by La Jill Hunt
“I can send Anjelica to pick you up Friday night,” her mother offered.
“No! Do not do that. You know I don’t want her doing nothing for me, Mama,” Kayla told her mother.
“Kayla, that is your sister. Now I don’t know what has happened to cause you two to become so distant, but that fact will never change and don’t you forget it. You understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kayla felt as if she was a little girl again the way her mother scolded her. She could not stop the tears from falling down her cheek.
“Kayla, what is wrong with you? Why are you crying, Baby? I know your feelings don’t get hurt that easily.”
“I quit my job, Mama.” Kayla told her mother about the desk incident that had happened in her classroom.
“You’ll find something else, baby. What the Devil means for bad, God always means for good. That is with every one of your situations. There’s no point in crying about it. You know what you have to do. Get yourself together and get another job,” her mother told her. “Just know that you have our love and support.”
When her mother said that, Kayla began to cry even harder.
“Kayla. Something else is going on. Tell me.” She could hear the worry in her mother’s voice and decided that telling her would be the right thing to do.
“Mama, I’m pregnant,” she said in barely a whisper.
“Oh, Kayla.” Her mother sighed.
“Mama, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I mean, I swear, I . . .” Kayla could not go on. She was sobbing. She knew that her mother was devastated by this news. She had raised Kayla to be a respectable young woman and now look what had happened.
“How far along are you?” her mother asked her.
“Three months. I’m due Thanksgiving Day.” Kayla sniffed.
“So, you are having it?”
“Yes.”
“Good, and the father? What does he have to say about this?” Her mother questioned. What little relief Kayla had begun to feel now left her. She began to whimper again.
“That’s what makes it even worse, Mama. I had a one-night stand and we really don’t even have a relationship. I am so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing, Kayla. You are a grown woman, not some fifteen-year-old high school student. Granted, I am sorry that this happened under the circumstances, but you’ll be okay.”
“I just wanted you to be proud of me.”
“Your father and I are proud of you, Kayla. Let me let you talk to him.”
“Mama, no. Please, not now. I can’t tell him now.”
“Kayla, he’s gonna find out sooner or later.”
“I know. But I just need a little more time.”
“Suit yourself. But please don’t dwell on us being mad or thinking that you are a failure because of this. We love you Kayla, no matter what. Do you need anything? You have enough money?”
“Yes, Mama.” Kayla laughed a little.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Better. I was really sick, but now I’m over it, I guess.”
“I got a beautiful Mother’s Day bouquet from Geno. Have you talked to him lately?”
Kayla could not believe he sent her mother flowers. “I saw him a few weeks ago,” Kayla told her. “I still love him, Mama.”
“You always will, baby. I wish I could tell you that your feelings for him will stop, but I can’t lie to you. I just don’t understand what happened.”
“Things just happen, Mama. Look at what has happened to me. I am now knocked up and unemployed on top of that.”
“But you’re gonna be fine. I know that. But, you need to tell your daddy. You owe him that much.”
“I will, Mama. I promise.” Kayla felt as if a ton of bricks had been lifted from her shoulders. “I’ll call you on Sunday and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.”
“No, this year I can call you.” Her mother laughed. “I love you, Kayla.”
“Love you too, Mama.” She lay back on the bed. The sound of the doorbell caused her to jump. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was after eight.
“Hey, Kay. Am I intruding?” Kayla was stunned as she opened the door and saw Geno standing there. He looked good. He had let his facial hair grow out to a full beard and it was trimmed perfectly, reminding her of a built Craig David. His thick arms protruded from his Sean John T-shirt and in his perfect hands he held a plastic bag.
“Geno. No. Come on in.” She opened the door and followed him into the living room. When they reached it, he turned around and faced her.
“Can’t a brother get a hug?” He reached and pulled her to him, laughing. It was a sound she hadn’t heard in a while and until then, she didn’t realize she missed it. “You cut your hair again. And you filling out. Damn, Kay. You look good.”
“You grew a beard. And you working out. You look good, G.” She quickly pulled away from him for fear that he may figure out why she was filling out.
“Still crazy. How you been?” He looked at Kayla and sat on the sofa.
“Okay. How is everything with you, Geno?” Kayla sat on the other end of the couch and they faced each other. “Wait a minute, how did you find out where I live?”
“I have my resources.” He smiled at her.
“Okay, resources. They do have laws for that now. I believe it’s called stalking.”
“Damn, that’s cold. I figured after our last encounter you’d be glad I found you.” He took her hand and looked at her curiously. “Ma sent me over here to invite you over Sunday. You know whether we are together or not, you are still a part of my family. She says she hasn’t talked to you in a minute. That’s not like you, Kay. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, G.” Kayla tried to lie but she could not keep the tears from falling. She missed Geno and hoped they would somehow get back together. Now the reality of carrying another man’s child, a married man on top of that, had wrecked that possibility. Geno had always said he would never date a woman with children because it was too much drama.
“Kayla, come here.” He reached for her and she cried into his arms, imagining for a moment that she was his again. “What’s wrong, baby?”
She mentally began to panic. For a second, she started to be honest and tell him the truth in its entirety, but she thought better of it and blurted out, “I quit my job.”
“You quit?” He wiped her tears and stood up. She watched him go into the kitchen with the bag and when he returned, he had two glasses of wine and a wet paper towel. She took a sip of the drink so he wouldn’t question why she wasn’t drinking, then wiped her face.
“Yeah, I quit,” Kayla continued and told him about Nate, the desk and Mrs. Warren’s reasons for not suspending him.
“That’s crazy. So she would rather endanger the other students and staff members because his parents give the school money?”
“That’s what it seems like,” Kayla answered.
“Where’s the remote to the stereo? I made you some CDs.” He reached into his pocket and pulled two CDs out. She pointed to the bookshelf and he opened the player. He put a CD in and smiled as Brian McKnight began to sing about what’s going on tonight.
“So, now what am I gonna do?” Kayla shrugged.
“Find another job, Kay. That’s what. One with some decent pay and some real benefits.” He grinned at her. “It ain’t that deep.”
“I missed you, Geno.” She smiled back at him. “So what’s going on with you? How is your job?”
“It’s cool. You know I like what I do.”
“And the older woman?” Kayla dared to ask him.
“She’s just a friend, despite what everyone thinks. Rent is expensive, Kay, and she had a room for rent.” He looked down at her hands in his.
“It’s okay, Geno. Even though we aren’t together, we will always be friends. We can still talk. Are you happy?” Kayla asked him.
“Her name is Janice and she’s cool,” he said nonchalantly. Kayla knew that he was lying. If she was just a frien
d, they wouldn’t be living together. Rent wasn’t that damn expensive and Geno made decent money. She decided to ask the inevitable.
“You love her?” Kayla had to know. You got a lot of nerve, knocked up with a married man’s baby and you asking him if he’s in love, Kayla scolded herself.
“I don’t know, Kay. I mean, she is so good to me. She’s smart, intelligent, funny. She has her shit together. Know what I mean?” he said
“Yeah, she’s perfect.” Kayla smirked.
“No, Kay. Not perfect. I don’t feel the same way about her as I feel about you. That’s what scares me. There was never any doubt that I loved you, Kay. That’s how I know it was real. Hell, Kay, I still love you. You’re still my best friend,” he said.
Kayla couldn’t respond to what he had just said so she just sat. The doorbell broke the silence.
“Were you expecting company?” he asked.
“No, I wasn’t even expecting you.” Kayla went to the door and looked through the peephole. She closed her eyes and wished the tall figure on the other side away. She looked again, but obviously the wish did not come true.
“Kayla, open the door. I need to talk to you,” Craig yelled out.
“Go away! I have nothing to say to you!” Kayla hissed.
“Open the door! At least let me explain. Please,” he moaned.
“I don’t need an explanation and furthermore, I don’t want one. The only thing I want from you is for you to get the hell away from my door,” Kayla answered. Suddenly, Geno nudged by her and opened the door before she could stop him.
“Is there a problem?” Geno asked Craig. They both had strange looks on their faces as they looked at one another.
“Naw, bruh. I just needed to talk to Kayla for a minute. You mind?” Craig took a step back.
“Naw, bruh. I don’t mind at all, but evidently she does. So I think you need to leave.” Geno flexed and crossed his arms, standing protectively in front of Kayla.
“Who the fuck are you?” Craig looked suspicious. He and Geno stood about the same height and were the same size, so neither one seemed intimidated.
“None of your fucking business!” Geno answered with a growl.
“You here with my girl, nigga, so obviously it is my business.” Craig feigned a callous smile and stepped toward Geno.
“Your girl? I think you got that all wrong.” Geno didn’t back down.
“Look, both of you need to back the fuck up! Now!” Kayla stepped between the two men.
“She carrying my mothafuckin’ seed. According to her, it’s mine!” He looked accusingly at Kayla.
“What?” Geno looked at Craig like he was crazy.
At that moment, Yvonne, Roni, and Tia walked up to the door.
“Oh, snap!” Roni jeered as she realized both Craig and Geno were in front of Kayla’s door.
“Geno!” Tia shrieked.
“So you’re that punk nigga Geno?” Craig leered.
“Craig, you need to leave.” Kayla faced him.
“Naw, this nigga is the one that needs to be leaving,” he continued.
“I ain’t going nowhere!” Geno retorted to him. The two men were squared off and she knew they were about to rumble. Kayla knew she had to do something.
“Craig, I asked you to leave. Now, if you don’t get your married, thug ass off my property, I will call the police and have you removed and then call your wife and tell her where to find your ass.”
“Oh, shit!” Kayla heard Roni say.
Kayla’s comment must have hit home with Craig because he stepped back.
“Fuck both of you!” he said as he left. Kayla closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“What the hell?” Yvonne asked as she pulled Kayla into the house. Geno, Roni, and Tia followed.
“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Geno murmured.
“Geno and I were sitting here talking and Craig just showed up. The same way you guys did, I might add.” Kayla flopped onto the couch and shook her head.
“She’s right. We were just sitting here chilling and this nigga came banging on the door. He looks familiar. I just can’t figure out where I know him from,” he said. The girls looked at each other knowingly. He looks like your twin, is what they were all thinking, but no one said it.
“I think we need to be leaving, too,” Roni said to Tia and Yvonne. “Call us tomorrow, Kay.”
They left Geno and Kayla in the living room.
“Who the fuck was that, Kayla?” Geno asked. “And what the fuck was he talking about when he said you carrying his seed? You fucking that nigga?”
“G.” Kayla looked down.
“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant by that wannabe, hard mothafucka for real, Kayla.” He looked at Kayla like he was disgusted. “I can’t believe you.”
“Hold up! You living with a broad and you going off on what I’m doing?” Kayla could not believe the nerve of him. It was she who looked at him like he was a fool this time.
“I know you’re smarter than that. You don’t even know this nigga.”
“And how long have you known the woman you’re living with, G? You know what? We really don’t even need to be discussing this. You can leave, too. Go home to your woman.” Kayla opened the door for him and he left without saying another word.
9
“So that was it?” Roni asked. “Yep. That was it,” Kayla answered. She had gotten up early and gone over to Roni’s and told her what happened after they had left the night before. They were sitting at her small kitchen table.
“Girl, when we walked up and saw Craig and Geno, I almost died. I thought they were gonna throw down.”
“Me too. I can’t believe Geno had the nerve to be mad, can you?”
“You were mad when you found out about him and that other woman. It’s a natural reaction. You two are still in love with each other. Face it,” Roni told her.
“I am not in love with Geno. I still care about him, yeah. But I ain’t in love with him.” Kayla reached into Roni’s refrigerator and grabbed a piece of fruit.
“So, you decide what you’re gonna do yet?” Roni asked her.
“About what?”
“Don’t play, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Honestly, Ron, I don’t know. I have so many messed up situations right now to decide on. A job, Geno, Craig, my car.” Kayla leaned back in her chair.
“About the baby, Kayla,” Roni interrupted her.
“Oh, I was gonna get to that situation eventually, but you jumped in. I’m gonna have it, I guess.”
“Really? I think that’s a good decision.” Roni hugged Kayla.
“I told Mama.”
“Ooh, what did she say?”
“Nothing, really. She wasn’t even upset as I thought she was gonna be.”
“And your father?”
“He doesn’t know. I told Mama I would tell him later. I’m not ready to tell him yet, Ron.”
“Tell who what?” Tia asked as she and Yvonne came in. Roni looked at Kayla and she looked back.
“What are y’all talking about?” Yvonne sat in the chair across from Kayla.
“Nothing. Have either of you heard of knocking?” Roni asked quickly.
“For what? I got a key.” Tia shook her head. She looked too cute in a white cotton short set. “You got any juice, Ron?”
“In the fridge. I think it’s some in there. Use one of the glasses on the top shelf.”
“What aren’t you ready to tell, Kayla? Geno and Craig obviously already know about each other.”
Yvonne giggled. Kayla decided she would just go ahead and tell them about the baby. There was no point in keeping it from them. They were, after all, her best friends.
“I’m pregnant,” she announced. The sound of breaking glass startled all of them.
“Tia!” Roni yelled, looking at the broken pieces on the floor.
“Sorry.” Tia continued to stare at Kayla as Roni picked up the mess.
; “What did you say?” Yvonne wanted to make sure she heard correctly.
“I’m having a baby,” Kayla confirmed.
“Wow. Is that why Geno was at your house?” Tia questioned.
“No, it’s not his baby.” Kayla knew what the next question would be, so she answered before it was asked. “It’s Craig’s.”
“Kayla,” was all Yvonne said.
“Okay, I’m confused. When did you sleep with Craig?” Tia reached for another glass.
“Valentine’s night,” Kayla told her.
“Where was I?” she continued.
“Obviously not having as much fun as she was,” Roni laughed. Tia gave her a high five.
“What are you gonna do?” Yvonne had been quiet the entire time. Kayla expected this reaction from her.
“I am gonna be a mother,” Kayla told her. She fought the urge to look away from her girlfriend; she knew she had to keep her pride.
“So, you’re gonna have a baby by him? You don’t even know him like that, Kayla.” Yvonne continued, “You mean you slept with him without using protection, Kayla? That’s so irresponsible.”
“I know it is and I’m not trying to make any excuses, Yvonne. I’m accepting responsibility now, though.” Kayla felt the tears swell in her eyes.
“It’s too late to be responsible. You’re about to have a baby by practically a stranger you met in the club, of all places.”
“Hold up, Yvonne. You’re outta line, girl.” Roni stopped her.
“She’s right, Von. You can’t judge her like that.” Tia added,
“You’re out there living it up too.”
“The only difference between you and her is that she got caught. Shit happens. But that doesn’t mean I love her any less or think I’m better than her. I thought I knew you better than that, Von,” Roni frowned.
“I’m so sorry, Von. My life is so screwed up right now that sometimes I feel backed into a corner with nowhere to turn.” Kayla cried.
“That’s your choice, Kayla, because you can always turn to us. We have always been there for you.” Tia reached out to Kayla.
“And I need you to be there for me, Von. Be here for me right now. Please.” Kayla put her head in her hands.