“I don’t even know what the fuck happened. When I got there they said that Kareem had been shot and had been taken to the hospital. When I got to the hospital they said he was in surgery, but he wil be okay.”
“Who’s there with him?”
“My mom and dad is up there. I couldn’t sit around that motherfucker. I hate hospitals. None of my men are anywhere to be found. Nobody’s answering their phones.
They know they wil have hel to pay because they were supposed to be watching him, but yet my brother is lying up in some damn hospital. What the fuck am I paying them for?” He said, getting angry al over again.
*******
Xavier’s phone began ringing around 4am. He was cursing people out left and right. “You motherfuckers got 48
hours to get these nigga or else that’s y’al asses!” he screamed into his cel . Déjà went into the living room where Xavier was leaned against the wal with his head back. She grabbed his hand and led him into the bedroom. Déjà undressed him and got him settled under the covers. She lied next to him with her arms draped across his abdomen.
“Thanks for being here, baby. I’m sorry for al of this. I just wanted to be with you tonight,” he said, pul ing her close to him.
“It’s okay, stay as long as you like,” she said, kissing his chest.
********
Déjà cal ed off the next day. She let Xavier sleep in.
She went into her home office to finish up the paperwork on her desk. She got done around three that afternoon. Xavier was stil sleeping, so she threw a load in the washer. She heard the phone ringing. She went back into her office to answer it.
“Hel o,” she answered.
“What up, baby?” asked the male on the other end of the line.
“Who is this?” Déjà asked agitated.
“Oh you forgot my voice? It’s Shawn.”
“You got a lot of nerve cal ing my house. How the hel did you get my number anyway?”
“Your cousin gave it to me.”
“Wait until I see that trick,” she said under her breath.
“Don’t cal my house anymore.”
“Oh, that’s how it is?”
“Yeah, now please don’t cal me again.”
“Fuck you then, bitch, there’s plenty of pussy out here!” He said practical y yel ing.
“Wel go get some then you trifling motherfucker!” She said before hanging up. Déjà sat at her computer as she thought back to the day she walked in on him fucking her cousin and got pissed al over again. It wasn’t so much Shawn’s cal that disturbed her. When she thought about what he did, she would often think back to the night her mom caught her dad in bed with his secretary. Déjà tried hard to forget about that night, but she couldn’t. She began tearing up as she stared at the floating fish that was on her screensaver on the computer screen.
Xavier walked in the room as she was wiping her tears away. “What’s wrong, baby?” Xavier asked, noticing that her eyes were red.
“Nothing, how are you holding up?” Déjà said, trying to change the subject.
“There is something going on with you. You wake up in cold sweats for one, and then I walk in here and you’re crying. Now, tel me what’s up,” he said, pul ing her up, taking her seat, and pul ing her down on his lap. Déjà told him al about the night her mom caught her father in bed with his secretary in their house. She told him how she witnessed Charlotte murdering James, his secretary, and then turning the gun on herself. “That’s when I moved with my grandmother. I was only 10 years old. Did she not think about me?” Déjà questioned as she cried uncontrol ably.
“Is that what you dream about?” He asked, looking into her eyes.
“Yes. I dream about it sometimes and the dreams stil seems so real. It’s like I’m reliving that night al over again,” Déjà said with her head hung.”
“Is that why you have a hard time trusting men?” He said, rubbing his hands through her hair.
“Yeah, and the fact that every man I’ve ever dated cheated on me. Are there any faithful men left in the world?” She asked, forgetting she was talking to a man.
“You’re looking at one and it’s not just men, women do it as wel ,” he said, massaging the nape of her neck.
“That’s true, but I don’t understand how you can claim to love someone but have no problem sleeping with someone else. That’s not love if you ask me,” she said, looking him in the eye.
”You’re right, it’s not.”
“Have you ever cheated?”
“I’ve only been in two real relationships, and no I have never cheated, but they both cheated on me,” he said.
You mean to tel me that you only slept with two women and you’re 29?” She asked not believing him.
“No, I didn’t say that. I said I’ve only been in two real relationships. The others were just women I was fucking at the time.”
“Is that what I am, someone you’re just fucking?” She asked, getting up off his lap.
“Nah, baby, you are definitely the real thing,” he said, getting up as wel and kissing her on the lips.
“Are you okay?” He asked with worry.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Déjà answered and then left out her office, heading toward the bedroom.
“I’m going to go check on my brother do you want to come with me?” Xavier asked.
“Of course,” she said, getting in the shower with him on her trail.
~ELEVEN~
“You are approximately 5 weeks pregnant,” said Dr.
Keeler. Jade was not happy. She wasn’t ready for kids.
She had so much she wanted to do before starting a family.
Jade wanted to be married before she had kids, but she didn’t believe in abortion. Jay was thril ed, but he understood why Jade was not too pleased with the results of the pregnancy test, but he planned to change that. He went shopping for an engagement ring the next day.
“I have dinner reservations for 5:30 tonight. Can you be dressed by 4:00?” asked Jay.
“Sure babe, who are the other two people that wil be joining us?” She asked.
“Xavier and Déjà wil meet us there.”
“Okay, I’l see you at 5:30,” she said, trying to get in a nap.
“No Jade, I said the reservation is for 5:30, so I’l be there to pick you up at 4:00.”
“Okay, fine I’m going to take a quick nap,” she said, climbing into bed.
“That’s cool, but please be up and dressed by 4:00
Jade!” he said not wanting his plans to be ruined.
“Okay, I wil . Bye!”
“One,” he said, pul ing into his garage.
Jade didn’t understand why they say “morning sickness”. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon and she was hovered over the toilet, vomiting. She looked terrible. Her hair was al over her head and her face was flushed. She felt horrible, but she tried to get dressed and pul herself together. Jay walked in while Jade was standing in the mirror, putting the finishing touches on her hair and makeup.
“What up baby, how are you feeling?” He asked, kissing her on the cheek.
“Besides the fact that I’ve been throwing up al day, I’m fine,” she said in a sarcastic tone.
“You think you wil be okay going out?”
“Yeah, I’l be okay. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Déjà. I haven’t seen her in weeks.” He heard the hurt in her voice and saw the tears forming in her eyes. He stared at her. She felt her heart getting heavy. She wasn’t happy at al about the pregnancy, but she didn’t want to hurt Jay by tel ing him that she was considering abortion. She began to tear up.
“Jade, why are you crying?” he asked.
“No reason, Jay. I’m just emotional that’s al .”
“Now we both know that’s bul shit!” he said with anger in his voice.
“Why are you getting so angry?” she said with tears now flowing down her cheeks.
“Because I know what this is al about,” he replied.
He turned her around so that she was face to face with him.
She couldn’t look at him. “Jade, you can’t even look at me.
You’re that disappointed about having my baby, huh?”
“It’s not that, Jay. I just wanted to do it the right way and I’m not disappointed in you. I’m disappointed in myself because I let it happen.”
“Baby, you shouldn’t be. I told you I was going to do this your way, so just let me do me, okay?” he asked, lifting her chin and making her look him in the eye.
“Okay,” she replied.
“Wipe those tears away. You know I hate to see you cry.”
He kissed her on lips. “I love you, baby. Trust me, I’m going to make you happy if it kil s me.”
“I love you too!”
“Wel , with that said let’s get going. We can’t be late.”
********
They boarded the Heart of Chicago just as they were closing the doors. They spotted Déjà and Xavier over at a table near the dance floor. “Hey girl,” Déjà said, hugging Jade.
“What up, cuz!” said Jay, giving Xavier daps.
“You sure you ready for this?” said Xavier, whispering in Jay’s ear.
“Yeah man, I love her with every piece of me, dawg, and she is about to be the mother of my child. I have to make an honest woman out of her.” He said, mugging Jade.
“I hear you. The way things are going between me and Déjà, I might be next,” Xavier said, smiling at Déjà.
“Yeah?” said Jay.
“Yeah man. She’s every man’s dream,” said Xavier.
“We’re going to the ladies room, so please order me an Amaretto Sour,” said Jade, interrupting their men talk.
“I don’t think so, Jade. You can have a cranberry juice,” Jay said, kissing Jade on the forehead.
“Order me the same,” Déjà said to Xavier.
They walked into the ladies room. Déjà was ready to jump down Jade’s throat about not tel ing her about the pregnancy.
“I heard Jay say that you couldn’t have any liquor and there’s only one reason a man would stop his woman from having an alcoholic drink, and that’s if she’s pregnant,” Déjà said, staring at Jade with her hands on her hip.
“I didn’t want to tel anyone because I’m not sure if I’m going to keep it,” she said, taking a seat on the bench.
“What do you mean you know if you’re going to keep it? Since when have you started believing in abortions?” said Déjà. She sat down next to Jade.
“I don’t, but you know I wanted to be married before I had kids,” She said with tears in her eyes.
“Did you share this information with Jay?” asked Déjà, handing her a Kleenex.
“Yes, I did. To be honest, I think he got me pregnant on purpose.”
“There’s no such thing unless you’re screaming rape and I know that’s not the case,” said Déjà.
“Of course not, I want to have his baby, but I want to be married first or at least engaged,” she said.
“Whatever you decide you know I got your back girl,” said Déjà, already knowing what Jay had planned for the night.
“Thanks girl!” said Jade, hugging her.
Déjà and Jade was in the mirror fixing their hair when an older lady walked into the bathroom.
“Are you two ladies okay in here?” The older lady asked.
“Yes, ma’am, we’re fine,” they answered with a smile.
“Oh, okay your husbands asked me if I could check on you two,” she said.
“They sent you in here to check on us?” they asked with their hands on their hips.
“I was already on my way in, so they asked me to make sure you girls were okay,” she said.
“So overprotective!” they said, laughing.
“Yes, Lord! Oh and congratulations baby!” said the older lady, smiling at Jade.
“Congratulations for what?” Jade asked curiously.
“On the bundle of joy,” she said, pointing at Jade’s bel y.
“How do you know,” Jade asked through squinted eyes.
“Aw, baby, I’m old school. I know the pregnancy glow when I see it,” she said before exiting the restroom.
For the first time since her doctor’s appointment, Jade actual y felt happy about the pregnancy.
It was something about the old woman that made her smile. They exited the bathroom and headed back to the table.
“Are you okay, baby?” said Jay, standing and pul ing the chair out for Jade. Xavier did the same.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, sitting and then sipping on her cranberry juice.
They ate, talked, and laughed about their past. Déjà and Jade were reminiscing on their col ege days where they met. Jay and Xavier had childhood stories on one another. The band was on fire. They decided to hit the dance floor. They were now playing “When a Man a Loves a Woman”.
Jay and Jade were al over each other. “This one is especial y for Jay and Jade,” said one of the band members. Jade was surprised, but before she could question Jay about what was going on, he was down on one knee. The people on the dance floor stepped back, giving them room.
Déjà was in tears. Jade was holding her chest when Xavier walked up and handed Jay a red velvet box. He opened the box, exposing a six carat, princess cut engagement ring. Several of the women had tears of joy in their eyes. Tears were now running down Jade’s cheeks.
“Wil you marry me?” he asked, looking her in the eyes.
“Are you serious!” she cried.
“Of course, I am. I told you I was going to do this your way. Nothing in this world matters to me other than putting a smile on your face. Wil you marry me, Jade?”
“Yes, baby!” said Jade. She was now bawling.
He hugged and kissed her, forgetting others were in the room. The crowd clapped as Déjà approached Jade and congratulated her.
“I told you to just wait and see,” she said.
“You knew al along didn’t you?” she asked through tears and a smile.
“And you know this, man!” She said, imitating Chris Tucker.
“I’m going to kil you,” she said, hugging her.
“Now we’re even,” she replied.
“Whatever!” She said, turning in the direction of Jay, hugging and kissing him.
“Congratulations to the both of you!” said Xavier, raising his drink in the air.
~TWELVE~
Déjà was shaking her head and saying a silent prayer as she watched the newscaster broadcast yet another senseless shooting of a CPS student. “That doesn’t make any damn sense,” she said, answering a ringing phone.
“Hey baby, what are you doing?” Xavier’s sexy voice said through the phone.
“Oh nothing,” she said happy to hear his voice.
“Watching the news, and I’m so sick of hearing about these children getting shot and kil ed on their way to and from school.”
“Yeah, I saw that. That’s crazy,” he said, shaking his head, “I didn’t al ow any dumb shit like that in my crew back when I was hustling.”
“That’s good to know,” she said, blushing.
“Yeah, our only goal was to get money, not to take somebody’s life.”
“So you do have a heart?” she said relieved to know that he never kil ed anybody.
“Of course, I do. Believe it or not, I do have a very religious family background.”
“I believe you,” she said.
“Good. But, enough of al that. What are you doing today?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I don’t have any plans. Why, what’s up?” She asked now surfing the internet from her laptop.
“My mom is having a barbeque today would you like to go?”
“Sure. Do you know if Jade and Jay are coming?”
“Yeah, I talked to Jay and he said they’re going to stop through.”
“Okay good, I wil have someone to talk to.”
“Cool, I’l pick
you up at three. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” she said. She got up and headed into her bedroom to find something to wear.
“A’ight baby, I’l see you in a little bit.”
“Okay bye,” she said, and then hung up.
********
The barbeque was very entertaining. Mr. and Mrs.
Jones were real y nice folks. They showed Déjà baby pictures of Xavier. He introduced her to his brother Kareem and his sister Asia.
They were hilarious. They had major jokes about each other from back in the day. The Aunts and Uncles even joined in on the wise cracks. Asia and Déjà exchanged numbers and made plans to hang out sometimes.
“Your family is very down to earth, Xavier,” Déjà said on the ride back.
“Yeah I can’t complain. They like you though,” he said, merging onto 80/94.
“Why are you taking 80/94?” she asked, “this is not the way to my house.”
“I know it’s the way to mine,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it.
“I’ve been at your house more than my own since we’ve met,” she said, shifting her body toward his. “Hel , I might as wel move in and save on the rent.”
“I agree,” he said, looking over at her with a smile plastered on his face.
“You so sil y,” she said now looking out the window.
“I’m serious, Déjà.”
“We’ve only known each other for three months, what I look like moving in with you?”
“Why do women have to always put a number on things?”
“Because, it’s usual y relevant to the situation, that’s why.”
“Don’t get al worked up, baby. I’m just saying I love waking up to you in the morning, that’s al .”
“Me too, baby, but let me think about it,” she said, reclining the seat.
“That’s better than saying no,” he said, kissing the back of her hand.
********
The fol owing day, Déjà went by Margaret’s to check on her. After that talk with Gail, they had become real y close. Déjà cal ed Margaret, wanting to speak to her about her mother and father. Margaret knew the day would soon come when she would have to explain to Déjà why her mother kil ed her father then took her own life.
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