The Truth

“Thanks for hanging out with me. Make sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already done so. Until next time, I’m Montana Chanel and as always, love yourself.” I ended each one of my YouTube shows the same way. I managed to keep a smile on my face for the 30-minute show that day because behind the smile was a world of pain.

After, I turned the camera off, I finished off the rest of my Popeyes chicken sandwich I reviewed during my show. Truthfully, it was the only reason I was smiling. I was trying to keep my mind off the fact that my parents were about to split our family apart forever.

And, forever is not something I took lightly. My parents were the perfect couple in so many people eyes. Especially, mine. I idolized them. I dreamed of having a relationship like theirs one day. Now, I didn’t know what I wanted.

Growing up, it was nothing to see my dad come home with flowers on a Tuesday just because. Or, my mom put a note in his lunch bag that said, “I love you.” My parents loved each other, and they showed it.

Life was good for the Yates family. But that all changed when my baby brother died. My parents never talked about his death. And honestly, that’s when our family started to fall apart. Everyone handles grief in different ways, but I know firsthand my parents didn’t handle it at all.

My grandparents think my parents started drifting apart when my mom ran for office, but I know better.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My mom went into labor three weeks early. We didn’t think anything of it. By the time we got to the hospital my mom was in so much pain that I was crying. They hooked her up to monitors as soon as we arrived. Two hours later they did an emergency C-section to bring Christion Jr. into the world. The stress of the delivery was too much for him. And, he didn’t make it. Dad made sure the nursery was completely packed away by the time my mom came home. When she walked in, it was no evidence that there had ever been a nursery in that room. I remember hearing her sit in there and cry for weeks.

My parents told everyone they were fine. Dad even wanted to try again, but mommy didn’t. So, instead she threw herself into her cause, Support My Sisters. That was her way of dealing with the pain. While she was throwing herself into her cause, dad started staying out later and later. One night when he came home, a condom dropped out of his coat pocket. I scooped it up before my mom saw it. After that, I always checked his pockets to make sure he didn’t bring another one home.

I was 13 at the time. Can you imagine the effect that played on me? I had to do it though. I knew my parents weren’t thinking or acting rationally at that time. For a kid, I knew a lot for my age. I even knew when my dad started dating Anori.

One night I went into his office behind him to use the computer, and he forgot to log out of his Facebook page. Of course, me being me I started being nosey. I read the messages between him and Anori. They had made plans to meet up the next night at a hotel. I knew at that moment I had to make sure my mom didn’t find out. Then every night after he went to bed, I went back downstairs to make sure he logged out. I was doing everything I could to make sure his secret didn’t come out.

As time passed, my hope was my dad would stop with all the cheating. I wanted him to stop because I planned on going to college out of state. Howard, Grambling or Hampton was my dream. But he didn’t stop. So, I accepted a full-ride scholarship to Commons Central University. Staying in Commons was never my plan.

My freshman year I spent more time at home, ensuring my dad didn’t leave a trail, than I did at school. Even with all of that, I still managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

Life for my family was good until right before Christmas, when the pictures of my dad and Anori came out. I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders. But then I became angry. I was angry because I had worked so hard to ensure my mom didn’t find out about Anori. All that work went down the drain.

During my junior year in high school, I really picked up the pace of watching every move my dad made. I started working for him as his personal assistance after school. I was in charge of managing his personal business accounts. The accounts he used to fund his affair with Anori. I told him working at the airline would look good on my college applications, and he was down for it.

My dad was clumsy when it came to his cheating. He never thought about my mom being able to see the purchases he made for Anori on the credit card statements. I was managing my dad, without him even knowing I was.

How’s it going? My curiosity was getting the best of me, so I decided to text my mom. The last three days she had been a nervous wreck. I needed to make sure she was ok.

I was waiting on her reply, when I heard my best friend banging on my apartment door. My parents generous allowance to my bank account each month, allowed me to afford an apartment on campus. Which was not covered in the full-ride scholarship.

“Oprah, Oprah. Open this door” she yelled from the other side of the door.

“Gayle,” I yelled back as I opened my apartment door, “hold your horses.”

Shar and I had been best friends since the sixth grade, when she moved here from Iowa. I didn’t even know black people lived in Iowa until I met her. From the moment we met, we clicked. Two chunky bookworms, that had our own unique style.

“Girl, I just watched the show. Let me say, loved it,” her voice went up an octave when she said it. “I was eating my Popeyes sammich right along with you. I told you going live was going to work for you. And, it did.”

“Thanks, honey.” I wasn’t really in the mood to talk about my show. My mind was focusing on my parents. I was freaking out because my mom still hadn’t responded to my text.

Shar made her way to the living room and plopped down on my bean bag chair. “Did you hear they are trying to get Cardi B for homecoming this year?”

“Yeah.”

“I need to start looking for an outfit right now. Even, though we have two months before homecoming.”

“Me too.” I didn’t care if Cardi B, the Migos, Drake and Beyoncé were coming to homecoming at that point. I needed to know what was happening with my parents. Shar caught on to my funky attitude.

“Ok, MC,” her nickname for me, “what’s going on with you? And, before you answer, don’t say nothing.”

“I’m thinking about my parents. I text my mom, but she hasn’t responded.” I walked over and plopped down on the bean bag beside her. “They are finalizing the divorce today.” I let out a long sigh, “My mom goes her way and my dad goes his way.”

She rolled off her bean bag and gave me a hug. “I can’t imagine how you are feeling. My parents divorced when I was two. I don’t even remember them even living together.”

“I don’t wish this feeling on my worse enemy.”

“I got you girl. At times I wish my parents were still together. Then moving here and leaving her in Iowa, I cry sometimes. But I don’t want to go back. I can count on one hand the number of black people in Iowa.”

We both started laughing.

“I feel you on that. It’s just that I…” I didn’t get to finish my statement. My mom was finally texting me back.

Your dad says he wants to get back together.

I stared at the phone for what felt like hours. I kept reading the text over and over. I wanted to make sure I was reading it correctly.

“MC, what’s wrong? Everything ok?”

“My mom says my dad wants to get back together.” I was still in shock even after I said it out loud. I had just talked to my dad the night before and he was adamant that it was over between them. “I’m about to enjoy being a single man,” he told me. Guess he had a change of heart.

“Hush! That’s great. Plus, that’s just what you wanted. You should be jumping up and down.”

She was absolutely right, I should have been jumping up and down, screaming. My dad had finally come to his senses. However, I couldn’t help but to wonder if it was because of the anonymous email I sent him early that morning. An email that contained pictures of Anori and the guy she had been seeing for the last year. The side piece has a side piece.

“You text her back?”

“No, not yet. I’m not sure what to say.” I wanted to feel excited. I wanted to text back and say, THANK GOD. But, I didn’t.

After, the pictures surfaced of my dad and Anori, the journalist in me needed to know how TMZ found out. So, I decided to contact them. I told them I was from the Commons Newspaper, writing a story on the future senator. The man I talked to was worse than a bucket at that point, he couldn’t hold water. He provided me with actual email that was sent. Of course, I had Shar figure out who sent it.

Once Shar worked her magic, she tracked down the origin of the email to TaMira’s apartment complex. Bingo. I knew from the start it had to be an inside job, but I didn’t know how. Initially, Anori wasn’t supposed to be going on the trip with my dad. My mom came down with a virus and couldn’t go. It was a business trip and Dad was meeting with a new investor. Everything was booked up under the company name. I made the arrangements myself.

From that day forward I started working on a plan to make Anori pay for that little stunt. Her stunt was the straw that broke the camel’s back. And, I knew exactly how to get her. I started targeting my dad’s accounts that he used to fund his relationship with Anori. I created a shell company under her name, with money from the accounts. If they traced it back, it would like Anori started the company on her own.

“You want to go down to the courthouse,” Shar asked.

“No, I don’t want to get my hopes up.” The truth was I needed to figure out if my dad had opened that email, I had sent him.

“I get it, but she text you for a reason. Sounds like she wants your feedback.”

Shar was absolutely right, again. But first I needed to check to see if my dad opened the email. If he opened the email, he was probably changing his mind based on emotions.

I grabbed my iPad and logged into my dad’s work email. To my surprise it was still unopened. I quickly deleted it. I would hold the pictures for another time. With that taken care of I sent my mom and dad a text.

I support whatever decision you both make!! I love you guys to infinity and beyond, followed by a heart shaped emojis.

I stared at the text after I sent it. I prayed I wasn’t making them feel as if I didn’t care if they got back together. I just didn’t want the responsibility of telling my parents to go for it. What if they did get back together and it didn’t work. Then I would be on this rollercoaster ride all over again. Lord knows I didn’t want that burden on my shoulders.

After 10 minutes on pins and needles, my dad finally responded. We’re staying together.

I screamed so loud it scared the shit out of Shar. “They’re staying together!”

“Girl that’s good. Now, are you going over to the courthouse?”

“Yes. No. Maybe.” I was excited and confused at the same time. “No,” I finally said. “I want to give them some time alone. They’ve been doing the divorce thing for a minute now.”

“I feel you. They probably going to have make up sex all night.” Shar started laughing. “You might be a big sister by the morning.”

“Eww. Kill the visual Jesus.” We both started laughing. “I’ll check on them sometime tomorrow.”

With my parents getting back together, I was for sure that Anori would go on a social media tangent. Thotiana really thought she was bout to marry my dad.

“Listen, I have a serious question. I’m not trying to be all up in your parents business. But, what about Anori?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. And, I really could care less about her.” That was my honest answer.

“Last week she was posting wedding décor on Instagram. I guess she’s in for a big surprise.”

“Surprise, surprise,” I started laughing. My only concern was to make sure my mom didn’t get hurt again.

Throughout the entire ordeal, she handled it with class. Then two weeks ago, I saw my break down for the first time. The reality that their court date was approaching, started weighing on her. I found her beside the pool with a glass of wine and swollen eyes. “I still love him. He’s the only man I ever loved.” She was slurring her words and waving her wine glass around.

“I know that’s right.” Shar hopped up, “I’m happy for you girl.”

“Thanks. Where are you going?”

“CVS. I need to grab a couple of things. I have some makeup coupons I need to use. You need something back?”

“No I’m good.

“Alright, I’ll be back a little later so we can celebrate.”

“Sounds good.”

I was walking Shar out when my mom sent a text. Come to your dad’s penthouse around 5. Followed by half a dozen heart emojis.

“Hey, I’m need to reschedule. My mom wants me to meet them later.”

“No problem. We can always celebrate this weekend.”

On my way over to my parents, my dad sent me the new code for his penthouse. At that moment I realized it was real. He changed the code to the penthouse, which meant he locked Anori out. “Thank you, Jesus,” I yelled as I sped up. I couldn’t wait to hang out with my parents.

As I pulled up in the front of my dad’s building, I was surprised to see Anori’s car parked out front. My heart skipped a beat. I jumped out the car so fast I forgot to leave the keys inside for the doorman. I had to turn around and hand them to him. I was about to storm in, when I noticed Anori lying on the floor. TaMira was hovering over her.

The doorman told me, she dropped to the floor after my dad told her it was over. “Good,” I told him.

As I walked past Anori and TaMira I rolled my eyes. I had a smirk on my face as I put the new code in and waited for the elevator to take me up to the penthouse. As soon as I walked in my parents sat me down to explain the 60 days postponement. Then dad said he was taking us to Miami in the morning for a much-needed family vacation.

Sixty days later

My mom had been sending me text all morning long. I had the feeling she was excited to tell the judge they were officially calling off the divorce.

You’re meeting us for lunch afterwards. Right?

Yes mam!! Jubilee’s…right?

You know it! Love you Noodle!!

Love you back Noodle Bomb!!!

My mom and I always had a special connection. I hated when people would say, your parents can’t be your friend. I disagree. She was my first BFF. That’s my dawg right there. I told her everything. Well, not everything.

Oh your Dad said you better not get another speeding ticket.

I just shook my head. He bought me a Hellcat, what else did he expect. Speed was the only way to drive. I responded with about 5 different emojis that explained it all.

“I haven’t seen you this happy in a minute,” Shar stated.

“I know right.” I walked over to the breakfast bar and sat down beside her, “Is it in there?”

“Yep all $700,00.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

I looked at the account on the computer screen, which held the $700,000 we siphoned from the account my dad had removed his name from and added Anori’s. It was no way I was going to let her keep $1.6 million dollars. Not on my watch, as Iyanla would say. “Girl you pulled it off.”

“No, we pulled it off. You set up all the accounts and info. I just moved the money around.”

“We make a good team,” I smiled.

“Yes, we do.”

I was in the middle of my victory dance when my phone started ringing. It was my mom. I checked the time because I knew it was no way I was late for our family lunch. “Hello.”

“Baby, meet me at the hospital.” My mom sounded winded. I could barely make out what she was saying.

“Meet you were?”

“The hospital,” her voice boomed that time. “Your daddy just collapsed in the courtroom. Oh God, hold on Christion,” her voice was going in and out.

I was stunned. I was searching for my keys but couldn’t find them. Shar agreed to drive me to the hospital. Please God, don’t take my daddy. I promise I’ll never do that again, I prayed as we jumped in my car. I knew my dad was being punished for my sins.

****

My Side

I was numb the entire ride to the hospital. After, so much fighting and not speaking, Christion and I had finally come to a place that we were ready to live our best lives.

In the last 60 days we talked about everything. The affairs, my run for senate, and losing Christion Jr. It hurt bringing up the past, but it was something we needed to do. It made us stronger, and now I could loose him.

As my driver pulled into the ER behind the ambulance, I jumped out before the car came to a complete stop. My parents and in-laws were right behind me. The moment I walked in, the nurse was asking me a 1000 questions. “No, he didn’t say anything was wrong this morning,” I shouted at her.

I know she was just doing her job, but I was scared. “I apologize,” I told her. But, seeing him lying on floor took something out of me. On the way to court, we me made a huge decision to have another baby. “You really want to start over with diapers, waking up in the middle of the night and potty training,” I asked him. He had the biggest smile on his face, “I do.”

As we sat in the waiting room, my dad started praying that God would give Christion a full recovery. My mind was all over the place, as we waited for the doctor to come out. Time seemed to slow down. And, no was telling me anything.

A few minutes later, Montana Chanel arrived. She looked distraught. I couldn’t think about myself at that point, my baby needed me. I held her in my arms, while we waited for the doctors to come out and tell us what was going on.

Finally, after two hours of waiting the doctor came out. Along, with a detective. I wasn’t sure why the police was with the doctor. Then what the doctor said next shocked everyone in the room. Christion had been poisoned. “Poisoned,” I screamed as I dropped down in the chair.

Her Side

Four days in the Dominican Republic was exactly what I needed to get my mind off Christion. And, it worked. This was the first birthday, I didn’t spend with Christion in six years. I was grateful for TaMira agreeing to go with me. Even though I paid for the babysitter.

“Girl, I’m need a day to recuperate. I’m leave the boys at my sister’s until tomorrow.”

“I feel you. I’m going straight to bed.” I turned towards her, “When was the last time we slept anyway? Two days ago,” I laughed.

“I believe so.”

The plane had just touched down back in Commons, when the stewardess asked everyone to remain in their seats.

“I’m ready to get off the plane. Girl, I believe I have jet lag,” TaMira told me.

I sat up in my seat to see why we were not getting off the plane. Then, I noticed two officers walk onto the plane. I figured someone had showed their ass on the flight or something. That’s why I only flew first class when I had to take a commercial flight. Damn, I missed the private flights with Christion.

“Wonder who they are coming for?” I whispered to TaMira. She shrugged her shoulders and put on her shades.

The stewardess walked over to me, “Ms. Norton, will you please come with me for a moment.”

“Why,” I asked. She seemed nervous or something. Unlike, the bubbly vibe she had the entire trip.

“I’m sorry, but I need you to come with me.”

I looked over at TaMira. She was as confused as I was. “Girl, record this on your phone. I’m not trying to be the next police brutality victim.”

As soon as we walked up on the officers, they asked TaMira to put her phone away. “What’s this all about,” I asked them. Whatever was going on, I was pretty sure I had nothing to do with it.

The heavyset black cop had a cold tone in voice when he said, “You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Christion Yates.” I was floored as he read me my rights and put me in handcuffs.

“What the hell! I didn’t try to kill anyone,” I screamed as they escorted me off the plane. I couldn’t believe I was sitting in the back a police car. What the hell was really going on?

My life was spiraling out of control.

His Side

Four days in the hospital and I was ready to go home. The doctors said I needed to stay one more day to ensure all the poison was out my system. I still couldn’t believe someone tried to poison me. The last thing I remembered before waking up yesterday, was falling to the floor in the courtroom. For the last two days I was in a coma and Montana never left my side. I had finally her convinced to go home and get some rest.

“What if something happens while I’m at the house,” she asked. I promised her I would be fine. My mom came to stay with me so Montana could go home and get some rest. I never thought I could love her more than I did at that very moment.

Are you getting some rest? I sent her a text to make sure she was taking care of herself.

Leaving Jubilee’s. I grabbed us some lunch. See you in 15 minutes!!

I shook my head because my queen was simply amazing. Lunch from Jubilee’s was much better than the hospital food I had been eating. But she needed to get some rest.

I love you baby! I couldn’t wait to get out the hospital to show her how much.

“Oh, my God,” my mom wailed. I looked over at her and she was pointing at the TV. I looked up to see Anori in handcuffs on the 12 o’clock news.

“Mama turn it up please.” They were saying she had been arrested for attempted murder. Of me. I grabbed my phone off the tray in front of me and called my lawyer. Before, she said hello, I asked, “What the hell is going on?”

“I take it you’ve seen the news?”

“I have.”

“It appears the bottle of cognac you received the other day was laced with phenobarbital. The detectives tracked the bottle back to Anori.” I just sat there on the phone listening to her. “I’m request that bond be denied.”

I tried calling Montana, but I couldn’t get her. I wanted to warn her before she heard it from someone else. When I couldn’t get her, I checked Facebook to see what they were saying. The first thing I saw was the local paper with the headline, Ex-Mistress arrested for attempted murder of Christion Yates.

News certainly traveled fast in the small town. I tried calling Montana again, but she was already coming through the door. “Baby, you heard the news,” she asked as she sat the food on the table in front of me.

“They should put her under the jail,” my mom spat.

While, Montana and my mom were talking, Anori called me. She was rambling, “I didn’t try to kill you Christion. I swear. I love you.” For some reason I believed her.

The Truth

My mom text that she and my dad were finally home after he had been in the hospital for 5 days. I planned on going over to help out as soon as Shar and I took care of some unfinished business. I was still pissed that Anori tried to kill my dad. Truthfully, I didn’t think she had the heart or smarts to pull that off.

What time are you coming over? We need to talk.

I responded to my mom’s text, See you in an hour!! I wasn’t sure what she wanted to talk to me about. She probably wanted to prep me for the press conference in the morning. The last five days had been crazy. The police even took her in for questioning and searched the house. They always go for the spouse first.

“Finished. All funds have been transferred,” Shar stated.

“Good. She deserves nothing after she tried to kill my dad.” I wasn’t about to let her use my dad’s money on her defense. So, we removed the remaining $850,000 from her account.

“Girl, this on some real Scandal shit.”

I agreed.

“That brings the total to $1.5 million. I can’t believe we really pulled it off again.”

“I know right,” I told her. I glanced at the computer screen one more time, before I got ready to head over to my parents house. My mom had sent me two more text to make sure I was on my way. Whatever, she had to tell me must have been important.

When I pulled up at the front gate, news vans were parked out front. They were still trying to get statements from my parents. My dad’s security team waved me as the media tried to run up to my car. It was a circus out there. But, the circus at the gate was nothing compared to what my parents told me when I got in the house.

“Hey, baby,” my mom said as I walked into the living room. I was surprised to see my dad’s attorney and the investigator that they used for the airline. I had barely sat down, when my parents dropped the biggest bomb.

“I was sleeping with TaMira,” my dad told me with a solemn look on his face. I looked over at my mom who had a blank stare.

I wasn’t sure where my dad was going with his confession. All I could think about is, how did I miss that. I guess I was spending so much watching Anori, that I missed TaMira. Well I be damn, I thought. “Dad, you don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I do because it’s more.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Anori didn’t try to kill me. TaMira did.”

I looked at all four of them. I was trying to figure out if my dad was playing. “Slow down, I don’t get.” Maybe I did get, but I don’t know. Then the investigator jumped in to explain. He stated he started his own investigation after Anori called my dad the other day.

“She was adamant that she didn’t try to kill me. And, I believed her.” He grabbed my mom’s hand, “I told your mom and she agreed that we needed to find out the truth.”

“So, how did you find out it was TaMira?”

The investigator explained that bottle of cognac was picked up from TaMira’s job at the call center, where she worked at in the mailroom. “I was able to trace it back the location and the credit card Anori was letting her use < .”

I was even more shocked that TaMira was smart enough to come up with such an elaborate plan. That’s when they told me the guy Anori had been seeing on the side, was actually TaMira’s boyfriend. You want to talk about a twist. That was definitely one.

They two of them figured if they killed my dad and framed Anori, then TaMira would have access to all of Anori’s money. Well the joke was on them because I had wiped Anori clean. Then I felt bad because she was innocent and broke.

“They arrested TaMira and her boyfriend early this morning. And, they are dropping the charges against Anori,” my mom told me.

“So, that’s the reason the media is swarming the front gates.” My parents nodded.

I just sat there, needing time to process everything.

“Are you ok, baby girl,” my mom asked.

“Yes mam.”

“Somethings wrong, I can tell by the look on your face,” she said.

I shook my head. I needed to gather my thoughts because I had just taken the rest of the money out of Anori’s account thinking she was responsible for trying to kill my dad. Now, I find out she wasn’t. I sent Shar a text to let her know what was going on. She sent a text back immediately, WTH followed by 10 emojis with the hand over the face. That’s exactly how I was feeling.

“Mommy and Daddy, I need to tell you something.”

I didn’t get a chance to tell them before our attention was drawn to the television. The news team standing out front of the house was reporting that Anori, had been found dead in her cell. That was definitely a twist I wasn’t ready for. “The words, I love you Christion, were written on the walls in her cell,” the reporter stated. The reporter then looked into the camera, “Ms. Norton was around 8 weeks pregnant.”

I let out a loud gasp. There were so many questions running through my head at that point. But all, I kept thinking was, who was her baby father?