Darius Jones

by Mary B. Morrison

  “Yes, I’d like to cancel my reservations for today from DFW to LAX.” I gave the booking agent Fancy’s and Darius’s names.

  “I don’t have my confirmation number in front of me. Can you look it up by my address?” I gave them Darius’s Atlanta address.

  The agent said, “Sorry, I’m not showing a reservation for Fancy Taylor or Darius Jones Junior.”

  Idiot rep! Ending that call, I phoned Delta, Continental, US Airways, Northwest, Southwest. I called JetBlue and all the other airlines that flew out of DFW. I could not find that bitch’s flight information.

  I called Baldwin. Thought of what to say while I was hold.

  A minute later I heard him say, “What now, Ashlee?”

  What the fuck was this, national beat down Ashlee day? “I need you to tell me how to get my son back.”

  Sighing heavily in my ear, Baldwin said, “I thought he was with you.”

  “He was but my mom came and got him.”

  “Probably best. You’re not stable, Ashlee. What are we going to do about the Jay Crawford case?” he lamented.

  “I don’t give a fuck about no Jay Crawford, you hear me! I want you to get my son back here immediately or you’re fired!” Did he forget who was paying his mortgage?

  “Ashlee, I wish you the best. I can no longer represent you. Let my secretary know when and where to transfer your files.”

  “You can’t quit on me! Hello? Hello? You’re fired, Baldwin. You hear me! Fired!” Baldwin was long gone before I’d finished my end of the conversation.

  I sat on my sofa, cried. Jumped up. Paced from one living room window to the other. Peeped out the window. Jay’s bitch was going inside with her son. Didn’t want to kidnap his bad ass again. “Ahhhhh!” I put my hands over my ears.

  Fuck that bitch Fancy. I was going to confront her ass. I went online and bought me a one-way ticket to LA. I packed my bags and headed to Washington-Reagan National.

  Nothing and no one would keep me away from DJ and Darius.

  CHAPTER 66

  Darius

  Halfway to my front gate, I had my driver take me back to my front door. Getting out of the limo, I entered my garage, got in my Hummer and left. Fancy hadn’t come home. Her mom was at our house but Fancy wasn’t. What was my wife trying to prove?

  “They’d be a fool to slam into this baby,” I said, cruising in my Hummer. To avoid traffic on the 405 or bring back memories of the day of the accident, I got on the 110S with no particular destination. Driving at times helped me to clear my head.

  Night before last was a blur. Last thing I vividly remembered was my wife hitting me upside the head with a book. I left the hospital in transit to…I couldn’t recall. Definitely wasn’t the Playhouse or My House but I woke up in my bed fully clothed, shoes on my feet. Ladycat wasn’t happy to see me when I’d picked her up from the hospital. I kept quiet in the limo on our drive home from the hospital ’cause I knew I’d fucked up.

  Aimlessly driving I found myself at Shakey’s Pizza at Avalon and Del Amo. Too early for pizza but I ordered a large Shakey’s special to go. Made my way over to Juice-C-Juice for a smoothie. By the time I downed the smoothie I’d be ready for my pizza. Must’ve stepped in this place by MaDear’s divine intervention because it was also an African-American bookstore.

  “Hey, my man,” I said to the young dude behind the counter. No sooner than I’d said, “my man,” I missed DJ. Was he okay? Was Ashlee being a good mother? Didn’t want to focus on her too long. Why had she sucked my dick? Where was my wife?

  “Hook me up with a large banana, peach, honey, mango, and throw some strawberries in for color contrast.”

  I wondered how old he was. Didn’t seem old enough to be on payroll but he seemed confident hookin’ up my drink. “My man. What’s your name and how old are you?”

  “Christopher but everybody calls me CJ,” he said, turning on the blender.

  Felt a tap on my shoulder, turned around, looked down. Damn, she was shorter than shortie from the Playhouse. “What’s up?” I asked, praying she wasn’t a groupie.

  “Hi, I’m Lori Carter, the owner of Smiley’s Books. I want you to read this,” she said, handing me a strange-looking book with a black stickman straddling an ankh on the cover.

  “I’m good,” I said, taking my smoothie. “CJ, hook me up with two ounces of wheatgrass.”

  “Give me two minutes of your time,” Lori said. “By the time your wheatgrass is done, I’ll be done talking with you.”

  I stood, nodded. “Two. Go.”

  She put the book in my hand. I sat it on top of my pizza box, handed her a twenty. She gave it back. I put the twenty on the counter for CJ.

  “The book is on me. I’ve seen you all over television. Heard about your wife’s accident. It’s no accident that you came here. Your chakras are out of alignment.”

  My what were what? Chakras were out of alignment? What the fuck was she pushing? She better not break out one of them Body Magic for men.

  “You’re wondering but don’t know how to solve your problems. Read the book, brother.” She said “brother” with depth that moved me. Like she was a black woman who actually cared about a black man’s state of well-being.

  CHAPTER 67

  Darius

  “You are a king,” Lori said as she looked into my eyes.

  I knew I was “the man” but no woman had told me I was a king before.

  “To whom much is given, much is required. You’ve taken a lot from lots of people but haven’t given much in return. That’s why your life is out of synch. You can’t undo your past but you can control your destiny. Start paying it forward. Start a nonprofit in your name. You have the resources to help those less fortunate than you. It’s my responsibility to give you the book. The rest is up to you. You know the saying. ‘If you want to keep getting what you’re getting—’”

  “I know, ‘keep doing what I’m doing.’”

  “And one last thing—get rid of your bad vibes. Cut your locs. Give yourself a fresh start.”

  I downed my double shot of wheatgrass. “Thanks, Lori,” I said, clenching the book under my arm and my smoothie in my hand. Could this book really change my life? I put the book and my pizza in the car, went next door to the barbershop. I desperately wanted a new beginning. I sat in the chair. “Let’s do this. Cut ’em off.”

  Dude didn’t ask no questions. He talked nonstop until he’d cut my last loc. I collected each loc, put them all in a Ziploc bag. Let him line me up, paid and got outta there. Headed down the strip mall in search of a Yankees cap, made my way back to my car. I felt free at last.

  Driving to Mom’s, I said aloud, “It couldn’t hurt to read this here joint.”

  I parked in Mom’s driveway, cracked the spine. I scanned the table of contents. My eyes stopped on, “Fear of Failing” and “Chakras, Our Energy Centers.” “Wow.” I let myself in. “Ma! Where are you?”

  “In my office,” she called out. “Come here, sweetie.”

  I dashed in the kitchen, poured a glass of cranberry juice for my mom. Grabbed the container for myself so I could wash down that thick smoothie. Found mom in her office.

  “Sit,” she said, smiling. “What are you reading?”

  I set her glass on a coaster away from her laptop. “Nothing, yet. Stopped by Smiley’s. Picked up this book. Lori Carter said it would help me to center myself. Figured I needed clarity in my life. You should read it with me.”

  Mom took the book, flipped it over, read the back. She flipped through the pages, stopped at the back, scanned the table of contents, read the title, “Hmm. Just Cause I: Moving from a Mundane Existence Into a Deliberate Wholeness, by Shannette Slaughter. Never heard of her but looks like a thought-provoking read. If I’d known you were going to Smiley’s, I would’ve had you bring me a smoothie and some wheatgrass.”

  Mom loved that stuff, got me hooked on it too. Although I felt like I was at my lowest point, couldn’t go any lower, being at Mom’s house made me f
eel better. Hearing Ciara and Maxine’s mother tell me the truth about myself hit me in my gut. There was no way I could ignore what they’d told me.

  How would I have felt if Maxine was my daughter and she’d contracted HIV? Or if a man pushed my pregnant daughter down, made her hit her head, then left her for dead? I thought about how I’d treated Heather, Miranda, Ginger, Zen, Ashlee, the woman who’d sucked my dick the other night.

  “Ma, you haven’t said anything about my hair.”

  “I love it. I can see your face. You look happier. Any regrets?” she asked.

  “Not a one.”

  CHAPTER 68

  Darius

  I’d taken Just Cause I from Lori to learn more about myself. Did having money all my life make me arrogant? Why had I treated women so badly? The worst part was, it never dawned on me how heartless I was, until recently. I wanted to change. I never wanted to hurt another female that bad. Now those niggas on the court, they had royal ass whippings coming from me. I couldn’t wait to get back to basketball.

  Ma said, “I’ve got great news. But first, how’s Fancy?”

  I reclined on Ma’s chaise, put my hands behind my head, crossed my legs. “She’s cool. I guess. I dropped her off at home yesterday. Haven’t seen her since.”

  “You left her by herself?”

  “Ma, she’s not home. Her mother is at our house but my wife isn’t home. Trust me, with her bad attitude, she’s fine. Give me the great news, Ma.”

  Saw a tweet from my boy Christopher Henderson. Celebrating my Grammy nom with fam and friends 2nite at GLC at the BC. Come through.

  Posted to my Facebook profile, Congrats, Chris. B there round 6.

  “Can you put down that iPhone long enough to hear what I have to say?”

  “Sorry, Ma.” I put my phone in my lap, stared at my mom.

  My mom’s eyes lit up. Hadn’t seen that in a while. Felt good. She said, “I got all the pics of that night from Sapphire.”

  “So. What difference does that make? The media already has the pictures posted everywhere. That’s old news.” I sat up, moved closer to my mother. Officer Lawrence Austin’s card was on her desk.

  “But they don’t have the legal right to continue airing them or what happened. They have no proof. You have no charges. And the woman involved, I found her. All she wants is an apology from you.”

  “I’m good at that. So this dude helped you,” I said, picking up the card.

  Mom smiled. Felt good to see a genuine smile lighting up her face.

  “You could say that. We’re going out.”

  “As in on a date?” I asked. “You’re going out with a police officer? Really?”

  “Really,” she said. “It’s a first but he might be fun. And he’s definitely a better choice than my hiring Bambi.”

  She wasn’t lying about that. I had too much going on. Mom was right. I was going to let the police do their job and pray they found that crazy chick.

  “Ma, I called Ciara and apologized to her. She gave a million reasons why she’d never forgive me. Called Maxine.” I paused. Didn’t want to get into a conversation about Maxine’s death.

  “Tell me the truth. Am I that bad of a person, Ma?”

  CHAPTER 69

  Honey

  “Honey, let me make our reservations to go home,” Grant said. Home? “And where exactly is that?” I asked him, breast-feeding Luke. Ms. Waters had shown the best hospitality but Grant was right. The time for us to make arrangements to leave was now.

  I inserted my pinky finger into Luke’s mouth, broke his suction. His mouth repeatedly opened. Realizing my titty was not there, he frowned. His face turned red.

  Grant laughed. “You’d better hurry up.”

  “He’s so greedy. He sucks in my titty soon as he feels it. Let him cry. That way I can put my nipple and areola in his mouth properly this time. His greedy behind is not jacking up my breasts.” I placed my pointing and middle fingers at the top and bottom of my areola, then eased my nipple directly into Luke’s gapped mouth.

  Knock. Knock. “It’s Sapphire. I know y’all not in there fucking. Open the door.”

  I opened the door. Sapphire handed me two large gift boxes. I motioned for her to sit the boxes on the coffee table, then said, “You are so crazy. I love you. Come in.” When appropriate, I’d decided to replace my “thank you” with “I love you” as a constant reminder to let those closest to me know how I felt about them.

  “I’m not coming in for long. Hi, Grant,” she said, standing in the doorway waving. “When are you leaving Velvet’s and heading back to Atlanta?”

  I answered, “We were just having that conversation. In a few days, a week tops. I’m ready to sleep in my bed.”

  Losing my boys for a few days made me appreciate how precious life was. If I couldn’t help someone, I wouldn’t hurt them.

  Sapphire hugged me, then said, “Be at Jada’s house tomorrow morning at ten. We have to watch the surveillance tapes with Officer Austin. Just in case he needs additional information for this Bambi chick, give it three days before you leave LA. I’m heading out in about a week. Maybe sooner. Gotta get back to my husband. I’m overdue for a tune-up on this pussy.”

  Grant and I both laughed. “I second that,” I told her.

  Having my boys was a blessing but I’d been without dick for too long. I gazed into Sapphire’s eyes. Told her, “I can never repay you.” Being a detective would always be in Sapphire’s blood. Every time she tried to quit, something else happened. First she helped Velvet, then her own mom, now me.

  “Ba—” I stopped speaking. Grant’s frozen expression interrupted my thoughts.

  Nervously, he asked Sapphire, “Will Bambi be there?”

  “We wish. No,” Sapphire said. “They haven’t caught her yet but that’s one of the reasons we’re meeting tomorrow. Honey, that boy has fallen asleep with your titty in his mouth. Carry on.”

  I closed, then locked the door. Stared at Grant. “Don’t embarrass me in a room full of people. You might as well tell me now and tell me the whole truth.”

  “What?”

  “Your face tightens whenever that woman’s name is mentioned. Don’t you think you’ve hurt me enough? Tell me now.” I peeped inside the two decorative boxes. Sapphire had bought me two outfits. Thank goodness no more wearing maternity clothes.

  “There’s nothing to tell. I promise you I don’t know her. So you’re going to let me make our reservations to leave in three days?” he asked.

  I wanted to cry. I knew he was lying to my face while his was straight. I stood in the center of the floor praying he’d told me the truth. Grant had a place in Rosewell and D.C., my house was in Buck-head. All of my former escort girls lived with me in Atlanta. I couldn’t wait to show them the twins, especially my play-sister Onyx. My girls had become my family.

  If Grant had told the truth, we could’ve stayed with him. I was taking the boys to my house. If for any reason things didn’t work out between Grant and I, I wasn’t packing up belongings for four people. I’d told my mom she could stay a few weeks and help with the boys but I wasn’t leaving her or anyone alone with my kids.

  “Will you please trust me to make our reservations?” Grant asked.

  “Sure.” Wasn’t like I couldn’t change the reservations if I didn’t agree with his decision. I burped Luke, then lay him in the middle of the bed next to London.

  “Honey, come sit on the sofa beside me.”

  I looked at Grant. He was so fine and still the only man I’d ever loved. I sat next to him, kept my eyes on the boys. I’d decided I didn’t want to change my name back to Lace. Honey suited me. Inside, I knew who I was.

  Grant held my hand. “I’m so sorry for all the things I’ve done to hurt you. I never want to hurt you again. I don’t want any surprises. Truth is—”

  Defensively, I said, “What?” I felt a confession coming on. I knew he knew more about that Bambi woman than he’d told me.

  CHAPTER 70
/>   Honey

  Grant said, “Truth is, I want to take you and our boys to D.C. to meet my parents. The right way this time,” he said. Softly Grant kissed my lips. “You are so beautiful.”

  I became quiet. He knew what he wanted but what did I want? Did I want to meet his parents? Would they accept me? Would they judge me? Would they welcome my boys as their grandchildren but reject me? “I’m not sure I’m ready to meet your parents. Why don’t we wait a few months?”

  “I don’t want to wait,” Grant said, French kissing me. His tongue danced in my mouth. I sucked his tongue, put my tongue in his mouth. We alternated for a few minutes. I was so hungry for this man breast milk leaked from my nipples.

  Grant touched my pussy. I know he wasn’t trying to get me to make love to him. Backing away from his tongue and moving his hand, I told him, “Six weeks for that.”

  He shook his head, laughed. His large white teeth were perfectly aligned, breath fresh. His caramel kiss tasted so sweet. I wanted his dick inside me. I rattled my head, dried the milk streaming down to my stomach. I hoped our boys would have perfect teeth too. Didn’t want to make a bunch of trips to a dentist for braces for two kids.

  “That’s not what I had on my mind but since you brought it up, does that include oral sex? I can give you a pussy massage, if you’d like.”

  “What is it that you don’t want to wait for? I’ll suck your dick later.” I would. My pussy had stitches not my mouth. And he was right. There were other ways we could pleasure one another until the doctor said it was okay to have sex. I was not going to be one of those women who went back for their six week checkup and found out they were pregnant again. I was happy with two boys. Should’ve had my tubes tied.