The Vows We Break

by Briana Cole

  I remembered Jahmad hadn’t been out of high school but six weeks when his mom was killed in a car accident. Of course he had been broken up, but that didn’t even seem to compare with how hard he appeared to be taking my dad’s death.

  “Does it get easier?” I asked. Part of me thought he would lie.

  “No,” he said, his eyes level with mine. “But maybe one day you’ll be able to think about him without the tears.”

  We sat in silence for a moment, both of us lost in thought, though I couldn’t be sure what all was on Jahmad’s mind. I wanted to ask him all kind of questions. Was he still going to Texas? When? What about CeeCee? Were they some kind of rebound-ass couple? But I kept my mouth shut. I knew this damn sure wasn’t the time for that conversation.

  “How is Jamaal?”

  I smiled; happy my son still crossed his mind despite what had happened between us. “Getting big,” I answered. “And heavy. Eating all the damn time.”

  That prompted a laugh from him. “Well, he’s a growing boy,” he said. “Wait until he becomes a teenager. You remember how me and Keon used to be.”

  Now I laughed, memories flooding back. “Hell, yeah. You would put in a dinner request like this was your personal restaurant, and Mama would make it. Used to piss me off because you wouldn’t leave shit for me.”

  “I was hungry.”

  “Greedy,” I corrected. “I used to think you did that shit on purpose. And remember that time you ate Daddy’s plate by accident?”

  Jahmad slapped his forehead. “Man, your dad told my ass not to come back for a month.”

  “And here you were bringing your ass back the next day acting like everything was fine. That man loved you, I swear, because me or Keon would’ve never lived that down.”

  All humor faded from Jahmad’s eyes as he lowered them to the uneaten breakfast sandwich in front of him. “I loved him too.”

  I paused, and then feeling like I needed it, like we both did, I leaned over and wrapped my arms around his neck.

  For a moment, I just held him, trying to offer what little bit of comfort I could. I was surprised he let me.

  He pulled his head back a fraction, resting his forehead on mine. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered, his breath cool on my face.

  I held my breath. I couldn’t be sure what he was talking about. My dad’s death? Or us? It was a risk, I knew, but damn, I needed him. All of him. I was broken, and it was Jahmad who could make me whole.

  So without a second thought, I leaned my face closer and pressed my mouth to his. I could tell he was surprised at the action, but when he didn’t immediately break the kiss, I took the liberty to deepen it, using my tongue to massage his lips until they parted in invitation.

  I swallowed his moan as his arms wrapped around my waist to lift me from the chair and onto the table. He situated his body between my legs and I exhaled, his fingers snaking up my shirt and causing my body to tremble under his touch. He snatched his lips from mine to put them to my neck, and I soared. “Jahmad.” His name trembled from my tongue. “Please. I want—”

  The sharp sound of the doorbell piercing the air had us both jumping apart. I let out a staggering breath as I struggled to calm my racing heart. The brief intimacy had my skin suddenly feeling engulfed in heat, and by the looks of Jahmad leaning against a nearby wall, I certainly wasn’t the only one.

  The doorbell rang again, and I hopped down from the table. Hopefully I could remember how to get my legs to cooperate. “The doorbell,” I mumbled as if it wasn’t obvious.

  Jahmad nodded. “Get it. I’ll go make sure it didn’t wake JayJay.”

  His walk was quick as he disappeared up the stairs, like he was trying to escape. I didn’t know whether to be agitated or relieved at the abrupt end to what was about to be some rough-ass kitchen comfort sex. Damn.

  I opened the door, all lovemaking thoughts completely disappearing at the recognition of the officer standing on the front porch. She had her blond hair in a high bun and a bit more makeup this time, which only accentuated her modelesque features. As it did before, the officer’s uniform made her look more like she was acting out the part instead of it being her real job. But then, I remembered how seriously she had taken her profession when she came by Jahmad’s house, investigating the fire at my business. With everything that had happened since, all that seemed like a lifetime ago rather than a few short months.

  The woman turned and offered a small smile. “Good morning, Ms. Davis,” she greeted. “Not sure if you remember me, but I’m Officer Terry.”

  “Yes, I remember you.” I stepped to the side to allow her to enter.

  “I apologize for waking you.”

  I could only imagine my disheveled look and wanted to giggle at the assumption. No, I wasn’t getting out of bed before she came knocking, but Jahmad and I were certainly headed there.

  “No problem,” I said, waving away the apology. “I probably should have been following up with you about the fire, but that really hasn’t been on the forefront of my mind. I just recently lost my father, among other things.”

  “Yes, I’m aware. And I’m so sorry for your loss. But that’s actually why I’m here.”

  I frowned. “About my father? What is it?”

  Officer Terry’s face turned grim. “Is your mother home? I would like to speak with her.”

  “She is asleep right now, but you can talk to me.”

  “I’ll be more than happy to discuss this with both of you, but it’s really imperative Mrs. Davis is included in the conversation.”

  Something about her words made me uneasy. But I nodded anyway and headed to my mother’s room.

  I was surprised to find my mom sitting up in bed, her longing gaze to the window. “Mama, I thought you were asleep,” I said.

  “Oh, sweetie, I’ve been up for hours,” she said, exhaustion heavy in her voice. “I sleep off and on.”

  “The police are here.”

  “Police?” It was as if the word sounded completely foreign to her.

  “Yes, ma’am. She said she wants to talk to us about Daddy.”

  That seemed to have her hustling a little faster than I’d seen her move in days. She slipped a housecoat and house shoes on before following me back to the living room.

  Jahmad had made it back with Jamaal in his arms, and I caught Officer Terry shaking the baby’s little hand as we entered, a huge grin on her face. “Your son is absolutely adorable,” she said to no one in particular.

  “Thank you,” I said, taken aback when Jahmad and I spoke at the same time. I glanced at him out of my peripheral vision, wondering if that was intentional. And if so, what, if anything, did it mean?

  “Mrs. Davis.” Officer Terry held out her hand to my mother as she began her introduction. “I’m Officer Terry. My condolences to you and your family during this difficult time.”

  “Yes, officer, thank you. Please have a seat.”

  I winced when she sat down in Daddy’s lounge chair. Obviously my mama felt the same way.

  “Please, not in that chair,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s the pastor’s chair.”

  The officer quickly got to her feet. “I sincerely apologize,” she said. “I’ll just stand. This won’t take long anyway.” She pulled a notebook from her back pocket before tossing a look first to me, then to Jahmad. “Do you mind if they stay?”

  “Of course they are staying.” My mama seemed offended by the question. “These are my children. Whatever you have to say about my husband you can say it in front of them.”

  “Well, it appears Pastor Davis’s case has been referred to us as a possible homicide,” she started, continuing despite our questioning mumbles. “The toxicology report indicates substantial levels of arsenic in his system. And testing on his hair follicles indicate he had been given small doses for a long period of time, dating back to earlier this year up to the day before he passed in the hospital. Do you know anyone who would have wanted to hu
rt Pastor Davis?”

  “No. No one.” My mom buried her face in her palms. “Lord God, as if it wasn’t enough for my husband to die. Now it’s murder?”

  I was just as shocked but couldn’t help repeating on the officer’s question. Did we know anyone who would want to hurt my Daddy? I did. And she just so happened to be at the funeral with that damn smug look on her face.

  As if sensing my thoughts, Officer Terry turned to me. “What about you? Anyone who would want to hurt your father?”

  I debated giving her Tina’s name, then thought better of it. I paused and shook my head. “No,” I lied. I would find out if it was true. Then I would handle her myself.

  “Mrs. Davis, did you love your husband?”

  My mom was clearly offended. She scrunched her face in disgust. “I know you’re not insinuating I would have anything to do with this,” she snapped, her voice coming out more forceful than it had been before.

  “I am exploring all possible avenues.” Officer Terry stared at my mom for a moment before turning pointed gazes to both Jahmad and me. “Right now, everyone is a suspect.”

  My mom rose from the couch, fists clenched at her sides. “You’re right,” she said through tight lips. “You’re not staying long. Get your narrow behind out of my house and go find your killer. Because he is certainly not here.” And with that, she stalked from the room.

  Obediently, Officer Terry headed toward the door before glancing at us. “Cute kid,” she commented with another smile. “You two stay safe, and we’ll be in touch.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that.

  Chapter 24

  “So wait. She really thinks it was poison?”

  Adria’s voice carried the same shock I still felt. Two days after our little surprise visit from Officer Terry, and I was still reeling from the news. Now the thing on everybody’s mine was who? And just as important, why? Which is why I was on my way to get some answers. If I didn’t have to commit a homicide of my own first.

  I held the phone to my ear with one hand and maneuvered the steering wheel of the car with the other. I had let the windows down, hoping the warm August sun would lighten my mood. I was wrong. But at least I was getting JayJay out of the house. Adria and Keon had both made me feel guilty enough about keeping him cooped up while I dealt with my grief. This little excursion would solve that too.

  “I may have to go by the church later,” I said as I wheeled the car in the parking lot. “Maybe in a few hours. Meet me over there?”

  “Okay.” Adria’s voice was filled with uncertainty. “What do you need at the church?”

  “Just want to do a little research of my own,” I said.

  I spotted someone across the grass, and I quickly ended the call, promising my girl I would explain more later. For now, I needed to get some answers, and hopefully he would be able to give me some.

  “Thank you for meeting me,” I said as I walked up, pushing Jamaal along in his stroller.

  Leo looked up from his perch on the park bench, squinting against the afternoon sun. He glanced down to Jamaal and his smile widened, showing off those perfect white teeth of his.

  “Thank you for calling, my love,” he said. “May I?” I nodded, and eagerly Leo unfastened Jamaal from his buckles and hoisted him onto his lap.

  I smoothed my sundress and took a seat next to him, taking in the scenic lake with park goers scattered across the manicured lawn, either playing with dogs, fishing, or just lying out enjoying the fresh air. I sighed as the gentle breeze tickled my cheek.

  “You okay, my love?”

  “My dad used to bring me and my brother to this park when we were kids,” I murmured before I realized I had.

  Leo followed my gaze to a playground not too far in the distance, the muffled laughter of children carrying across the lake. “I’ve never been here,” he said, as if engulfed in his own memories. “And even in Ivory Coast, my father wasn’t that kind of father. He loved me, but he was strict. Everything needed to be done a certain way. No exceptions.”

  I noticed the twinge of bitterness that laced his words, but when Leo made no move to speak further on it, I turned to face him, propping my arm on the back of the bench.

  “Leo, I need to know where Tina is.”

  Just as I’d expected, he frowned and looked at me like I was crazy. “Why are you asking me that?”

  “Well, I told you before she’s been around messing with me. She was at the funeral.”

  “I didn’t see her.”

  “Well, I did. During the little reception after the service. Leo, she’s up to her same old shit.”

  Leo shook his head as if in disbelief. “You sure about that?”

  “I think she killed my father.”

  Leo paused, his face wrinkled at the thought. I couldn’t tell whether it was shock or concern that registered across his face. Then he stood, lifting Jamaal in his arms. “Let’s walk a second,” he said, leading the way across the grass.

  Obediently, I stood pushing the empty stroller behind them. I didn’t like the way he was acting. He was clearly hiding something.

  We moved closer to the lake and began walking along the bank, not too close where the water could reach our feet, but still close enough that the dew moistened the air around us.

  “The police came to my house the other day,” I started when the silence had worn on. “They say my dad was poisoned.”

  “I understand you’re hurting, my love, but think about it. Why would she do that?”

  “Hell, Leo, didn’t she try to kill you? Then me?” I snapped. “Don’t act like this is so farfetched with your precious wife. Fact is, the woman is capable of it, and we both have almost died because of her.”

  “I just don’t want you to jump to conclusions,” he said. “Tina has endured a lot to be with me, and I have asked a lot of her. Perhaps unfairly. Not justifying anything, but it’s not quite that simple. Let me do some digging and find out exactly what happened to your father.”

  I stopped walking and grabbed his arm so he could turn to me. “That’s all well and good, but I need to know where she is myself. I have to protect my family.” Then for good measure, I added, “And that goes for our son.”

  Leo dropped his eyes to Jamaal, who was gnawing on his little fist, drops of slobber wetting his shirt. “I’ll look out for you two,” he said finally, looking me directly in the eye. “I promise.”

  I let out a groan in frustration. “Why are you protecting her?” I knew I was yelling when a few people looked my way. I didn’t give a damn.

  Leo remained calm despite my outburst. “I’m not protecting her,” he said. “I’m protecting you, my love. I swear.”

  He reached his hand to my face, probably to wipe away the angry tears stinging my cheeks. I slapped his hand away.

  “It’s so complicated.” Leo’s voice had lowered to a little above a whisper. “I wish you knew everything.”

  “Then tell me,” I said. “Just tell me, Leo. What is she doing? Why? I know you know. I know you still talk to her, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Then tell me. Did she have something to do with my father’s death?”

  Leo looked off into the distance but remained quiet. That was all the answer I needed.

  Without another word, I snatched Jamaal from his arms, startling a gasp from both of them. Jamaal’s bottom lip poked out and his eyes scrunched shut in preparation for the cry I knew he was about to let out.

  “You two have crossed the line, and she better hope the police find her before I do.” I paused, then added, “And, Leo, I swear to God if you had anything to do with any of this shit, you won’t need to fake your own death next time.”

  “My love, please don’t take my son—”

  “Might as well tell him goodbye for good.” And with that, I turned and stormed off, dragging the stroller behind me, Jamaal’s cries echoing loudly in my ear.

  I strapped him back in his car seat and quickly slid bac
k in the driver’s seat. I didn’t realize my hands were shaking until I rested them on the wheel. I half expected Leo to follow me, so I was surprised to see him through my windshield still standing in the same place. But he wasn’t looking my way. Rather he had his hand up shielding his eyes from the sun as he starred across the lake at something. Or someone.

  * * *

  As I had asked, Adria was waiting in her car in the parking lot of the church as soon as I pulled up. She saw me and was already talking as I stepped out.

  “Girl, what is so important?” she asked. “You know as soon as I mentioned I was meeting you, Key got worried and wanted to come.”

  I leaned into the back seat to take out a now sleeping Jamaal. “Let’s just keep this between us, Adria.”

  “You know I’m going to do that. Now what’s up?”

  By the time we got to the front door, I had brought Adria up to speed on my conclusions about Leo and Tina. Just as I suspected, my ass wasn’t crazy.

  We quickly hushed as we passed a few of the executive committee members on our way to the childcare center. “Kimmy, for real, if what you’re saying is true, we need to go to the police.”

  I passed Jamaal across the threshold to the childcare volunteer and scribbled my name on the sign-in sheet.

  “I plan to,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure if that was completely true. I had brought her here to help me search for Tina’s information. It would make sense to have it on file somewhere considering Leo Jr. did attend the childcare. But even if I found something, what then? I still needed some evidence of the poisoning. What did I expect her to do? Admit to it? It would be a cold day in hell before she did that. I figured approaching Leo again wasn’t going to do shit. Hell, he appeared to know more than he let on. Why? I didn’t know.

  Then another thought hit me as we headed to my father’s office. The bastard was probably in on it. That was the only logical explanation. Why else would he be so damn tight-lipped about the whole thing unless he had something to do with it himself?

  I could’ve slapped myself for being so damn trusting of him, letting my desperation for Jamaal to have his “father” cloud whatever good sense I had. Of course, he would play the doting father, the loving man, in my time of need. First when I was on the outs with Jahmad, now in the wake of my dad’s death. How ironic he was there to pick up the pieces after he’d shattered my world himself.