The Devil Is a Lie

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Nina studied her grandmother for her true feelings. While her face bore some wrinkles, she definitely didn’t look like a seventy-four-year-old woman. “So you think I should give her some money?”

  “That’s not for me to say. That’s on you. You’re gonna have a lot of folks come up out the woodwork. Folks you haven’t talked to in many years.”

  “Going to? I already have.”

  “Well, you just remember who your true friends and family are. The ones that were there when you didn’t have a dime. Those are the ones you need to keep in your life now, because they’ll be the ones who stick around after the money is gone.”

  “The money won’t be gone,” Nina said. “I’m not spending it all.”

  “I’m just saying. Money makes you blind to appreciating the folks that really care about you,” her grandmother warned.

  “I just can’t believe it. I’ve yet to believe all that has happened.”

  Her grandmother started shelling peas again. “Yeah, it ain’t every day you win the lottery.”

  “Actually, I was talking about everything that came with winning the lottery,” Nina replied. “Between Todd trying to take the money, arguing with Rick, family members getting mad, and now Mama appearing out of nowhere, I have yet to be happy about winning this money.”

  “That’s what happens with money. It brings out the worst in folks.”

  “So what should I do about Mama?…And did you know about it?”

  Odessa shook her head. “Nope. She called here day after you went on TV—told you that was a bad idea. Y’all gon’ learn to listen to me. Anyway, she called sounding like the devil incarnate.”

  “Was she looking for me?”

  “You know she was. Trying to get me to tell her where you were. Told me I had no right to keep her kids from her. I reminded her that you weren’t kids anymore.” Her grandmother caught herself, like she had to remember not to say anything bad. “Baby, that’s your mama. And you always need to honor and love her. But there’s nothing wrong with loving her from afar. Sometimes that’s the way you have to do people. You have done all you can for your mama. We all have. Now you just have to turn her over to God.”

  Nina felt tears building up as her grandmother continued. “Love her. Keep praying for her, ’cause the devil has her soul right now and you don’t need people like that in your life. I will tell you that much, but it’s your decision on what you do ’bout the money.”

  Nina struggled to recall one happy time with her mother. She couldn’t, not one. She knew there had to have been some when she was a little girl, but she couldn’t remember them. “There is no decision. I’m not giving her anything. She would just use it for drugs or alcohol anyway,” Nina said.

  “I agree. But you know she’s not gonna stop harassing you.”

  “I know.”

  Odessa stood, picking up the bowl of peas. “I need to get these on. But, sweetie, I’m gonna be praying for you. I suggest you do the same, because you think this money was a blessing, but it came with some demons and you’re waging a spiritual warfare. Somehow, I believe your battle is just beginning.”

  Nina looked at her grandmother with questioning eyes. Things couldn’t possibly get any worse, could they?

  34

  Nina needed the Word from Pastor Ellis today. Initially, she wasn’t even going to go to church because she was literally worn out. But her grandmother’s words echoed in her head. If things were about to get worse, she definitely needed to be prayed up. She’d asked Rick to come to church with her that morning, but as usual, he gave some lame excuse as to why he couldn’t come.

  She stayed behind to talk with Pastor Ellis, who gently chastised her because he hadn’t seen her in church lately. He also warned her that with her newfound wealth she needed to make sure she didn’t forget about God. Nina quickly pulled out her checkbook, but he placed his hand over hers and said, “That’s not what I meant, Nina. Of course I’d love to take a tithe or offering, but I’m talking about the fact that we often go to God only when times are bad. We need to remember He’s there when times are good, too.”

  “Pastor Ellis, times are far from good for me,” Nina replied.

  After Nina said that, Pastor Ellis took her back to his study, where they talked and prayed for another thirty minutes.

  As she prepared to head home, she felt like her faith had been renewed.

  “Hey, baby girl!” Nina heard someone call as she headed to her car in the church parking lot, which was almost empty. She turned around and almost fell over at the sight of her mother.

  “Mama, what are you doing? Are you following me now?” Her mother looked even worse than she did the last time. Her eyes were red, with dark circles underneath. Her lips were a crusty white. And she was wearing three layers of clothing, all different colors. Nina felt sick to her stomach.

  “Look, Nina. Mama’s in trouble.” She rubbed her arm as she shifted from one foot to the other. “I know you got issues with me and you mad ’cause I wasn’t the Brady Bunch mom,” she continued. “But I did the best I could.”

  “The best you could?” Nina asked incredulously. “Are you for real? The best you could do was to never call?”

  “I was locked up,” she protested. “And I didn’t want your grandma fussing about her phone bill, with me calling her collect. You know she ain’t never liked me no way. She thought yo’ daddy coulda done better than me.”

  “What was wrong with writing, Mama?”

  “I never been good with writing.”

  Nina debated saying anything more. But then she decided that she had waited a long time to have this conversation with her mother, so she wasn’t going to hold back. “Even if it was two lines on a piece of paper. Or even three words—I love you. When’s the last time you said that to me? The best you could do would’ve included coming to see us when you got out of jail. The best you could do would’ve meant your love for us was stronger than your love for drugs and alcohol!”

  Her mother’s eyes grew wide as she leaned in. “I ain’t on no drugs! Who told you that?” Her eyes darted from side to side. “See, the government is out to get me. They spreading rumors about me.”

  Nina swallowed the lump in her throat. Do not cry, she kept telling herself. “Mama, I’m not giving you any money.”

  “Look, can you stop being mad? Some people wasn’t put on this earth to be mamas. I got problems, okay? There. I admitted it. Now can I have some money?”

  Nina remembered the stories her father used to tell her about how beautiful her mother was. How she was so sweet and how much he loved her. But the woman standing before her now, Nina didn’t see any semblance of beauty. She couldn’t picture this woman ever being sweet. She didn’t understand how anyone could love the woman standing in front of her.

  She was about to say something when the man she’d seen pacing back and forth the other day with her mother came stomping toward her. “Forget this!” he yelled. “I’m tired of this crap!”

  The man looked just as bad as her mother, only he had a crazed, wild look in his eyes. He stopped right in front of Nina and pointed a long, bony finger. “Your mama needs you,” he spat. His breath was atrocious, smelling like a combination of beer and three-day-old fish. His beard looked like he’d cut plugs in it, and his dreadlocks looked like they had all sorts of critters growing in them.

  “You can help your mama!”

  “Excuse me?” Nina said, stepping away from him. “Who are you?”

  “Come on, Roscoe.” Nina’s mother put her hand to his chest. “I told you I’d handle this.”

  “Well, handle it then!”

  Nina’s mother turned back to face her. “I told you, this yo’ stepdaddy.”

  Nina turned up her nose in disgust. The whole scene was surreal.

  “And I’m ordering you to help your mama out,” he said. Nina would have burst out laughing if the situation had not been so pitiful.

  “Let me do this!” her mother snapped.

  �
�It’s been a week and you ain’t been able to get a dime out of her,” he said, like Nina wasn’t standing right in front of them.

  “And she’s not going to get a dime,” Nina said, fed up. “Stop following me around,” she told her mother. “Stop harassing me. You didn’t have anything to say to me then. I don’t have anything to say to you now.”

  “You don’t know who you talking to,” Roscoe said, grabbing Nina’s arm roughly.

  “Let go of my arm!” Nina screamed.

  “You crazy, stingy…”

  “Roscoe, stop!” her mother yelled.

  “No, she’s gonna give us some money.” The crazed look in his eyes intensified, terrifying Nina. She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

  “Roscoe, please,” her mother begged.

  “Shut up!” he screamed as he began shaking Nina. “I’m not leaving here without some money.” Without warning he slapped Nina across the face.

  Nina couldn’t make out what happened next, but the next thing she knew, her mother was riding Roscoe’s back, wildly hitting him in the face.

  “Get off of her!” her mother yelled. “Get off of her!”

  By now Nina was screaming, trying to avoid being hit by her mother’s blows. She managed to pull away from Roscoe as he tried to fling her mother off his back. Nina heard her mother yell as Roscoe tossed her onto the pavement like a rag doll. Nina paused, thinking she needed to go for help, but one look at Roscoe sent her racing to her car. Nina flung her door open and jumped in. Before she could start the car, though, Roscoe came barreling at her. He threw himself across the hood, startling Nina. She began to panic as she tried to turn on the ignition.

  Nina dropped the keys to the floorboard, then quickly reached down to retrieve them. By the time she looked up, Roscoe had picked up a big rock and hurled it at her windshield. The glass immediately shattered and Nina screamed again.

  “Hey!” a man yelled from across the parking lot.

  Nina felt a spurt of relief as several men ran toward her.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” one of them shouted.

  “Help!” Nina screamed.

  Roscoe paused, looking toward the men. He turned back, snarled at Nina, then took off running out of the parking lot.

  “Nina?” She realized Todd was one of the men who had come running over. At that moment, Nina wanted to throw her arms around his neck. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She sat in her front seat, trembling.

  “I’m sorry, Nina.” Her mother was standing next to Todd.

  Nina couldn’t help it, she buried her hands in her face and cried. When Todd reached in the car and gently pulled her out, she cried even harder, and she didn’t protest at all when he put his arms around her to comfort her. It felt natural, like old times.

  “Ma’am, are you sure you’re okay? Do you want an ambulance?” one of the other men asked.

  Finally Nina recovered a little. She sniffed as she pulled away from Todd’s embrace. “No, I’m okay.”

  “Well, is there anyone we can call for you?” the man asked.

  She fumbled in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll be okay.”

  “Are you sure?” Todd asked.

  She punched in Rick’s number. “I’m sure.” Nonetheless, her hand was shaking. She had to hang up twice before she could accurately dial the number. She cursed when, as usual, she got Rick’s voice mail.

  Todd, who hadn’t moved from her side, turned to Nina’s mother. “Mrs. Morgan, we need you to file a police report,” he said, not bothering to greet her.

  Nina’s mother turned frantic. “I ain’t talking to the police.”

  “What do you mean?” Nina said, snapping her phone shut. “Mama, that man attacked me.”

  “Uh-uh. Roscoe didn’t mean nothing by it.” She started backing away. “He just gets a little out of hand sometimes.”

  “Mrs. Morgan, please,” Todd said.

  She shook her head. “This would be his third strike, so I ain’t saying nothing. Matter of fact, I’m ’bout to go.”

  “Mama!”

  Her mother ignored her as she retreated across the parking lot after her man.

  “Do you want us to stop her?” one of the men asked Nina.

  She thought about it, but then shrugged. What was the use? Might as well let her go on. Maybe now she’d leave Nina alone.

  “No, forget it. I just want to go home.”

  “Well, you can’t drive your car like this. Let me take you home,” Todd offered.

  Nina glared at him through tear-filled eyes. The last thing she wanted was for Todd to do anything for her.

  “Come on, Nina. It’s the least I can do,” he said.

  She looked at her car and realized she didn’t have much choice.

  “Okay, fine.”

  Todd led her to his truck, got her seated, then went back to talk to the other men. He was pointing at her car, no doubt making arrangements to have it towed.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked once he jumped into his truck.

  “My crackhead mother and her crackhead husband just attacked me in the church parking lot. Do you think I’m okay?”

  “No, I guess not,” he said softly.

  Nina didn’t bother responding to his comment. “What are you doing here anyway?”

  “I go to this church, remember?” Todd quickly corrected himself. “I mean, I haven’t been going regularly over the last year, and when I do go, I usually go to the early service. I just came today to the eleven o’clock service because…” He paused. “Well, I don’t know why I came late.” He glanced over at her. “Maybe God had something special planned for me today.”

  She stiffened in her seat. No, he wasn’t trying to act like his being there when Roscoe attacked her was some divine intervention.

  “Can you just take me home, please?” she said, pulling out her phone to try Rick one more time. Her heart fluttered when Rick finally picked up.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” he said.

  “Rick, where are you?” The anger in his voice made her want to burst out in tears.

  “I’m handling some business. What’s up?”

  “Well, can it wait? I really need you.”

  “No, it can’t wait. What’s going on?”

  “My mom’s husband just attacked me at church.”

  That made him hesitate. “Are you all right?”

  “I am, but I’m a little shaken up.”

  He seemed relieved. “All right then, go home, lay down, and I’ll be there in a little while.” He hung up the phone before she could protest.

  Todd was looking straight ahead, giving her space, but Nina was so embarrassed that she pretended to keep talking. “Okay, all right, baby. I’ll have someone drop me off at home. You’re on your way? Okay, then. I’ll talk to you in a bit.” She snapped the phone shut, grateful that Todd didn’t make a comment. “You can take me on home,” she said softly.

  He pulled out of the parking lot. “You’re still in the same place, right?”

  “Yeah, my mansion is being remodeled.” He laughed, but she didn’t.

  “Sorry,” he said, losing his smile. “I just thought, you know, thought you might’ve moved.”

  “No, I haven’t. I’m sure your girlfriend has you guys already living in River Oaks with security guards and a house staff, but I’m trying to be careful in my spending. I’m still in the place I’ve been in for the past year.”

  “If I was still with Pam, I’m sure she would have us in a big mansion,” Todd replied, without looking Nina’s way.

  Nina did a double take. “What do you mean, if you were still with her?”

  “I broke up with Pam.” He kept his eyes on the road, like he was afraid to look her in the eye.

  Nina didn’t know what to say. The few times she’d seen Todd with Pam, he hadn’t looked happy, but she had told herself it was just her being jealous. She never would’ve imagined Todd and Pam were on the verge of bre
aking up. Nina was especially surprised that she would leave after he’d just come into all that money.

  “I guess you can say I finally came to my senses,” Todd said.

  “Finally,” Nina mumbled.

  He remained silent, and the roar of the engine filled the cab. “Just so you know, I’m really sorry about how all of this turned out.”

  Not sorry enough to take my money, she wanted to say.

  “So did Pam take you for half the money before she left?” Nina said instead.

  “Nope. I’m still married to you, remember? She has no right to the money.”

  “Kind of like someone else I know,” Nina couldn’t help adding.

  “Okay, I deserved that one,” Todd said. “But just so you know, I hope Rick and the money bring you all the happiness you deserve.”

  Nina leaned back against the passenger seat and didn’t say anything else as Todd navigated toward her house. She wanted to ask him more questions about Pam. Was he lying to her? And if not, why’d they break up? What really happened? But she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking she cared.

  Then her thoughts turned to Todd’s well wishes for her and Rick. That was a joke. The money definitely hadn’t brought them any happiness.

  Nina was tired—tired of the stress she’d felt since the day she found out she was rich. She thought back to the last day she’d really been happy. Her heart sank when she realized it was the day before she won the lottery.

  35

  Nina glanced around the beauty shop. Even though there were only five stylists, more than twenty women were at various stages of getting their hair done. She knew she should’ve rescheduled her appointment. She was still shaken up about her run-in with Roscoe yesterday. Rick didn’t get in until near two in the morning. Nina was so furious that she left this morning before he woke up. So the last thing she felt like doing was sitting up in a beauty shop all day.

  Nina had been under the dryer and now had been waiting for an hour on Davion, her stylist, as he finished up the two people in front of her. Nina couldn’t understand why he continued to double book his clients. But despite everyone complaining, he wouldn’t change. In fact, complaining only made him move slower. And because he was one of the best hair stylists in Houston, she, like everyone else, sat and waited.