Daddy's House

by Azarel

  Daddy gently grabbed me by my arm, helping me from my seat. “I know…I know…,” he kept repeating.

  Together we walked real slow, like he’d just picked me up from the hospital. I’d cry a little bit, and then take a few baby steps forward. This bullshit continued for several minutes. Daddy led me in the direction of a bunch of headstones that seemed old and outdated. I quickly scanned a few names and dates, noticing we’d been in the old rich white section. One of the headstones read 1899-1945 and another 1899-1952. I stopped abruptly.

  “This is the wrong way.” I cleared my eyes to refocus. “This way,” I said, shedding a few more tears.

  We turned around, and I took him straight toward the mausoleum. All of a sudden, I felt like someone was watching me. Every time I stopped to look, or turn around, no one was there. A few white couples were nearby paying respects, but they weren’t even looking my way. Daddy kept looking down toward the ground, clocking the names on the headstone. He had no idea the move I was about to pull on him.

  As soon as we stepped inside the mausoleum, Daddy’s facial expression showed he was impressed. “Oh, she had money, huh? Your moms was gettin’ it?”

  Why the fuck am I even going through all this, I thought. I nodded as my body shivered. The search had to go quicker. Much quicker before he asked too many questions. I walked ahead of Daddy, looking for the perfect name, a black name. Most sounded like old Irish names, some even Italian. Then it stared me in the face. Elaine Blackwell- 1975-2004. My body stopped directly in front of the granite stone.

  “This is it,” I said, allowing my fingers to run across the engraved letters. I envisioned my mother’s entire body being pushed into the large stoned wall, hoping it would make me cry naturally. It wasn’t working.

  Daddy moved in closer. Suddenly, I dove my head underneath his shoulder. “I can’t do this,” I cried. This time my cry was extreme, over the top. Most people would’ve thought it was the day of the funeral. The few people around us watched as he inched me back to the car.

  “This is too much for you, huh?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  It seemed as though I’d finally gained his sympathy. “I understand. Let’s go eat,” he said, helping me get back into the car.

  As we pulled away, a slight grin crept on my face. I couldn’t believe I’d pulled it off. Yeah, somebody contact the Academy out in California, because I just won best actress, I thought. However, my joy quickly faded as thoughts of my real mother entered my mind. The more I thought about it, the more I realized she was alive and well. However, if it were up to me, her ass would’ve been six feet under for real.

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time we pulled up to Daddy’s aunt’s house, I was emotionally drained. I’d lied twenty-two times, and more tales were surely on the way. When we stepped on the porch, the loud noise told me this was a hood function, so get ready.

  “Well, well, well…look what the cat brought in!” a burgundy-headed woman hollered, as soon as we walked through the door. “And who is it this time, playa?” she added, looking directly at me.

  “Aunt Jean, how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that,” Daddy responded.

  “Why not? I hope you don’t think I’ma call your ass Daddy,” she replied, with a slight laugh.

  “This is Candy,” Daddy said.

  I hunched his side, reminding him that we’d agreed Candy was no longer my nickname, and then showed all my teeth to the woman with the bad color job.

  “I mean Candice. This my lady, Candice.”

  “Hey…how are you?” I smiled.

  “Uh..huh…whatever you say. Come on in and make yourself at home. I’m glad you came to have dinner with us. We’ll be ready to eat in about an hour. Go on in there to the family room and see your Uncle Manny, boy. He been waitin’ on you.”

  I thought, damn, how was I gonna make it an hour as hungry as I was. My stomach growled, looking at the old fashioned table cloth filled with two huge fried turkeys, ribs, barbecued chicken, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, and every green vegetable ever grown from the ground. It looked like everything was already done to me.

  Daddy pulled me along, and held me close as we walked into the cluttered family room. It seemed more like a party than a Thanksgiving dinner gathering. People lined the walls with drinks in their hands, talking loud and having a good time. Everyone glared when we walked in, my arm tucked under his.

  “Mannnnnnnn, you got a dime piece wit’ you this time!” an older man with a scruffy beard shouted.

  Daddy just gave his customary nod and I smiled. Then from the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of an evil scowl. A tall, slender guy stood behind Daddy, wearing a pair of saggy jeans and a Sean John oversized shirt. He didn’t look familiar, but he stared me down liked I owed him money.

  “What’s up, baby boy?” Daddy shouted, slapping his palm into the young man’s hand. The way the two of them embraced, I knew they were cool.

  “Yo, Candy…I mean Candice. This here my nephew, J-Cee.”

  “Hello,” I said, with a smile.

  “Yeah,” he said, throwing me shade.

  I could tell Daddy didn’t like how he was treating me, but let it slide. “So, where you been hiding?” Daddy asked.

  “Rikers,” J-Cee replied.

  “Boy, you need to cut that shit out. Three strikes you out. I know this your twelfth time. ”

  I didn’t say a word to anyone. They all looked at me strange, especially J-Cee. He couldn’t even pay attention to his uncle, ‘cause he was clocking me so hard.

  “Where I know you from?” J-Cee blurted out.

  My response was slow and well thought out. “Not sure.”

  “You from New York?” he asked.

  “Nah,” I answered. “From Chi-Town.” At least that wasn’t a total lie. I did live there for a short time when I first got in the program.

  Daddy looked at me. “I thought you were from East Orange, Jersey?”

  Shit, I forgot I told him that. “Umm...I’m originally from Chi-Town, but moved to Jersey when I was five.” Hopefully he believed me.

  J-Cee cut his eyes at me, just about the same time my stomach got hit with sharp pains. As he continued to stare me down, I scanned my memory of previous dates, or even guys I’d met casually over the years. Nothing registered. Then I wondered if we’d ever sold him some coke. Nah, I thought. He didn’t look like he had enough money to buy weight. Damn, I hope he just got me mixed up with one of his girls or some shit.

  After listening to Daddy talk shit with his Uncle Manny for a half an hour, his aunt finally called everyone to eat. As I walked to the dining room area, I said a silent prayer, thanking her for not making me wait the whole hour. As hungry as I was, if it had been any longer, I surely would’ve passed out.

  “Are you sure I don’t know you from somewhere?” J-Cee asked, as we sat down at the table.

  “Nephew, leave my baby alone,” Daddy said, before I could respond. “She don’t hang around with lil’ boys like you.”

  Yeah, lil’ boy leave me the hell alone, I thought, as more of Daddy’s family members began to take their seats around the delicious food. The last thing I needed was extra attention. However, I wasn’t so lucky, because J-Cee obviously didn’t feel the need to take his uncle’s advice. All throughout dinner, he stared at me, which made me extremely uncomfortable. However, I made sure to keep Daddy’s eyes on me, so he wouldn’t notice. The last thing I needed was drama on a beautiful Thanksgiving Day with my new man.

  As we were leaving several hours later, J-Cee met us at the door. “Unc, man, we gotta talk. How ‘bout makin’ some time for me later tonight?”

  “I got something important I gotta take care of tonight. Holla at me tomorrow, nephew.”

  “Man, it’s important, so answer when I call.”

  Daddy looked like he knew something was wrong. “You a’ight?” he asked, with concern.

  “Yeah, I’m good. We just gotta talk.”<
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  “No doubt. If I get a minute, I’ll call tonight,” Daddy responded, giving J-Cee a pound.

  “Come on, Daddy. I’m tired,” I said, trying to get out the door. I prayed that J-Cee’s important information wasn’t about me.

  As we got into the car, I turned my heated seat on and got comfortable. The day had been a long one, but cuddling up with Daddy at his place would make it all better.

  ****

  Daddy pulled up to the gate just about the same time I woke up from my short nap on the ride from the Bronx. I’d been sleeping all day, every chance I got. I knew I was tired from all the driving we’d done, but all that good Thanksgiving food didn’t help either. I prayed the sleepiness was the cause of me thinking I was back at the house. I blinked, hoping it was all a dream. Rising in my seat, my head moved from right to left.

  Nervously, I asked, “Why are we here?”

  He hesitated before he spoke. The first clue which told me this wasn’t good, was that he couldn’t even look me in the eye.

  “I got some serious business to take care of before I take you to my spot. I gotta make sure it’s safe for you first.”

  “I don’t care!” I shouted. I moved around in my seat, anxiously leaning in closer to Daddy.

  However, when I did, he went the opposite way. He didn’t show much emotion, which was the norm, but I needed him to feel what I was saying.

  “I just wanna be with you,” I pleaded. “Please don’t make me go back in there. You promised.”

  A couple of seconds later, a light popped on in the foyer. Ms. Dottie was probably waiting patiently to grin in my face. “She knows I’m coming back,” I pointed to the house.

  He shook his head. No words. Just confirmation. Daddy seemed cold. I’m not sure if the situation with his mother had gotten to him on the ride back, but my guess was he needed therapy.

  “You wanna be with me?” I asked, snatching his hand tightly.

  “Of course I do,” he said, finally looking at me.

  “Tell me you love me.”

  He said nothing.

  “Tell me you love me,” I repeated. “I know you do.”

  “I like you more than any of the others, Can…”

  The others? What the fuck? Was he comparing me to the other bitches in the house? Or was he saying his other women? I didn’t care. I just wanted to be with him. His other broads could be deleted later. “Can…dice,” I finished.

  “I got a lot going on. I’ll explain later,” he said, taking a heavy breath.

  This time, he grabbed my hand, and clutched it. His silence told me he was waiting for me to get out. I looked over my shoulder at the house, then back at Daddy. He turned his head swiftly, sure to miss my stare. “Good night,” he said.

  I opened my car door, thinking, I saw this shit in a movie once.

  Chapter Twenty

  Something in me forced my body to do as I was told. I had no intentions on being back at the house again until I married Daddy and became half owner. Even if Daddy had something to do, why couldn’t I chill at his spot? I felt like I was being played, and was starting to question how much he really cared for me.

  My presence back in the house didn’t feel good at all. When I opened my bedroom door the next morning, Ms. Dottie appeared immediately. Hell, it was only 10 a.m., so I knew she wasn’t expecting me to entertain anyone before breakfast. She stood like a statue, keeping me from exiting the room.

  “So, what brought you back?” she asked.

  I threw her a smirk, like I was confident about my relationship with Daddy. “Oh, it won’t be for long. Daddy said just a few days.”

  “Sure. I’ve heard that one before.”

  “Umm…huh.” Her time was getting shorter by the day, she just didn’t know it. “Is there anything else you need from me?” I asked, brushing against her. She knew I wanted to leave my room.

  Ms. Dottie bent down to reach into the large white cardboard box that lay on the floor beside her. When she displayed the clear vase with twelve beautiful red roses, I smiled broadly. He really does care, I thought.

  I grabbed the vase and rushed downstairs to show off my flowers. The moment I sat them on the table, I looked around for someone to share my moment with me as I reached for the card. Sushi was just coming through the door; the perfect person to spread the word throughout the house.

  “Sushi, look what Daddy just sent me.”

  She tried to smile, but it was fake. Something was definitely wrong. Normally you couldn’t keep her ass from smiling. “Are you alright,” I asked.

  “We talk…okay?”

  “Sure.” Her choppy English had gotten on my last nerve. I needed a girlfriend from the hood to share my happiness with. “C’mere,” I said, pulling her by the arm. I snatched the card off the stem and read.

  Tulips are for Mistresses, Roses are for Lovers. I am willing to take this one step further. Hope you’re thinking about me the way I’m thinking about you. I’ll be back for you real soon, my sweet candy treat.

  Senator Marion Hatchett

  My mouth remained wide open from the initial shock, but Sushi’s response topped mine. With a cold blank stare, I knew we had to talk. Sushi told me Ms. Dottie was in the process of hiring a new girl in the front office, so we needed to sneak to a place where we’d have some privacy.

  She kept pointing to the front of the house nervously. “The gym,” she finally said, in a low voice.

  I thought about throwing the flowers away, but just grabbed the card with Marion’s information, and followed Sushi. If I ever needed money, he’d be the man to call. He seemed to be the type that could be jerked easily.

  Standing near the stair climber, Sushi and I stood close like two secret lovers. I just knew she was pregnant. That’s the only thing I could think of serious enough to have her acting like that. Oh, no I wondered. Daddy’s baby? I’d kill his ass and Sushi too for that matter.

  “Spill it,” I finally said.

  “So much me need to say.”

  “Just say it,” I ordered, with a louder voice.

  “Shhhuuush.” Sushi seemed to be very afraid. More than before. “Ms. Dot not like. She trashed you room. Not Cat.”

  “Are you telling me, Cat didn’t do that shit to my room?”

  “Yes.”

  My eyes grew to the size of watermelons as I folded my arms, and paced the floor. The first chance I got, Ms. Dottie had some explaining to do. Then I was gonna kick her ass, and fire her on the spot. Daddy would back me when I explained what happened. I just knew he would.

  I was on my fifth circle around the gym, when Sushi said the unthinkable.

  “Daddy pay me to spy on you.”

  I wanted to rip her nose ring from her fucking nostril.“What did you say?” I asked, making sure I heard her correctly.

  Sushi held her head downward. “Me so shame. He pay me lots.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Save it! Spy on me how?” I got up real close in her face.

  “He say just watch you. Anything bad tell him. Me like you Candy, really do. You friend. Only friend me got. That’s why when Ms. Dot told me to try hang out with you week ago on you day off, I did. No ‘cause they paid, but ‘cause me wanted to.”

  “What did you tell’em?” I asked, pushing Sushi against the treadmill. I had to get gangsta with my girl. Using both hands and all my strength, I gripped her by her collar. I had no intentions on hurting Sushi, but she didn’t need to know that.

  “Nothing…I swear. Me told truth. Just go shopping,” she stuttered, “and eat with Tracey. That’s all me say.”

  I rewound the events of dealing with Sushi in my head. I thought about the times when Sushi could’ve told something about me that would get me in serious trouble. Nothing registered. It was all too crazy.

  When my grip loosened off of Sushi’s collar, she felt like it was okay to speak again. “Candy…”

  “Candice, bitch!” Her face wrinkled. She didn’t know how to take my sudden attitude change.
“You betrayed me.”

  “No…no…no. It’s Daddy. He fool you. He fool all the girls.”

  “This is about me and you.” I felt like I still needed to defend my man.

  “He do this again…all the time. You get hurt.” She started crying- tears flowing like the Nile. “Please, please…stay away from him.”

  “Stay away from who?” Ms. Dottie asked, standing in the doorway.

  Our secret meeting was obviously over, and I had a lot to think about. For starters, I made a mental note to put everyone I’d come in contact with over the past few weeks in two separate categories, those for me, and those against me.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “What in the hell is going on with you?” I heard Daddy say, as he burst through the front door. The door slammed hard, real hard, almost coming off the hinges. I leaned over the railing at the top of the stairs to eavesdrop a little better.

  “What do you mean, what’s going on with me? You should ask yourself that,” Ms. Dottie responded professionally, but a little louder than normal.

  “It’s been two days, and you’ve only serviced two customers. We can’t survive like this!” he shouted. “Why haven’t you been calling some of our regular clients to let them know we have new talent like you normally do? Money gotta be made if everybody wants to get paid this week, including you!”

  “Oh, so now you feeling the heat. You seem to be whisking the girls off whenever you want, firing the others when you want, and lowering the moral...period. I can’t do my job under these circumstances. Besides, it’s not what we agreed.”

  Anxiety got the best of me. I made my way down the steps just as Ms. Dottie said ‘not what we agreed’. I wondered what they had to agree upon that would have them looking into each other’s eyes that way.

  “I knew you would come back for me. A man of his word,” I said, walking up to Daddy. I shot Ms. Dottie a nasty smirk. The bitch was mad jealous. There was no way she could hide it.

  “Let us finish,” Daddy shouted my way, just as my arms opened and reached for his neck.