Complicated 3

by Chenell Parker

  “I appreciate that Mekhi,” Rylee said. “I’m sure it took a lot for you to say that.”

  “It did, but I should have said it a long time ago. It took something drastic happening to make me see my faults. You’ve been through a lot, and you deserve happiness. I couldn’t give it to you, but I’m happy that you’ve found it,” Mekhi said sincerely.

  Zyrian couldn’t even front, he was impressed with Mekhi’s apology. Being the bigger person took a lot out of some people. Knowing Mekhi’s attitude, he knew that it had to be hard for him to pick up the phone and do what he was doing. Even still, it was time for their conversation to end.

  “That’s enough, wrap that shit up,” Zyrian whispered to Rylee.

  “Thanks for calling Mekhi. I accept your apology, and I wish you well,” Rylee said right before she disconnected the call.

  “That nigga must think he’s about to die or something,” Zyrian remarked.

  “I don’t know, but apologizing is definitely not his style,” Rylee answered.

  She and Zyrian went back outside right as Buck and Derrick put the last part of the swing set together. They made sure it was secured before they put the twins in and let them swing. They both seemed to enjoy their new toy. That was a good thing because they would be spending a lot of time in the yard playing on it. Rylee looked at her family and couldn’t help the smile that appeared on her face. Mekhi was right about one thing, she was most definitely happy.

  Chapter 32

  Janice looked at her phone enraged as she listened to the third message that Mekhi had left her. He had some nerve calling to ask her about his son that he didn’t even know was dead. Had her son lived, he would have been almost three months old, and he was just now calling. Janice had finally taken her mother’s advice and decided to talk to someone about her feelings. She’d been having suicidal thoughts a lot more lately than she’d ever had before. Dr. Gray, the psychiatrist that her doctor recommended, seemed to understand how she was feeling. She too had lost a baby recently, and they seemed to have bonded over that fact. Janice felt confident about getting her life back on track, but she was back to square one after listening to Mekhi’s messages. He basically said that they needed to have a long talk and begged her not to keep him out of his son’s life. Janice cried for almost an hour after listening to the messages. She hated Mekhi more now than ever before. He was the reason that her life was over in more ways than one. When she lost her son, she was confident about possibly trying again, but that was before her diagnosis. She couldn’t see herself being someone’s mother now knowing that she could possibly not be around to see her child grow up. She felt herself slipping right back into a deep depression, and she didn’t know how to stop it. Janice was in thought when her phone rang again displaying Mekhi’s number. She was tired of hiding from the truth, so she decided to answer that time.

  “Hello,” Janice said trying to sound as normal as possible.

  “It’s about time you answered the phone,” Mekhi snapped irritably.

  Janice moved the phone from her ear and looked at it as if he could see her. He had the nerve to have an attitude after all of the bullshit that he put her through.

  “Why do you keep calling my phone Mekhi?” Janice asked him.

  “You know exactly why I’m calling. I’m sure you heard my messages,” he replied angrily.

  He really wanted to be cordial with Janice, but it was too hard. He couldn’t forget how she played him with the club and he didn’t really have much to say to her. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice because they now shared a child. Mekhi knew without a doubt that he was the father, so there was no need for him to deny it.

  “Actually, I didn’t,” Janice lied. “What do you want?”

  “I want is to see my son. I’m not trying to play these childish ass games with you either. I’ll take your ass to court for visitation if I have to,” Mekhi threatened.

  Arguing with Janice was not his intentions, but he didn’t really have any kind words for her. He needed to talk to her about being tested, but that would have to wait. Maybe they could have a friendly conversation once they were face to face.

  “We don’t even have to go through all of that Mekhi. I can bring him to see you today if you want me to,” Janice offered.

  “Today is perfect. I’ll be home all day,” he replied happily. That was much easier than he thought it would be.

  “Okay, give me about an hour and I’ll be there,” Janice said.

  “Bet,” Mekhi said as he disconnected the call.

  He jumped up from his bed and started cleaning up his apartment. He had a few dirty dishes that he washed before he swept and vacuumed the floors. After taking out the trash, Mekhi hopped in the shower to freshen up before his guests arrived. He was excited about seeing his son for the first time, and he wondered if he looked like him. He also wondered what his name was or if Janice had maybe named him something similar. He really wanted his first son to be a junior. Maybe he could convince Janice to change it to make that happen. Mekhi had never done anything for Janice or the baby when she was pregnant. He wanted to make sure he gave her something for his son before she left his house that day, though. After removing his safe from under his bed, Mekhi sat it on his dresser and opened it. He never had a chance to get anything out of it before he heard a knock at his front door. It had been a little over an hour since he talked to Janice, so he already knew who it was. Mekhi looked out of his side window and got pissed when he saw Janice standing there without the baby.

  “Where’s my son?” Mekhi asked as he snatched the door open.

  His eyes got big as golf balls when he saw Janice standing there holding a gun. He immediately raised his hands in the air and backed up into the apartment with her following right behind him.

  “Whoa, there’s no need for that Janice,” Mekhi said as the back of his legs collided with his recliner, forcing him to sit down.

  Janice had tears streaming down her cheeks with a bewildered look on her face. She’d lost a lot of weight since the last time Mekhi saw her. Her once shapely frame was replaced by a more slender version. Her short hair had grown out a little, but it was all over her head.

  “It wasn’t enough that you tried to play me knowing damn well that you never wanted me. You weren’t satisfied knowing that you’d used my body and my time. No, you had to go and give a disease that I can’t get rid of too. Just fuck Janice, huh?” She laughed like a crazy person.

  “That was never my intentions Janice, I swear. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you think that I would have infected you knowingly? I was blindsided by this shit just like you,” Mekhi admitted.

  “Yeah, but there’s only one problem with your story. I was diagnosed months ago, and I’m sure you were too. You had plenty of time to call me, but you never did. You know why Mekhi?” Janice asked as she pointed the gun directly at him and answered her own question. “Because you didn’t give a fuck just like always.”

  “I understand how you feel Janice. I felt the same way when I found out what was going on,” Mekhi said trying to reason with her. His cell phone was on the table not too far from him, and he needed to try and grab it.

  “Nah nigga, don’t try to be nice to me now. Whatever happened to me being an ugly bitch? Talk to me how you talked to me on the phone earlier. Don’t change it up now because I have you by the balls,” Janice frowned.

  Mekhi didn’t know what to say. His voice was caught in his throat, and he was scared to death.

  “You wanna see your son Mekhi?” Janice asked while scrolling through her phone.

  “Yes,” Mekhi said in a weak little voice.

  “Here he is,” she said as she turned the phone in his direction.

  Mekhi’s heart dropped when he saw a cute little baby boy dressed up in a small baby coffin with light blue flowers surrounding it. He lowered his head and closed his eyes feeling lower than he’d ever felt before.

  “Yeah, he’s dead. Born stillbor
n almost three months ago and you didn’t even know it. You didn’t even care,” Janice said as she continued to cry.

  “I’m so sorry Janice. I didn’t know,” Mekhi said sincerely.

  “So, my question to you is this. My son died, and I’m dying. Why in the world should I let you live?” Janice questioned.

  “You’re not dying Janice. I take medicine every day, and I’m doing fine,” Mekhi swore.

  “I am dying!” Janice screamed like a crazy woman. “And so are you,” she said as she shakily pointed the gun in his direction again.

  “No!” Mekhi yelled as he jumped up and charged at her.

  Unfortunately, he was too late as the gun discharged and a bullet ripped through his chest.

  “Ugh,” he moaned as he collapsed to the floor in excruciating pain.

  Janice was pacing back and forth mumbling something incoherently under her breath. Mekhi felt weak, but that didn’t stop him from crawling on the floor trying to get to his phone.

  “Crawling on all fours like the dog you are,” Janice said as she pointed the gun at the back of his head and fired. The bullet pierced Mekhi’s skull and put him out of his misery almost instantly.

  “Good,” Janice smiled as she put the gun back into her purse and looked around his house.

  When she got to his bedroom and saw the opened safe, she took all of the money out and left Mekhi’s apartment. After driving about fifteen minutes away to her mother’s house, Janice took the money that she got from Mekhi and put it in the huge mailbox. She then grabbed her cell phone and placed a call to her mother.

  “Hey baby, I was just about to call you,” her mother said when she answered the phone.

  “He’s dead, I killed him,” Janice replied.

  “What? Who’s dead Janice? Who did you kill?” Her mother yelled.

  “Mekhi, he’s dead,” Janice repeated.

  “Oh my God Janice, please tell me that you didn’t,” her mother begged.

  “I can’t do this no more mama. I left something for you in your mailbox. Just make sure that I get a proper burial,” Janice said as she took the gun from her purse and drove away.

  She drove a few blocks away to a deserted playground and parked her car, pointing the gun directly at her temple.

  “Where are you Janice? I’m coming to get you. Don’t do anything crazy baby. We’ll get you a lawyer and fight this,” her mother said hysterically.

  “That’s the problem. I’m tired of fighting,” Janice cried.

  “Janice please, just tell me where you are,” her mother begged.

  “I’m at the playground right by your house.”

  “Stay there, I’m on my way,” her mother promised.

  “No mama, I don’t want you to see me this way. Let the coroners come and get me. Don’t forget to check your mailbox. I cleaned out Mekhi’s safe. Since he killed me, it’s only fair that he buries me,” Janice said as she pulled the trigger, letting off a single shot to her head.

  Her mother’s screams filled the car, but Janice could no longer hear them. The gun fell from her hand as her lifeless body slumped over the steering wheel.

  ***

  Kendrick held his mother tight as they walked back to the limousine at the graveyard. They had just said their final goodbyes to his little brother and Carolyn was an emotional wreck. Things with Mekhi had been so crazy for the last few months of his life. From him being HIV positive to his former girlfriend or whatever she was, pumping two bullets into his body. It was a lot of speculating going on, but nobody knew what actually happened. The only two people who could tell their side of the story were dead and gone. Kendrick had seen Janice’s obituary in the paper, and her service was two days before his brother’s.

  “Hey y’all,” Shay spoke as she walked over to them holding Mekhya’s hand.

  “How is my grandbaby holding up?” Carolyn asked Shay.

  “She’s doing fine,” Shay replied with a weak smile.

  Truthfully, Mekhya was really just starting to bond with Mekhi. She didn’t know him well enough for her to feel anything. She was still young, so Shay explained it to her as best as she could.

  “It’s sad that somebody else is going to get money that rightfully belongs to her and the rest of his family,” Carolyn spat.

  “Don’t start that foolishness again mama,” Kendrick warned her. “I’m really not for it.”

  “It’s the truth, Kendrick. That bitch Rylee don’t deserve a dime of my baby’s money. Almost a million dollars that she gets to enjoy while his family struggles.”

  “That shit ain’t her fault. Mekhi and Rylee been got divorced. He should have changed the beneficiary on his insurance policies. You should be lucky that she used some of the money to bury him because you damn sure didn’t have it to do,” Kendrick snapped.

  Mekhi had three insurance policies totaling up to six hundred fifty thousand dollars. All of his policies were paid up to date, and Rylee was named the beneficiary on them all. Carolyn was furious when she called the insurance company and found that out. She refused to call Rylee, so Kendrick worked with her instead. Rylee had to be present when they made the arrangements, but she let them do whatever they wanted to do. Mekhi was no longer her husband, and she didn’t feel comfortable making any decisions for him. Kendrick had to step in between her and Carolyn a few times to make sure that Rylee didn’t knock his mama on her ass. Carolyn was slick by the mouth, and Rylee wasn’t having it.

  “Shay can probably get social security for Mekhya. Mekhi always had a job or a business, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” Kendra announced.

  “That’s bullshit! His daughter gets social security while Rylee gets to live it up with money that doesn’t belong to her,” Carolyn continued to fuss.

  “How does it not belong to her?” Kendrick yelled in aggravation. “Mekhi wasn’t no dumb nigga. Don’t think for a minute that he didn’t know what he was doing when he didn’t change that shit. He could have easily made you his beneficiary, but he didn’t. Rylee is married with kids, but that nigga went to his grave still loving her ass. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

  Carolyn was still the same money grubbing person that she’d always been. She’d recently gotten a one bedroom apartment, but she still wasn’t satisfied. She had a decent job, but fast money was always her thing. That was exactly why Kendrick stayed away for months at a time. He had his own daughter and fiancé that he had to take care of. He wasn’t about to entertain Carolyn with her foolishness too. His sisters were still living in the projects, but they worked and paid their own bills. Even they stayed away from their mother because it was always something with her. When Kendrick saw Rylee, Zyrian, and Buck walking in their direction, he warned his mother about behaving herself. Shay walked off when she saw them coming because she didn’t want to be in the middle of anything.

  “I’m telling you Zyrian, if that old bitch say one thing I don’t like, I’m kicking off these red bottoms and beating her ass,” Rylee warned.

  “Calm down baby. We just want to holla at Kendrick, and then we’re leaving,” Zyrian said while squeezing her hand in his.

  She really didn’t want to go to the funeral, but Zyrian talked her into it. It wasn’t about Mekhi being her ex-husband in his eyes. Kendrick was his employee, and he wanted to do the right thing and support him. Buck and Mekhi were cool at one point, but he considered Kendrick a friend as well. There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to the service with or without his cousin.

  “I’m sorry for y’all loss,” Buck said as he shook Kendrick’s hand and hugged the women.

  Zyrian offered up his condolences as well, but Rylee didn’t open her mouth. Carolyn was staring at her like she wanted to say something, but she wasn’t crazy. The nerve of her to think that Rylee was giving her a penny from Mekhi’s insurance policies. Truth be told, she was just as shocked as they were when she learned that Mekhi hadn’t changed his information. She thought that Zyrian was going to have a problem with it, but he
shrugged it off. Mekhi was never a threat as far as he was concerned. In Zyrian’s eyes money was money, no matter where it came from. For all that Mekhi had put her through, he owed Rylee that and so much more.

  “You can take all the time you need from work. Your money will still be good,” Zyrian assured Kendrick.

  “I appreciate that man,” he said right before they got into the limo and sped away.

  “Carolyn looked like she wanted to scratch your eyes out,” Buck joked with Rylee as they walked back to the car.

  “You think I give a damn about Carolyn. She can fuck with me if she want to, and they’ll be coming here next week to say goodbye to her ass,” Rylee swore.

  “Let’s go killa. We got kids to get home to,” Zyrian laughed as he led her back to the car.

  So much had been happening over the past few months and Zyrian just wanted some normalcy again. From the first day that he and Rylee met it seemed like something was always happening. He wanted peace for her more than anything because she deserved it. Hopefully, things could go back to normal, and they could be happily married and live in peace. He wasn’t looking for perfection, but some down time every once in a while would be nice. As bad as things seemed to always be, he wouldn’t change any of it if given the chance. As much as he hated the five years that he spent in jail, he still wouldn’t change that either. After all, him being locked up is how Zyra met his wife all those years ago. That one day turned into a lifetime of happiness for him. He had his wife and kids, and he couldn’t ask for anything more.

  Epilogue

  Three Years Later

  “Thank y’all so much. Everything was beautiful,” Nakia said as she hugged Rylee.

  “You’re welcome honey. I’m just waiting for my God daughter to get here. The twins are growing up on me,” Rylee replied.

  Nakia was almost eight months pregnant with her and Buck’s first daughter. They got engaged three months prior and were planning a wedding for the following year. Rylee and her aunt Leslie threw her an outdoor baby shower in Rylee’s huge yard, and it had just ended at almost ten that night. The yard was well lit, so that wasn’t a problem. Zyrian helped Derrick and Buck’s brothers bring everything to their house, and they had just returned. Nakia and Buck had just closed on their first home five months ago and moved out of their apartment. She wanted Leslie to move in with them, but she declined. Leslie enjoyed having her own place, but she promised to visit often. Leslie was now a manager at a local grocery store and she felt good taking care of herself for a change. She was now in the position to help her daughter and spoil her first granddaughter when she came.