The Other Side of Dare

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

—1 Corinthians 14:30

  Gabrielle called Tiffany to see if she could stop by. She decided since she was already out, she might as well take care of everything all at one time.

  “I’ve been worried sick about you,” Tiffany said after she opened the door and led Gabrielle to the kitchen. “Come on in here and we can talk while I finish cooking. I’m trying to finish before Darius gets home.” Tiffany frowned. “So what’s going on?”

  “I’m sorry about yesterday afternoon,” Gabrielle said.

  “You were bringing Jasmine over. I waited and waited, then after a while, I became concerned because you hadn’t shown up or called. That’s when I called and Jasmine told me you had company,” Tiffany said. “Jade’s worried about Jasmine because she won’t talk to her. Jade thinks she’s done something to cause Jasmine to be mad at her. What is going on?”

  Gabrielle was sitting at the glass table. She picked up a napkin and began dabbing her eyes.

  Tiffany put her arm around Gabrielle’s neck. “You’re crying. Please tell me what’s going on. Did you hear back from the court on your case? They’re not taking Jasmine away from you, are they? Please tell me that’s not it.”

  Gabrielle shook her head as she sniffled. “No. That’s not it. I’m sorry. Tiffany, I need to ask you something.”

  Tiffany sat down at the table. “Okay. Whatever it is, if it’s in my power to do it, you know I’m there.” She took hold of Gabrielle’s hand and squeezed it.

  Gabrielle smiled. “It’s a question really. Possibly two.”

  “All right. I’m listening.”

  “The night of the slumber party when I told you and Fatima the truth about Jasmine and me . . .”

  Tiffany released Gabrielle’s hand. “I have to admit: That was truly a shocker.”

  “Yeah.” Gabrielle looked hard into Tiffany’s face. “Did you happen to mention what I told you to anyone?”

  “No. Of course not. You asked us not to.”

  “I know. But somehow it’s come out.”

  Tiffany sat back, leaning slightly away from Gabrielle. “Well, it wasn’t me, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “I’m not implying or accusing you of doing anything . . . not on purpose anyway.”

  “Not on purpose or otherwise. Have you spoken with Fatima?” Tiffany sat up straighter.

  “Yes. She said it wasn’t her.”

  Tiffany twisted her mouth. “So why are you trying to find out about it? What exactly happened?”

  “The woman who has been causing me problems in my efforts to adopt Jasmine came to my house yesterday. She blurted out the facts about Jasmine being my child that I’d given up for adoption.”

  Tiffany put her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, no,” she said, taking her hand down from her mouth. “Please don’t tell me—”

  Gabrielle nodded and rocked slowly. “Yes. Jasmine overheard every word. And now she’s devastated, absolutely devastated.”

  “That poor child. I can only imagine. So that’s why she shut down.”

  “Yes. She won’t talk to me. She just sits and stares. About the only person she’ll respond to much at all is Zachary. In fact, he’s with her right now.”

  “I can’t believe someone would be so evil as to put you through what you’re telling me this woman is putting you through. That’s just the devil there.”

  “She didn’t just start doing things like this. I haven’t said too much to many people. But she’s been trying to stop me from getting Jasmine so she can adopt her.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. I had no idea you were going through all of this. I knew you were having delays with the adoption going through, but I just figured it was how the process normally worked. I also knew you’d helped when they were searching for a bone marrow donor. I knew you’d taken the leave of absence to help them over the past months. And I knew after the mother died, you were in the process of trying to legally adopt Jasmine. But to have somebody do something like this . . .” Tiffany shook her head as she sneered.

  “The woman’s name is Paris. Ironically, I knew her long before all of this. I stayed at her apartment for about two and half months when I was eighteen.”

  Tiffany laughed. “There seems to be quite a few people around with the name Paris these days. Darius works with a woman named Paris.”

  “The name Paris isn’t all that common,” Gabrielle said.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “So where exactly does Darius work?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I asked where does Darius work. I was here the day he came in and said he’d gotten a new job. I was wondering where he’s working?” Gabrielle readjusted her body in the chair and clasped her hands together.

  “He doesn’t actually work for a company. It’s more like service work.”

  “That sounds interesting. So who is he doing work for?”

  Tiffany gave a short laugh. “Most likely nobody you’d know.”

  “Tiffany, why don’t you want to tell me? Is it some kind of secret or something?”

  “No. Darius just told me if I tell people they might think I’m bragging or something. I’m proud of where he works and what he’s doing,” Tiffany said.

  “If it’s not a secret, and you know I wouldn’t dare think you were bragging, not the way you were praying for him to get a new job, then tell me.” Gabrielle fixed her eyes on Tiffany’s.

  Tiffany grinned and became almost giddy. “I’ve wanted to tell somebody this for the longest!” She continued grinning. “He’s working on this campaign to get Lawrence Simmons reelected. You probably remember him; he did that bone marrow drive back when everybody was trying to find a donor match for Jasmine.”

  Gabrielle suddenly became sick to her stomach.

  Tiffany frowned as she touched Gabrielle’s hand. “Are you okay? You don’t look so hot.”

  Gabrielle started fanning herself with her hands. “May I have some water?”

  Tiffany hurried and got Gabrielle a glass of cold water. Gabrielle took sips, occasionally pressing the glass to her head.

  “Are you all right? Should I call someone for you? Do you want me to call Zachary?”

  Gabrielle waved her off. “I’m okay.” She placed her hand over her heart. “Tiffany, this is important. Did you happen to mention to Darius about me giving my baby up for adoption? Please, Tiffany; this is important.”

  Tiffany took a deep breath and frowned.

  “Please, Tiffany. I really need to know if you did.”

  “He’s my husband,” Tiffany said, now on the verge of tears. “He’s hardly ever interested in things that have to do with me or the kids.”

  “Did you tell him?”

  “I may have mentioned something to him along those lines.” Tiffany put her hands up to her face and began to shake her head. “But he wouldn’t have said anything.” She took her hand down and looked at Gabrielle. “Why would he? He doesn’t really care about you. I don’t mean that to sound cruel or anything, but he doesn’t care, not enough to tell your business to anyone. The woman who’s been giving you troubles in adopting Jasmine. . . what’s her last name?”

  Gabrielle took Tiffany by the hand and squeezed it.

  Tiffany shook her head slowly as tears fell. “No.”

  “Her name is Paris Simmons—”

  “No,” Tiffany said, her voice cracking.

  “Holyfield.”

  Tiffany continued shaking her head in disbelief. “Darius told her? He was the one who told her? He was using me to get information to give to her? That’s why he was always asking me how things were going with you. He was feeding her with information.” She pressed her lips tight. “That’s why he offered to keep the children, his children that he never volunteered to keep, whenever we were going to be doing something together. He wanted me to find out things so he could carry it back to her.”

  “Don’t get too upset. I don’t want to be the cause of any problems between you two.”

 
“Oh, you’re not the cause. You’re merely the heat bringing the light that’s being shed on this dark situation.” Tiffany folded her arms. “Last year he lied about being the one spreading that information about you. He lies about other women.” She unfolded her arms. “He thinks I’m stupid, but I’m not. I know for a fact he’s had a least one affair while we’ve been married, even if I don’t know the name of the woman. He’s just a liar, plain and simple. But my part in this ruse ends today.”

  “I’m sorry, Tiffany. All I came here to do was to find out who may have told.”

  “And surprise, surprise, turns out it was me.”

  “But you didn’t do it on purpose. You didn’t know.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You told me something in confidence. And I was foolish enough to share it with the person I’m supposed to be one with, never thinking it would go any further than our bedroom pillow.”

  “I don’t want to leave you like this, but I really need to be getting home.” Gabrielle stood up.

  Tiffany stood as well. “I have one question for you. Has Darius ever come on to you? Has he ever hit on you?”

  “Tiffany, don’t do this to yourself.”

  Tiffany chuckled. “Just as I thought. You’re too honest of a person to lie so you merely divert. What about Fatima? Do you know if he’s ever come on to her?”

  “I can’t answer for anyone else.”

  Tiffany nodded. “Fair enough. Then I’ll just ask her myself.”

  Gabrielle hugged Tiffany. “Pray before you do anything. Okay?”

  “Sure,” Tiffany said. “And I am so sorry for what my action has caused you.”

  “Well, I’m going to believe that what Satan meant for bad, God will use it for good. I have to believe and hold on to that. Otherwise, I’d probably lose my mind right about now.” Gabrielle took Tiffany’s hand and gave it one last quick squeeze. “I’ll talk to you later. Keep us in your prayers.”

  “I will. And you do the same for us.” Tiffany walked Gabrielle to the door.

  Gabrielle stood on the other side of the door after it closed, placing her hand on it as she said a quick prayer.

  Chapter 40

  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

  —2 Timothy 1:13

  Gabrielle walked into the house tired, but determined to keep going no matter what. She could hear Jasmine and Zachary in the den playing checkers.

  “Crown me. Crown me!” Jasmine said with a child’s sinister laugh.

  Gabrielle almost didn’t want to go in and ruin what sounded like Jasmine being happy. She knew as soon as Jasmine saw her, she’d likely shut down as quickly as she’d done the last day and a half.

  Gabrielle took a deep breath, put a smile on her face, and stepped into view. “Hi there.”

  Zachary looked up and smiled. “Hi. You came back, and not a minute too soon. I’m getting beat by this little nine-year-old genius.”

  “Yes, I’m back.”

  “I take it you were able to finish up all of your business?” Zachary said.

  Jasmine got up from the checkerboard and started toward the entrance opening. Gabrielle was sure she was about to do what she’d done since hearing Paris’s revelation—refuse to remain in the same room with her, if she could at all help it, any longer than she had to. Tears began to sting Gabrielle’s eyes. This hurt so much. And no matter what she said or did, she didn’t seem able to fix it. She wanted to reach out and pull Jasmine into her heart, to hug her so tightly that the ice enshrining her whole being now would simply melt.

  Jasmine stopped as soon as she was close to Gabrielle. Gabrielle wasn’t sure if she should attempt to reach out to her or stand to the side so she could walk by unimpeded.

  Zachary stood up and looked their way. She could feel his heart reaching out to her . . . to Jasmine from where he stood.

  Jasmine must have felt it, too, because she turned back and looked at Zachary. He smiled at her and nodded. Jasmine turned and took a step forward, then stopped.

  “Miss G?”

  Shocked that Jasmine had actually said anything to her without being prompted, Gabrielle struggled to find her voice. “Yes, baby.”

  Jasmine held her head higher, her face seemingly set like harden dough. Then all of a sudden, the most beautiful thing Gabrielle had seen since Gabrielle told Jasmine she could change into her new shorts outfit to wear to Jade’s house yesterday: Jasmine smiled. “I love you,” Jasmine said.

  Gabrielle couldn’t help it; she started crying, placing her hand up to her mouth as she dropped down to her knees. “Well, I love you more.” She hugged Jasmine.

  Jasmine wrapped her arms around Gabrielle tightly. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  Gabrielle continued to hold her. She nodded. “It’s okay. It’s okay. And I’m sorry you had to find that out in the way that you did. I would never do anything to purposely hurt you. I hope you know that. Never.”

  Jasmine pulled away from Gabrielle’s embrace and looked into her eyes as she smiled. “I know. But when I first heard it, I thought you didn’t want me.”

  “Oh, baby. I’ve always wanted you. Always! And I’ve always wanted you to have the best life has to offer. I wanted and want you more than words can say. That’s why I’m fighting so hard to make sure you and I are family—officially.”

  “We’re already family,” Jasmine said. “In here.” She placed her hand over her heart. “Dr. Z and I had a nice long talk while you were gone. He told me how much you really love me. He told me how special I am. To have a mother who loved me enough that she gave me life. And when she felt like she couldn’t do right by me, not because of anything she’d done, she . . . you . . . loved me enough to place me in the arms of someone who could and would.”

  “Dr. Z is right. You are . . . a very special little girl. And I thank God every day of my life for you.”

  Jasmine nodded. “Dr. Z said when I needed you, when my life depended upon it, that you were there for me. You didn’t think about yourself; all you thought about was making sure I was all right.”

  Gabrielle was so overwhelmed with emotion she could only nod her head.

  Jasmine continued. “I remember that first day I saw you . . . in the hospital. You came in and you just looked at me. I thought it was because I wasn’t the prettiest looking child at the time. Dr. Z said you couldn’t speak because of how beautiful you thought I was. He said I took your breath away.” She turned back and looked at him.

  Gabrielle nodded. She forced out her words. “Dr. Z speaks the truth. When I look at you, you always take my breath away. Love can be hard to put into words.”

  Jasmine laughed. “That’s exactly what Dr. Z said.” She turned back and looked at him once more, then gave him a thumbs-up.

  Gabrielle looked up at Zachary and smiled.

  “Dr. Z said you’ve done more to show me how much you love me than words will ever say. You gave me life, you gave me parents who loved me . . . and, Miss G, they did love me. They were so good to me. They were.”

  Gabrielle nodded. “I know. I’m just glad to hear you say it was so.”

  “I know. Because some children end up with parents who don’t love them or treat them right.” Jasmine placed her hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “Like you had to go through.” Jasmine looked at Zachary again. “Dr. Z told me how your mother died when you were a little girl, younger than me. And that your father was sent away. How you had to go live with another family, and they didn’t always treat you with love.”

  As hard as she was trying not to, Gabrielle was really crying now. She nodded. “That’s right.”

  “I don’t mean to make you cry.” Jasmine hugged her.

  Gabrielle stood up. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

  Jasmine took Gabrielle by the hand and pulled her over to the couch, where they all sat down—Jasmine sandwiched in between Gabrielle and Zachary.

  Jasmine turned to Gabrielle. “I know you did
n’t have any other choice at that time. I understand all of that now.”

  Gabrielle touched Jasmine’s hand. “We always have choices. I just made the one I felt was the least about me and the most about you. If I had kept you—”

  “You don’t have to say it,” Jasmine said. “Dr. Z told me how life works. He said you could have made a different choice and I might have been wishing my life was totally different. You just never know.”

  “Dr. Z lays too heavy of things that sweet little girls like you don’t truly need to be bothered with sometimes.” Gabrielle cut her eyes at Zachary.

  “It’s not too heavy. He just knows how smart I am and that I can handle real talk.” Jasmine grinned up at Zachary, who winked back at her.

  Gabrielle laughed. “Real talk, huh? Yeah. Real talk.”

  “But I know you did the best you could when you could. I just thought you didn’t want me, and that hurt. It did. It hurt.”

  Gabrielle hugged her. “People who give their children up for adoption don’t always do it because they don’t want them. In fact, sometimes it’s because they want them so much. Knowing you were in this world somewhere gave me hope. I prayed you would someday want to find me and that we could have this talk. But—”

  “But God had plans with an earlier timetable,” Jasmine said, pulling out of Gabrielle’s embrace and looking up at Gabrielle. “So we met now.”

  Gabrielle pulled Jasmine into her arms and held her. “I love you so much. I wish you only knew just how much. And there’s nothing . . . nothing I wouldn’t do to protect and take care of you. Nothing.”

  Jasmine pulled away and looked up at Gabrielle. “I know. I love you . . . Miss G.”

  Gabrielle broke down in tears, reeling Jasmine back into her arms. “I love you more, Miss Jazz.”

  Chapter 41

  Therefore thus saith the Lord God; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

  —Amos 3:11

  Darius stepped lively in the house, having come from work where, for the second day in a row, Paris again hadn’t shown up. It had been two days now since he’d last laid eyes on her. That was fine with him because he really didn’t feel like dealing with any drama Paris might have from all that had recently transpired between them. He and Paris had both broken their marriage vows. Yes, they’d slept together. He’d done it a few times before, so it didn’t bother him as much. But he knew that women weren’t as adept to committing adultery as maybe men were. At least, that was his perspective on it. He hadn’t found a woman yet who’d been with him and not regretted the act of having committed a sin after it was over, including those who weren’t big-time Christians. They all seemed to wrestle with what they’d done.