A Fistful of Love: A Domestic Violence Anthology

by Thomas, Dominique

  ****

  “I guess she might like that,” Sabeen said while texting on her phone.

  Jess put back the black pebbled leather bag and grabbed another one. Willow was coming home in a few days and she was beyond excited. Deon had been ignoring all of her calls so she had put her all into buying Willow a new wardrobe. Anything to deflect on what her life had become.

  “So, who you texting?” Jess asked Sabeen.

  “No one,” Sabeen quickly answered.

  Jess eyed her suspiciously before grabbing Willow a few more bags. Sabeen followed Jess to the register and she had purchased Willow $2500 worth of items. She paid for it with her bankcard that was connected to one of Deon’s accounts. Sabeen watched the whole transaction with a frown on her face.

  “So has he even taken your calls?”

  Jess grabbed a few bags and handed some to Sabeen. Jess had really grown close with Sabeen but lately Sabeen had been getting on her nerves. Every time she talked with her she seemed to be dissing Deon.

  “No, I haven’t but I don’t wanna talk about it ‘Bean,” she replied walking out of the store.

  Sabeen smacked her lips while rolling her eyes.

  “Jess he be with so many bitches,” Sabeen said and immediately regretted her loose lips.

  Jess stopped walking and looked at her friend.

  “And when have you seen him out with a girl? Why am I just now hearing about it?”

  Sabeen cleared her throat as her cellphone started to ring. She took the call to get out of answering Jess’s question. Jess chose to end their shopping trip early and dropped Sabeen off at home. Jess knew that her mother was expecting her to come home for evening church service but she just wasn’t feeling it so she decided to ride by Mauri’s house. She couldn’t help but to smile as she spotted his car in the driveway. Jess pulled behind it and parked. She pulled out her phone and gave him a call.

  “Jess, what up girl?” he answered sounding excited to hear from her.

  “ I was actually in your neighborhood and decided to stop by. I’m not on no stalker type stuff I, just wanted to chill with you for a while. I didn’t wanna go home,” she said.

  Mauri smiled. He hated that he was her last resort but he was still grateful for her time.

  “Yeah, okay. Let me find out you on your groupie shit tonight,” he joked getting up so that he could get the door.

  Jess laughed as she cut her car off. She waited until she saw Mauri walk onto his porch before exiting the car. Jess ended the call, tossed her hood onto her head and ran up the stairs to meet Mauri. The Michigan weather was cold and what made it worse was that it wasn’t anywhere near spring. Mauri grabbed Jess’s hand and took her into his warm house. Earth, Wind and Fire’s “After the Love Has Gone” played throughout the beautiful home. Mauri helped Jess take off her coat then he led her into his living room. His parents were stretched out on one of their cream-colored suede sofas drinking amber colored liquor. They were both clearly tipsy. Jess watched them with a big smile on her face. She had never witnessed a couple so happy; they clearly loved each other very much.

  “Ma and pops this is Jess, my future wife,” Mauri said smiling.

  His parents both stopped smiling and looked at him. Jess was very embarrassed and tried her best to shield her round belly but in her clothes her baby bump was put on display.

  “Oh, really? Is that your baby Mauri?” Linda asked her son sitting up.

  “I wish,” Mauri said being truthful and his parents started to laugh then he joined in with them.

  Jess was caught off guard by their response. Mauri threw his arm over her shoulder and smiled down at her.

  “My peoples cool. They know they raised me right Jess. If you was carrying my baby they would have already known about you.”

  “And you would have been wearing his ring young lady,” Mauri’s father Miller said.

  Jess simply smiled unsure of what to say.

  “Let the poor girl sit down Mauri. We were just in here talking about when we first met.”

  “Oh God here we go,” Mauri said chuckling.

  Mauri’s parents both looked at him with narrowed eyes and he laughed harder. He led Jess to a loveseat and they sat down.

  “Yeah here we go. We’re trying to put it in your thick head what real love is. That’s why we keep on telling you about our history. We want you to know how to properly love a woman boy. Damn I drunk way too much gin when I was pregnant with you,” Linda said and Jess couldn’t help but to giggle.

  Mauri rolled his eyes and got comfortable on the loveseat. He knew that his parents were clearly buzzing and in the mood to tell him stories. Mauri had been hearing about his parent’s love life his whole life. He could tell them about their history word for word but knew deep down inside he loved that his parents were so happy together. He wished to one day have that with Jess.

  “Jess I met this man my freshman year of college. He was so damn arrogant I hated him. Slowly he started to break me down and I decided to date him. At the time he was on the school’s basketball team so he had groupies and sweetie I just didn’t have time for all of that. I gave him maybe a month before I cut things off with him,” Linda stopped talking to look at Miller. She smiled at him and kissed him on the lips. “Well that man completely changed his ways. He cut off the groupies and even turned down the NBA. I was shocked but he told me that he wanted more for himself. I thought he was crazy and so did his family but look at him now. He’s doing what he loves and that’s a beautiful thing. I fear for you young kids. The way the world is set up now people frown upon love and marriage but it’s a beautiful thing when it’s done right.”

  Miller nodded and finished off his drink.

  “It absolutely is,” he agreed with his wife and kissed her again.

  Jess and Mauri watched the happy couple kiss until Mauri felt like his parents were taking it too far. He stood up and looked down at Jess.

  “Let’s go chill in the basement,” he said holding his hand out to her.

  “Okay Mauri we’ll stop,” Linda said smiling.

  Mauri shook his head as Jess stood up.

  “Nah, you good. Y’all in here vibing and going down memory lane. Let me go chill with Jess,” he said smiling at his mother.

  Linda nodded and watched as her son walked out of the room with Jess. She had a million things running through her mind but decided to keep them to herself. Linda felt confident with the way she’d raised her son and she stood behind whatever decisions he made in his life.

  “I love your parents,” Jess said following Mauri into his bedroom in the basement.

  Mauri fell back onto the bed and Jess sat on the edge smiling at him. Mauri didn’t affect her the same way that Deon did but he was still very attractive. He had been working out like crazy because he was leaving to go play ball overseas in a few months and Jess could see how different his body looked. In basketball shorts with a grey thermal Mauri’s muscles bulged out of the thin material. Mauri’s sexy eyes looked at her while he rested both of his hands on his head.

  “I miss you,” he confessed.

  Jess sighed and looked away from him. She glanced around the room that Mauri occupied when he was in the basement and wished that she were just a normal seventeen-year old. Her life was much different than Mauri’s.

  “I’ve missed you too Mauri, that’s why I called you.”

  Mauri chuckled.

  “Yeah okay. How’s Willow doing? I miss her crazy ass too.”

  Willow had told Mauri that she was going to juvenile and being himself, he didn’t ask why. He simply told her to keep her head up and they left it at that.

  “She’s good.”

  Mauri sat up and climbed behind Jess. She stiffened as he wrapped his arms around her body. Mauri sniffed her and even though a part of him didn’t want to he found himself rubbing her stomach.

  “Is this okay?” he whispered in her ear.

  Jess closed her eyes and relaxed in Mauri’s arms.
She wanted his comfort, hell she needed it.

  “No this is fine,” she replied quietly.

  Mauri nodded and slowly rubbed her stomach.

  “I would never do you like he do. You’re so smart and so beautiful. You deserve so much more than what he’s giving you,” he whispered while still rubbing her stomach.

  Jess listened to Mauri’s words and her eyes started to water. She allowed for her head to fall back and he literally began to rock her until her eyes grew heavy. Mauri pulled Jess onto the bed and held her until she went to sleep. He watched for several minutes wondering just how much more bullshit she was going to take from Deon before she left. He loved her and didn’t see it changing anytime soon but Mauri could see it in her eyes. Jess wasn’t quite ready to leave Deon and that hurt him more than anything.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Merry Christmas boo!” Jess yelled running up to Willow.

  Willow hugged her friend tightly. Jess started to cry as her emotions got the best of her. She had missed her friend so much. Yes, Jess loved Sabeen, but Willow? Willow was her road dog. Her ace boon coon, any term that related to best friend was what Willow was to Jess.

  “Damn girl look at that belly,” Willow said touching Jess’s baby bump.

  Jess smiled and hugged her friend again. Jess pulled Willow away from her home. Willow was two days out of Juvenile and looking for Danilo who had yet to come see her. She was beyond livid at him. She felt so stupid for doing time for him when he had clearly forgotten about her. He hadn’t seen her in months and didn’t respond to any of her letters.

  “Let’s go, it’s freezing outside,” Jess said running to her truck.

  Jess’s Land Rover sport was a Christmas gift from Deon that he hadn’t even given her himself. He left it at the apartment and sent her a text to go get it. Since the baby had been born Jess hadn’t talked to or seen Deon. She was going through her pregnancy alone and tired of Danilo trying to do for her what Deon should have been doing. Danilo attended the doctor’s appointments and even helped her shop for her daughter’s clothes. Yes, her apartment was filled with baby items and expensive baby girl items but the man that bought them hadn’t stepped into that space since his son had been born. Jess didn’t wanna admit it but she was scared she might have lost Deon to Torie.

  “I see Deon keeping you laced. I wish I could say the same for Danilo. The money in the account he set up for me is gone Jess. All of it!” Willow yelled climbing into the front seat.

  Jess pulled away shaking her head. She really didn’t know why Danilo played Willow like that. He always talked about her and seemed to really love her. Just last week he was talking about how excited he was that she was coming home.

  “Well buying me stuff is all he does. He hasn’t tried to see me in a month. I feel like I’m having my baby alone. Torie had DJ a month ago and Deon has been ghost ever since then. He doesn’t love me Willow. I’m not sure if he ever did.”

  Willow looked at her friend. She really felt sorry for her.

  “I believe he does but he wants to have his cake and eat it too. He knows that you and Torie aren’t going anywhere so he doesn’t feel the need to choose. You have to decide what’s good enough for you,” Willow replied.

  Jess nodded, grateful for the advice. She knew that but it was easier said than done trying to leave Deon. He seemed to own her heart and her body. She didn’t even find other men attractive.

  “So what do you want to do on Christmas? We can go back to my place and watch movies,” Jess suggested.

  “Which one?” Willow asked smiling at her friend.

  “My house. I don’t wanna run into Deon by chance at the apartment although I’m sure he won’t be there.”

  “How is your mother doing?”

  Jess thought about her parents. They were now working together to get rid of Deon. She hated even being around them.

  “Being a pain in my ass. She asks me every chance she gets to leave Deon alone. She has taken me to the police station at least fifteen times and even had my daddy and uncles go to his candy store. Deon said the only reason he didn’t shoot them was because of his love for me. They’re crazy Willow. I’ll be eighteen next year, so it’s too late, I’m close to grown.”

  Willow nodded. She could see such a huge change in her friend. She was so polished looking now, everything about her screamed money and class. Willow felt that despite Deon’s infidelity he had done a huge amount of things for Jess. He had literally upgraded her.

  “Well how about we go pop up on Danilo’s ass. That nigga act like he done forgot who the hell I am. Go by his momma’s house. I know he’s there and he better be by himself,” Willow said.

  Jess nodded with a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. She really didn’t wanna go but Willow was her girl so she made her way to Danilo’s parent’s home.

  It took Jess thirty minutes to get to his parent’s house. She pulled into the circular driveway and parked behind a black Mercedes that said “Torie” on the license plate. Jess’s hand started to shake. If Deon was in fact with Torie at Danilo’s parent’s home she was going to lose her mind.

  “You see how these niggas do? Ain’t none of them shit!” Willow said with her eyes on the signature license plate as well.

  Jess and Willow quickly exited the truck and rushed up to the front door. The weather was beyond cold and Jess’s small leather jacket was doing nothing to block the blistering weather. She shivered and leaned towards Willow for body heat. Willow on the other hand was so mad she was starting to sweat. She felt as if it was 80 degrees outside as she banged on the door.

  “Who the fuck banging on my parents shit!” Danilo yelled snatching the door open with Sabeen behind him.

  Sabeen’s eyes grew as wide as saucers as she spotted Jess with who she assumed was Willow. Sabeen was new to the school so she had never actually seen Willow in person. Sabeen had secretly been seeing Danilo for two months and had been trying to find a way to tell Jess. While Sabeen didn’t appreciate how Deon played Jess she had softened up to Danilo. He turned out to be what she felt she needed in her life but as she stared into Jess’s eyes she felt guilt and shame.

  “Wow you a real life phony ass nigga!” Willow yelled and ran up on Danilo.

  Jess stood back with her stomach in knots because behind Danilo was Deon and Torie. Torie held their son with a smug smile on her face. She was so happy she’d begged Deon to take her somewhere since her family was in the Islands for the holiday. Deon was tired of her bitching so he did but he was now regretting it. He looked Jess in the eyes and couldn’t respond because Willow and Danilo had begun to fight like they were enemies.

  “You a bitch ass nigga! I hate you so fucking much!” Willow yelled punching him as hard as she could in the face.

  Danilo grabbed her arm and tossed her into the wall making his mother’s plant fall off the small table that held it up. His parents ran up to the front along with Deon’s parents and his aunts. Bianca and Billy looked at the young girls with smiles on their faces. Billy chose to silently gloat over Deon getting caught up while Bianca voiced how she felt.

  “Torie this is the bitch right here,” Bianca said looking at Jess.

  Bonnie’s mouth fell open while her husband shook his head and walked away refusing to entertain the ghetto antics his wife’s family was doing. Torie however laughed.

  “I know exactly who she is auntie,” Torie said with her eyes on Jess.

  “Aye Bianca when I say you got one second to get the fuck out of my face, I’m not playing. Think I’ma joke and stay right where you are. I promise you I’ma forget you my auntie,” Deon threatened her.

  The coldness of his voice made the small hairs on Bianca’s body stand up. She turned around and quickly walked away with Billy following behind her. Jess rushed over to Willow feeling like the joke was definitely on them. She wished she would have gone with her first mind and just taken Willow to her home to watch movies. Instead they were standing in Danilo’s home look
ing like complete fools.

  “Please let’s go,” Jess whispered to a badly beaten up Willow.

  Willow continued to cry as everyone stared at her. She was indeed embarrassed. She looked at the girl that Danilo was with and shook her head.

  “I hope you fucking die. I hope you leave this house and get hit by a car! I was loyal to you and this is how you repay me, with this light bright bitch? Let’s see if this delusional hoe takes some charges for you! I swear your payback is coming,” she said and turned to limp away.

  Danilo’s family pulled him away and Sabeen rushed behind. Deon stared at Jess with Torie next to him. She looked so hurt. His eyes went to her stomach and he felt like shit. She was the only person that could make him really feel bad without even saying a word.

  “I see you’re spending the holidays with your other family,” Jess said finding her voice.

  Deon swallowed hard and walked towards her. If only he could talk to her alone. To let her know he didn’t plan for Torie to be with him. His mother stayed behind watching the drama unfold. She loved Deon and rarely questioned what he did but his mother was very ashamed of the fact he had two women in love with him and had conceived children with them both. Bonnie was only on the babies side. She felt like her son was playing a dangerous game. She shook her head and walked away from the door.

  “Please just stay away from me. You are such a liar,” Jess said.

  “Baby…” Deon called out.

  Jealousy and anger made Torie walk past Deon. She sized up Jess and really didn’t see why Deon had stepped out on her. Jess was beautiful but it was nothing extra special about her.

  “Why wouldn’t he be with us? I had him first little girl. You are out of your league. Go home and watch the damn Cheetah Girls or something because Deon only needs a grown ass woman in his life. That baby won’t change a thing,” Torie said smiling at her.