Still thicker than water

by Takerra, Allen

  “He told Tatum.”

  Mike shook his head in disbelief.

  “How does this guy damn near kill a girl, and only serve two years and some change, and is even considered for parole?”

  Sasha was surprised by Mike’s lack of understanding, or was she?

  “You think he deserves to be locked up?” Sasha asked, thinking of all of the evil Neli had done. Mike was fuming.

  “I think he got what he deserved!” He raised his voice and Aubrey’s attention was brought to their argument.

  “Daddy don’t got dessert…daddy got me… and mommy… on his arm.”

  Sasha’s eyebrows raised in bewilderment as she tried to stop Aubrey. This little girl didn’t know what a secret was.

  “No baby, Mike said Daddy got what he deserved. Not dessert. Deserve means-”

  “What’s she talking about Sasha?” Mike cut her off, wondering what Chauncey had done. He had heard Aubrey clear as day and knew in his gut that Sasha was lying to him about visiting him.

  “She’s talking about the apple pie that I’m supposed to make, but I told you Bri-Bri, tomorrow.”

  Mike looked at her with little patience.

  “Sasha, you know what I mean…about him and his arm.”

  Sasha shrugged and then feigned as if she had just remembered something.

  “Oh, you know what…I think she’s talking about something else Tatum had told her…I think Chauncey had gotten a tattoo of Aubrey or something.” She stood up and made her way over to the tree. “But okay babe, I’m ready to help you guys, if you want?”

  Mike took a deep breath and sipped on his coffee. Chauncey was a piece of shit. The thought of him being out of jail and in their lives made his skin crawl, but what could he do about it?

  At least that mothafucka will be in Newark, far away from us. She can send the kid up there to see him and I’ll just stay on her so much that she won’t even want to go with her. Maybe with the kid with her father, we can work on one of our own? A boy… Yeah, I’ve got nothing to worry about.

  And Mike had no idea how wrong he really was.

  “Shit,” Tatum mumbled, dropping her keys as she tried to open her front door. She had two handfuls of bags from Toys R’ Us, Walmart, The Children’s Place, and Macy’s that contained all of her last minute Christmas gifts for the girls.

  Finally getting up the steps and opening the door, she dropped the bags as Chanel and Tangee came running.

  “Oohhh,” Tangee screamed, just knowing the contents of the bag were for her.

  “Nah-unh, no peaking. Or I’m gonna tell Santa to not even stop here next week,” Tatum warned.

  Chanel, the oldest, rolled her eyes.

  “There is no Santa, Auntie Tatum.”

  Tatum looked at her wide-eyed, not wanting Tangee’s world to be crushed. Even though Tangee was nine years old, she still believed somewhat. Chanel had outgrown the phase.

  “Oh, I forgot, you’re eleven now…you’re grown right? It’s okay, I’ll tell Santa just to bring Tangee all of the goodies, right Tang?”

  Tangee laughed and Chanel tilted her head to the side in her getting grown, preteen behavior. She just wanted a Wii game and a new Ipod, she didn’t care if it came from Santa, Tatum, or Jesus himself.

  Keisha, Tatum’s friend from the hair shop, came strolling out of the living room.

  “You all set?” She asked.

  “Yup, just about. Thanks Keish for staying with them.”

  “No problem,” Keisha waved off, buttoning her coat. “Bye girls…if I don’t see yall next week, Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas,” they responded in unison as Keisha walked out of the door.

  “Bye Tay,” she shouted back.

  “Later Keisha.”

  Tatum brought the bags into the living room and plopped down on the couch.

  “Ya’ll go, get outta here,” she laughed at the girls who were hovering around. “Go get the decorations so we can finish doing the tree.”

  They happily made their way off, as Tatum picked up the mail she had placed on the table before she left. She sighed deep, looking at the big pile of bills.

  “Alright, bring it,” she said, bracing herself.

  She thumbed through envelopes. Bill, bill, bill…what the fuck is this?

  Tatum looked at the papers with furrowed eyebrows, wondering what was going on. It didn’t take but thirty seconds for her blood to go from calm to boiling.

  Nichole Samuel vs. Tatum Mosley…No this bitch didn’t!

  Tatum slammed the papers down and picked up the phone, mis-dialing the numbers twice out of anger before getting it right.

  Sasha answered on the first ring.

  “Hey Tay, what’s up?” Sasha was happy that Tatum was putting a break in between the Chauncey/parole conversation.

  “Sash, you are not gonna believe this shit! That bitch is taking me to court for custody of the girls!” Tatum had tears in her eyes and her heart was in her throat.

  Sasha was just as upset.

  “What! That’s crazy…she just came back into their lives, they barely know her. And your adoption is final!”

  “Well apparently, according to these papers, the adoption can be overturned because she didn’t agree to it…they’re saying we didn’t go through the proper procedures to locate her ass. But you can’t find nobody that don’t wanna be found!”

  Tatum could feel her hands shaking and she was ready to hit somebody, anybody.

  “Girl, trust me…this can’t happen. Tay, it’s okay….I’ll call my dad, he’ll get the best lawyer on the case, she can’t do this.”

  Tatum sighed and tried to surge her temper. She was glad that she had a friend like Sasha who could remain calm and rational when she was irate and well, irrational.

  “Thanks Sash, but girl, I can’t afford that. This is the last thing I needed right now... Shit.”

  Tatum ran her hand through her hair in despair.

  There was a long silence, and then Sasha spoke.

  “Tatum, I’ll take care of it. I know how much this means to you, mama…Don’t worry about the money.”

  “Sash, I can’t let you foot that,” Tatum argued but Sasha cut her off.

  “Unh-unh girl, enough. It’s done. Now new subject, don’t even worry about it.”

  Tatum forced a smile through her worry and felt her concerns being lifted. Sasha was right; a good lawyer will shut this whole situation down. She was so lucky to have her.

  “Thanks girl.”

  They talked for about twenty more minutes, and when Tatum seemed to be completely calmed, Sasha went in.

  “So, since you know now that I would do absolutely anything for my bestest friend, I need you to do something, too.”

  Tatum looked at the phone like Sasha was crazy.

  “What?” She asked warily.

  “I want you to… open your gift,” Sasha said anxiously with giddiness.

  “Oh… okay girl. You scared me.”

  Tatum breathed a sigh of relief and took the cordless over to the bare tree that Chanel and Tangee were standing next to.

  She grabbed the red envelope and opened it delicately, she was sure that it was money inside of this card.

  “It better not be some sentimental stuff up in here either, getting all soft and shit and making me cry,” Tatum joked, opening the card.

  What she saw inside prevented her from reading the words.

  “Sasha, what is this?”

  Sasha sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.

  “Duh Tay, plane tickets.”

  “Bitch, I know what it is. But what is it?” Tatum could feel her heart fluttering and she was scared to look at the destination.

  Sasha spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully.

  “Well…you know how I said I would do anything for my bestest friend? …well, I need you to do this for me. I need you to come on vacation with me.”

  Tatum closed her eyes and then finally opened them and read th
e tickets.

  No, god no.

  Sasha continued to speak.

  “I just really need a break, you know Tay? I think this will be good for both of us.”

  “Bullshit,” Tatum barked. “Jamaica, Sasha!” She took a seat on the couch and closed her eyes. “I can’t Sash. I’m…I’m scared,” she finally admitted.

  There was a silence and Sasha felt bad, but she was sticking to her guns.

  “I know. But Tay, it’s just a visit, a long weekend. It’s not forever… and I don’t know, you can’t be scared for the rest of your life. Plus, you owe me, and it’s paid for already. We leave the day after Christmas.”

  Tatum shook her head and protested in her mind, but she knew there was no debating it. She owed Sasha way more than Jamaica for the favor she was doing for her, still she couldn’t fight the fear in her heart. Jamaica’s a big place…maybe I won’t even see him.

  Tatum knew that she wasn’t over Ree, and she wasn’t sure if she was prepared for even the slight chance that she would see him again. It was easier this way, with him being there and her being here. It made her feel like it was impossible for them to be together. And although she wasn’t sure what the real problem was, Tatum was scared of the love that she felt for him.

  It’s just a couple of days…it’s only a couple of days.

  But in the back of her mind, Tatum couldn’t help but wonder what Jamaica had in store.

  “Good afternoon Mr. Knights.”

  “Hello ladies.”

  “Hi Mr. Knights, how are you?” Another beautiful woman greeted.

  “I’m well…how are you Megan?”

  “Better now,” she smiled. Another woman intervened.

  “Hello Mr. Knights, can I get you anything?”

  “No, I’m fine sweetheart.”

  “That you are,” she whispered to another woman, as they both giggled.

  From left to right, Ree was serenaded with greetings and advances from gorgeous women of all ages, shapes, and colors.

  Employees, guests, potential guests, departing guests, they all loved him.

  “Ehllo Mistah Knights, dah weadah lookah quite right tahday, no?” A leggy, model-type, native of the island questioned, as she strutted through the lobby in her string bikini and high heeled sandals. She smiled seductively at him and Ree couldn’t help but give her his brief, but undivided attention. As he glanced up from his paperwork, he gave her the once over approvingly.

  “Indeed,” he answered with a smirk and then focused back on the sales reports in his hands.

  He continued to make his way through the lobby, his walk and powerful swagger demanding attention. His stance, broad shoulders and sculpted tattooed arms, chiseled handsome face, and dark eyes, couldn’t help but reveal his thug appeal. But other new elements told a different story, like the slight glow in his brown skin and the new calm in his face. It told a story of Jamaica treating Ree extremely well. In fact, he wasn’t even Respect, or Ree, anymore, at least not to them. He was Sean Knights. Respect was left back in the states.

  The hotel business had not only been profitable to him, but had also added a sense of stability to his life. He never had to look over his shoulder or worry about anything, because besides the fact that he was legit now, the people of Jamaica loved and respected him so much. They would go to great lengths to protect him and his family, they were like Jamaica's royalty, and that brought him a sense of peace.

  Still, the side of Ree that craved adventure, excitement, the side that ran the streets, and ran them well, found it a little difficult to still, after all of this time, become adjusted.

  He reached the main desk, and sat the papers down as the front desk clerk checked in a couple. Ree looked at them quickly, and had to do a double take, the woman had a familiar smile. A smile, like her. He glanced at her for a couple of seconds, lost in his thoughts. When she grinned wider, completely captivated by him, he realized that he was staring. He shook his head lightly, to shake his reminiscent thoughts of Tatum away.

  “My apologies… It’s just for a second, you reminded me of someone.” He spoke to the woman, but still acknowledged her husband, or boyfriend in respect. The woman was hypnotized. Everything about Ree, from his handsome face, muscular build, his sexy dreads that he wore pulled back, his appealing lips, his dark eyes, confident yet nonchalant demeanor, all of it made her melt. She took it all in.

  “Oh please, it’s fine…no problem,” she smiled, as her man looked at her with raised eyebrows. She was flirting as if he weren’t there.

  “Enjoy your stay,” Ree coolly added to them both, making his way to the back office.

  Tatum, I’m not coming back, and I want you to come with me…

  …I can’t……

  Ree found himself thinking back to the last time they were together. Standing there in her hallway, watching the tears fall from her beautiful eyes, Tatum had played on his mind for a while after that day. And it seemed that it hadn’t been too long ago that she had stopped occupying his thoughts. But one smile had just sent the memories flooding back.

  “Aw man,” Ree mumbled to himself, running his hands over his face. His thinking was interrupted.

  “Hello son,” his father addressed him, entering the office.

  “Pop,” Ree acknowledged back.

  “Getting ready for the holiday rush?” His father questioned, making his way over to the mini-bar in Ree’s office. His father had developed a habit for drinking heavily, and Ree wondered if it had anything to do with the absence of Ree’s mother. Like Tatum, Ree had lost his mother at a young age, but the difference was that poor Tatum had lost both of her parents, in a car accident, at the same time. Knowing her, you would never be aware that she had that pain inside, and Ree commended her for that.

  “Yup,” he answered. “Sales reports estimate some good numbers. Reservations are looking good.”

  His father cut in.

  “Yeah, you’ll double those numbers by the way. Make sure you’re properly staffed…are you staffed enough?”

  Ree sat down with a confident smirk on his face and kicked his feet up on his cherry wood desk.

  “Now Pop, I thought I was the one running this ‘ere thing? …You want it back?” Ree quipped. “I can always provide the people of Jamaica with, eh, other services,” he suggested slyly, while lighting the tip of his blunt.

  “Yeah Sean, we all know what kind of services you would love to provide. Have the whole damn island riding the white pony.”

  Ree chuckled at his father’s outdated terminology referring to cocaine use and he shrugged.

  “Yeah well, just let me handle business. I’m good at it,” Ree assured him.

  His father gulped down the glass of scotch as if it were water.

  “Ah!” He said in satisfaction, and then added to Ree. “Just make sure you’re prepared, son.”

  Ree nodded confidently, as he inhaled the premium weed smoke, but he had no idea that he was not prepared in the least for what was to come.

  “I got it all under control.”

  -Interlude-

  Christmas Eve

  Somewhere in an Atlanta suburban home, Sasha soaked in a hot steamy bubble bath. She cried softly as the classic Otis Redding song drifted from her speakers…

  This is my lover’s prayer

  I hope it’ll reach out to you my love

  This is my lover’s prayer

  And I hope you can understand it my love

  My life is such a weary thing

  But it may be old pressure bringing rain

  You keep me wanting, waiting, and wishing

  When I know deep down I’m not the blame…

  While somewhere in a lonely cell in Rahway, Chauncey lay staring at the ceiling, playing the very same song…

  What you gonna do tonight

  When you need some loving arms to hold you tight?

  Tell me, what you gonna do tonight

  When you need my heavy voice to tell you goodnight?


  Honey but, you can’t let that be no problem,

  You’ve got to come on home and help me solve ‘em

  Then I won’t be missing you

  And honey, my lover’s prayer will be all over, oh now…

  Ironically in Jamaica, Respect took a sip of his Hennessey Black and closed his eyes to the same tune as he sat by the pool of his estate. He briefly thought of the girl with the smile from earlier that day, and then he thought of Tatum…

  What can the matter be, now?

  It can’t be that serious we can’t talk it over

  Living in this misery

  Darling, you can’t make my life all over…

  And back in Newark, NJ, Tatum sat on her living room sofa singing the last verse to the universal track that seemed to touch right on her heart. Otis’ voice echoing off of the walls…

  Honey but, you don’t let that be no problem

  Just come on home and help me solve ‘em

  Then, I won’t be missing you, I won’t be missing you

  And my lover’s prayer would be all over

  It got to be all over…

  All lost in their thoughts, consumed by their minds, the song seemed to sing four tales of four people, at one time…

  Don’t keep my life going round in so many circles

  This is my lover’s prayer, come on, come on home

  This is my lover’s prayer, I’m singing out to you

  And I hope it will reach ya, I hope it gets to you…

  Chapter 7 – Thirst

  The day after Christmas

  “I can’t, I can’t do this.”

  Tatum gripped and then released the handle on her Gucci roll away luggage bag. She walked to the other side of the hallway and stared at the bag as if it were going to talk back to her.