Never Let Me Go

by Kianna Alexander

  Looking down at Sasha’s sweet face, she couldn’t help smiling. Sasha’s childhood would be a charmed one, far different from what she’d experienced growing up. There would be no frightening sounds outside her bedroom window, no endless transfers on the city bus to get around town, no empty cupboards. She’d have everything she needed and probably everything she wanted as well. Maxwell struck Yvonne as the kind of father who would spoil his daughter, doting on her at every turn. She could already see the way Sasha had begun to wrap her father around her little finger, as the old saying went. And she couldn’t really blame him. Sasha was a precious little darling.

  Looking ahead on the sidewalk, Yvonne saw another woman coming toward her, also pushing a stroller. Dressed in a fuchsia tank, matching sneakers, and black athletic pants, the woman had olive skin and a long black ponytail hanging down her back. The brim of a black baseball cap shaded her face.

  Another nanny?

  Waving, Yvonne called, “How’s it going?”

  The woman paused, adjusting her course a bit so their strollers wouldn’t collide. “Pretty good. You?”

  “Can’t complain.” Not wanting to waste the woman’s time, Yvonne asked, “Do you know of a playground in this area?”

  The woman shook her head. “No, there’s not one nearby. But there is one a few miles away from the neighborhood. You’d have to drive there, but it should be pretty easy to find.”

  “What’s it called? I’ll look it up.”

  “Sweetwater Park.”

  “Thanks a lot.” Yvonne waved again as the woman continued past her in the opposite direction, her long ponytail whipping around as she jogged away. “We’ll go over there a little later today, Sasha. First, we’ll have to take you home and grab some supplies.”

  She reached the end of the block, near the section of the neighborhood where Maxwell’s parents lived. Sanderson River Crossing was divided into two phases. Maxwell lived in the first phase, filled with mini mansions, and his parents lived in the second phase, where the houses were even larger. Not knowing how to get to the Deverses’ place on foot and not wanting to inconvenience them by showing up unannounced, she turned the stroller around, intent on heading back to Maxwell’s house.

  Her phone rang, the buzzing on her hip grabbing her attention. Still walking, she slipped the phone from her pocket and answered. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Ms. Markham. It’s me, Janine.”

  Why is the nurse calling me? “What’s going on? Has something happened?”

  “Yes, but there’s no need to panic. Your father took a bit of a spill.”

  Yvonne stopped short when she heard those words. “He fell? Where? When?”

  “He was reaching for something on the closet shelf, and…let’s just say he and the footstool had a little disagreement.”

  Yvonne pressed her palm to her forehead. “Oh no.”

  “Like I said, don’t worry. I’m with him at urgent care, and it’s just a simple sprain of his left ankle.”

  Great. Daddy managed to sprain his good ankle, all because he’s too stubborn to ask for help. “Listen, Janine, can I talk to him?”

  “Sure thing. I’ll put him on.”

  Yvonne listened to the muffled exchange in the background, rocking the stroller back and forth so Sasha wouldn’t get too antsy.

  A moment later, her father’s gruff voice filled her ear. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Daddy. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine. The doctor gave me some pain medicine for my ankle.”

  Yvonne drew a deep breath, knowing it wouldn’t be appropriate to give in to her urge to lecture him. Tamping that down as much as she could, she asked, “Daddy, what was it you needed off the closet shelf?”

  “My toolbox. I’ve been promising your mama I’d work on that rickety kitchen table leg for a while now.”

  “That’s fair. But why didn’t you just ask Janine to get it down for you? That’s what she’s there for.”

  He grumbled. “She was busy. Besides, I was already in the closet. Seemed quicker to just get it myself.”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know you don’t have the same balance you used to have, though. It’s not safe for you to be climbing stepstools.”

  “Oh, really? So you’re telling me just because I have this fake foot, I’m relegated to sitting in the recliner all day being feeble?”

  “No, of course not, Daddy. I just worry about you, that’s all.”

  “I see,” he groused. “You’re so worried about me that you hired somebody to look after me rather than do it yourself.”

  “Daddy, please.” She couldn’t deal with this right now. Leaving her parents’ care to someone else, no matter how skilled and caring, had already caused her major guilt. She didn’t need her father making her feel any worse. “You know I’m doing the best I can to take care of you. I always have.”

  He sighed. “When can you come see me, Yvonne?”

  Her heart squeezed in her chest. “I can come now if I bring Sasha. But it will take me about an hour and a half to get there—Maxwell lives way out in the sticks.”

  “Never mind. I’m sure Janine has things under control. You go on back to work.”

  “Daddy, wait. I can—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, he hung up on her.

  She took the phone from her ear, staring at the screen for a moment before she put it away. I don’t think Daddy’s ever been mad enough to hang up on me. Her shoulders drooped at the realization. In her quest to succeed at her career, she’d had to sacrifice her role as caregiver for her parents. Would her father ever be able to accept her choice, or would he go on resenting it forever?

  Sasha’s plaintive wail snapped her back to the present, pulling her out of the guilt spiral that threatened to consume her.

  Chapter 12

  Thursday evening, Maxwell sat in the crowded gymnasium of the Hiram Revels Youth Outreach Center, surrounded by screaming teens. Their vocal excitement was nearly drowned out by the booming speakers broadcasting the music throughout the space as teen hip-hop duo Young-n-Wild performed for them. A stage had been set up in the center of the basketball court, and from his vantage point on the floor to the right of the stage, Maxwell could see the slick hip-hop dance moves they performed, and due to the sound system’s power, there was nowhere to go to escape the infectious rhythm of their songs.

  Bopping his head in time with the music, Maxwell looked around at the audience. The kids were obviously enjoying themselves, some of them dancing in the bleachers as they sang along with the two boys on stage. The concert had been planned months ago as a reward for the young people who attended the afterschool program at the center. Through their hard work, the Revels Youth had met their ten-thousand-dollar fundraising goal and collected hundreds of items of clothing to be given to the less fortunate members of their community.

  Orion, who worked with the boys as the A&R rep from their label, was somewhere in the room. Maxwell knew his friend was likely watching the show from a good vantage point, taking note of how his artists interacted with fans and how the fans reacted to the show. Orion had always been the sensible one of their group, the one who believed in letting things happen as they were meant to. No doubt he’ll be reporting back to the label everything that happens here today.

  As the show wound down, Young-n-Wild bowed through several minutes of standing ovation before jogging off the stage under the care of their bodyguard. Xavier took the stage then and received his own, though less enthusiastic, round of applause from the kids in the bleachers.

  “I hope you all enjoyed the show by Young-n-Wild tonight, and I’d like to thank Orion MacMillan, my frat brother and the group’s A&R rep, for making this possible. I’d also like to thank my other frat brother, Maxwell Devers, who generously sponsored today’s event.”

  Maxwell s
aw Orion stand up and wave from his seat on the bleachers, front and center to the stage. Rather than stand, Maxwell simply raised his hand. He hadn’t been seeking recognition when he’d handed over the four-figure check to Xavier. He’d simply wanted to do something nice for the kids at the youth center.

  After the cheers died down again, Xavier continued. “Most of all, I want to thank all of you, my Revels Youth, and the parents and family members who helped them do such phenomenal work in reaching our fundraising goal for the new building project. Your hard work will ensure that we have a state-of-the-art facility for you as well as future generations of Raleigh youth.”

  The room erupted in applause again, and Maxwell joined in. He’d talked at length with Xavier about the new building and all the activities the center’s patrons would have access to. Sports, academics, and a workshop for carpentry were among the offerings. Seeing their exuberance made him think about his own daughter and what the future might hold for her. I wonder what kinds of hobbies Sasha will take up when she’s older.

  “You earned this reward, Revels Youth, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now you’ve all been reasonably well-behaved, and I know you’re going to continue that trend as you go on over to the cafeteria for refreshments and a meet and greet with Young-n-Wild.” Xavier left the stage on the heels of those words.

  Not needing to be told twice, the youngsters filed out of the room with their parents and the staff members. Maxwell stood and walked over to the stage, meeting up with his frat brothers. “Wow. The kids really love these guys, huh?”

  Xavier nodded. “We’re a little over budget with building the new center, and the kids have been working hard to make up the difference. We asked them what they wanted as a reward if they could meet the fundraising goal, and the answer was nearly unanimous.”

  “I can see why. Their music definitely is catchy.” Maxwell had enjoyed the show far more than he’d expected to.

  “The music is a big part of it. But you’ve gotta remember, Young-n-Wild are from Roxboro.” Xavier tapped his chin. “The kids are excited to see someone their age, from North Carolina, be so successful in the music industry.”

  Maxwell nodded, clapped his hands together. “So, O, what’s next for them tonight?”

  “They’re going back home to their parents, fortunately.” Orion chuckled. “They’re a handful, but since they’re not touring right now, I’ll just send a car to take them back home to Roxboro.”

  “Wouldn’t their manager typically be in charge of stuff like that?” Maxwell had heard Orion speak about the woman before.

  “Yes, but Celeste is on vacation, so I’m stuck with them.” Orion shrugged. “She’s super serious, and I was shocked to hear that she’d taken a few days off, but I’m not unhappy about getting a break from Ms. By-the-Book.”

  Maxwell shook his head. He could see why someone like Orion, who preferred the laid-back, pragmatic approach to life, would be so annoyed by someone who insisted on rules and regulations at every turn.

  Xavier cleared his throat. “Oh, guys. I’ve got some news. I was gonna wait until I could get all the guys together, but with everybody being so busy, who knows when that will happen?”

  “What’s up?” Maxwell turned toward his friend.

  “Yeah,” Orion added. “What’s the news?”

  Taking a deep breath, Xavier smiled. “Imani…is pregnant.”

  A grin broke over Maxwell’s face. “Wow. Congratulations, man! I know you’ve been wanting this for a while.”

  “This is great news, bro.” Orion bumped fists with Xavier. “Congrats. I’m happy for y’all.”

  The smile on Xavier’s face gave away his excitement. “She’s only about two months along, but we’re so excited. Now, if I can just get her to cut back on her hours at the practice, we’ll be golden.”

  Maxwell knew Xavier’s wife, a dermatologist in private practice, loved her work. “I’m sure she’ll take it easy. She is a doctor after all, so she should know to listen to her body.”

  Xavier looked wistful for a moment. “You know, our baby could end up being a playmate for Sasha one day when they’re a bit older.”

  The thought brought warmth to Maxwell’s heart. “You can bet on it.”

  Orion shook his head. “This is getting way too mushy for a player.”

  Xavier started walking toward the exit. “I need to get over to the cafeteria and make sure the kids aren’t cutting up. See you guys over there.”

  After he left, Orion remarked, “X is gonna make a great father.”

  “Absolutely. Out of all of us, he loves kids the most.” Maxwell knew the baby would be blessed to have parents like Xavier and Imani. He only hoped one day Sasha would speak as highly of him. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, but I got the Crown project.”

  “Congrats, man. I know you’re happy about that.”

  Maxwell shrugged. “I’d be happier if I didn’t have to work with Harold Carmichael.”

  Orion’s brow hitched. “The same Harold Carmichael who went to Central with us? The one who was always announcing how great he was?”

  “Same dude. Unfortunately, he hasn’t changed.”

  Orion whistled, shaking his head. “Damn. I’m sorry you gotta work with a clown, but I’m sure you’ll bring your usual level of professionalism and skill to the job.”

  Maxwell snapped his fingers. “You’d better believe it.”

  “So.” Orion leaned closer, folding his arms over his chest. “What’s going on with you and Miss Yvonne? Anything interesting?”

  With a short nod, Maxwell admitted their new arrangement. “Yes. We’re exploring a relationship right now…taking things slowly.”

  “I knew it. I knew y’all couldn’t resist each other.”

  Maxwell shook his head. “I guess you were right, but don’t let that go to your head, O.”

  “You know me. I’m always humble, man.” With a chuckle, Orion turned toward the door. “Let’s get over to the cafeteria. I need to make sure the boys aren’t up to any shenanigans.”

  The two of them left the gym and walked the short distance down the hall to the cafeteria. The place was teeming with activity as the kids mingled, helped themselves to the finger foods and drinks, and stood in line to have items signed by Young-n-Wild.

  “Let’s grab some food,” Orion shouted to be heard over the din. “I’ve been running with the boys all day.”

  At the long table, Maxwell loaded up a small paper plate with chicken nuggets, a pile of red grapes, carrot sticks, and a chocolate chip cookie. After grabbing a cup of punch ladled out by one of the center’s staffers, he and Orion sat down at a table near where the boys had set up to sign autographs.

  Watching the younger member of the duo give a friendly hug to a young girl who was in tears with excitement, Maxwell commented, “They certainly are good with the fans.”

  Munching on a celery stick, Orion nodded. “They certainly are. Especially the girls—but, you know, they’re at that age. Tim, their bodyguard, makes sure they aren’t alone with female fans to keep them out of trouble. But they’re little charmers, you can bet.”

  Chewing, Maxwell remembered his own teenage days. “If they’re anything like we were back in the day, they certainly need to be kept in check.”

  Orion chuckled. “You gotta remember, Max. In a few years, young playas just like them might be darkening your doorstep, wanting to take your daughter out on dates. Gird your loins, bro.”

  Maxwell cringed, knowing his friend was right. How will I react to that? I can’t imagine letting any smooth-talking young guy take my daughter anywhere. But he knew she’d eventually become interested in boys, no matter how he felt about it. He sighed. “You’re right. I’d better start preparing for that now, because it’s probably going to take a good little while for me to be okay with it.”

  They finished up their food, th
en waited for the boys to sign autographs for everybody waiting in line. Tim, the tall, wide-framed bodyguard dressed in all black, stood close by, keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings.

  When the last fan had left, Orion stood. “Come on, Max. It’s time you met the boys.”

  As they approached, the two young men stood from the stools they’d been occupying.

  “What’s up, Mr. O?” the younger one asked.

  “Got a friend I want you to meet. This is my fraternity brother, Maxwell Devers.” Orion gestured toward him.

  The older one extended his hand toward Maxwell. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Devers. I’m Marcus Richardson, aka Wild.”

  Maxwell shook his hand.

  “And I’m Young—err, Malcolm.” The younger one shook hands with Maxwell just as his brother had.

  “Good to meet you. Any significant meaning behind your names?” Maxwell looked between the two of them.

  “Our parents named us after two black revolutionaries,” Marcus commented. “Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X.”

  “Impressive. Let’s hope your lives are just as impactful as your namesakes’.” Maxwell offered a smile.

  Malcolm smiled back. “That’s what we want. That’s why we rap about positivity and empowerment, ya know?”

  Maxwell nodded. “I feel you.” He wasn’t sure if that was still a popular phrase among the kids, but he was pretty sure they’d know what he meant by it. All in all, he was pretty impressed with the Richardson boys. They’d come from the small town of Roxboro, just north of Durham, and were making quite a name for themselves.

  As the sun began to set, Xavier and his staff rounded up the remaining youths and escorted them to the lobby. Maxwell watched as the kids left with their parents and guardians, then he and Xavier returned to the cafeteria.

  Orion, who stood close by while his clients and their bodyguard gathered their things, yawned, stretching his arms above his head. “It’s about time I get these boys home. Their parents will be expecting them.”