Material Girl 3: Secrets & Betrayals (8 page)

“Billie!” Cain rushed by her side. “What the hell happened?” He sat down beside her.

“It’s all my fault,” Billie repeated again crying.

“That’s obvious.” Puss-n-Boots shot underneath her breath.

Billie may have been distraught but she still peeped Puss-n-Boots shady comment. Billie instantly stopped rocking and shot her a death glare from hell.

“What happened?” Cain questioned, irritated.
            “I took my eyes off the road for a second and crashed the car.” Billie spoke almost above a whisper.

Her throat was raw and soar from all of the screaming and crying she’d done.

“Why in the hell would you take your eyes off the road? What could’ve possibly been that important?” Cain barked.

Billie looked him square in the eyes and swallowed hard. Every since Kyrese was born she’d dreaded this moment. She’d avoided it all cost. Nothing would ever be the same once the truth was revealed. Everyone would see her for who she truly was, which was a monster. Just as Billie closed her eyes and parted her lips to say the words that would change everything Dylan, Tee-Tee, Angel, Bernard and Knox came running into the waiting room.
Thank you Jesus,
Billie thought letting out a sigh of relief.

“Baby, are you alright?” Knox swiftly swooped her up into his arms.

“I’m okay,” she said, wincing from the pain of him hugging her too tight. “Oww-oww!” Billie stepped back.

“I’m sorry,” Knox cupped her face and kissed her lips. “I’m just happy that you’re okay.”

“Me too.” Angel lightly hugged his sister.

“How is Kyrese?” Dylan asked, worried.

“He’s in critical condition.” Billie’s voice trailed off as the realization that she’d caused harm to her son once again sank in.

“I need to sit down,” she said, feeling light headed.

Knox helped his wife ease back into her seat.

“What happened?” Tee-Tee quizzed.

“Can someone please get me some water?” Billie asked, buying herself some more time.

“Sure sweetie.” Dylan got up and went over to the vending machine.

Dylan was mortified to see her best friend in such bad shape. Dried up tears and blood adorned Billie’s face. Cuts and scrapes were scattered all over her body. She looked as if she’d died a million times. Dylan wished there was something she could do. She felt helpless. For the first time in their friendship, Billie needed her more than ever. Dylan was determined to do whatever she needed in order to help her through this trying time in her life.

“Here you go.” Dylan handed Billie the cold bottle of water.

Billie opened the bottle and took a long gulp. Everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to tell the story of how the accident occurred. Billie couldn’t handle the pressure. She wanted nothing more than to disappear or drown in the bottle of water.

“Mrs. Christianson?” A doctor approached her.

“Yes,” Billie stood up.

“I’m Dr. Kline. I just wanted to give you an update on your sons’ condition. He’s suffered a head injury and lost a lot of blood. We’re going to need to perform a blood transfusion in order to restore the blood that he’s lost.”

“Of course, take mine.” Billie replied, ready to go.

“Mine too.” Cain stepped up.

“If you both can follow me.” A nurse requested.

Billie and Cain both gave their blood and were bandaged up and back in the waiting room in no time. No one said a word. Everyone inside of the waiting room sat silent, deep in their own thoughts until Dylan spoke up.

“I know that we’re all praying for Kyrese but can somebody please tell exactly what happened?” She died to know.

“Who has the girls?” Billie asked, changing the subject.

“Candy, she’s watching all of the kids at your house,” Tee-Tee responded. “Now how exactly did the accident occur?” He asked again.

Billie examined everyone’s face. They were all waiting on pins and needles for her response. Billie once again was under fire. She couldn’t physically handle telling them the truth. A rush of anxiety swept over her. It was as if she were having a heart attack. Her heart felt like it had sunk down to the pit of her stomach. Her hands were wet and clammy and each small breath she took felt like it would be her last.

 “Billie, are you alright?’Angel, asked, concerned.

She was as white as a ghost.

“I can’t breathe,” she said, holding her chest.

“Do we need to get a doctor?” Knox asked.

“No!” Billie shook her head profusely. “I just need a minute,” she said, taking large deep breaths.

“Lord, why is this happening to me?” She wailed.

“Shhhh.” Dylan rubbed her back.

“Why is this happening to you?” Cain screwed up his face. “Our son is the one suffering, not you. You’re to blame for all of this! If you would’ve been paying attention to the road none of this would have ever happened,” he yelled.

“Ay yo’, you need to chill the fuck out,” Knox warned. “Can’t you see she’s going through enough?”

“My son is the one suffering. Whatever she’s going through she brought it on herself,” Cain shot.

“Wow!” Knox said stunned. “Billie told me you were a cruel muthafucka but damn, dude. You’re like Satan.”

“Satan ain’t got nothing on me when it comes to my kids.” Cain seethed with anger.

“Will ya’ll stop already?!” Dylan yelled, fed up. “This is not about you. This is about Kyrese. Whatever beef ya’ll have is a non-muthafuckin’ factor. We have to come together as a family right now and pray for this baby’s recovery. Now everybody join hands.” Dylan looked around at everyone.

When they didn’t move fast enough she screamed, “Now goddamnit!”

Not wanting to piss her off even more everyone joined hands and bowed their heads.

“Dear heavenly father,” Dylan began. “Lord, we come to you right now asking that you heal Kyrese. Cover him in your blood, Lord Jesus. Whatever’s broken in him we ask that you fix it? We ask that you touch every person that comes in contact with him, hearts and minds. You said that you would bless us with the desires of our hearts. Well God, I’m asking you, we’re asking you to wake Kyrese up. Heal him God. In Jesus name I pray, amen.” Dylan lifted her head and revealed a face full of tears.

Angel hated to see his wife cry but he understood her pain. His nephew was a few feet away lying on a hospital bed, fighting for his life. The mere thought of it made him sick cause just as easily as it was Kyrese lying unconscious, it could’ve been Mason. Angel was heartbroken for his sister. He’d never witnessed her so broken and helpless, she barely blinked. All she did was sit staring blankly. He wished he could fix this for her but only God could bring them through this. While they all sat deep in their own thoughts as the doctor reemerged with documents in his hand.

“Mrs. Christianson and Mr. Townsend may I speak to you both for a second.” Dr. Kline summoned them.
            “Sure.” Cain quickly stood up and walked over to the doctor.

Billie swiftly followed suit. As Cain and Billie talked to the doctor everyone sat with baited breath waiting to hear what he had to say. None of them was prepared for what was about to happen.

“What?!” Cain shrilled. “That can’t be right!”

“I’m sorry Mr. Townsend but we ran the test multiple times. There is no way possible that you are a match for Kyrese.”

“If I’m not a match then that means that he’s not my son.” Cain furrowed his brows and looked at Billie.

Billie couldn’t even give him eye contact.

“Billie!” Cain held her by the arms and shook her. “Tell this man he’s made a mistake! Kyrese is my son!” He shook her profusely.

“I’m sorry!” Billie broke down in a heap of tears. “I’m so sorry,” she wept.

“Oh my god,” Dylan gasped, placing her hand on her chest.

“Chile this here is better than an episode of Scandal!” Tee-Tee popped his lips.

“I know the news is shocking to you sir but we do not condone physical violence. You two have to pull it together for the sake of your son.” Dr. Kline ordered.

“Apparently he’s not my son.” Cain pushed Billie away from him like she was a piece of trash.

Cain felt like a limp rag doll. He’d experienced physical pain on the football field but nothing could compare to the searing pain he felt at that very moment. Nothing or no one could’ve prepared him for this. Kyrese was his son, his only son. He’d cared him from the second he entered the world. He acted just like him. He wanted to play football just like him and carry-on the family name. How could he not be his son? Most importantly how long had Billie known that he was not his son?”

“Baby, are you alright?” Cain heard Puss-n-Boots ask.

“No.” Cain shook his head as a million tears slid down his cheeks.

“Mrs. Christianson?” Dr. Kline turned to her. “For the sake of your son we need to know who Kyrese’s father is so we can have a positive match in order to perform the blood transfusion.”

Billie was so hysterical that she couldn’t even stand up. Her legs felt like Jello. To stand on her own two feet was an impossible fete. Seeing her entire life crumble before her eyes was too much to bear so she fell to her knees asking God to help her.

“Help me father, please,” she cried.

“Mrs. Christianson?” Dr. Kline repeated. “We need to know who the father is immediately.”

“You need to go help her!” Angel said to Knox.

“I can’t,” Knox said, frozen stiff.

Hearing the shocking news that Cain wasn’t Kyrese’s father had him shook. He’d defended Billie when she spoke ill against Cain. She painted him out to be a monster, when all along she was the villain.

“C’mon, we gotta help her.” Dylan said, to Tee-Tee.

They both without hesitation rushed to their friend’s side.

“Billie, honey.” Dylan spoke sweetly. “We need you to tell this man who the father is. Kyrese’s life is on the line. You have to tell him.” Dylan cupped her face in her hands.

Billie gazed into Dylan’s eyes and cried.

“I can’t.”
            “Yes, you can.” Dylan assured as Tee-Tee rubbed Billie’s back.

“I can’t!” Billie’s chest heaved up and down. “I’m going to lose you too.”

“You would never lose me. We’re bffs for life. Hell, fuck being best friends. You’re my sister and I love you. We all make mistakes, honey. I’m the queen of fucking up.”

“You got that right.” Tee-Tee agreed.

Dylan shot him an evil glare.

“Sorry, wrong time.” Tee-Tee raised his hands up in the freeze position.

“Now come on. It’s time to act like a big girl. Tell us who the father is so we can get him up here immediately.” Dylan wiped away Billie’s tears.

Billie gazed down at the floor. She knew that once the words escaped her lips that nothing would ever be the same. She’d lose everyone she loved and who loved her. She’d lied and betrayed them all but none would be more hurt and disappointed than Dylan. She’d betrayed their friendship and the trust that they’d built. As soon as she told the truth there would be no more Billie and Dylan. Their friendship would be over for good.

“Billie you have to tell us who it is?” Dylan looked at her with sympathy in her eyes.

“It’s State,” Billie whispered.

Within a matter of a half a second the look of sympathy in Dylan’s eyes instantly turned to hate.

“What did you say?” Dylan eased back as if Billie was the devil.

“Kyrese’s father is State.”
            “That’s not possible. You didn’t even know him until we met,” Dylan responded confused.

“I’ve know him since I was twenty-three,” Billie sniffed. “Dylan, I’m so sorry.” Billie tried to reach for her hand.

“Uh ah,” Dylan snatched her hand away. “Why would you make up a lie like that? What the fuck is wrong wit’ you?” Dylan asked, heated.

“I wish it was a lie but it’s the truth,” Billie cried.

“Jesus be a fence!” Tee-Tee placed the back of his hand up to his forehead and fainted.

“Baby!” Bernard caught him mid-faint.

“Does anyone have this State person’s contact info?” Dr. Kline looked around.

“Yes, I do,” Dylan said, slowly feeling like she was having an outer body experience.

“Dylan, I’m sorry.” Billie tried to reach out and hold her hand again.

“Bitch, don’t touch me.” Dylan’s nostrils flared.

A million questions boggled her mind. Dylan looked at Billie, who was drenched in tears. She couldn’t even recognize her. Her friend had gone missing. She looked like a monster. She looked like every other person in Dylan’s life who had done her wrong. Never would she have expected that Billie, her sister, would be added to the list.

“Here.” Dylan handed the doctor her phone.

There was no way she could call State herself. She hadn’t even processed the news enough to express the words.

“Dylan, I know I should’ve told you,” Billie pleaded.

“You should’ve told her?” Cain yelled in disbelief. “How about you should’ve told me?!”

“I know,” Billie screamed, holding her head. “I fucked up! I’ma piece of shit! I should’ve told all of you!” She wept uncontrollably.

“You damn right you should’ve!” Cain pointed his finger in her face.

After the explosive news settled in the air the waiting room went dead silent. Everyone was in their perspective corners. Billie sat alone with a wad of tissue in her hand. Knox sat off to the side alone staring at his wife wondering if he’d married a complete stranger. Since the day he’d met Billie he’d been completely open and honest with her about his life.

There was nothing about his life she didn’t know. So many nights had gone by where they sat up and talked about their life, their hopes and dreams. She’d never once hinted to the fact that Cain wasn’t Kyrese’s father. It scared Knox that she could keep such a huge secret for such a long period of time without cracking.

Tee-Tee and Bernard sat in the center of the room holding each other tight. For the first time in a long time, Tee-Tee felt completely safe and secure in him and Bernard’s marriage. They’d fought long and hard to have the family they’d built. He would never jeopardize what they had.

As he held Bernard close he looked over at Billie. He honestly felt sorry for her. She looked so afraid. He’d never witnessed her in a more vulnerable state. He wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay but even Tee-Tee wasn’t sure of that. Billie had committed the ultimate sin. Nobody except God was ready to forgive her.