by Jahquel J.
It didn’t take me too long to make it to Ghost’s house. I was cringing as I pulled into the driveway because I knew Shakira was going to be impossible to work with today. My assistant, Morgan had been at their house since this morning and was filling me in on everything via text message on the ride over here.
She met me at my truck when I pulled in and killed the engine. “Free, you know that I love you and love working with you, but this woman is making it nearly impossible. All the things she signed off on, she’s saying she hates,” she vented.
I took the clipboard and stack of papers that Shakira had signed off on and walked inside. “She inside?”
“No, she pranced her stupid ass out of here talking about she was spending daughter time with her youngest daughter,” Morgan sighed.
“You can calm down and sip some water or something. I can literally see the steam coming out of your ears,” I giggled.
“Sorry. I’ve just had it up to here with her and what pisses me off is that she is the one who picked out and signed off on everything,” Morgan continued to vent.
I looked through the papers and pulled out our next client. “How about you go over to the Jefferson’s home and get them to sign off on all the changes they want to their basement,” I suggested. I could tell from her attitude that this morning hadn’t been pleasant, and I didn’t need her going off on anyone.
“Fine. If Mrs. Jefferson changes her mind, I don’t mind flipping an old woman,” she threatened, and I laughed.
“Morgan, go and if I’m not done in time, can you swing and pick the kids up?”
“Yep, just let me know.”
“Will do.”
I took my shades off and placed them into my purse as I walked into the house. Majority of the rooms she wanted done were all upstairs, so the foyer was filled with furniture, paint and other things that should have been upstairs. Shakira was always floating around and never in one damn spot so we could complete this project. She probably didn’t remember signing off on anything because she was always running off for an appointment or to meet some friends for a meaningless lunch.
“There’s nothing wrong with this color,” I murmured as I mixed the paint with the paint brush that was left inside the cannister.
“I didn’t think it was bad either,” I heard Ghost’s voice come up behind me. He held his daughter in his arm. She looked to be around five or so and what made me stop was that she looked exactly like Somali when she was younger.
“Then why is your wife so against it?”
“Fiancée,” he corrected.
“She’s still going to be your wife one day, so does it matter?”
“Yeah. She’s not my wife today. She’s my fiancée,” he replied.
I sighed and dug through my papers I had for Shakira. “Does she know how much it cost to get a custom color? I’m going to have to charge you guys more because this is a lot of work I’m going to have to re-do.” I walked over to the kitchen counter and spread out all of the papers that had Shakira’s signature and initials.
“She sighed off on all of this.”
He picked up a piece of paper of one of his daughter’s room and screwed his face up. “I got bread, but I’m not paying ten bands for a kid’s fucking couch.”
“That is being custom made in Italy.”
“I don’t give a fuck if it was coming from Zamunda with Prince Akeem.”
“The deposit has been paid already. You’ll forfeit on the five-thousand-dollar deposit that was already paid. Plus, I charge three thousand for backing out of custom orders. My reputation is on the line here too.”
“You always been smart with making sure you were protected,” he chuckled and picked up another piece of a paper. “Why the fuck they need a table in their bedrooms?”
“Ask your fiancée. Honestly, she’s stressing out my assistant and myself. I don’t need to deal with this when I had a shit load of other clients needing me. Tell her to let me know if she still wants to proceed with the project. If not, I’ll draw up termination papers and we’ll part ways.” I placed the stack of papers onto the counter and prepared to leave.
Ghost put down his daughter and she looked up at him. “Mama, go upstairs and lay down. I’m coming.”
“K, daddy,” she sweetly replied and ran up the stairs.
“She’s beautiful.”
“I know. I make beautiful children,” he bragged. I wanted to tell him that he was right, but knew right now wasn’t the right moment.
“Where’s your other daughter?”
Morgan had told me, but I wanted to see if what Liberty had told me held any truth to it. “She and Shakira spend some one on one time together every once in a while.”
“Cool. Make sure you let Shakira know what I said.”
“Got you.” I made my way out the kitchen and then stopped when he asked me a question I had been dreading. “Why did you bounce?”
“Gyson, I really don’t want to get into it right now. Why can’t we leave everything in the past?”
“I can’t. You were supposed to be my wife, living here with our kids. It was supposed to be us, and you dipped on me. Do you know how much hurt I’ve carried around all these years? How hard it was to continue with my life knowing that you took a piece of me when you left?”
I turned around and stared at him. My heart was beating so fast that he could probably hear it from across the room. “I had to,” I whispered.
“Why though, babe? I love you and you did this shit to me.”
“Loved,” I corrected him.
“Nah, I love you. You never stop loving the love of your life,” he told me.
Staring into his eyes I believed every word that left his mouth. While I was with Ghost, I never had to question his love for me. I knew that he loved me from the way he looked at me, cared for me and other things. Justice and Liberty asked me if he loved me so much why did he have me dropping his drugs off? It was because to know Ghost, you had to love and understand him. As risky as it was, he trusted me with his work. He trusted me more than anyone to have his drugs dropped to their locations. It wasn’t like it was one sided. I needed the money and if he had the money to just splurge on me, he would. Except, he was still coming up and couldn’t afford to come out of pocket for the things I needed at the time. We had an exchanged that worked for the both of us. Nobody had to understand it, we did.
“We can’t revisit this. You’re getting married and I’m in a relationship now. Just know… my decision to leave was one of the hardest I’ve had to make in my entire life.” I walked over to him, caressed his face and then walked out the door.
Leaving him and Staten Island was still something that haunted me to this day. I left a lot of things unfinished that caused me to wonder what if? What if I stayed? Would me and Ghost share this big home with our twins? Would we be engaged or married? Would I have my interior design firm? There was so many questions left unanswered that sadly I would never get the answers to. When I climbed into my truck, I sighed and said a quick prayer before pulling out and heading to my mother’s house. Before heading to pick up the twins from school, I decided to stop at Target by the mall. When I last left, this was a Kmart and they had revamped the entire thing into a bunch of stores and a restaurant.
I scrolled the aisle of my favorite store in the entire world. If you didn’t like Target, I couldn’t trust you. Who didn’t love Target? You could come in here for cereal and leave with a couch, it was that amazing. Any store that had a Starbucks in it was a win for me altogether. I grabbed some food to make something quick for the twins tonight. I planned on spending quality time with them. I found it amazing that I was able to juggle having a dating life, being a parent and running a business. Some days I felt like my head was about to explode, but in the end, it was all worth it.
“Freedom?” I heard someone squeal and quickly turned around.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Mirror Davis came running over to me. She ran into my arms and hugged
me so tight that I didn’t think she would let go. “Mir Mir!” I whispered.
I don’t know why I thought that time would stand still. Mirror was twelve when I left Staten Island, and here she was a grown and beautiful woman. Her long black curly hair flowed down her back, her brown skin was glowing, and her hazel doe shaped eyes were huge and filled with excitement, just like I remembered all those years ago.
“When did you get back? Does Gyson know you’re back? My mama is going to flip when she finds out,” she continued rambling without letting me get a word in.
“I’ve been back for a few months.”
“A few months and you couldn’t let me know. I still get my hair done with your cousin, you know.”
I ran my hand through her soft curly hair. “You better not be putting bundles in this beautiful hair.”
“Girl, that’s how I keep it beautiful. I don’t be having time to keep up this mess,” she giggled. “On the real, I missed the hell out of you and was hurt when you left. Why couldn’t you let me know or something?”
“I was in a real selfish place back then, Mir. Honestly, I wasn’t thinking of anyone except myself.”
“Now that I’m older, I really understand you. Back then, girl I cried and was real deal pissed with you.”
“I’m sorry, Mir Mir,” I apologized. When I left, I wasn’t thinking about all the people outside of my family that cared about me. I was worried about me and getting the hell out of Staten Island.
“It’s fine. I know how you’re going to make it up to me,” she smirked.
“Lord, how?”
“Not yet… I’ll think of something. Give me your number and stuff so I can text you. Where you working?”
“I’m an interior decorator. I own a design firm.”
“What? Gyson is getting me my own place, so you know I’m def going to be calling you.” she informed me. I was surprised she didn’t have her own place already. Gyson and Staten spoiled Mirror since she was the youngest and the only girl.
“Please do. I need to keep busy.”
“Gyson knows you’re back?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m working with Shakira, his fiancée on doing some work for their home.” Soon as I mentioned Shakira’s name, she rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “I take it you’re not a fan?”
“Hell no. Me and mama can’t stand that bitch. When you left, it hurt all of us.”
“Sorry. Tell your mama too. I sure miss her cooking.”
“No, you’re going to tell her because you’re going to follow me home,” she told me.
“I can’t, I have to pick up my kids.”
“Kids? How many?”
“Two.”
“Boys or girls?”
“I was blessed with one of each. They’re twins.”
She smiled brightly. “Okay, look at you. Married too?” she looked down at my ring and I nodded my head.
“No, this was a gift for myself.”
I could tell she was relieved when I told her that I wasn’t married. “Well, check out and meet me in the parking lot. Mama is going to flip.”
Pick up the twins for me. Take them to get pizza until I get home. I sent Morgan a message. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get out of following Mirror home.
Will do.
I checked out with my items and met Mirror in the parking lot. She was standing next to a chrome Lexus. “Okay, follow me. I already told mama I have a surprise for her, so don’t try to dip off on me.”
“I’m not,” I laughed because the thought had crossed my mind soon as I pushed my shopping cart out of Target.
“Okay. Come on. I’m so excited!” she beamed and got into her car. I quickly loaded the groceries into my truck and hopped in to follow Mirror.
We pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home situated right across the street from the beach. The home was beautiful, and I could tell Ghost had paid a pretty penny to get it. Mirror killed her engine and came to my door.
“I know your company doing good because look at this G wagon.”
“I do alright,” I humbly replied.
“You always have been humble,” she winked. We walked into the house. “Mama, where you at?” she called.
“In the kitchen fixing dinner. You staying home tonight or somebody taking you out again?”
I walked into the kitchen. “Hey mama Rae,” I greeted.
She dropped the serving spoon and walked right over to me. I watched as she looked me over and pulled me right into a hug. Tears fell down my cheeks because I loved this woman so much. She had been there when my mother wasn’t. I had sat in her kitchen many times crying over how much I loved her big head son. She never treated me different and always loved me for me, and never judged.
“Free!” she exclaimed. “I’ve prayed for God to bring you back into our lives. I didn’t think it would take ten years, but I’m happy you’re back.” She kissed me on the cheek.
“I’m so sorry for leaving without telling you,” I sobbed like a baby who just had their pacifier snatched from their mouth.
“Baby, you did what you had to do. Never apologize for living your life.” She hugged me tightly. “I’m just glad you’re back.”
She led me over to the kitchen table. Mirror was wiping away her tears and sat down at the table with us. “How have you been, baby?”
“I’m good. I’ve been working and keeping busy.”
She looked out the window. “I could tell from the truck that you’ve been working and doing a good job at it.”
“She’s an interior decorator and has her own company,” Mirror bragged. “And she has two kids, mama. Twins,” she continued.
I looked away when she mentioned my kids and caught the look Mama Rae gave me. “Dammit,” she muttered. “Mirror, can you please run to the store and grab me some Adobo?”
“Right now?” Mirror questioned. “Mama, that can’t wait?”
“I know Free has missed my cooking so she’s staying for dinner.”
“Free’s blocking me in.”
“I can move it,” I tried to stand up and Mama Rae held onto my hand. It was as if she never wanted me to leave.
“I’ll drive your car.”
I handed her my keys and watched as she left the house to get Adobo. “He doesn’t know, does he?” she asked me.
“Mama Rae, what are you talking about?” I laughed.
“I may be older, but I’m not a fool. I saw the look on your face when Mirror mentioned you had twins.”
“They’re not his.”
“Lie to me again, Freedom.”
I sighed because I couldn’t lie my way out of this. With Ghost, I was able to avoid him and lie, but I couldn’t lie to Mama Rae. She had this look in her eye that made you want to tell her everything.
“He doesn’t know.”
“You mean to tell me I’ve had grandbabies out there and you’ve never told us?”
“It was hard.”
“I’m hurt. Gyson? He’s going to be more hurt than I am. Nine years he has missed out on those kid’s life. Nine years he will never get back. You took that from him, Free.”
I broke down crying again into my hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“Baby, the thing about mistakes is that we learn from them. You need to just make this right.”
“I don’t know how to. I’m scared, worried and everything in between.”
“Pull those big girl panties up and do what needs to be done,” she advised. She looked me in the eyes. “We’re going to Jamaica in the next few weeks, I want you to come.”
My eyes widened. “I can’t come. I get paid to be around Shakira, I don’t want to be around her for free.”
“She’s not coming. How will you get used to telling him if you’re hardly around him? A week in Jamaica will warm you up to revealing the truth. I pray you can do it on the trip.”
“Mama Rae, I don’t think that I can…” she held her finger up cutting me off.
“Stop sayin
g you can’t. I’ll keep my mouth shut and allow you to tell him, but if you don’t, then I’ll be forced to let him know. He deserves to know, Freedom. When you left, Gyson changed. He wasn’t the same. He’s still not the same, but he’s maintaining. I see you’re married, and nothing can happen between the two of you, but allow it to happen with him and his kids.”
“I’m not married. It’s a reminder to myself.”
“Well, look at that. Maybe something can happen between the both of you,” she smirked.
I laughed and wiped my face with the napkin she handed me. “Now, go and kick those shoes off because you’re staying for dinner.”
“Did you really need Adobo?”
“Child no… Mirror is too nosey, and I didn’t need her knowing this,” she laughed. Make sure your kids are settled because we need to catch up,” she told me.
I smiled because I needed this time with her. Out of everyone, I missed Mama Rae the most. She was always so genuine, real and stuck to her guns. You couldn’t do anything except respect her. I sent Morgan a text message, went to kick my shoes off and sat on the couch while she continued to prepare dinner. I knew both she and Mirror were gonna have a lot to talk about.
8
Ghost
“What does she mean I need to make up my mind?” Shakira vented as she paced our bedroom.
She had been talking about Freedom for the past hour and I was sitting here with my dick out soft as putty. Once upon a time ago the shit was rock hard because she was about to devour my shit, but somehow, she slipped the conversation about the papers that Freedom left when she was here earlier in the week. Every time she walked past the girls’ bedroom, she brought the shit up. In my opinion, Free wasn’t wrong for charging her. Shakira wanted all this shit and made her and the team she hired bring the vision she had to life and now she wanted to scream how much she hated it. I couldn’t be mad at her making sure that she was protected when it came to doing business.