by Niecy P
“Mama I have a surprise for you,” I told her and pulled the dress from under the table. I held it up to her, and she was thrilled. Mom took the dress out of my hands and placed it to her body.
“You made this for me, child?” She asked. It was a halter purple dress with an empire waist fit and flare. It was simple, but it was hers, and she loved it. Daddy approved of it as well and told me that I found my calling. He created a budget for my materials, which helped me with the orders that I received after my parents went to the business dinner. I made prom and wedding dresses for clients. Suits and casual wear for men. I used Juice and Dad a lot as models. Juice didn’t mind, as long as he got to keep the clothes. I was popular around Kingston, Jamaica, but knew that popularity wasn’t the only thing I needed to make it big. I wanted to go to the United States for more schooling.
My parents tried to warn me about America and how there were things that went on there that couldn’t be explained. I didn’t believe them and scheduled my first visit to the states with a couple of friends of mine. We arrived on a late flight in New York and was greeted by an American cab driver. He told us that he knew where our hotel was and were escorted to the man’s vehicle. He drove us to an abandoned area where there were other men standing around and waiting for us to arrive. The driver popped the trunk with all of our belongings and gave free access to the homeless people. I jumped out of the car to save some of my things and was hit on the back of my head and thrown in the van with my friends. We were brought to an unknown place, chained to a bunch of girls. Men and women came in to look at us. The day that I was about to be sold, three men with dreads came in and set us all free. Mason dreads were covering his face, and it made it impossible for me to see him. I remember his voice though.
“Yuh a guh be fine now. Mi makes sure of it.” His deep patios accent spoke. At that moment, I knew that he would have protected me with his life. I was put back on the plane back to Jamaica. Juice and my family met me there with the guy and two other young men. My mother pulled me away before I was able to thank him for what he did. I stayed in Jamaica for three years after that putting my studies on hold, afraid of what might happen to me if I left home again. Juice and I were my parents only children. We weren’t as close as I wanted us, but he cared enough not to let anything happen to me. It wasn’t too long ago that I found out that Juice went to work for him. My father trusted me going into the states knowing that Juice was going to be there with me.
Juice picked me up, and I had been staying with him for a month now. He told me that I didn’t have to work. All I had to do is go to school and graduate. After the phone call, I received a text to an address to the restaurant that he wanted to attend. I didn’t bother telling Juice. He was already against me reaching out to him, telling me that he was a busy man. I had to look up Mason’s phone number through his business. I left many of messages and was surprised when he answered my last call.
I didn’t trust the Uber or cab drivers after what happened to me. I place the destination in my GPS and drove myself across town to Good Eats. I pulled up and noticed that the place wasn’t crowded at all. The parking was hell and found myself parking on the side street. My phone rang, and I answered it without screening it. “Hello.”
“What kind of car do you drive?” The voice that I dreamt about for years said.
“I uh. I am in a 2018 black Acura. I am parking around the corner right now,” my mouth was running.
“Don’t get out of your car. I am on my way,” he interrupted and hung up.
“Okay,” I mumbled and sat in my car. I didn’t know if he knew exactly where I was because the block was big. I sat and noticed a shadow approaching my car — a man with dreads that were pulled back from his face, dressed in fitted denim jeans and a high-neck red sweater with peanut butter Timberlands. I didn’t realize he was waiting for me to unlock my door to open it for me. He pulled on the handle, which brought me out my daze. I pressed the unlock button. Mason opened the door and reached his hand out for me to take. I looked at it, thinking that it was unreal to see this from him. Well, from any man. My father didn’t do this with my mom, nor have I seen Juice do this with his girlfriends.
“If you want to get out of the car, I suggest you grab my hand. Our table is ready.” Mason said. I placed my hand in his. Mason pulled me out of my car and took my keys out of my hand. “You won’t have to walk around here to your car again.” He said and guided me the rest of the way to the restaurant. He passed something to one of the men that was standing outside the door. I didn’t know what because I was whisked away to our table. Mason pulled the chair out for me before he took his own. The waitress came right away to take our drink orders.
“What would you like, Beauty?” he asked me. I tried not to get all giddy inside by the way he called my name. The soft smile couldn’t be stopped.
“I would like a sweet tea,” I answered softly.
“The lady would have a sweet tea, and I would like a Red Stripe,” Mason told the waitress. She placed our menus on the table and left us to retrieve our drinks. I fumbled with the menu, not having an appetite to eat.
“Are you that nervous?” I heard him from behind the menu. I took a deep breath before placing it back on the table.
“A little,” I answered truthfully. “The way you carry yourself versus what you do for a living makes you intimidating. I didn’t know if you were really going to show up, to be honest.” I leaned in and told him.
“And what is it that I do for a living, Beauty?” He responded with my name rolling off his tongue. I sat back and looked around for the waitress with my tea. He wasn’t going to have me in here, all flushed and shit. I readjusted myself in my seat and felt that it was too late. I crossed my legs tighter and licked my lips. Mason's eyes were on my every move. He knew the effect he had on me already. I was never able to hide my expressions on anything. My mother told me that the way I wear my heart on my sleeve was going to get me hurt one day. I hoped that Mason wasn’t the one to do so.
“You kill people that hurt others,” I whispered. He nodded his head and stared at me. It was uncanny. The waitress finally showed up and placed my drink in front of me. I pulled the straw out and drunk it down and asked for a refill. Mason smirked and placed an order of Jerk Chicken, Ackee and Saltfish, and some oxtails. He wanted to give me a variety of dishes to pick from. I didn’t disagree because those were some of my favorites.
“I didn’t think that your parents were ever going to let you out their sights. I’m also surprised that Juice let you drive out here alone. You gotta be more careful of your surroundings. Never park on a dark street when you are traveling alone. Your brother should have taught you that.” Mason spoke as he picked up his beer and took a gulp. My dark brown eyes got wider at his statement.
“I didn’t know that you recognized me,” I mumbled more to myself.
“The beauty you possess is hard to forget. For once, you are a woman that matches her name.” Mason's voice dropped. Compliments were hard for me to accept from men. I never was able to tell if it was genuine or not. But it was hard to put Mason in the category with those men. He was in a league of his own.
“Thank you,” I told him.
“For the compliment or for saving you.” He asked.
“That thank you was for the compliment. I don’t think that those words can describe how grateful I am of you. I wished that there were more that I can do to show you that, but there isn’t. So, thank you will have to do.” I said to him. Mason smiled and leaned his body forward with his arms resting on the table
“For now,” he mumbled. I didn’t know what that meant, but clearly, he was hoping for something else. I shook my head and was ready to respond. The waitress interrupted the conversation with our food. “What is your major?” He changed the subject entirely. I knew that I needed to clarify his last statement. He didn’t allow me to. He asked questions after questions until it was time for us to go. He stood up and helped me out of my chair. H
is closeness did things to my body that I didn’t understand. Mason grabbed my hand and led me to the door. The guy that was standing there before opened it for us. My car was parked directly in front of the restaurant. I looked up at Mason.
“Being treated like a woman is something that you shouldn’t have to learn. It is taught by the men in your life.” He said while walking me to my car. He sounded upset that I didn’t know those things. Mason opened my car door and placed a kissed on my forehead. “Call me when you get home.” He said. I nodded my head, too afraid to speak. I got in my car and drove home, wondering if the gentleness that I witnessed was the real Mason.
Truth
Yeah. I was another fucked up individual added to the Davis’ roster. With the crazy personalities there, you would have thought that we were a mental institution. My father knew best, though. He didn’t know how to deal with my behavior and knew that I wasn’t going to be able to deal with it alone. Reaching out to Jason was his only solution. I didn’t know what to expect coming back into the family after being gone for some years. I knew that Mace and JoJo were ready to be there for me the way I needed them. I hoped that I was prepared to let them in so that it would be an easy road back to being normal.
After JoJo got Jeremiah straight, we left and got something to eat. I observed Jeremiah reaction to what JoJo was telling him.
“What about the north side? Did the shipment make it in?” Jeremiah asked.
“Nigga, are you listening to what I am telling you? You need to get your shit in order before you try and talk business with me.” JoJo almost yelled at this fool. He wasn't listening. That shit was going in one ear and out of the other. Totally different from the way Marley received information. That nigga was going to be dangerous. I thought that I was going to get an example of it when Jeremiah yelled at him. The nigga held his composure better than me. I would have choked his ass out in front of his brother and dared him to jump in.
“Aye Truth, everything flowing for you, Man. If not, you can ride with me, and I can show you around.” Jeremiah told me. I looked at JoJo, and he didn’t disagree. I did, though. There was no way that I was riding with this lil nigga.
“Nah, I’m good.” I simply answered. Jeremiah turned around and faced me from the passenger seat.
“Are you sure? I know that you been in the military and away from women. I know this spot where we can get some drinks and pick up some hoes.” He responded. I turned my attention from the window to him.
“I wasn’t in jail nigga. They are women in the military. I’m good here.” I said and hoped that he got the picture.
“We got shit to take care of anyway. Pops want me to bring you home.” JoJo announced. Jeremiah turned around and shook his head.
“I ain't-a fucking child, bruh,” he told JoJo.
“When you stop acting like one, we will treat you like a man. Do what Pops ask you to do Jeremiah. The shit isn’t hard. You make it that way.” He said and pulled in the driveway to their parents’ home. Jeremiah got out the car and slammed the door. I got out and got in the front seat. JoJo stared off after his brother.
“I know that you are happy that you are the only child,” he said. I looked back at the house and snorted.
“I’m not, man,” I told him and held my hand out. JoJo smirked and dapped me off.
“My nigga,” he said and pulled off. “What are you going to do ‘til eleven?” He asked me.
“I don’t know. Chill, I guess. I don’t want to unpack because you know I can get that call to return back to a new unit.”
“Are you ready to go back, T? I mean watching muthfuckers die like that must’ve fucked you up more than they know.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I said.
“You know that you do. All you have to do is say the word, and we can get Dex and my cousin Tristan to get in the system and change shit up for you.” He suggested. I didn’t respond to that. I didn’t want to look like I couldn’t handle a situation. I wasn’t built like that. I was going to finish this shit off and get out the right way. JoJo pulled into the gates of the apartment and parked in his reserved parking spot.
“Y’all niggas spoiled,” I laughed getting out the car. “Reserved parking spots.”
“That’s for all the residents. If there are two people in the resident, then they will have the opened parking spot next to it without the number on it. The guest has to park in the other lot.” JoJo answered. I looked around and saw the numbers in each parking spot. That was smart ass shit, but I knew that they had problems with that system. People were always ready to park wherever they felt.
“Mace said he was going to meet us here around fifteen minutes ‘til. Madison will be waiting for us at the door.” JoJo said to me. We walked through the lobby where kids were playing and watching cartoons on the television that was mounted on the wall.
“Is this a daycare?” I asked JoJo.
“Yeah. Uncle J thought that it would be cool to have a daycare facility for the parents that can’t afford the outrageous prices that they charged to watch their children. It isn’t in the lobby though.” JoJo said and walked to the elevator. I remembered coming to this place when I was younger, but never to the daycare part. We got off on the eighth floor, and JoJo was met at his door by a badass chick.
“Where is your key, Melissa?” JoJo asked her. I looked down the hall to see if there was a woman waiting on me.
“In your car, Jordan. Where you left it,” she gave that nigga sass. He didn’t let her mouth deter him from wrapping his arms around her.
“Where I left it, huh.” He asked her.
“Mmm.” She answered and kissed him on the mouth. I walked around them munching on each other and went into my apartment. The place looked like a fucking house inside of a building. I saw my bags sitting on the floor next to the door. I picked them up and carried it to the master bedroom that was across from the home office. My apartment was fully furnished with neutral colors and big enough for a big nigga like me. There was a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom with a walk-in shower. The kitchen closed off from the rest of the house with brand new appliances. Mace told me that the walls were soundproof. I was going to have to look into keeping one of these for myself. I sat on the couch and grabbed the remote for the sixty-inch television. I hit the power button, and the basketball game was on. My phone went off and I checked to see who was calling me.
“What’s up,” I answered seeing that it was my Dad.
“Chilling, son. You good.” He asked. I stared off, passed the television.
“I’m cooling. How is Aunt Honesty? Did she burn the club down when the people didn’t want to listen to her?” I asked him. Dad laughed and sighed.
“Nah. It was still standing when I came back home. I can’t even lie to you. There was a bigger crowd with her running it. I asked her what she did, and her response was that she was more popular than me. I didn’t argue with her. I left her in charge while I took some more days off, just in case you needed me,” Dad never let me deal with shit on my own. No matter how much I wanted to figure the shit out by myself. Laura, my mother, wasn’t a bitter ass baby mama like some of those ratchet ass women. When my Dad told her that he didn’t want to be with her, she didn’t hold me against him. Mom said to him that he better be active in my life. He was more than active. He told my mother that he wanted to raise his son. They didn’t go to court or anything. They settled that shit amongst themselves. I went to stay with my father and Mom came to see me whenever she felt, within the reasoning of the schedule that my father had for me. If they ever got into or argued about anything, I never knew about it. I began to visit her frequently when I got older. Mom remarried an officer in the Navy. Mom and Dad were happy living their separate lives. Not too many people could say that about their parents.
“I’m good Dad, for real. JoJo and Mason had been showing me around and gave me the info on all their businesses and clients. I know that I can learn a lot from them.” I told him.
“Good. That is good to hear, T. But, you know if you see some shit that doesn’t look right, you do have the grounds to address that shit. You are not just a friend of the family. You are family?” he told me.
“I know Dad. Mason let that shit be known when I checked a couple of niggas that thought I was some regular nigga. They know how I operate and that is why we work,” I told him.
“Aight. Well, I was calling to check up on you. I’ll call you tomorrow night. Your mother was shipped off again. I don’t know where until she makes contact. When she does, be ready to answer her calls. She has been trying to reach out since your ass went on leave,” Dad said.
“Okay, Dad. Talk to you soon,” I told him and hung up. I tried calling my mother several times but kept missing her. Her husband Brad kept telling me that she wasn’t in. Brad was an officer in my unit. The shit sounded suspicious, and I was going to deal with that later. I dropped my head back and closed my eyes. I didn’t have a nightmare about what happened to me. I didn’t sleep at all. I was trained to not sleep for days scooping out the enemies’ territory. That’s why Dad was worried. He didn’t think that it had hit me yet.
I heard a knock on my door and sat up. I looked at the time and saw that it was ten-thirty. “Shit,” I mumbled and got up to answer the door. I didn’t know that I was sitting that long. I pulled the door opened and was surprised at the sight before me. She was dressed in some black leather pants and a crop top that pushed her c-cups up. Her pretty untamed hair was wildly over her head. It was a look that worked for her. Madison was always a beautiful girl. She had no choice but to be the gorgeous muthafucker that stood before me.
“Are you going to stare at me all night or let me in? I know that my parrain taught you better than that.” Her sweet voice had me zoning in on her sexy ass lips. I opened the door wide enough for her to pass but didn’t get entirely out of her way. She smiled and brushed past me, leaving her mouthwatering scent behind. I turned and watched the sway of her hips as she walked into the living area.