Vengeance

by Mychea

  With another little one in the house, I'm a busy bee."

  "Speaking of kids, I've been meaning to ask a favor of you, you know if something were to happen to me."

  Naima cut her eyes at her, "What would happen to you?"

  "I don't know, I'm just saying if something were to happen to me, will you take Kaven and Kadir in?"

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  That stopped Naima from making her plate completely. She immediately put the plate down and grabbed Haven's face. "Don't you talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to you. Do you hear me? I will not allow it."

  Tears began escaping Haven's eyes, "Please Naima, tell me if something happens to me you'll look after them. I need to know they'll be taken care of just in case."

  Pulling Haven into a hug, Naima was really afraid this time. "Of course I'll look after them.

  You know you don't even need to ask that."

  "Thank you." Haven said returning Naima's hug with all the love in her heart, because she knew Naima meant it.

  Naima didn't know what to expect anymore. It seemed like everyone's life was spiraling out of control and no one was trying to seek any help. With all this chaos going on, she had thought about seeing a therapist herself. But after the Coleen fiasco, she could honestly say that she no longer trusted therapists either. Who knew the world could be such a dishonest place? You could trust almost no one.

  "Baby."

  "Oh,oh. I can tell from your tone that this is about to be a long discussion."

  "Hush silly. Not long just deep."

  "Figured."

  "Kaden."

  "Sorry Baby, I'm listening. Give it to me."

  "I kind of told Haven tonight that if something happened to her we would take care of her kids."

  Kaden groaned inwardly a little. "Does she plan on something happening to her?"

  "I don't know. She and Chris are really going through it. She scared me tonight. I've never been scared before. I think she needs to leave that situation completely. Chris is eventually going to kill her. You should have seen her the other day when we were at the park. Both of her eyes had been blackened."

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  "I don't think you should hang around her as much. Because if you get caught in a situation between the two of them and Chris puts his hands on you, Imma have to put that nucca six feet under."

  Naima placed a kiss on Kaden's cheek. "Baby, nothing will happen to me, promise and I can't stay away from Haven right now. I'm too worried about her. She doesn't tell me anything anymore, so who knows what's really going on with her."

  "Ok Mocha. I trust your judgment. Let me know if you need me to do anything."

  Naima shook her head, "Nope there's nothing. I just wanted you on notice about the kid thing."

  "Ok, I have officially been notified. Let's pray that we'll never need to mention this notice again."

  "Agreed."

  Tyson hung up the phone and smiling at his expression in the mirror. Things were going nicely, he couldn't have hoped for a better outcome to his plan. Hearing the doorbell chime, he gave himself one last glance over before letting Emeri in. They were having a date night, pizza and movies.

  Opening the door, his breath caught. He was always taken back by how beautiful Emeri was.

  The big crinkly hair with the light eyes were enough to make any man pause and stare. Too bad she was half crazy, if it weren't for that one thing, she would be perfect.

  "Hi gorgeous."

  "Hi." She said walking in past him with a bag in her arms.

  "What you got in the bag?" He asked as he shut the door.

  "Wine." She said pulling out a bottle. "Did you order pizza already?"

  "I did."

  "Good, buffalo wings too right?"

  "Yes," he said taking the wine from her. "I got you covered."

  "You're way too good to me."

  Tyson smiled at that. "Woman, go into the room and pick out a movie for us to watch."

  "Ok." She replied as she went down into the basement to make a selection.

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  Tyson had always marveled at the human psyche, that's probably why he choose to be a psychiatrist in the first place.

  There were times like now when Emeri seemed so normal, but her mood could shift so quickly. Sometimes he wondered what would happen if he were to break things off with her.

  What would she do? Would his life be in danger or not. Something told him it would be, so he opted not to think about it to much.

  Uncorking the wine, pouring them each a glass, he took the bottle and the glasses down to the basement. He came back up to answer the door when the pizza man arrived.

  Once they were all settled in the basement with wine, pizza, buffalo wings and a blanket, Tyson asked Emeri to press play on the DVD player so that date night could officially begin.

  Hearing the opening to "Why Did I Get Marrried?" By Tyler Perry, Tyson wondered why she had chosen this particular movie.

  "Any reason for the movie choice?"

  "I heard Tyler Perry was a good Writer and Director, so I wanted to see first hand if it were true or not." Emeri said right before she stuffed a slice of pizza in her mouth.

  "Cool."

  Sitting back, allowing her to enjoy the movie, Tyson didn't say much of anything until the credits began to roll.

  "So, what did you think?"

  "I think he had some very memorable characters. I liked the movie a lot. I gues what people have been saying about him is true."

  "Yeah, I like it ok."

  Tyson began to clean up the remnants of their evening.

  "Hey," Emeri started, interrupting the silence, "I've been thinking about this whole situation with Namiyah and I've come to the conclusion that I believe she knows too much."

  Just that quick, Tyson could tell that sane Emeri was being replaced by insane Emeri.

  Continuing to clean up, Tyson waited for her to go on.

  "I may have to do something to ensure she keeps quiet."

  "Something like what?" He asked softly.

  "I haven't decided yet, but whatever it is it has to be untraceable."

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  "Emeri, I don't know about this. Namiyah is only fifteen and your niece. Maybe you should ease up on her just a little."

  Emeri stopped cleaning up to look at him. Suddenly suspicious, she felt like she couldn't trust him.

  "Are you taking up for her?"

  "No I'm not. All I'm saying is she's a little girl. Don't go doing anything drastic. She's a child, is all I'm saying and your family has been through enough."

  "My family is dead!" Emeri yelled throwing the blankets she'd just picked up back on the floor. "Those people are not my family. I have no one."

  Tyson put the pizza boxes on the table and went to console Emeri. Outbursts were good. At least she was reacting and showing emotion. It was when she gave no reaction he bacame worried.

  Attempting to run his fingers through her massive curls, he gave up in defeat and opted to rub her back instead.

  Pulling back out of his reach, Emeri grabbed her things. She needed to get away from Tyson so she could think. She didn't know if she trusted him anymore.

  "I have to go."

  "Already?"

  "Yes. Now. Good-bye." And she stormed out.

  Tyson was left trying to figure out what he had done wrong.

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  Chapter 18

  Naima woke out of her sleep suddenly drenched in sweat. A bad feeling washed over her.

  Something wasn't right she could feel it. Looking
over at Kaden she saw that he was still sleeping peacefully. Glancing at the red digital numbers, she read 1:23 on the clock. Rising to check on the kids, Naima went to all three bedrooms and all three children were sound asleep.

  She wanted to call her mom, but knew if she phoned this late her mom would automatically think that something was wrong. So she decided to lay back down, but she did so with a heavy heart.

  Something was not right in the world.

  The phone ringing woke her up this time. The digital clock read 5:21. Picking up the receiver slowly, Naima braced herself for bad news. All her children were home, so the only reason she would be getting a call this early in the morning was if something happened to her mother or Haven.

  “Hello.”

  “May I speak to Naima Fairchild please?”

  “This is she.”

  Kaden sat up slowly and mouthed, “Is everything ok?”

  “Ma’am we need you to come down, to the fifth precinct to pick up Kaven and Kadir Thomas.

  If you do not come for them we have no choice but to turn them over to Child Protective Services.”

  “Can you tell me what’s going on please?”

  “Ma’am we would prefer not to divulge information over the phone. Will you be coming to collect the children?”

  “Yes of course. I’ll be right down.” Hanging up the phone, Naima got up immediately.

  “What’s going on?” Kaden asked.

  “Come on, put your clothes on. We have to go down to the station and pick up Kaven and Kadir or they’re going to turn them over to Child Protective Services.”

  “Does this mean what I think it means?” Kaden asked as he got up to put his clothes on.

  “I have no idea what’s going on. I’m afraid to know. They are going to tell us when we get there.” Naima threw her sneakers on and pulled a sweatshirt out of the drawer. “Babe I’m going to go in and let Namiyah know that we need to run not and to watch Kalani and Alanna.”

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  “Aight. I’ll go heat up the car.”

  “Ok, Baby.”

  Going into the precinct, Naima was afraid of what she would find out. Showing the proper identification, she and Kaden were taken to a back room where Kaven and Kadir were being held.

  “Running up to her immediately, Kaven threw his arms around her waist and wouldn’t let go.

  Kaden picked up a sleeping Kadir and placed the six-month-old bay in Naima’s waiting arms.

  “You go find out what’s going on. I’ll stay in here with the kids.” She told him .

  Kaden nodded and followed the officer out the room.

  Rubbing Kaven’s back, Naima focused her attention on her Godson. “Hey munchkin, you doing ok?” looking at his face she could tell he had been crying.

  Shaking his head, no he continued to hug her and she felt his grip tighten. “It’ll be ok. Your God Mommy is here to take care of everything ok?”

  “Mmmmhmmn.” He sniffed never looking up. Kaden came back into the room then and took Kadir out of Naima’s arms and put him into his car seat, then looked over at Naima and said,

  “Time for us to go.”

  They rode home in silence, each confined to their own thoughts.

  “Kaven honey, you go ahead in your normal room you stay in and I’ll come in, shortly to check on you. I’m sure this was a long night and you’re tired.”

  “Ok.” He said sadly, as he walked down the hall.

  As she and Kaden walked into their room with Kadir, Naima needed answers for her questions.

  “So babe what did they say? What happened?”

  Kaden began taking his clothes off slowly his back was to Naima and he wanted to take his time with responding.

  “Kaden Fairchild!” Naima raised her voice slightly, “What is going on? You better tell me something right now!”

  Turning around to face her, he braced himself for her reaction, “Seems like your worst fears have come true, Chris strangled Haven to death sometime this morning.”

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  Naima sat on the bed. 1:23 this morning she thought, that’s when Haven breathed her last breath, she just knew it. She had known something was wrong. She should have called Haven; maybe she would be alive now.

  “I knew this was going to happen.” Naima placed her face in her hands, “I told you last time I was there she scared me.”

  Coming to her side of the bed kneeling in front of her Kaden honestly didn’t know what to say. He just offered his support.

  “Why do bad things keep happening all around us? “Naima asked as she threw her arms around his neck.

  Enclosing her in a hug, Kaden gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

  “I don’t know Mocha.”

  “I can’t keep going through this. At some point, life has to get better. We are burying too many people back to back. I’m tired of going to funerals. I’ve been to enough to last me a lifetime.

  “I know Baby.”

  Naima was grateful for Kaden. There was no way she would have been able to make it through the last five years of her life without him. He was her blessing. She’d be lost without him.

  After checking in on Kaven to make sure he was all settled in and taken care of. Naima rejoined Kaden in their room. They seriously had to have a talk.

  “Baby, we need to talk.”

  “About all these children I presume.”

  “How did you guess?”

  Shrugging Kaden responded, “Process of elimination.”

  “Well for starters, I had no idea that in a few weeks our household of four would jump to seven. We now have a six month old in the house.”

  Smiling slowly, “You did say you wanted more children. Now you have a whole house full.”

  “That’s one way of looking at the bright side, if there was bright side to this whole sordid situation.” Dropping her head down her eyes misted, “I cannot believe Haven is gone, feels like only yesterday we were shopping at the mall for Louis Vuitton baby bags and now I have the baby bag, the baby, and no her.”

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  “Come on Mocha. You have to be strong for the children.”

  “I know. It’s just too much you know . One family shouldn’t go through so much.”

  “Baby, we’ll survive. We always do.”

  “You’re right.” Naima took a deep breath as she wiped her eyes.

  “I’m ok now. I just had to get it out my system so I could get myself together.” Breathing in slowly she jumped up, “Ok, I’m ready. Let me go downstairs and make these kids breakfast, then call my momma and let her know about the change of events.” She gave Kaden a kiss on the cheek, grabbed Kadir who was still sleeping in his car seat and bounded out the room and down the stairs.

  Kaden shook his head and grinned. He loved that woman, she was definitely a trooper. You might catch her off guard for a second, but she rebounded like no one’s business. That was his Mocha for you. God had truly broken the mold when he made her.

  Emeri walked past the sitting room and smiled at Namiyah. Namiyah ignored her. All the new distractions at her parents house offered her plenty of alone time to sort things out about her Aunt. Things had not gotten better between them. Namiyah could tell that Emeri knew she knew who had caused the fire at Camille’s house killing her Granddaddy. She had been getting bad vibes from Emeri, not that she didn’t always have bad vibes around her psycho Aunt anyway, but lately she could tell through their interactions that something was going on. The reason she knew that was because Emeri was making it a point to interact with her. Namiyah knew better though.

  Her Momma wasn’t raising no fool. She wouldn’t trust Emeri if they were the last two people on Earth. She would just have to befriend the dolphins or some other
animal before that took place.

  Sitting at her Gram’s house, she thought about her home life. It seemed like home was in an uproar lately. Alanna, Kaven and Kadir were all moved in with them. Namiyah found herself excited to have a new little sister and a new baby in the house. She was used to Kaven always being there, so that was normal anyway.

  The funeral for his mom had been sad. Namiyah had never seen her mother so distraught.

  Not even when she was in the hospital recovering or when she learned, she wouldn’t be able to have any more children. She had always held it together. Haven’s funeral was another story however. They had been friends since they were kids themselves, must be hard to bury someone you have known your whole life. Good thing the house was full of kids now to keep her mom’s Copyright © 2010 Mychea

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  spirit’s up. Namiyah could tell her mother loved taking care of all of them and Namiyah loved her for that. She wouldn’t trade her mom for anyone in the world.

  “Namiyah.”

  “Yes, Gram.” She sighed as her thoughts were interrupted.

  “Can you go to the basement and get Kalani’s old play pen out? It should be buried in the back closet somewhere.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  Making her way to the basement, Namiyah began searching through closets. Her Gram didn’t tell her exactly which back closet had the play pen in it. This basement had plenty of closets. Beginning at the first one she came to, Namiyah was shocked to see an old collection of guns, knives and swords in this one. This must have been Granddaddy’s thing because she couldn’t imagine Gram having anything to do with any of this stuff.

  The light from the closet caught the glare of something in the corner. Reaching over thoughtfully, Namiyah pulled it out of the corner and her eyes grew about three sizes. She was holding a real life machete. She had seen pictures of one before, but she had never gotten the opportunity to hold one before.

  “Namiyah! Where is the play pen?” Her Gram yelled from the top of the steps.

  “Sorry Gram. I’m still looking.”

  Hurrying to put the machete back in its place, Namiyah backed out of that closet to find the play pen before Gram made it down the steps herself to look for it, which would not be a good thing. Making a mental note of where the machete was placed in case she needed it for future use, she found the playpen and went back upstairs.