by Rae Shawn
“We are going to the airport soon, mamas. It’s time to go see daddy.”
Jaiden nodded and continued playing with her toys. Tra’Mel attempted to hide his emotions, but I saw it etched on his face.
“I need to talk to D’Nae,” I said turning my attention back to him. “But first I need to take my daughter to her father.”
“I know. I just wanted you to know my side of what happened. I didn’t come onto her and that was the first time anything ever happened between us. A couple years ago she said something about hooking up, a few weeks ago she said something about feeling me, but I shut her down both times. I promise I wasn’t messing with her. I promise.”
“I don’t want sides. Just the truth and I wish you had said she approached you recently.” I shook my head and moved to go downstairs.
“Where are you going?” Demontré asked, blocking my path.
“I left my phone and my purse in the car. I’m going to get them,” I said. He eyed me, but moved, so I could go. “Can you wipe Jaiden’s cheek and put a bandage on it?”
“I got you,” Demontré said. “C’mere, J.R. Gotta clean up your cheek before your mama lose her mind.”
"Stop calling my child by her initials, Monteé. She got a cute name for a reason." I rolled my eyes at the sound of Jaiden’s laughter, I knew he whispered something smart to her.
When I stepped through the front door I saw someone hunched over on the driver’s side of my SUV. “Nae?” She popped up and backed away from the car.
I squinted my eyes and made my way around to where she stood. I spotted the side of my new SUV, it had been keyed, the disturbed paint left room for the claw marks reading home wrecking bitch.
“What the fuck is this?” I snapped.
I was usually the nice one; the calm one. I avoided confrontation most of the time. Today proved to test my limits more than anything in the past.
“He’s mine. I want him. I’ve been after him for years and you just waltz your narrow ass in here and take him from me.” She yelled as she stalked toward me with her switchblade in hand.
I pulled my hair into a ponytail and stood in a passively defensive stance in case she came at me. I lived alone for a long time before Raiden and even then, I made sure I knew how to defend myself.
“According to him, y’all were colleagues and friends, nothing more. Plus, you knew what was going on between us. Even if you didn’t know how far things had gotten, I told you we used to be something. I spoke to you about him recently because you fucking asked. He said he told you he was into me and we were dating. How exactly can I steal what was already mine to begin with?”
“He cared so much that he left you for his career, never once mentioning you while he was on national television?” She screeched. “What y’all had then has nothing to do with what we are trying to build.”
She inched closer to me and I readjusted my stance, working my way closer to the house. Nothing she said could hurt me. I'd thought it all before.
“You’re insane, you know that right? That man doesn’t want you, but more importantly, I’m not about to fight over no dude. You're Petty Betty and I’m unbothered. What you need to be worried about is your mind because you seem to be losing it. First thing you gon' do though, pay for the damage to my car. I just bought that and while I have no more fucks to give, I’ll still whoop yo ass.”
“I’ll keep ruining your shit until you let me have him.” She lunged at me and I jumped back. She fell to her knees. I wiped the sweat from my hands. I would never understand why women who had no type of relationship with a person were willing to “take” or “claim” them from the whoever they were with.
“Keep ruining my shit?” I asked.
A wry laugh fell from her lips as she got back to her feet. I knew wasn’t far from the steps now, but I couldn’t afford to look back. I could call out, and both Demontré and Tra’Mel would come running, but I could handle her. I didn’t need them.
“I crashed into your precious little Ellie, I ruined your stupid African princess painting, tried to break into your studio to destroy that sculpture you were working on but couldn't. But like even if I didn't do that other shit, I kissed him in front of you. Yeah, I saw you standing there before I did it.
“Yet, you still stayed? I don’t understand, you were so upset about your fiancé when he cheated on you with other bitches and here you are whoring yourself out to another man with money because Raiden didn’t want you anymore. I guess you need him so you can keep up your little hobby.”
I punched her in the face before she had time to react. She fell to the ground, her blade flying into the yard. I shook my head and looked at the clouds floating overhead while huffing out a breath.
“Fuck you, Nae. Never have I went after no man for his money. I make my own. I have my own,” She tried to pull me to the ground, but I moved out of the way and kicked her arm from under her. “I can't say the same for you. I’ve heard some things and didn’t want to believe them. Too bad you top notch Petty Crocker out here baking up the bullshit. You messy and need to get your fucking life together. You're over 30 years old, grow the hell up.”
She caught my ankle the second time she reached for me and I fell to the ground. I kicked her square in the chin.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” she grunted as my foot connected. “You ruin relationships and if them men were stupid enough to mess with you, they deserved whatever they got. For you to act like that with your own flesh and blood, that's a new kind of ugly. I just about let you be the cause of a problem between me and a man I care about, but if anything between us ends, that’s an us decision. You have no say in the matter.”
I got to my feet as she pushed back on to her knees, wiping at the new blood dripping from her nose.
“You are greedy and selfish, and I’m done looking up to you. Get yo ass away from me and don’t think about coming near my daughter either. Congratulations, she won’t see auntie no more.”
I turned around to go in the house, having forgot about my phone and purse again. Demontré and Tra’Mel were standing just outside the doorway, Jaiden between them.
“TT Nae?” Jaiden said in question. “What happen, mama?”
I picked Jaiden up and looked her in her eyes.
“She’s fine, mamas. She’s fine. She just fell into something and needs to figure out her life.”
“You really gon’ do me like this?” D’Nae said finally back to her feet.
“Nah, Nae. You did this to yourself. Don’t try it," Both Demontré and Tra'Mel put a hand to each of my shoulders. I hadn't noticed I took a step toward her. “I’ma let mom and dad know about how trifling and grimy you out here being," I shook my head, turning around to go in the house. "Bye D’Nae Monique.”
20
Jada
Because I was so angry, neither Demontré nor Tra’Mel would let me drive. I went in the house and grabbed the luggage I'd already packed for Jaiden and I. I planned to stay the week in Houston. That was before all this madness happened and now I'm glad I booked a hotel. I had a lot to work out in my head.
We piled into D’s car, after I parked mine in his garage. He said he'd have the writing buffed out while I was gone. D’Nae left before we made it out the driveway and that was the smartest thing I’d seen her do in a while.
Jaiden fell asleep and while D and Mel wanted to ask exactly what went down because they only heard part of what happened, I said nothing to either of them. At the airport, Tra’Mel said something to Demontré through the open window, before turning to walk along with me. I watched as D drive off and looked at Mel. Before I could ask, he shook his head and continued carrying a sleeping Jaiden.
I dragged our luggage behind me, but remained silent. I needed to calm down and if he wanted to carry Jaiden to TSA for me, that was fine. With her being asleep. The luggage was enough to deal with.
I needed to prep for Raiden's dumb ass. Even though he was on do not disturb, his stupid ass texts had been
rolling in since I hung up on him the morning after Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t block him like I did with Mel and Nae. Didn’t mean I hadn’t thought about it.
He seemed to believe he had complete and utter reign over my life even though we weren’t connected by anything but our child. I haven’t dealt with him on no level besides to give the phone to Jaiden to speak with him.
When Tra’Mel walked toward the ticket counter, instead of TSA, I about tripped the hell out.
“What are you doing?” I asked as he stopped in line behind a family of four.
“I’m getting a ticket to join y’all.” He said casually.
“No, no you’re not.”
“You’re upset. You just got in a physical fight with your sister. D said you’re having more issues with your ex. I don’t think you should be alone.”
“So you chose to make that decision for me?”
“Jada-”
“Don’t Jada me, Tra'Mel. I’m not here for whatever this is. I have no time for the addition bull.”
The father and male teenager in front of us turned around to look at me. I glared, and they quickly found something else to look at.
“I know you said what you said to Nae to piss her off. I’m not trying to overstep my bounds, I’m just trying to help out someone I still consider a friend. Someone I care about.”
Throwing my words at me. I sighed before looking away, noticing people were staring at us. The family in front of us might’ve been the only people in the damn area who weren’t watching our movements. With my daughter asleep on his shoulder, we looked like a family while I was being a bitch. If people knew who he was, I could expect some kind of tabloid story tonight or tomorrow.
“Tra’Mel ‘Rocket’ Denzel.” A man said from our right.
We turned our heads to see who the voice belonged to. I was right, everyone was staring at us because they knew who he was. Now I was sure they were trying to figure out who Jaiden and I were. The smiling man walked toward us, but Tra’Mel pulled me into his side, almost defensively.
“You disappeared for a minute after your injury man. You went and found a family to bring up?”
“John J. Jones,” Tra’Mel said, almost sourly. “I don’t believe that’s any of your business. This is ...” He looked at me before turning back to John. “This is my friend and her daughter.”
The man, John, raked his eyes over me. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
“Trip J,” He extended his hand. I took it and he brought mine to his lips. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Bruh, don’t.” Tra’Mel warned.
“I wasn’t.” John defended.
I raised an eyebrow and removed my hand from his grasp, his fingertips grazing my palm on the departure. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Trust me the pleasure is all mine,” He dropped his gaze to my lips. I didn’t feel like being bothered, so I stepped in closer to Tra’Mel, and he wrapped his free arm around my waist.
“I get it. I get it. She’s a good one,” John said. “Whatever is happening between y’all, friend or whatever, don’t let her get away.”
He spoke directly to Tra’Mel before turning his attention to me again. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” I said as he walked off. “How you know that?” I waited just long enough for him to be damn near out of earshot.
“That?” Tra’Mel chuckled as we stepped up to the person at the counter. “I’ll tell you later.” He whispered against my ear.
On the flight over Tra’Mel told me that Trip J played defense on the team with him. They used to be friends, but he was a man-whore. He slept with his girlfriend a while back and that was why he got possessive with me.
He apologized for acting like that and I shrugged it off, but thanked him. I appreciated him keeping a hoe bag from coming on too strong, not that anything would happen. I had plenty of other crap on my plate.
When we landed in Houston, I asked him to ride with me to drop Jaiden off instead of going to get a room. He nodded and drove so I could relax with Jaiden in the backseat. Of course Raiden came out the house trying to see who was with me because I emerged from the back of the car.
I don’t know what made him think he could be all in my business, but I ignored the face he made as I walked Jaiden up the driveway.
“You really just gon’ bring some nigga to my house and disrespect me like that?” Raiden asked.
I snorted. “Raiden, my friend drove me because I’m dealing with something right now. Could you watch the way you’re speaking in front of our child?”
“You mad disrespectful, Jada.” Raiden said as a woman came from inside the house – mind you this was the third woman I’d seen him with since our breakup, but I refused to act out.
“Who this bitch?” The woman asked.
I rolled my neck and heard the car door close behind me. Jaiden moved from my side to behind my leg. When I heard Tra’Mel reach me, I moved my hand toward him and Jaiden switched hers from mine to his.
“Watch your mouth in front of my daughter.” Not a question, not a suggestion. A fact, plain and simple.
I turned my head to Tra’Mel. He nodded without me having to say anything. He knew it was bubbling out of control and wanted to take Jaiden away from the action.
In that moment I knew we had a bond I hadn’t noticed before. When he started toward the car, Raiden went to move after them. I stepped in the way, and he looked at me like I’d set him on literal fire.
“You wanna talk shit and act an ass, this is what you get. You will not do that shit in front of my daughter. You will not continue to bring these random bitches around my baby.”
I heard the car door close behind me and I knew Tra’Mel had strapped her into the car seat I’d bought when we got here. When I heard the second door close, I began to calm down slightly. He’d keep her occupied while I dealt with this. He trusted I could handle it without his help, but he was close enough to come if I needed him.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” The woman asked like she was big and bold.
“You might wanna check yourself before I do it for you,” I said, taking one step toward her. “I been gave away my last fuck, so you done caught me at a breaking point. Be careful, plastic princess.”
I turned my attention to Raiden who tried inching his way toward our rental. “You want to see your daughter, learn how to act like a father. Contact me after you’ve taken a few classes.”
“I’ll see you in court.” He said as I walked off.
“I’ll be waiting.” I threw a finger over my shoulder.
Back in the car, Tra’Mel didn’t say a word. Jaiden remained quiet as well. We drove to a local restaurant, ate lunch, then went to the hotel to check-in. Tra’Mel was about to request a room, but I grabbed his hand and brought him to ours.
I didn’t want to be alone. It wasn’t for a sexual intimacy, but a mental one. After Jaiden went to sleep that night, we sat on the balcony and talked for hours. He became the friend I needed.
In less than 24 hours Jaiden lost not only her auntie, but was in the process of completely losing her father. I refused to let her see this ignorance if it was going to cause her more harm than good to be around him.
I got the sense that she understood. The last thing she told me before she went to sleep was that “daddy no nice, mama. I don’t want to be with him if he no nice.”
This unsavory behavior had to be kept from her, not because I didn’t want her to use bad language or learn to dislike a person, but because she wasn’t even three and understood the hardships of a full-grown adult.
Come mid-June everything had been settled for a second time. We went through an actual court case this time and Jaiden got to speak her mind. She didn’t like that Raiden always had new friends. She didn’t like that he was mean to me, either.
When the judge asked her where she wanted to live she said with me and Tra’Mel. My heart nearly pounded out of my chest. I explained that
Tra’Mel was a friend and had been helping along with her god-father, Demontré.
Apparently Jaiden was a little more observant of body language than I thought. Needless to say, the judge granted me full custody and visitation was at my discretion.
Whenever Jaiden wanted to see him, I’d take her. I wouldn’t keep her from knowing him or being around him except to protect her from his bad behavior. She hugged the judge for “letting me stay with mama.”
Raiden left the room after the judge gave his ruling. I couldn’t worry about it any further. Jaiden’s birthday was three weeks away and she wanted to go home. It was time to pamper my princess and be as happy as we could.
21
Tra’Mel
I stayed with Jada and Jaiden at the hotel in Houston for a little over three months before we made it back to Frisco. Jada told me on more than one occasion to go home and take care of my company, but I had people in place to run everything while I stayed with her.
With D’Nae no longer a problem personally, my focus rested on her. Business wise, my managers kept in contact with me every morning and every evening to layout the day, and I moderated meetings via computer.
I didn’t plan on leaving her here to deal with the situation with her ex by herself. I didn’t understand how their relationship had been great before, because he had a mean streak and threatened her at least twice. She thought if I stuck around, I’d get tired of the drama and leave her.
That wasn’t happening. I ordered a TENS machine and kept up my regimen. She massaged my leg if I screwed up and forgot to do a treatment and I rubbed her feet after she went for a run with Jaiden or her shoulders after a long day of painting or sculpting for a client.
That precious little girl was beyond observant, though. I remember when Jada went to take a shower one day, she asked if I liked her mama. I told her I did and that I liked her too. She smiled and nodded like she knew exactly what I meant.