The Heart Read online

  “Ready for you right here, Mr. Johnson,” Larry, another barber, swiped the seat with his towel. “Everybody’s getting the same thing?”

  The sons looked down the row at each other. JC nodded. “Yes sir. Cut it clean.”

  The men looked at their sons and smiled just as Douglas walked in the door.

  “Doug,” was echoed throughout the room.

  “What it is?” Doug laughed.

  “Where’s your son?” Mr. Brown asked.

  “Doug’s been so busy raising those brothers of his, he hasn’t had time to start his own family.” Larry laughed. “Let’s see, one is a judge over in Henrico County and the other is playing with the big boys on Sundays. Who is he with now?”

  “Miami,” Doug proudly replied. He looked at JD, “We’re still on for tomorrow before you hit the road, right?”

  “Sunday game with the boys,” JD shook his head, “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  “What are you going to do when you move into the White House in January?” Mr. Brown asked.

  “They’re going to have to put a big screen in the Rose Garden,” JD replied. The occupants in the shop, including the Secret Service agents, laughed as the four friends gave pounds around the room.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  TNT Event Planning had turned the ballroom of the Harrison’s home into a literal football field. With the goal post at each end of the room and the artificial turf striped, in white lines, marking off the yards. The football cake sat at center field with two huge yellow water coolers next to it. On the forty-yard line on both sides was miniature football players dressed as the Redskins and on the opposite side the Cowboys. It didn’t take long for the party to be in full swing. In addition to Tracy’s children, Ashley’s four were there, along with Cynthia’s daughter, Jackie’s son, Caitlyn’s son and Ashley’s cousin, Alexis’ son, Jonathan. As if that weren’t enough Carolyn Roth-Roberts’ son, Gavin Jr. arrived.

  “Hello, Gavin. My you have grown.” Tracy smiled at the now five year old. “Where’s your mom?”

  “Talking to my granddad and Uncle JD.”

  “Okay, well you go catch up with JC and we’ll talk later.” The boy ran off.

  “I didn’t know Carolyn was coming,” Cynthia frowned.

  “Oh, come on. It’s time to let the past go.” Roz laughed. “You’re pregnant, Tracy’s pregnant, she’s pregnant, I’m pregnant. All is right with the world.”

  Tracy, Ashley and Cynthia froze, staring at Roz. “You’re pregnant?” Tracy asked.

  Roz’s smile was as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge and just as bright as she nodded. “Yep and we were approved for a foster child.” The women screamed and hugged Roz simultaneously.

  “It always happens like that,” Ashley laughed. “What are you going to do?”

  “Raise my babies together.”

  “What’s going on?” Caitlyn asked with her plate resting on her eight-month pregnant stomach, while stuffing her mouth with potato salad.

  Ashley laughed at the sight. “She’s going to be like you in a few months.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Caitlyn beamed.

  “Yep,” Roz replied.

  “That’s probably why this potato salad is so good.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Upstairs, the men gathered in JD’s game room to enjoy a little college football before they had to join the party downstairs. JD, Brian, Calvin, Douglas, James and Samuel were watching the game as Senator Roth and now Senator Gavin Roberts walked in. “Good afternoon Gentlemen,” Gavin smiled. He extended his hand to JD. “Umm, excuse me, Mr. President,” he smiled at JD.

  “Not yet,” JD shook his hand.

  “Just another month to go,” Senator Roth smiled. “I knew it was going to happen.”

  “So did I,” Carolyn stated as she walked in, smiling. “I told you ten years ago this is where you were going to end up.” She kissed JD on the cheek.

  “Oh God, not you again,” Brian smirked.

  “And good day to you too, Brian. I thought having a wife would mellow you out.”

  “I thought having a husband would shut you up. I guess we were both wrong.”

  “Look you two, a truce for the day. This is JC’s birthday.” JD demanded.

  “Where is Tracy?” Carolyn asked.

  “She’s downstairs with Jackie and the rest of the ladies.” Samuel replied.

  “Is your wife down there?” Carolyn frowned.

  “Yes. But she has to put up her boxing gloves for another seven months, so you’re safe.”

  “Cynthia is pregnant again?” Gavin asked smiling, “So is Carolyn.”

  JD laughed, “So is Tracy.”

  They turned and looked at James. “Not as far as I know.” The men laughed.

  “There’s going to be a baby born in the White House.” Carolyn beamed, “I have to go and congratulate Tracy on such a good move. That girl is going to be a good political wife after all.”

  Carolyn literally ran out of the room almost knocking Monique down.

  “Do you think anyone should tell her Tracy didn’t do this for political reasons?” JD asked.

  “No son,” Senator Roth laughed. “Let her have her moment, please.”

  The men laughed as Monique stepped back out of the room and watched Carolyn walk away. She never forgot words, pictures or faces. Monique walked back into the room. “Uncle JD.” JD walked over to the door. “Aunt Tracy said you should be downstairs in ten minutes.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  “Uncle JD,” she called out when he was about to walk away. “Who is the woman that just walked out of here?”

  JD looked down the hall, “Carolyn, she’s married to Gavin Roberts.”

  “Senator Gavin Roberts?” Monique questioned.

  “Yes, that’s right.” JD replied. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’m not sure.” Monique shrugged, “Don’t forget—ten minutes.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Tracy stepped onto the patio where Ryan and Magna stood. “We’re about to cut the cake. Are you two coming?”

  “I’m right behind you.” Magna replied.

  “What about you Ryan?”

  “I’ll get a slice later.”

  Tracy could feel the sadness surrounding her friend. “You know I love you like a sister—don’t you?”

  “I know,” Ryan forced a smile.

  “Okay,” Tracy gave her a sad smile. “I’ll bring you a slice of cake out later.”

  After the cake was cut, the men and boys decided to play a game of touch football. The teams were divided evenly with boys and men. Senator Roth and James’ father Avery Brooks, who were the oldest, were placed on separate teams. Ashley’s son Tony and Carolyn’s son Gavin were the youngest and they too were on separate teams.

  The women stood on the sidelines cheering the teams on. Pearl, JD’s press secretary stood behind them with a small camera crew as they taped the activities.

  “Calvin, be careful,” Jackie yelled, “Don’t hurt your back.” The men on the turf laughed as Calvin stood up and stared at his wife.

  “This isn’t going to be pretty,” Carolyn laughed.

  “Do you have an older sister?” Monique asked from behind Carolyn.

  Carolyn looked over her shoulder and frowned. “No.” she frowned “I’m an only child.” Tracy and Ashley looked at her sideways. “Well, I was an only child until a few years ago.” She clarified.

  “Hmm,” Monique continued to watch the woman closely. “You’re not white are you?”

  Tracy, Ashley and Carolyn turned to stare at the very serious Monique. “No. Up close I can see you have some African blood in you.” She tilted her head. “That’s a good thing cause for a moment I thought I was going to have to take you out.” Monique turned and walked away, leaving the women staring at her back.

  “What in the hell was that about?” Carolyn asked with her hands on her hips.

  Ashley and Tracy looked at each other. “I have no idea,” Tracy repli
ed then turned back to the game.

  Afterwards, while the boys went from live football, to a Madden tournament on the big screens that were set up throughout the room, the women were ready to put their plan into motion. “Mother,” Ashley asked. “Everything is set?”

  “Yes it is.” Martha replied.

  “Caitlyn?” Ashley held up an eyebrow.

  “Ready.”

  “Roz is everything set?”

  “Good to go.”

  Ashley turned things over to Cynthia, who looked down at her daughter. “Samantha, do you remember what you are supposed to do?”

  “Yes Mommy. I’m going to cry.”

  Tracy looked down at her daughter Brianna. “Okay, baby this is very important. Are you ready?”

  “Yes Mommy I’m ready.”

  Lena looked at the group. “Using children to do your dirty work.” She shook her head back and forth, sucking her teeth. “There is going to be hell to pay if this doesn’t work.”

  “Then we have nothing to worry about because this is going to work,” Tracy smiled.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Caitlyn walked out the patio door with a plate of food in her hand. Ryan turned just as she was about to trip over the door seal. “Be careful,” Ryan reached out to give Caitlyn a hand.

  “Oh Ryan, thank you so much. I can’t see my feet or anything beneath them,” She joked. “Tracy asked me to get two bottles of wine from the bunker. Can you point me in that direction?”

  “Tracy sent you to the bunker?”

  “Well not exactly. Tracy told Cynthia they were running out of Merlot. Cynthia told Roz that the Merlot was in the bunker. Then Roz told Ashley. I really got tired of it going in circles, so I decided to try to find the wine myself.” Caitlyn smiled. “So if you don’t mind, hold my plate and point me in the direction of this bunker and I’ll get the wine.”

  “I’ll get the wine, you sit.” Ryan pointed to the table behind her.

  “Oh, I don’t mind. It will be good exercise for me.”

  “I’ll have to deal with Brian if something happens to you down there. It’s not a problem.”

  Caitlyn smiled so sweetly. “That is so thoughtful of you Ryan. Thank you.”

  Ryan smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Don’t forget she wants the Merlot.”

  Ryan waived her hand as she walked off. “I won’t.”

  Inside the house Brianna ran into the game room where some of the men were still watching college football, and whispered in her Uncle Al’s ear. “I got to tell you a secret Uncle Al.”

  “Okay, what is it?” Al lifted his niece into his lap.

  “Samantha fell down the steps.”

  Al frowned, “Where?”

  Brianna almost had tears coming from her eyes. “You can’t tell anybody.”

  Anxious, Al took the child by her hand and stood. “Show me.”

  “Okay,” the child ran, holding on to Al’s hand.

  Brianna took him to the door leading to the tunnel that led to the bunker. The door leading down the steps was open and he could see Samantha with her head down. Al turned to Brianna. “You stay right here.”

  “Okay.”

  Al ran down the steps, “Samantha? Are you hurt?” he asked as he picked the child up. The girl had crocodile tears as big as a golf ball rolling down her cheeks.

  “I can’t find Pearlie!” She cried into his shoulder.

  “Who’s Pearlie?”

  “My doll,” she cried harder. “I want my doll.”

  Al held the child out from his shoulder. “Where is your doll?”

  “Down there.” The child pointed to the next level of steps. She looked at Al with the saddest eyes. “She fell when I fell.”

  Al walked back up the steps and placed the child next to Brianna. “I’ll get Pearlie. You stay here with Brianna.”

  “Okay,” the child replied.

  Al walked back down the steps wondering why the children were allowed to play in the tunnel. He was going to have a talk with Tracy. He had descended to the bottom level of steps. He reached inside the doorway of the tunnel and turned on the light switch. That’s when he heard the door close up the stairs.

  Ryan was on the far side of the bunker in the food storage area searching for the Merlot when the lights came on. “Good timing.” For a moment she thought she was going to have to walk to the tunnel to turn the light on. A moment later she thought she heard a sound but dismissed it.

  She pulled the two bottles of Merlot and walked to the door. She was surprised to see Al walking through the tunnel door. The two stood there for a moment just staring at each other. She noticed the doll in his hand. “Turning to dolls these days?” Ryan asked.

  “This is Pearlie. In an attempt to save her, the door from the house closed. It has an automatic lock and can’t be opened from this side without a key.”

  Al sounded a little testy so Ryan turned away. “I have a key.”

  “Actually you don’t,” JD’s voice came through the speakers. They were standing in the open living area of the bunker. Al and Ryan looked around, then at each other, curious. “All of the door locks were changed yesterday. The exits have been sealed.” JD began. “I have a birthday party to get back to so I’m going to make this short and sweet. As you both know, this bunker was built for both families to survive here for months in case of an emergency situation. Well to those who love you, this is an emergency situation. There’s plenty of food, water, and drinks of all kinds. I think the Merlot in Ryan’s hands would be a good start. There are six bedrooms. Use one, or all six, I don’t care. But you will make up and I hope it’s before I’m elected President. I’m out.”

  “JD, open this door.” Al demanded.

  There was no response. “Mr. Harrison,” Ryan called out. Nothing. The two looked at each other. Al laughed, then looked up and saw Ryan’s face was void of expression. “Hey, I’ve been incarcerated before. This is a luxury hotel as far as I’m concerned. Besides it’s time.” He reached out and took the two bottles of wine from her hand and sat them on the table near the sofa.

  “This is something totally off the beaten path for me, so if I get it wrong, don’t laugh.” Al got down on bended knee as he took Ryan’s hand in his.

  “The heart is the most essential and vital part of everything. It’s the source of one’s being, emotions and sensibilities. It’s the center of our life. It controls you—you don’t control it.” He looked into Ryan’s eyes. “You, Morgan Ryan Williams, are the center of my being. I love you with all that I am and all that I have. I’ve never begged anyone for anything in my life. Here on bended knee, I’m begging you to love me back. Please forgive me for acting so damn self righteous and marry me.”

  Her body was shivering from his words. The simple, yet complicated way, he expressed himself always did her in. The tears flowed from under the dark shades as she whimpered out. “You have to ask my Daddy.”

  Al stood and gave her that crooked smile as he removed her shades. “I already did.”

  Looking into his eyes, with his locs hanging around his shoulders, she sniffled, “Did he say yes?”

  “After, I beat him down.”

  Ryan pulled back, “You beat my Daddy?”

  Al pulled her back to him. “Let’s just say we had a mutual disagreement,” he smiled. “I’m sorry, Morgan. I was hurt to learn you kept something from me,” he said as he rubbed the sides of her arms. “I’m so afraid I’ll end up like my step-dad or your father.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Al released her. He walked over to the kitchen area, took out two glasses, and filled them with wine. Walking back, with the glasses in one hand, he took her hand and led her to the sofa. As they sat, he kicked off his shoes, gave her a glass of wine and pulled her into his arms.

  “I’m going to tell you two stories, one about me and the other about you.”

  Ryan kicked off her shoes and pulled her legs up under her. It felt good to be back in his ar
ms. She settled in. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  Al told her about his childhood, his part in his stepfather’s death and all he had done to provide for Tracy. He told her about his days on the street, his life in prison, he even told her about his connection to the Cartel. “I let all of that go once I went to prison. I’m sure JD has figured out it was planned for me to go to prison. It was a way for me to make a clean break. While I was away, Tucker took over dismantling the organization. He controlled the investment company we had started and he invested very well. When I was released, he sold back my share of our investment company for the same amount I had originally sold it to him for—one dollar. Neither of us has to work another day in our lives if we don’t want to.” He stopped and refilled their glasses.

  “That’s my story. Now I’m going to tell you about your father.” Ryan pulled slightly away. Al pulled her back to him. “I promise, it won’t be easy, but your father will never hurt you again.” He waited until she settled back into his arms. Then he told her about his conversation with her father.