“Oh, no. No ma’am.” Knox gently pushed at her shoulders while his brothers’ faces contorted in pure laughter.
“I’m only kidding.” The lady backed away. “But you think about what I said.” She winked at him and walked out of the room.
Knox caught his breath. Though she had said she was only playing, the way that woman held onto his legs, he wasn’t quite sure.
It didn’t help that Jarvis and West were practically dying.
“Whoooo! I can’t wait to tell Braxton that his tux lady is in love with Knox,” West teased.
“Well, she’ll have to wait in line because somebody else nearly caused him to miss this fitting,” West said.
He had a knack for talking too much.
“So. Who is she?” Jarvis asked. “And don’t think about telling me that it’s none of my business because it is.”
“How so?” Knox grilled him.
“I’ve dated a lot of ladies. Can’t have you involved with any of my exes. Breaks the brother code.”
“Don’t worry. She’s from Memphis.”
“It’s a small world,” Jarvis pressed. “What’s her name?”
“Jada,” West answered.
“Jada like Jada Pinkett? She’s fine. Your girl as fine as Jada Pinkett, Knox?”
Why do I feel like I’m in junior high, being pestered by my elementary-age brothers?
“First of all, she is not my girl. Thank you very much, West Stoneworth.” Standing on the podium was coming in quite handy at the moment. “Secondly, you two need to stay out of my business. Thirdly, for the record, she is actually finer than Will Smith’s wife and that’s as far as I’m going to go with you people.”
Knox flipped his collar, a move that sent his brothers into another fit of laughter.
Knox’s father pushed past the white curtain sectioning off the room. “I thought I heard my sons in here getting rowdy.”
“Dad, that’s Knox,” Jarvis said. He and West hugged their father.
“Knox is talking about some girl he just broke up with,” West said.
Their father tucked in his chin. “Broke up with? I didn’t know he had a new girlfriend in the first place.”
“She wasn’t my girlfriend, Dad.” Knox stepped off the platform and embraced his father as well. “She was—”
“The guest house girl?”
Knox shook his head. “Rainey’s got a big mouth.”
“Don’t I know it,” their father agreed. “She pitched a fit because your girlfriend stayed there but we wouldn’t let that Elvin boy stay there when he came to visit. I didn’t like his shifty eyes in the picture she sent your Momma on a cell phone. Look like he knows how to pick locks and break in windows.”
Knox couldn’t help but wonder how his father would feel about Jada—a girl with no qualms about sleeping in homeless shelters.
“Don’t be too hard on him,” Jarvis said. “Just because somebody’s got street smarts doesn’t mean they’re all bad.”
“Doesn’t mean they’re any good, either,” his father reiterated. “You sayin’ you like Elvin?”
“No. I didn’t like him because he wore tennis shoes with his tux.”
West interrupted, “That’s how we do it now.”
“Not when you’re trying to make a good first impression with your girl’s family,” Jarvis said.
Knox had to ask, “What do you know about meeting a girl’s family?”
“I’ve met plenty of girls’ families! Just because I haven’t gotten serious enough to let somebody sleep in the guest house doesn’t mean I haven’t met a grandmother or two at a barbecue.”
Dad got back to business. “So, where is she? When will we get to meet her? You serious about her?”
Lying to his father would be of no use. “I was,” Knox admitted. “But she’s moving back to Memphis Monday.”
“And you’re gonna let her leave?”
“She’s got a mind of her own.”
“Those are the best kinds of women—smart, know how to put you in your place, but soft and gentle at the same time.”
“Well, she’s got her ticket. I couldn’t stop her.”
“Son, did you try?”
Knox sighed, thinking about the question? Did I try?
“No, you didn’t,” his father fussed.
Knox laughed. “Dad, how would you know? Anyway, this girl is…very different. She’s from the hood, she’s rough around the edges. I really thought she was gonna cuss me out at one point.”
“Did she?” West asked.
“No. She didn’t.”
“Is she a believer?” his father wanted to know.
“Yeah. She’s new to the faith, but I think she’s really serious about starting a relationship with Jesus,” he added despite himself. He suddenly realized that, more than anything, he wished he could walk alongside Jada as she got to know Him.
His father must have seen that desire in Knox’s eyes. “Son, if you really like her that much, pray about it.” He put a hand on Knox’s shoulder. “Your mother and I have been praying that the Lord would let you find someone who’s genuine. Someone who’s not going to try to use you like what’s-her-name did. And most of all, someone with a thirst for the things of God.”
Jada fit everything on their prayer list, right down to the notes and questions Knox remembered seeing written in the margins of her Bible.
“Thanks, Dad.” Knox hugged his father again.
“Yes. Thanks, Dad.” Jarvis repeated with fake emotion lining his voice.
West repeated, “Thanks, Dad,” and completed the group hug.
His brothers were half-joking, but Knox was completely serious.
Jada was the answer to more than one prayer. Now all he had to do was get her to see the same.
Knox’s phone vibrated in his pocket. Knox wiggled himself out of the group hug. There was no name, but he recognized the last four numbers from earlier in the day. “Hello?” he said, expecting to hear Jada’s voice.
“Um...is this Knox?”
“Yes. Elizabeth?”
“Yeah. It’s me.”
“I’m so glad you called. Is Jada around?”
“Well, no. That’s what I’m calling about.”
Knox stepped away from his brothers and their father. “Is everything okay?”
“Jada’s fine. But her sister isn’t. Something happened at her house. It was on the news. We called the police and they took Jada to the station to get her statement.”
“Which station?”
“Downtown. On Riverfront, I think.”
“Is her sister okay?”
“I think she’s dead,” Elizabeth said.
Knox’s heart dropped. “Okay. I’m going downtown. Thanks for calling.”
“You’re welcome. And Knox?”
“Yes?”
“No matter what Jada says, she needs you.”
“I know,” he agreed. “I know.”
Chapter 17
Knox couldn’t get out of the tuxedo fast enough.
After Knox explained what little he knew about the situation to his family, West and Jarvis offered to accompany him to the police station, but he didn’t want to share Jada with them just yet. He needed to be there by himself. Just him and Jesus, so she would know that if she trusted Him first, she could also trust Knox.
He parked in the garage, took the elevator to the third floor, entered through the main entrance of the justice center, and cleared security. He stopped at the information desk, where it took nearly an act of congress to determine exactly where Jada might be.
The man behind the monitor narrowed it down to three locations within the building. “I can’t help you any more than other. You might have to wait for a phone call, otherwise.”
“Thank you.”
With his heart racing, Knox double-timed the escalator steps to the fourth floor. The courts were to the left, just as he’d been told, and offices were to the right. He checked the lobby area—no Jada.
He asked the receptionist, who returned his question with a flirty smile. “Baby, I don’t know where she is, but if you don’t find her, you’re welcome to come back here any time.”
The second stop was no better. The man at that desk wanted to know who Knox was and what business he had with a potential witness.
“I’m just trying to find my girl, that’s all.”
“She ain’t here.”
“Thank you.” Knox bit his tongue with that polite response.
Somebody in there had to know where she was. But given what he knew of Jada’s brother-in-law, this entire investigation might be a huge cover-up. Maybe someone didn’t want him to know how to get involved.
The third stop required Knox to present his driver’s license. He gathered that the higher up he went in the building, the more secure the areas became. After giving his ID, Knox told the officer behind the glass exactly what he was there to do—find the woman who had given information about the shooting at the officer’s house.
“Sir, at this point, she might be a suspect, for all we know.”
“No. She came here to give information.”
“That case is out of our jurisdiction. You’re gonna have to wait until she calls you. If she can.”
“But—”
“I’m only going to ask you one time. Please leave the premises.”
Knox felt like punching the glass between them. Who does he think he’s talking to? All I have to do is call my dad. He’ll make arrangements for me to see Jada.
He lost the stare-down with the officer, but only because they were on police turf.
Knox waited until he was back on the third floor again to use his phone. “Dad. Who do you know downtown at the police station?”
“Plenty of people. Why? What’d they say?”
“Nothing. Too much red tape. I can’t even find out where she is or who she’s talking to.”
“Okay. I’ll make a few phone calls, but it would probably be faster for you to call on God than to wait on my people to get back to me.”
“You work on your end. I’ll work on mine,” Knox said.
Feeling like Superman ducking into a phone booth, Knox stepped out of the flow of traffic leaving the building into a window nook.
He whispered, “God. Please help me find her.”
Rather than go back to his car as planned, Knox sensed that he should search outside instead. Jada didn’t have a car, so there was no way he’d find her in the garage.
There were plenty of bus stops, benches, and steps surrounding this building. She had to be…wait.
He spotted the curls first. Sitting on one of the ledges of the massive steps leading to the entrance.
The clothes, her red shirt and black pants, were the same ones he’d seen her wear that morning.
Knox picked up the pace. “Jada!” he called.
Her face, tear-streaked and swollen, sent waves of emotion through him. He ran now, knowing that the moment he held her in his arms, he would do everything within his power to make everything okay.
When he finally reached her, Knox sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. “Jada. Thank God I found you.”
Jada sobbed, clutching his shirt in her fist. She said nothing. Just cried.
Instinctively, Knox rubbed her arm with his hands. “I’m so sorry about your sister, Jada. She must have been like your best friend.”
Jada sniffed. Rubbed her face. “She is my best friend.”
“But she’s…deceased, right?”
“No. She’s not dead. He’s dead.”
“Who’s dead?”
“Patrick. My brother-in-law. Joo-Joo’s father.” With those sobering words, her face returned to the wet spot on Knox’s shirt.
He tried to take it all in. Sam had been abused. She and Patrick must have had another fight, and it didn’t end well for old boy.
Jada tried to wipe her face dry, but the tears came too quickly. “We gotta go get Joo-Joo from the other police station,” she wailed.
“Did you tell them about Patricks’ abuse?”
“Yes.” Between sobs, she managed to tell him. “Someone from the suburbs came to interview me. B-but when I started telling them what they didn’t want to h-hear, they said they would contact me later if they needed anything f-further from me.”
Knox pulled her in even more tightly. “Jada. You don’t have to be strong right now. I’m here for you.”
“I have to be strong for Joo-Jooooo.” She wailed.
“No, you don’t. Your sister’s in jail, your nephew is in police custody, and your brother-in-law is dead. It’s okay to fall apart. I got you, Jada. I gotchu.”
When Jada’s grip around his waist tightened, Knox realized that, for the first time, she had surrendered to him.
And with the help of the Lord, he would fulfill those words completely.
“Let’s go get Joo-Joo.”
Jada held Knox’s hand and his entire arm tightly as they walked back to the elevator and then to the car. Knox held the door open for her, made sure she was secure, and then proceeded to the city’s headquarters. From there, they were directed to the county social services office, where, after three interviews, a thorough background check, and a prayer, a social worker finally gave Jada temporary custody of Joo-Joo.
Before the worker brought the baby into the room, Jada asked, “Did he see anything?”
“We don’t think so. Officers said he was in his crib.”
“Thank you.” Jada sighed.
The bouncing baby boy’s eyes lit up when he saw Jada. “Hey, Joo-Joo!”
He giggled with delight and hugged Jada.
“He’s obviously very happy to see you,” the social worker remarked. Relief swept over her face as well. “Can you come back next week and fill out more paperwork? His mother may be in custody for quite some time, so—”
“How long?” Jada asked.
“It’s hard to say. Months. Years. We never know how long the lawyers and courts will drag things out. It would probably be best if you took custody, assuming his father’s family doesn’t contest. We need to get that settled first. Plus, there are other services to help with his insurance, expenses, and such since you’ve been thrust into this situation. Do you have a baby car seat?”
Bewilderment settled on Jada’s countenance. “No.”
“Just a second. I’ll go get one.”
The baby began to wiggle and look around. “Mama? Mama? Mama?” he chanted.
Jada embraced him, with tears streaming from her cheeks to the back of the baby’s romper. “Mama’s not here right now.”
As though he understood the words, the baby frowned and poked out his bottom lip.
“Come on, big guy. You’re gonna be all right.” Knox held out his arms.
Joo-Joo checked Knox out for a moment. Looked at Jada.
She nodded. “He’s okay, Joo-Joo.”
Joo-Joo leaned past Jada and fell into Knox’s waiting arms.
The social worker returned with the car seat. “Here ya go. It’s one of the first things we make sure our parents have. There’s plenty more help where this came from.”
“I’ll be back next week,” Jada assured the woman.
“Great. Here’s my card. Give me a few days to contact the father’s family. Let’s touch base Tuesday?”
“Yes. Will do.”
Jada took the card and placed it in her purse.
With Knox leading the way and carrying the baby, they reached his vehicle again in the much smaller parking lot.
The windy afternoon threatened rain soon.
Together, she and Knox struggled to set up the car seat. Joo-Joo, who was sitting quietly in the front seat, watched on.
“Maybe we should read the directions first,” Jada finally suggested.
“I’m game,” Knox agreed. Breathless from their useless efforts, he reached inside the box and found the manual sealed in a plastic envelope.
But Jada’s cries so
on took precedence.
Knox dropped the directions back into the box and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay.”
“No, it’s not, Knox. I can’t even put him in a baby seat. How am I going to raise a kid all by myself? A boy at that?”
“Look around, Jada. You’re not by yourself.”
“I can’t ask you to—”
“Woman, please! You’re not asking me. I’m volunteering. Now, look, I might not know how to hotwire a car or pawn a piece of jewelry, but I’m a Stoneworth. And if there’s one thing we Stoneworths know, it’s how to make a boy into a man. I’ve seen that all my life. I don’t know how long you’re going to have Joo-Joo or how long I’m going to have you, but…” he pulled her in tighter. “I’m here for as long as you’ll both have me.”
He felt Jada’s warm hands on the side of his face. Felt her tug his cheeks downward as she tip-toed. He closed his eyes and let her initiate their first kiss. Slow and soft. Tender, yet tantalizing in the midst of all their troubles.
Jada’s feet hit the ground again. She cleared her throat. “Thank you, Knox.”
“You’re very welcome.”
8 months later
Dear Sam,
Hey, sis. I hope this letter finds you in good spirits, all things considered. Joo-Joo is doing fine. He’s into e’rythang, as Momma would say. I’ve enclosed a picture. I also keep your pictures in his bedroom so he’ll remember your face. Don’t worry. He might be nearly a teenager when you get out, but I won’t let him forget who you are.
I’ve contacted a different lawyer to see about getting another trial in another county. Hopefully, we’ll get it because the deck was stacked against you. Patrick had brainwashed his co-workers into thinking he was an angel with a wicked wife at home. The truth will come out!
Knox and I are doing well. His brother got married not too long ago, and now mine and Knox’s wedding is coming up in two months. I’m so excited. Can’t wait to be his wife.
But I tell you what: my nephew is already an honorary Stoneworth! I swear, they all love him so much. Even when Knox gets on my nerves, I still know I have to marry him now because Joo-Joo is a part of the family! They got him so many birthday gifts it was ridiculous! He even got a bike despite the fact that his legs are nowhere near long enough for him to touch the pedals!
All This Love (Stoneworth Series Book 2) Page 12