Page 71 of The Bitter Truth

“What is this?” Shavonne asks, hesitant to pick it up.

I swallow, setting my champagne glass down and grabbing the envelope with my name on it.

“Open it,” Jolene says with a warm smile.

I blink at her before sighing and opening the top flap. Then I gasp when I pull out the check inside. It’s made out to me, Brynn Wallace, and it’s twenty thousand dollars. Shavonne sees hers and squeals so loudly it hurts my ears.

“WHAT? Jolene, what is this?” Shavonne shrieks. She places the check down on the table in front of her, smoothing it out despite there being no creases on it. I’m almost positive Shavonne has never seen a number this big made out to her.

I shift my eyes to Jolene who clasps her hands together while Samuel drapes an arm over her shoulder with a proud smile. “I know you girls didn’t want to take on all that publicity during Dominic’s criminal trial. I totally understand why you didn’t. The people never would’ve left you alone and you two like your private lives. I promised myself I would do them so that any money I made from them, I could give to you.” Samuel clears his throat and Jolene glances up at him. “And, of course, I can’t forget that Sam agreed with me that it was the right thing to do.”

My heart races as I study the check. Jolene shifts on her feet when I look up, her eyes wide as she eagerly waits for my response. Shavonne is over the moon, I know it. There’s so much she can do with twenty grand. But to me this is just . . . wow.

Jolene gives Samuel a wary glance before saying, “Also, um, this is only one of many checks to come. The total amount of money you’ll receive from me is one million dollars.”

“Each?” Shavonne gasps.

Jolene smiles and nods. “Each. I can only give so much before the IRS comes to bite me in the butt,” she laughs.

All I can do is stare at her because I can’t figure out if this is real. I’ll be honest, after the cabin thing, I still didn’t fully trust Jolene. And when she did all those interviews and took that publishing deal, she seemed so selfish for doing it. Yes, she gave us credit and mentioned us, but all of it felt wrong. But now I see . . . she did it for us. Just like she’d had our backs at the cabin. All this time, I thought she was some selfish rich lady with daddy issues. I was wrong, and I feel horrible for judging her. She never asked me for anything.

That night in the cabin, I was afraid of her, but only because I was unaware of her plan. I realize now that my lack of trust in her and my wariness was because of my lack of trust in the world and within myself. I still don’t know who I am. Dominic ripped my former self away and I loved that younger version of Brynn. But a new one has developed, and I don’t know her all that well. But with this check in front of me, perhaps I can figure her out. Give her a shot.

So, I don’t say anything. I just cry.

Right there at the table.

I drop my face into my hands and weep.

“Aw, Brynn. No, please don’t cry,” Jolene coos.

“Yeah, girl. We’re good! We did it! We made it out the other side,” Shavonne says. “We won!” A hand rubs my back and I get a whiff of Jolene’s vanilla-spice perfume. A pair of hands take mine away from my face and through my blurry gaze, I look into Jolene’s glistening eyes. She’s bent down beside my chair, peering up at me.

“You can live your life now, Brynn. No more hiding. No more holding your breath. It’s time to free yourself, do you hear me? Let this all go and become the best possible version of yourself.”

“I just . . .” I sniffle and tilt my head to wipe my damp cheek on my shoulder. I look at Samuel, whose eyes are moist too. “I’ve been stuck in survival mode. Constantly feeling like someone is out to get me. And I guess all of this just solidifies it, you know? Makes it feel like all I did wasn’t for nothing.” I gesture to the check on the table. “Jolene, you didn’t have to do this. Seriously.”

“I wanted to,” she says with a smile. “And you better be glad because some of the questions those interviewers asked made me want to blow my damn brains out. Now I see why Beyoncé doesn’t do interviews anymore!”

I bubble a laugh as she does, then she leans in to hug me. I hug her back, finding comfort in this moment. Even if Jolene and I never speak again after I leave this hotel, I’m forever grateful. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of what I did without her. This is how it should be in the world: women helping women. People supporting each other.

We spend the rest of the night drinking champagne and Samuel orders Indian food for us before he has to take off to visit Cabarrus County for an event.

“So, what will you two do with all that money coming in?” Jolene asks. She’s stripped out of her work suit to just the silk camisole beneath. Shavonne sits next to me on the bed, her hands planted and locked behind her head as she stares up at the ceiling.

“Well, first I’m going to get a new car. I’m thinking a Lexus or something snazzy,” Shavonne says, grinning. “Then I’ll probably go back to New Orleans, help Krystal out a bit more with her shop. Might even take over it so she can relax. Believe it or not, she makes pretty good money there. I can expand things for her. Add another shop in the mall or something.”

“She’d love that,” I say.

“What about you, Brynn?” Jolene asks.

“I’ve always liked cooking,” I say, shrugging. “I used to make Pinterest boards of how I’d design my beachfront bed and breakfast if I ever owned one. I’d move to Cape Cod and start one up, have in-house breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make it a true escape, or a hidden gem, you know?” I look between Jolene and Shavonne. “I might do that. Something calm and quiet after all the chaos.”

“That’s beautiful,” Jolene murmurs.

“And if my idea in Nola doesn’t pan out, I’ll join you at the bed and breakfast,” Shavonne declares, bumping my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, resting my head on her shoulder.

I’m not sure what it is about this moment, but what I do know is that I’ve never felt safer than I do now. Tucked between two powerful women, all of us ready to tackle our dreams and blossom into the women we’re truly meant to be. Even Jolene. Though she has it all, her growth was stunted by Dominic. Now she can bloom.

I was wrong about myself before. I’m not worthless. I am someone with a soul and a divine right to be here. I have a purpose just like every other human on this earth and if that isn’t enough to live for, I don’t know what is.

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