by Tynessa
“The one and only,” she smiled and stood to hug him.
“Look at you, looking all beautiful and shit,” Fred said, spinning her around. Heaven giggled.
“Thanks Fred.” She cut her eyes at Kendra who was standing nearby smiling. Maybe it wasn’t a big deal, but Heaven was still feeling some type of way about her assuming it was okay to call Zylen by his government name. Only his closest friends were able to do that, and she was nowhere near that.
Chapter 5
“It’s funny you say that. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” Zylen said to Heaven. He’d just picked her and Hydeia up from La-La’s house and she broadcasted to him how much she missed La-La, and their hometown. That was music to his ears.
“What about it? Please tell me we can move back here. I’m sick of Atlanta,” Heaven pouted. Zylen laughed.
“What are you going to do about work if we do move back?” he asked as he began going the opposite direction of the hotel they were due to stay at. Heaven paused. She really loved her job but Atlanta just didn’t feel like home anymore.
“I can asked to be transferred and if my boss has a problem with that I’ll just resign.” Zylen nodded his head up and down, pleased with Heaven’s answer. He knew Heaven loved her job and he had no problem with that; but he almost jumped for joy when she stated she would quit. It wasn’t like they needed the money anyways. They had more than enough money for Heaven to be working.
“A’ight, that’s what’s up!” was all Zylen said.
The rest of the ride was quiet with them both lost in their own thoughts. Zylen was praying and hoping his wife would quit her job and just be a stay-at-home mom. Heaven, on the other hand, knew her boss could be a bitch and hoped he wouldn’t put up a fight when she announced she wanted to be transferred. She loved Zylen and knew he wanted her to not work but being a housewife wasn’t what she signed up for. Heaven didn’t want to be portrayed as the type of woman that lived off her husband’s riches. She wanted to be able to bring something to the table as well. If Zylen up and left her she wanted to have something she could fall back on. There was no way in hell she would ever let a man leave her in a fucked up position, husband or not!
“Zy, whose house is this? This shit is beautiful,” Heaven asked as she admired the mini mansion is awe. The house her and Zylen shared in the Buckhead part of Atlanta didn’t have shit on the one they’d just pulled up at. Zylen smiled as he parked right in front the front door.
“It’s ours. I was hoping you would agree to move back. Sorry for going behind your back and buying the house,” Zylen paused. “But deep down I felt you would agree to the move,” he said. Heaven looked at him sideways.
“And what if I wouldn’t have?” she asked.
“I guess we would’ve just had this place for when we visit,” Zylen said.
Back at the house in Atlanta, Zylen didn’t see himself growing old in that house; therefore he rented it instead of buying. But the mini mansion right in front of them was a place he wanted to call home and saw his family spending the rest of their lives there.
“Good answer.” Heaven kissed his lips and exited the vehicle. Opening the back door, she let Hydeia out and Zylen grabbed Li’l Zy.
Inside the house was amazing. She and Zylen had their share of houses but that place was by far the best one of them all. Zylen had never been the flashy type. Not wanting to draw too much attention, he’d never been the one to purchase big ass houses. To say Heaven was amazed would’ve been an understatement.
“Daddy, is this our house?” Hydeia asked as she too admired their new home. Zylen informed her that it was indeed their house and she took off running in excitement. After examining the house thoroughly, Heaven was very pleased.
“Baby, this is amazing. I fucking love this house.” She kissed him passionately on the lips. Pulling back, Heaven stared into his light brown eyes, truly blessed to have Zylen in her life. After all the bullshit she’d been through and wanting to call it quits so many times, Heaven still came out on top. “I’m ready to move in ASAP, bae,” she let him know through giggles.
“Yeah, me too. While we’re here for these few days you can go ahead and start furniture shopping and decorating the place. Then when we go back home and pack our shit, we’re throwing the deuces up to Atlanta,” Zylen laughed. Atlanta was cool and he’d met some cool cats there but it wasn’t home for him.
“And I have to talk to my boss about being transferred.”
Zylen rolled his eyes upwards.
“And talk to your boss,” he said sarcastically before becoming serious. “He better not be on no fuck shit either because you know I have no problem going to your job showing my ass.” Zylen stared her dead in the eyes, letting her know he was dead ass serious. Heaven just smiled because she knew he was. To her it appeared Zylen was looking for any reason to go to her job and have her fired, all because he didn’t like her boss.
“I know, Zy, but I’m pretty sure everything will go smoothly.” Heaven didn’t know if she was trying to convince Zylen or herself. Zylen smacked her on the ass.
“You better hope it does! Now come on, let’s go put the kids to bed,” he said as he bent down and picked sleeping Li’l Zy up off the floor. Once Li’l Zy became sleepy he didn’t care where or what the situation was; he wasn’t missing his sleep for anything.
********
At the hotel room Heaven put the kids in bed before taking her shower and cuddling up with her husband. She really didn’t like when the kids would go to sleep before getting a bath, but because it was a long flight and they’d had a busy day, running around playing with the twins, she let them slide.
“Zy, are you asleep?” Heaven asked once she crawled in bed.
“Nah, what’s up?” he replied as he pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. Heaven made herself comfy in his arms.
“Did you meet the girl that work with La-La?” She looked up at him to read his facial expression. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Zylen, she just didn’t trust bitches. Heaven knew her husband was very attractive and females were constantly throwing themselves at him. Heaven wasn’t trying to sound like a nagging wife or insecure but she wasn’t trying to play the fool either.
“Yeah, I met her the other day. She came to their house to meet Fred,” he let her know. When Heaven didn’t say anything he asked, “Why? What’s up?”
“Nothing. When I walked in the shop today and she saw me, she asked was I Zylen’s wife,” Heaven said, emphasizing his name. Zylen looked confused, wondering what the big deal was.
“Okay,” he said deliberately, wondering what her point was.
“I mean, it was the way she said your name.” Heaven hunched her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just used to hos calling you Zy and not Zylen.”
Zylen just stared at Heaven, not believing she was being so petty about something such as a name. He wanted badly to ask her what the difference between the two names was, but thought against it. Instead he said, “Maybe you’re reading too much into it, Heaven.”
“Maybe I am, but we don’t have to worry about that anymore. I let her know its’ Zy!” With that Heaven snuggled under Zylen and made herself comfortable once again.
Shaking his head, Zylen reached over and turned the light off. “I love you, Heaven Sent,” he said before kissing Heaven’s forehead and closing his own eyes.
Chapter 6
Heaven enjoyed her stay in Ohio but she was ecstatic to be back home packing. They’d been back for a week and she had yet to talk to her boss about the transfer. They were due to move the following week and Zylen was on her ass about the request. Before she left for work that morning Zylen let her know that if she didn’t talk to her boss he would take the initiative of doing it himself. That was something Heaven didn’t want.
Sitting in her office for more than ten minutes, Heaven was reciting the words in her head. Finally saying fuck it, she got up and headed towards his office. A
ll he could do was give her a simple yes or no. What more could he do? She’d already made up in her mind that she would walk out if he started acting like a bitch. Knocking on his door, Heaven waited for it to be answered. Once he gave her to okay to enter, she did.
“Good morning, Mr. Walker. May I speak with you for a minute?” Heaven asked nervously as she walked closer to his desk and stood directly in front of it.
“Sure. What can I do for you my sweet Heaven? And what did I tell you about calling me Mr. Walker? Call me Derrick,” he smiled and said. Heaven rolled her eyes upwards.
“My husband and I are moving back to Ohio and I would like to know if I could be transferred.” Heaven wasn’t trying to play any games with him so beating around the bush was what she wasn’t going to do. Derrick just stared at her and didn’t say a word. Heaven was one of his best employees so the news she’d just delivered had him speechless.
“I mean, I love working here and I appreciate all that you have done for me, but this was a last minute decision so that’s why I need the transfer as soon as possible.” Heaven saw his jaws clenching and knew things were about to get ugly.
“So you’re saying you’re putting in your two weeks’ notice?” he asked.
“Well, not exactly. We’re moving next week.”
“Well, I can’t help you on that. I need notice two weeks in advance. Sorry!” he said as he begin scuffling papers around on his desk. He could be such a bitch to Heaven.
“Derrick, I hate to just quit but if it comes down to that, I will.” She knew it was company policy to let them know two weeks in advance but she also knew her boss could make it happen.
“Well, do what you have to do. Now have a good day.” Derrick dismissed her. Heaven stood there speechless, not believing she was really about to quit her job.
“I guess there’s nothing more to say. Nice working with you.” With that she turned on her heels before exiting the office, not bothering to look back.
Heaven walked back to her office and begin packing her things. She loved her job and wished things would’ve been different. Derrick was just being a bitch and Heaven knew that. As she was packing her last in the box her phone begin to vibrate on her desk. Picking it up, she saw it was Zylen and that quickly soothed her nerves.
“Hey baby,” she answered, trying to sound as normal as possible. Last thing she needed was for her husband to know that she was hurt behind her decision of quitting. Just then a bright thought crossed her mind. Maybe Zylen would agree with them staying another two weeks. Just as the thought transpired, she laughed and pushed it out her mind. Once her husband’s mind was set on something, there was no changing it; and it was set to move within the next week.
“What’s up? Did everything go okay or do I need to make a trip up there?” Zylen asked. He’d met her boss a few times and each time he’d gotten a bad vibe from him. His whole demeanor threw Zylen off. Zylen didn’t know what it was but he wasn’t feeling that cat. The way he would look at Heaven with lustful eyes would have Zylen ready to go off in his shit, but because Heaven would assure him that nothing was going on between them he had no other choice but to keep calm.
“No, you don’t have to come up here, bae. Everything is fine. I’m actually packing up my things as we speak. I will be home shortly so we can talk.”
“A’ight. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” Heaven replied back to him before ending the call. She turned around just in time to see Derrick walking away from her door that was wide opened. Shaking her head, she placed the phone in her purse, gathered her things, and left. She would miss her job but just like she found that one she was sure she would have no problem finding another one
********
Zylen was fixing lunch for the kids when Heaven walked in. She was wearing one of the biggest smiles and he knew things must’ve gone well at work. He wasn’t convinced earlier when he’d asked but the smile resting upon her lips let him know it did. Walking over to the kids, Heaven kissed their foreheads before turning to her husband and kissing him on the lips.
“Hey my love,” she finally said.
“What in the hell is up with you? Why you so happy?” Zylen looked at her suspiciously.
“Nothing. Just ready to move, that’s all. My boss was being a bitch, like I knew he would, but when I left he called to informed me that he was typing up my papers,” she explained.
Derrick called Heaven before she could make it out the parking garage at her job. She answered the phone, ready to go off on his ass but before she could, he let her know that her papers were being typed up and she should be expecting an email shortly. Heaven thanked him and ended the call. Happy would’ve been an understatement.
She knew Derrick could make it happen and deep down in her heart she knew he would. He just loved to give Heaven a hard time. Like always, it pissed her off when he would tell her she couldn’t do something then go back on his word and give her the okay. She would’ve been lying if she said she wasn’t thrilled about getting far away from his deranged ass.
“I asked you on the phone did everything go okay and you told me it did,” Zylen said. He was staring Heaven deeply in the eyes as if he was searching for something deep within her. One thing he couldn’t stand, was for his wife to lie to cover that nigga’s ass. Zylen was a ticking time bomb when it came to Heaven and she knew that, so if shooting him a lie or two was what she had to do to prevent him from exploding, then so be it.
“Zylen, it wasn’t nothing that I couldn’t handle. What the fuck was you going to do? Come up there, beat his ass, and make him give me a damn transferal?” Heaven asked over her shoulder as she walked out the kitchen. Zylen was hot on her heels.
“I didn’t say that, but I didn’t want you up there begging for the shit either. If he said no, then that should’ve been the end of it. You should’ve just walked the fuck out. It’s not like yo’ ass hurting for the damn money anyways. Fuck that nigga! He can take that job and stick it up his fucking ass.” At that point Zylen’s attitude was through the roof.
“That’s what you want anyways. For me to quit my job,” Heaven stated calmly.
“That’s not what I want but before you be up there begging and shit I would rather you quit. You can find another job for all I care! Don’t be begging that mothafucka’ for a got damn thing!” Just him thinking about his wife begging Derrick for anything pissed Zylen off to the core.
“Zylen, I wasn’t begging him for nothing. I mean, I’m not trying to brag or anything but I am his best employee so I don’t blame him for not wanting me to leave. Once I said I quit and was leaving he called me up and let me know that I should be expecting an email shortly. Baby, I know we’re not hurting for the money but I love working and you should be happy I’m not the type of chick that wants to sit on my ass and spend your money. I’m sorry, but that’s not me! I wasn’t raised like that and I damn sure didn’t go to college to sit at home.”
Though Heaven wasn’t doing what she initially went to college for, sitting at home on her ass was what she wasn’t going to do. That shit there wasn’t even a fucking option.
Zylen just stared at Heaven because she was right. How could I just want my wife to sit at home and bear my kids? Maybe that was selfish on his part. That’s why he loved Heaven so much. She was so independent and was quick to let him know, when it seemed he’d forgotten, that she wasn’t with him for his money. She was with him because she loved him unconditionally. Zylen couldn’t have asked for a better wife.
“You’re right. I’m tripping.” Zylen smiled and walked closer to Heaven and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, baby. I love you and I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said then kissed her passionately. The last thing he wanted to do was have an argument with his wife about her bullshit ass job. Like Heaven said, he should be thankful she even wanted to work.
Chapter 7
One month later
Heaven was in heaven. She was in love with her new job but loving
her new home even more. She’d been so busy getting things situated around the house and work that she hadn’t had any time to kick it with La-La, or any time for herself for that matter. Not to mention she still had to get Hydeia registered for school. All that was taking a toll on her body.
Zylen, on the other hand. was having a ball. He was spending time and catching up with his niggas every damn day. Heaven didn’t have a problem with that at all. As long as he was staying out her way while she decorated, took Li’l Zy with him, and came home at a reasonable time, it was fine with her. Zylen being with another woman was the least of her concerns. He gave her no reason to not trust him and besides, what could he possibly do with their two-year-old son tagging along? Exactly!
“Girl, what are you over there doing?” asked La-La once Heaven answered the phone for her. She hadn’t seen her but twice since she moved back and that wasn’t sitting well with La-La.
“Nothing, honey. Just putting the finishing touches to this big ass house of mine,” Heaven replied as she took a seat on the couch. She was thanking God that everything was coming together in the house and she was almost done. It seemed the closer she came to finishing the more stuff she found needed to be done.
“Man, you need a damn break! Yo’ ass been busy since you arrived. Take a break and come out with us tonight.” It was Friday. Heaven was off on the weekends so there was no reason for her to stay in.
“Who is us?” Heaven asked. She knew damn well Zylen wasn’t about to go out and leave her stuck in the damn house.
“Me and Kendra,” La-La simply stated. Heaven frowned as if La-La could see her. She didn’t know what it was about that Kendra chick but she wasn’t feeling her at all.
“I’ll pass. Plus I have my kids, remember? While you’re talking about going out, who’s watching the twins?”