Finding Love At Life's Crossroads: An Interracial Novel

by Skylar Ward

  “No.”

  “So, what do you expect? She is a sensible child.”

  “Thanks for making dinner, Mom.”

  “You might want to order something else since you invited him for dinner.”

  “Ace is open-minded,” Efia said. “He will enjoy our Jollof rice.”

  Rosina rolled her eyes. “You sound as though you know him well.”

  Efia caught the affront and smiled. “A part of me likes to think so.”

  “I am going to head on home.” Rosina picked up her coat from the couch and slipped into it. “Yasmine told Kofi about Ace. Your dad is concerned.”

  Efia arose and hugged her mother. “Tell Dad not to worry.”

  <>

  Later in the Evening-

  After a delicious dinner eaten in relative silence, Efia stood in the kitchen’s doorway watching Ace read one of Yasmine’s favorite books, while Yasmine sat at the other end of the couch looking bored. Believing the onus to bridge the gap between father and daughter, rested on her shoulders, Efia walked into the dining room.

  “Ahem.”

  Yasmine’s head popped up. She ran over to Efia. “Mommy, I am thirsty.”

  “Okay, sweetie, I’ll get you some juice.”

  “No! Me! Me!”

  Efia stepped aside, allowing Yasmine to run ahead. In the kitchen, Yasmine opened the refrigerator and reached for the carton of Florida*s Natural orange juice, Efia stretched over her, taking the container out. She poured the juice into a glass and handed it to Yasmine.

  “Medaase, Mommy.”

  “You are welcome, sweetie,” Efia said. “Go sit at the dining table.”

  “What language is that?” Ace asked from the doorway.

  “It’s Asante Twi dialect.”

  “Is she fluent?” Ace asked.

  “No,” Efia replied, “she comprehends more than she speaks.”

  “She is strong-willed, isn’t she?”

  “I wonder where she got that streak from?” Efia said, giving Ace the side-eye.

  “I think we both are at fault,” Ace said. “Do you think she will ever warm up to me?”

  “I know she will.”

  “When?”

  “She enjoys when we act out animal characters. Why don’t you go in there and try a few? I bet she will join in and soon you’ll be best friends.”

  “Right now, I will settle for just being her dad.”

  “Yasmine knows you are her father,” Efia said. “She will come around. Would you like something to drink?”

  “No, I am full,” Ace said. “Thank you for dinner, I enjoyed it.”

  “I’ll let my mother know,” Efia said. “She made it.”

  “Do that,” Ace said turning away.

  Yasmine returned with the glass of juice. “I am finished, Mommy.”

  “I guess you weren’t thirsty, after all,” Efia said, examining the barely touched juice. Efia placed the glass on the counter. When Efia turned, Yasmine was staring up at her. Efia cupped Yasmine’s face between her hands. “Your dad wants to play with you. Why don’t you go back out there and be nice to him, okay?”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes, Yasmine Acelyn,” Efia said. “You do.”

  After watching Yasmine leave the kitchen with slumped shoulders, Efia turned her attention to the pile of dishes in the sink. Half-way through her clean up duties, Yasmine’s giggles reached her ears. Efia’s hand paused over the frying pan, and a sigh of relief broke from her lips. She dropped the sponge in the sink, peeled off her gloves, and hurried from the kitchen.

  “No,” Yasmine squealed, “that’s not a cow, Daddy, that’s a dog. Mommy, my daddy, is a cow. But he is not very good because he barks.”

  Ace winked at Efia, then smiled at Yasmine. Efia crossed her fingers at her side, pleased the standoff was over.

  Yasmine scooted closer to Ace. “Are you tired, Daddy?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Why don’t you give your dad a hug, sweetie?” Efia said.

  Yasmine’s little arms reached for Ace’s neck. He lifted her onto his knee. His arms tightened around her. He kissed the top of her head. “Thank you, princess.”

  “You feel better, Daddy?”

  Ace swallowed hard. “Daddy feels a lot better now, princess.”

  <>

  The doorbell buzzed.

  Annoyed that the first tender moment he had shared with his daughter was being interrupted, Ace turned his attention to Efia.

  “Are you expecting company?” he asked.

  “I forgot to reschedule Sam,” Efia replied. “He wanted to drop off a game for Yasmine.”

  “Sam?”

  “A friend,” Efia quickly added.

  “The guy in my daughter’s birthday videos,” Ace said under his breath.

  Ignoring Ace’s comment, Efia headed to the door. Yasmine slipped from Ace’s knee and ran ahead of her mother.

  When they disappeared, Ace’s face hardened. It was my duty to teach my daughter to ride a scooter, not Sam, or any other man for that matter. Ace clenched his fists and bitterness rose in the pit of his stomach as he waited impatiently for the man he had never met, but already resented. Shortly, Efia, Yasmine, and Sam entered the room with Yasmine standing on top of Sam’s shoes. Ace’s lips thinned in annoyance as he fixed his eyes in Sam’s direction.

  Efia followed the path of Ace’s harsh gaze. She patted Yasmine’s head. “Sweetie, why don’t you go sit your dad?”

  “Dad?” Sam echoed, releasing his hold on Yasmine’s hands.

  Ace opened his arms, and Yasmine ran into them.

  “Sam, this is Ace Davenport. He is Yasmine’s father.”

  Sam remained in place.

  “This is Samuel Njoku, he is a friend of the family,” Efia said to Ace.

  Ace remained seated, holding Yasmine close to his heart. He lifted his chin toward Sam.

  “You didn’t tell me about this,” Sam said in a slightly raised tone.

  “She is telling you now,” Ace said.

  “Would you like something to drink, Sam?” Efia asked as the two men shot daggers at each other.

  “No,” Sam said, handing a box to Efia.

  Efia examined it. “Yasmine, Sam brought you a Ludo game, isn’t that nice?”

  Yasmine remained in her father’s arms.

  Efia squinted. “Aren’t you going to thank Sam?”

  Yasmine rubbed both hands over her eyes.

  Efia moved closer, removing Yasmine’s hands. “It’s past your bedtime. I’ll walk Sam out and get you ready for bed. Tell Sam thank you, sweetie.”

  “Thank you, Sam.”

  “You are welcome,” Sam said. “I’d better get going.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Efia said walking ahead of Sam.

  Ace cradled Yasmine in his arms, sending a not so subtle message to Sam. Sam smirked and placed his hand on Efia’s lower back, guiding her forward. Ace’s Adam’s apple throbbed as he watched the intimate display. Inhaling deeply, Ace stained to hear the conversation between Efia and Sam.

  <>

  “I don’t think Yasmine’s father likes me,” Sam said. “Seems like he wants to rekindle his relationship with you.”

  “There was no relationship,” Efia whispered.

  Sam surveyed Efia’s face. “I don’t know, he is acting like a man who wants his woman back.”

  “The only thing Ace wants is a relationship with his daughter.”

  “It’s interesting that you didn’t say you are not interested in him.”

  “It’s just semantics,” Efia said. “What are you trying to say?”

  “Let’s face it, you gave yourself willingly to a man you hardly knew, yet, you keep yourself away from me.”

  “I told you before, I am not ready for a relationship. I have to take care of my daughter.”

  “Now that you have help with Yasmine, you can take some time for you—time for us.” Sam lowered his head. Efia twisted her face, causing Sam’s lip
s to land on her cheek.

  When Sam lifted his head, Efia scrubbed her hand over the area. She narrowed her eyes and stepped back. “Good night, Samuel.”

  “Let’s talk outside,” Sam said.

  Efia glanced over her shoulder, her thoughts on Ace. Hoping to send Sam on his way without any drama, she followed him through the door.

  “Why did you ambush me with that man?”

  “You are my friend, Sam, and I appreciate everything you have done for us, but right now I am focused on reversing the damage I might have caused my child and her father by keeping them apart.”

  “It’s the least you could have done, Efia,” Sam said.

  “I am processing a lot right now, Sam. I meant no disrespect to you.”

  “Why did you get in touch with him?” Sam’s voice rose. “Yasmine was doing well without him.”

  “Was she?” Efia asked sarcastically.

  “I don’t get it with you,” Sam said.

  “I should have never kept the two of them apart,” Efia said. “I made a bad decision, and I have to live with it. I only pray that Yasmine doesn’t blame me when she is older.”

  “I can’t believe you trust him with Yasmine,” Sam said. “I have known Yasmine her entire life, this man only met her the other day, yet, you allow him to care for her.”

  “Of course, I trust him. He is her father.”

  “You don’t even know if he is a serial killer,” Sam said.

  “My heart knows.”

  Sam remained silent.

  After the silence had stretched for several minutes, Efia said, “I have to tuck Yasmine in. Good night.”

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “I need to go.”

  “If you no longer care to be my friend, I understand.”

  Sam left, jogging down the stairs. “We will always be friends, Efia.” His voice resounded off the walls. “We go too far back.”

  <>

  Ace examined the midsized bedroom Yasmine shared with her mother—the bubblegum-pink covered walls, a shock to his system. He couldn’t image waking each day to such a gaudy environment. These are the sacrifices parents make for their kids, his inner voice reminded him. Despite the anger brewing within, Ace couldn’t help but smile at his verbal stream of consciousness.

  Ace continued to scan the room, taking in the full-sized bed which stood in one corner and a single bed in the other. There were several plastic storage bins filled with stuffed animals and a bookshelf neatly stacked with kids’ books. The apartment was different from the luxurious environment he had grown up in and continued to inhabit. The room was well kept, everything in its place, nonetheless, being a Davenport came with specific entitlements, and this was not it. No offspring of his would be denied those rights—and he would see to it starting immediately.

  “Let me see that,” Ace said to Yasmine as she was about to slip a DVD into the open tray.

  Yasmine handed it to Ace. He inspected the Lilo & Stitch DVD and gave it back. Yasmine set the DVD to play then planted herself in the middle of the bed.

  What the hell is taking Efia so long? Ace inwardly fumed.

  “Daddy, are you watching?” Yasmine’s small voice penetrated his thoughts, dragging him from his misery.

  Ace toed off his shoes and stretched across the bed, tucking Yasmine into his side. As the show unfolded, Yasmine giggled—the sound, like a symphony orchestra to Ace. He smiled, memorizing every little giggle, every little noise his princess made. Shortly, Yasmine was asleep. Gently, Ace eased away from the bed. He pulled the covers over Yasmine and kissed her forehead before turning off the TV. He slipped into his shoes, and stopped at the door, watching Yasmine sleep.

  He had always heard older folks say, ‘They would never forget where they were when they saw the first moon landing.’ Now, he understood precisely what they meant, because December 16th, 2015 would live on in his heart forever. Even the gaudy pink room held a special place in his memory bank. Ace took another look at Yasmine and smiled before tiptoeing from the room.

  <>

  “What took you so long to say goodbye?” Ace lashed out when Efia entered the living room. “Yasmine is your child, her needs come before yours.”

  “Where is Yasmine?” Efia asked, calmly.

  Ace shot Efia a contemptuous glance, her calm demeanor incensing him even more. “She was watching a DVD, but now she is asleep.”

  “Did you let her go to bed without brushing her teeth?”

  “It won’t kill her if she doesn’t clean them for one night,” Ace said. “I don’t approve of Yasmine’s sleeping arrangements. It is not healthy for her to be staying in your room.”

  Efia rounded on Ace.

  “What’s the problem? The bedroom is a large room, and Yasmine has her own bed. The second bedroom is on the other side of the apartment, I am not leaving my child in there by herself.”

  “And another thing,” Ace said. “You shouldn’t be parading your men in and out of this apartment around my daughter at this ungodly hour.”

  Efia squinted. “Now, we are finally getting to the crux of the matter, aren’t we? Sounds to me, like you are jealous.”

  Unwilling to outwardly acknowledge the accuracy of Efia’s assertion, Ace pursed his lips, fighting back a smile. Finally, he said, “We need to talk.”

  Efia shook her head. “It is getting late, and I have to check on Yasmine. The door has a slam lock, you can let yourself out.”

  “When I return on Sunday, we will discuss more suitable living arrangements for my daughter.”

  “There is nothing wrong with this apartment,” Efia said.

  Ace stepped closer. “Yasmine is a Davenport; therefore, I expect her to live like one.”

  “All of Yasmine’s needs and many of her wants are being met.” Efia narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you come into my home and insult me, Ace Davenport. I won’t stand for it.”

  Ace smiled respecting Efia’s no-nonsense stance. He reached out, pushing a few strands of hair from her face. “We will talk when I return.”

  Efia stepped back. Ace cupped one side of her face. Efia’s lips quivered. He ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. Efia dragged in air, making a hissing sound between her clenched teeth. Ace closed the gap between them. He tipped her chin upwards and lowered his head. His mouth met hers, covering it. He didn’t have to prod her mouth open, she opened wide. Neither did he have to search for her tongue, she offered it.

  Ace sucked her tongue, enjoying her delicious taste and the soft sounds she made. He slid his hand through her hair, removing her hair tie and dropping it to the floor. His hand roamed through her mass of curls, setting them free before tugging her close to his body. Efia’s body shook, and her hands reached for his waist. Ace lifted his mouth from hers, wrapped his arms around her and carried her over to the couch. He sat on the edge with Efia’s legs locked around him. He held her face, planting soft kisses over it.

  Efia’s ass pressed into his groin, causing his cock to rise and blood to pound between his ears. The raw need in Efia’s eyes wasn’t lost on Ace, but he ignored it. Now was not the time, even though he wanted nothing more. Ace leaned his head against the back of the couch. Although he hadn’t made any commitment to Haley, Ace knew he owed her an explanation. He wasn’t a fan of messy relations, plus it was the right thing to do. The eagerness that had seized him earlier started to subside. Efia appeared stunned by his sudden change in demeanor. She pushed away from his lap.

  “You need to go,” she said, traipsing from the room.

  Ace watched her go. He adjusted his tented trouser and gritting his teeth as he waited for the surges of his arousal to retreat. Several minutes later, he rose from the couch, leaving the room. He took a few steps toward Efia’s bedroom. Forcing himself to stop, he inhaled deeply, turned and headed in the other direction.

  “I will be back, Efia,” he whispered. “Give me the weekend to clear up my loose ends.”

  <>

  Efia kept her ear pressed against the d
oor until she heard the front door slammed shut. Hating that she had let her guard down with Ace, she chewed her bottom lip, trying to figure out what made him go from hot to cold so quickly. He wanted me, as much as I wanted him. I know he did, Efia thought, something or someone caused him to stop.

  “Mommy!”

  Efia pushed her thoughts aside and rushed over to Yasmine. “Mommy is here, sweetie.”

  Yasmine opened one eye. Efia adjusted Yasmine’s pink blanket and stroked her head, gently. Within minutes, Yasmine was asleep. Efia tipped-toed across the room to the closet. She lifted a colorful, paisley-patterned hatbox from the top shelf, removing a lavender Royal Rocket Rabbit Vibe as her nether parts hummed from pent-up frustrations. She needed a release STAT. You are no match for Ace Davenport, but you are reliable.

  Chapter 11

  Dexter Sawyer, Ace’s attorney, handed the photo back to Ace. “She is a lovely child.”

  “She is, isn’t she? How long will it take to change her last name?”

  “Is ah, Ms. …” Dexter scanned his notes.

  “Kwateng,” Ace said.

  “Yes. Is she represented by counsel?”

  “I don’t know,” Ace said.

  “Well you need to find out,” Dexter said. “I don’t want to be accused of badgering some helpless young woman.”

  “I will speak with Efia,” Ace said.

  Dexter scribbled a few notes on his pad. “I will request a DNA test as soon as possible.”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  Dexter peered over the rims of his wire glasses. “It is essential, furthermore, as your attorney, I insist on having one done.”

  “And as your client, I say there will be no DNA testing done. Yasmine is my daughter, I will not put her through such folly, neither will I subject her mother to any embarrassment.”

  “It’s a simple procedure, done with a swab of the cheek.”

  “Enough!” Ace said.

  Dexter shrugged. “I will make a note in your file that you declined counsel’s advice.”

  “You do that.” Ace lifted another photo of Yasmine from his wallet, passing it to Dexter. “Take a good look at her, then tell me she isn’t a Davenport.”

  Dexter took the photo. He examined the child and smiled. He handed the picture back to Ace along with his business card. “Have Ms. Kwateng’s attorney get in touch. I am certain we can work out a satisfactory visitation schedule, and an adequate child support payment.”