “JD, come on in.”

JD made the introductions
.
“Mr. Brooks needs to speak to you alone, Senator.”

Senator Roth shook James’s hand. “What is this about, Mr. Brooks?”

James responded, “I give you my word it is best discussed in private.”

Senator Roth trusted JD without question. If he brought this man to him this late in the evening, it had to be important. “Come into my study, Mr. Brooks. JD, make yourself comfortable.” JD watched the door close.

“Senator, I need you to look at this picture.” James handed the picture to him.

Roth looked at the picture. He laughed. “Where did you get this from?”

“JD’s mother found it among some old pictures when they were packing up the house. Do you remember the night that picture was taken?”

Senator Roth shook his head. “Not really, but I do remember the woman. She had a smile that lit up the room.”

James smiled. “She still has it. Senator, we may have a situation. The woman in the picture is Lena Washington. Lena Washington is Tracy’s mother.”

Roth looked at the picture again. He did see the resemblance. “Why is that an issue?”

James didn’t have the patience to be tactful. “On the day that picture was taken, were you intimate with Lena Washington?”

Senator Roth laughed. “Did you really look at this picture? Hell, if I remember correctly, we may have gone into the next day.”

James cleared his throat. “Was James Harrison physically involved in that evening?”

Roth wasn’t quite sure what James was trying to ask. “Was James with Lena that night?”

“Yes,” James replied.

“James wasn’t that type of man. To be honest, more than not, James was trying to clean up my mess back then.” Roth laughed. “I was really out there back in the day. That’s why I never remarried—too busy running the streets after my divorce. James was married, had JD, and I believe Ashley was on the way.” Roth laughed. “James messing around on Martha was like JD messing around on Tracy; it’s not going to happen.”

“Senator,” James said, “look at the date on the picture.”

Roth turned the picture over. “Okay.” Roth shrugged his shoulder.

“That picture was taken 25 years ago in January. Tracy was born nine months later. Lena’s husband left because he found out the child wasn’t his. When this first surfaced, I was afraid James Harrison may be Tracy’s father. I was concerned about JD and Tracy getting married and I am grateful for that relief
.
However, we now have a new concern.”

Roth stood. “You can’t be serious about this.” Roth walked behind his desk. “You’re thinking I may be Tracy’s father?”

James shook his head. “Senator, to be honest, my concern was with JD and Tracy. If you are telling me James Harrison never slept with Lena Washington, then I’m done with this.”