by Tiana Laveen
“What? Eugene? Why would that be a problem? I like him.”
“’Cause she’s mad at him right now.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Alicia said he has a tattoo of his ex-girlfriend’s name on him… like that’s a new development.”
“Why is she mad about that? It’s old, right?”
“Exactly! I told her that he could get it covered up. I also told her that happened before she was even on the scene. She come tellin’ me, ‘He should’ve known I was on my way.’” They both burst out laughing. As she walked out the door holding Dahlia’s hand, the landline phone rang. She travelled slowly down the hall and heard Kane answer it.
“Hey, Mom…” She smiled as she listened to the two talking. It sounded as if his mother was asking if they should bring anything for the shower. Once Jessica got down the steps with the baby, she placed some grapes in a bowl for the girl and poured the little one a sippy cup of almond milk.
“There you go, sweetness.” She giggled as the girl played with the grapes, having fun in her high chair, before popping them in her mouth.
Jessica had added her special touches to Kane’s home, and she was in love with the place. The decorations were up – yellow, green, and purple balloons, streamers and a chocolate fountain waiting to be set up. The place had been professionally cleaned, the floors waxed, carpets scrubbed, and everything sparkling as if brand new.
“Well, there’s a baby shower today, Dahlia, for your little brother. I can’t believe it. I am sitting here pregnant and now the mother of a two and a half year old. Looks like Kane and I had plans, but God had other ones.” Jessica smiled as she fell in love with her daughter a bit more with each second. “Got married, then my husband took me on a two-week trip to France… blew my mind. Get back home, we’re working, get the great news that a little girl just like we wanted was available for adoption… YOU. Go through all that paperwork and all those checks and balances to bring you home, then find out I’ve got a bun in the oven.” She chortled. “Talk about being overwhelmed.”
“It’s worth it though.” Kane showed up, toolbox in hand.
“It most certainly is, Kane. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He kissed her, set the box down on the counter, then grabbed a beer.
“What are you about to do?”
“I was about to fix that loose patio door. But, uh, I think I wanna play a quick game of Chess first.” He eyed her in a seedy way.
She chuckled. “That’s not Chess, that’s something else altogether. Speaking in code, I guess.”
“I think you know exactly what it means…” He winked.
“Kane, go on somewhere!” She waved him off. The man had been relentless. It seemed every time she turned around, he was trying to mount her. Nothing deterred him, not even her big stomach. She laughed at the thought.
“Come on, it’s almost Dahlia’s nap time and we’ve got a couple hours before anyone gets here.” He took her by her hand and helped her to her feet.
“Kane, I’m not playing with you! It takes me forever to move now. Why do you think I have to take an extended maternity leave and—”
“Excuses, excuses! Oh, we’re playing Chess, baby! Besides, the doctor said sex is good for labor.”
“Oh, so you’re doing this out of the kindness of your heart?” she teased.
“Of course. I’m a giver. Just being charitable is all!” He smacked her ass, making her jump and squeal. The man took Dahlia out of her high chair, cradled her in his arms, and walked away. “I’ll see you upstairs, in our bed, in five minutes! Don’t be late.” He headed off before she could utter another word.
Jessica stood there in the quiet, taking it all in. So much had happened. So much change. She strolled about, fluffing the pillows on a couple of couches, taking her time. Then, she paused. Looking over at the wall, she took note of the two masks. One white, one black… She made her way over to them, tracing their edges and curves with her finger.
I remember reading a quote that said, ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.’ I believe it was by Oscar Wilde. Funny thing though, what do you do when you are yourself, but everyone hates you for it? I don’t think anyone comes into this world not wanting to be authentic. I believe we change, transform, shut people out, shut ourselves in, run and hide and wear masks because the world has already shown us that the real us is just not good enough. I think a better lesson would be, ‘Be yourself, even if no one else likes you but you.’ I could never hide who I was. In some circles, people accused me of thinkin’ I was better than them because I liked to learn. I enjoyed going to the museum and reading, and talking to people. In other circles, people assumed things about me based on my skin color, my gender, the way I dressed… Rarely were any of those assumptions true.
I can’t control what someone else thinks about me. I can only control what I think about myself! Dahlia will be raised to know that her beauty starts from the inside out. Our son will be raised the same way ’cause truth be told, masks aren’t always for cowards or masquerade balls…
Sometimes, people wear masks so they can get a fair chance at the game of Chess – to move about the board of life in peace. They put on a disguise so they can just BREATHE. They’re trying to save their own lives. They put on a mask to protect those who can’t handle their authentic self. They forgo themselves, their own identity, so that others they love may thrive, even at their own expense. They become nobody, so that everyone else can be somebody…
She stroked her stomach and smiled as tears welled in her eyes.
We were never nobody… we were never invisible. Those are the lies we were told, the same lies we later told ourselves. The masks didn’t hide us; they hid the world. We made the world disappear like a magician. We made the world invisible. We made the world, nobody…
Because it was our turn. Our move. The lightness had come to the dark side; the darkness has come to light.
She grabbed the black mask off the wall and stared at it.
I’m not ashamed of the mask. I’m not apologizing for it, either. It served its purpose.
She cradled the mask to her chest and let the tears fall freely. Joy filled her, slowly spreading, like a solace to her soul.
You have to respect the art of being invisible. You have to thank the masks for protecting you, especially when nobody else would. You must do this, because even the mask, is somebody now, too…
~The End~
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MUSIC DIRECTORY
I have included a music directory to be used as an aid in the enjoyment of this novel. Sometimes, re-reading the scenes you appreciated with the songs that are mentioned, provides a whole new layer of satisfaction and understanding.
Please bear in mind that songs listed below may not be in the exact same order as they appear in the book. If you enjoy any of the songs listed, please purchase a legal copy of the tune and support the artist(s) whom created it. I am certain they’d appreciate it.
1. Roberta Flack – ‘Killing Me Softly’
2. Kool & the Gang – ‘Celebration’
3. Monica – ‘Angel of Mine’
4. SWV – ‘Right Here’
5. SFP – ‘Love Is the Shhh’
6. Taio Cruz – ‘Dynamite’
7. Gucci Mane – ‘Big Booty’
8. TLC – ‘Unpretty’
9. Tina Turner – ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain’
10. 2-Pac and Dr. Dre’s – ‘California Love’
11. Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew – ‘La Di Da Di’
12. Notorious B.I.G. – ‘F*ck You Tonight’
13. LL Cool J – �
�Rock the Bells’
14. N.W.A. – ‘Straight Outta Compton’
15. Treacherous Three – ‘Feel the Heartbeat’
16. Taio Cruz – ‘Dynamite’
17. 2-Pac and Dr. Dre – ‘California Love’
18. Foxy Brown featuring Blackstreet – ‘Gotta Get You Home’
19. Deniece Williams – ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy’
20. The Black Eyed Peas – ‘My Humps’
21. Alsina ft. Nicki Minaj – ‘No Love’
22. Rihanna – ‘Kiss It Better’
23. Jodeci’ – ‘Feenin’
24. The Manhattan’s – ‘Shining Star’
25. Aretha Franklin – ‘I say a little prayer’
26. Blackstreet – ‘No Diggity’
27. Big Sean – ‘I Don’t Fuck with You’
28. Justin Timberlake – ‘Sumer Love’
29. John Mayer – ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’
30. John Mayer’ – ‘Carry Me Away’
31. Coldplay – ‘Yellow’
32. Extreme – More Than Words’
33. Phil Collins – ‘In the Air Tonight’
34. Mr. Big crooning, ‘To Be With You’
35. Brian McKnight – ‘Love Of My Life
36. Bruno Mars – ‘Marry You’
37. John Legend – ‘All of Me’
38. Ed Sheeran – ‘Thinking Out Loud’
39. Cyndi Lauper – ‘True Colors’
40. Sade – ‘Your Love is King’
41. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – ‘I Feel It Coming’
42. Lana del Rey – ‘Lucky Ones’
43. Beyoncé ft. JAY Z – ‘Crazy In Love’
44. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Greatest Hits
45. De La Soul – (no specific song mentioned)
46. Luther Vandross – ‘Never Too Much’
47. Ghosttown DJs – ‘My Boo’
48. Maze & Frankie Beverly – ‘Before I Let Go’
49. Mary J. Blige – ‘Just Fine’
50. Ne-Yo – ‘Closer’
51. Jay-Z – ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’
52. August Alsina ft. Nicki Minaj – ‘No Love’
About the Author
Tiana Laveen is a USA Today Best Selling author. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, though her soul resides in New York.
Tiana Laveen is a uniquely creative and innovative author whose fiction novels are geared towards those who not only want to temporarily escape from the daily routines of life, but also become pleasantly caught up in the well-developed journeys of her unique characters. As the author of over 45 novels, Tiana creates a painting with words as she guides her reader into the lives of each and every main character. Her dedication to detail and staying true to her characters is evident in each novel that she writes.
Tiana Laveen lives inside her mind, but her heart is occupied with her family and twisted imagination. She enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life that includes writing books, public speaking, drawing, painting, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.
If you wish to communicate with Tiana Laveen, please contact her on Facebook.
