The Case Manager

by Latoya Chandler

  Candice

  After pumping my arms back and forth as I ran, jetting from the car to the front door and hastily opening it, my eyes locked with Nakita’s and my knees grew weak. Tears clouded my vision I moved as swiftly as I could and collapsed in Nakita’s arms once I was in arm’s reach.

  “Nakita, I am so sorry. It’s all my fault,” I slobbered.

  “What’s wrong, Candice? What happened?”

  “I . . . my fa . . .” I lost it.

  “Jenna, what’s wrong with her? What happened to her?”

  “I’ll take the kids downstairs,” Ms. Jasmine interrupted.

  “Jenna, you need to tell me what’s going on right now. I know you are her blood, but this is my sister.”

  “Nakita, calm down,” Tracy suggested.

  “No, I can’t calm down. How could I? She can’t even speak. Her eyes are swollen. What the hell happened to her, Jenna? I need to know right now,” Nakita demanded.

  “I think Candice wants to talk to all of you herself. Please give her time to calm down and speak.” Jenna’s voice cracked.

  “Well, she isn’t in any condition to talk right now, so I need you to talk. I am about to lose my cool.” She squeezed me tighter as Jenna walked out of the room.

  Lifting my face to greet hers with tear-filled eyes, Nakita stared in my eyes as she cried, “Candice, please talk to me. You’re scaring me. I am trying to remain calm. I need you to talk to me. The last thing I need is to lose it right now.”

  “I . . . I am so sorry. All of this is my fault.”

  “Why are you apologizing, Candice? You’ve done nothing wrong. Are you upset about leaving the kids? It’s all right. We all need a break at times.”

  “No, that’s not it.” I hesitated, looking around the living room, catching a glimpse of all the girls and Ms. Jasmine as she made her way back into the living room.

  “Candice, you have nothing to apologize for. Please stop apologizing.”

  “Nakita, I am afraid I do. It is my fault that Ms. Nancy allowed Paul and Anthony to do those things to us.”

  “You’re talking crazy, baby. None of that is any of your fault,” Ms. Jasmine corrected her.

  “It is. You don’t understand. While I was at Jenna’s on our way back, I ran into my dad.”

  “Did you know he’d be there?” Nakita fumed.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Why would Jenna do that without asking you? It’s probably a good idea that she’s downstairs with the kids.”

  “She didn’t know either, Nakita. Dad usually shows up when he needs a break from all his women and children. When I saw him, it literally knocked me off my feet, and the sight of me scared him.”

  “Why? What the hell is he afraid of? What? He now has feelings for sending you to Hope House?”

  “In a way, yes. My mother told everyone I died during childbirth.” My lip quivered. “My dad thought I was dead, and Ms. Nancy went along with it.”

  “Ms. Nancy went along with it? How and why?”

  “I am not sure why, but more than likely that evil woman who gave birth to me had something to do with it.” Taking a deep breath, I continued, “It appears my dad was once married to Ms. Nancy, and when he found out about my mother’s family throwing her out, he left Ms. Nancy and made a new life with my mom. So as you can see, because of me, she allowed them to hurt us, and I am so sorry.”

  “It isn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself, Candice. Those bastards did that on their own.” Nakita pulled me into her arms.

  “It’s not your fault, Candice, and we are sorry you had to hear all of that,” Ms. Jasmine sympathized as she and all the girls joined in on the hug. “We will all get through this together,” Ms. Jasmine made known as we broke our embrace.

  “Thank you, guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you and now Jenna. She was good to me with all of that. She filled in for Nakita, especially when Alonzo showed up.”

  “Wait, what? Alonzo like Amiya’s father Alonzo?” Nakita cut her eyes at me.

  It was difficult trying to convince Nakita that Jenna had nothing to do with Dad showing up or that nothing had been going on between Jenna and Alonzo. If I hadn’t gone through all that I had, I would have thought it was a lie. However, the way life has been dishing things out to me, I couldn’t second-guess it. No matter how hard I tried to explain, Nakita shot me down.

  “Candice, don’t believe everything that flies out of her mouth. Sister or no sister, you just met her.”

  “Nakita, please let it go. There’s nothing going on.”

  “If you say so.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I’m not saying so. I know so.”

  “How, since you know so much?”

  “Because men don’t do anything for me. I prefer women, that’s how,” Jenna cut in, reentering the living room, sizing Nakita up.

  “My bad. I had no idea.” Nakita’s mouth dropped open.

  “You wouldn’t know. I want to let you know something else: just because I just met Candice, as you made sure to point out, she is my sister and I love her. I don’t care how much time has passed between the two of us. I appreciate you being the sister she needed when she didn’t have anyone else, but I am here now.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Not a damn thing.”

  “Please don’t do this. Jenna, Nakita didn’t mean any harm. You must understand, we are all that we have. When I was at my lowest point and considering taking my own life, she was there. That doesn’t take anything away from you either. We will grow our own bond over time.”

  “Yes, over time. It ain’t here yet.”

  “Nakita, don’t be so mean. She is my sister, but that doesn’t take anything away from what we have. I know you have my back more than anyone I’ve known. I also want to get to know my sister. The kids need it and so do you. We can all be one big, happy family.”

  “Candice, stop living on Fantasy Island. You cannot trust everyone who just pops up out of nowhere. I guess you’re going to run off into the sunset with Alonzo now, too, since he’s magically appeared to save the day.”

  “You know what? I am done talking. You can be so mean sometimes and it’s not right. All of us have gone through the same things and have trust issues, but that doesn’t give any of us the right to hurt someone’s feelings.”

  “You’re absolutely right, Candice. I apologize. I have trust issues, and you know I hate to see you hurt. You’re my little sister.”

  “Jenna isn’t hurting me. I think she wants a chance to love me like a sister, just like you.”

  “You’re right. Jenna, I apologize. It will take me some time to get to that point, but I won’t stand in the way of you building a bond with Candice.”

  “You hurt my feelings. I don’t remember the last time I allowed someone’s hurtful words to make me cry. I forgive you though because I understand where all of this is coming from. There’s no way I can compare to what you and Candice have, and I am not trying to. I just want to be whatever she needs me to be at this phase of her life and vice versa. Maybe one day you’ll get to know me and learn that I am genuine just like Candice.”

  “Girls, this is good. Talking it out is good. Now that we are all together, there’s something else that we need to discuss,” Ms. Jasmine intervened.

  “I don’t think any of us can handle any more, Ms. Jasmine. Our moms may not have told anyone that we were dead, but their actions indicate what their mouths didn’t say. Right now, we are all trying to come to grips with all of this for Candice and ourselves, along with everything else that has happened the last few days,” Tracy argued.

  * * *

  After dinner, we bathed the kids and put them to bed. Everyone went to their rooms afterward. Jenna joined me and Nakita in our room. Just like Hope House, we shared rooms with one another in Ms. Jasmine’s home. She had a four-bedroom house with a finished basement. Nakita and I shared a room and so did Tracy, Judith, and Simone. Samantha stayed downstairs in the basement apart
ment with Micah.

  Samantha had been staying with Ms. Nancy long before we got there. Ms. Jasmine informed us she had been grocery shopping, and on her way home, she saw a girl begging for change. When she got closer to the girl, she saw it had been Samantha. After Ms. Jasmine threatened to call the police if she didn’t come with her, Samantha gave in and had been staying with Ms. Jasmine ever since. Ms. Jasmine said it was rough in the beginning because Samantha wanted nothing to do with Micah. She’d stay in the basement apartment and only come out when she thought he’d be asleep. That had begun to change once we got there, and Samantha had been trying to make an effort to spend time and bond with Micah. It had been rough for her, but she’d been trying.

  I’d been assuming Nakita and Jenna were asleep as I lay in the dark awake. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep. Everything had begun to jumble together. I’d prayed Samantha would come around. The last thing I wanted was for Micah to grow up feeling unwanted like I had been feeling all of my life. To think my mom had really shown how she felt and Ms. Nancy was a part of it. I just couldn’t put recent events out of my mind. Alonzo and my dad in one day? My mom told everyone I’d died? That was completely insane. I wished we had do-overs, because I’d put my kids on layaway. I’d get my life together and have them later on. If only that were possible.

  “Candice,” Nakita whispered, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Yeah, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  “I can’t sleep.”

  “Me either,” Jenna joined in.

  “Today was just too much to add to my already-insane life.”

  “I honestly don’t know what to say, Candice. All I know is when I saw you at the hospital, the little respect or love I had for that lady died. I cannot understand or fathom how or why she could go that far.”

  “It is beyond me. I guess she hates me. That has to be the only reason. Because love doesn’t do any of the things that she’s done.”

  “You’re right about that,” Jenna agreed.

  “Well, I love you,” Nakita expressed.

  “I know we just officially met, but I love you too and have the minute I found out I had a sister and she passed.”

  “I love the both of you too.”

  “Since we are professing our love, I need to tell you something, Candice.”

  Sitting up and moving closer to where she sat, I asked, “What’s that, Nakita?”

  “My lawyer thought it’d be a good idea to tell some news reporter about the rapes. He said it would work in my favor for the case. He also said they wouldn’t mention our names, so I agreed to it. I am sorry they mentioned everyone’s name and embarrassed all of us.”

  “It’s not your fault. You had no control over what was going to happen after he told the reporters. Even though he should have known they would investigate something like that. We aren’t minors anymore, so they were able to mention our names.”

  “You watch so much Law & Order, you really think you’re an attorney,” Nakita joked.

  “I honestly just want all of this to go away and you not to have to go to jail. I hate all of this so much.”

  “I do too, and I have another confession.”

  “What?”

  “I remember hitting Ms. Nancy. I blacked out and saw red when she told me she knew. When they pulled me off her, I ran and ended up at Hope House. When I got there those two bastards were having sex and I saw red. It was like while I was doing it, I didn’t realize what I was doing, but I remember and knew what I did moments after. I said I didn’t remember because I didn’t until after it was all said and done. I didn’t realize what I was doing until after I did it. I saw myself doing it, but it was as if I were watching another me commit the act.”

  “Oh, my God, Nakita.” I pulled her closer to hug her. “That is temporary insanity. Did you tell the doctor that today, or your lawyer?”

  “No, I told them I don’t remember at all, which is partially the truth. But as far as the bat, I really don’t know what happened to it, and that part is the truth.”

  “Well, I have a confession,” Jenna chimed in, coming closer and sitting beside us.

  “What’s that?” Nakita eyes stretched.

  “I got rid of the bat.”

  “What? How? Why would you?”

  “Shh, before you wake the kids up. How is between me and God. Why? Because you may be able to get away with it without the weapon. I just saw the bond between the two of you on the floor and felt I had to do something to help.”

  “You could get in trouble if they find out, Jenna.”

  “They’re not going to find out. You didn’t even know I took it and we were all in the same room together. Besides, if they find out, I’ll have to cross that road when I get to it.”

  “I . . . I am speechless. I cannot believe you did that for me. It looks like that bond that was going to take time to build has built itself.” They embraced.

  “This conversation did not happen. We will take it to our graves. Nakita, stick to your story, and from my mouth to God’s ears, He will work the rest out.”

  “Not if we’re lying, Candice.”

  “That’s what grace and mercy are for. Now, both of you go ahead. Pray and ask for forgiveness. We will leave it in God’s hands. That’s all we can do at this point.”

  “Good idea. I didn’t know you were religious, Candice.”

  “She’s not, Jenna. She gets herself and the kids up and dressed on Sunday morning just to sit in the living room and watch Joel Osteen on television. Ever since she started doing that, she has been on this forgiveness tip. It’s good, don’t get me wrong. I just thought she was nuts when she would put on her and the kids’ Sunday best just to go downstairs and look at the television.”

  “I’m not too crazy, because you sure did join me on many occasions.” We erupted in laughter.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Family: I Am My Sister’s Keeper

  Jenna

  “Jenna, your phone is ringing.” Candice woke me up, shaking my leg.

  “My bad. Did it wake you and the kids?”

  “No, we were up. Your ringer is just annoying as hell. Please answer it,” Candice whined.

  Picking my phone up and seeing the name on the screen, I declined the call and excused myself.

  He had been calling my phone all night long. I guessed he didn’t get the message when I kept sending him to voicemail. He was beginning to stress me out. Everyone was either still in bed or in the dining area, so it was easy for me to slip out of the door without having to talk. I just wanted to get this over with. I didn’t intend to disrespect my dad. He just disappointed me.

  For the first time in my life, after listening to his conversation with Candice, my dad was no longer the superhero I’d perceived him as. Despite his infidelities, he was a great provider and did right by me. However, their heart-to-heart revealed that he was everything but a hero. He was, in fact, a coward.

  Getting in the car, I turned it on to get some heat pumping. The weather was starting to change. Although summer was trying to hold on by the hair of its chinny-chin-chin, fall was coming through with a treacherous chill, making its presence known. Locating the last number on my call log, I called my dad.

  “Hello, princess,” he greeted me on the first ring.

  “Hey.”

  “I am sorry about all of this. I will spend every day of my life until the last breath in my body making it up to you and Candice. I pray that you girls allow me to.”

  “I cannot speak for Candice. As for me, I am hurt and disappointed. Not only did you stand by and let your conniving wife send your daughter away, but you knew she was being sent to the woman you left your child’s mother for. Dad, if that isn’t the craziest, and excuse me, but the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

  “Honestly, I thought Candice would have been better off with girls she could relate to. Nancy vowed to me that she would make sure Candice was taken
care of and have an experience like no other at Hope House.”

  “Well, the bitch damn sure kept her word. That’s for sure.”

  “Watch your mouth, young lady. I am still your father.”

  “Are you really?”

  “How could you ask that?”

  “The dad I knew was responsible, a man of his word, and a protector. My protector.”

  “How am I not any of those things? I know I’ve made some mistakes, but I have never allowed any of what I do to harm any of my children or households.”

  “It appears it has. Ms. Nancy allowed my sister to be brutalized, Dad. You didn’t protect Candice. You were dishonest in your marriage and relationships. Because of that, my sister was abused.”

  “If I could take it all back and do it over, I would. I cannot imagine what she has gone through. I want to hurt someone for harming my daughter. You have to know I am not all right with any of that.”

  “I don’t know anything, Dad. What I do know from your actions is you treat women like they’re a piece of meat. It is because of you that I cannot and won’t ever trust a man. I don’t even have a desire to be with one either.”

  “What are you saying, Jenna?”

  “Dad, please don’t act as if you’re hooked on phonics. You know I am gay. That witch of a wife of yours told you. We talked about it as well, Dad.”

  “I did, and I am asking how is any of that because of me? Before you answer, I’d really like to continue this conversation in person. Can you please come to New York for dinner this evening so we can talk face-to-face?”

  “Now you want me to drive for two hours to do exactly what we are doing now?”

  “It has never been a problem any other time. Besides, there are some things that should be handled in person. Not on the telephone.”

  “What about Candice? Are you still pretending she’s dead? Don’t you think she deserves an apology or something? You have grandkids, Dad. Grandchildren who don’t even know you exist.”

  “I’ve retained an attorney on Candice’s behalf to sue Nancy’s estate.”

  “This is way beyond money, Dad. Are you serious?”