Mariah just sat in her car, dumbfounded and unable to move.
She sits parked in front of the house, trying to process all that she had just experienced. All was fine and peaceful, up until her book signing this afternoon. Her life was undisturbed and full of light, with everything being on the upswing. She had her career as an adjunct professor of English at one of the local colleges in the area; and was celebrating her most recent milestone of being a published author. "Father Figure: Memoirs of a Conscious Daughter" wasn't just her first book, it was her ode to her father; the man that raised her, that taught her everything despite not being her father by blood. He treated her as his first born, his prized child, teaching her everything, being her hero. And now...?
My father...a cheat?!
Mariah just shakes her head. She
loved Kevin Santos, the only that father she's ever known. His community activism and strident beliefs had always inspired her; his love and dedication to his people always showed her that anything in this world was possible. Even after the birth of her younger siblings, Kevonne and KJ,
she was still his special girl. He was the one that inspired her to become a teacher.
Not everybody is a soldier in the same way, he would always tell her,
Some fight in the streets, while others can fight elsewhere. Making him the subject of her book was her way of thanking him for all that he had done for her...for their entire family.
Daddy...a cheater?!?!
She couldn't wrap her head around it. All was fine until her latest book signing at Knowledge As Supreme Bookstore & Cafe. People had come out to support her book; her work colleagues and students, her dad's activist associates, the many friends and neighbors that they had. It was an exhilarating experience to be loved and supported by so many. It was great for her personally as a coming out party, and a boon for the owner of the business. At that moment, she felt that life couldn't get any better than this...
Then...she had to meet
her!
Kevina "Vina" Parrish.
Mariah was shocked to meet Vina, on many different levels. When she first saw her, she looked almost exactly liker her younger sister Kevonne. With the exception of Kevonne being a chocolate brown with locks, and Vina being much lighter in complexion with relaxed hair, you could've mistaken them for twins. At first, Vina was checking her out from afar; trying to be inconspicuous, not making eye contact. Mariah was surprised just on the strength of how strongly she resembled her sister. She stole a few moments of freedom, and approached Vina as she was leaving the store. Spying the fact that Vina's copy didn't look brand new, she questioned her as to where she got it, and her thoughts on the book, if she read it. Vina had purchased a copy when the book was first released, and felt a range of different emotions while reading it; pride, anger, disappointment, and resentment. When Mariah questioned her as to why she had felt such mixed emotions, Vina dropped a bomb on her...
Because you got to know him...while I didn't. YOU got to grow up with my father...not ME.
Needless to say, Mariah didn't take kindly to her remark. She initially thought Vina to be some sort of lunatic or whack job, dismissing her claim. She had stormed off, when Vina said something that made her pause...
Ask him about Millicent Parrish from Virginia! He'll know her as "Milky".
Mariah didn't know what to say. Richmond, Virginia was where she was originally born, where her parents met and married before moving away to Tacoma Park. She knew that Kevin had had a life before meeting her, and her mother...but
this?
Mariah just shakes her head, takes a deep breath, and exits her car. She makes her way inside the house, heading for the kitchen. As she enters inside, she sees her mother Ashley Denise cooking over the stove, and Kevin standing next to her, canoodling with each other. She always loved seeing how they openly displayed their affection for each other, always showing how a loving couple should treat each other. She lets out a half smile, always enjoying their public displays of affection for each other. Kevin always set the standard for what Mariah looked for in a mate, seeing how preciously he always treated her mother. Mariah pauses briefly, and then lets her presence be known with a slight cough. Her parents look over her way, and smile.
"Hey, Mariah baby!"
"Hey princess", Kevin says, "How'd the book signing go?"
"It was good...well attended, good turnout", she replies, heading for the refrigerator, "Thanks for all your help in promoting it, dad."
"Of course!", he scoffs, "
Anything for my princess!"
Mariah lets a smile slide, always grateful for her father's support. She just didn't want to believe what Vina had told her. It just
couldn't be true! Kevin is the most honest, most honorable man she knows. He would
never betray his family like that. But...she had to know.
She pulls a drink out, and closes the fridge door. She then briefly pauses...
"Say dad...?"
"What's up, kiddo?"
"Do you remember a woman named Millicent Parrish? From back in Virginia...?"
She turns around and looks at the expression on his face, hoping that she would find nothing but a blank stare, a look of nonrecognition. Mariah's heart begins to sink when she sees a probing look of familiarity.
"Millicent Parrish...Millicent Parrish. Hmm...
why does that name sound so familiar...?"
"You might know her better as 'Milky'...?"
Mariah's heart sinks even further as a reminiscent smile flashes across his face. "Daaaammmn...", Kevin heartily replies, "You just took me waaaay back!"
"Who's that, baby?", her mother questions.
"My old downstairs neighbor, when I was living in Richmond. It was before we met..."
"Oh, okay. We're you guys friends?"
"...Just neighborly. Met her when I first moved to town from Newark." Kevin briefly pauses, and then lets out a laugh. "She was one crazy white girl..."
Mariah nearly jumps out of her skin, cringing.
She's WHITE?!?!?!
"Okay Mr. angry activist...", Ashley Denise teases, "You be nice."
"I'm just saying...she was really cool, but she had a thing for dark meat."
"Oh", Ashley Denise laughs, "One of
those. I get your drift..."
"Yeah...she had it
bad! And it was always for those knuckleheaded types too...".
Mariah looks down, now feeling totally conflicted. Her faith in her beloved father was beginning to shatter.
How could this have happened?!
"So, what brought up Milky...?"
"Huh...?", Mariah responds, coming to.
"What made you ask about Milky? Did you meet her at your book signing?"
"Um, no...", Mariah replies, and then pauses, "I met her daughter."
"She has a
daughter?!?!", Kevin replies, shocked, "Oh well...I guess I shouldn't be surprised..."
"Oh...?", Mariah asks, her eyebrow now raised, "And why is that?"
"Hey, even
I had to admit...she was
fine looking female.
Somebody was going to eventually get her to settle down..."
If only you knew, Mariah thinks to herself. She takes a deep breath, and exhales. "She'll be in town for another week. She says she'd like to meet you."
"Really...?", Kevin replies, smiling.
"Yeah. Apparently, her mom told her a bit about you. She'd like to meet the legend herself."
"Cool! Set up the meet. I'd love to meet Milky's daughter."
"Why don't you invite her over for dinner?", Ashley Denise asks.
"No...!", Mariah responds quickly. Both of her parents look at her, somewhat stunned by her reaction. Mariah quickly recovers, "It would be better at a neutral site, like...a cafe, or something..."
Okay princess", Kevin says, "If you think that's best. Lets set it up."
"Okay", Mariah breathes, "I'll see when she's free, and let you know the day and time."
"Sounds like a plan!"
Mariah forces herself to smile at him. She didn't know what to think, what to do. She felt wrong to be setting her father up like that, but she needed answers. She didn't get much from Vina in the first place, but now she wanted the whole complete story.
Both sides. She was going to get the truth, even if it meant destroying her world. She needed to know for herself, was he a true father figure...or a fraud?
