John stared at my mother for a few moments before he said. “I have some news about Justine. I visited her at the prison today, and while I was there—”
“You what?” Her words sliced John’s sentence in half like a knife. Mama’s hands flew to her hips. “I know you’re not around her coddling that girl.”
“No. It’s nothing like that. Sit down Clara. What I have to say, you need to be sitting for.” John got up from his seat and helped Mama into her chair and then helped me.
“This had better be good, John,” Mama gave John a look that said, ‘because if it isn’t your ass is lawn mowed grass.’
John planted his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. “It’s two things. She’s not having Montie or Jacob’s baby. Actually, she’s not having a baby at all. She has never been pregnant. I got that news from the medical doctor over the prison medical system.”
I gasped. My mouth flew open but I couldn’t find the words to speak.
“Praise God! That is good news, John,” Mama said with elation in her eyes as she raised her hands to the sky and clasped them together in a praying motion.
“That’s not all,” John said bringing our attention back to his second reveal. “She said she wanted you to have this letter, Destiny. She promised me the contents would explain word for word what happened between her and Jacob.” John waved the letters that he picked up from the center of the table. “She corroborated his version of what happened to me.”
“So, I’m having Jacob’s only child?” I asked. The shock from his first revelation was still laying foundation in my mind, when he revealed the second piece of news in the form of a letter. The pretense of Justine having Jacob’s child had hung over me so long and potently, it would take more than a conversation to wash it all away.
“You are having my first and only grandchild, Destiny.” John’s smile reached his eyes. “Though I
hope it won’t be the last,” he added.
It was real. This was really happening!
“How did you get her to tell you all of this, John?” Mama asked.
“Well, for one, I knew that young lady since she was a child. She was an angel when she was growing up. She never was this vindictive, evil person she grew to become. She was Jacob’s best friend; when you saw one, you saw two. People pushed her to her mental limits, though. I didn’t realize it was that bad then.” He paused. “Now, the jail doctors have her on medication that is helping her think clearly. She’s distraught about Rick’s murder, along with the deception she has perpetrated in your marriage. She also sent a letter to apologize to Jacob.” John slid the letters to me. Written proof that my husband never meant to hurt me, just like he said.
“She also has come to realize that her relationship with her mother is toxic for her. She knows Martha and Tammy were manipulating her,” John added and groaned his contempt.
“Poor girl,” Mama said. “I thought I was going to have to whip some sense into her. Now, I feel sorry for her.”
“She was very remorseful when I spoke with her. She already had written those letters and was waiting on the right time to deliver them. I didn’t have the nerve to tell her that Martha and Tammy made Rick leave her at the altar. It would only break her down further than she already was. She knows they are bad for her wellbeing and that’s enough for me.”
“Oh, Jacob. I should have believed you,” I said, thinking about the groveling he’d done to convince me he’d been wrongfully accused of an affair. “I have to get back to Atlanta!” I stood from the table and picked up the letters.
“My driver is already in the loop waiting for you. The jet is gassed up and ready to go,” John said. He obviously was expecting me to run off as soon as I got the news.
“We’ll have dinner some other time, Mama.”
“I know, baby girl. Go get your man.” Mama’s cheeks sprang up to the corners of her eyes as she bubbled over with joy.
John stood and went to stand behind her chair. He massaged her shoulders.
She reached her hand to touch his, while gazing up at him lovingly.
I kissed her cheek and hugged his neck.
“Thank you,” I said to my stepfather.
“All in a day’s work,” he joked. “Like your mother said, go get my son and make his lifetime.”
I ran out the house with my purse trailing behind me in the wind. I jumped in the awaiting car and to the airport. As soon as we were out of Mama’s neighborhood, I took Justine’s letter our and began to read it.
To Destiny,
It’s not a secret that I never liked you. You have been a pain in my side since the day I found out Jacob was leaving me to be with you. Truth is, I knew he was a best friend turned lover that probably wouldn’t last, but I cared about him deeply. I didn’t want to lose what he represented for me, which was a safety net from all the ridicule that came from my parents and everyone who witnessed me being duped by Rick.
Jacob was my hero when Rick left me. I think he was just more so there for me because he didn’t want to see me hurt. I felt that he was my soulmate, but he didn’t feel the same way. Still, Jacob didn’t deserve the way I treated him. Neither did Rick. No matter what anyone thinks, I loved Rick. I think about him every day, now that my mind is not clouded by hate and I’m taking medication for my mental disorders.