by Ebony
“That still doesn’t explain why you and Jaden exchanged words. Get to the point Apollo because right now you beating around the bush.”
“I tried to tell Jaden he was wrong and was moving real fowl. You know him and your sister act just alike so you know I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that his response was of a man that didn’t give a damn about nobody but himself. He doesn’t have any intentions of doing right by Kasey and then the nigga fixed his mouth to tell me it’s nothing between us but business. You know I’m over this street stuff ma; I was just making a way for him. I just want to settle down and enjoy the fruits of my labor,”
“Jaden is a grown man and he need to make his own way for him and his family. You said it best yourself, Jaden is all about himself so why are you putting yourself out there for him like that. Clearly he doesn’t appreciate it and I’m not trying to lose you, you can’t be trying to live right, yet still dancing in the devils den; it will only lead to you to hell or jail.”
“You’re absolutely correct ma, as of today I am officially out the game. Jaden don’t want to have anything to do with me but on a business level and like you say I need to love him from a distance. So he can have that trap house and all the problems that go with it. That’s chump change to me compared to the money I’m making with the real estate when you weigh it against jail or hell.”
“Apollo I’m so proud of you right now. These knees were getting bruised staying on them at night praying for God to deliver you from that lifestyle all together. I know you explained everything that happened last night but I’m still lost about the Kasey situation.”
“Well, it’s quite simple to me. I’ve been sacrificing for him all my life because you always preached family over everything and I’m over it. Kasey wasn’t meant for him, God made her for me and I feel it in my heart and I’m not sacrificing anything else for him. You always wondered why I never settled down. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, but I knew they were not the women that God had created for me. I’m ready to get what I believe what was rightfully mine in the first place. Just live, laugh and love you feel me ma.”
“Well, it seems you’re adamant about this Kasey situation so these knees won’t be getting a break after all because I know all hell is going to break lose. What if she doesn’t feel the same way about you? Have you ever thought those same feelings won’t be reciprocated?”
“Ma when she cursed me out last night and the look she had in her eyes when she did it, the way I could feel her hurt that solidified what I always thought and that is she loves me just as much as I love her. Hell everybody thinking she so dumb for staying with Jaden with all the mess he does to her, she probably did it to try and fight what we both knew was going to be the inevitable.”
“I guess the heart wants what it wants. Well, at least, she won’t have to change her last name if she divorces Jaden and marries you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at my mother. She would always try to shed some humor on a bad situation and I definitely needed it. The waitress had left our ticket a long time ago. So I told my mother I was ready to go after we finished our conversation. I threw some bills on the table and escorted my mother out the restaurant. On the drive back to her office my phone began to ring. I noticed it was my Aunt Eleanor; I put my finger to my mouth signaling my mom not to say anything when I answered. I answered my phone through my Bluetooth in my car so my aunt could be on speaker and my mom could hear everything that was said.
“What’s up Auntie, what’s going on with you today?” I immediately said once I answered the phone.
“Don’t ask me that dumb ass question. I’ve had this damn baby joined at the hip with me since Jaden sorry ass brought her to the house last night. You know your auntie to fly to be a full-time Grandma.” My aunt replied.
I chuckled at my aunt’s reply while looking at my mother who was now shaking her head.
“I hear ya, Auntie Ellie.”
“I called you to see why you and Jaden letting uppity ass Kasey interfere in the family business. You are closing shop on the weekend and at the first of the month at that? Do you know how much money was lost?”
That just made my blood boil, I couldn’t believe my aunt was coming at me on some money lost bullshit; It was hard to believe that my aunt and mom had the same mother and father, raised in the same house together because they were as different as night and day.
“Well, Auntie Ellie it wasn’t enough that you still wouldn’t be able to stay laced with Gucci and Diamonds. As a matter of fact, you will probably have more since I’m going to give Jaden the trap house. Your son is officially his own boss. Tell him I said congrats. I’ll link up with him later and give him the specifics.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about nephew, this is long overdue. It’s going to be on and popping now. Hell, I probably need to call Kasey sadity ass up and thank her for starting all that shit last night.”
I couldn’t stomach her voice another minute so I just disconnected the call. I looked over at my mom and she had tears in eyes as she continued to shake her head.
“I always told my mother that somebody had to have dropped her on her head as a baby because she never had any damn sense. What kind of mother celebrates the criminal doings of their child knowing where it could lead them? You would think she knew better after what went down with his father, but apparently not because if she knew better, she would do better. I can’t even fault Jaden for the way he is, he just a product of his dysfunctional parents and their parenting style.” My mother sadly stated.
“I hope you can see where I’m coming from now Ma?” I said.
“Son the only thing I’m sure of is that things always get worse before they get better and I need to pray a little harder.”
I pulled up to my mom office so that I could drop her off to her car; before she got out the car my mom hugged me real tight, kissed my cheek and stated, “I expect you in church tomorrow, I need the Pastor to lay hands on you and take this situation to the alter, Jesus be a fence right now.
“For sure ma, I’ll probably beat you there,” I stated as I kissed her back on her forehead. Everything is going to work out ma, you’ll see.
I watched as my mom got out my car and made her way to her car. I pulled off feeling confident about the decisions I had made today. Now I just needed to go home and get me some rest so I could get my mind right to deal with the situation at hand.
CHAPTER 12 – KASEY
I can’t just lay in this bed feeling sorry for myself. I have two twin boys that need me and I need to come up with a game plan. I could feel the tension in my body and the headache coming from the stress I was now feeling. I got up and began to look at the amenity services brooklet. I was in desperate need of a massage. I contacted the concierge and they informed that they would have someone up in my room within the hour give me a two hour massage. I jumped up and got in the shower to get ready for my massage. When I got out of the shower I didn’t even bother to lotion, I just dried myself off and put on a pair of thongs. By the time I got done with a two-hour massage, I’m sure I will have enough lotion on me to slip and slide across the bathroom floor. I sat and thought about my life, the decisions I have made and how the decisions I was about to make would affect everyone in my life. I heard knocking at the door, I got up and opened and there was someone from Concierge and a masseuse. We exchanged pleasantries as they setup the massage equipment in the room. The concierge finished and told me to have a nice day.
“Good day ma’am, my name is Cindy and I will step out so you can get undressed to fit your comfortability.”
I simply shook my head up and down and took off my robe, got underneath the covers of the massage table and got as comfortable as I possibly could.
“Is there a certain area you would like me to work on?”
“Cindy that is your name correct, I am stressed to the max; I just need you to massage all the kinks that I have formed in my body, we will probably never see each
other again so I don’t need the conversation. I just need to get my body to relax.”
“No problem ma’am, I’ll have you back to new by the end of our two hour session.”
Cindy did not disappoint. I felt like I was floating on air after the massage. I gave Cindy a one-hundred dollar tip and sent her on her way after my massage. I slipped on a halter maxi dress that I had packed up and proceeded down to the pool area where they had a live jazz band playing and three tiki bars to make sure they would be able to accommodate everyone in expeditious manner. I sat at one of the tables off to the corner by myself so that I could sit back and enjoy the scenery while still being able to enjoy the music that the live band was playing. As I was sitting there, a waiter came and asked if there was anything I would like from the bar or kitchen. I informed the waiter I would like a Peach Long Island Iced Tea along with a basket of French Fries. I really didn’t have an appetite. However, I knew I should eat since I was about to partake in some alcoholic beverages. Once I received my drink and had a couple of sips, I decided to call Nic and check on my boys.
“Hey Chica, how are you holding up?” Nic stated as soon as she answered the phone.
“Nic, I’m not even going to complain about a thing right now. I know things may look fucked up right now but my father always taught me that was meant for you bad, God will turn it around for your good, so instead of complaining about the dozen of lemons that were served to me last night I’m going to make me some lemonade and I’ll be just fine.” I replied to Nic.
“Damn sissy, I want to be like you when I grow up.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at this crazy girl.
“So where are my boys at and my God baby?”
“Now you know they are playing that damn game.”
“Tell them to come to the phone, I miss they bad behind.”
“Before I call them in here, huuunty let me tell how your husband came over here showing his ass earlier today.”
“Now he got all the nerve, really Nic. Why the fuck would he come by your house knowing you could give two fucks about him or his feelings.”
“Now that’s the same shit I was saying to myself when he came here and I let his ass know I don’t give a fuck about him, it’s you that love him. I swear if it wasn’t for my God babies they would have had to carry that bitch ass nigga from in front of my door today.”
“Nic, I put this on everything I love I am done with him. My daddy taught me better than to settle for a nigga like Jaden, I might have wandered off the path, but I’m more than ready to get back on track. I had a massage today and the whole time I was praying for God to lead me, to restore my mind and my spirit. I swear I heard Him say loud and clear that when I removed that bad spirit ass, man, out my life, I will be blessed with the man that he had intended for me all the while.”
“Look, Kasey, I hear what you saying and it sounds all good. Just know I’m riding with you to the wheels fall off and then we will Flintstone it regardless of whatever decision you make. I’m not going to tell you to leave your husband because I would be wrong for that. I’m scared of God and he said what God has put forth let no man put us asunder so I’m going to let that decision be between you and God I’m not going to speak on it. I just support you in whatever decision you make.”
“That’s the thing Nic, our marriage was not a union of God, I knew that shit when I said I do. I was just hell bent on proving everyone wrong especially the sideline chicks that thought they would be the one. I fucked my life up on self-gratification. I said I do, walked back down that aisle like I had won the prize and didn’t get anything but a Cracker Jack Box Prize.”
“Bahahahaha, girl you a fool with it, not the Cracker Jack Box Prize, so what’s your next move.”
“I’m done Nic I promise you. Don’t think your girl was all the way stupid. I have a nice piece of change put up. I haven’t told you, but Apollo came to me with a business opportunity to buy some property which I agreed to that will give me residual income as well. I should be doing my closings in the next week or two, I’m going to have to call Apollo up and see if he can have his mom move up at least one of my closing dates to this week. I’ll just move in one of those until I can find the house that I want to raise my boys in. Can you believe he came to Jaden with the same business proposition and he turned it down talking about he don’t have time for all that bourgeois shit, he was making enough money with his trap? Like who the hell doesn’t want to have legit money? I’m so tired of hearing about traps, dope and flipping money. I’m just over the whole scene.”
“Well damn, look like somebody been holding out on me, why the hell you didn’t tell me about Apollo business ventures. I got a piece of change put aside too.”
“My bad Nic, I just wanted to see how things played out first, but you know I got you when I see how things work out. Maybe we can go for our realtor license and get some girl power going on.”
“Well speaking of Apollo that was real fucked up the way you went off on him. You sure that he going to even accept your phone calls. You know I don’t hold any punches with you and you were way out of line with the way you spoke to him. That man has been nothing but good to you and your kids. I know you were caught up in your feelings, but you owe that man an apology.”
“I know I was dead ass wrong. I don’t know what it is about Apollo but I never wanted him to see me in a negative light. I think I was more embarrassed than anything that he was there and witnessed that shit. I wonder if he thinks I’m the dumbest woman walking the earth.”
“Shit, I’m sitting here thinking if my friend is the dumbest woman walking the earth right now. I know you see the way that Apollo looks at you and I damn sure see the way you look at him. Jaden didn’t look fazed by the drama that unfolded, but Apollo looked like you had crushed his heart last night with the things you said to him. Then it seem like you took that shit up another notch with Apollo like he was your husband instead of Jaden. To me, it seems like you got fucked up with the wrong family member, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles was talking about that shit last night.” Nic stated as she busted out in laughter.
“Fuck you Nic, I’m going to call Apollo and apologize to him tomorrow, but tonight I’m dealing with Jaden ass and that’s enough fuckery for one day. You have kept me on this phone so long, so just kiss the boys for me and instead of me coming over there by noon I’ll be there for breakfast. I expect your ass to be up and ready to feed me.”
“Yeah Kasey that sound good, I’ll see.”
That heffa hung up on me before I got a chance to say anything else. I couldn’t do nothing but put the hotel phone back on the receiver while shaking my head.
I grabbed my cellphone and powered it on so I could make that call to Jaden. As it was coming on I was getting all kind of dings letting me know that I numerous text messages as well as voicemails. I looked at the text messages and I opened the one from my daddy letting me know that he loved me and aside from God he had my back no matter what. I smiled at the text thinking of how lucky I am to have such a loving father in my life. Not every girl was blessed to have a father to instill certain values in her.
I see that Jaden had texted me over a dozen times. I deleted them all without even looking at them because there was nothing he could possibly say to me to make me change my mind. I also deleted Jaden’s voicemails because they were just as useless as the text messages.
I dialed Jaden’s number and can you believe the phone wrong about four times before this jackass even picked up the phone. You would think that after what happened he would be sitting by the phone waiting for me to call.
“Yo, where the fuck you been Kasey? You on some real dumb shit right now. What type of wife doesn’t come home all night? Where the fuck my boys been at?” Jaden yelled into the phone.
“The type of wife that married an arrogant, pompous son of a bitch, the type of wife that has had it with her dirty dick ass husband, that’s who Jaden.”
“Kasey who you think you t
alking to like that?”
“I’m talking to your dusty ass, that’s who. You need to shut the fuck because I’m going to let you know how things are going to go down. It’s over between me and you. I will be filing for divorce. Now we could go about things the easy way or I can repay you for everything you have done to me and make you feel life you are living in hell on earth. It really makes me no difference at this point.”
“Oh, so you have become a bitter bitch in the last twenty-four hours. You forget I made you, fuck you mean. You can’t make it out here without me. When I get in I, expect you and my boys to be in the house sleep and breakfast in the morning.”
“Oh, so I guess we are going to go about this the hard way. My brothers and I will be there next week to pick up me and the boys stuff. You already know how they feel about you so I suggest you act appropriately. Bitter, nigga please, I’m not bitter in the least bit; and to prove that you can keep the house and all the fixings in it. I will not be there and the only time the boys will be there is when you have visitation. I’m going to advise you to sign those papers when they come or I will rake your ass over the coals. Try me, I double dare you. It’s a new motherfucking day and I advise you to get used to it because the Kasey you knew is dead or should I say the Kasey you made no longer exist. I don’t know what I was I thinking when I stayed with you this long, when you weren’t raised right from the beginning. Get the fuck off my line.” I spat to Jaden
I pressed the disconnect button on my cellphone after I got done saying what I had to say to Jaden feeling like Angela Bassett on Waiting on Exhale after she burned the car up, all I needed was a cigarette. I didn’t have a cigarette but I damn sure was about to bust down that Moet in the mini bar as a way of celebrating my independence from Jaden. I felt so good, now I know why they named that movie Waiting to Exhale because I felt like I had released years of pent up pressure off of me. After about an hour of sitting on the balcony drinking that Moet, I was beyond tipsy. I stripped out of my clothes and just climbed in the bed to go to sleep.