by K. C. Mills
“Just think about. That’s all I ask.” And with that, he was gone.
I sat there for a minute processing and needed a second opinion, so I called my man. He was the keeper of all my secrets and would be my sounding board.
“What Keem, what’s good in the N.Y.?”
“Shit chillin, but look. Some crazy ass shit just went down and I’m heading your way tomorrow so we can talk about it.”
“We good?”
“Long ass muthafuckin’ story… we need to have a face to face about this one. Trust me, bruh.”
“Aight, bring Tay with you. I miss my little sis. I haven’t seen her in a minute.”
I laughed, “Yeah, aight. I can do that.”
“Aight fam, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
-13-
Tasia
I was actually excited about going home. I hadn’t seen my parents in months and I really missed them. Plus, I was also excited about my parents and Brit meeting Riley. We still had her and according to Hakeem, she wasn’t going home anytime soon. Something weird was going on with Janelle because she went from calling him literally every hour on the hour begging him to bring Riley home, to basically no contact at all. He didn’t seem to care as long as she wasn’t harassing him about Riley, but I thought it was strange.
I grabbed my phone out my purse to send Brit a message to make sure she would be home, and to make sure she didn’t tell my parents that we were coming. I wanted to surprise them, but I had to tell Brit or she might get missing on me. She and Jaysyn were pretty heavy and things were good with them, so it was nothing for them to disappear and get lost. Especially now that they were trying to get all the time in they could, since Brit actually did get accepted to NYU and planned on leaving in the fall to start classes.
Me: Got plans for tonight
Britbrat: Nope, well kind of. Just chillin with Jay though, why?
Me: Me and Keem are coming home. I want to surprise mom and dad so don’t tell
Britbrat: I won’t!! Yayy, I miss you hoe.
Me: I miss your more super hoe. I have a surprise too
Britbrat: ?????? Don’t do that!!!
Me: you have to wait, but I promise you’ll love it. Gotta go love you
Britbrat: I hate you Tay, now I’m going to spend all day trying to figure it out.
Me: Give up now, you never will
Britbrat: I hate you!!!
Me: You love me!! See you tonight! Don’t tell mom and dad
Britbrat: No promises lol
I laid my phone on my desk and tried to focus. I had a few more hours before it was time to leave, and Keem was lucky enough to be at home with Riley, playing, while he waited for the designers we hired to start on her room. We were having one of the bedrooms totally redone in a princess theme that she picked out, and they were coming today to take measurements. I on the other hand, had work to do so that I wouldn’t feel guilty about going home to see my parents and Brit tonight.
We were insanely busy, and I really needed to spend more time there than I was. I had actually discussed hiring Liyah to work part time. She was great with fashion and hadn’t started her classes yet, so it would give her something to do and Jacob and I some much needed help.
“Hey Tay, sorry to just drop in on you like this, but I was wondering if you had a minute?”
Kendrick stood in my doorway and waited for me to wave him in. Once I did, he walked over, kissed me on the check and then sat down in front of me. I assumed he had practice or had just left practice, because he was dressed casually in sweats and a hoodie with a brand new pair of Jordans.
“What are you doing here? Is Liyah with you?” I asked looking towards the door.
“Nah, just me. I’m actually here about her.” He offered a very serious look laced with concern, as our eyes met.
“What’s going on? Are you guys okay?” I had just talked to Liyah this morning and she seemed okay. She and I were pretty tight and she never mentioned any issues with Kendrick, so I was a little confused.
“We’re good, I guess, but something’s been bothering me. I hate to even go behind her back and ask you but all she ever says is, I'm fine. She is sometimes, but then sometimes she not. I know her parents died when she was young, but is there anything else going on with her? I mean like… that would cause… hell, I don’t even know.”
“I think maybe this is a conversation you need to have with her.”
“I've tried Tay, but it’s always the same. ‘I’m good Ken, you worry too much. There’s nothing wrong with me.’ It’s weird, some days we’re good and she’s right there with me, and then others it’s like she’s on her own little island. The closer we get the more intimate we get, the more distant she gets.”
I inhaled and let it out slowly. It wasn’t really my place, but I figured what hell. “Do you know why she left Rutgers?”
“She said she was homesick, didn't like being so far away from family, but that just seemed odd.”
“She was attacked. Pretty badly, too. I still don’t really know all the details, just that it was some guy she didn't know. She was walking back to the doors from the café, it was dark, and some guy was trying to kick it to her. She turned him down, he got mad, grabbed her, pulled her behind a building and literally beat her within inches of her life. The nurses did say that there was no evidence of sexual assault because they were required to do a rape kit but, it was pretty bad. Took her awhile to heal physically, and maybe she hasn’t really completely healed emotionally.”
Kendrick was quiet as he stared blanking at the wall behind me. I could see his mind working. When he was ready, he looked me right in the eyes, with his jaw tight and hate in his eyes.
“Who the fuck was he?”
“We don’t know, or at least I don’t. I have a feeling Keem does or did, but trust me, if he knew then the guy is not likely breathing anymore.” I hated how easily I could admit to that, but it was true. I knew Hakeem and how he worked. I knew how he handled the guy that attacked me, and I knew for sure that if he found out who attacked Liyah, he would have handled it the same way.
With what looked like a small bit of relief, Kendrick let out a sigh. “I need her to talk to me. I need her to be okay and if I can help her with that, then I need to be able to do that.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I said.
“I love her. I know it’s only been a few months, but I promise you as crazy as it sounds, she’s it for me. I know she’s always stressing about me being on the road and girls coming for me, but fuck all that. I’m old school as hell. No amount of pussy compares to a woman that gives you her heart and holds you down.”
I burst out laughing and then threw my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry, it’s not funny but, well it is kinda funny, because you sound so dang serious, but that’s sweet. I get it. That’s kind of how things are for me and Keem. He hasn’t always been perfect, but I honestly know that I’m it for him and he’s it for me.”
A smile crept on Kendrick’s face and then he laughed. “That shit did sound corny as a muthafucka I bet, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s true I might be young, but I'm not naïve. I know a good thing when I see it and that damn girl got me on some love type shit. I’m gonna mess around and give her ass the world and I mean it. I might be from the streets, but I can get with some suburbia type shit; as long as she holds me down, I got her.”
“Well then I support you one-hundred percent,” I said and smiled.
“Good, ‘cause I never know where I stand with Keem. He’s bipolar as fuck when it comes to trying to read him. I mean, we’re cool and everything, but I see him mugging me sometimes when I’m close to Liyah and shit.”
Now I really laughed, because it was true. “You're good. He thinks you’re good for her, but she’ll never stop being his little sister.”
“I feel you. Aight, well I won’t hold you up, but I ‘preciate you hitting me up with that. Maybe you can get her to talk to me.”
“I’ll see what I
can do. Just don’t give up on her.”
“No haps with that. Unless her ass just ups and walks away, we’re in this and even then, there might be a missing person’s report because I’ll take her ass hostage until she changes her mind.”
He laughed to himself when he thought about what he said.
I simply stood and shook my head. I gave him a hug and then he was out the door. I settled in to get some work done, but made a mental not to talk to Liyah about Kendrick.
*****
“Well look who remembered that they actually have a family.” My mother walked up to me and threw her arms around me the second I entered the house. I felt bad because as much as I hated to admit it, she was right. I talked to my parents at least once a week, but I hadn’t been home in months.
“I didn’t forget, I’m just busy, Ma,” I said after my mother released me.
“I know hunny, I’m just messing with you, but I am glad you’re here.” She looked past me towards the door. “Where’s my son-in-law?”
“He’s coming. I have a surprise for you.” I couldn’t contain my smile. Riley wasn’t mine, but she may as well have been, and my mother loved children. With all the constant references she made to me and Brit about grandkids, I figured that Riley would be a good filler until one of us actually had a kid of our own.
I also looked around in search of my father. He was usually home by five and it was almost seven, so I knew he had to be home by now. “Where’s Dad?”
“He ran to the store to get a few things. He should be back any minute, and I just got off the phone with your sister; she and Jaysyn are on their way.”
“Hey there, baby girl. Look who I found outside,” my dad said the second he came walking through the door with Hakeem right behind him. Riley was in Hakeem’s arms, clinging to him, looking like she was afraid of the world.
“Hey there old man, you looking mighty handsome for someone your age,” I joked, as I walked up to him and threw my arms around him. He kissed me on the cheek and then leaned back.
“My age, shoot. I look damn good for a man of any age,” my dad said and then winked at me.
“Oh my, who is this pretty girl?” my mom asked, moving towards Hakeem. He shifted Riley, securing her with one arm, while he hugged my mother with the other, ending with a kiss on the cheek. Riley buried her face into Hakeem’s shoulder and turned away from my mother, which made me laugh. We had quickly learned that Riley was incredibly shy, until she got to know you, then there was no shutting her up.
“This is my surprise. Riley is Hakeem’s daughter.” I made eye contact with my mother and waited for her reaction.
“Daughter?” she questioned with a slight frown, that she was trying extremely hard to conceal.
Hakeem glanced at me as if waiting for me to explain, so I started talking again. My father had taken his bags into the kitchen and was now by my mother’s side.
“Yes, daughter. It’s a really long complicated story but bottom line is he just found out about her and she’s ours.” I made a point of saying ours because I wanted it to be clear that I was accepting responsibility for Riley as much as Hakeem was. If Riley was a part of his life, that meant that she was a part of mine as well.
“Well then I guess we have a new member of the family.” My mother offered a genuine smile that had both Hakeem and I feeling relaxed. He was stressing about how my parents were going to react, but I wasn’t worried. Life happened and my parents understood that, so no sense getting all bent out of shape about it.
“Thanks Ma.” I hugged my mother again and Hakeem made his way to the living room and got comfortable. My dad joined him on the sofa which was about to lead to a long drawn out debate about sports, so I grabbed Riley and joined my mom in the kitchen.
I sat at the kitchen table with Riley in my lap, and of course the first thing my mother did was grab a pack of chocolate chip cookies and offer one to Riley. She accepted, but still didn’t say anything to my mother. She just watched her as she moved around the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner. My mother would occasionally sneak peeks at Riley, smile and wave in an attempt to warm her a little to the idea of being there, and it was slowly working, because Riley seemed a little more relaxed. She was only talking to me, but she would occasionally answer my mother when she spoke directly to her.
“So how often do you guys have her?” my mom asked.
“Every day right now, but I’m sure that will change; they’re still trying to figure out the custody thing.”
“You guys are both very busy, is that working?”
“It’s going to have to,” I said and then proceeded to go into detail about our situation and how Hakeem found out about Riley. When I was done, my mother was seconds away from wanting an address for Janelle so that she could offer up a piece of her mind. She had the same reaction as everyone else, totally upset and disgusted at the fact that she kept Riley from Hakeem.
“As a mother, I just really don’t understand that. Especially when you have a man who will clearly do his part. There so many out there who won’t, so why would you take away the opportunity for a father who wants to do the right thing.”
“Trust me, I don’t get it either, but I guess it’s not for me to understand.”
“What’s not for you to understand?” Brit asked when she walked in the kitchen. She had her eyes on our mother so hadn’t noticed Riley sitting in my lap yet.
“Why this Janelle girl would keep that precious little girl away from her father.” My mother nodded towards Riley and Brit finally focused on me.
“Oh my God, is this her?” she walked over and leaned down towards Riley who was currently playing with my phone.
“Yep.”
Brit pulled up a chair and scooted towards me, and Riley leaned back against my chest.
“Wow, if this isn’t a mini Hakeem. Look at that little frown and those dimples.”
“I know, its crazy right. She kind of has a few of her mother’s features, but not really though,” I said.
Brit frowned. “Don’t curse that child like that. She does not look like that-”
“Brit.” I caught her before she finished. No matter what, Janelle was her mother and I might call her all kinds of things when Riley wasn’t around, but I refused to do it in front of her or let anyone else do it, not even Hakeem.
“Dang, it’s like that,” Brit laughed.
“Just behave please.”
“So I take it this is my surprise… you're right. I never would have guessed this. Good thing I didn’t waste any time trying.” Brit rolled her eyes and then looked down at Riley.
“How old are you?” she asked clearly just to get Riley to talk to her.
Riley held up two fingers and just stared at Brit.
“Can I hold you?” Brit asked.
Riley shook her head to say no and then Brit pretended to pout. “Please, you don’t want me to cry do you?”
Riley eventually, shyly shook her head no, and then scooted forward on my lap just a little so that Brit could grab her. Once Brit had her in place, she started talking to Riley about the game she was playing on my phone and Riley softened up a little.
I helped my mother finish up dinner while the guys did their sports talk. After we were done, we ate and got caught up. Riley was completely comfortable with everyone and basically running around laughing and playing. She had an intense game of hide and seek going with Jaysyn, which consisted of her hiding in the exact same place every time, under the kitchen table, while he pretended not to be able to find her. I missed my family and didn’t realize it until I was around them. I promised myself that I would try to come home more often, and I knew it was going to be hard to find the time but I had to make it happen.
-14-
Hakeem
“What’s up sis?” Jodie grabbed Tay and hugged her like he hadn’t seen her in years. The two of them were already tight, but when Tasia and I stopped playing around and made things work, it was like she and
Jodie instantly became thick as thieves.
I knew a lot of it was the fact that Jodie wanted me to be happy and he felt like Tay had a big part in making that happen, but I also felt like he saw hope for himself if Tay and I could figure things out. As much as he complained about Mona, the main reason he wouldn’t end things was because he knew that she was it for him. Jodie just couldn’t let go of certain behaviors, and it was going to cause Mona to walk away from him and he wasn’t going to have a choice but to let her go.
“I missed you man,” Tay said, when Jodie released her from the bear hug he had her wrapped up in.
“I missed your vanilla wafer ass too,” Jodie said with a big ass grin.
“See, there you go, don’t let me get started on those artificial eyes of yours. I didn’t know dudes did the whole contact thing,” Tay said.
“Chill with that shit, looking like a banana. You know my shit is as real as it gets. Don’t hate.”
“Whatever man.”
“Where’s your shorty?” Jodie asked realizing we didn’t have Riley.
“She’s with my mom. They didn’t want her around your dysfunctional ass,” Brit said as she and Jaysyn came walking down the block. They had stepped into the corner store the second we hit the block, and were just now walking up.