by K, S
Until then, something about that damned photo was going to bug the ever lovin' shit out of him – but what was it?? Darrell frowned as he mentally went over every aspect of the picture before his face cleared. The mole. That's what bothered him.
Jerra's beauty mark was located above her upper lip on the right side of her face. But the little girl's beauty mark was on the left side. That wasn’t a photo of Jerra when she was a little girl.
This created even more questions: why had she led him to believe it was her in the picture? And if the little girl wasn’t Jerra...then who in the hell was she??
Jerra lay quiet and still, listening to the steady thumping of Darrell's heart against her cheek. She knew her husband well and was aware the photograph would stay uppermost in his mind until they addressed the subject, and she planned to do so soon. She had made contact with the man who adopted her baby and planned to meet her for the first time in two days when they flew to Vegas. A small sad smile crossed Jerra’s mouth
. She had to stop calling her daughter a baby. At sixteen years old, she was far that.
Her arms tightened around Darrell as she snuggled closer. She loved her husband so much. He had saved her life, both literally and figuratively. She would be forever grateful to him for convincing her to get counseling in order to deal with the violent assault she'd endured as a teenager. Jerra hadn’t realized that she’d subconsciously been blaming herself all these years. From the counseling sessions with her therapist, Jerra had come to the realization that there was nothing she could’ve done to stop the attack. None of it had been her fault. Releasing the shame, fear, and anger of what her stepfather had done to her put her on the road to healing and recovery. It also manifested the desire she'd been suppressing to meet the child conceived as a result of the rape. But it was a journey she felt she had to do...needed to do alone before she told Darrell and cleansed herself of the secret she'd kept from him all this time.
She still remembered the overwhelming emotion of instant love which seeped through her veins the moment she first saw a picture of her child. A lone tear fell from her eye and landed on Darrell's chest as she mouthed her daughter's name: Giselle.
Most astonishing of all was the fact that she lived in Nevada, just outside of Lake Tahoe. From the file the private investigator had given her, Giselle and her adopted father, Robert Valentine, had moved from the east coast when she was only five years old after he separated from his wife. Once Rob, as he insisted on her calling him, agreed to see her she'd flown to Nevada several times until he felt comfortable about her meeting his daughter. Jerra assured him her intention wasn't to disrupt Giselle's life, only to be a part of it in any capacity they allowed.
At the second meeting, Jerra learned Giselle’s adopted mother had decided she didn't want to be tied down with a wife and child. Rob willingly took over the task of becoming a single father to his child. From what Jerra gathered, Giselle was an extremely happy and well-adjusted young girl. She knew she was adopted, so when her father told her that her birth mother wanted to meet her, she was open to doing so - even excited. Rob told Jerra he would make it a mini vacation for himself and Giselle.
Jerra was torn about how much to reveal to Giselle, but one thing she was positive about was that she never wanted her daughter to learn the ugly circumstances in which she was conceived. Jerra tried to think about it as little as possible. Her alcoholic stepfather had been a mean, filthy animal who'd harbored deranged fantasies about her from the day he married her mother – Jerra had been eleven years old at the time. After Jerra's mother died from cancer several years later, he'd wasted little time taking what he wanted.
Once she escaped from Mississippi to Atlanta, Jerra found out she was pregnant. Young and alone, she'd chosen to put her child up for adoption. Knowing that Giselle was safe and happy reiterated the fact that Jerra had made the right decision.
"Babe...you woke?"
The quiet words rumbled from Darrell's chest, but Jerra pretended to be asleep. The burden was beginning to weigh heavily on her. Before she met Darrell, she'd looked at the rape as a horrible nightmare that had happened to someone else. After her stepfather had been arrested, the entire story of what she went through had come pouring out to Darrell like a cleansing balm to her emotional wounds. Still not ready to face the emotional upheaval she'd gone through with the pregnancy and adoption, Jerra had kept that part of her ordeal a buried secret.
Now, she was ready to confront the last chapter of her past. Once she did, no more secrets, no more lies.
Chapter 21
“What do you mean you won't talk to her about Amir?”
Marcus had come home and immediately told Aleesha about meeting his sister and the news about her and Amir. He thought Aleesha would feel the same way he did, but apparently he was wrong. He didn’t get upset with his wife very often…but this was one of those times.
Aleesha took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. She was just as shocked as anyone to find out that Amir and Marcus’ sister were involved – even more so when he told her that Amir had a ten year old son. In all the years they’d known each other, he had never even breathed a word to her about having a child. However, what Marcus wanted her to do was out of the question.
“Baby, I know you feel protective of your sister, but she’s a grown woman. I haven’t even met her yet, and you’re asking me to interfere in her relationship.”
Marcus stood in front of Aleesha with arms folded and leaned down towards her. “So, even knowing what you do about your ex-fiancé you’re just going to let Alexis ruin her life over that bastard?"
Aleesha raised an eyebrow and looked Marcus up and down. She just knew he wasn’t trying to intimidate her. She stared at him until he got the hint and straightened up. Taking a deep breath, Aleesha tried to reason with him again.
“Marcus, she’s already asked you to stay out of it. If Alexis is anything like you, she can take care of herself.” Leesh gave him a smile to try and get him to lighten up a little bit.
“Aleesha. I haven’t been able to be there her entire life. That choice was taken away from us. But I’m here now, and I refuse to let Amir…” Marcus couldn’t even stand to say the name. “I refuse to let him treat her like he’s treated you and countless other women. I know you might think I’m being overprotective, but she’ll thank me in the end.”
“I still don’t see why we couldn’t have just rented a car. We didn’t need him to come and pick us up.” Amir stared at the numbers above the elevator door. Marcus had called from the lobby and was waiting to drive them to his house. Amir was not looking forward to today.
“Baby, don’t be like that. You said you were okay with this. And he’s promised to stay out of our relationship. You two are going to have to learn how to get along with one another, because neither of you are going anywhere.”
Amir twisted his mouth, but remained silent so he wouldn’t say the wrong thing and ruin this day for her.
“Can I ask you a question?” The elevator stopped to let a couple of people off.
Amir looked at Alexis curiously. “Of course.”
“Are you looking forward to seeing your…to seeing Aleesha?”
Amir's eyes never wavered. “Honey, I wouldn’t say I’m ‘looking forward’ to seeing her. To be honest, it just feels a little…weird. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You loved her very much at one time, though, didn’t you?”
Amir slipped his hand beneath her hair and rubbed her neck. “Alexis, whatever feelings I had are gone. You’re the only woman I love. The only woman I want to be with...okay?” Alexis nodded and lifted her mouth to his for a kiss.
When the elevator doors opened, Amir silently repeated the little speech he'd been giving himself all morning. You promised Alexis you would get along with everyone - ESPECIALLY Marcus, so put ya game face on and just concentrate on getting through the day without any altercations.
He tried to pump himself up to believe everythi
ng would go smoothly, but no matter how much he said the words, he didn’t believe them. He already knew: the shit was going to hit the fan today - he already saw it coming.
On the ride over to Marcus' house, Amir was in the back of the SUV while Lexie sat in the front. He knew she was chattering nonstop due to her nervousness. Not that he could blame her. When he and Marcus had seen one another, they’d tersely nodded, and that had been the extent of their communication. Alexis had tried to engage them in a conversation that left them no choice but to interact, but she soon gave up when they continued to offer only one word answers.
Forty-five minutes later, they pulled up to Marcus’ house, an ultra-modern, two story structure which sat on a half-acre lot. Amir reluctantly agreed with Alexis when she complimented her brother on how beautiful his home was. Marcus turned off the ignition, noticing that Dom and Keisha along with Darrell and Jerra had already made it. Amir frowned when he noticed the extra cars parked in the circular driveway. What the...??
“Your friends are here already?” Alexis asked Marcus.
“What friends?” Amir asked.
Marcus ignored Amir and addressed Alexis' question. “I guess so. I told them twelve-ish, which to them usually turns into one or two, but I guess they were anxious to meet you.”
As they got out of the truck, Amir stepped in front of Alexis. “What friends?” he repeated to her.
“I thought I mentioned that Marcus was having a cookout for us. Just a small gathering,” Lexie said as she avoided Amir’s gaze and suddenly made herself busy digging in her purse.
“No, you didn’t,” Amir answered through clenched teeth.
“Is there a problem?” Marcus stared at Amir with a look of outright dislike.
Amir shot Marcus a cold look, and was getting ready to tell him that he wasn’t talking to him when he felt Lexie’s hand touch his arm. He glanced at her and saw the pleading in her eyes. Sighing, he turned back to Marcus. “No problem.”
Lexie smiled and slipped her arm around Amir’s waist. Marcus looked at Amir with a mocking grin and shook his head. He’d never understand what his sister saw in this busta.
“Thank you, baby.” Alexis whispered in a voice dripping with gratitude. She knew this wasn’t easy for him, and she loved him all the more for trying to keep the peace. Amir’s look softened as he leaned down to give her a quick kiss.
“Come on Lex. I want you to meet my wife.” He emphasized the word and looked at Amir as if trying to elicit a response.
Amir refused to give him one. “After you,” he told him sarcastically.
“Thanks,” Marcus answered in the same tone as he led the way to the front door.
Alexis squeezed Amir’s hand. Amir's expression held a hint of concern. “You okay?” he whispered. She nodded and tried to smile, but she couldn’t hide the tense set of her mouth. The first person Amir saw when they stepped into the house was Aleesha standing in the foyer.
“Hi, baby.” Marcus leaned down to kiss her then reached for Lexie’s hand and made the introductions with a wide smile on his face. “Sweetheart, this is my sister, Alexis. Alexis, my wife, Aleesha.”
Alexis held out her hand, but Aleesha smiled and stepped towards her and gave her a hug. After a moment’s hesitation, Alexis returned the hug, surprised at Aleesha’s warm greeting.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Alexis. Marcus has been beyond excited since the agency contacted him.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Aleesha looked at Amir. A smile small came to her face. She hesitated before reaching over and giving him a hug as well. “Hi, Mir. How are you?”
“I’m good Aleesha. You’re looking well.”
“Thank you.” There was an awkward silence before she said a little bit too brightly. “Well, come on in, I didn’t mean to keep you just standing here. I’ll introduce you to our friends.” She wrapped her arm through Alexis’ and drew her into the family room.
Amir followed them, lost in his thoughts. He had wondered how he would react when he finally came face to face with Aleesha again, although a scenario like this had never entered his mind. She looked happy. Amir smiled to himself as he realized he truly didn’t have any feelings for her other than wanting her to be happy - even if it was with Marcus.
He watched as Aleesha introduced Alexis to Jerra and Keisha. He knew Aleesha's friends had each gotten married as well and moved to Las Vegas. The three of them had always been close for as long as he’d known Aleesha. They hadn’t been too happy with him after the break-up, but they’d been civil. Hopefully time healed all wounds. His gaze moved to the two men standing beside them.
“And this is Darrell, Jerra’s husband, and DJ, their son. This is Dominick, Keisha’s husband, and Samantha, Dominick's daughter.” Alexis was being enveloped in hug after hug. The only thing this tight knit group of friends needed to know was that she was Marcus’ sister, which made her family to them.
“Amir, of course you know Jerra and Keisha…” Both women stepped up to greet Amir and give him a hug. They didn’t hold any ill will towards Amir. Things had worked out the way they were supposed to.
“Amir, I’d like you to meet my husband, Darrell,” Jerra said with a smile. Amir didn’t miss the look she sent Darrell who reluctantly gave Amir the briefest of handshakes before walking off.
“Darrell….” Jerra hissed, frowning at him.
Keisha quickly pulled Dominick towards Amir. “And this is my hubby, Dominick. Dominick, Amir Montgomery.”
Dominick hesitated then stuck his hand out to shake Amir’s.
“Nice to meet….” Amir stopped mid-sentence. Dominick had already turned around and joined his friends who all had their backs towards him.
Amir let out a gruff half-laugh and looked down at the floor, shaking his head. This was going to be one hell of a day.
Chapter 22
Amir looked at his watch for about the hundredth time. He never realized a day could drag by so slowly. He shifted his attention to his baby, who was laughing and talking with Aleesha, Jerra, and Keisha as if she had known them all her life. She glanced over at him and smiled before they all went inside to get the rest of the food.
When Amir’s phone rang, he looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Soul. “What’s up?”
“Sup, bruh? Just called to see how things were goin’. I know you weren’t lookin’ forward to spending the day with Alexis’ brother so wanted to give you a little moral support.”
Amir smirked and shook his head. Soul was so full of shit. “Man, you called to find out what happened when I saw Aleesha.”
Busted, Soul laughed sheepishly. “A’ight, a'ight. You got me. I admit I was a li'l curious.”
“It was cool. She’s happy and content. I’m happy and content. It’s cool.” Amir took a sip of his beer as he frowned at the three men standing by the grill. Marcus and his friends had been talking about him all day - they hadn’t really made an effort to hide it.
“How’s my son?” Amir asked, still staring across the way. He was this close from losing his patience along with his temper. He’d tried to be sociable for Alexis’ sake, but that shit was about to be a wrap.
“He’s good man. He and Destiny are enjoying themselves. They’re in seventh heaven.”
“Good,” Amir answered. He paused in the middle of bringing his beer to his lips for another sip. Dominick and Darrell were rolling with laughter at something Marcus had said, apparently in reference to him. Marcus shot an amused glance towards Amir, then turned around and slapped hands with his buddies, joining in their laughter.
“That’s it. Bunch of pussies.” Amir muttered as he stood up.
“What’s wrong? Amir?”
“Alexis’ brother has a couple of friends over and apparently I’m their comedy for the afternoon. But we’re getting ready to see just how funny this shit really is right now.”
Marcus noticed that Amir was standing and staring his way. He folded his arms and tu
rned to face him…and waited.
“Amir, don’t do anything you’ll regret. Just ignore them, you don’t want to ruin the day for Alexis.”
“Soul, I been ignoring it all day. They’ve been actin’ like li'l bitches on a playground. I’ve had just about enough of the dumb shit.”
Amir hung up with Soul still calling his name. He walked over to the trio, his face unreadable. Darrell and Dominick flanked Marcus on either side, but Amir kept his gaze locked with Marcus’ until he was standing directly in front of him. They were getting this out in the open once and for all.
“What is your problem? I’ve tried to be civil for Alexis’ sake but I think you’re taking that as a sign of weakness. I’m telling you now. Don’t.”
“Son, you need to step the fuck back.” Darrell walked towards Amir, but Marcus held a hand up.
“Nah, D. I got this.” His eyes were cold and threatening. “The only reason I’m even tolerating you in my house is because of my sister. I only hope she realizes what a loser you are before you hurt her. I mean, that is your M.O. right? Fuckin' over women?”
“You don’t know a got damn thing about me, but answer me this. I’m beginning to wonder something if you wouldn’t mind helping me out.” Amir laughed softly as if amused. “Are you so determined to get me out of Alexis’ life because you’re worried about her…" He deliberately let the smile fall off his face. "...or worried about me being around your wife?”