The Secret First Lady: The Naked Truth (3 page)

To my Dearest Rachel,

By the time you read this message, you will already be aware of my illness and I’ll be long gone. Not just away from you, but I will be forever departed from this cruel world and headed to my final destination.  Always know that you are beautiful and you deserve nothing but the best.  By the way, the large inheritance that was once mines, belongs to you. You will be receiving an envelope at your office with all the account information.  I really do love you, Rach. Take care of yourself and those babies.

Always,

CAJ

              Rachel collapsed on the bed. “No! What have I done? Oh Father forgive me. I have to get to him.” She quickly threw on some clothes and in no time, she was reversing out of the garage. She prayed the entire way. It was about a thirty minute drive.
Lord, please stop him from doing whatever it is he may be thinking. If he dies, his blood will be on my hands. You sent him to me and I failed to help him!

             
She weaved in and out of traffic trying to get to him as fast as she could. She heard a horn honking as a car sped up to her.
Chris?
She looked over at the driver. It was a car she cut off a mile back. The driver shouted some obscene comments, flipped her the bird, and drove off. She took a deep breath. She knew the violence behind road rage in Atlanta could get pretty bad so she decided to calm down and do the speed limit.

              When she reached the hotel parking lot, it was covered with cop cars and the ambulance was posted in the entrance way.
Please No! I pray this isn’t Chris. 
She walked into the lobby. The elevators were blocked off.
Okay, it’s only the second floor; where are the stairs?

              She ran up the stairs and just as she opened the door to turn the corner, a body bag was being wheeled out of room 210. “Nooooooooooooo! Oh God! No! Chris? Chris is that you? Unzip that bag please! Pleeeease!  I need to know.” Her body slid down the wall. She sat on the ground beating herself in the head. “It’s all my fault, I should’ve been here.”

              A tall woman dressed in a navy blue suit walked over to her. “Are you, Rachel?” She nodded her head yes. “I’m detective Vindetti. I was the first on the scene. By the time the medics arrived it was too late. He lost so much blood. He did manage to say in his last few breaths your name and to tell you it’s not your fault and for you to not feel guilty. He said he was ready to go.”

              She sat down on the ground and put her arms around Rachel in an effort to console her. “Do you need a ride home? I could have one of my men take you.” Rachel shook her head no. “Well if you need to talk or need anything, here’s my card.” The detective gave her a tight squeeze and stood up.

              “Detective?” Rachel managed to call out in between sobs. “How did he die?”

“Rachel, I’m sorry but I can’t disclose that information until my investigation is final.”

“Please detective, I need to know.” Rachel pleaded with the tall woman, who sat back on the ground next to her.

“It’s Erica.”

“I’m sorry?” Rachel said with a perplexed look.

“My name is Erica. Detective Erica Vindetti.” She grabbed Rachel by the hand and began telling her what she knew. “He called the front desk and asked them to send the police to his room in approximately ten minutes from the time he placed the call.  That call was placed at 11:15 PM. The front desk called the police immediately. At 11:17 PM, an unidentified guest on this floor called the front desk and reported a gunshot sound. I arrived at 11:23 PM. He was lying in the bathtub with a bullet in his head.  He tried fighting it, but uh…..” She stood back up helping Rachel to her feet. “Listen, I’m really sorry for your loss.”

“Yeah, me too. Thank you Erica.” Rachel turned and walked away.

“Rachel, if there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to call.” Erica sounded very sincere. Rachel nodded her head and exited the door.

She drove back to the Southside in complete disbelief.
Lord, I promise you, I don’t care who it is that knocks on my door, I vow to help them. Please forgive me. You gave me a test and I failed. For that I am truly sorry.

The choices we make today have the greatest impact on tomorrow. Rachel was wishing that this part of the night was actually a dream.  If only she hadn’t come on to him, he would not have revealed his secret, causing her to freak out. Chris would still be here.  Too bad life doesn’t revolve around “if only” moments and the past can’t be undone.

Chapter Three: Keeping the Promise

              Rachel was able to contact Chris’ family the next morning. A week later, they held a memorial service in Chicago and he was cremated. He left them just enough money to give him a proper service, but as he promised in his note, everything else went to Rachel. Ms. Jones was already a wealthy woman, but with the extra cushion, she could retire earlier than expected.

              After the memorial, she flew from Chicago to Toledo. After the tragic incident, she just wanted to be with her children.  Without going into depth, she told her mother, Mrs. Belmont, about him passing away.  Her mom tried comforting her by saying, “Everything happens for a reason and when it’s your time to go, that’s the way it is.”  If only she knew that her daughter was somewhat at fault for Chris’ early demise.

              She was amazed at how much her children had grown. They entered the room with Rachel’s father.  He had taken them out for ice cream, wanting to spend some time with them before they headed south with their mother.  “Oh my! Look at how big you two have gotten.”  She kissed them both repeatedly on the cheek.  “I’ve missed you guys so much! Are you ready to move to Georgia with mommy?”

              CJ, who was now four years of age, jumped into his mother’s arms and looked at her with his big brown eyes. “I’m ready to go mommy. Uhmmm muah!” He kissed his mother on the cheek. He was excited to see her.

              “I want to stay here with nana and papa. I don’t want to with you and live in Georgia.” Christina folded her arms and walked away from Rachel.

              “Aww, what’s wrong, baby? You can always come back to visit, we still have a beautiful home here and plenty of family. You’re seven now! You’re a big girl with a bright future ahead of you and you need to be in a big place like Atlanta!” Rachel tried to be persuasive, but Christina was a mature seven year old with a mind of her own.

              “Are you kidding me? Give me a break, Mom. You can take CJ, but I’m staying here!” Christina rolled her eyes and moved closer towards her grandmother.

              Mrs. Belmont felt the need to chastise her granddaughter.  “Watch your tone, young lady. Good little girls don’t talk to their parents like that. Now show your mother some respect, please.” As a grandmother, she was firm, but still gentle when laying down the law.

              Christina rolled her eyes and attempted to storm out of the room. “Christina Marie!” Ms. Jones was furious. She tried to keep her voice from shaking. It was hurtful for her to see her small child acting in such a way. “What in the world has gotten into you, child? I haven’t been gone long enough for you to lose your sense at such a young age. Now you better straighten up at this very moment!”

              “I want my daddy. He said you left us because you’d rather have lots of money instead of your own children.” It was obvious Curtis had been bad mouthing his ex-wife to their children and Christina had been holding it inside.

              “Christina, baby that’s not true. Everything that I do is for you and your brother.  I just want what is best for the two of you. Baby, you may not understand it now, but when you get a little bit older you will.” She walked over to her daughter and attempted to hug her. Christina pulled away. This little girl was emotionally wounded.

“Well if you wanted what was best for us, you wouldn’t have gave us away. You should have taken us with you mommy!” Christina burst into tears and finally allowed her mother to console her.

Rachel held her tears back. She was angry at the fact Curtis would intentionally put such evil thoughts into their children’s heads. “Christina, I didn’t give you away. I had to make things better for us. I’m sorry, sweetie, I’ll never leave you for this long again. I promise.  Do you forgive me?” Rachel looked into her daughter’s big brown teary eyes and gave her a look of reassurance.

“Pinky promise?” Christina knew that when her mother and her pinky promised, there was no breaking that deal. Ms. Jones gave her daughter a head nod as they interlocked their pinkies. “And, Mom, guess what else?” Christina didn’t wait for her mother to answer, she had a lot to get off her little chest. “Leah said the reason why she got our dad is because you don’t know how to keep a man! And she stole dad from you because you only care about money!” At least Ms. Jones didn’t have to worry about her daughter keeping secrets from her for too long.

“Oh really? Well the two of them together ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out!” Before Ms. Jones realized what she saying and to who she was saying it to, her thoughts had already crept from out of her mouth. “I’m sorry, baby, mommy didn’t mean to say that.” She didn’t want to stoop to a level of ignorance by putting a child in a conversation meant for grown folks.

Christina just laughed; she was smart enough to know what her mother meant. Ms. Jones was glad her daughter was back to being the happy child she had left behind six months ago.

The following morning, the family of three boarded their Delta flight and migrated south together. Ms. Jones was excited to be reunited with her children. She found a wonderful dance camp for Christina and CJ would be taking music and boxing lessons. Atlanta not only gave her a change of scenery, but it afforded her children better opportunities.

The kids were adjusting to the hotter temperatures and even met some friends their age. Curtis called weekly to check on them but mainly called to harass Rachel about moving. It’s true what “they” say, you don’t miss your water until your well runs dry. Rachel didn’t feel bad for him; she warned him time and time again and for her, the good life was just beginning. She was under thirty, an entrepreneur, and unfortunately because of Chris’ death, she managed to inherit more than enough money to secure the future of her children’s children. Being a giver, Rachel donated to the homeless, battered women shelters, and anyone in need. She believed that real success puts a person in a situation to bless others.

Rachel and her children attended church at least twice a week and this time she was praising and worshipping for all the right reasons.  Through prayer and counseling, she was able to accept that Chris’ death was not her fault. He took his own life, he had a choice between life and death and it was him who chose the latter. Could Rachel have somehow prevented his death? Perhaps, but in life if we don’t allow God to order our steps, we tend to choose our own route that may intersect or end with death.

Everything was going great. Too bad things don’t always have a constant flow or go the way, we as humans, expect them to go. 

It was a hot Georgia night when the phone disturbed Ms. Jones’ sleep. “Hello?” Rachel sat up in bed and rubbed some of the crust out of the corner of her eye. Of all people, who would be calling this time of the hour? Ms. Jones wasn’t expecting it to be… “Leah? How did you get my number?”

“Hi Rachel. I- uhm, uhm, I’m really sorry to be calling this late. I got your number out of Curtis’ phone and I –uh, I just need to talk to you.”

Rachel almost cursed her out, not only for waking her up, but for her having enough guts to call.  She had some nerve after what she told Christina. Rachel was prepared to give her the dial tone, but she was trying this Christian thing out, so she swallowed her pride and gave the surprise caller her attention. “I’m listening.”

“Well it’s about Curtis and …”

“Do you think I really care to hear about my ex-husband at two o’clock in the morning? He’s your problem! I couldn’t keep him so you can have him! Do you remember telling my seven year old daughter that BS! But, please know, you could never take anything from me, I gave him to you, sweetie. You thought you were doing something, but without him, I’m still standing!” Rachel’s humility must have got out of her bed and snuck into the living room because she wasn’t holding back any of her words.

“Rachel? Rachel? I didn’t call to start any trouble. I was calling because I really need your help?”

“My help? You must be joking. God helps those who help themselves and as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing that Rachel Jones can do for you.”

“Rachel, I know you hate me, but…” It was hard for Leah to get her point across because Rachel kept interrupting her.