by Emma Nichols
* * *
Me: It’s okay. I’m going to be in hiding for a bit. I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell anyone since that could blow my location and we have no idea who’s threatening me.
Annie: Well, you can’t think it’s me.
* * *
Of course I didn’t, but that didn’t mean I was going to tell her I was staying with D. Divulging that tidbit would only cause more stress. After all, her husband was still friendly with my ex.
* * *
Annie: Where the hell else would you go?
* * *
I was fully prepared to change the subject, but she was far too fast with her fingers this morning.
* * *
Annie: OMG. You’re staying with a guy. Who? Tell me!
Me: That’s a hard no from me.
* * *
Glancing out the window, I saw the police moving down my driveway and crossing the street to speak with my neighbors. Dear God. And although I was thrilled to see they were taking this seriously, I was also a little bothered. How long was I going to be stuck here?
My phone rang and I realized Annie was less than satisfied with my answer. “Yes?” I answered with a sigh.
“I know you didn’t think that was going to end our discussion, right?” Annie grumbled.
“A girl can dream,” I joked. I sank down in my desk chair. This could take a while.
“Who are you staying with?” Her question was direct and demanding.
“I can’t tell you.” I bit my lip and waited. This wouldn’t be the end of the discussion. Annie wouldn’t give up. She never did.
She gasped. “You think I’m a gossip.”
And there it was. “No, but you tell your husband everything. And he is…”
The words hung in between us for a few seconds. She wasn’t denying his character. There was that.
“Well, I don’t need you to tell me. I bet I can figure it out,” she huffed. “I mean, you wouldn’t just go stay with anyone. And honestly, I don’t see any other woman taking on this kind of mess.”
I rubbed my forehead. She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know many females who’d welcome me into their home with all my drama.
“So, I’m guessing it’s a guy.” I could hear her pacing on the tile floor in her kitchen. “And I don’t see you running to the arms of some strange guy. You barely know any to begin with.” Annie sounded almost giddy.
“I really need to get going. Good talk,” I announced, hoping to end the call.
“Wait. Is it the security guard from the mall? Did you run into him again?” She whistled. “I’d have paid to see that reunion. He broke your heart! You told me you two broke up because he had the nerve to knock up his wife.” Sarcasm practically dripped from her voice.
I’d had enough. She meant well, but she could get me killed, if the person followed through on the threat painted on my house. “I’m hanging up now. I need to get going. We’ll talk soon.” Then I pushed the red button to end the call and forced myself to stand. As I stared out the window, scanning the area, I saw the police had moved onto another house and were on the porch talking to an older woman. I returned to packing the necessities from the office.
Soon the police entered through the front door. They were different from the ones who had been here the night before. This time, an older black officer walked over to my desk to speak with me. “Do you know anyone who owns a big black truck with a really loud sound system?”
I nodded sadly. “You just described my ex-husband’s vehicle perfectly. What about it?”
The officer pointed to the house across the street where I’d just seen them speaking with a neighbor. “Miss Abby says she has seen that truck going up and down the road several times a week ever since you moved in. Does he know where you live?”
“I didn’t think he did.” I frowned. “Of course, I did have an old friend over. She probably told her husband and they’re friends.” I didn’t feel so much vindicated as I did disappointed.
"Well, we’ll add this to our report. After all, this is a dead end street. There’s no reason for him to be driving by.” The officer scribbled into his notes. He spoke after stuffing his notes into his pocket. “I think we have everything we need here,” he announced. "You can make repairs on the home whenever you are ready."
"Thank you, officer," I said. "I guess I'm going to move out for a few days while we tried to get all of this sorted.”
"I know this is rough, but you're lucky to have some support to get through this." He took a step back and nodded at me before turning and walking toward the door. "We'll be leaving now. I hope you plan to leave soon too. Your friend made it clear that you shouldn't be left alone."
I smiled slightly. I had to admit it was pretty nice having somebody worrying over me a little bit; it made me feel like I didn't have to worry so much for myself. "Thank you. I'm ready to go actually. I'll just lock up behind us and be on my way."
Within minutes, I was driving toward the address I had been given in the text message from D. The closer I came to his house, the more I worried over how I would be received by the rest of his family. I'd seen the look Arionna had been giving me during tae kwon do class. And the last thing I needed was to create strife for someone who had been nothing but nice to me, aside from the time he broke my heart.
11
DeSean
* * *
"Where you at?" My sister shouted over the phone. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been?”
I could hear her muttering something under her breath. “What was that?” I asked, feeling guilty.
“I said, here it was Sunday and you need Jesus more than anyone I know, all while missing church.” I didn’t even have to be there to know her face was working overtime.
"I can explain. If you just give me the chance,” I began patiently, determined to somehow make her understand.
"I’ve given you chances. You had all night to call and tell me where you was, and what you was doing." she huffed. “You didn’t call. You abandoned your son, the same thing you accused Camilla of doing.”
Arionna had hit a nerve. “I would never abandon my son. I told you I had to leave. I thought I’d be coming home. Obviously, that didn’t work out.”
“Obviously. I can’t even talk to you right now.” My sister ended the call, which didn’t make me any happier.
I worked to remain calm for the last three minutes of the drive. When I pulled in, I saw her face in the upstairs bedroom for a split second after I hit the button on the remote to open the garage door. I parked the truck and strode into the house. Arionna needed to know what was happening. I wouldn’t condone her being rude to Tegyn.
“Look what the cat drug in,” she grumbled as she stomped down my stairs.
“You can stop with that already. You may be my big sister, but I didn’t move you out here so you could sit and judge me,” I reminded her. My words seemed to have little impact.
“No, you have me here so I could raise your boy while you chased after some white woman.” Her eyes narrowed.
“Is that what you really think?” I eyed her angrily. “I wanted him to be with family when I worked.”
Arionna laughed. “Oh, is that what last night was? Work?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Actually, yes. Someone threw a ball through Tegyn’s window and painted a threat on her life…right on her house.” I shook my head. “How do I abandon her at a time like that? And how could I bring my son with me?”
“That’s too bad.” Ari sighed. “Too bad she don’t have no friends.”
“I’m her friend,” I reminded my sister. “And from what I picked up on last night, her ex was controlling and alienated everyone. She needs me.”
“Right. She needs you. I saw you sniffing around her, DeSean. I know what you want. And it ain’t friendship.” She glared at me as she pushed past me to go to the kitchen. “I gotta make lunch.”
“Okay, well make sure you cook enough for one mo
re,” I warned her.
“What you mean?” Ari leaned on the island angrily. “You invited her for lunch? After last night?”
I swallowed hard. “No, I told her to move in so I can take care of my son and keep her safe.”
“I can’t believe you’re picking a white woman over your family.” Ari shook her head. Only her grip on the granite showed how angry she really was at the moment.
“Stop calling her that. Tegyn isn’t some white woman. She’s a woman. And if you took a moment to get to know her instead of judging her, you’d actually like her.” I moved to stand across from her at the island. “Luckily, you about to get that chance. She’ll be here probably within the hour.”
“Well, I won’t be.” My sister glared at me, her nostrils flaring. “We’re leaving.”
I slapped my hand on the counter. “You kidding me? You just got here.”
“And now we going.” Ari strode toward the stairs.
I turned and realized Necie was sitting on the top step holding Keyon. “Morning, little man. You coming to greet me or what?” I grinned as he reached for the railing so he could make his way down the steps.
“Mama, I don’t want to leave,” Necie mumbled. “I like it here. Uncle DeSean has a nice big house. We can all be here.” She licked her lips before adding hesitantly, “And Tegyn is nice. I like her.”
“You don’t even know her!” Arionna shouted.
“Neither do you,” Necie pouted.
“Pack. We’re leaving,” her mother ordered.
I was barely listening to them. Instead, I focused on making sure Keyon didn’t tumble down the stairs. The minute he was in my arms, I squeezed him tight and spun him around. “I missed you. You good?” I asked him quietly.
He nodded. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good,” I whispered in his ear while I held him close. Looking at Arionna standing beside me, I murmured, “You don’t have to leave.”
“I can’t be here. I can’t be part of whatever it is you doing with…her.” She took a deep breath and stormed up the stairs. When she reached the top, she growled, “Pack fast.”
“How are you even leaving, Arionna?” I asked. “You don’t have a car. Last I heard, you was low on money. Where you even gonna live?”
“Mama will pick us up.” She stuck out her chin.
I laughed sadly. “I can’t believe you’d rather live in Mama’s itty bitty two bedroom, one bathroom house than stay here with me.”
“It’s not staying with you I have a problem with,” she retorted as she disappeared down the hall.
With a sigh, I set Keyon on his feet, grabbed his hand and lead him into the kitchen. “You hungry?”
He nodded. “I want popcorn,” he announced with a big smile.
“You can’t have popcorn for lunch. Let’s see what we got for food. I think we need to get groceries. We only picked up a few things yesterday. Auntie was too tired to do real shopping.” I babbled on to cover the sound of my sister rushing around upstairs and barking orders at my niece. As I reached for the fridge door, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my pocket and grinned when I saw I had a text from Tegyn and breathed a sigh of relief at her message. “She’s on her way,” I told Keyon.
“Who, Daddy?” He stared up at me, a smile on his face.
“Daddy’s friend, Tegyn, is coming to stay with us for a little while.” I inhaled deeply. If I had my way, she’d be here forever. A little while wouldn’t be nearly long enough. All I could think about was getting her here where she’d be safe, hauling her into my arms. I stared at the phone, hoping she might call, but it didn’t ring and the last thing I needed to do was scare her off with my over-eager behavior.
Keyon tugged on my hand.
I looked down. “What’s up, buddy?”
“I want cheese.” He grinned.
I laughed. “You win. You want mac and cheese?”
“Uh huh.” He bounced a little beside me. Then he calmed down. “I go sit and wait.” He rushed to the back side of the island and I saw a hand pop up onto the counter and I realized he was trying to get on a stool.
After helping him into the seat, I warned, “Don’t wiggle, I don’t want you to fall and crack your head open.”
“Okay, Daddy.” He giggled. Apparently, concussions and stitches were funny to him. That’s because I’d protected the boy from anything worse than a skinned knee his whole life.
I disappeared inside the pantry and started looking for a box of the powdered kind to make him for lunch. The emotions coursing through me were so distracting. I wanted to sit and analyze them. I was nervous about this. Facing my mother after whatever Ari would tell her pained me greatly. Then I was so worried I’d mess everything up with Tegyn again. This was my second chance and she didn’t strike me as the kind of woman to give a guy a third and fourth. Most immediately, however, I was mad at my sister, angry she wouldn’t give Tegyn a chance based on the color of her skin. As a black woman, you’d have thought she’d be more understanding about racism, but instead, she was stuck in the past.
“Daddy! Where’d you go?” Keyon chirped from his seat.
“Right here, little man.” I peeked out the pantry. “Boo!” I teased.
He giggled like I was the funniest person he knew. It felt good. I needed that right now.
I grabbed the closest box of mac and cheese and walked back into the kitchen. As I was about to pull out a saucepan, Ari came stomping down the stairs with Necie trailing sadly behind her. “So, you out?” I asked glumly.
“Of course, we’re leaving. I can’t believe you thought I’d stay here,” she snapped.
Necie’s shoulders sank. “I want to stay,” she whispered. “I like it here. And I like tae kwon do.” She was clearly ready to list off all the things she enjoyed about her current living situation, but her mother cut her off.
“We can’t stay, I told you. It’s the principle.” She glared at me again.
Of course, I was so used to her moods and attitudes, this didn’t faze me a bit. “Mama coming to get you?” I asked calmly.
“Yes. She’ll be here any minute.” Ari grabbed her bags and made her way to the front door, struggling the whole time.
I could’ve offered to help her, but I chose to help Necie instead. “Girl, let me get this for you.” I carried everything over to the door. “So, you don’t mind sharing a room with your daughter. That’s cool. I’d think you’d want some privacy at your age, but that’s cool.
Necie’s eyes widened. “We’re sharing a room.”
“Well, you’re keeping your clothes in the room, but you’re sleeping on the couch.” Arionna stared out the window.
“And listen, Necie, you might want to get some books. Go to the library or something. Take up a hobby, like drawing or writing maybe. There’s only one television at Mama Delta’s house.” I leaned casually against the wall as her brow furrowed. “And that tv pretty much only gets one station. Your gramma refuses to get cable.”
“But what about Wi-Fi?” she whimpered.
“Mama Delta doesn’t believe in Wi-Fi.” I smirked.
Necie shook her head. “What’s to believe? How do you live without internet?”
“Oh, I don’t. Your Mama Delta does.” I winked.
“There she is.” Arionna turned to her daughter. “Go on. Get in the car. I’ll be right out.”
With her head hanging, Necie opened the door and wandered outside to follow her mother’s orders. I shook my head. “You always did have to be difficult, Ari,” I said with a sigh. “This time I think you’ll find you done shot yourself in the foot. Your daughter will be miserable. She’ll be in a terrible school and a terrible home. I hope it’s worth it.”
“Yeah? Well, I hope you learn to prioritize. You need to learn to support your family. How you could be so disloyal sickens me.” She looked at me with disgust. “You hear me? You make me sick.”
“Ari, Tegyn did nothing to you. She did nothing to Mama. You can’t hate her because of o
ur father. Not all white women are out to steal a black man and wreck a marriage. You should’ve figured that stuff out by now.” I scowled. She stood there glaring at me, like her mood was going to make a difference to mine. “Just go on, if you’re leaving. No need to keep Mama waiting.”
“Oh, I’m outta here.” Ari snatched her luggage off the floor and went stumbling through the door, hitting the frame several times on the way out.
I was too tired to worry about whether or not she’d done any damage. Our relationship would never be the same after this. I wondered how Mama would feel. As a test, I leaned out the door and waved at her. She turned her head away and ignored my greeting like she hadn’t just been staring at me. Guess I had my answer.
I closed the door just in time to hear Keyon say, “I get down now.”
I realized my mistake instantly. I never should’ve left him alone on the stool. “You bored, buddy?” I asked as I entered the kitchen again.
He nodded. “I hold my tablet?”
I turned and found the one I’d bought him sitting on the counter plugged in. After I unhooked, I passed it to him. “You play and I’ll make lunch. Got it?”
“I got it.” He smiled and wriggled happily in his seat.
Pulling out the saucepan, I moved to the sink to fill it. I’d barely set it on the stove and turned the burner on when I heard the garage door coming down. I whipped around and grinned at Keyon. “Tegyn’s here,” I told him, completely unable to hide the excitement in my voice. Luckily, he was too young to notice. I pulled him off the stool, and carried him to greet her as she came in through the garage door to the laundry room and drop zone.
“Hi,” she began shyly when she saw me standing there.
“Hi yourself.” I grinned.
Her eyes landed on my son and her smile faltered. “And who’s this?” she asked as she took a step closer.
My boy took one look at her and smiled. “I Keyon.”