The Other Side of Dare

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

Zachary yelled back. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He returned his attention back to Gabrielle. “How do you know that? Because he told you that. You apparently don’t know how some of these all-boys networks operate. They can be quite deceptive.”

  “Mr. Shaw wants me to win this but he doesn’t feel he’s the best person to represent me since it has become a little more complicated. So he called to another firm and asked them to send over someone to assist us. The person who was supposed to come was unable to, so they ended up sending Andrew by sheer coincidence.”

  “And you seriously believe that when Andrew heard about it, he didn’t know it was you?”

  “If what he said is true, then I’m pretty sure he didn’t know until he stepped into Robert Shaw’s office and saw me sitting there.”

  Zachary nodded. “Okay. If you say so.”

  Jasmine yelled again in a singsong voice, “Dr. Z, I’m going to start without you!”

  Zachary yelled back. “And you’ll be cheating if you do!”

  “You go on and play with Jasmine. We can talk about this later.”

  Zachary and Gabrielle went back in and played with Jasmine. After they’d eaten supper and Jasmine was in bed, Gabrielle told Zachary what Andrew had proposed.

  “So he says he wants to help you?” Zachary said.

  “Yes.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “I do.”

  “Then what are you going to do?” Zachary asked.

  Gabrielle sat back against the couch. “I don’t know. Mr. Shaw trusts him. I trust him. I believe he really isn’t going along with Paris on this. And I believe he’s thinking that if Paris learns he’s going to be representing me, it will make her back down and not take this to a court hearing.”

  Zachary put his hand slightly over his mouth. “That’s a thought.” He took his hand down. “But if he’s your lawyer, you’d have to tell him things that he could possibly use against you.”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “Andrew would never do that.”

  “The Andrew you may have known would never do that. How well can you say that you know him now?” Zachary squared his body with Gabrielle. He took her hand and locked his fingers with hers. “People change. He’s married to Paris now, the evil queen.”

  “I wouldn’t go as far as to call Paris the evil queen,” Gabrielle said.

  “She invited you into her home. She then kicked you out without notice for reasons you can’t even tell me, I might add. Years later, she sees you, learns you’re about to adopt a nine-year-old child who has been orphaned by the death of both parents, at least that’s all she knows from the outside, and what does she spend her waking moments doing? Thinking of ways to keep you from getting that child. And for what reason? What reason does she have in doing this, other than feeling like she may be able to hurt you? She doesn’t care how any of this might affect poor little Jasmine. She doesn’t care that this is what Jasmine’s mother wanted. She just wants to put a dagger in your heart. That sounds like evil to me.”

  “I can’t answer what’s motivating Paris to do what she’s doing. Maybe she honestly believes she’s doing an honorable thing. It appears she really thinks I’m an awful person. So in her mind, she believes she’s actually rescuing Jasmine from the likes of me.”

  “Why don’t you try and talk to Paris?”

  “That’s what Andrew said, to which I say: Why don’t I just talk to this wall here instead? It would yield the exact same results.”

  Zachary laughed. “You may be right. But if you were to tell Paris the truth—”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “No. I wouldn’t do that. Not Paris. Never.”

  Zachary rubbed her hand he still held with his other hand. “I don’t mean all of it. Just the truth that Jasmine is your daughter you gave up for adoption.”

  Gabrielle quietly pulled her hand out of Zachary’s. “I shouldn’t have to tell her that for her to leave me alone. None of this is her business.”

  Zachary captured Gabrielle’s hand back. “If it will make her abandon this ridiculous endeavor, wouldn’t it be worth it? Huh? Wouldn’t it?”

  “I don’t know. It might make her start thinking. What if she puts one and one together and realizes who Jasmine’s father is? That would be nothing but more ammunition for her to use against me and, sad to say, even against her own father.”

  “You think she would use something like that against—”

  “Shhh. Not so loud.” Gabrielle looked in the direction of upstairs.

  “She’s asleep. She can’t hear us.”

  “You never know. I don’t want to take any chances and end up making a misstep in all of this.”

  Zachary nodded. “Okay. But if you were to talk to Paris and let her know she doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on, maybe she’ll back down and let this go. So what do you think you want to do? About Andrew representing you?”

  Gabrielle shrugged. “I don’t know. Mr. Shaw thinks we should let Andrew in on the case. You think I should tell Paris the truth. I don’t know the right thing to do.”

  “Well, in that case, there’s only one person for us to go and talk to.”

  “You’re right,” Gabrielle said. “So do you want to do the honors and call or would you rather I?”

  Zachary smiled. “It doesn’t matter. You can do it.” Zachary stood up.

  Gabrielle stood up next to him. Zachary took her hand and kissed it. “If anyone can set you in the right direction, He most definitely can.” Zachary released her hand.

  Both Zachary and Gabrielle kneeled down in front of the couch. She took Zachary’s hand and held it as she bowed her head and began to pray. “Heavenly Father, I come to You today, thanking You for who You are. Lord, I need Your help; I need Your divine counsel. I’m in need of Your direction. I want to do the right thing. Lord, please . . .” Gabrielle began to cry.

  Zachary placed his arm around her. “Guide us, O thou great Jehovah. Bless Gabrielle. We know that the battle is not ours, it’s Yours. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your peace. Thank You for Your grace. In all of our ways, we will acknowledge You, and we know You will direct our path. We thank You in advance, and as always, we give You all the praise and all the glory, in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

  Zachary helped Gabrielle up and back on the couch. She was still crying. “Thank you,” she said in between her sobs.

  He hugged her. “I told you, Gabrielle: We’re in this together. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Do you hear me?”

  She nodded. “Zachary?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to work with Andrew on this.”

  Zachary placed his hand under Gabrielle’s chin and lifted it up. “Are you sure? Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m sure.”

  Chapter 20

  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

  —Colossians 3:18

  Paris greeted Andrew at the door. “Ask me how my day went,” she said.

  Andrew looked at her. “Oh, so you’re talking to me now.” He walked over and set his briefcase down at the bottom of the staircase.

  “Andrew, please don’t. I’m really trying here.”

  Andrew stood like a statue and looked at her.

  “So, you’re not going to kiss me?”

  “Paris, you and I need to talk.”

  Paris grabbed him by the hand and led him into the den. She sat down, pulling him down with her. “You’re right. You’re my husband and I need to give you the respect of hearing what you have to say.”

  “I want you to drop this thing you’re pursuing with Gabrielle. I want us to concentrate more on us and our family.” He frowned. “Do you understand?”

  “I hear you. And I know what you’re trying to say. But, Andrew, I’m telling you: I don’t want that little girl having to grow up with Gabrielle for a mother.”

  “Why not? Why do you keep pushing this? It’s none of your business. In fact, when we
were all trying to help that little girl by seeing if we might be a match as a bone marrow donor, you were the only one who wanted no part of it.”

  Paris smiled as she turned her body more toward Andrew and leaned in. “That’s true. But things have changed. Things are different now. You always tell me I need to learn how to care about someone other than myself. Well, Andrew Holyfield, I’m doing just that. We’d like a family of our own. For whatever reason, you and I haven’t been able to start one. This little girl needs a family and a good home. Now, I might not have stepped up when Jasmine needed me before, but Imani did. It was Imani’s bone marrow that saved that little girl’s life. What good is saving a life if we’re not willing to do whatever we can to ensure the quality of that life?”

  “Gabrielle is a good person.”

  “And you know that how? Have you ever lived in the same place with her?”

  Andrew dropped his head down. “I need you to let go of this vendetta you have against Gabrielle. If you don’t, you’re going to force me to do something you’re not going to like. I’m telling you, Paris. Don’t make me have to go against you.”

  Paris grinned. “You’re not going to do anything to hurt me or make me look bad. You love me too much, Andrew. I know you say you’re not going to help me get Jasmine, but you’ll come around and see things my way. I believe that. I’m praying for that.”

  “Why are you so bent on doing this? You see it’s not something I’m going to support you on. You can’t go to court to take a child away from someone who you claim is unfit because she’s a single mother, and then you go in there doing this as a single person.”

  “What are you saying? You’ll divorce me if I continue this?” Paris stood up and placed her hand on her hip. “Is that what you’re saying, Andrew? That you would actually leave me over somebody like her?”

  Andrew stood and gathered her up by the shoulders. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. What I am saying is that I’m not with you on this. And if you force me to choose between what I believe to be right, and you, then I’ll choose Gabrielle Mercedes’s side.”

  “Because you and Gabrielle were once lovers.” Paris had a defiant look in her eyes.

  “I told you that Gabrielle and I were never lovers. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that.”

  “Then why are you taking her side over mine?”

  “I’m not taking her side over yours. I’m taking the right side over wrong. You’re wrong in what you’re doing, Paris. I realize I’ve allowed you to do things like this in the past. If you wanted something, I went along with you. But I’m not doing it on this. You’re playing with people’s lives. That little girl is not a collectible doll or a Maltese puppy, for that matter, that you can get when you want, then throw to the side when you get bored or decide you’re tired of it.”

  Paris abruptly pulled away from him and flopped back down on the couch. She folded her arms hard against her chest. “I didn’t get rid of Ambrosia. I’m working now, and I can’t take care of her like she needs. I sent her over to my folks’ house until I can manage things better around here.”

  Andrew slowly eased down next to Paris. He tried to take her hand. She snatched it out of his. He tried again, and again, she snatched her hand from him.

  “Look at me,” he said.

  Paris continued to look away.

  “Paris, please look at me.”

  Paris turned toward him.

  “I’m proud of you for deciding what you want. You wanted this job and now you’re doing it. But be honest, though. You wanted that Maltese and after about a month, you lost interest and moved on to something else. I’m not saying anything is wrong with that.”

  “Ambrosia needed more attention, and with me working the way I’m doing, I can’t give her the attention in the way she needs. Imani loves having her over there. She has more time to take care of and play with her. So everything is working out.”

  “Okay, tell me this. Let’s say Gabrielle decided to just let you have Jasmine. Right now, she agrees we’d be the better parents for her. What would you do then?”

  “Why would she just up and agree right now?” Paris tilted her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if you were Jasmine’s father.”

  “What do you mean if you didn’t know better?”

  Paris grinned. “Nothing. I was just saying that the way you’re championing on her and Gabrielle’s behalf, it’s almost as though you have a vested interested in this.”

  “I do.” He touched Paris’s cheek. “I want you to drop this and concentrate on us. Let’s keep the focus on our family.”

  “I am concentrating on us. And believe me: I’m focused on our family. I just believe you’d be an amazing father. And whether you want to admit it or not, I’d be a pretty good mother. Jasmine is a beautiful little girl with a bright future ahead of her. I want her to have the best, and I think you and I are in the best position to give her just that.”

  Andrew smiled. “You’re right. You’re going to be a great mother. So we’ll keep trying to have our own little bundle of joy and leave Gabrielle alone.” He shrunk down to look into her eyes. “Okay?” He took her by her shoulders with her arms still folded.

  Paris looked sheepishly into his eyes and smiled. “Whatever you say.” She unfolded her arms. “You’re the man of this house. You’re my husband.”

  Andrew squinted one eye and leaned his head to one side. “Okay. So does this mean this is settled?”

  “You’re my husband. You say it’s settled, then it’s settled.”

  Andrew nodded slowly as though he was skeptical. He grabbed her hand. “Okay, so tell me about your day.”

  She grinned. “I told you I am co-chair with this guy named Darius Connors. We’ve put together this amazing plan to reach the young voters. I am too excited.”

  “Sounds like you and this Darius Connors guy make a good team.”

  “That what he says. So far, he’s okay. It’s only been a few weeks. But we’re definitely going to be working some long, hard hours. We’ll likely be out late a lot of nights.”

  “Should I be jealous?”

  “Of what? We’re working . . . hard. And Darius is married with three children. William wants us working nightclubs and going to college campuses and various college and church functions.”

  “As long as you’re happy doing this for however long you decide to do it.”

  Paris pulled back from Andrew. “What are you implying now? You don’t think I’m going to stick with this?”

  Andrew laughed and threw his hands up in the air. “I am not going there. This is between you and whoever hired you. I’m just going to be your loving, supportive husband.”

  “Yeah. My loving, supportive husband who supports me in everything except when it comes to helping me rescue a sweet little girl from the clutches of that wretched woman and into our loving home.”

  “Paris—”

  Paris threw up her hands in surrender. “I’m done. I’m done. I’ve said all I have to say to you on the matter. But at least you know where I stand.”

  Andrew pulled her close and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “I love you.”

  She smiled and rocked her head from side to side. She widened her eyes. “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 21

  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

  —Colossians 3:19

  “How do you know? Have you ever lived in the same place with her?” After Andrew went upstairs to change out of his suit, he replayed the question again in his mind his wife had just asked him earlier about Gabrielle. He could tell her the truth: Yes, he had lived in the same place with her once. He knew what kind of person Gabrielle was. And after speaking with her in Robert Shaw’s office today, he saw that she was the same caring person he’d known before. Paris had been wrong in how she’d treated Gabrielle. And she was wrong in what she was trying to do now.

  He did love Paris. And as great of a f
ather as he believed he would be, he also believed she would be a good mother. She’d been great with Ambrosia for those three weeks she’d had her. In fact, he was feeling a bit jealous in the beginning with how much love and attention she was lavishing on the puppy. She bought the puppy a beautiful sparkling collar that, at first glance, looked like diamonds. She assured Andrew she wouldn’t be crazy enough to spend that much money on a diamond collar for a dog. The collar was purely cubic zirconia made to appear to be diamonds.

  Paris dressed the puppy up in little foo-foo outfits. She carried her around like she was a baby. Paris puppy-proofed the areas where the puppy might be. She even started cooking for the two of them just so they could be at home with the puppy.

  Then Paris’s father offered her a job working on his campaign. Andrew didn’t even know Paris was interested in working outside the home. In the past, she’d told him that wasn’t something she cared to do. And he wasn’t the type who felt he should tell his wife what she should do, not when it came to things like that. So if she wanted to stay home, it was fine with him. If she wanted to work outside the home, that was also fine with him. They were a team.

  He wasn’t so sure about the guy she was working with, though. Andrew could see how her eyes seemed to light up now. She even appeared more receptive when he asked her to drop her campaign of going after Gabrielle to take Jasmine away from her. That was just senseless to him. If at some point the two of them were to learn that they needed to adopt a child, then there were lots of children who needed parents and a loving home. They didn’t need to go after the same child Gabrielle already had.

  The next day, his phone rang at his office. It was attorney Robert Shaw.

  “Andrew,” Robert said. “Gabrielle Mercedes called. If you’re still willing and haven’t changed your mind, she’s agreed to allow you to work on her case.”

  Andrew scratched his head. “I’m willing. But let’s just pray that it’s over and it won’t come to going to court as a challenge.”

  “Do you know something I don’t know?”

  “As much as my firm would love to have the money from this, I’m praying I may have negotiated an out-of-court settlement without any shots fired.”