by Jahquel J.
Now, Sasha contacted me through Facebook a couple weeks back talking about she has a plan where Tavia could see her father. I didn’t care about her seeing him; I wanted to see him. I was now twenty-one and ready to reclaim my man. When I knocked on his door I didn’t expect him to be married and especially not to one of his singers signed to his label. Shawty was bad. Point, blank, period. I also didn’t expect for her new Bentley to be parked in the driveway either.
When I asked Sasha how she found out about me, she told me she always looked through Donovan’s office when they lived together. Her reasons for helping me didn’t add up but I still went along with it.
The ringing house phone shuddered interrupted me from my hating thoughts. I picked up the phone and huffed into the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Kareema?” it sounded like Donovan so my ears perked up.
“Yes, who is this?” I played along.
“You know damn well who this is. Why the fuck you coming to California starting shit!” he yelled.
“Nigga, please, I ain’t starting shit. The question is why you leave behind shit,” I spat back.
He pissed me off because now my daughter was up crying. I rolled my eyes and walked into her room. I opened the bottle of Benadryl and gave her another serving. Her ass would be sleep again in no time. Once she tasted the bubblegum flavor she relaxed and played with her Vtech toy. I forgot I was still on the phone; I was so consumed with putting this child to sleep.
“Hello, Donovan, I’m here for you to be a father to your child and to stop running from responsibility.” I picked at my nails.
“Kareema, take ya’ ass back to Chicago. I send money for Tavia to your mother. I bet ya’ stink ass didn’t know that?”
“Nigga, please.” I peeked back into her room and she was out cold. I walked back to my bedroom and lay across my bed while flicking my pierced nipples. I wished Donovan was whispering sweet nothings into the phone but instead he was threating me.
“I gotta go, you keep saying shit I don’t want to hear. Spend some time with your daughter and maybe financially support her because I’ve been doing it all,” I snapped.
“Bitch, if you don’t stop lying. I know your mother been raising her and holding down all the responsibility. How you think she moved into that new house? And all the new designer gear that Tavia is sporting is from me. I don’t know what your motive is but I’m about to find out and fuck your whole world up,” he barked. I hung up the phone with my heart beating.
I threw the phone onto the nightstand and got back up and walked into the kitchen. I opened my wallet and flicked through the stack of bills Sasha had sent me last week. The skinny bitch was not for formalities, she sent me the money and told me not to contact her, and she would contact me. She didn’t have to worry about me, as long as she continued with dough I would be right there. I grabbed my jacket and jeans from the night before then slipped out the door. Tavia was sleep and she could watch herself. I did leave her in the room with her toys. What could she get into?
7
Minka
We arrived in Miami the night before, so I stayed at my condo. Micah left early in the morning to take care of some business he said he had to handle. He called me an hour ago and said to have the baby and myself ready. I was dressed in less than an hour, waiting outside of my condominium for his ass. He pulled up in his Rolls Royce blasting No love by August Alsina and Nicki Minaj. Naturally, because it was my jam, I started singing the song. He hopped out and helped me get Miya in the backseat. He helped me in the front seat. I reached over and opened the door for him, also.
“Thank you, baby,” he said. He reached over and kissed me on the lips.
“You’re welcome! Where are we going?” I wiped my lip-gloss off his lips.
“It’s a surprise.” He smirked and grabbed my hand then pulled off.
I could lie and say being back together didn’t feel good. Micah was that man that made me into a better woman. It was because of him I stopped messing around with married men and settled down. I wouldn’t have my best accomplishment, Miya, if it weren’t for him. I loved Micah with every fiber of my being and this time I was determined to make it work. Not only for us but also for our daughter. I want to at least tell her I tried it if things didn’t work out in our favor.
I looked in the mirror at Miya sucking her fingers while looking up at her toys hanging down from her car seat. She was a priceless gem that I would spend eternity protecting. My angel sent to me to make me a better me.
We passed by Donovan’s vacation house; well I should say Milan and Donovan since her ass wanted to go get married. I just knew we were going there but when he by passed their house and went onto the next block, I knew we weren’t.
“Where we going?”
“Be patient,” he said, never taking his eyes off the road.
A block later we pulled up to a beautiful house; it was the biggest house on the block. The modern architecture made it stand out against all the houses in the neighborhood. We pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. I sat there admiring the house, amazed at the beautiful landscaping the house possessed. Micah got up and took our daughter out while I still sat in the car admiring the house.
“Tell mommy to get out the car,” Micah baby talked with Miya.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I giggled.
Micah pulled keys out and opened the door. When I walked in, I was in awe at what I saw. The whole foyer had two running waterfalls walls that led to the kitchen, which was a chef’s kitchen with granite countertops and all amenities.
We walked throughout the entire 9,000 square foot home. When we got to the master bedroom the room was the size of the condo I was staying in. The whole room was furnished in black onyx furniture, Micah’s favorite material. I opened each door and came across the closet that had all my clothes in it already. The shoe racks reminded me of something out a department store. Glass doors protected the clothes that were behind them.
“Micah, how did you get clothes here for me?” I whispered, still in amazement.
“I got my ways. Go look in the bathroom.” I followed his request and dropped the diaper bag.
The bathroom looked like a spa. The bathroom looked as if I should have been getting charged to use it. Water fall showerheads, massage tables, two tubs, one for a mud bath and a regular one with jets. On the door to the right was a sauna. The next door was a hall closet fully stocked with feminine products.
“This bathroom is amazing. Why does it have massage tables?”
“So, when I want to rub down my woman I can, plus I need it for the chiropractor and physical therapist. Come on I got something else to show you.” He grabbed my hand. He took me downstairs and through a couple doors. I couldn’t get over how big the house was.
“This is for you,” he said, stepping aside so I could see the brand new black and white Rolls Royce phantom that matched his. The license plate said “Mrs. 46”, his football jersey number.
Tears spilled down my face as I looked up at him and Miya. I was truly blessed to have a man that still loved me with the past I had. I also shared a beautiful daughter with this man.
“I don’t know what to say,” I sobbed into his white tee. He pushed me back and kissed me on the lips.
“Look, in the glove compartment and say the first words that come to mind,” he ordered. I followed his request and opened the glove compartment. There sat my engagement ring and the keys to the house.
“Yes!” I squealed and ran into his arms. He picked me up in his other arm and carried Miya and me into the house while I kissed his scruffy face.
“Minka, I love you and only you. I got my family back and I am complete. Let’s deal with this Sasha bullshit together and not apart. Things will come out but you have to know to be strong and let nothing get you down,” he explained, I nodded my head and he put me down.
“Go put Miya down for a nap and come fix your big boy some food.” He handed M
iya to me and went into the kitchen to wait.
“I love you, big boy,” I cooed and went to find Miya’s room. I forgot where it was.
8
Milan
“Girl, this hair is really you. You going through something?” my hairstylist, Les, said as she spun me around to the mirror. As the chair spun, my heart raced at the finished product.
“Les, you did that girl. This hair is everything,” I complimented as I admired my new do. My hair was colored blonde with black roots cut into a sleek collar length bob. I loved my hair; my long curly tresses were gone for good.
“Thanks, honey bun. Come back and get your color touched up in a couple weeks. Make sure you enjoy that Beyoncé concert, boo.” She double kissed me as I grabbed my Hermes Birkin bag and left out the salon. Les was my only friend outside of Shay. Les, and I hung out all the time; I didn’t invite her to the concert because I was going alone, those tickets weren’t cheap either. My cellphone rang so I answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Milan,” Minka said. I could hear the happiness in her voice.
“How’s Miami? I know you happy to be back with your man.” I got into my car and sat behind the wheel.
“I love it. I needed a change of scenery. We moved a block away from Donovan’s vacation house,” she revealed.
“Excuse me, Milan and Donovan’s vacation house…That’s awesome, Mink.”
“Well, excuse me, my bad,” she giggled. Despite our marital problems, my name was Milan Jackson and I got half of everything; no prenup.
“Minka, I am so happy that you guys are back together. I always was Team Micah,” I told her, knowing I damn sure wasn’t.
“No, your ass wasn’t. You was about to chew his head off at the baby shower,” she shot back.
“I had to as a sister, he couldn’t get away with treating my big sis like that.”
“I know, I know. I’m in a very happy place right now and I don’t want it to end. I haven’t heard anything from Sasha so I guess that might be some good news. Hopefully we can move the case down here since she does still live here,” she sighed.
“Hopefully the judges aren’t as foolish as here, fire that damn lawyer who was working on your case. I think a public defender would have did a better job.”
“I been fired his ass, how are you and Donovan? Micah told me what happened.”
“I haven’t seen in about a week or two, I don’t know what to say to him about hiding that from me. Not to mention I will have a stepdaughter and a baby mama harassing me… I’m too young for that shit,” I honestly answered.
“You two got married so you have to deal with this together. Stop running from shit, Milan. Deal with that head on,” she advised. I admired my sister because despite the odds that were stacked against her, she still managed to have her happily ever after.
“I hear you girl, I got to go by there later. I want to take the Porche to the Beyoncé concert.”
“If he’s there, talk to him and let him explain. If he isn’t, go enjoy the concert and take some pictures for me. I love you, Milan,” she said. I heard my niece in the background going ham.
“Love you, too. Kiss my niece for me.” I ended the call.
*
I ran throughout the condo looking in each shopping bag I had accumulated over my stay at the there. I shopped every day of the week to fill the hurt I felt. It helped subside the pain temporarily but when I was alone all the pain came back and I cried my ass off. I felt hurt that I couldn’t be with my husband enjoying his company.
I, under no circumstance planned on talking to Donovan ever again, still my heart told me something different. I at least owed him the time to explain to me what happened. Knowing Donovan, I knew he could not be capable of harming a child. I decided to call him; after all I haven’t seen nor spoke to him since I left the house two weeks ago. When he would call I would ignore his call, and power my phone off. I grabbed my blackberry and dialed his number, he answered on the first ring.
“Yo, Cookie, I miss you. Enough is enough bring ya ass home and let me explain. I didn’t marry ya stuck up ass for no reason,” he demanded and hung up. My pussy started to tingle. I loved when he brought that hardcore shit out. I showered and got ready to hear this story.
The smell of cigarettes, weed and liquor invaded my nostrils as I walked into my house. To say I was upset was an understatement; we had a lot of expensive shit that I was sure smelled of smoke. I noticed that boxes from my online shopping spree, graced the foyer floor. I had seen enough and screamed his damn name.
“Donovan Shan Jackson, bring your ass to me now!” I screamed, mad as hell. He appeared from the family room.
“Yeah, Milan Malaysia Jackson?” he smartly remarked.
“Why the fuck is all my stuff sitting here instead of in my closet? On top of that the house reeks of smoke and alcohol, I know you better not had been smoking on the new Versace couches.” I stood with my hand on my hips, he inched closer and closer until he was standing right in front of me and I was staring at his chest.
“Yeah I was, it’s my house and my wife was missing. She couldn’t tell me right from wrong.” He did that sexy side smirked I loved so much. I could tell his ass was high as hell. Whenever he went through some shit he would smoke like chimney.
“Donavan, stop smoking in my fucking house. The smell hit me soon as I walked into the house.” I poked him in the chest with each word that left my mouth.
“So, I can buy more.”
“Not the point.” I walked passed him, I knew he was looking at my ass in my dress. Tonight was the On The Run tour so I was decked out in my White beaded Balmain dress, white snake skin pigalle Louboutins and all my diamonds shining. I walked into the kitchen and sat down on the stool. I glanced at my Rolex; I had less than two hours until the concert. The only reason I came over was because I wanted to take the Porsche tonight. He could explain while I was getting the keys to his whip.
“Papa, tell me what’s up? I got plans tonight.”
“I know we do,” he replied.
“I do, not us.”
“You ain’t about to leave this house looking like that without me on your arm. You smelling all good, looking all good and that hair cut is making my dick hard.” He shifted his anaconda in his pants.
“You like? It’s fly right?”
“Hell, yeah.” He licked his lips coming closer to me. His cologne caressed my nostrils as I took his scent in.
He took his lips and pressed them onto my lips, I accepted his tongue that fought to get into my mouth. I turned my head to side and accepted each inch of his tongue he slipped into my mouth. He put his arms around my waist and slipped them down to my ass cupping each ass cheek. He squeezed them and lifted me up. He lifted me so fast my heel fell off while my dress raised over my waist. Donovan slammed my bare ass on the granite counter top and continued to aggressively kiss me. I ran my hand through his curly fro and broke our embrace.
“You need to tell me, your wife, what the hell is going on now,” I insisted. I’d been left out in the dark too long. He huffed and picked me up. He walked over to the family room and positioned me on his lap. I checked my watch again and he noticed me.
“I don’t know why you checking that watch, you ain’t going out to no concert. Case closed,” He told me. I knew not to argue. I wasn’t going to get my Sasha Fierce on tonight. I called Les. She answered right away.
“Hey girly, that hair sweated out already?” she laughed.
“No, not yet, I want to ask if you want my ticket to the concert. Don has other plans for me and I can’t go,” I explained, while Donovan caressed my breast.
“Daddy put that ass in check, huh? Hell yea, the concert is less than two hours away. Let me get dressed and I’ll pick it up.” she squealed.
“Yeah, he calls his self doing something.”
“Bitch, you on my line, giving me your ticket… he ain’t doing something. He did it already. Thank you, mama. I’ll be by s
hortly.” She laughed.
“This is my thank you for my new do.” I smiled ending the call.
I turned my attention to Donovan, and took off my other shoe. He took my feet in his hand and stroked my aching feet.
“Tell me.”
“What you want to know?”
“Did you touch little kids?” he cringed as the words left my mouth, I knew right there he wasn’t capable of what was said.
“I think you know the answer. I met Kareema when she was sixteen, didn’t know she was that young. The girl had a body of a grown woman. She cheated on me and I played her ass to the left. She got mad and had her mom press charges. Her mom later found out what her daughter is and was capable of. I send money for my daughter every month.” He lifted my foot and kissed them.
“So, why haven’t you stepped up and been involved in her life?”
“I can’t take care of her when her mother got me labeled for life. I can’t bring myself to do it.”
“Nigga, you’re taking care of that little girl. If home girl is foul like that she shouldn’t be raising your daughter. Call her right now and tell her you want to see her.” He pulled his phone out and called her. As he spoke to her my patience got thinner every minute that he wasted on the phone with that hoodrat. When he was done, he tapped my thigh for me to get up.
“She said I could come get her.”
“Cool, let’s go.” I slipped one shoe on and went for the other. I sent Les, a text telling her the tickets were in the mailbox and got into the car.
9
Donovan
I pulled up to the apartment complex Kareema gave me the address to. Milan was the first to hop out. I just got my wife back; I didn’t need her going to jail. I followed behind her but pushed her behind me while I rang the doorbell. Kareema, answered with Tavia standing behind her hysterically crying. I reached for my daughter and reluctantly she reached for me. Kareema looked Milan up and down and rolled her eyes.