by Amarie Avant
Father gestures for the kitchen, smiling at his guests before following Daniel and I inside.
“So, you’re my pretty princess’s new mate?” He looks up at Daniel with a perfectly situated smile on his face.
“Yes, sir, I’m Dan—”
“I know exactly who you are, Daniel. And it’s a pleasure to meet you. Now, let’s go see what’s eating my wife.”
“I’ll tell you exactly what is eating me, James.” She pops back into the kitchen.
“Then please do. Tell us all.” Dad smirks.
Mom takes a deep breath. “Desire, do I ever just go off for no reason?”
“No, Mom. You’re my best friend.” My eyes start to burn with tears.
“Desirenda, baby, you’re smarter than this.” She rubs my cheek.
I step back on my heels. “Mom, stop.”
“This is the man you bring to my house? James, you have the fucking audacity to want to kiss this motherfucker’s ass?”
“Woman, what’s wrong with you?” Dad barks.
“That bitch, Azalea. She can’t step a single foot into my house, so obviously, anybody who utilizes her services is not invited as well. This man is rich as the damn devil. There’s no way in hell that his path would cross with Desire under any other circumstances. I have good intuition.” She nods, self-assured. Then she turns to Daniel. “Go ahead and try to call me stupid? Tell me how you two met.”
“Mom!” I screech. Fuck, there’s no getting around the truth.
“Ma’am, I do not use the—Miss Azalea’s services.”
“Have you?”
“That’s none of your business,” I interject.
“James, you are always blinded by money, but I swear I loved you before I knew what was good for me. If you don’t handle this shit…” My mother shakes her head.
My father steps before her. They whisper harshly to each other.
“Don’t call Azalea a bitch, baby. We need to all sit down and talk…” he says.
“That loose pussy ass bitch has turned my daughter into a hooker!”
“Mom, I am in love!” I shout, vein protruding in my neck. “I am head over heels in love with Daniel. So, stop!”
Daniel smiles at me. It lasts a fraction of a second because shit, what worse time could I have chosen to declare my love?
“Desirenda, girl, you are blinded, I’m sure. So, how much did Azalea make selling you to Mr. Rutledge?”
“Okay, Mom I see that you’re not interested in a proper discussion. Daniel let’s go.” I grab his hand.
Mom shouts. “Don’t step foot out of this house with that man. You are better than this!”
“Goodbye, Mom,” I call out to her over my shoulder. My mother’s eyes widen. When I was a child, she’d correct me on parting ways. “Never say goodbye, goodbye is forever…”
###
The drive to my house is silent. Daniel mentions a few times that we will discuss the matter with her once she has had time to cool down.
As we start up the stairs, I say for the thousandth time, “I really don’t know what got into my mom. She’s never been a fan of my aunt—my aunt isn’t really one of my dad’s sisters, either. But this is the first time my mom has been so blatant about her hatred for Azalea and Azalea’s business. I am so sorry.”
“Sweetheart, you’ve apologized to me too many times when you’ve done nothing wrong.” We stop on the second landing and he rubs my back. “In fact, your mother has a point. She was spot on about everything.”
“No, she wasn’t,” I huff.
“Yes, she was. Had the situation been reversed and I was aware of my daughter’s association with a man who worked with an escort service, regardless of how prestigious, I wouldn’t allow her to see him any longer. That’s how families are, desiring the best for their offspring.”
I bite my lip in thought. Though he has a point, I add, “There are secrets in my family that I don’t have the patience to uproot. The hatred from my mother for Azalea—”
“And the same shit goes for my family, Des. Actually, is your name Desirenda?”
My chin juts high. “If you can’t spell it, you can’t say it.”
“Fair enough.” Daniel rubs his jaw. “D-e-s-i-r-e,” he begins the first part of my name and then deliberates while writing in the air with his index, “n-d-a? That it?”
Face blank as a board, I shake my head. Damn, I’m a sore loser and a liar. He spelled it perfectly. I whimper. “I wanted my family to like you.”
Daniel scoops me into his arms. “They will, one day. You are my forever, Desirenda—”
“Daniel,” my tone is warning enough.
“Okay, you are my forever, Desire. Give me some time. I’ll make them love me as much as you do.”
“I love you, Daniel,” I say as he finishes up the stairs.
“Damn, let me get you into this bedroom. Do you know how many times I’ll have you declaring your love?”
As I start to turn the doorknob, I hear slight movement. My ears perk as does Daniel’s. On our way to Los Angeles, I’d texted Riley. He was at the movies with his friends, and promised to have one of their parents drop him off at my parents’ house before the party ended.
I open the door. Lo and behold, his shoes are on the floor. The very shoes Lauren told me were stolen. Daniel nudges his head at the shoes too, since I had mentioned it to him. My mouth tenses at the sound of water splashing in my bathroom. “I swear before God, if Riley is in my bathtub with some nasty ass little girl, I am going to whoop his ass.”
Daniel chuckles. “He mentioned a girlfriend while we were in Catalina. What’s wrong with puppy love?”
“Tsk, I couldn’t cuss my momma out, but I will beat the black off him and whoever.” I turn the doorknob to the bathroom and almost jump out of my skin!
All the expensive spa candles that Azalea and I bought on our vacations have been lit. The scent of my favorite and most luxurious bubble bath is infused into the moist air and damn it, half the fucking bottle is empty as well.
Lauren’s eyes widen as she leans against the marble ledge of the shower, dressed in my silk teddy. In the tub, my bathtub, is … is a stranger! The Latino’s hands are a white cloud of suds as he rubs them together. “Baby girl, I didn’t know you had company for my birthday,” he says, noticing me. And then his dark, lustful eyes cloud with confusion as he sees Daniel. He’s put two-and-two together.
The room goes quiet.
“Is that my Merlot?” I ask Lauren. Not sure how this came to be the choice topic of discussion but it has.
“Yeah.” She places her glass back onto the ledge beside her, and places my loofah into the water next to the man with no name.
“Do y’all realize I’ve already used that loofah?” I ask. Forgive me, but I’m so damn angry that the slow churning of a Q-and-A seems appropriate enough. “And who the hell are you?”
He starts to lean forward and speaks seductively, “Well, beautiful, you can call —”
“Never mind,” I scoff, “and Lauren, what the hell are you doing with this man in my goddamn house?” I shout.
Daniel hands over a towel. “Bro, I think it’s time for you to hit the road.”
“Shit, I can see that too.” The man nods to him in thanks. There has to be some type of bro-code at work here because Daniel grabs my arm.
“Allow them a moment to dress.”
He removes my robe from the hook on the door and hands it to me to give to Lauren.
“Lauren, I am over your trifling ass today!” I toss the robe. “Get dressed and follow his ass home if need be, but it’s time for you to go!”
“Hell, no! Desire, you don’t get to look down at me.” Lauren rises and follows us out. This bitch shoves her hand into the robe, but she isn't even discreet about it. She slams the door behind her. “You’ve been gone for weeks.”
“Hello, bitch, this is my home.” My hands ball into fists. “I pay the mortgage! And mind you, you aren't even my roommate beca
use your ass would have some obligatory rental amount to pay! You haven't made one single attempt to offer me a motherfucking crumpled ass dollar!” I reach down to grab the pair of shoes.
Lauren’s eyes widen.
“These are your son’s shoes. You gave them to some…”
“Whatever, I’m not arguing with you, Desire. We’re leaving. I’ll have my room and Riley’s packed in ten minutes.”
“Where are you gonna go?” Half of me is offering a blank stare, the other half is concerned for my godson’s sake.
“Don’t worry about all of that.”
“I’m Riley’s God mom, so I need to know.”
“Too bad. Your title has been revoked.”
“How about this,” Daniel cuts in. I hadn't noticed he was still around. “I saw a house for sale a few homes down. Let’s take it off the market. Riley can walk over anytime he’d like.”
I feel like one of those parents who tried and tried with their child, but she still became something so disappointing. I have literally talked to Lauren until I’m blue in the face on so many occasions. Now, I’m over it.
“Hell no,” I cut in. “I’m not giving her inconsiderate ass a damn thing. She took shoes off her own son’s feet for a man that should be providing for himself, for a family!”
“All right, Des.” Daniel rubs my back, soothingly. He tries to whisper, “Not for her, for Riley, Desire.”
Lauren snaps as I call her disgusting. “I’m disgusting? Your life might seem perfect on the outside. Your parents have pretty much pulled the wool over your eyes as a damn kid! You don't give a fuck about me, but I'll clap back where it hurts!”
Daniel tells me, “Just be quiet baby,” at the same instant I laugh.
I shake my head. “Nope, how can I give a damn about you? Lauren, you don't give a shit about you.”
“Whatever, Desire. Your saddity ass is no longer Riley’s god mom like I just said. No need to worry about me or what belongs to me.”
###
In a blur, Lauren and her guy friend are gone. I tell Daniel why I’ve always endured Lauren over these years. “I rarely went to her house. Lauren would always come to mine after school. However, when we were fifteen, my father dropped me off at her apartment building on the way to Kaiser. We were supposed to catch the bus to the Magic Johnson Theater to see a movie that escapes my mind now. There was so much yelling going on that I almost hurried down the apartment stairs to catch up to my dad, but his car was gone. Then I noticed Lauren sitting outside, and she had an embarrassed look on her face when she saw me. Then we heard gun shots going off in the apartment.”
“Gun shots?”
I nod. “Her father tried to murder her mom.”
“You were exposed to horrible stuff as a child.”
“Not me, not really. But Lauren saw horrible stuff. We sat outside while the cops and the ambulance came and my mom,” I pause, almost smiling through the pain, “she argued with CPS all afternoon. Lauren was sent to her grandmother’s while her mom was in the hospital. Then CPS allowed her to return home since her father went to jail. Those were the reasons I’ve always overlooked her behavior.”
“All right, beautiful.” Daniel seems to understand this dysfunctional relationship that Lauren lives for. He kisses my forehead. I reach over and grab my pillow, holding it to my chest, worried about Riley.
Never in my life have I gotten into my bed while fully dressed. My mom would flip, saying that the clothing I wore outside didn’t belong on my bedspread. But I’m sitting, cross-legged in the center of the bed, head in my hands.
“Did Riley answer the phone?” I mumble, thoughts heavy with apprehension.
“Not since he said he’d call me back,” Daniel replies.
I had called him as soon as Lauren left the house with a few black trash bags full of their things. The sound of guns popping off in the background told me he was still at the movies. Riley had quietly promised to talk to Lauren and fix things.
“Where’s my phone? I’m gonna call him again.”
“Don’t do this to yourself, sweetheart. His phone keeps going to voicemail. I don’t know your friend but time apart will be beneficial for you all.”
“But what about Riley?” I ask. Damn, I’ve uttered this question a thousand times over when arguing with my mom, my dad, Azalea, Niecy, and other mutual friends about Lauren’s behavior. I’ve always excused her behavior because she used that boy like a pawn before. Now, she’s content keeping him away from me.
“Unfortunately, Lauren is his mother.”
I look up at him. There are yellow rubber gloves on his hands, and the apron I was given as a housewarming gift and never used, is tied around his button up and slacks.
“Daniel, what in the world are you doing?”
“Cleaning the bathroom.”
“Have you ever?”
“Never in my entire life. But I’m sure a warm bath would do my woman good.”
I mumble to myself. “Yeah right. I need one more bad thing to happen to me.”
He looks taken aback. “Why?”
“Because bad things happen in threes.” My head falls back onto the pillows with a huff. “This shit doesn’t happen. The argument with my parents. Then Lauren. I can’t stand this home anymore. I want to leave and never come back.”
“Well…that can be arranged, but let’s sit on it a little while, Desire.”
“What? Why?” I sit back up again.
“You’re angry is all. And I sort of paid off your house note a few weeks back. I believe you should have received something in the mail from the mortgage company, but we’ve been in Dallas.”
My eyes well with tears. “Daniel, I love you.”
“I love you too.” He starts to climb into the bed.
“Don’t,” I say quickly.
“Oh,” he glances down at his hands and pulls off the gloves. “Let’s get out of here, Desire. I’ll go anywhere you’d like to go. You’re my fucking heart, Des. And I hate seeing you so sad.”
“All right, I’ll go. But take off that the darn apron.” I begin to chuckle. “It’s for cooking, not cleaning.”
Daniel
Constanta, Romania
Luckily, my usual pilot was available for the trip to Los Angeles, and he flew the jet to my home in Constanta. The tourist town is located between the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol. For much of the flight, Desire stretched out. She’d cried herself to sleep in my lap. I stroked her hair contemplating on how much her mother, Monique, loathes me. It’s not the first time I’ve been hated. In my line of career, it’s to be expected.
Almost eleven hours later, our few pieces of luggage are in the trunk of my Alfa Romero.
Desire rubs her eyes and I stifle a yawn, one hand on the steering wheel while coasting through the windy passageways.
“Where are we?” Desire asks drowsily.
“Constanta.”
“Hmmm, my spidey senses aren't picking up anything whatsoever. Exactly where is Constanta?”
“Romania.” I glance over at her.
“Humph, first time leaving the country together and we travel to a gothic land. If we cross paths with Dracula, I will shove you in his direction and I'm hightailing it outta dodge.” She tries to joke, puffy eyes, trembling half smile.
“I doubt you have enough strength to push me around. If we cross paths with Dracula, I will keep you safe. Des, you belong to me. We’ll travel to Transylvania in a week or so. You look like you’ll be jetlag for a while.”
Her fingers press over her luscious lips as she yawns. “I’ll pass on Transylvania. All I know about it is Dracula are the cartoon movies Riley made me watch a thousand times over when it came out a few years back.”
She sniffles in contemplation.
I reach over and grab her hand in mine. “You’ll love Constanta, Des.”
About ten minutes later, the wrought iron gates to my estate part and I zip by, passing more lush green trees before a stone home comes into vie
w.
Desire breathes deeply. “This looks like a castle. There are no cars. I’d swear it was a resort but—”
“But you are too precious to me to have to share you. This is my home, sweetheart.” I pull the car up to a stone fountain as the heavy, three-story high doors open.
The caretaker steps outside and ascends the steps. I’d called him on our way here to ensure the home was prepared for our arrival, with enough groceries to go off the grid for months, if we so choose.
He helps me pull the luggage out of the car as Desire turns on the heels of her shoes, glancing around.
In Romanian, he states, “Everything is as you’ve requested, Mr. Rutledge. There are amble provisions, and the fireplace in your living quarters already has the room nice and toasty.”
We follow Desire into the house. She's quiet. Her eyes are puffy and I swear if she cries anymore tears I will move heaven and earth for her. I'll realign the stars in the sky to her approval.
Desire steps toward a fireplace mantel. “Jesus Christ, you could toss a person's body in this fireplace. At least ten people.”
“That's morbid,” I reply as the caretaker steps out of the palace. I lock up behind him.
“I'm in Dracula country, what do you expect? My second time out of the country and here is where we are.” She does another 360. “This place—this palace is beautiful. It blows my mind.”
“Good.” I step toward her, plant a kiss on her beautiful forehead, and force the anger from my mind. I will sway Mrs. Taylor, but what of Lauren and Riley? His mother seems broken and as jaded as Rebecca.
Desire begins to whimper in my arms.
“Beautiful, don't cry. If I had the power, you'd never know how it feels to shed a single tear.”
Her body shakes in my arms and she cries harder. “I'm sorry.” Her voice is muffled and strained. “I just keep hearing my mom's hatred for you. And then I contemplate on Riley… he's my baby.”
“Shhh…” I kiss her lips, wiping away tears from her cheeks.
“Desire, let me make you feel good, sweetheart.”