“Take your time the man and I are not late.” Saying the words man made her feel sad inside. Her little boy was growing up.
“The man and you?” Nikki inquired in surprise.
“I will tell you later.”
“Ok.”
“See ya in a bit.”
She hung up as Zachary walked into the living room pulling his black wheeled suitcase. He placed it next to his duffle bag on the floor. Desiree gave him a look over to make sure he was completely ready. Even though he could dress and take care of himself it was an old habit she was still unable to break.
He was turning into a handsome young man. Desiree knew she was being bias but she would tell anyone who would listen he had the cutest smile. It warmed her heart every time she saw him smile and those dimples would appear. His golden brown eyes matched his golden brown skin and even started showing some more mannish features. Her sweet and soft baby boy was growing so fast he already matched her 5’5 height. It was only a matter of time before he towered over her like his father did.
When she looked over his clothes it dawned on her he was turning into a teen at eight. No longer wearing the animal printed shirts with matching shorts, now he wore a pair of black blue jean shorts and a white and black echo red shirt. He wore his all black Nikes and white socks. He wouldn’t even let her pick out his clothes unless they had his stamp of approval.
Zack liked to keep his hair short and neat which he usually kept hidden under one of his fitted caps. That she sighed started when he was four. She hadn’t taken him to the barber shop in a while due to her heavy work load and when she finally did, he looked into the mirror and stated “I finally look like my old self again.” she couldn’t help but laugh at him. Her little boy was no longer a little boy. And while she didn’t know when her little boy started changing into a young man she knew one thing…she didn’t like it at all.
“Are you sure you have everything?” She asked feeling the sadness grow inside her.
“Yes mom and whatever I don't have I will have dad get me.” At the sound of Zack calling her ex-husband dad she flinched. She tried to shake it off.
“I know you say that now but I don't want you calling me talking about you forgot your favorite shirt. Again.”
“I made sure I packed it this time.”
“What about your hats?”
He touched the one on his head. “I am gonna wear this one on the plane and I packed two more.”
“Ok well Aunt Nikki will be here in a little while.”
Desiree sat on her tan recliner. She tried not to let her emotions get the best of her but as smart as Zack was he saw right through her fake smile.
“Mom are you ok?” she could see the concern in his eye.
“Baby come here.”
She pulled him towards her.
“I am just gonna miss you that’s all.”
“I am gonna miss you too mom.”
He saw the tears forming in her eyes.
“I don't have to go if you don't want me too. I can stay here with you.”
Desiree waved off the tears. “No go ahead and have some fun with your dad. You deserve to see what his surprise is.”
“Are you gonna be ok here by yourself? You have never been alone this long.” He looked at her with searching eyes wanting validation that he was doing the right thing.
“Of course I am. I have work and your aunt Nikki of course I am gonna be ok.”
She couldn’t help but pull her son into another hug. She was perfectly content with the way things were. It was her and Zack until a year ago when her ex-husband Charles decided it was time for him to start being a dad to his son. Great for Zack but bad for her because she knew it was a matter of time before he walked back out his life and she was left to pick up the pieces. She was brought out of her thoughts when someone knocked on the door. She let go of Zack and opened it to her best friend Nikki. Nikki smiled and walked into the house.
Desiree smiled at her best friend. She and Nikki had been friends since she was eleven and Nikki was twelve. As close as they were in friends they couldn’t be more different. Nikki stood at 5’8 with a trim slim figure. She was a perfect size two and loved every ounce of it, while Desiree measured at 5’5 and in the words of her last date she was “curvy chubby in a good way”. Whereas Nikki was Hispanic with long brownish red hair, ears pierced twice with a big diamond stud followed by a gold hoop on each ear and a dimple on both cheeks.
Desiree was African American and took every advantage of her city’s beauty stores. She wasn’t ashamed to admit her hair wasn’t naturally long. With a mole beside her left ear she was more modest in her choice of ear wear. If and when she did wear earrings they were all small studs and not real. Nikki was a little lighter than Desiree’s golden tan complexion. Nikki’s blue eyes twinkled as she smiled and Desiree’s greyish brown eyes tried to mask her sadness by smiling. Many hearts were broken when Nikki married her short-term boyfriend Bryant. Nikki held out her hand.
“Your limo has arrived.”
Desiree snorted.
“Yeah if you call a 2005 Escalade a limo.”
Nikki held her hand to her chest and frowned looking hurt. “Such disrespect! You’re the one didn’t want to drive to the airport.”
Desiree rolled her eyes smiling. “I know and we are ready.”
Nikki stared at Desiree and laughed.
“Bestest can I ask a question?”
“Sure?” Desiree said picking up her purse and looking for her keys.
“What’s with the Band-Aid?” Nikki pointed at her glasses and grinned while Desiree took them off her face.
“What my glasses broke and I ordered a new pair but I can’t afford to get them until I get paid.”
“So you tape it together using toy story Band-Aids?”
“It’s all I have.”
“That’s just sad. I told you that you should use contacts.”
Desiree glanced at her glasses before she placed them back over her eyes. “You know I have a fear of touching my eyes.”
“I wear them.”
“I know that is why your eyes change colors every three days.”
“Come on with your complexion you can get like hazel or green eyes.”
“I will think about it.” She placed her keys in her purse as Nikki walked to the door.
“Look we still got time let's go to Wal-Mart.”
“Nikki I told you when I get paid I will get them.”
“I am your best friend and I am obligated to stop you from flying anywhere looking like that. You can pay me back when you get paid.”
“I love you Nikki.” Desiree pulled her into a hug.
“Look at me why wouldn’t you love me?”
“Now can we get ready to go?”
“Yeah sure.”
Desiree grabbed her overnight bag and Zack’s duffle bag as he pulled his suitcase to the car. After they secured the bags, Desiree got into the front seat. Zack put his headphones on and took advantage of the TV in Nikki’s driver’s headrest. Nikki glanced back at him then looked to Desiree.
“I can’t believe you are actually staying up there for a night.”
“I don’t have a choice when Charles bought the tickets. He bought two one ways so I had to get the next day out. I think he did it on purpose. Ever since he got back in Zack’s life he is under the allusion things with us will just fall into place.”
“And what do you think” Desiree laughed at the thought of even being friends with Charles. She saw the seriousness in Nikki’s eyes. She sighed deeply.
“I think we have been divorced for almost Seven years. Zack is eight and he is just now getting to know his father. It’s something he has always wanted but I don't wanna ruin it for him but as for me, I am cool on it. I burnt that bridge a long time ago.”
Nikki exhaled wanting to believe her but not knowing if she did. “I just don't wanna see you hurt that’s all I mean don’t take this the wrong way but” Nikki looked int
o the rearview mirror at Zack then to Desiree to ensure he wasn’t listening.
“Charles played you all the time. He made you believe that he loved you so you married him. Three months after that you found out you were pregnant he accused you of cheating on him trying to hide the fact that he cheated on you and then a year after you took him back and Zack was born he choose his job over you. He didn’t think about what you needed or wanted. Remember that when he comes to you trying to win your heart back.”
“Nikki it won’t be like it was before. I won’t be tempted to do anything but punch him in his face. No worries.” Desiree smiled at her and Nikki patted her friend’s leg.
“I love you sis you know that. We have been friends for like fifteen years. I am looking after you, as you would do me. You’re the one that got Bryant to get his act together. Shoot he owes you his life.”
Desiree laughed thinking about the night Bryant and Nikki’s little fight about where they were going to live after marriage turned into an all-out war that ended in Bryant walking out the apartment, claiming they were over. Desiree found him at a bar and convinced him that if he truly loved her then none of the little stuff mattered and the big stuff they could work out.
“That man loves you. He just needed some perspective that’s all.”
“And you had no problem giving it to him.”
“None what so ever.” They laughed.
“I am so grateful for you and what you did.” Nikki said with sincerity.
“I am grateful for you too girl.” Desiree said with a smile. She didn’t know what she would have done if it wasn’t for Nikki and her family helping her. Times were hard when she was left husbandless with a one year old, no money and that meant no place to stay. Thanks to her parents along with Nikki and her husband she finally became ok in life.
After they picked up her glasses they drove to Fort Lauderdale Florida airport. Desiree thought about the last few years of her life. It seemed whenever she was blessed with one thing she was sideswiped with another. She glanced back at her angel in human form, her solid rock. If it hadn’t been for Zack, she would have given in a long time ago.
As they arrived at the airport, Nikki helped them unload their things and hugged Desiree before hugging Zack.
“Desi you call me when you get there and I will be here to pick you up at six. And slick rick you better call me every day.”
“Aunt Nikki I will.” He said smiling from ear to ear.
“Uh huh you say you will but will you?”
“I will. Right after I call mom.” He beamed. Desiree could see how happy he was to be going. Nikki could see it too and she could see how that broke her best friend’s heart.
“Right answer big man, you know I love you.”
She hugged him and kissed him fixing his hat. She gave Desiree a quick hug and waved as they walked down the terminal. Desiree looked at her watch and smiled, they arrived to their gate with thirty minutes to spare she loved being early. She grabbed a seat and made sure Zack had his carry on. Her phone rang and she took a deep breath answering on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Desi I was just checking on you guys making sure you were on your way.”
“We are still waiting to board our flight.”
“Ok well I can’t wait to see you. I am glad you decided to come this time and not have my parents bring him. I haven’t seen you in what two years?”
“Three and I would have been glad to keep it like that but Zack really wanted to see you and your parents were busy.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah I gotta go we will be there soon.”
She hung up and looked over at Zack. He had his headphones on playing his Nintendo DS. Desiree closed her eyes trying to mentally prepare for what this trip held for her and Zack. Charles was a man whom she once couldn’t live without or at least thought she couldn’t and she hoped she could get past old feelings to do what was needed for her son. The stewardess came over the loudspeaker for them to board and she nudged her headphone wearing son as they boarded the plane. As she took her seat she looked out the window knowing the door she was about to open would take her to a place she longed wished to forget.
***
Ramón felt like he just walked into a trap. Double teamed by his mother and his daughter. He sat on his mother’s beige sofa and decided what could it hurt to hear them out? He had already decided against his daughter coming to camp this year but they didn’t know that. His daughter Madison looked at him with her big dark brown eyes she got from him.
“Daddy please let me go. You told me last year I was too young and when I turned eight I could go.” Her eyes saddened with every word and even though he knew she really wanted this he wasn’t sure she was ready.
“Did I?”
“Yes you did Ramón I was right there. You know she loves the game just like you so stop being so stubborn and let her go.” His mother said breaking her silence next to her granddaughter. Ramón rubbed his temples rethinking his agreeing to hear them out.
“Look I would love to but I am not gonna be there to help you. I am not running the camp this year I am just helping. I have photos shoots, camp and two voice overs that I am doing, and on top of the teams trip to Africa to help create a better water system over there I can’t be worried about you while I am doing all of that.”
Rachael Norris upped her game knowing if she didn’t she would never win her granddaughter’s case.
“Why would you have too? It’s a summer camp for kids who want to play basketball. There’s not that much that can happen.” She said in her motherly tone that Ramón knew all too well.
“What if she gets hurt?” he asked not wanting to give up without a fight.
Rachael stood wanting her son to realize she was serious. “First of all I worry about you every time you are out on that court but you know that. A couple weeks ago, when you were hit in the nose and I saw all that blood I just about ran on that court and pummeled someone. If it wasn’t for your dad I would have but son you have to let her grow up sometime. And if you are gone and she gets hurt your father and I are here.”
“Why does it have to be now?” Ramón said folding his arms across his chest.
“Because you promised. Come on have a heart.” Rachael sat next to him motioning for her granddaughter to join them.
“Yeah daddy please have a heart…please.” She batted her big hazel eyes and Ramón was a goner. There was no way he could deny his daughter anything.
“Fine you win you can come to the summer camp. But I don't wanna hear anything about you bullying anyone or giving any of the coaches or my teammates any problem.”
Madison jumped off the couch and into her father’s arms squealing.
“Daddy I won’t. I promise I will do what I am supposed to and be where I should be. This is great. I can’t wait to tell grandpa.”
“Yeah I am sure he knows we never win when it’s us men against you all.”
“So why fight it?” Rachael laughed as she and Madison walked out the room. Ramón crooked his head and smiled. He thought back to the day his beautiful daughter was born, to his and everyone else’s surprise Madison was born the spitting image of her grandmother and the similarities didn’t end there. Yes they both had beautiful wide set hazel eyes and full lips. They were both hazel-nut brown which was a shade lighter than he, both shared the same dark brown almost black hair color which Madison kept in pigtails while his mother donned a more sophisticated bob. He cocked his head knowing it didn’t stop with looks. Both were very stubborn and when they wanted something there was nothing that would stand in their way. And his little girl wanted to go to basketball camp and finally she would get her way.
He didn’t know why it bothered him that his little princess no longer wanted to wear the crown; she wanted to trade it in for a jersey…maybe it was because he knew it was his fault. He tried his best to keep her head off the court but she was his daughter. He was actually starting to miss
the days of tea parties with tiara’s and watching every Disney princess movie he could get his hands on. He inhaled deeply. There was only so much a father could do to raise a little girl. Her mother not being in the picture made it worse for her. He just wanted to fill that hole he knew was there. As he stretched his arms strait in the air as his dad joined him in the modernly decorated living room.
“Where are my girls?” he asked his voice a rich baritone that was filled with expectance in dealing with the ladies in their life.
“Probably in the kitchen, celebrating.” Ramón said trying to convince himself everything would be fine.
“Oh? What are they celebrating?” he asked his left eyebrow raised a little.
“Once again they have gotten another victory over me.” Ramón gave a heavy sigh.
“So you gave in and are gonna let her go to the camp?”
“What other choice did I have? You know mom made up her mind the day it left Madison’s lips.”
“And you didn’t?”
“I just wanna do something right by her. I feel like such a failure.” Sadness crept in Ramón's eyes and his father wanted to ease whatever burden his son was carrying.
“Why?”
Ramón made room on the soft ivory sofa so his dad could join him.
“I lost her a mother all because I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. I was young and stupid and if it wasn’t for you and mom all these years I don't know what would have happened.”
“I do. You still would be the wonderful father that you are. It doesn’t matter what people think you are doing or not you’re a great dad to Maddie. You have made her so happy just by being her father. You take amazing care of that little girl. Just because her mother was stupid, enough to walk out of yours and her life don't blame yourself. You are the world to that girl and her hero it’s no wonder she wants to be like you.”
“Thanks I needed that.”
“I know that’s why I said it.” Joe placed his hand on his son’s leg and patted it.
“It is going to be alright.”
“You think she will be alright at that camp. I know its run by my team and I but I won’t be able to watch her twenty –four seven.” Ramón’s face saddened as his dad sat up.
To Love a Man Page 2