The Other Side of Goodness

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  Lawrence quickly scanned through the five messages. “Sho’ you right,” he said with a laugh. “Well, you know where I’ll be if you need me.” He went into his office and closed the door.

  Mattie was typing when the man first cleared the doorway. She couldn’t help but grin. He was a nice tall “drink of water,” as her grandmother would have said. Refreshing and more than pleasant on the eyes. He’d better be glad I’m in my fifties and not a cougar like my friend Janice, she thought. Or I might give this twenty-year-old something a run for his money. Sho’ you right!

  Mattie continued to smile. “Hi there. May I help you?”

  He smiled back. “Why, yes. I’m here to see Representative Simmons. I have an appointment.”

  Mattie pretended to look at her appointment book even though she knew exactly who he was and what time he was scheduled. “You must be Dr. Morgan.” She held out her hand for him to shake. Just as he was strolling toward her desk, her smile suddenly dropped.

  Dr. Morgan shook her hand, but looked over his shoulder to see what had caused Mattie to go from a warm smile to a cold stare.

  “I’m sorry,” Mattie said, releasing Dr. Morgan’s hand quicker than she had originally intended. “Can I help you?” she said to the woman who had come in.

  The woman smiled. “Oh, I’m good,” she said as she sat down as though the office belonged to her.

  Dr. Morgan went and sat in the seat next to her. Mattie figured this woman had that kind of an effect on most men she came in contact with. Of course men would fawn all over her. Seeing them sitting next to each other, she could see the two of them being attracted. But she was going to fix this real quick.

  “I’m sorry,” Mattie said to the woman. “But the representative will not be able to see you today. He’s quite busy and quite booked. When you called earlier, I told you as much. I’m pretty sure that was you I spoke with. I remember you and your voice from before. Your name is Gabrielle, isn’t it?”

  Gabrielle nodded with a smile and an assurance. “Did you happen to even tell Lawrence that I called?”

  That really irked Mattie. The level of disrespect this woman was showing by calling Representative Simmons by his first name totally disrespected the office he held. Then attempting to make her look bad in front of this possible donor. Mattie figured this woman was merely trying to rattle her. But Mattie had tangoed with the best of them. She knew how to take off her heels, and she kept a jar of Vaseline in her top drawer, mostly to use when she was ashy or needed to moisten her lips. But if she had to grease down her knuckles and fight, she remembered how to do that as well.

  No, Mattie, she said to herself as she stood and took steps toward Gabrielle. Lawrence has told you that you can’t be going alley on folks. Keep your cool. Handle your business in the professional way. Don’t do anything to run this donor away.

  “Ma’am, I’m quite efficient at what I do,” Mattie said. “But I’m sure you know that Representative Simmons is an immensely busy man. Now, I’ll be glad to make an appointment for you. But I can already tell you that he’s booked until at least the end of next week. And even with an appointment, you never know what emergency may pop up and cause the appointment to be canceled or rescheduled.”

  Mattie smiled. She knew Dr. Morgan had to be feeling quite special right about now. He’d called yesterday and had gotten an instant appointment for today. Mattie was sure that would possibly earn Lawrence some extra points with him. Powerful people love to feel they’ve been treated as such. He crossed his leg, locked his fingers in place around his crossed knee, and lifted his chin up even higher. Yes, he was making a note of all of this, and she was definitely making an impression.

  Gabrielle leaned back comfortably. “It’s okay. I don’t mind waiting.”

  “Okay,” Mattie said with a forced smile. “Suit yourself.”

  Mattie glanced at the clock on the wall and walked back around to her desk. She then buzzed Representative Simmons. “Your one thirty is here.” She smiled at Dr. Morgan. “He’s ready to see you.”

  Dr. Morgan stood up. Gabrielle Mercedes stood up as well. Mattie’s smile grew bigger. Thank You, Lord. She’s going to leave. Because Lord, You know I didn’t want to have to sit out here with her. Thank You, Jesus!

  Dr. Morgan walked toward the office door. Gabrielle was right there with him. It dawned on Mattie that this little sneaky woman was trying to muscle her way in ahead of Dr. Morgan. Oh, she’s a slick one! But she doesn’t know who she’s messing with. I don’t play that!

  Mattie quickly stepped out from behind her desk and before Gabrielle. “I’m sorry, but I was speaking to this gentleman here.” She smiled at Dr. Morgan.

  “Oh, I know,” Gabrielle said.

  “So, you can’t go in there.” Mattie positioned her body right in front of Gabrielle. She was prepared to physically stop her if she had to.

  “Excuse me,” Dr. Morgan said, his deep voice almost causing her to suck in air too fast for her body to process.

  “I apologize for this. But this woman—”

  “Is with me,” Dr. Morgan said.

  Mattie’s upper body jerked back. “Excuse me?”

  Dr. Morgan smiled, grabbed Gabrielle by her hand, and said, “This woman . . . she’s with me. We’re together.” He pulled Gabrielle gently along with him as he opened the door.

  As soon as the door closed, Mattie regained her composure and hurried back to her desk. She picked up the phone and pressed a button. “I need you to get in here. Now!” she said. “We have a slight problem!”

  Chapter 22

  Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

  —Amos 3:5

  Lawrence was already standing when the donor Mattie had been so excited about walked in. He had his ready-to-receive-a-large-donation face on, but his smile quickly fell when his eyes fell upon Gabrielle.

  Zachary marched up to his desk with his right hand extended. “Representative Simmons. Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Morgan. Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

  Lawrence shook Zachary’s hand firmly enough, although he continued to keep an eye on the woman with Zachary. “Dr. Morgan. Nice to meet you. What can I do for you?”

  Zachary looked at the chairs positioned in front of the representative’s desk. “Mind if we have a seat?”

  “Oh, of course! Please, please, sit down, sit down.” He glanced at Gabrielle, who wasn’t smiling at all. “Both of you . . . sit.”

  Zachary waited until Gabrielle was seated, then he sat down.

  “Gabrielle, how are you?” Lawrence said, trying to regain his obvious loss of footing.

  She nodded without saying a word.

  “So,” Lawrence said, directing his attention to Zachary. “You’re a doctor. Are you here on official doctor business? Something you need to talk to me about that has to do with legislation? Interested in donating to my campaign?” His chuckle with the last question was quite manufactured.

  Zachary leaned in. “Look. I know you’re a busy man. Your secretary all but made that much clear a few minutes ago when she told Gabrielle you were too busy to see her until possibly the end of next week. Funny thing though. Gabrielle has been calling to talk to you long before I picked up the phone yesterday and requested to see you. I seemed to have had no problem in getting on your schedule. So let’s not play games, if you don’t mind. What do you say?” Zachary sat back straight.

  Lawrence chuckled a bit as he slowly leaned back into his black leather chair. “I can already tell we’re going to get along splendidly,” he said to Zachary. “But in Mattie’s defense, let me assure you that she meant no harm in not letting me know of you trying to get in touch with me, Gabrielle.” The last sentence was totally directed at Gabrielle.

  “Then we all have an understanding here?” Zachary said.

  Gabrielle glanced over at Zachary, then Lawrence.

  Lawrence leaned in toward Zac
har y. “So, why are you here?”

  “I suppose the question you really want to ask is: How much do I know?” Zachary said.

  The door to Lawrence’s office suddenly swung open without a knock or anything preceding. “Excuse me, sir. But I really need to speak with you. It’s important,” William said, taking strides toward Lawrence’s desk, his long legs closing the distance in no time.

  Lawrence held up his hand. “It’s okay, William.”

  “Excuse me? But this really is—”

  “It’s okay. I got this. And whatever you have that’s important, I’m sure it can wait until this meeting is over. In fact, I don’t think we’re going to be too much longer,” Lawrence said, looking at Zachary as though he were expecting him to confirm that statement.

  “But, sir, I have something I think you should see before you continue.” William held out a red folder. Lawrence took it and glanced over it quickly, then nodded as he set the folder down on his desk. “Thanks. You may go now.”

  “Excuse me, but did you read it?” William’s eyes darted from Lawrence to the two sitting across from Lawrence.

  Lawrence nodded again. “I did, and I said: You may go.” His voice was a bit more forceful this time.

  After William left, closing the door behind him, Lawrence swiveled his chair a little. “Would you mind if I speak with Gabrielle alone?” Lawrence said.

  “Oh, so now you’re willing to talk to her. But when she was calling before, you and your office were blowing her off.”

  “Dr. Morgan . . .” Lawrence stopped a second. “Is it okay if I call you Zachary?”

  Zachary hadn’t given any of them his first name, not even when he’d made the appointment. He’d only said Dr. Morgan. “Zachary is fine. But just so you know: This is not about me. I’m here with Gabrielle. And as far as me leaving while the two of you talk, we can skip all that. Gabrielle and I are in this together. There’s a sweet little girl who is not going to live much longer if she doesn’t get the bone marrow transplant she desperately needs. This little girl doesn’t have time for grown folks to be playing silly little games.”

  Gabrielle placed her hand over her mouth. Zachary glanced over at her. His words had come out harder than he’d meant, but he had to get Lawrence to see how dire the situation was.

  “So, I guess you know more than I thought you did,” Lawrence said. He looked at Gabrielle. “You told him everything? I’m talking about everything?”

  “Yes,” Gabrielle said. “So whatever he just brought you on me to try and get me to shut up, it really doesn’t matter. You see, Lawrence, that’s the thing about the truth and telling it: No matter what comes up, you’ve already handled it with the truth.”

  “So you’re telling me that Dr. Morgan here knows all about your past? Every single detail of it?”

  “I’m telling you that I haven’t deliberately kept anything from him,” Gabrielle said. “Now, is there something I didn’t think to volunteer that may look like I’m trying to hide something? If you have something and it’s true, I promise you that I won’t be denying it. Not if it will help save this little girl’s life,” Gabrielle said.

  Lawrence put his hand up to his mouth as he picked up the red folder. “So, you’re saying that Zachary here knows all about your father? How your father killed your mother and tried to blame it on someone else? That he’s in prison right now.”

  “Yes,” Gabrielle said.

  “And he knows all about your wonderfully conniving fraudulent aunt? It appears she’s in a bit of trouble herself right now. Theft, huh?” Lawrence directed that question to Gabrielle. “Looks like dear Aunt Cee-Cee might be getting payback for all the hateful things she did to you, Gabrielle. Forging documents, stealing money that should have gone to your dancing education. Allegedly, I should say. Allegedly. Umph. Some colorful folks in your life, Gabrielle.”

  Gabrielle and Zachary just sat there, not commenting.

  “You know, Gabrielle. I remember how good you were and just how much you loved to dance,” Lawrence said. “For certain you could have used that money and the experience you would have gained from attending Juilliard. Now that was the real tragedy of all your aunt’s alleged actions. Instead, you ended up at my daughter’s place, kicked out and onto the streets by the very person who stole from you.”

  “Listen, I didn’t come here for you to stroll down memory lane,” Gabrielle said.

  “I’m sorry. I was just thinking about how much you liked to dance, Gabrielle. And how, if these other things hadn’t happened that obviously got you off track, you might have become a celebrated dancer instead of . . . a celebrated stripper.”

  Zachary rose to his feet.

  “I’m sorry,” Lawrence said, standing to his feet as well. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know she used to take off her clothes in a strip joint for other men for money?” He looked down at Gabrielle. “You didn’t tell the good doctor about Goodness and Mercy? Gabrielle, do you have any idea how much the knowledge of something like that could hurt someone like Dr. Zachary Morgan, if that was to get out in a big way?”

  “Let me tell you what I do know,” Zachary said. “I know she might have done that in her past, but after giving her life to Jesus, her past is gone, pardoned, and her slate wiped clean. Gabrielle may have been Goodness and Mercy once upon a time, but because of Jesus and what Jesus did, she’s now on the other side of goodness. She knows what it is to have her past cast into the sea of forgetfulness when it comes to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s just devils like you who are always trying to resurrect the past to throw it in folk’s faces. But it’s not going to happen. Not here; not today.”

  “I’m taking it that she didn’t tell you about that part of her life and you’re trying to cover it by directing your anger at me,” Lawrence said with a smirk.

  “Oh, she told me. She told me about that part of her life. And she told me all about the real you, and not those phony ads that promote you as Mr. Happily Married to the same woman for the past twenty-nine years who you’ve never cheated on, faithful deacon of your church for the past twenty years, loving father of three, man of integrity, who is pro-life and staunchly against abortion,” Zachary said as he stood squarely staring at Lawrence. “Only thing about your lies about yourself is that Gabrielle can bust that entire narrative you’ve been heavily pushing to the voters with just one truth.”

  “Is that right? And what truth might that be?”

  Gabrielle stood and looked into Lawrence’s eyes. “That you’re the father of an eight-year-old little girl who is going to die if she doesn’t get a bone marrow transplant soon.”

  Lawrence laughed. “And that’s supposed to prove I’m not who I say I am? Something from the word of a woman who most would consider one step above being a hooker?”

  Zachary balled his hand into a fist. Gabrielle grabbed his hand and held it in hers. “Let him say whatever he wants,” Gabrielle said. “I know the truth, and deep down, so does he. He knows this child is his.”

  “I know no such thing.” Lawrence picked up the red folder. “According to this, it appears you and my son-in-law knew each other around that same time. That’s just one person my people have located.” Lawrence looked at Zachary, who was apparently not aware of that piece of information. “Oh, she didn’t tell you the other day when she and Andrew ran into each other at the hospital cafeteria that the two of them already knew each other?” Lawrence smiled.

  Zachary tried to hold it together. Gabrielle had indeed not told him that.

  “So what are you doing? Having my entire life investigated?” Gabrielle said, looking from Lawrence to Zachary. “Is it so important to you not to help this child that you’ll do anything?”

  “I told you. I don’t have anything against that child. But she’s not mine.”

  “Be tested and see,” Gabrielle said, her voice escalating. “I’m not asking you to acknowledge her as yours. All I’m asking is for you to have the initial test done to see if there’s a
possibility you could be a match. If you’re so sure that you didn’t father her, what harm would it do for you to go and let them put a cotton swab in your mouth to get what they need to see if it’s possible you might be a match at all.”

  “And I can tell you as a doctor, you could still be the child’s birth parent and not be a good match.”

  “Yeah. Gabrielle told me that the first time we talked.” Lawrence sat down.

  Gabrielle eased down in her chair and leaned in toward him. She was wiping away a few tears now. “I told you. I’m not trying to hurt you or your family or your career, for that matter. Truthfully, I’d prefer no one find out about any of this. But I saw her the other day, Lawrence. I got to meet her for the first time since I gave her up. And she is so beautiful. She’s smart. And she has your eyes and your high cheekbones. But in truth, she also looks like my mother.”

  Gabrielle looked in her purse and pulled out an old photo of her mother and handed it to him. He refused to take the photo and look at it. She put it back. “I can’t sit back and just let this child die. I can’t. You might not have wanted her and I was in no position to take care of her. All I could do for her was to give her up for adoption. But she’s here, Lawrence. And she’s a child you and I made together.”

  Zachary sat down, obviously a bit more composed now. “If this was any of your other three children—”

  “Not other.” Lawrence interrupted him. “Nothing has been established that proves this child is mine.”