"So, will you like to tell me why you made such a big scene at church today?" I asked while trying to keep a respectful tone. However attempting to get the truth at that moment was almost impossible because my ma had already become defensive. "Don't you talk to me like that!" My ma said as she stared me into my eyes. "Satan, you better get thee behind me!" She continued this time looking away at the wall as if the devil himself was standing there. "Ma do you know what Pastor Hunter was really talking about today? He said I look like his mother!" I said hoping for the truth. "Listen ma, I don't want to be doing this with you all day 'cause I got a lot going on in my life already. So I'm just gonna ask." I continued this time rearranging my stance on this subject.
"You're not too old to get slapped in your mouth! Don't be sassy with me young lady!" My ma said as she still avoided the whole subject altogether. "And you wouldn't be going through a lot if you would stop following up behind that Shawn boy. Stop fornicating, repent, and get yourself a real man. Instead of a JAIL BIRD THUG...HA! She said with great maliciousness in her voice. I wouldn't be human if what she said didn't hurt my feelings. However I managed to set aside my feelings and continue to dig for the truth. "Is Pastor Hunter my real father?" I said without biting my tongue. My question must have really pissed my mother off because she rolled her eyes before responding. "How dare you ask such a question. Deacon Leroy White is your father, Lord rest his soul, so stop with all this foolishness!" My ma hastily said as she folded her arms and raised her nose in the air. At that moment, I disappointedly accepted my mothers answered. Nevertheless, my ma noticed my disappointment and tried to offer an explanation.
"Like I said, Pastor Hunter has not been in his right mind for years now. This ain't the only time he offered his locket. He just tried to give it away to another young lady a few months. Just let it go baby." My mother said while reaching to rub my shoulder. It was hard to believe that Pastor Hunter wasn't in his right mind because he remembered my name. However I was over the conversation and just swallowed the pill of information. I hugged my mother, mouthed a I love you, and simply boarded the plane back to Houston. I couldn't help thinking about everything that happened during my short stay home. However I temporarily paused all thoughts while watching my plane lift off from the runway and into the air.
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"So, what are they saying now?" I asked while tightly gripping the phone as if it may slip from my hands. I anticipated good news however what I heard next almost destroyed me. "Well, they will be sending me back to Banksville." Shawn said with a tone of defeat. I swallowed hard before quickly getting up to close my door. The last thing I needed was someone from my place of employment eavesdropping to gather information in hopes of spreading juicy office gossip. "Wait, why are they extraditing you?" I asked while trying to make sense of everything.
The man I still loved released a heavy sigh before responding."Baby, what kind of dealings you had with Mayor Robert Hart? Shawn sincerely asked. I took another hard swallowed before thinking about my reply."We were good friends, that's all!" I said leaving out major details of our relationship. "That's all, you sure?" Asked Shawn as if he didnt believe me. "Cause I'm hearing that you still fucking this nigga for money!" Shawn blurted without biting his tongue.
"Vivian, did you set me up? Please tell me you didn't set me up!" He continued this time sounding as if he was on the verge of tears. I had a hard time digesting what my ears were hearing however managing to say something. "Who told you that?" I asked while still trying to avoid telling the whole truth. I could tell that Shawn was becoming impatient with me and from the one minute announcement from the collect call operator, time was also. "Okay, I was Mayor Robert's mistress for a few years but this was before us!" I said pleading for Shawn's mercy.
"Damn Viv, why I have to hear that my girlfriend was a whore in these streets from everybody else, why you couldn't have been honest?" Shawn cried. Although I felt horrible about withholding this information from my lover, I still couldn't understand what this had to do with Shawn's arrest. "I love you and I am so sorry, baby." I said while still pleading. "Fuck all that, I have to admit...you were good. You had me fooled. So, congrats! Since you playing this role so perfect, just know that you did a great job..." Shawn said without being able to complete his sentence before my interruption.
"CONGRATS FOR WHAT?" I asked this time yelling through the receiver. My confusion had lead me to frustration because I had difficulty understanding what it was Shawn was trying to tell me.
"For successfully pinning the murder of Mayor Robert..on...me!" Shawn said before hanging up from the line. Shawn's cold words caused my body to freeze as I stood still holding the phone to my ear while the loud ding from Shawn's phone slamming violently danced in my eardrum.