Jeb held a beautiful, sparkling diamond ring out to me along with his hand to accept in marriage. From the look of things, Kemara and Channing were in on this surprise proposal.
“Answer him already,” my sister chimed in.
“We do,” Eva said with a huge smile.
“Mom, I gave Jeb my blessings yesterday,” Kevin said in the tone of a little man.
Now, everyone was staring at me for my response. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes. I couldn’t find the words to say so I nodded in fast motions as I blinked back tears. Finally, I was able to string together the words, “I will marry you! Yes! I will marry you, Jeb!”
He slid the ring onto my finger, and I obsessed over its gorgeousness as I stood there in awe. He picked me up into his arms and spun around as everyone cheered us on. When he planted me back on my feet, he pulled Kevin and Eva into our group hug.
“We’re one unit,” he said.
Jeb and I looked at each other, knowing we had obstacles to overcome. Getting his family’s acceptance and Rodney’s erratic behavior were the main ones. But our little family—the ones that counted—was happy, and our love would soon be solidified through marriage.
THE END
Part 2
The Melody
Prologue
Jeb
As I buttoned my shirt up, I stood in front of the mirror looking at my reflection while my mind wondered about all the ways this could go wrong. My feet wanted to stay planted right there in our room as I thought about my father and the hateful words that would spew out of his mouth once I revealed to him Tameka would soon be my wife.
He wasn’t a fan of our union, to say the least. And he let me know by avoiding me at all costs. I wanted to talk this through with my dad, mostly because I couldn’t bear to see us turn into his brother and Channing. But he was too stuck in his own outdated ways to try to salvage our relationship. I’d give him a call, and he would send me straight to voicemail. I’d stop by the house, and he’d completely ignore me, only grunting and moaning in response to me trying to get something out of him. He wouldn’t even string together more than four words to say to me. He was beyond disapproving, and it showed.
I thought about asking Tameka to elope. I would love to see her on a breathtaking white beach after giving her my ring and vowing to spend the rest of my life with her. We didn’t need people there on our special day who didn’t support us. Our day should belong to us, and to our love.
I slowly finished dressing and found it in myself to get the hell out of that room before I somehow rationalized not showing my face to my father. Funny enough though, bailing wasn’t even an option. I had to let him know directly that Tameka was going to be my wife now and he could either get with it or not be in my life.
I needed to hear his decision, though deep down, I knew he had picked a side long ago by every dodge and awkward avoidable silence between us. I still needed him to tell me to my face.
While I was getting ready for my encounter with my dad, Tameka was at work, and I was a bit relieved. I didn’t want her to see me this jumpy, while on the other hand, she was the only one who could ease my nerves. I rushed out the door, jumped into my truck, and sped to the other side of the train tracks. I was ready to get this over with.
As I pulled into the driveway of my old childhood home, memories flooded in. I remembered my dad’s meetings with the brotherhood and how me and Channing would sneak over to eavesdrop. We were so mesmerized by the weekly gatherings. Always present was my father, uncle, and a crowd of businessowners and trade workers from the old neighborhood with a handful of big wigs sprinkled in. Channing and I used to mimic them, fantasizing about the day when we would be leading the meetings. I shook my head at the thought as I sat in the car and fidgeted with my keys. I saw one of the curtains move and realized my dad had been made aware of my arrival.
Shit, I thought. Now, I had to put some pep in my step. I maneuvered out of the car and slammed the door shut as my father’s silhouette approached the doorway.
“Son,” he greeted me quite distantly as I approached the same old wooden porch I used to play on.
“Hey, Dad!” I tried to sound as if I was happy to see him. As much as I dreaded this pending moment, I knew that this conversation needed to happen.
He gave me a stiff head nod, fully committed to his bleak stance against welcoming me back home. I waited for him to embrace me, but he didn’t budge. I reached my hand out to shake his, but he kept both of his old, frail hands right inside his pocket as he looked me up and down the way he would examine a horse he was considering purchasing.
“So, what do I owe this visit to? Are you here to tell me that you finally dropped that monkey and got yourself a real woman?”
I hadn’t been there five minutes, and I could already feel my heart start to race and my hands ball into tight fists.
“Don’t EVER call her an animal. She’s the love of my life,” I said sternly so that he knew I wasn’t here for the derogatory name calling.
My Dear Old Dad squinted his eyes and glared at me as if I had somehow went out of my way to betray him.
“That nigger ain’t the love of your life. You need real help, Son.”
I leaped to within an inch or so from his face so that I was looking him directly in his eyes. I tried desperately to ignore the fact that I looked exactly like him. I was so close I could smell the coffee he drank this morning on his breath. I began making real deliberate attempts at trying to calm myself down from doing the worst. I didn’t want to hit my father, but disrespecting Tameka would be the button to push to make that happen.
“Pay attention, and I want to make this really clear as this won’t be up for debate or discussion,” I said damn near through my teeth. I could feel the vein in my forehead pumping quickly. “I asked for Tameka’s hand in marriage, and she said yes. This is the happiest I have ever been in life, Dad. She’s going to be my wife, and you’re going to have to fucking deal with it or stay out of our lives!”
“Your wife? Son, have you lost your damn mind?” He backed up from my face and began to pace the porch, making a creaking sound with every other step. “You ain’t goin’ ta’ be parading around this town that your ancestors built with no...with no colored girl. I’ll tell you that right now.”
I couldn’t take it anymore, but just as my fist began rising up, my cousin, Channing, rushed out the front door and grabbed it just in enough time.
“Easy, easy, Jeb…he’s an old man,” I could hear Channing say, but my mind was focused on the face of the man who took me to baseball games, showed me how to climb trees, and also tried to brainwash me into thinking we were superior to black people. “It’s not worth it,” Channing said.
I started to back up all while keeping my gaze on my father. The old man was ready to take the hit and wouldn’t back down just because I wanted to stray from our bigoted family traditions.
“She’s going to be my wife, and we’re going to have little brown children with your last name and your blood running through their veins. Your name and your blood!” I screamed and then backed away toward my car.
“Over my dead body,” I heard my father yell just before I closed my door.
I sped off, leaving Channing and my father on the porch. Channing’s worry lines were visible even as I drove away. My father, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem watching me, his only son, drive out of his life, forever.
Chapter 1
Tameka
I was so glad to be home from work. The day was long and drawn out, and it couldn’t have ended any quicker. Jeb was in the kitchen cooking a delicious-smelling dinner while the kids were away at Kemara’s for the night. He said he had a huge surprise for us, and my mind raced at the possibilities. I was nervous just watching him squirm. I observed him fidget with the knife and fumble the veggies until I couldn’t take it anymore. His hands were so shaky and his body so restless that I had to intervene and assist my poor, antsy, but still so cu
te, man. I didn’t know what the hell was wrong, but it was starting to make me fret for him.
I motioned for him to scoot over and hand me the knife, but he quickly rejected my gesture to help by turning me away and leading me back into the living room, where I sat on the couch in self defeat. I waited for him to call my name the way he did to tell me dinner was ready. Every time I called out from the living room to ask him if he was okay, he just shrugged me off with a swift, “Everything’s good!”
Nevertheless, the food was beginning to smell delightful. Its scent wafted from the kitchen and into the living room where it easily tempted my nose and other senses with the savory smells that Jeb conjured up in the kitchen. Who knew he would be such a genius with food? That was an added bonus of him being my fiancé.
Jeb catered to me like no other man had ever done. One year together and I still couldn’t believe how I lucked up. And to think, I almost dissed him. Well, I definitely dissed him, but to think this never would have been if I hadn’t opened my heart up to him. If he hadn’t showed me it was safe to love again. It had been tough to open my heart, but definitely worth it.
“Babyyy!” Jeb yelled out from the kitchen. “Come eaaaat!”
I walked into the kitchen, and alas, Jeb didn’t look so jittery anymore. He had a smile plastered across his handsome face as he stood over his magnificently fragrant meal.
“Wal-ah!” he said with pride over the meal he spent the last three hours in the kitchen slaving over. “Only the best, for the best. My love, I present to you your favorite meal. Yes, believe your eyes. Chicken parmesan, a tossed Caesar salad, with my infamous Italian breadsticks. Better than Olive Garden!”
I slapped his chest flirtatiously as I let out a great big laugh from the pit of my belly. No one could make me laugh like Jeb could. He put his hand around my waist and pulled me in with his broad, beautiful shoulders and toned arms for one of his sensual kisses. I was so used to his kisses, and yet I couldn’t get enough of them. He smiled mid-kiss and whispered in my ear.
“Are you ready to eat, love, or are you ready to eat?” he asked as he motioned to the bedroom.
I couldn’t help but to snicker. “Babe!” I exclaimed with a big grin on my face. “I’m ready for both meals, of course,” I responded with a flirty smirk on my face.
Jeb laughed and kissed my neck. “Oh, trust, I’m ready for dessert already.”
We both sat down at the table, and I gasped at Jeb’s beautiful presentation. He scooted his chair closer to mine as I looked up to him in appreciation.
“Baby, I just want to thank you for the meal. I know you were feeling a little off today, but I truly cherish how you took the time out to cook for us and to spend quality time together.”
“Anything for the love of my life,” Jeb gushed.
I couldn’t take my eyes off his alluring face. I was grateful for a man like Jeb.
We dug in and began to demolish the food. After the hard day we both had, we finally were able to savor the moment until Jeb became a little skittish and removed again.
I placed my hand on his. “Is everything okay?”
“Well, yes,” he blinked down at me as if he wanted to tell me something but was hesitant. He paused for a moment and then proceeded. “I wanted to ask you if you wou—”
The doorbell rang, cutting Jeb off abruptly. We both froze, wondering who could be at our front door at this time of night. We gave each other a solemn look. We didn’t want any visitors; we just wanted to enjoy each other’s company.
The doorbell rang again and again, so I hustled to answer it, thinking it was possibly Kemara and the kids. Jeb followed closely behind once he saw the look of worry rush to my face. I opened the door and was almost blown away to see Rodney standing there with my ex-mother-in-law. Shock and awe had to be displayed on my face as I wondered what the hell they were doing there.
“Baby,” Rodney said as he leaned in to kiss my forehead just like he used to do once upon a time when we were in love and married. I quickly dodged his advance and sidestepped, almost making him stumble as I reacted with such swiftness. “Um, excuse me? Why did you do that, baby?” Rodney regained his balance and looked at me like I had antlers growing out of my head. “Didn’t you miss me?”
“Back off!” Jeb said as the expression on his face went from bewilderment to anger as his cheeks flushed red. He stepped up to Rodney as he confronted him, and Rodney was visibly confused.
“Who the hell is this? Man, you better step back from my wife before I have to put my hands on you,” Rodney responded as he marched up to meet Jeb.
“How dare you come in here like this,” Jeb said, getting even closer in Rodney’s face.
Rodney’s mother finally stepped in, preparing to speak. You would think she was amused by the entire scene with the way she had looked on without interrupting.
“Hold on, there! Everyone, let’s just all take a seat so I can explain,” uttered the lady who used to haunt me with her constant judgements and interference in me and Rodney’s marriage.
“Take a seat and explain what?!” I was beyond annoyed that the two people I wanted to see least in this world had barged in on me and Jeb’s private time. I’d rather thread a needle through the tiniest hole than to sit down with those two and have a conversation. “You can explain whatever you have to say right here, so we can get back to our night; that’s what you can do,” I said bluntly.
Rodney’s eyes glazed over with a softness I hadn’t seen in years. “Your night? Tameka, do you care to explain why my wife hasn’t come to see me in the hospital, but when I come home she’s spending the night with a honkey?” His rudeness replaced the sad, melancholy expression I thought I had seen in his eyes just moments before.
Jeb and I looked at each other and then back at Rodney’s mom, Silvia.
“Is this some sick joke?” I demanded an answer as I crossed my arms.
“Baby.” Rodney put his cold, grimy hands around my waist, and I instantly shook them off. The mere thought of his touch gave me the creeps. He backed up as if he was hurt by my response to his affection.
“Okay, Silvia, I’m going to need for you to explain, and quick. What the fuck is going on here?!” I asked.
Silvia sighed and proceeded to move out of the doorway and into the foyer. She took her time as she was a lot older since I had last seen her, and she needed to rest after Rodney’s outburst. She took it upon herself to walk into the dining room and take a seat at the table in front of the food that was now turning cold. She let out a loud sigh and proceeded.
“As you know, Rodney lost his memory. He has no recollection of the accident, nor divorcing you. But lately, it seems as if he can remember up to some point when you guys were still married. He didn’t believe me when I tried to explain that you were divorced, and for five years at that. That’s why he had to see for himself. And so, here we are,” Rodney’s mother said with the amusement one would have if they were watching a soap opera on TV.
She grabbed an empty wine glass and poured some of the Stella Mia I’d picked up at the grocery store after work into it. She gulped down the wine and glanced at Jeb and me to see how we would respond to the news.
I stood there speechless while Jeb stood behind me. Once the anger left me, shock overwhelmed me as I looked at my ex-mother-in-law and ex-husband with contempt.
Rodney gentled, stepping to me in a way I didn’t understand coming from him. He never had this type of disposition when we were married, not even in the beginning. This shift was like watching a rerun of the Twilight Zone or some weird dream I was ready to wake up from.
“Baby—” Rodney began and attempted to grab my hand.
I instantly moved my hand away from the cold touch of his. He realized how put off I was with his advances and stepped back before continuing to speak.
“Tameka. Are you saying you’re no longer in love with me?” he asked, his voice cracking.
I stared into the eyes of my ex-husband, a man who I’d once
longed to have look at me the way he was looking at me now. He showed a genuine concern for what used to be our love. The love that made Eva and Kevin possible. A love I once meditated over and prayed for, hoping it could grow into something that would last forever.
“Rodney,” I said, feeling a little more at ease to step closer to my horrible ex who didn’t really seem to be so horrible anymore. “We’ve been divorced for over five years now. We haven’t been together since then. Hell, to be real, we don’t even have a great co-parenting relationship. And this is Jeb,” I stepped back near Jeb’s side and wrapped my arms around him, “…we’ve been engaged for a year.”
Rodney’s eyes bulged as if it was his first time noticing Jeb’s arms around me. He put his head down in disbelief, shaking it as if we were the ones mistreating him.
“This can’t be true. This can’t be—” He looked at his mother who humped her shoulders. Then, Rodney looked back in my direction. “Where are the kids? Are they upstairs asleep? I need to see them!”
I shot Sylvia a heated glare. She could have called me to give me a heads up that Rodney was out of the rehab facility and in this confused state of mind. I would have told her not to bring him over here, or at least, I would have been prepared for the storm that was to come. But that would have been too much to ask for the mother-in-law from hell, who coddled her son and stood behind his childish ways until the ink dried on our divorce papers.
“I tried to tell him. He wouldn’t believe me,” she said, humping her shoulders again as if she was hopeless to Rodney’s new mind state. “There was nothing I could do,” she said, sounding sincere for once in her life.
Rodney began to run up the stairs, but I caught hold of his shirt to stop him from wasting his time.
Safe Place Series Page 14