The Other Side of My Kitchen

by Dazz L. Jackson

  “Let me get this straight. You and this lady were seriously involved until you found out that she was married. After that you just disappeared on her?”

  “She was married Nique, what was I suppose to have done?”

  “You could have at least said goodbye, Omari.”

  “You don’t get it do you Nique. She had me believing that I was the only man in her life, in other words, she lied.”

  “Did she tell you that Omari, or did you assume this on your own?”

  “I can’t believe your defending her position.”

  “I’m not defending her, she was wrong and she knew it. But deep down in my heart Omari, I believe she might have cared about you more then you knew.”

  “Whatever…I guess you had to be there.”

  “Look here Baby, it’s like this…when you up disappeared on her, you sort of made this woman feel dirty and unwanted, and trust me when I say, no woman wants to feel that way.”

  “Excuse me, she had a husband for crying out loud. I mean wasn’t that his job?”

  “It was his job to lose, and I think he lost it until you suddenly dipped on her.”

  “Why am I being painted as the bad guy in all this?”

  “The man is always the bad guy, thought you knew that. Anyway, if you ask me, Carmen has never really gotten over you, furthermore, I think she came away from the affair feeling used, rejected and disrespected. The last time I checked, overly ambitious women like your Carmen can’t accept such mistreatment. I should know, because I’ve patterned my whole career behind Carmen’s.”

  “The bottom line is, I was in the right, and she was in the wrong. So I had every right to do what I did.”

  “Not if she was in love with you. Was she in love with you Omari?”

  By now my agitation was showing, and I didn’t like the idea of Nique seeing it either. A part of me wanted a drink or something to ease that memory away.

  “I…don’t…know?”

  “Did she tell you?”

  “She told me a lot of things.”

  “You really don’t get it do you Omari?”

  “What is there to get Nique?”

  “Okay, we’re talking about everything you worked for here, and trust me, this shit won’t go away because you don’t want to face a innocent mistake on your part.”

  “And there it is,” I said humorously.

  “Stop playin, you weren’t wrong Omari, however every issue needs some sort of closure. Carmen, like most women want and need to have closure Baby. That’s why she’s fucking with you. She’s trying to bring you back to the table…I think she wants to say her peace Omari. And if you ask me, I’d say you owe her that.”

  I heard everything that Nique said, and agreed with of her on a few points, however I wasn’t in the mood or in the proper position to address Carmen. As far as I was concerned, whatever happened between Carmen and I was over. If she was still hung up on me, that wasn’t my fault. If she were the person behind this DA investigation, I would have no choice but to confront her. The idea of seeing Carmen again started to upset my stomach, so I got up from table and headed to the garden. I needed to have a drink knowing I couldn’t have one in front of Nique, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a shot or two out in my garden. Right before I made my escape, Nique also got up and started to head toward my bedroom before she stopped me and said.

  “By the way, I think you should know that I’m pregnant.”

  Not single a word in the dictionary could have described the look on my face.

  “Pregnant, are you serious?”

  “Very.”

  “I see, so how did that happen?”

  “Fuck you okay!”

  “I know how it’s done, but I don’t recall having…”

  “Unprotected sex. Not true, not true at all Omari and you know it. But if it will make you feel a little better, every time we used a condom, you broke through it.”

  “I don’t recall that.”

  “That’s scary, but I guess that’s what happens when don’t have sex for awhile.”

  “Speaking of having sex, how do I know if this isn’t somebody else’s baby? I mean, just last week you told me that you went on a date with some cat.”

  “Going on a date and fucking a date is two different things Omari. Besides, I never said anything about having multiple bed mates.”

  “Know, you didn’t say that. But don’t this opened ended relationship thing means that those sort of things can happen?”

  “I guess, but that’s not where my heart was. I thought, shit I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “Its not just about you Nique, it was about us. We both made that decision remember. Maybe I read it wrong. But I was under the impression that we would see other people, fully.”

  “Have you been with someone like that?”

  “Almost.”

  A look of sadness found its way to her face before she said, “You agreed to this because of my drinking problem, and I agreed to do it because I thought it would be the only way I could keep you…that’s the bottom line.”

  “Look Baby, I don’t want you to think that…”

  “It don’t matter none now Omari, because what’s done is done. However, I want to have this baby, and that’s all to it.”

  “Suppose I say no. I mean suppose I say, I already have all the kids I want right now.”

  “You can go there if you want, but you should know that I haven’t slept with another man since we’ve been together…period.”

  “Nique.”

  “You know, I thought you would be happy about me being pregnant. I don’t know why, but for some reason, I assumed that you would want this child just as much as I did, am I right or wrong on that assumption?”

  “Why do I have this funny feeling that you’ve given this some serious thought already?”

  “Because you know how I do things, in fact you knew what I was, and how I would do things the moment you laid eyes on me Omari.”

  “Never one to mince words, huh Nique? Still, I think we really should use our heads on this.”

  “Look, you don’t hafta raise this child, or pay for it because I have more than enough…”

  “Don’t humiliate me like that. I take care of mines, from start to finish, understand.”

  “Hold on for a minute, are you asking me to get an abortion?”

  “I don’t recall saying that word Nique.”

  “You’re making me sick you know that.”

  Nique rolled her eyes and tried to walk away from me until I grabbed both of her hands, “I’m ready to act my age now,” I said as I started her straight in the eyes. “Being a single parent isn’t the easiest thing in the world, besides, what’s going to happen when you finally meet Mr. Right?”

  “First of all, your friend Mr. Right is taking a little too damn long as far as I’m concern. Besides, fuck him and everybody else if they can’t take a joke. I want this baby, and I want you to want it too.”

  Damn…damn.

  “Have you guys set a date yet?”

  The boxing gym that I frequented at least once a month with Zackary was located deep inside of Atlanta’s inner city. Like all boxing gyms, Knockout Gym contained all of those old school props that most boxing gyms had, but in a much smaller package because Knockout was situated inside of an old corner store that was once a five a dime. Outside of the ring, the surroundings were ancient and dated, even the stale damp air that drifted off the exposed brick walls had a sense of history to it.

  However, nobody I knew came to this gym to appreciate its historical aura, in fact most of the clientele were young successful thirty something’s who needed a break from all of the stress and pressure that came along with being young and wealthy.

  I wasn’t all that young and nor did I go there to release stress like everybody else; instead I was there to for a good workout session. After punching the hell out a punching bag until I was all sweaty, I was ready for my usual five round
bouts with Zackary. A punishing endeavor in which I never surfaced as the victor, nevertheless I’ve grown rather use to Zackary knocking my hyperactive ass to the canvas after I grew tired of throwing hundreds of poorly aimed punches. In other words, I was the true example of speed and power, whereas Zackary was the true definition of momma said knocks you out.

  We touched gloves at the center of the ring before we went after each other, and as usual I started throwing wild punches that never found their mark. About a minute in half into the first round I noticed something different about how Zackary was fighting. For the first time in years, he was hitting me back, instead of dancing around the ring waiting for the right time to knock me out. Confused, I shook off his feeble counter attacks because there was no way he could match my power this early in the fight. With that in mind, I backed away from him so that I could evaluate the situation. What I discovered gave me hope, because Zackary usually kept his hands in tight for defense while he danced, weaved, and taunted me into making a bad decisions. That was not the case, because the entire right side of his unshaven face was exposed. This was possibly a trap, but I had to test it, so I popped him with a quick jab to the left side of his face and body before I cautiously backed away. Zackary covered up well, but he failed to protect that exposed side of his face. Without mercy, I went on the attack and smashed him with a hard right hand. Zackary absorb the punch, but fell back and said something that I even found funny until I caught him with a clean uppercut.

  “That shit hurt didn’t it?” I chuckled confidently before I went back on the attack.

  Zackary didn’t say a world, and nor did he back away, so I hit him with a couple of hard body blows until I snapped his head back with another hard right to forehead. To my surprise his short stubby legs suddenly buckled underneath him before the rest of his body followed suit.

  “How in the hell did that happen!” I asked my unconscious friend as he stared up at me with empty eyes. “Oh shit, I think I knocked your ass out!”

  That’s when Zackary snapped out of it and tried to respond, but the rest of his body was still feeling the effects of that right hand to respond. Even the crowd looked a little jolted as I reached down and helped him back to his feet.

  “Are you okay or what?”

  Appearing dazed and confused, Zackary mumbled out, “Don’t know where you’ve been, but man I’m glad they let you in.”

  “Let who in?”

  “How did you like the show, yeah I spotted you in the third row, thought I let you know.”

  “The third row? Are you okay Zach?”

  “I can always tell a girl with class, Bartender fill her glass, I guess you’re here to shake your ass.”

  If I weren’t so concerned with Zackary’s mental and physical health, I would have broke out into an uncontrolled river of laughter. But I had been where he was, so I knew exactly how he was feeling. I helped him back to his corner before a tall white woman climbed up into the ring and threw some water on him.

  Before a single drop of that water could hit canvas floor, Zackary awoke and said, “How’d that happen?”

  “Excuse me Omari,” the tall lady said before she started to examine him for brain damage. “Okay Zach, you know where you at?”

  “Damn, yeah, I’m over at the Knockout.”

  “What day is it?”

  “It’s the day I finally got my ass kicked,” Zackary replied with the proper alertness. “I’m fine, thanks for the water.”

  “Sure you don’t wanna go and see a doctor,” I asked with a proud smile.

  “Give me a rematch so I can clear away that smile.”

  “I’m afraid you won’t be fighting anymore today,” the lady said before she checked Zackary’s pulse.

  “Damn Dianne, I said I was okay.”

  “Just take it easy until you get home Zackary,” she said before she gave Zackary one more look over. “By the way Zach, you owe me a buck fifty.”

  “A buck fifty, I thought we agreed on a fifty spot.”

  Dianne gently started to inspect Zackary’s forehead and said, “Maybe we should take him to see a doctor.”

  “A buck fifty it is,” Zackary mumbled after he staggered to his feet.

  “Can’t believe you bet that chick you were going to beat me?”

  “It’s always been easy money until today,” Zackary chuckled before we headed out of the ring.

  A few minutes later, we where sitting inside of an enclosed rooftop Jacuzzi drinking beers and talking shit.

  “How long have we’ve been boxing here Omari?”

  “Going on five years now, why?”

  “Because I think that’s the hardest you’ve ever hit me, that’s why.”

  “Can’t believe you let me hit you.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Zackary said looking distant.

  “Aw’ight, what’s going on man?”

  “The same old same, why wha up?”

  “C’mon man, you sitting over there looking all distant. What’s on your mind?”

  “Did you ever get a chance to talk to Sarah’s old man?”

  “I called him the other day, and he agreed to have lunch with me, why?”

  “Because he starting to trip over the marriage.”

  “How so?”

  “They use to have lunch with each other at least twice a week until he found out about the marriage. In fact, he doesn’t even call her anymore. Hell, she starting to come apart at the seams and I don’t know what to do or say to make everything better.”

  “You knew this was coming, so I don’t know why you’re acting all surprised for.”

  “Honestly, I mean like somewhere in the back of my head, I thought this man would see that I loved his daughter. Not her skin color.”

  “That’s noble of you Zach, but this is America which means the color of ones skin is everything. Don’t tell me your parents never told you this?”

  “My parents taught me how to love and respect people no matter what the color of their skin.”

  “Even Arabs.”

  “Even Arabs, Omari.”

  “I guess that makes you and your family a special group of people. Afraid Sarah and her family don’t fall into that category. Which means you can turn the other cheek or whatever you guys do to express love, but don’t expect Sarah’s people to love you guys back.”

  Zackary looked perplexed when he said, “A huge part of me wants to just call this shit off.”

  “You’d be able to go and find yourself a nice Jewish girl if that was to happen.”

  “Real funny.”

  “That wasn’t my intentions. Have you guys set a date yet?”

  “Believe it or not, we’re waiting for her fathers blessing.

  “That might not happen, my friend.”

  “That’s why it’s important that you...”

  “I’ll talk to him Zach, but if you ask me, I don’t think it’s going change his mind. Can I ask you question?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Have you tried talking to her mother?”

  “Thought about doing that, until Sarah explained that all matters involving her family goes through her father, so no, I haven’t talked to her.”

  “What a hill to climb.”

  “Gotta find that hill first Omari. So what’s up with you and Nique?”

  “Haven’t seen her in about two weeks, why?”

  “Haven’t heard you mention her name. You guys still doing that open relationship thing?”

  Before I answered that question, I finished off my beer and submerged my head under water before I eventually came up for air. Deep down, I was hoping the lack of oxygen would help clear away the frustration that I was feeling with Nique. It didn’t help; so I came up for air. I reached for another beer and stared down at the water as if I was looking for a solution.

  “She’s pregnant.”

  “Who’s pregnant?”

  “Nique.”

  “By who?”

  “She sa
id I’m the one.”

  “How’d that happen?”

  “You know I asked her the same damn thing, but I guess we both know how it happened.”

  “So that’s where that haymaker came from,” Zackary chuckled after rubbing his chin.

  “Probably.”

  “Is she going to have it?”

  “Probably.”

  “How you feel about that?”

  “Not good, I take that back, at the moment, I don’t know how I feel. I mean, we had this big fight about it, and of course I said a lot of dumb things that I wish I didn’t say. But she sort of caught me off guard, and…”

  “Don’t feel bad, that sort of news will do it to you every time.”

  “How you know?”

  Zackary suddenly looked sad and a little distant before he tasted his beer and said, “Sarah and I found our selves in the same situation about a year ago.”

  “Wow, you never told me that.”

  “I wanted to, but I just didn’t have the guts. Anyway, I wanted to go through with it, but Sarah said she wasn’t ready to be mother just yet.”

  “Because a woman can have babies, don’t mean she should be a mother Zach. I think that was pretty big of Sarah, but that’s not how you saw it, am I right?”

  “If she didn’t want that child, why did it take her over a year to forgive herself Omari? She wanted that baby just as much as I did, but she knew her parents would’ve disowned her ass if they found out that I was the father.”

  I could see the pain in Zackary’s face and decided to drop the subject or at least soften my tone of voice so that he could feel a little more comfortable. None of that work because Zackary’s sad face suddenly turned to one of anger and despair.

  “You better let that woman have that child Omari, or I swear to God I’ll never talk to you again.”

  “Excuse me.”

  “You heard me; that woman wants your baby, and that’s really big deal. You should be proud she chose your sorry ass for the job.”

  “Don’t you think you’re letting your personal feelings get in the way of how I feel?”