Queen of Pain (Things YouCan't Tell Mama) (5 page)

“That’s all you ever worry about anyway mama, your precious Tara, like her
shit don’t stink. She’s just as much white trash as anyone else around here, but she’s trying to play it off to marry a rich man… Oww! Mama, why did you slap me,” Caitlin said.

“We’re not white trash. Not having a lot of money doesn’t make people trash. That’s what’s wrong with this world. You can answer to it if you want to Caitlin, but you weren’t raised that way. So you can go in that room, get a decent pair of jeans and put them on or you can go home. You can still were those clothes hanging in that closet,” June said.

“Yes ma’am,” Caitlin said as she glared at Tara as she left the room.

“Jesus!” June said.

“Mama, I’m so sorry. Why did she do that? I’m so embarrassed,” Tara said.

“Well, he’s marrying you, not her. If that runs him off, you don’t need him anyway,” June said.

After a few minutes, Caitlin came back up front with a pair of jeans on and the rest of her visit was uneventful.

Monday came all too soon and before they knew it, Brandon and Tara were headed back to New York. As the jet climbed into the sky, Tara looked down at the acres of trees below her as they started on their journey northeastward.

“I’m sorry about my sister and the way she behaved. She’s just frustrated,” Tara said.

“Don’t worry about that. My family’s not perfect either,” Brandon said.

“You were such a bad boy. Sneaking into my room in the middle of the night in my parent’s house,” Tara said.

“Yeah, but wasn’t that so good, trying to be quiet and not get caught. I’ll remember that a long time,” Brandon said.

“I’m beginning to think that you get a charge out living dangerously when it comes to sex,” Tara said.

“Well, you’ve got to keep things interesting. We’ve got a few hours before we land. I’ve got a new mattress in the sleeping area? Do you want to see how it feels? It’s made out of memory foam?” Brandon said.

“Memory foam huh. I just hope it doesn’t tell what it knows,” Tara said as she went with Brandon and climbed in bed.

Brandon passed the test of meeting Tara’s parents with flying colors and it was full speed ahead with planning their wedding.

10

Over the next six months Tara alternated between planning her wedding and traveling the world with Brandon. Ashley was of a great deal of assistance to Tara in getting everything together for her nuptials in November. Ashley even traveled with Tara to Dallas to visit potential venues. By the time her wedding day arrived, Tara was a solid fixture in the social scene of the rich and famous.

“Brandon, there we are at that charity ball at the museum. Our picture is in the society section. There’s you, me, Frazier and Ashley. You look so handsome,” Tara said while she read an online version of a local society news magazine.

“Yeah, I do look good, don’t I? You look pretty good yourself,” Brandon said.

“Are you ready to get married? It’s happens in three weeks,” Tara said.

“Yes, I’m ready. Are you ready to become my wife,” Brandon said.

“Absolutely, now that we’ve got that prenuptial agreement finally settled,” Tara said.

“I can’t believe you went out and got your own lawyer to review it,” Brandon said.

“A little birdie told me that it would be smart to get my own attorney to look it over. He only made a couple of changes,” Tara said,

“Well, it’s behind us now. What does your wedding dress look like?” Brandon asked.

“I’m not telling you. You will see it when I walk in with it on, but it’s fabulous,” Tara said.

“Is everything ready?” Brandon asked.

“Everything is set. Shannon is my maid of honor and Ashley is one of my bridesmaids along with my sister Caitlin. You’ve got your brother, Frazier and your nephew as your groomsmen. There’s nothing left except saying I do,” Tara said.

“Is Gary coming?” Brandon asked.

“I don’t know. Gary and Shannon are together now, so he can come as her guest, but that’s up to him. I don’t know if I would come if I was in his shoes,” Tara said.

“Maybe he will come to show that he’s doing okay and has moved on,” Brandon said.

Before they knew what hit them it seemed that a mass gathering was taking place in Dallas as one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet was going off the market. The venue was one of the most exclusive hotels in the city and no expense was spared. The entire area where the wedding took place was off limits to anyone without an invitation. The guest list was a mixture of celebrities, business tycoons and regular salt of the earth people. The one percent and the commoners shared the same space, mixed and mingled. One man sat on the back row and tried to remain inconspicuous. Gary Johnson
felt like the forgotten man in the middle, but he came to the wedding to support Shannon.

After everyone was seated and the groom was positioned up front by the minister officiating the wedding the moment of truth had arrived when it was time for the bride to make her entrance. The wedding march was struck up by the live band and everyone rose from their seats. Tara stepped into the room wearing a white custom designed wedding gown that cost fifty thousand dollars. With her father Clyde at her side, Tara walked down the aisle and everyone was taken aback by her beauty, style and grace. Tara was far from the pale thin girl with stringy blonde hair of her younger years as she had blossomed into a beautiful woman. Gary watched his former fiancée walk past him and wondered what could have been if not for a chance meeting at an awards dinner.  That was the first time Gary had laid eyes on Tara since that painful day she informed him that their engagement was over because she was leaving him for another man.

Tara felt like a commoner about to become a queen. Tara stood with Brandon in front of the assembled well wishers and in what seemed like a surreal moment she became Mrs. Tara Larson, the wife of one of the most influential businessmen in the world.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Larson,” the minister announced to the gathering.

After a seemingly endless round of photographs the new couple went upstairs and changed into the clothes they would wear to their reception in the same hotel. Once they arrived their first dance was to a song performed by an internationally famous popular music star. Tara kept wonder if there would be a moment where she would turn back into that insecure little girl that lived off the blacktop road, but it didn’t happen.

“Tara, congratulations, I’m happy for you. You look great,” Gary said when he got a chance to speak to her.

“I’m so glad you came. You and Shannon seem so happy together,” Tara said.

“You go out there and take it all in. Good luck,” Gary said as he walked away.

Tara watched her past disappeared into the crowd and her future walked up behind her.

“So Gary came after all?” Brandon said.

“Yeah, he just wished me luck,” Tara said.

Later on Tara was talking with her mother.

“Well baby. You finally made it all the way this time. You’re a married woman now. The next time you come home you and Brandon can sleep in the same room so he won’t have to tip toe across the hallway at night like he did last time,” June said.

“Mama!
You mean you knew he came over to my room. I’m so embarrassed,” Tara said while turning red in the face.

“I wasn’t born yesterday. It sounded like you had a good time,” June said.

“You heard us?! Oh my God!” Tara said.

“You know those old mattresses we have make a big racket when you move around on them. I’m proud of you and you look so pretty. Are you happy?” June said as she hugged Tara.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I feel like this is where I was meant to be and I’m with the man that I love. How much better can life get?” Tara said.

Life did get better as Tara and Brandon jetted off to their honeymoon in Dubai.

After getting back home from their honeymoon, Tara became the madam of the house and a couple of months later hosted a get together for some of the women in the community in order to announce her presence as the new Mrs. Larson.

One day Tara decided that she wanted to see what the rest of New York was like and she called Ashley.

“Ashley, I want to see New York City. I know we’re out here, but I feel like I’m in a bubble. I want to see Queens, Harlem, Brooklyn, you know where the real people live. You’ve been here longer than I have. Can you go with me so I can see what New York is all about?” Tara asked.

Ashley agreed and for the next week they visited a different area of New York. Ashley and Tara didn’t just drive through. They stopped, had lunch and talked with people in the area that they went into. After their tour was complete Ashley asked Tara why she wanted to do that and what conclusions she drew from it.

“I wanted to see what life was like where regular New Yorkers worked and lived. The thing that struck me was that some of the young women we saw. They had the eyes of older people. It was like at nineteen and twenty years old their world had stopped already. Quite a few of them had small children and you could tell they had them when they were teenagers. It kind of reminded me of what happened with my younger sister. I think I know what I want to do now,” Tara said.

Just as Opal had suggested, Tara found her passion and started an outreach program for young girls in impoverished areas in the United States in need of role models. Tara thought about how she felt growing up without seeing a lot of examples of women going out into the world and making it on their own. Tara felt that it was a miracle that she had the drive to study hard in school and earn a college degree without much of a push from anyone else. By working her contacts Tara managed to gain
some key backers for her mentor program for young girls.

Everything was going better than Tara ever expected and just after two years of marriage, Tara had thoughts of having children and expanding her family until that text message arrived. Tara was dumbfounded and never saw divorce coming. Brandon had never expressed anything but love for her and their life together. This was the most confusing day of Tara’s life. Tara took her phone and dialed Ashley.

“Ashley could come over here. I need to tell you something,” Tara said through tears.

After about thirty minutes Ashley arrived.

“Tara, what is it sweetie?” Ashley said as Tara almost collapsed in her arms sobbing.

“It’s Brandon. He sent me a text message saying that he had filed for divorce. I don’t understand,” Tara said.

“What?! Where did that come from? I mean have you guys been fighting? This doesn’t make any sense,” Ashley said.

“No. Everything seemed perfect. This makes no sense, unless he met another woman. How could he do this to me? I love him and he said he loved me. We just had our second year anniversary a few weeks ago,” Tara said.

“He just sent you a text message. What a cold hearted asshole. I didn’t think he was like that. I’m so sorry. What can I do for you?” Ashley asked.

“Just stay here and sit with me for a while. Just
be my friend like you have been since I came here. That’s all,” Tara said.

Ashley stayed with Tara until after the sun set and finally went home to Frazier. Tara thought about the feelings of betrayal, abandonment and confusion that she felt in her soul. It finally struck home that she had dealt out the same kind of pain to men that loved her over the years. Tara wondered if this was her payback for a certain streak of selfishness that she could not fully admit until that moment. Tara drew her body up into a fetal position and cried like a baby. That night Tara went to sleep in what she felt like was the loneliest bed in the world. The next day Tara still hadn’t heard from Brandon and just as she was about to call him an incoming call came in.

“Hello,” Tara said.

“Tara, this is Frazier. Ashley told me what happened. I’m so sorry. Listen, I need to talk to you. Can you meet me for lunch, wherever you want?” Frazier said.

“Sure,” Tara said.

Tara selected a restaurant for lunch that was closer to the city and met Frazier there.

“Frazier what is it? You sounded a little strange on the phone,” Tara said.

“Well like I said, Ashley told me about Brandon sending you a text message about filing for divorce. I’ve got to warn you that what I’m about to tell you is going to be hard to hear,” Frazier said.

“What has Brandon been cheating on me with another woman and you knew about it?” Tara said.

“Well, yes he has been and is still cheating on you with another woman,” Frazier said.

“Frazier, do you know who it is?” Tara asked.

“It’s my wife, Ashley,” Frazier said.

“What?” Tara said with a confused look on her face.

“Brandon and Ashley have been seeing each other since before he met you,” Frazier said.

“How could that be happening? Why would you let that happen? She’s your wife and my friend. I’m so confused,” Tara said while holding her head.

“I found out about six months ago and have been trying to piece everything together. Look at this,” Frazier said as he turned his tablet computer around and pressed play on a video.

A man and a woman were sitting at a table eating lunch together and they turned and kissed each other. Tara looked closer. It was Brandon and Ashley. The next video showed them walking down the hallway of a hotel and kissing passionately before they went inside. The next video was especially shocking as it was Brandon and Ashley engage in a passionate round of sex in a hotel room.

“Oh my God!
I don’t believe this. Where was this and when?” Tara said.

“Do you remember that trip Brandon took to California to meet with his west coast team? Well Ashley took a trip to Las Vegas about the same time to visit with some of her old friends out there. Apparently they had agreed that Brandon would make a stop in Las Vegas on the way back and they met up there. I had a private detective on Ashley’s ass and she got all of this footage on them. She even placed hidden cameras in Ashley’s hotel room. I’ve got text messages sent between them before he met you. You see Brandon is a technology genius and knows how to erase his tracks, Ashley, not so much. She thinks that deleting a text message gets rid of it, but her phone is on my account and I requested all of the text messages,” Frazier said.

“I can’t believe that two faced bitch stabbed me in the back like this! That means that everything I’ve told her has gotten back to him. What are you going to do?” Tara said.

“No, it’s what are we going to do?” Frazier said.

“What do you mean?” Tara said.

“Ashley is trying to make another year on her
prenup so she can get another two million in six months, but it has an infidelity clause that cuts her payout in half, do you have one of those in your prenup?” Frazier asked.

“Yes, I do. I get a ten million dollar kicker if I can prove that Brandon cheated. My lawyer threw it in as a condition of me signing the agreement,” Tara said.

“There you go, congratulations, but I want to take that selfish son of a bitch down. He is a relationship sociopath. Brandon always wants what belongs to someone else. He did it with you and now he did it with me. I want you to sue him for contractual fraud for some stupid amount of money, like five hundred million dollars because he enticed you to marry him under false pretenses. He was already violating your marriage vows before he promised not to. We have a room full of witnesses and it’s on video. Don’t worry about the legal fees, my lawyers will handle it. I think he married you partially as a cover to make it easier get to my wife, because guess what, that college class that requires her to go into the city once a week doesn’t exist. Ashley is meeting Brandon at a hotel once a week when she goes into the city. My investigator tailed her several times and saw then together,” Frazier said.