by Love N. Joy
I care about you so deeply I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to you. Quincy chuckled at the thoughts going through his mind of the past things that Zariah and Jaidyn told him. He was fed up with love and life. He felt like no one gave a damn about him and there was no need to even care himself. He started up the car and started driving. Jaidyn would always lecture him about drinking and driving but Quincy was starting to say fuck her and fuck everyone else. He couldn’t take advice from someone who wasn’t even around at his worse. “Where the fuck are you at when I need you the most Jaidyn, where the fuck are you?” He slurred out as he pressed his gas down some more doing ten over the speed limit. He grabbed his cell phone and decided to call Jaidyn’s number. As he was searching for her number in the phone, he heard a horn blowing as he looked up and seen his car was swerving into a lane where a car was coming at him, he quickly turned his wheel causing his car to go out of control and crashed his front end straight into a wall….
Quincy woke up to a bright light in his eyes. “Ahhhh my eyes,” he instantly said as he covered his eyes, hoping this wasn’t the light to heaven.
“Dr. Shimodo can you please move the light from in front of his eyes,” he heard a familiar voice say. It was a voice that he hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Sorry about that son,” the doctor said as he moved the light over. Quincy looked over to his left to see a female version of him looking up at the doctor. He heard the doctor explaining something to her but he tuned him out and just continued to stare at the woman sitting in front of him. He couldn’t believe that she was actually here.
“Thank you doctor. for the information,” she said as she looked at me and smiled.
“No problem, I will be back in every thirty minutes to check on you but if the pain comes back just beep the nurse to bring you some more pain medicine,” the doctor said to Quincy then walked out the room. When Quincy noticed the cast on his left leg and felt the bandages on his forehead, the accident memory came flooding back to his mind. The woman sitting to the left of him dragged her chair over by his bedside and grabbed his hand. He missed her soft touch.
“I’m so glad you are okay son,” she said with tears in her hazel brown eyes.
“Did the doctor say if I have any severe injuries?” Quincy asked looking at her now.
“Well, he explained that you have fractured your knee because of the impact of how hard your car hit the wall and your ankle and foot is swollen plus your forehead because of how hard you hit the steering wheel but other than that he said you should be fine,” she explained to him.
“Well how long will I have this cast on my leg?”
“The doctor said it will be a couple months depending on how quickly you recover in physical therapy.”
Quincy sucked his teeth and sighed. “Just another situation to put me deeper in my financial problems. I don’t have that kind of money for physical therapy. I’m barely making ends meet with paying all the damn bills and rent by myself since Zariah just moved out.”
Renee sat there and listened to her son rant about his problems then said, “Don’t worry about the physical therapy. I’ll cover it son.”
Quincy looked at his momma then shook his head no. “Momma we haven’t talked to each other in three years I can’t let you come in and pay for things I’m supposed to take care of as a man.”
“Quincy I understand that but it seems like you have so much on your plate I just want to help you.”
Quincy didn’t say anything else just looked away from her. She knew he wanted to say it’s too late for that but something wasn’t letting him. Maybe it was because he didn’t want to argue anymore; they did too much of that in the past. Renee felt like it was time for her to apologize to him for everything.
“Quincy I know that I wasn’t there for you like I should’ve been in the past. I went back and forth between being your mother and loving another man. So sometimes when you really needed me the most I should’ve been there but being in love had me acting stupid and I put another guy before you and I just really want to apologize for it. I’m so sorry and I know I wasn’t there back then but if you could find it in your heart to forgive me and just please let me be there for you now,” she said through tears.
A couple of tears rolled down the side of Quincy’s face. He looked back at her and said, “You know it makes sense now of why I’ve been going back and forth between two females lately. I guess I felt like someone owed me for you not being there.”
Renee listened and wiped her tears feeling bad that her son was impacted by her foolish ways.
“I thought I was always confused and just couldn’t commit but hey it finally makes sense…but I don’t want to live in the past anymore momma. I want you to know I forgive you but it’s just going to take time for us to build our bond back up,” he explained.
“I have all the time in the world,” she said with a smile upon her face. He smiled and kissed her hand. He was happy that he took Zariah’s advice and was finally starting to dig deeper to the root of his problem.
“So how did you know I was in the hospital?” Quincy asked.
“Some police officer called my number out of your phone, said you had ICE next to it so he called me to let me know you were in the hospital and what hospital it was and I rushed straight over…I see you didn’t ex me out of your life completely.”
“Never that Momma,” Quincy said with a slight smile on his face.
“How are you feeling?” She asked.
“I’m okay I don’t feel any pain right now so I guess that’s good,” he said.
“Yeah that’s because those pain meds they got you on got you feeling good,” Renee said causing them both to laugh. “Oh yeah by the way some girl called asking how you were and I told her that you were in the hospital.”
“Who was it?” Quincy asked. At that exact moment there was a knock at his room door. Renee and he looked over to see who it was. When he saw Jaidyn standing there with a huge teddy bear in one hand and some roses in the other, his whole face lit up with a smile. He was so happy to see her.
“That’s her,” Renee said.
“Hi Quincy,” Jaidyn said as she came into the room.
“Hey Jai,” he replied with a smile across his face.
“I think I’ll leave you two alone to talk, I’m about to go see what they got down in the cafeteria,” Renee replied as she got up from the chair.
“Thank you for letting me know that he was in the hospital,” Jaidyn said to Renee.
“No problem,” Renee said smiling then walked out.
Jaidyn looked at Quincy and held back her tears it was hard for her to see him in that condition. “So I got this for you,” she said.
“Well damn I feel like a woman you buying me roses and a teddy bear,” Quincy said laughing. Jaidyn laughed as well, feeling better knowing if he could joke about things then he was going to be okay. She went and sat the teddy bear and roses down on a table and came back and sat by him.
“Jai, I want to apologize. I should’ve listened to you but I promise I won’t drink and drive anymore.”
“Oh trust I know because you’re paying for the consequences now just be glad you aren’t dead,” she said.
“So are you mad at me?” he asked.
“Yes,” Jaidyn said with a serious face. A look of disappointment came over Quincy’s face. Jaidyn’s serious expression went away and was replaced with a soft smile. “But I’m glad you are okay,” she replied.
Quincy smiled as well and grabbed her hand.
“So that’s your momma?” She asked.
“Yes it is,” he replied.
“She’s pretty. I’m surprised that’s my first time seeing her.”
“Yeah she and I haven’t talked in three years so this is my first time seeing her in a while too,” he replied. “And it feels good to say that we are slowly working on a mother and son relat
ionship again. It can probably help me understand and end my fear of committing to one woman you know.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Jaidyn said as she clenched his hand tighter. She hadn’t talked to him in forever ever since she found out Zariah was pregnant and hearing that he was in the hospital it showed her anger and pain are only temporary and it’s bad to hold grudges because you never know when life can take that person you care about away from you.
“I’m really glad you came,” Quincy said.
“I’m glad too.”
“Can I have a hug?” He asked.
“Sure.”
He sat up a little and she got up and wrapped her arms around him he pulled her in for a long hug not wanting to let go…
A couple days later Quincy was discharged from the hospital. He limped over to his apartment with his crunches dreading coming home to no one being there. He opened up the door and limped in with the crutches and closed the door back with one of the crutches. When he turned back around to find Zariah sitting on the couch his heart felt like it wanted to stop. “Zariah?” He asked making sure it wasn’t an illusion. She looked up at him and stood up from the couch.
“Hey Q,” she said.
“What are you doing here?” He asked with a smile but worried look on his face. Worried that maybe she was back to get the rest of her stuff.
“Well your momma called me to let me know you were in the hospital and she explained how it all happened…baby I’m sorry for leaving you and causing you to deal with all this by yourself.”
“Zariah it isn’t your fault that my dumb ass got drunk and got into a car accident.”
“But I know I lead you to do it. I didn’t mean to leave like that I just needed to clear my head but if it’s okay with you I would like to come home and work things out with you,” she said with a smile upon her face.
“Is it alright with me, I’d be so happy if you did,” He replied. Zariah smiled and ran to give him a hug.
“You don’t understand how much I was worried about you,” she said in between kisses.
“You don’t understand how much I have missed you,” he replied.
“I’m going to take care of you tonight, run you a bubble bath, cook for you and if you are up to it probably have some make up sex.”
“I’m mean I’m up for it but just know you got to do all the work,” he said causing them both to laugh.
“I love you,” she said then planted another kiss on his lips.
“I love you too.”
Jaidyn’s P.O.V.
“Hey Jaidyn, you got a text message!” Ava yelled out to me as I was in the kitchen cooking us some gourmet turkey burgers and fries. “Who is it from?” I asked but I didn’t hear any reply. I didn’t think anything of it so I just continued to cook the food till it was done. It was a week later since I seen Quincy in the hospital and we have been keeping in touch every other day making our friendship stronger. I had to admit I was happy with the way things were going between us.
“Ava did you hear me?” I asked as I came in the room and saw her lying on my bed looking through my phone. “What are you doing going through my phone?” I asked getting mad. She looked up at me with angry eyes and tossed my phone on the bed.
“Who the hell is Quincy?” She asked me as she got up from the bed.
“That’s my friend but you have no right to go through my phone or ask me any questions like that,” I said.
“So you’ve been seeing him behind my fucking back,” she yelled out grabbing my hands.
“Ava we don’t go together, I can see whoever the fuck I want to. And let me go,” I yelled out as I pulled away from her. I was starting to see what Pierre meant about her fucked up attitude.
“So I see how it is, bitches let a nigga get back in their ear and they leave the one that’s been there for them,” she replied with a chuckle.
“Bitch? Who you calling a bitch?” I asked ready to kill her now. She did a whole 180 and I didn’t like this person standing in front of me.
“I don’t see anyone else in this room but you,” she replied.
“You know what Ava, get the fuck out,” I said.
She was shocked to hear me say that. She sighed and said, “Look Jaidyn I’m sorry I didn’t mean to flip,” she said trying to give me a hug. I pulled away from her.
“Get the fuck out and I mean it,” I replied repeating myself a little louder this time. She looked at me with sorry eyes but I wasn’t impressed, I stood there looking at her like she better not make me repeat myself one more time. She sighed again and walked out my room. When I heard my front door close I slammed my bedroom door. I was pissed and I even wasted a plate of food on that bitch. I hoped Pierre was hungry when he got home so he could eat her plate. I walked over to my phone and read Quincy’s message. He was thanking me again for being there and coming to the hospital. His message made me smile somewhat but this anger was going to be here for a minute. I felt stupid for not listening to Pierre but I was glad I could see her true colors. I strolled through my contact list and found her name, deleting her number with no second thoughts.
Author’s P.O.V.
It was six weeks later and Zariah was at the doctor. She had been feeling nauseous, breaking out in sweats and not really having an appetite for anything lately.
“So you mean to tell me doctor my pregnancy test I took at home isn’t a false alarm. I’m really pregnant?” She asked still in shock.
“Yes you are, you are ten weeks,” the doctor said. Zariah could feel her heart slowing down as she heard this news. Everything the doctor was saying after that was going in one ear and out the other.
Zariah drove around for hours trying to wrap her mind around the fact that she was pregnant. Right then and there her phone started ringing.
“Hello,” she said once she answered it.
“How have you been beautiful I haven’t heard from you in a while, I hope I haven’t done anything to push you away,” she heard Isaiah say into the phone.
She rolled her eyes and said, “Isaiah are you at home right now I’m in your area?”
“Yes you can come on through,” he said. Zariah hung up the phone and headed that way. She knew he probably thought she was coming over to get a sample but that was far from the case…
“Isaiah I found out I was ten weeks pregnant today,” she said as soon as she walked into his apartment.
“That’s wonderful news,” Isaiah said with a content smile on his face while he poured some orange juice into his glass cup. “Why are you telling me this?” He asked her as he looked at her while taking a sip of his orange juice.
“Because I know I’m too far along to be pregnant by Quincy,” she replied.
“Okay but you and I used a condom when we slept together remember.”
“Yeah but what about the first night you brought me home when I was drunk?” She asked. Isaiah slowly placed his glass down on the counter and swallowed his orange juice. “Isaiah that was ten weeks ago to be exact so tell me the truth. Did you take advantage of me that night?” she asked looking for answers.
Isaiah chuckled and looked up at her. “I see nothing gets past you,” he said.
“Isaiah just answer the damn question, did you take advantage of me?”
“I only did to you then what I did the last time we had sex. I fucked you and wanted you to have a piece of me that you can always remember me by,” Isaiah said.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Zariah asked.
“Come on now Zariah you should be happy you’re having my child. I know you aren’t happy with Quincy you’re more happy with me. You being pregnant with my child is a huge sign that we are meant to be together.”
“So you came inside me on purpose that night you had sex with me while I was drunk?” Zariah asked. It was taking every
thing in her not to go crazy and snap on him.
“I came in you again this last time too,” he replied with a smirk upon his face.
“No I watched you put that condom on this last time we had sex, you are lying.”
Isaiah laughed in Zariah’s face. “Damn woman you really are more naïve than you look. I knew you wouldn’t tell the difference when I took the condom off once we switched positions.”
Zariah felt like she had seen a ghost at this point. “Awww Zariah don’t look like that we are going to be a family you should be happy,” he replied.
“Not for long, stay the fuck away from me,” she found herself saying as she ran out of his apartment crying drastically.
After an hour and half of trying to calm herself down, Zariah did the best she could to keep her composure as she walked into her apartment. She found Quincy standing there with his hands behind his back.
“Hey Q,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
“Zariah what’s this?” He asked as he pulled the pregnancy test from behind his back. Zariah felt like her heart was going to stop once again.
“Q, I can explain that,” she said. His serious look turned into a smile.
“Baby we are going to have a family for real this time, do you know how happy I am?” He slowly walked over to her; his leg was in recovery but not full recovery yet. He pulled her in for a hug and didn’t let go. Zariah felt like her world was crashing down. She knew it would be too late to get an abortion now that Quincy knew about it. She worked too hard to get him back she couldn’t afford to lose him again. Here she goes again living another lie…
Chapter 13
Jaidyn’s P.O.V.
“Oooh Pierre where you going looking all cute?” I asked knowing he was going on another date with Kevin.
“Girl, Kevin is taking me to Kalahari for the weekend. Gosh I love that man he really knows how to make me feel special,” Pierre said.
“Awww, you just said the L word,” I said cheesing from ear to ear.
“Yeah I did, didn’t I?” he asked smiling as well.
“I’m so happy for you,” I replied as I pulled him for a hug. At that very moment there was a knock at the door.