He sat in his office, wondering if he should hand in that resignation letter. That letter was composed more than a month ago, a few days after that concert which totally changed his life. No longer could he remain employed with this outfit, a company that prided itself on family values. Heck, even the CEO was known for his right-of-center political and social views. Ralph thought he had all the right qualities, a good fit with such a company. However, since that concert, when telling revelations hit Ralph like a dozen lightning strikes, he knew it was time to move on. Already he had the house on the market, resumes sent out to faraway places where no one knew him. He contacted his attorney for advice on how to deal with the fallout, legally speaking. On the personal front, he consulted with his pastor on how to cope with life-changing events.
In a way, Ralph Burton wished he had never walked into the Soul Shack. He wished he had acted on his initial thought and stayed in the office, lunching on the healthy fare his wife had packed. Then he would have never met Sadie Cooper, never had his curiosity get the better of him. He would have never ordered, and watched that video, once he discovered Sadie was once Tangia, the celebrated rhythm-and-blues singer, queen of booty call music, and part-time soft porn star.
All he wanted was to find out more about Tangia: how she came to be; her background; what circumstances ended her too-short career; the child she gave away. He wondered why, after Sadie resurrected Tangia, she took such an avid interest in him. Why, during that meeting, did she open up to him so? Why did she reveal all those secrets known only to her and a handful of relatives? Ralph, at first, concluded that Tangia's interest in him went far beyond mere friendship, that his insatiable curiosity gave rise to Tangia's amazing comeback. He, during that concert, concluded Tangia wanted to hook up with him, take him as a lover, as she obviously did so many years ago during her heyday. Then there was the daughter she had out of wedlock and ultimately put up for adoption. She met the child, now grown and married, some days before the comeback concert. Apparently all went very well in that initial meeting, and the woman bore her birth mother no ill will. Rather, and surprisingly, the long-lost daughter agreed to join her mother onstage.
And she appeared on that stage with her mother, looking every inch the sexy chanteuse, a rising star if anything. She took on the stage name Tauné...She looked totally different from the suburban soccer mom...I had no idea Tauné was, in reality, Beverly, my wife...Why didn't she tell me?
It didn't make any sense. He thought he knew Beverly. Oh, he knew she was adopted, but he had no idea she was actually Sadie Cooper's daughter. In fact, while they were dating, Bev said she didn't want to find her birth mother outside of gathering medical information. That was understandable since Bev emphatically said she wanted no part of her birth mother. The woman was obviously a dropout, living in poverty, and made some unwise life choices. Beverly, on the other hand, came from a home where positive values and clean living were top priorities. No way would such a family allow music as Tangia's into the home. Strait-laced folks like that aren't the woman's target audience anyway.
So why would Beverly keep her own husband in the dark? Why did she keep such news a secret, especially after repeating saying she had no desire to meet her birth mother?
Ralph allowed himself to be transported back to that night, when he and Darryl anticipated a pleasant, fun evening. He knew he lied to Beverly about "meeting a client" and wouldn't be home until late, yet she said nothing. Come to think of it, she seemed particularly secretive and apprehensive that evening, so much that Ralph entertained notions that his wife had other plans that she didn't want revealed. Well, she had plans all right – Appearing onstage with her birth mother who was no other than Tangia.
The moment she slithered out onto that stage, dressed in a skintight, flaming red spandex catsuit, Ralph wanted to run and hide. All during her scorching performance, he hunkered down in his seat as if wanting no one to know that was his wife up there wiggling and shimmying seductively. The song, "Jump Me", was daring enough with its more than suggestive lyrics punctuated with ample orgasmic moans and growls. Watching his wife's sexy undulating body, listening to her throaty, breathy voice coo words of sexual enjoyment didn't bring him joy. Instead Bev's performance became a highly embarrassing experience. Even Darryl, who met Bev a few times – last month the most recent – was quite surprised, shocked even, to witness the ordinarily staid Beverly Burton transform into Tauné, an untamed she-devil belting out songs that she wouldn't have dreamed of hearing, let alone perform.
"Did she tell you Beverly was her daughter?," Darryl asked in a whisper as Tauné and Tangia began an erotically charged duet – songs penned by the latter for this occasion.
Ralph just shook his head in disgust and anger. He became quite livid that Tangia obviously had it all planned out, and she used her so-called 'friendship' to lure him into an impossible situation. Perhaps all that sob story – her upright childhood, falling for the Svengali-like Damon, gang rape, having the sexy siren image foisted upon her, the illegitimate child, Damon stealing her money, forced to star in those skin flicks – was all a pack of lies. Well, the baby part was true, and said child turned out to be Beverly. But why didn't Tangia say so in the first place? Wasn't it that plain? The woman had an agenda, to get her kicks off an unsuspecting man's misery. She most likely thought it would frost Ralph to discover his precious wife was her biological daughter, and that he'd get a charge out of watching Beverly perform. He began to hate the woman who professed to be his friend, and she turned his own wife against him. Or so he surmised after the show, during the backstage visit.
++++++
"I didn't quite expect you to understand, Ralph, so I had to do it this way."
So said Beverly during a tense conversation backstage. He remained silent all through the usual congratulations and well wishes from numerous family and friends – accolades showered upon Tangia and Tauné. Ralph was not included or ever acknowledged as Tauné's husband. Never, throughout the frenzied media attention, did she mention Ralph or their three-year old daughter Jasmine. All she did was gush endlessly about finding her birth mother, and that it thrilled her to discover said mother was the celebrated 1960's R&B star. He heard it all: How Tangia and Tauné met, what the future held for both, the already signed recording and tour deals, the upcoming videos and cable TV special, even a couple of movies in pre-production. No where did Beverly mention her husband of ten years, or the child they loved so. Nothing of Beverly's former life ever spilled from her crimson-glossed lips.
Instead all he heard was praise heaped on Tangia – not Sadie Cooper, mind. That and a healthy dose of sexually suggestive banter, double entendre and innuendo that Beverly Burton would never dream of uttering. She even treated those gathered backstage to an impromptu performance, a sexually charged set complete with sensual growls and sinuous wriggling. The raw sexual energy burst forth, sending waves of desire through those gathered. Ralph winced as reporters and music industry folks hooted and cheered as Tauné teased and taunted her audience, daring anyone to pounce her, ravish her on the spot.
The moment she lustfully writhed and moaned her way from one sexy song to the next, Beverly Burton died and Tauné took over completely. They had it planned that way, you see.
++++++
Coward...Didn't even stick around to tell me the truth...Had to explain everything in this letter...How long has she been gone? Almost six months...Touring and recording, she said, then it's off to work on this movie...Then the TV special...Why, how could she do this to me? How could both just use me like that? And Darryl...He was in this as well...my friend, at least he was my friend...
Okay, so Beverly could tell Ralph so much that night, but with the incessant media attention and a pressing schedule, not to mention a total lifestyle change, she could not tell him everything. She never bothered to come home that night – never did come home all those subsequent weeks she spent recording and touring with her mother. The only time she stepped into the home Ralph bought especially for her was to gather her clothes and other personal belongings. Beverly did have the decency to spend time with Jasmine, but she made it clear that she couldn't take the child with her. Life on the road with a pre-schooler in tow was not for her; in fact, she flatly said the many parties and other "events" pertaining to her new life as a rock star left no room for caring for a child. She simply saddled Ralph with the girl, and he had the daunting task of rearing his daughter by himself.
Oh yes, and she remained home long enough to give Ralph a letter that shed much light on why she did it.
That letter was now in his office, laying before him, on his desk. He read it over and over, so many times he lost count. This is why he decided to consult an attorney, seek employment elsewhere, get as far away from this town and the ensuing gossip that Beverly Burton dumped her husband in favor of a life in showbiz.
Dear Ralph,
I suppose you have so many unanswered questions, I believe you deserve to learn the truth: The reasons why I never told you about my birth mother, that she was really Tangia née Sadie Cooper.
I met her weeks ago, long before you set foot into the Soul Shack. I know I told you I had no desire to look up my birth mother, and only for getting medical background. I never wanted to reconnect with the woman who gave me up for adoption, at least up until I finally met my great-Aunt Dinah who set up the initial meeting with Sadie. The woman called out of the blue, and at first I didn't want to meet my mother. But since I had no family – you know both my adoptive parents are long dead and I was an only child. No cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. I had no one. At least you still have your three brothers and two sisters, and your father is still living, plus a wealth of other relatives. I have no one, which is why I decided to meet my birth mother.
My initial reaction when I met Sadie was wonderful. She, despite the weight gain, looked far younger than I'd anticipated. She was very happy to meet me, and that I was doing so well for myself. To tell the truth, things were not that well for me, this I told her. I had my degrees, even had a promising career as a music teacher. But things got in the way, such as marriage, helping put you through school and putting my own on hold, then having a child of whom you insisted needed a full-time stay at home mother.
Sadie was very understanding, and she said I should not have to put off my dreams in deference to yours. So, especially when I learned Sadie was the famous Tangia, I decided to follow her lead. She prepared to make her comeback in showbiz, getting herself in shape and all. Secretly I wished I could be on stage with her, living my dream of being a rock star like my mother. All that staid, prim and proper stuff was foisted on me by my adoptive parents then by you. I hated not being able to fulfill my ambitions. I hated playing the good suburban wife and mother, going to play groups and neighborhood suppers just to please you. That's when Sadie suggested that she meet you, but she didn't want you to know she was my mother or of my plans to join her comeback performance.
We had it all set up. That Soul Shack flyer faxed to your office which I'm sure you saw. I was hoping you'd drop by some time before Sadie quit her waitress job. You've a nasty habit of sneaking forbidden foods even though your doctor told you such indulgence is unhealthy. I guess seeing that flyer planted a much needed suggestion in your mind. Sadie made sure to give you personal attention, to pique your curiosity the moment that song played on the jukebox.
When you heard "Rough Love" then concluded Sadie is really Tangia, we knew you'd hightail it to Darryl. It's no secret to me that your buddy has an extensive classic R&B collection, even has all of Tangia's albums, films, magazine articles, and concert reviews. I only met him a few times but he told me of his obsession with Tangia, so I just tweaked his ear and he gladly went along with our scheme. He was aware of my plight, my unhappiness, and he wanted to show you up for being so inattentive to my needs and desires.
I knew you bought Tanya Deep because I found it stashed in your desk drawer, in your study. That's when I knew we had you hooked. You couldn't wait for Darryl to meet Sadie Cooper, and you were so disappointed upon learning she quit the diner. Then you saw Niki Egan in confab with Aunt Dinah, and you were curious about Lachelle. Then Sadie sent you those free tickets and backstage passes. And she told you everything – almost everything – about her life before and during her Tangia years. All she related is absolutely true: Damon, the gang rape, the transformation from sweet Sadie to sexy Tangia, the soft porn flicks, Damon stealing her money, the resultant baby. But she held back in revealing the truth about that baby, that she was me. The rest? You found out so shockingly that night of the concert. I knew you'd lie to me about meeting a client and that you wouldn't be home until late. How lame can you be?
Anyway, now that I'm at last free of a life I hated, you can go on with yours. I will give you whatever: easy divorce and sole custody. I now have what I've always craved, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Mom and I have so much to do what with recording a tandem album, starring in a movie she wrote, and putting together that pay-per-view TV special. I've never felt so free to express my womanly desires, and I really owe it to you. If you hadn't been so darn persistent in knowing everything Tangia, if you had come out of that little corporate mindset you've built up, then maybe I'd include you in my new life. But there is no room for stick-in-the-muds. Mom made me see that, and she had your number since she first laid eyes on you. Besides, I'm way too busy, and a husband and child are not in the picture, at least not now. Oh, Mom introduced me to a talented musician who says I have what it takes to be the next Beyonce. How about that? Lenny says it's not everyday a woman my age breaks into showbiz and makes a big splash the way I did at Mom's comeback concert.
I will close now. Lenny is meeting me after I finish my business with you. I hope you will find happiness, perhaps find a woman who will embody all the qualities you desire. Unfortunately, I no longer fit that role; I've found something better. No hard feelings, okay?
Bev (make that "Tauné")
Copyright©2005, 2006 by P.R. Parker. All Rights Reserved.