Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies

by Trice Hickman

  She ran her fingers through Ted’s thick black hair, kissing the top of his head. She knew they had both done things they wished they could change. Lies and secrets were a troubling combination, and she wondered when hers would come to light. But for now, she held on to the moment she had in her hands.

  “I love you,V,” Ted whispered, holding Victoria close.

  “I love you, too.”

  They lay together, side by side, still and remarkably peaceful for another full hour. Even though it wasn’t the way Ted had wanted Victoria to learn about his mother’s secret, he was relieved that everything was finally out in the open. He felt comfort and assurance in her arms. And although he knew that she still had mixed feelings about all that had just happened, and the many things he had said, he knew they were headed in the right direction.

  Victoria also felt relieved that the truth was finally out. She still had questions, though, not about Ted’s mother’s past, but about their future. She wondered if he would tell the rest of his family, or even acknowledge it to hers. Will he just continue to live as a white man, because basically that’s who he is? A thousand thoughts ran through her mind, but she didn’t have the luxury to worry about them, because other duties called. She looked at her watch. “I need to head over to the school to pick up Alexandria.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Ted offered.

  Victoria hesitated. “You don’t have to.”

  “But I want to. I’ve never picked her up from school, not even when she was in day care. This will be a little surprise for her.”

  We’ve had enough surprises for one day, Victoria thought but didn’t say. And though she dared not mention his name, she feared it would be just her luck that they would run into Parker.

  They gathered their things and headed to the garage. Ted opened the passenger-side door to let Victoria in the car. He took her hand in his. “V, I promise that from this moment forward I’ll never keep anything from you, ever again. I know you’ve lost some trust in me, and I don’t blame you, but I’m going to work hard to regain it.”

  Victoria felt herself shrinking. There he was, talking about trust and second chances, and all the while she was keeping a secret of her own. For a split second, in the spirit of open and honest disclosure, the thought crossed her mind to confess about her brief indiscretion with Parker. But then her common sense kicked in, persuading her to keep her mouth shut. So instead of standing in front of her husband with the taste of betrayal on the tip of her tongue, she swallowed her sins, jumped in the front seat, and wondered if he’d give her a second chance if the shoe was on the other foot.

  Walking a Death March ...

  The minute Victoria and Ted pulled into the pickup line in the school parking lot, Victoria knew there would be more drama, as she’d spotted Parker’s vehicle. Even though he was parked several cars ahead of them, and large SUVs and minivans were partially blocking her view, she could spot his black Navigator anywhere. She could see from where she sat that his truck was empty, which meant he had already gone inside to get PJ. Most days PJ’s nanny picked him up from school, but today of all days Parker had decided to do the honors.Victoria bent her head down, rubbing her temples. I can’t believe this!

  “What’s wrong?” Ted asked.

  “Slight headache.” She unbuckled her seat belt in a hurry. “You can wait here. I’ll go inside and get Alexandria.”

  Ted opened his door at the same time. “That spoils the entire surprise. I’m coming with you.”

  As they walked up the steps and entered the building,Victoria silently prayed the quickest, most desperate prayer she had ever uttered.

  Even though he was still worked up over their confrontation, Ted had the presence of mind to know that something was wrong with his wife, and it had nothing to do with uncovering his mother’s secret or their terrible argument that had followed. Her body language and facial expression spoke volumes that her mouth didn’t. He’d noticed her mood when they left the house, and he knew the reason why she was so uneasy—her fear that they would run into Parker Brightwood.

  From the moment he learned that Parker’s son was in Alexandria’s class,Ted knew it was only a matter of time before he and Parker came face-to-face again ... and he was ready. He knew there was a chance that Parker would be there to pick up his son, but that was of no concern to him, because his priorities rested with Victoria and Alexandria. He was thankful that the burden he’d been carrying was lifted and that his family now had a chance of getting back to normal. And at that moment, all he could think about was seeing his daughter’s face light up with surprise when he walked into her classroom. In his mind, he relegated Parker to a consequence he’d deal with when the time came.

  “It’s the last classroom on the right,” Victoria said, looking straight ahead, as though she was walking a death march.

  Ted slowed his pace and came to a stop just outside of Alexandria’s classroom. He gently rested his hand on Victoria’s elbow. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of that door,” he said, looking into Victoria’s eyes. “Like I’ve always said, the only thing that matters is you and me.”

  They looked at each other for a long moment. Victoria wanted to believe him, but she knew what he didn’t. She exhaled, desperate to relieve the fifty-pound weight that had settled on top of her head. She had no doubt that whatever the situation,Ted wouldn’t show his ass in public, and certainly not in front of their daughter. But suddenly she wasn’t so sure about Parker. The last time the two men faced each other, it had turned into an ugly scene.

  Victoria nodded her head and followed Ted as they walked through the door.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Volcano That Was about to Erupt ...

  Victoria’s entire body stiffened when she saw Parker standing off to the side. He was talking with Ms. Snow, while Alexandria and PJ were busy playing on a mat in the playroom corner. She knew the only reason he was hanging around, chatting up his cousin’s friend, was so he could run into her. She was pissed that he’d never told her about the connection, and wondered why he had kept that information under wraps. She took a deep breath and readied herself.

  “Daddy!” Alexandria squealed when she looked up and saw Ted. She gleefully sprinted toward her father.

  Ted bent down and scooped Alexandria up into his arms, while Victoria tried to pace her breathing. “How’s my princess?” He smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  Alexandria hugged his neck tightly, grinning from ear to ear. “I want you to see what I made,” she said, pointing toward a wall full of finger-painted pictures. She wriggled out of Ted’s arms and led her parents over to look at the masterpiece she had created during art period.

  Victoria stayed close as they walked over to the wall to see Alexandria’s artwork. She looked down when she saw PJ come up and stand beside them. He flexed his adorable dimpled cheeks and offered a smile. “Hi, Ms. Thornton.” He grinned. “Me and Alie made pictures today.” He pointed to his own picture on the wall.

  The way he sang Alexandria’s pet name in his cuddly, soft voice made Victoria want to give him a big hug. “That’s a very nice picture, PJ.” She smiled. His gentle-hearted demeanor, big brown eyes, and innocent charm made her nearly forget the trouble that was attached to him.

  “So you’re PJ,” Ted said and smiled, bending down to greet the little boy, who looked so much like his father that he was taken aback.

  PJ grinned and nodded like a bobblehead doll. “You’re Alie’s dad?”

  “I sure am.”

  “There’s my dad,” he said with excitement, pointing toward Parker.

  No sooner had the words come out of PJ’s mouth than Parker walked over and stood by his son. He had been watching them like a hawk since they’d entered the room. “Hello,” he said, looking directly at Ted. No smile, no handshake.

  “Hi, Mr. Brightwood!” Alexandria shouted.

  Parker temporarily averted his eyes, looking down at his son’s
new best friend. “Hi,sweetie. Did you and PJ have a good time today?”

  PJ interrupted. “Dad, can Alie come over and play? I want her to see Noah,” he said. Alexandria had already declared she was getting a dog, too.

  Alexandria looked at Ted. “Can I, Daddy? Pretty please?”

  Victoria narrowed her eyes. “Not now, Alexandria.”

  Ted stared back at Parker as he spoke to his daughter. “We’ll see, princess.”

  Parker didn’t look away, and it made Victoria nervous as hell.

  Parker wanted to say something to Ted, but he stopped himself because he could see the sheer panic and anxiety on Victoria’s face. He hated the way Ted stood in front of him, holding Victoria’s hand, with the satisfied look of a man who had just won a first-place trophy. He wanted to tell him that he had caressed his wife’s most intimate spots, tasted her sweetness, and couldn’t wait until their next rendezvous, so he could feel the warmth that resided between her legs. Although he didn’t speak the words, he let his eyes do his talking. He wanted her, and he didn’t give a damn if Ted knew it.

  There they were, Victoria, Ted, and Parker, standing in complete silence as their children played and chatted away, oblivious to the volcano that was about to erupt.

  Parker knew he should let the moment fade, that he shouldn’t start what could become an ugly scene, but he couldn’t resist. He saw an opening, so he eased into it. He looked at Victoria. “Roberta told me that she really wishes you’d change your mind about volunteering on the planning committee for the holiday social. I told her I’d ask you the next time I saw you.”

  Victoria nearly swallowed her tongue. She could see the small vein in Ted’s right temple pop out, which meant he was pissed to high heaven. She’d never told him that she saw Parker at the Jack and Jill meeting, too. He was still under the impression that their first encounter had been during school registration. Ted dropped her hand, and all she could do was look down at her feet.

  “I think it’s time to go.” Ted motioned to Victoria, not taking his eyes off Parker. He knew he had to get out of there, because despite his best efforts to remain calm, he was about to blow his cool. Now he understood why Victoria had suddenly lost interest in keeping Alexandria in Jack and Jill. The fact that she had kept it from him made him wonder what else had gone on between the two of them. He’d caught every glimpse that Parker threw Victoria’s way, and he wasn’t about to stand by and watch another man lust after his wife. At least not without punching his lights out.

  “Alexandria, go to your cubbyhole and get your things. It’s time to go home,” Victoria said.

  PJ followed Alexandria like he was her shadow. The two walked over to get their small backpacks, laughing and playing without a care in the world.Ted waited until the children were out of earshot before he spoke again, saying exactly what was on his mind. “Our kids are in the same class, so we’ll run into each other from time to time. But I want to make myself very clear.” He stared hard at Parker, giving a brief pause to set the tone for what came next. “Stay the hell away from my wife.”

  “Oh, Lord,” Victoria said, barely above a whisper. She looked out of the corner of her eye and saw that Ms. Snow was staring with concern. Then she looked into Parker’s eyes, silently pleading with him to back away from the trouble that was brewing. She motioned to Ted. “Let’s go,” she said, reaching for his hand, attempting to usher him away.

  “You better listen to her,” Parker said, never raising his voice. “You still don’t know who you’re fucking with, do you?” Although his tone was calm, his words were harsh and his jaw flinched as he spoke.

  Just as things were about to explode, Alexandria and PJ came walking up.

  “Let’s go,” Victoria urged again.

  Both Ted and Parker calmed down, because they didn’t want to cause a scene that would frighten their children.

  After saying good-bye to a watchful and worried-looking Ms. Snow, they all headed out into the hallway. Alexandria and PJ raced ahead to see who could make it outside first. Parker strode in front as Victoria and Ted walked behind him in silence. Victoria didn’t even attempt to say a word to Ted, because she knew that his anger was beyond the pale. His nostrils were flared, his breathing was rapid, and the vein in his forehead was waving like a flag in the wind.

  Victoria took a deep breath when they finally made it out to the parking lot, where Alexandria and PJ were already standing. Parker walked up to his truck. “Time to go, big guy,” he said, opening the back door. He buckled PJ in and closed the door.

  Ted froze in his tracks, looking as if all the blood had been drained from his body. He stood for a moment, shaking his head from side to side in disbelief. He looked at the truck and remembered that it was the same lone vehicle that had been parked in the lot next to Victoria’s office when he showed up there a few weeks ago. Since she had been working late, he’d made a mental note to scope out the area in case anyone was lurking around. He remembered the nervous pause he had heard in her voice that night, and that she had made him wait outside while, she claimed, she was in the restroom. “He was there,” he said, turning to look at Victoria. “Son of a bitch!”

  Parker looked up and saw what was happening.

  “That was his truck I saw parked outside your office the night I went by to see you,” Ted yelled at Victoria.

  “I can explain,” she pleaded. “Nothing happened. He just stopped by unexpectantly, and—”

  “Stop!” Ted yelled.

  Alexandria froze in her tracks. She’d never heard her parents argue, or even raise their voices, for that matter. “Mommy ... Daddy ... what’s wrong?”

  By now a few parents who were gathering their children were staring in Ted’s and Victoria’s direction. Victoria reached in her bag for her keys and pointed the remote toward her car. She pressed the button and called out to Alexandria. “Get in, sweetie.”

  Alexandria fumbled with the back door until it opened, then let herself in. She was visibly disturbed, but she climbed into the backseat and did as her mother asked.

  Parker kept a careful eye on what was happening, preparing himself in case Ted decided to approach him.

  Meanwhile, Victoria looked at Ted and pleaded again, this time with her eyes and her heart. “Let’s go home,” she said. “I can explain everything.” She saw disappointment and rage zigzag across Ted’s face. The hurt in his eyes made her want to bury herself under the ground.

  Ted opened his mouth to say something but then fell silent, his face twisting in pain.

  “Ted, what’s wrong?” Victoria said with alarm, seeing that something very, very bad was happening.

  Ted’s eyes widened, and his breathing became labored. He grabbed his left arm and gasped for breath, reaching out for Victoria. He made an inaudible choking sound as he began to sink to his knees.

  “Oh, God!” Victoria screamed.

  Parker immediately knew what was happening and was over at Ted’s side before he hit the ground. He carried him by the shoulder as the school security officer on duty rushed over to help. Parker quickly fired off commands, speaking in a voice that was emphatic yet calm. “Victoria, call nine-one-one, get the kids, and keep them with you.”

  Victoria stood frozen to the spot, with panic in her eyes and fear on her face.

  “Do it now,” Parker ordered. He wasted no time as he and the security officer hurried Ted inside the school building.

  Victoria reached for her cell and dialed 911, while concerned parents looked on, giving her words of reassurance. She glanced up and saw Alexandria peering through the car window with a wild-eyed look on her face. PJ had already undone his seat belt and climbed out of his father’s truck.

  Victoria finished the call, looking from the closed door through which Ted and Parker had just entered the building, to her daughter, whose eyes were now streaked with fear.

  Ms. Snow rushed over to Victoria. “I’ll watch them,” she said, grabbing hold of PJ’s hand as she headed toward Victoria�
�s car to get Alexandria. “You go and see about your husband.”

  Victoria rushed up the steps and into the building.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I Don’t Know What I’ll Do....

  “Yes, sweetie, your father’s going to be just fine,” Victoria said to Alexandria as she spoke into her phone. She was sitting in the waiting room of the Carlye Fraser cardiac care unit at Emory University Hospital. “Remember when we were riding over to the hospital and I explained to you about how sometimes when you don’t feel well, Mommy has to take you to see Dr. Hutchins? Well, that’s what we’re doing with your father,” she said, forcing herself to sound steady. “Those men who drove your daddy here in the ambulance were taking him to the doctor, and the doctor’s going to make him feel all better.”

  Victoria had to pause as she choked back a tear. Then, suddenly, her mind went back to a moment that made her nearly lose her train of thought. She remembered the Saturday morning two months ago when Alexandria had burst into their room and pounced on their bed, excited about her pending Jack and Jill playdate and her sleepover later that afternoon.Ted had pretended that her loud commotion had caused him to have a heart attack, falling back onto the bed as if he was in cardiac arrest. Alexandria had put her hand on his chest, had looked into his eyes with worry, and had said that his heart wasn’t right.

  Just as her daughter’s words had put a chill on her arms that morning, the same feeling ran through her now. Victoria shook her head, thinking about how strange and surreal Alexandria’s premonition had been. And the fact that it had happened on the same day that Parker walked back into her life made her shiver from the eerie foreboding.

  She tried not to fixate on the events of that day, forcing herself to push the troubling thoughts to another place, to be examined at another time. She knew she had to deal with what was happening in the present.