COMPLICATED

by Chenell Parker

  “Well, what are you doing tomorrow? I was thinking that we could hook up once you get off. We can go to happy hour at Gordon Biersch in Harrah’s,” Zyra offered.

  “That sounds…” Rylee had started before she was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. “Hold on Zyra, I need to take this call.”

  Zyra hung on the phone while chopping up seasoning to prepare the gravy steaks that Zyrian had begged her to cook. She loved having her little brother there, but he worked on her nerves sometimes. Zyrian was spoiled, but not in a bad way. He loved a good home cooked meal, and he was a bit of a neat freak. It was nothing that Zyra couldn’t handle, though. He spoiled her all the time too, so she didn’t mind doing little things for him. Zyrian was the reason that Zyra no longer had a job. She used to work for their local water company once she and Tommy separated, but Zyrian knew that she hated it. The money was great, and that was the only reason why she stayed so long. He offered her a job working as a receptionist at his body shop making the same amount that she made at her job. That was a no-brainer for her, and she quit her job the day after the offer was made. She reported to work bright and early the following Monday ready to work. That was when she found out that Zyrain really didn’t have any work for her to do. Their father kept up with the paperwork and all of the appointments, leaving Zyra bored out of her mind most days. She complained to her little brother constantly, and he finally told her the truth. He really didn’t need her help at all, but he knew that she wouldn’t let him give her money without feeling like she was working for it. Needless to say, that was Zyra’s last day on the job and her last day working period. Even when Zyrian went to jail, he made sure that their father deposited money into her account every two weeks.

  “Okay, I’m back, that was my doctor,” Rylee announced when she came back to the line.

  “Your doctor? Is everything alright?” Zyra questioned.

  “Everything is great. That was my gynecologist. Happy hour sounds good, but no drinking for me right now,” Rylee said with a hint of a smile in her voice.

  “Are you pregnant?” Zyra asked.

  “I don’t know yet. That’s why I had to take that call. My cycle is late, and I’ve been calling to get an appointment since yesterday. They finally decided to call me back.”

  “Did you take a home test?” Zyra inquired.

  “No, Mekhi said that they’re not accurate. He wants us to go to my doctor. They’re backed up with appointments, so I can’t see him until next week.”

  “Well, I guess happy hour is out. Maybe we can go out to eat or something,” Zyra offered.

  There was no way in hell that she could tell her friend about Mekhi now. With the possibility of Rylee being pregnant, Zyra couldn’t fathom giving her such bad news. She couldn’t risk the health of her best friend’s unborn child, no matter the reason.

  “We can still go to happy hour. I’ll eat while you drink,” Rylee laughed.

  “Sounds good to me. Invite Amber too, so I don’t have to drink alone.”

  “Okay boo, we’ll talk later. I need to answer this phone for the hundredth time today,” Rylee replied before they ended the call.

  Zyra went back to preparing her meal with more on her mind than she did before she called Rylee. Although they were married, she couldn’t believe that Rylee would possibly be having Mekhi’s baby. She really hated him with a passion, but she could never let her best friend know that. Zyra knew that it was going to be hard being in Mekhi’s company, but she would do anything for her girl.

  ***

  “Excuse me Mr. Jameson, but someone is at the front door asking for you,” Frank, one of Mekhi’s managers at MJ’s informed him.

  “Who is it and what do they want? We’re not even opened yet,” Mekhi said never looking up from his computer.

  “I know, but he wouldn’t tell me the reason for his visit. He just keeps asking for you,” Frank replied with a shrug.

  “Yeah okay, but whoever it is will have to wait until I’m done. I’ll be there in a minute,” Mekhi said dismissively.

  Mekhi wasn’t really doing anything important, but he didn’t like to be rushed. He was the boss and whoever it was would have to wait until he was done sending his wife the edible arrangement that he was looking at. He loved to do little spontaneous things for Rylee, and he would probably be doing it more often now that she was possibly pregnant. He was excited beyond words to know that he and his wife could possibly be having a baby. He was angry that Rylee couldn’t get an appointment sooner than she did, but they had no choice. Her doctor was booked up, and they had to wait it out. Rylee wanted to take an over the counter test, but Mekhi’s mother told him that they were no good. According to Carolyn, she had taken several tests while pregnant with him, and they all said negative. She didn’t find out she was pregnant until she went to the doctor almost five months later. As a result, she wasn’t taking her prenatal vitamins like she was supposed to. Mekhi wasn’t letting that happen to him and Rylee, so he passed on the home test. He wanted her doctor to confirm it and give them a prescription for vitamins right on the spot. And if Rylee was pregnant he was ready for her to stop working. He wanted his wife to be spoiled throughout her entire pregnancy and stay home with their child until he or she was old enough for school. Having a baby with his wife is something that he always wanted, and he couldn’t wait to find out for sure. After sending Rylee’s gift to her job, Mekhi shut down his computer and headed to the front of the bar. He didn’t know who his visitor was, but he was soon about to find out.

  “How can I help you?” Mekhi asked the casually dressed older man who stood on the other side of the door.

  “Mekhi Jameson?” The gentleman asked.

  “In the flesh,” Mekhi replied

  “You’ve been served,” he said as he handed him a golden envelope and hurried away to his car.

  “Served? Served with what?” Mekhi yelled after him.

  It was too late because the man hopped in a tan Ford Taurus and sped out of MJ’s parking lot. Dumbfounded, Mekhi walked back into his office and slammed the door behind him. He took his time opening up the envelope and reading everything that it contained.

  “That stupid bitch!” Mekhi yelled while slamming his fist on his desk.

  He couldn’t believe that Shay had actually sent him child support papers. She threatened to do it a million times, but she actually went through with it this time. Somebody had obviously put her up to, but Mekhi was fuming. Although he was seeing red, all hope was not lost. The letter said that he had thirty days to either respond or make some type of payment arrangement with the child’s mother. Mekhi had recently started getting money orders to pay for Mekhya’s nursery, but it would kill him to actually have to put money in Shay’s hand. He was sick over the fact that Shay would probably spend his hard earned money on herself and her other kids. None of them were his responsibility, and he didn’t want them living comfortably off of his funds. Once he calmed down. Mekhi grabbed the phone and decided to give Shay a call. He hadn’t talked to her in a while, and she didn’t drop the baby off to Carolyn anymore since he was paying for daycare once again.

  “I guess the process server came to pay you a visit,” Shay giggled when she answered the phone.

  “Bitch you think this shit in funny?” Mekhi snapped. “My wife could have been here, and you pulled some shit like this.”

  “I don’t give a damn who was there. I’m sick of this shit. If you don’t want to take care of your daughter on your own, then I’ll get the authorities to make you do it,” Shay replied.

  “I pay her daycare. What more do you want?”

  “Her daycare is only four hundred dollars a month. She needs food, clothes and everything in between. MJ’s brings in enough money to meet all of your daughter’s needs.”

  “Bitch don’t try to count my money. MJ’s don’t make as much as you think,” Mekhi lied.

  “Mekhi you’re not fooling anybody with that bullshit you’re spitting. Y’
all have parties booked every day for the next two months at one thousand dollars each, even on the weekdays. I did my homework, so don’t try to play me, nigga. The way I see it is Mekhya should be good for at least a grand every month,” Shay replied.

  “A grand!” Mehi yelled. “Bitch you can suck a dick and die. I ain’t giving you a grand every month for that lil girl.”

  “That lil girl is your daughter, and that’s the last bitch I’m gon’ be. If you don’t want to agree to my terms, then I’ll see you in court.”

  “So you want me to give you a grand on top of paying for her nursery? You got me fucked up for real. Ain’t no judge in their right mind is going to order me to pay fourteen hundred dollars a month for one kid.”

  “If he sees how much you’re making he might order you to pay more,” Shay advised.

  “Look Shay, I’m not trying to take this to court and have my wife find out about that lil girl.”

  “Mekhya! Her fucking name is Mekhya,” Shay snapped.

  “Whatever man. Since I’m already paying four hundred for the nursery, I’ll give you six hundred more every month. That’ll equal up to a grand every month. That’s my first and only offer. Take it or leave it. Your rent is only five hundred, so that should be a big help to you,” Mekhi reasoned.

  Shay was quiet on the other end because she was thinking about his offer. She made pretty decent money on her job, but once the bills were paid she didn’t see much of it. Whatever she had left usually went to her girls or other household items. With six hundred extra dollars a month, she would be able to breathe a little easier. She knew that it was nothing compared to what she could be getting, but it was easier than going to court.

  “Fine, but your first payment starts this month and on the first of every month after this one,” Shay informed him.

  “That’s cool, but what do we do about this letter? I don’t need these people to keep coming here even after we’ve come to an agreement.”

  “I’ll have to call my case worker and tell her that we’ve worked something out. She’ll close the case after that.”

  “And how do I know that you’re really going to do that?” Mekhi questioned.

  “There should be a case number at the top of your papers along with a phone number. You can call and check on the status of the case at any time. I’ll call her tomorrow and take care of that. But in the meantime, when can I expect to have my money?” Shay asked.

  “I’ll send one of my people over there tomorrow,” Mekhi replied.

  “Why can’t you bring it? You haven’t seen your daughter in weeks. The only reason you called is because you got served with those papers.”

  “Don’t let this child support shit go to your head. I’m only agreeing to this, so I don’t have to go to court. You don’t run nothing over this way, so don’t start feeling yourself,” Mekhi said angrily.

  “All of that is irrelevant. Are you trying to see Mekhya or not?” Shay asked.

  “Not,” Mekhi said as he slammed the phone down in her ear.

  Shay was one of the dumbest women that he’d ever met. There is no way in hell that any other woman would have agreed to the numbers that he’d just thrown out at her. Honestly, Mekhi was prepared to go much higher than that, but she was too eager to accept his first offer. Shay thought that she was in control of the situation, but she got played like the dummy she was. Knowing the kind of money that MJ’s made every night, a grand a month was pocket change to Mekhi. He and Rylee spent more than that on shoes sometimes. Rylee had purses that cost ten times that much. Shay was desperate, so throwing her a few crumbs was easy. That was one problem solved; now he had to find a way to solve the other. Although Zyra hadn’t told Rylee about him and Brandy yet, it didn’t mean that she wouldn’t. Mekhi tried to smooth things out with her, but she wasn’t trying to hear it. It was a good sign that she hadn’t opened her mouth yet, and Mekhi was praying that she never would.

  Chapter 14

  “Don’t forget to tell your boss that you’ll be late for work tomorrow,” Mekhi said right before he kissed Rylee and watched her back out of their driveway.

  He rushed inside and got right into the shower, preparing to relax until it was time for him to leave. He had a busy day ahead of him, but the following day was free and clear. That would be the day that he and Rylee found out if they were expecting a baby or not. Mekhi was excited, but he had to put his feelings on the back burner for a while. He had to undergo an inspection at MJ’s in a few hours, and that was all that had consumed him for the past week. For the past few days, he and his employees had to make sure that everything at the bar was in working order and cleaned to perfection. If not, they risked failing the inspection and would have to close down temporarily. Usually, the state would give them thirty days to get everything in order or they would be closed down indefinitely until it was done. And if that wasn’t bad enough they even listed your establishment in the local newspaper letting everyone know that your place of business had violations. Mekhi wasn’t having that, especially since closing meant losing out on money. He worked around the clock, and he made sure that his employees did the same. Rylee took the liberty of redecorating the bathrooms and that only added to the work that Mekhi and the workers had already done.

  “Yeah Frank,” Mekhi said answering his ringing work phone.

  He was dripping wet since he ran out of the shower to catch the phone after it rang three times back to back.

  “We have a problem,” Frank said causing Mekhi to have an instant headache. That was not something that he needed to hear on that particular day. From Frank’s panicked tone, Mekhi could tell that the news was indeed bad.

  “What kind of problem? What’s going on Frank?” Mekhi questioned.

  “It’s the grease trap in the kitchen. It must be clogged or something because there’s grease all over the kitchen floor. It’s going to be almost impossible for us to get it all cleaned up before the inspector gets here.”

  “What!” Mekhi’s voice boomed angrily. “Did you call somebody to come and see about it? Please tell me that you didn’t call me before doing that.”

  It was times like these that made Mekhi regret serving food at his bar. Although they made lots of money doing so, dealing with health inspections was something that he could do without.

  “I’ve already called the number on the back of the manual. Somebody is on the way to repair it now. The problem is cleaning up this mess before our inspection. It’s only three of us here right now,” Frank replied.

  “Fuck!” Mekhi yelled. “I need you to get on the phone and call everybody in to work right now. I don’t give a damn if they’re off or on vacation. Tell them to get their asses there now!”

  Mekhi hung up the phone and put it back on the charger right next to his personal one. He rushed back into the bathroom making a trail of water as he walked. Once he dried himself off, he got dressed in record time and ran out of the house like it was on fire. Instead of putting on his normal work attire, Mekhi threw on a pair of old sweats and a t-shirt. If things were as bad as Frank made it seem then he would be putting in work right along with everybody else. He only prayed that Frank could round up all of the employees because their presence was definitely needed.

  ***

  Rylee packed up her Louis Vuitton briefcase and shut down her computer. It was a little after noon, and she was calling it a day.

  “I hope you feel better Rylee. If you need some more time off just let me know,” Mr. Campbell said as he saw her to her car.

  Rylee thanked him before she got into her car and headed home. She’d been trying to call Mekhi for twenty minutes, but he never answered. Rylee knew that he had an inspection at MJ’s, so he was probably going crazy at the moment. She was praying that the bar passed because she knew how hard they worked to make sure it did. She also didn’t want Mekhi to be hit with yet another bout of bad news. She was already about to give him some when he got home. She knew that he would be upset when she told him,
but it wasn’t the end of the world. After being over a week late, Rylee’s cycle finally decided to make its grand appearance. She immediately called her doctor to cancel her appointment and see if she could speak to the on call nurse. After talking for a few minutes, the nurse informed Rylee that it was normal for her body to go through different changes after getting off of her birth control. She’d been on them for years, and her body was trying to adjust. That also explained the terrible cramps that caused her to leave work early. Rylee never experienced cramps while she was on the pills. The pain that she was in at the moment made her want to get back on them.

  “I need a hot shower and a bed,” Rylee mumbled when she pulled up in her driveway.

  When she walked inside the house, she immediately noticed that the alarm wasn’t set. The door was locked, and Mekhi’s car was gone, so she knew that he wasn’t home. He never forgot to set the alarm, so Rylee figured he’d left in a hurry. Once she went to their bedroom, her suspicions were confirmed when she saw both of his cell phones as well as his wallet sitting on the nightstand next to their bed. The clothes that he planned to wear that day were still right where they were the night before. Rylee pulled out her phone and decided to give him a call at MJ’s to see what was going on.

  “MJ’s, this is Frank,” the manager said when he answered the phone. Rylee heard all the commotion in the background, and she was regretting making the call. She knew that her husband was busy, and she really didn’t want to bother him.

  “Hey Frank, this is Rylee. I was just calling to talk to Mekhi, but I’ll call him back later. I can tell that y’all are busy getting ready for inspection.”

  “Hi Rylee,” Frank greeted. “Yeah, it’s been crazy around here. We had a little problem, and Mr. Jameson had to come in early. He’s not in the best mood right now.”