Hakeem & Tasia 3: A Brick City Love Story

by K. C. Mills

  “Yes,” I said. Shit, my baby girl could have whatever she wanted from here on out.

  Tasia frowned at me and then turned, looking over her shoulder. “What did you eat today?”

  “Pizza,” Riley almost yelled.

  “Okay then, I guess we’re getting ice cream.”

  When she turned back around, she narrowed her eyes at me which made me laugh. “What?”

  “Don’t start that Keem.”

  “Start what?” I asked, knowing good and damn well what she was talking about.

  “You’re not going to make me the bad guy when she’s with us.”

  I just shook my head and smiled. “You better get used to it because I’m not telling her ass no for shit. You already know.”

  Tasia just rolled her eyes at me, glanced at Riley and smiled. She knew there was no argument to be had.

  *****

  “Why are you in my damn house and what’s all this shit?” I asked as soon as we walked through the door of our apartment. I had Riley in my arms because she had fallen asleep, after we got ice cream and hit the toy store. We also stopped by the mall to grab her some stuff, because I still had no plans on taking her back anytime soon.

  “You know she’s impatient as hell,” Kendrick said as he walked up to Tasia and grabbed the bags she was holding, and helped her sit them down on the floor in the living room. Liyah rolled her eyes at him and walked right up to me.

  “Oh my God, she's so little and cute. Let me hold her.”

  “Chill Liyah, she’s sleep, damn.” Honestly, I didn’t really give a damn about that. I was just getting used to the feeling of her little arms hugging my neck and her head on my shoulder. Had me feeling all soft and shit.

  “Keem, let me see her,” Liyah said pouting. I walked over to the sofa and sat down, transitioning Riley to my lap, and her eyes fluttered, opening and closing as she tried to wake up. She snuggled closer to me, pulling her little legs into my chest with her knees bent.

  “She looks just like you, that’s insane. I can’t believe you have a daughter. A two-year-old daughter.” Liyah was holding onto Riley's hand until she snatched it away. Riley opened her eyes and looked around with a frown.

  “Hey Riley, I’m your Aunty Liyah. You are so pretty,” Liyah said smiling at Riley, but she moved closer into my body like she didn’t want to be bothered, which made my sister laugh.

  “Yep, that’s your kid. Mean as hell when she wakes up. Look at the frown on her little face.”

  “Damn Liyah, you think it has something to do with the fact that you’re all in her shit? She just woke up and don’t know you like that.”

  “Shut up, Keem.”

  “So, did you buy everything pink in the state of New York?” Tasia asked, before she sat down on the opposite side of me. Riley immediately climbed out of my lap into hers.

  “See, she doesn’t like your ass either,” Liyah said rolling her eyes at me.

  “You have no idea. You should see my apartment. It looks like it threw up pink. We’re stepping over bags and toys for days.”

  I looked up at Kendrick and then Liyah. He was making it seem like they were living together. That struck a nerve, even though I knew I couldn’t do anything about it, but no matter how old Liyah was, she was still my baby sister.

  “Hey, she’s my first niece. I can buy what I want,” she said as she leaned back into Kendrick after he sat down next to her. He lowered his chin onto her shoulder and grabbed her hand.

  “So what did the lawyer say?” Kendrick asked.

  “He’s supposed to have some custody papers ready in the morning.”

  “So it’s done, just like that?” he questioned.

  “For the most part. We still have to see whose name is on the birth certificate, but since I did the DNA test, I’m good. He said that Jay could still fight it, but whatever arrangement was in place will be in place while she fights it, and he insists that it’s expensive, and he knows a lot of judges that will rule his way, so it's not likely that she can do shit about it.”

  “Good. She doesn't deserve to have her at all. Who does that? Who keeps their kid from their father and then tries to let someone else raise them? She better hope I don’t see her in the streets,” Liyah said.

  “Calm your little ass down. You always trying to run up on somebody,” Kendrick said, kissing her on the cheek.

  “No I’m not, but if you keep your groupies in their lane, then I won’t have to check them for you,” she said.

  Kendrick laughed. “My groupies? The only person I have ownership to is you, and you’re damn sure not a groupie so chill with all that. I told you I can only control what I do and you know what I do, how I do it and who I do it with, so stop stressing over irrelevant shit.”

  I looked at them both and could feel my jaw tighten, but then I felt Tay’s hand on my arm. I knew that was her way of telling me to mind my own business, but fuck that. Dude wasn't about to be fucking over my sister, so I made a mental note to talk to her later, to find out what was up with that.

  “That’s right and it better stay that way,” Liyah said, as she held her head back and looked up at him with a smile. He leaned down and kissed her.

  “You know you don’t even have to question that.”

  I let it ride for now because she seemed happy, but I was still going to have a conversation with her.

  -10-

  Tasia

  I sat at my desk trying to focus, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Riley. She was sitting on the floor in my office playing with dolls, having a full-blown conversation with them while she did it. It was too funny watching her.

  Hakeem left her with me while he went to go meet Douglas to finalize the custody papers. They still had to get Janelle’s signature on them, but all in all it was a done deal for now, because with or without her signing, Hakeem was going to see Riley.

  We had two extra bedrooms, but Hakeem insisted that Riley sleep in the bed with us, so there she was right there in between us basically clinging to me, while he stayed up most of the night watching her. He was so in love with her already, and it was adorable. She changed him just that fast, and I couldn’t wait for us to have a child of our own. Being around Riley had it heavy on my mind. I kept thinking that I wanted to wait, especially with the way my business was going, but I also knew that no matter what, we would make it work.

  “Hey love bug, are you ready for your one o’clock?” Jacob stepped in my office and leaned against the door frame. He was talking to me but had his eyes on Riley. Her back was to him so she didn’t acknowledge that he was in the room.

  “I think so. Did you set up my layouts?” I asked as my eyes fell on Riley also.

  “Yes darling, you’re all set. So, looks like you’ll be receiving the mommy of the year award in no time.” Jacob was now focused on me with a sly grin.

  “I’m not trying to take her mother’s place, Jacob. I just want her to be happy and comfortable when she’s with us.”

  “Mm hmm, sure. I see it in your eyes Taterbug, that little girl has your heart and your ovaries contracting, if that’s even a thing. Is that a thing that happens when you get baby fever?”

  “You’re so special and I mean that in the most derogatory way possible,” I said with a smug grin.

  “Doesn’t matter, say what you want. Your life would be bland and unsatisfying without me and you know it,” Jacob said before he smiled and left my office.

  I heard talking outside of my door and realized it was Hakeem when I heard him laugh. A few minutes later, he was stepping in my office looking sexy as ever. Even rocking the simplest things, it was hard to keep my eyes off him. Like now, he had on a gray Henley that clung to his chest and arms, and a pair of olive cargo pants that fit him so perfectly that I was regretting the fact that Riley was on the floor playing.

  “What’s up Tay?” He walked over to me and kissed me on my lips, before he made his way over to Riley, scooped her off the floor and then sat down in front of my d
esk with her positioned on his lap.

  “What’s up, baby girl? What have you been doing all day?” He looked down at her as she adjusted the skirt on the doll she was holding.

  “I played dress up,” she looked up at him with a big grin that melted his heart. I could see it all over his face.

  “Oh yeah, was that fun?”

  She nodded and then giggled. “Am I going home to my mommy and daddy today?” Riley asked looking up at Hakeem. I could see his face go hard and his jaw tighten, so I stood up and walked over to the chair next to them. I looked down at Riley and then up at Hakeem.

  “Do you know who he is?” I asked, now focused on Riley.

  “Mommy’s friend,” she answered truthfully. She only knew what she had been told and that was what Janelle was telling her.

  Hakeem looked down at Riley and smiled. “Do you know how you played dress up today with Tay?”

  She nodded.

  “You were pretending; do you know what that means?” he asked.

  Again she nodded. “Well, that’s what Mason has been doing. He was pretending to be your dad. I’m not mommy’s friend, I’m your dad. Daddies give daughter’s things so that they know who they belong to, and you see these?”

  He stuck his finger into the dimple in Riley’s cheek. “I gave you these. Look at mine.”

  Riley looked up at him and stuck her tiny finger into Hakeem’s dimple.

  “Is it okay with you if I’m your dad?” Hakeem asked and looked like he was holding his breath.

  “Yes,” Riley said before she turned and her little arms roped around his neck and then she kissed him. “Can we go get ice cream?”

  Hakeem and I both laughed. I didn’t even bother saying anything because I knew the second he left with her, they were stopping at the first place he could get to that sold ice cream.

  “Anything you want,” Hakeem said, as he stood up, holding Riley in his arms.

  “Can I have a hug pretty girl?” I reached for Riley and she threw her arms around my neck, before hanging on to Hakeem again. He leaned down and kissed me before the two of them left my office. I swear that little girl was going to be his downfall. She softened him in a way that he wasn’t ready for, no matter what he thought.

  *****

  “Hey love bug, your new client is here.” When Jacob stuck his head in my door, I closed my laptop and stretched. I had been searching on it for hours and my eyes felt crossed.

  “Okay, I’m coming. How does she look?” I asked, curious about my mystery client. She wouldn’t give any details about what she wanted, so it was almost impossible for me to prepare, which made me nervous.

  Jacob scrunched up his face, “Old money, no style,” he said.

  “Great, what am I supposed to do with that?” I asked with a frown.

  “You’ll do just fine. I have you set up in the conference room, so hurry up before I have to go pretend to be interested in what she has to say,” he said and winked at me.

  “Jacob!” I just laughed.

  “What, it’s true. You know I don’t like to lie.”

  “Go away,” I said with a grin.

  A few minutes later, I entered my conference room and a tall thin woman was standing next to my design board. She turned to face me with no expression, which made me uncomfortable. She was a nice looking woman, caramel complexion, almond eyes and thin lips, with her short cropped hair looking like she was straight out of the salon.

  Jacob was right though; her clothes were boring. Expensive, but boring. Just because you paid a lot for something didn't make it hot, and clearly her clothes weren’t hot. She did, however, look familiar to me. I just couldn’t figure out how I knew her, though.

  Mrs. Lewis,” I walked over to her and offered a hand. She looked down at it, and turned to moved towards the conference table. She took a seat and then held her hand out towards the one across from her.

  Strike one. Clients were often difficult, but I had a feeling that this woman was going to be a certified pain in the ass, and I was strongly considering turning down working with her.

  For now, I took a seat across from her and waited.

  “You don’t know who I am do you?”

  “Should I?” I asked.

  “Maybe not, but I know who you are. I guess that’s the most important thing.”

  I was starting to get the feeling that she wasn’t here for fashion advice.

  “How is that?” I asked, now curios about why it was important that she knew me.

  “Because dear, you’re trying to break up a happy home, and I will not let that happen.”

  The confusion on my face caused her to smile and let out a soft laugh. “Julia Lewis is my name. Janelle Lewis is my daughter.”

  This bitch, I thought. I know Janelle didn’t send her damn mother in here to try and get us to stay away from Riley.

  “I’m confused about why you’re here, and what you mean by break up a happy home. If you’re referring to Riley, then you’re wasting your time. That’s Hakeem’s daughter and there’s no way he’s going to walk away from her.”

  “He will with a little persuasion. How much is that persuasion going to cost me?”

  She reached in her purse and pulled out a checkbook.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You could never pay him enough to stay away from his daughter.”

  “It’s not him that I’m concerned with, it’s you dear. So how much will it take for you to convince him that Riley is better off where she is?”

  “Get out of my office.” I stood so fast I almost fell over the chair next to me.

  “Come on sweetheart. Everyone has a price, what’s yours? You can’t always count on him to take care of you, who’s know when he’ll end up dead or in jail.”

  I was fuming and ready to beat her old ass. I walked over to her and grabbed her arm, yanking her out of the chair she was in.

  “See, that’s the difference between you and me. I don’t have a price. You assholes always feel like you can buy your way out of anything. Well guess what, fuck you and your money. Get the fuck out of my office, before I kick your old ass and trust me, when I tell Keem that you were here and what you just did, your fucked up family might not ever get to see Riley again, your daughter included.”

  Jacob was now walking through the door, looking confused, but picking up on my vibe, so he joined in without needing an explanation. He grabbed her purse, shoved it in her chest and shoved her towards the door.

  “I suggest you take your mothball smelling ass up out of here, before that can of whoop ass is opened and emptied.”

  She snatched away from him and turned to face me. “You just made a terrible mistake. Trust me. I know people and you will regret not seeing things my way.”

  “Yeah, well Keem knows people too, so your old ass can jump right on in the regret pool with me, only difference is I can swim, but I can guarantee your old trifling ass will drown. Now get out of my damn office.”

  Once she was out the door, Jacob and I both stood in the lobby with a what the fuck expression.

  “So I take it she wasn’t here to get her life?” Jacob said after he fell onto the sofa in our waiting area. I sat across from him, still trying to process what had just happened.

  “That was Janelle’s mom. She tried to pay me to convince Keem to leave Riley alone. What is with these people? I mean really, Mason must be sterile as fuck if they're offering up cash to keep Keem away from his own daughter.”

  Jacob looked at me and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked not seeing the humor in the situation.

  “First of all, I think I heard you cuss more today than I ever have since I’ve know you, and did you really just say sterile as fuck?”

  I looked at Jacob and couldn’t help but to laugh at the goofy grin on his face. “Well it’s true. I mean, who does that?”

  “I like this new you, love bug. I think we might need to keep her around for a little while. I’m almost afraid of you myse
lf; mama bear is out for blood.” Jacob had a devilish smirk on his face.

  “Shut up Jacob, you’re so dumb, I swear, but let me go call Keem and let him know that these idiots are doing the most.”

  I really didn’t want to tell him because he was already at the point where he was about to start handling things his way, but he needed to know what he was dealing with. Either way, the Lewis family had better get their shit together or Hakeem was about to start making rounds.

  -11-

  Janelle

  I sat at the kitchen table watching, as Mason paced back and forth in front of me. He was so mad that he couldn’t even complete a sentence. Every time he started one, his eyes fell on me and the he just stopped.

  I watched him move around the kitchen and all I could think about was how I was going to fix this so that he wouldn’t leave me. I loved this man so much, and now here we were divided, and over all things, the daughter that I shared with Hakeem. I loved my baby girl so much, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was about to lose Mason because of her.

  “I don’t fucking understand this shit Jay. I told you moving here was a bad idea. I’m not losing my daughter, I’m just not.”

  “You’re not losing her Mason. Even with shared custody, he can’t take her completely away from us, from you.”

  Mason laughed a laugh so evil, it made me focus on him to make sure he was still the same person. I had never heard him react that way before.

  “It’s been three days, Jay, that I haven’t seen my daughter.” With a few swift steps, he was next to the table and his large hand slammed down on the custody papers that Hakeem’s lawyer served me with that morning. “And this shit right here says that he can keep her for as long as he wants.”

  “I don't see what the big deal is Mason. I know you love her and you’ve been the only father she knows, but we can have more kids. We can have our own kids. Don’t you want that?” I stood and forced my body against his, lacing my arms around his waist, but it was short lived, because he yanked them away and stepped back.

  His finger was in my face, so close that it grazed my forehead. “She is mine Jay. I’m her father, and I refuse to let someone take that away from me. You better pray that I can fix this or that pretty little ring on your finger won’t mean a damn thing. We can’t be a family without our daughter.”