The Secret First Lady: The Naked Truth (5 page)

              “Oh, this is Olivia. She’s ten months.  This my nine year old. His name is little Terry, after his father. And of course you already know Corey, he’s two now. Isn’t he starting to look just like Curtis and CJ?” Leah popped her gum in her mouth as she spoke. Her voice was shaky. She was just as nervous as Rachel. “My seven year old, well his name is Kevin and he’s staying with his father’s family for now.”

              “How much luggage do you have?” After a two minute conversation she was already tired of hearing Leah speak.

              “We just got two suitcases. I think the flight attendant said our bags would arrive at carousel four.” She popped her gum two more time and motioned for her boys to follow her.

             
I guess I can live with a little extra baggage for a day or two.
Rachel grabbed the little boy’s hand and walked with them to pick up their luggage.

Chapter Six: Breaking the News

              “We’re going to have to get her a car seat. I can’t afford a ticket and it’s not very safe for her to be sitting in your lap.” Rachel made a sharp left turn onto exit 228. Good thing she had some tint on her window, otherwise, she would’ve been over ten exits ago.

              Leah dug into her knock off bag and pulled out a fresh stick of gum. She spit the old piece into the wrapper and threw it back in her purse. “Yeah, she outgrew the old car seat and I couldn’t afford to purchase a bigger one. I don’t get out much anyway. Not too many people are willing to watch four kids, ya know what I’m saying?”

              Rachel parallel parked her SUV into the Walmart parking lot on Eagles Landing. She pushed open the driver door. “I’ll be back.”
It’s funny she could afford whatever her and Curtis was smoking on, but she can’t afford to keep her baby safe.
She headed towards the baby aisle. CJ was four, but he was tall enough for a booster seat; she had just given his old one away.

              “Do you need help?” The store associate walked over to where Rachel was standing.

              She looked at the worker who couldn’t have been no more than twenty years old. “That one please.” She pointed at a seat that she knew Oliva could use for a while. He placed the box into the shopping cart. “Thank you, sir.” Rachel showed a little teeth, still frustrated with Leah’s carelessness.

              “Do you need some help out to your car, ma’am?” The young associate called after her.

              “No, but thank you!”

              “You looking real good for having a baby. If you don’t mind me saying, miss.” He looked Rachel up and down and bit his bottom lip.

             
Oh hell nah! Is this little boy flirting with me?
“Actually, I do mind. Have a good evening, young man.” She pushed the buggy to the checkout line. She was a little flattered, but she couldn’t give him the satisfaction in knowing that.

              Once outside, she properly put the seat in the car and grabbed Olivia from her mother and carefully strapped her in.

              “Thank you, Rachel.”

              “Yup.”

              She drove into the parking lot of her apartment home and clicked the button on her key ring to open the gates. She pulled her vehicle down a hill and into the garage. They hopped out of the car and secured their belongings.

              “This is nice!” Leah marveled over the décor and warned her kids not to touch anything.

              The little Joneses had no idea their half siblings, along with their father’s girlfriend, were moving in. Rachel walked out the front door and across the walk way to gather her children. She thanked her neighbor and walked the three of them over to the pool area. “Let’s dip our feet in the water for a few minutes.”

              “Yay!” The little ones cheered.

              “No jumping, ok?”

              “Yes, mom.” The two sang in unison.

              They slipped out of their shoes and gathered around the three feet area.  The water was relaxing and there was just enough light out before it turned dark.

              “How would you guys feel if your baby sister and brother came to Georgia to visit you?”

              “Yay! I can play wrestling with Corey!” CJ exclaimed.

              “Fine, but I thought you didn’t like them.” Christina chocked out as she began to cough.

              “Christina, I never said that. They are just kids.” Rachel wondered if she had ever treated Corey bad or just flat out different when he came over for visits at their Toledo home. 

              “That’s what daddy said.” Christina kicked at the water, keeping her head tucked down.

              “Christina; baby that’s not the least bit true. In fact, I like them so much they’re over in the apartment waiting for us to return!” Rachel exclaimed, hoping her children would be happy about the impromptu visit.

Remove This Line

              CJ’s eyes widened. “Really?” He had a puzzled expression that reminded Rachel of her ex-husband.

              “Yes, really! Leah and Terry are there as well.” Rachel looked at her kids and pretended to be excited. Truthfully she was questioning her decision and wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into.

              “That’s weird, isn’t it, Mom?” Christina’s eyes almost popped out of her head. She was so confused.

              “Well, Christina, sometimes as adults, we have to make decisions that may seem strange to others.”

              “Well I don’t know if I ever want to be an adult, Mom.”

              “Why is that, baby?”

              “Because I don’t want to grow old and strange.”  Christina shook her head as if to say “no-way!”

              Rachel laughed at her daughter and her sharpness. She tickled her and the trio laughed together. “Come on, kiddos. Let’s take it into the house.” They placed their wet feet into their shoes and trotted home.

Chapter Seven: Something Different

              Christina and her brother were adjusting rather well with their new living arrangement. Situations such as this proved how resilient children really are.  When Rachel’s mother found out, she wasn’t very happy, but what could she tell her grown successful daughter?

              Rachel was actually enjoying her extended family’s company. She gave Leah a complete makeover and helped her adjust to big city living. “You have been so good to us and you didn’t have to. I’m the last person on earth you should want to help.” Leah sat on the edge of Rachel’s bed with her eyes closed, while Rachel gently brushed purple eyeshadow onto her eyelids.

              The two were going out and Rachel wanted her new roommate to be as cute as she was when they stepped out. “Leah, you are absolutely right. You should be the last person on earth that I’m willing to help. Where should I start?” Rachel dipped her brush into the concealer and dabbed it under Leah’s eyes.  “Not only did you screw my husband, you two had the nerve procreate and breed those two bastards running around in my living room. So why am I helping you?”

              “Wow, Rachel!” Leah snapped.

              “Girl, I’m only kidding. I love your children. I’m helping you because I think everyone deserves to have a good life. Maybe if you’d met your mom or if your dad hadn’t passed way before you were born, you would’ve had better opportunities. Perhaps you would’ve never fucked my husband and I’d still have my family. Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. But what the hell do I know about life?”

              Rachel dug into her makeup bag for some lip gloss. The mood suddenly felt awkward.  Rachel knew how to make people feel like shit in a subtle type of manner. She could jab you in the face while still smiling.

              “Well maybe I’m like this because my momma was a hoe!” Leah tried justifying her behavior by pulling the genetics card.

             
Right I’m supposed to believe it’s in your genes. I’ve heard of people having the same traits or the same hair and eye color, but a whore gene?
“Girl stop!” Rachel laughed out. “Besides, you never met your mom. How would you know that?”

              Leah put on a dumbfounded expression.  “Well-uhm, I’ve heard plenty of stories.”

              “Hmmm. I guess. This color looks good on you! Here, put this on.” Rachel went to her closet and pulled out a raspberry colored dress. “This will really bring out the eye shadow.”

              “This still has the price tag on it. Are you sure you don’t mind?” Leah held the dress up to her body, picturing herself in it.

              “Most of my clothes are just collecting dust. Really, it’s okay.” Rachel insisted.

              “Thanks!” Leah set back on the bed. “You know what’s crazy? If my mom was to save me from drowning in a public pool, I wouldn’t have a clue as to who she was. They say you can’t miss what you never had, but that’s a lie. I really wish I could meet her.”

              Rachel sat next to her. “Have you ever tried to find her?” Leah shook her head no. Rachel placed her hand on her chin as if she was thinking. “Well whenever you’re ready, I’ll pay for a private investigator and we’ll find your mother.”

              Without warning, Leah reached up and gave Rachel the biggest hug. “Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! For the first time I feel like I have someone to rely on.

              Rachel squeezed out a tiny grin. “Okay. Well let me get dressed, the babysitter will be here soon and we gotta get to the Velvet Rope early, but then again I am VIP!”  She hired one of her employee’s teenage daughters to babysit.  The young lady, Chasity, had just turned sixteen and was looking forward to earning her own money.

              In no time, Ms. Jones transformed into this amazing looking diva.  Her fitted white dress hugged her small frame, while her nude red bottom pumps accented her earth tone makeup. She put a few curls in her hair, misted herself down with some perfume, and whispered, “Party time.”

              “You look great, Rachel.” Leah smiled at her secret new bff.

              “You don’t look too bad yourself.” She winked at Leah and marched into the family room to brief the children on their behavior in her absence.  If they promised to be good for the sitter, Rachel would treat them to Fun Land and ice-cream the following day.  The children agreed and the two women were off.

              They chatted here and there until they reached the club. “I didn’t think you still partied; I thought you were so into church now.” Leah blurted out trying to continue the friendly conversation.

              “I’m still a work in progress. I keep everything within reason; my reason that is.” She gave a fake laugh to her corny response.

              “Oh.”

              “I’m kidding, Leah. Honestly, I haven’t been out in a while, but I thought you could use a break. Hopefully, my assumption is right?” Rachel glanced at Leah as her car smoothly glided down the road.

              “Definitely, Rach.”

              “Good.” Rachel forced out a grin as she parallel parked next to a cream colored Bentley.  A short plump man bounced out of the driver seat. It was Jazze PHA, one of Atlanta’s hottest music producers.
Hmmm, he’s kind of sexy to be so round.
Rachel thought to herself as he walked through the lot and greeted the ladies.

              “I’d do his big ass!” Leah blurted out, as if she knew what Rachel was thinking.

              “Girl, you’d do just about anybody!” They walked past the long line that wrapped around the entire building and entered the VIP door. Dream was on the microphone hosting; he caught Rachel’s eye from across the room and blew her a kiss.  Surprisingly, she returned the gesture.  The place was packed with standing room only for those not fortunate enough to be in VIP.

              Leah felt like a kid in the candy store. She worked the room trying to scout out her next baby daddy.  Rachel did a good job on styling her and was happy to be able to introduce her to a new style.  One of the Falcon’s quarterbacks was giving the mother of four a lot of attention and she liked it.

              “Hold my drink. I’m going to the little girl’s room.” She handed her drink over to Rachel and winked at the ball player. Inside the ladies room, she aggressively dug into her purse. “Where the hell is it?” She started talking to her reflection in the mirror. Finally, she found a tiny bag of white powder.  Pure cocaine.  She sprinkled it on her compact mirror, rolled up a one dollar bill, and snorted the powder into her right nostril. “Ooh! Now I can really party!” She tried to stay clean, but before she boarded the plane to Atlanta, she had stolen Curtis’ dope stash and packed it with her luggage. Luckily for her, it made it past airport security.