About two weeks later.
Fantasia just won the Elections, She was officially The city's Sanitor.
She got a personal invite to the White House from the President. She was supposed to bring family.
Her dad flew to New York to tag along. But this was confusing for Fantasia, she knew the media was gonna be there, how does she bring Taraji on the trip without raising questions? That was her Fear.
"Ready to meet the first lady!" Halle said bringing her bags downstairs. "too much luggage for 7 days, don't you think?" Jack teased. "I'm a lady!" Halle said making Taraji laugh. Fantasia was pacing in the room. How does she execute this?
Pam brought Josh as per Fantasia's request. She was carrying luggage. "and what's that for Aunt Pam?" Halle asked. "they're my bags. I'm going with!" Pam said. Taraji raised an unbelievable eyebrow look. Gabi arrived she's been too busy lately she needed a break.
"uh nah. Pam, you ain't coming with us. I already gave the President a number. 7. You ain't going" Fantasia said.
"Yes, it's you and the kids. Which makes it four. Your dad, Gabi, and I.. Seven" Pam said. "no. Taraji is the seventh one" Fantasia said.
"but why, She's not family!" Pam emphased.
"oh, Auntie Pam. I hate to be the one to break this in a nutshell for you but she's more family than you could ever be. Sorry just telling the truth" Halle said. "really how?"
"It's not important. point is, you ain't invited," Jack said.
"guys stop attacking her. She's going. I'm not!" Taraji said. Fantasia swallowed hard. "what? Mom, you are coming with us" Halle said. "Mom? Wait, what the fuck is going on here?" Pam looked confused.
"we will call you girl bye!" Gabi said pushing her out with her bags then shut the door.
"Baby, you not going, why?" Fantastic asked.
"work. Plus, it's best for everyone that I don't go" Taraji said. Fantasia was both relieved and sad.
"come on, you don't wanna meet the First Lady?" Halle asked. Taraji chuckled. "I have and I protected her while with the FBI. If you tell her you know me, she will give her regards. I'm good here at home. I have been in DC a good amount of time and it was great but I'm good. You guys go ahead, take videos, and send pictures. Protect each other and most importantly make mummy look good, it's politics but it's important" She said. The kids hugged her.
They took the luggage out. Ben said goodbye to Taraji and walked out. Gabi took her bags and her sister's.
"I'm kinda sad you ain't coming with us!"
"you are relieved!" Taraji said. Fantasia looked down at her fingers. Taraji stood up. She lifted her face. "it's okay. I'm not mad. I'm happy for you. I understand politics more than a lot of people. Go make yourself look good. You gonna be our first female president one day and I'm all for that honey. I love you, Tasia"
"I love you too!" Fantasia said.
"call me if you get bored okay?"
"I will be okay. Don't worry about me"
Fantasia kissed her and walked out. Taraji curled her lips looking at the big old house. She breathed deeply. "one week!" she said out loud, convincing herself.
"I can do this!" she added.
A few days later
They stayed in Washington DC for two weeks.
While they were gone...Taraji was lonely. Plus Fantasia was too busy to make a call, but
She texted and replied to texts.
Taraji felt like flying in DC.
Meanwhile, the President's PR team where advising Fantasia on how to keep winning and how to expect to climb the ladder. They strongly suggested that since she's a family woman, she should get a man and get married as soon as possible.
Her kids didn't like that, so Halle changed the subject.
"this food is delicious!"
"First Lady, Taraji sent her regards," Gabi said
"Taraji P. Henson? Oh my god, she never called me back, I owe that woman my life, she told you she saved my life? She's a good friend of mine, she's my bestie, how do you know her Doctor Barrino?"
"shes-- She dated a friend" Gabi couldn't think of anything. Fantasia shot her a "why would you say that" look.
"friend? As in like a girl? Oh my gosh, that's why she was trying to tell me. I wanted to hook her up with a guy she said something like, I rather date you than him then she walked away. She's into women? That's so sweet. Don't tell my husband but I had a fair share of lesbian moments in college. I kinda love when a woman loves another woman. It's pure love, it's beautiful. Well, I have something I need you to give Taraji. Please tell her to visit, we missed her around here"
After girl's night. Fantasia had a meeting with the president.
That night after the meeting Fantasia made time to call Taraji.
Taraji: finally I was losing my mind.
Tasia: hey honey. I'm sorry about being silent. PR work. Speaking of PR. I'm gonna get hitched for Camera purposes and I need you to not run.
Tarajii: to whom?
Tasia: Hunter.
Taraji: oh boy
Tasia: he's a businessman and fits the position. I know him. I need somebody that I can trust. I kinda trust him for this.
Taraji: (she was speechless and hurt, but didn't want to sound selfish) Okay. What does this whole thing say about us, there's still an us.
Tasia: we are an us baby. And I will find a way to make this work.
Taraji: (hurt) okay.
This whole thing pains Taraji but she felt she wasn't allowed to object cause she was married too, technically. She told herself she wasn't gonna stress about it because she just got a promotion, she was given a job as a DA, and she was back to reading books to become a brilliant lawyer. All these small steps she's been taking were finally taking her to her dream job, a federal judge. Being a cop, becoming a detective, becoming an FBI agent. Now becoming an assistant attorney in the DA's office, she had few steps left to complete her dream. She was doing so great and the DA loved her and her experiences.
She was always working. Studying or swamped at the office.
Fantasia extended the trip to another week in DC because of politics. Hunter joined them in DC. They got engaged. It was all over the local news.
Taraji changed the channel after seeing their top story, her tears came out, and she couldn't believe how emotional this made her. Isabella massaged her shoulders. She sniffled and secretly wiped her tears. "It should be you out there!" Isabella said. "no. I'm where I belong. Here. See you in court" Taraji said and left her office.
The Barrinos returned after a month of being in DC. Yes, a month. Seven days turned into Four whole weeks
Halle got a medal from the First Lady after they told her she was the blackmailer of the family. The First Lady said she gotta do what she gotta do. She also named Jack, the most handsome young man she's ever seen. She said Josh was made for greatness.
They were still talking about it and enjoying everything when they stepped into the house.
They all paused looking at Taraji's bags. Sadness was written on their faces.
Fantasia opened her mouth, but no words came out she swallowed hard.
Taraji came down. "hey y'all. Glad you're home I missed all of you" Taraji hugged the kids.
"Mom, where are you going?"
"I can't say. But I will come by every day to see y'all, it's for a while, I hope" Taraji said.
Fantasia dismissed them with her eyes. They walked away.
"What are you doing? This is not funny" Fantasia said.
"I wasn't trying to be," Taraji said packing her books in a box.
"Taraji stop, okay stop!" Fantasia commanded and grabbed Taraji's hands. "we need to talk! Hunter is just a media strategy."
"he is and it won't stop. Everything will always be, with you."
"what are you saying? You can't just leave you are my wife now! We signed Taraji."
"We did but it wasn't legal, I'm still married to Vic, We bribed the judge to make it legal. It is not!"
"bribe or not, it is legal to me. You are my wife. For better or worse"
"am I? You planned the whole trip to DC without me. You invited everyone but me. You went to DC for a month planning your whole future without me, without considering my feelings or opinion. I'm your fucking wife, you can't even talk to me about shit. I didn't mind being your wife behind closed doors because that's enough for me. But now this whole thing is messing with my well-being. My wife is marrying some guy and what then? Are you gonna kick me out when he comes? Share my bed with him? How does the whole shit work Fantasia? Educate me, please. please educate me!" Taraji shouted. She didn't care who was listening, even though it was supposed to be a secret.
"I don't know how baby. But I want you here when I figure that out. You are not going anywhere!"
"I'm leaving. Figure your shit out. Call me when you do. And oh, Anna is the one who leaked the news. I talked to her, it is not you she's trying to hurt, is Jack. She's pregnant and he's sleeping with Kelly. Talk to your son 'cause if I will have to I will break his bones" Taraji said and pulled her bags out. Fantasia got frustrated and acted instantly. She shut the door
Door slam:
"hmm-mm no, you ain't going anywhere baby no!" Fantasia said crying.
"Tasia move!"
"no Taraji. Baby I wronged you... Millions of times and there are millions more times in the future because I'm still gonna hurt you. over and over, but you ain't going anywhere. You gonna have to fight me to get out this door."
Taraji looked at her, tears coming out.
"I hate--"
"I hate you!" Taraji said voice breaking. "I hate me too, I hate me. I hate me so much! My goal is to make this right but every day I fail. I keep failing. I keep hurting you. I'm bitter, I'm selfish, I'm a freaking coward, I'm stupid. I'm fucking stupid for picking my job over my dream. You-- baby you are my dream. You are my fucking dream. So no, you ain't leaving me"
Taraji took off her ring. Fantasia's tears were like a turned tap, just coming out uncontrollably. She placed it on the coffee table. "Imprison me, control me, do whatever the fuck you see fit. I will stay but I'm done with you. Don't talk to me, get the fuck out of my way. And get the fucking ring auctioned, you too broke to act cool. Also, I rented the damn house, I found a family to rent. Tasia you need the money so don't try to rewrite the script cause I went through your safe. You can't afford this life anymore. You might lose the house too" Taraji said
"you know if I wasn't trying to kiss your ass to stay, I would kick it for going through my private stuff!"
"Like I care what you wish to do!" Taraji said. she was just saying shit she didn't mean because of the hurt she felt. She walked away from her.
Fantasia exhaled deeply from her tummy. At least she managed to make her stay.ca
I'll still ride this bumpy ride?