All That Matters

by Paulette Jones

  ‘Yea…she might be sick of us before it’s all over with…everyone doing all this stuff for her that she can do for herself as she would put it.’

  ‘That sounds like her.’ Oh course the awkward silence came as they stood there taking each other in wondering what thoughts where floating through each other’s head. Instead of waiting Ayida broke the silence feeling like her heart would actually come out of her chest simply being in the same room. ‘Did you need some help?’

  ‘Nah I got this you go out…and get some food there is plenty out there.’

  ‘Ok well see you later.’

  ‘Right behind you.’ Once she was out the door he was breathing normal again and leaned against the counter to get his thoughts together. Before he could move to lift his head his sister Fiona stepped in the kitchen.

  ‘Guess my superstar brother still has a little crush on his old girlfriend.’

  ‘What are you talking about Fi?’

  ‘I heard you talking to Ayida just now and I saw your face when she left. What’s so wrong with admitting you were wrong for once?’

  ‘Wrong about what?’

  ‘Stop answer me with questions Sed you know what I mean…she is better off without me in her life….this life is not for her she is too good for this. That’s what I’m talking about I know you can’t still believe that.’

  ‘I have to get the ice out to mommy…’

  ‘Sedric…come on for once just admit that was a bad move.’

  ‘Fi…I love you I do but let that go.’

  ‘Why is it because of that girl from the magazines I’ve seen you with…you know they say she only dates right athletes?’

  ‘Well she isn’t dating me anymore so you don’t have that to worry about.’

  ‘Really….ha well that’s news Charles said you two where practically living together when he came to see you.’

  ‘No we weren’t she doesn’t even stay at my place like that she has her own I have my own.’

  ‘Well you’re gonna have to make some decisions little brother Ayida isn’t going to be free long.’

  ‘Stop doing that Fi…Ayida is free to do whatever she likes.’

  ‘Yea well you keep being suborn and someone else is going to have her…I’m going to get something to eat talk to you later.’

  Fiona wasn’t the only one with an opinion on what did or didn’t happen between him and Ayida but he left those feelings where they were and refused to let anyone else stir them. Once he got everything out to his mom he noticed Ayida over with his great aunt and decided to avoid all the looks and questioning eyes and joined the family members in the front of the house. A few of them were playing with the kids and a soccer ball, when he noticed Brandon on the front porch with the baby he went over.

  ‘I swear no matter where I look I can never find anything like this back in the states.’ Brandon was reclined on one of the chairs on the front porch with his three month old Lalayha laying across his chest when Sedric walked up.

  ‘I know exactly what you mean it’s why I haven’t looked for anything other than the condo I’m in. I see you got her away from your mom.’

  ‘Only because she wanted to eat I’m sure somebody will come steal her away soon enough…but right now we having some daddy and Lay time….wassup man your good mood changed I see.’

  ‘Nah no mood change just relaxing that’s all.’

  ‘Ight man I will take the hint.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  It was the reason Brandon was the one he came to lately for just about everything. He never wanted to know anything he wasn’t giving out. He had unknowingly given him what he thought was the best advice he had ever had when he told him about what happened to him back in college.

  It was when he made the decision that he would have rather go without Ayida than to hurt her. But lately he had been questioning that and wondering if that was right. Wondering if he needed to rethink the choice after all they hadn’t had the problems Brandon and Taye had. And even though they had those issues they were more than happy now. It was possible for him to be just as happy, or where these feelings what he was having because he had ended things with Kemi.

  Instead of digging that tunnel any deeper he dug his phone out to finally look over some of the messages he had. Like he assume most of them where from Jake and Kemi, looking past her message and ignoring the three voicemails from her he read the agenda Jake had sent him and the shoots and meetings he had scheduled.

  ‘Jake is all business man…he is earning every penny I tell you.’

  ‘Why what’s he got you up for.’

  ‘I told you about the shoe thing right? That and like four or five different clothing and sports brands he wants me to talk to about rep’n them.’

  ‘It’s worth it though trust me…put your work in now so later on you can sit back and reap…trust me man after next season I’m done and not looking to do anything other than little simple stuff…family man I shall be completely.’

  ‘You say that now…but watch when you get to the door you gone be looking back.’

  ‘I’ve been in the league for a while man it’s what I wanted for sure…I’ve just found somethings I love a lot more.’

  ‘Ight man I don’t want to be the one telling you I told you so when you suiting up again after your roll out date passes.’

  ‘You sound like my wife now…she is always going on about that same thing every time we talk.’

  ‘Cause man I don’t think I have ever seen you without a ball in your hand.’

  ‘Ha…don’t even pick one up when I’m home…crazy right?’

  ‘Hell yea…I can’t think of anything but getting that ring right now.’

  ‘I know the feeling…I’m lucky the battle has been won…don’t worry you next but trust me you just get hungrier at first.’

  ‘Let me get there first then I’ll let you know.’

  Silence being the best thing for them both they relaxed without the distraction of what was going on in the back. After a while he knew hiding out in front was just the coward in him so he headed back to mingle with everyone else. No matter how their eyes travelled from him to Ayida nothing about that was changing at the moment.

  **

  ‘Hey Aydee…thanks for coming did you get food we have a ton you would think there was a million of us.’ Fiona found her way right to the one person she had her sights set on from the moment she left her brother inside.

  ‘Hey Fiona how are you…yes I have some over there I was just getting something to drink you want to come eat with me and Nanny K.’

  ‘I’m good this family get together is going to kill my diet I only have like ten pounds left to loose from the baby.’

  ‘What are you saying you look amazing…and your little on is only like ten months old.’

  ‘Your sweet these hips have got to go girl I refuse to buy more jeans.’

  ‘I understand that.’ They both shared a knowing giggle.

  From the moment she stepped into the backyard Ayida noticed how everyone’s eyes lite at the sight of her. Even the people she didn’t know must have been filled in on who she was because they all gave her extremely friendly smiles. Sure it could have been in her mind or they could have just been a family happy to be celebrating. After all to her knowledge they had never had a gathering like this. She was probably being paranoid but the one thing she was happy for or mostly relieved about was not having to endure Sedric’ new love interest there was no sign of her and by the start of sunset she had seen every person that was at the house. She did however notice that he had politely disappeared for quite a while then reappeared with his cousin who greeted her when she came up. Even though she had met him once before when he was down before he got married she still didn’t get over just how much he and Sedric resembled each other, it made her smile thinking about how Sedric would grow into another version of him.

  He stayed his distances from her the entire time which did help her poor heart focus on all
the questions about her studies and what was going on in her life now. When Nanny K finally opened the gift she had for her it made her happy to see she hadn’t forgotten everything about her and the fact that she loved silk scarfs. She even caught a little smile on Sedric’ face when Nanny K hugged her. She had to shake herself a little to get rid of the feeling his smile did to her. Just his smile made her feel like butterflies had filled her since day one he had that effect on her. There had been a time when she had that effect on him but now with his new life she was sure that was reserved for someone else.

  ‘Hey you want me to give you a lift home it’s getting kinda late.’ He came up behind her at the cooler looking for something else to drink catching her off guard slightly.

  ‘Ah…sure I need to get some sleep I have two shifts tomorrow.’

  ‘Why are you working so much…everything ok?’

  ‘Yea everything is fine…I just want to save up for next term I won’t be working as much so I need to make sure I have enough saved that’s all.’

  ‘And there is no way you would let me offer you any help so you wouldn’t have to work so much right?’

  ‘Sed I don’t need help I’m young and healthy besides…what would I do if I didn’t work?’

  ‘You could come visit me…I mean we are still friends right? It would be a nice little break for you before you head off to doctor school.’

  ‘Yes we are but I don’t even have a passport…I’ve never renewed it from when I was younger.’ And of course she didn’t want to be around him and some other woman that fact she keep to herself has he led her to the front and through the many cars parked in front.

  ‘Well I could get it renewed for you….just a thought anyway come on it’s this one over here.’

  There probably had never been that many cars outside of Nanny K’s house at any time so he had to direct her to where he had parked the rental. Once they were on the way they had a cordial conversation about each other’s lives. It was more than clear they were both avoiding the conversation on both their minds but neither wanted to be the first to bring it up. From the moment they got in the car his phone had started buzzing and he was sure he knew who the call was coming from. But he ignored it hoping to get a little more detail on what his sister had hinted to earlier. Ayida never hid things if he asked so he took the leap even though his lungs where feeling like they would collapse at the thought.

  ‘So how did it go last night with Evan…that’s who you said you were going out with right?’

  ‘Yea that’s who I went out with…it was nice he took me for dinner and for a walk.’

  ‘So how long have you two been dating?’

  ‘We have been going out for a few months…but he is studying also and when session is in he doesn’t have much time just like me.’

  ‘Ah ok…Aydee?’ The tone in his voice had changed completely and when it did she immediately felt that pull on her heart start to get tighter. ‘I need to tell you something I mean well I need to say something to you.’

  ‘Se…Sed you can say anything to me you know that.’ At least at that point they were both having the same struggle.

  ‘I think I may have made a mistake Aydee…all I know is that I didn’t want to do anything that would betray or hurt you…and well.’

  He couldn’t finish the thought at that moment and when he parked the car and looked in her watery eyes he was the one with the heart being tugged out of his chest.

  ‘Sed…why wouldn’t you have just talked to me about that, if anything we could have just talked?’

  ‘Aydee you were so busy and happy with everything going on at school and I just couldn’t seem to figure things out I didn’t want to place worry with you and I know I couldn’t hurt you.’

  ‘But we always did that together…no matter what I had going on I would have at least sat down and talked to you.’

  ‘I know….I know…can we talk…I mean now can I call you?’

  ‘Of course you can…I would like that.’ She gave him a peek on the cheek and got out of the car and headed into her house. She didn’t look back fearing she would run back and have a reaction she shouldn’t. After all he said he wanted to talk to her he didn’t say he was single, he didn’t say he wanted to be with her just that he wanted to talk. So pulling all her strength together she got in the house as quick as she could.

  As he backed out of the drive way the phone buzzed with yet another message from Kemi so he hit play so he could hear what she had to say.

  Message One the night before: You need to call me…its completely unfair that you did this to me like this.

  Message Two early morning: I deserve more than this I have given you two years Sedric this is not right I’ve done nothing wrong…you are a coward for this and you know it we need to talk.

  Message Three just a few minutes prior: You deserve exactly what is happening now you know that…why haven’t you called me I have to talk to you about something important and it can’t wait so you need to call me ASAP.

  Whatever she had up her sleeve he had to know was coming there was no way she was going down without a fight. It was actually something he admired about her in the beginning. She had a strong presence about her she fought for what she wanted and wasn’t shy about it. The thing was the only thing she wanted was money and status, to be in the lights and living the life. So he had reached his limit with her and after talking to Ayida he was feeling much better so he sucked it up and made the call.

  ‘What took you so long to call me back Sed?’

  ‘I’ve been busy Kemi and I didn’t think we had anything else to talk about that couldn’t wait till I was back in Chicago like we said before.’

  ‘Really so you break up with me after two years over the phone and think we don’t have anything else to talk about?’

  ‘Kemi I honestly truly apologize about how I did this I know that was wrong we could have had that conversation before I left but…’

  ‘But what you were too much of a coward to say it to my face?’

  ‘Sure Kemi that’s what it was did you need anything else?’

  ‘Well yes…I have to tell you something important and we can’t talk about it over the phone so since you are planning to be down there for the next month I figured I could fly down and we could talk.’

  ‘NO!...Whatever it is we can talk about it now or it can wait till I get back.’

  ‘What are you hiding down there Sedric…is it so bad if I met your family maybe that would help us some?’

  ‘Kemi I have answered that question to many times now…so what is it?

  ‘I told you this isn’t something you do over the phone…so either you come to me or I come to you you make the choice.’

  ‘Kemi I won’t be back for a month and when I come to the states I have to go to New York for meetings…so you’re gonna have to do this over the phone.’

  ‘Well I can meet you in New York when will you be there?’

  ‘Kemi….stop this what is it I’m sure whatever it is can wait till I’m back in Chicago anyway?’ His blood was basically boiling at that point she was cooking something up and having him in front of her gave her advantages since there were still many physical aspects about her he could not ignore.

  ‘No it can’t I can be on a flight in a few hours Sedric to meet you in Trinidad…what’s wrong with that?’

  ‘What’s right with that? I have a lot of family in town right now and I am trying to see everyone before I go so I don’t have time to spare…just tell me what it is and we don’t have to worry about any of that.’

  ‘Sedric I told you this is not something we can talk about over the phone so fine it will have to wait till you get back to Chicago if you could make that sooner than later that would be best.’

  Before he could respond she disconnected the phone and left him in silence. It was wrong how he handled it but they were adults and whatever she had up her sleeve now was sure to make his life chaotic.

  Quick Note
:

  Now that you are all caught up with the family through this interlude in the series find out what the next steps will be for Sedric the last and final book of the Where Your Heart Belongs Series My Life Your Entertainment (Sedric Magid’ story). Where we find out if he figures out where his heart belongs before it’s too late. See how his family plays important rolls in his life from all the lessons they learned through their own trials and tribulations. The series has been so much fun and I thank each and everyone one of you for your support in making it such a success for me.

  If you haven’t already figured this out this is a huge family series and the reunion of all the characters in this short was just that a reunion of them all. Catching everyone up on where they are in the more present day. Hopefully it also opened you all up to the full aspect of the entire family tree these people emerged from. The many different people that helped build them into who they became, the people that are vital to their world being what it is.

  The final story will fulfill the Where Your Heart Belongs hymn in true style. It will carry on the theme of family and true love while keeping the rollercoaster moving as fast as always. If you haven’t already catch up on the story with the first three installments “Are You Still Down” “All Said and Done” and “Roots before Branches.” Visit my blog for release dates and more.

  All things by Faithful Distinction

  Thank you to every single soul that keep me encouraged, keep me fighting, keep me believing. Thank you to my personal reviewers for their honest and open opinions. Thank you to all the readers, there had to be some reason for all the millions of idea’s bouncing around in my mind so I thank you for giving them a chance.

  Coming This Winter 2015:

  My life your Entertainment

  (4th and final book of the Where your heart belongs series)

  Sedric Magid story

  Other Books by Paulette Jones:

  Are you Still down (Book 1 Where your heart belongs series)

  Part 1 Taylor and Brandon Story