by La Jill Hunt
Married. How can he be married? I have been to his home, in his bed. He cannot be married. Kayla tried to think of every detail of the house and could not come up with anything that might have indicated that a woman lived there, let alone a wife and a family. All the times he couldn’t make it when we were supposed to go out, the supposed ‘double shifts’ he had to work—all lies. Kayla was furious. She didn’t know who she was angrier with, Craig for being so damn deceitful or herself for being so damn naïve. And this nigga smiled at me in front of his goddamn wife.
Kayla thought about marching into the principal’s office and telling the ghetto woman about her husband who tried to come off as so fucking polite. But then, there was no way she could look into his face without smacking the shit outta him, so she decided to chill, for now. The sound of the bell startled her and she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. She quickly got herself together and returned to the classroom. Sitting at her desk, she remained motionless, unable to think.
“Ms. Hopkins?” She looked up to see Mrs. Warren standing in the doorway. “Can I speak to you in the hall?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kayla tried to think of a way to explain to Mrs. Warren that she had no idea Craig was married.
“I wanted to talk to you before Nate’s parents got here,” Mrs. Warren said when Kayla reached the hall.
Nate. The desk. Kayla had almost forgotten about the incident.
“Okay.” Kayla shrugged.
“What brought this on, Ms. Hopkins?” Mrs. Warren walked closer to Kayla.
“Nate took David’s glue and when David took it back, Nate pushed him. When I told him to go to the office, he picked up the desk and threw it at me,” Kayla told her.
“Did David aggravate Nate in any way?”
“No.” Kayla was confused at this point.
“Did you say anything out of the way to Nate?”
Kayla could feel heat rising to her neck and she had to tell herself to remain calm. “Are you asking me did I somehow provoke this incident, Mrs. Warren?”
“I know that you have had some conflicts in your classroom a few times these past couple of weeks involving Nathaniel. I just want to hear your version before I speak with his parents.” Mrs. Warren began to read the bulletin board. Kayla could not believe what her boss was trying to say. She don’t have my back, she thought. She is trying to make this my fault and keep that bad-ass boy in school. Nate was right.
“Mrs. Warren, Nate bullies others, he doesn’t get bullied. He harasses his classmates and he is disrespectful to the staff. We give him chance after chance and he does not improve. And now, you’re still not kicking him out, are you?” Kayla said incredulously.
“Ms. Hopkins, Nathaniel Morgan has been at this school since he was four years old. His parents are some of our biggest contributors and support this school in all of its endeavors. Now, I know that Nate has been going through a rough time of it, but his parents and I feel that it would not be in his best interest to remove Nathaniel from school at this time.”
“You mean he is not even being suspended?” Kayla was appalled at what Mrs. Warren was saying. “He could’ve hurt me or another child with that desk. You’ve gotta be kidding me, right?”
“It’s near the end of the school year and he will need to prepare to take his final examinations, Ms. Hopkins. This school is in the habit of solving problems, not expelling them. That is one of the goals of Academy.”
“Okay, Mrs. Warren. But it’s in my best interest to educate my students without having a menace in my classroom trying to prevent that from happening. And since the Academy and I don’t have the same goals or interests, I quit!”
Kayla went into her room, gathered the remainder of her things and strutted out of the classroom, pausing before she left. “You may have the pleasure of letting Nate’s parents know that I won’t be provoking him anymore, because I am no longer their son’s teacher. I will let my other parents know personally. Good-bye, Mrs. Warren. Good luck finding a sub!”
8
It can’t get any worse than this. Kayla looked on the caller ID as her phone rang later that night and then realized it could.
“Hello.”
“Kayla Denise Hopkins, why haven’t you called me?”
“Hi, Mama. I’m sorry. I’ve been busy. You know I work two jobs,” Kayla answered. She knew her mother was mad because she used Kayla’s full name. She wanted to call her mother, she really did, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“I don’t care how many jobs you work. Your Daddy and I been worried sick. I know you know I been calling because you got caller ID. Did you get the message I left for you last week? And don’t lie to me, either.”
“Yes, Ma. I told you, I’ve been working.” Kayla sighed. “Are you coming home this weekend?” her mother asked.
“No, Ma. You know my car has been acting up.” That was the truth. Her car had been acting crazy over the past couple of weeks.
“I can send Anjelica to pick you up Friday night,” her mother offered.
“No! Do not do that. You know I don’t want her doing nothing for me, Mama,” Kayla told her mother.
“Kayla, that is your sister. Now I don’t know what has happened to cause you two to become so distant, but that fact will never change and don’t you forget it. You understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kayla felt as if she was a little girl again the way her mother scolded her. She could not stop the tears from falling down her cheek.
“Kayla, what is wrong with you? Why are you crying, Baby? I know your feelings don’t get hurt that easily.”
“I quit my job, Mama.” Kayla told her mother about the desk incident that had happened in her classroom.
“You’ll find something else, baby. What the Devil means for bad, God always means for good. That is with every one of your situations. There’s no point in crying about it. You know what you have to do. Get yourself together and get another job,” her mother told her. “Just know that you have our love and support.”
When her mother said that, Kayla began to cry even harder.
“Kayla. Something else is going on. Tell me.” She could hear the worry in her mother’s voice and decided that telling her would be the right thing to do.
“Mama, I’m pregnant,” she said in barely a whisper.
“Oh, Kayla.” Her mother sighed.
“Mama, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, I mean, I swear, I . . .” Kayla could not go on. She was sobbing. She knew that her mother was devastated by this news. She had raised Kayla to be a respectable young woman and now look what had happened.
“How far along are you?” her mother asked her.
“Three months. I’m due Thanksgiving Day.” Kayla sniffed.
“So, you are having it?”
“Yes.”
“Good, and the father? What does he have to say about this?” Her mother questioned. What little relief Kayla had begun to feel now left her. She began to whimper again.
“That’s what makes it even worse, Mama. I had a one-night stand and we really don’t even have a relationship. I am so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing, Kayla. You are a grown woman, not some fifteen-year-old high school student. Granted, I am sorry that this happened under the circumstances, but you’ll be okay.”
“I just wanted you to be proud of me.”
“Your father and I are proud of you, Kayla. Let me let you talk to him.”
“Mama, no. Please, not now. I can’t tell him now.”
“Kayla, he’s gonna find out sooner or later.”
“I know. But I just need a little more time.”
“Suit yourself. But please don’t dwell on us being mad or thinking that you are a failure because of this. We love you Kayla, no matter what.
Do you need anything? You have enough money?”
“Yes, Mama.” Kayla laughed a little.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Better. I was rea
lly sick, but now I’m over it, I guess.”
“I got a beautiful Mother’s Day bouquet from Geno. Have you talked to him lately?”
Kayla could not believe he sent her mother flowers. “I saw him a few weeks ago,” Kayla told her. “I still love him, Mama.”
“You always will, baby. I wish I could tell you that your feelings for him will stop, but I can’t lie to you. I just don’t understand what happened.”
“Things just happen, Mama. Look at what has happened to me. I am now knocked up and unemployed on top of that.”
“But you’re gonna be fine. I know that. But, you need to tell your daddy. You owe him that much.”
“I will, Mama. I promise.” Kayla felt as if a ton of bricks had been lifted from her shoulders. “I’ll call you on Sunday and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.”
“No, this year I can call you.” Her mother laughed. “I love you, Kayla.”
“Love you too, Mama.” She lay back on the bed. The sound of the doorbell caused her to jump. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was after eight.
“Hey, Kay. Am I intruding?” Kayla was stunned as she opened the door and saw Geno standing there. He looked good. He had let his facial hair grow out to a full beard and it was trimmed perfectly, reminding her of a built Craig David. His thick arms protruded from his SeanJohn T-shirt and in his perfect hands he held a plastic bag.
“Geno. No. Come on in.” She opened the door and followed him into the living room. When they reached it, he turned around and faced her.
“Can’t a brother get a hug?” He reached and pulled her to him, laughing. It was a sound she hadn’t heard in a while and until then, she didn’t realize she missed it. “You cut your hair again. And you filling out. Damn, Kay. You look good.”
“You grew a beard. And you working out. You look good, G.” She quickly pulled away from him for fear that he may figure out why she was filling out.
“Still crazy. How you been?” He looked at Kayla and sat on the sofa.
“Okay. How is everything with you, Geno?” Kayla sat on the other end of the couch and they faced each other. “Wait a minute, how did you find out where I live?”
“I have my resources.” He smiled at her.
“Okay, resources. They do have laws for that now. I believe it’s called stalking.”
“Damn, that’s cold. I figured after our last encounter you’d be glad I found you.” He took her hand and looked at her curiously. “Ma sent me over here to invite you over Sunday. You know whether we are together or not, you are still a part of my family. She says she hasn’t talked to you in a minute. That’s not like you, Kay. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, G.” Kayla tried to lie but she could not keep the tears from falling. She missed Geno and hoped they would somehow get back together. Now the reality of carrying another man’s child, a married man on top of that, had wrecked that possibility. Geno had always said he would never date a woman with children because it was too much drama.
“Kayla, come here.” He reached for her and she cried into his arms, imagining for a moment that she was his again. “What’s wrong, baby?”
She mentally began to panic. For a second, she started to be honest and tell him the truth in its entirety, but she thought better of it and blurted out, “I quit my job.”
“You quit?” He wiped her tears and stood up. She watched him go into the kitchen with the bag and when he returned, he had two glasses of wine and a wet paper towel. She took a sip of the drink so he wouldn’t question why she wasn’t drinking, then wiped her face.
“Yeah, I quit,” Kayla continued and told him about Nate, the desk and Mrs. Warren’s reasons for not suspending him.
“That’s crazy. So she would rather endanger the other students and staff members because his parents give the school money?”
“That’s what it seems like,” Kayla answered.
“Where’s the remote to the stereo? I made you some CDs.” He reached into his pocket and pulled two CDs out. She pointed to the bookshelf and he opened the player. He put a CD in and smiled as Brian McKnight began to sing about what’s going on tonight.
“So, now what am I gonna do?” Kayla shrugged.
“Find another job, Kay. That’s what. One with some decent pay and some real benefits.” He grinned at her. “It ain’t that deep.”
“I missed you, Geno.” She smiled back at him. “So what’s going on with you? How is your job?”
“It’s cool. You know I like what I do.”
“And the older woman?” Kayla dared to ask him.
“She’s just a friend, despite what everyone thinks. Rent is expensive, Kay, and she had a room for rent.” He looked down at her hands in his.
“It’s okay, Geno. Even though we aren’t together, we will always be friends. We can still talk. Are you happy?” Kayla asked him.
“Her name is Janice and she’s cool,” he said nonchalantly. Kayla knew that he was lying. If she was just a friend, they wouldn’t be living together. Rent wasn’t that damn expensive and Geno made decent money. She decided to ask the inevitable.
“You love her?” Kayla had to know. You got a lot of nerve, knocked up with a married man’s baby and you asking him if he’s in love, Kayla scolded herself.
“I don’t know, Kay. I mean, she is so good to me. She’s smart, intelligent, funny. She has her shit together. Know what I mean?” he said
“Yeah, she’s perfect.” Kayla smirked.
“No, Kay. Not perfect. I don’t feel the same way about her as I feel about you. That’s what scares me. There was never any doubt that I loved you, Kay. That’s how I know it was real. Hell, Kay, I still love you. You’re still my best friend,” he said.
Kayla couldn’t respond to what he had just said so she just sat. The doorbell broke the silence.
“Were you expecting company?” he asked.
“No, I wasn’t even expecting you.” Kayla went to the door and looked through the peephole. She closed her eyes and wished the tall figure on the other side away. She looked again, but obviously the wish did not come true.
“Kayla, open the door. I need to talk to you,” Craig yelled out.
“Go away! I have nothing to say to you!” Kayla hissed.
“Open the door! At least let me explain. Please,” he moaned.
“I don’t need an explanation and furthermore, I don’t want one. The only thing I want from you is for you to get the hell away from my door,” Kayla answered. Suddenly, Geno nudged by her and opened the door before she could stop him.
“Is there a problem?” Geno asked Craig. They both had strange looks on their faces as they looked at one another.
“Naw, Bruh. I just needed to talk to Kayla for a minute. You mind?” Craig took a step back.
“Naw, Bruh. I don’t mind at all, but evidently she does. So I think you need to leave.” Geno flexed and crossed his arms, standing protectively in front of Kayla.
“Who the fuck are you?” Craig looked suspicious. He and Geno stood about the same height and were the same size, so neither one seemed intimidated.
“None of your fucking business!” Geno answered with a growl.
“You here with my girl, nigga, so obviously it is my business.” Craig feigned a callous smile and stepped toward Geno.
“Your girl? I think you got that all wrong.” Geno didn’t back down.
“Look, both of you need to back the fuck up! Now!” Kayla stepped between the two men.
“She carrying my mothafuckin’ seed. According to her, it’s mine!” He looked accusingly at Kayla.
“What?” Geno looked at Craig like he was crazy.
At that moment, Yvonne, Roni and Tia walked up to the door.
“Oh, snap!” Roni jeered as she realized both Craig and Geno were in front of Kayla’s door.
“Geno!” Tia shrieked.
“So you’re that punk nigga Geno?” Craig leered.
“Craig, you need to leave.” Kayla faced him.
“Naw, this nigga is the one that needs to be leaving,” he continued.
“I ain’t going nowhere!” Geno retorted to him. The two men were squared off and she knew they were about to rumble. Kayla knew she had to do something.
“Craig, I asked you to leave. Now, if you don’t get your married, thug ass off my property, I will call the police and have you removed and then call your wife and tell her where to find your ass.”
“Oh, shit!” Kayla heard Roni say.
Kayla’s comment must have hit home with Craig because he stepped back.
“Fuck both of you!” he said as he left. Kayla closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“What the hell?” Yvonne asked as she pulled Kayla into the house. Geno, Roni and Tia followed.
“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Geno murmured.
“Geno and I were sitting here talking and Craig just showed up. The same way you guys did, I might add.” Kayla flopped onto the couch and shook her head.
“She’s right. We were just sitting here chilling and this nigga came banging on the door. He looks familiar. I just can’t figure out where I know him from,” he said. The girls looked at each other knowingly. He looks like your twin, is what they were all thinking, but no one said it.
“I think we need to be leaving, too,” Roni said to Tia and Yvonne. “Call us tomorrow, Kay.”
They left Geno and Kayla standing in the living room.
“Who the fuck was that, Kayla?” Geno asked. “And what the fuck was he talking about when he said you carrying his seed? You fucking that nigga?”
“G.,” Kayla looked down.
“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant by that wanna-be, hard mothafucka for real, Kayla.” He looked at Kayla like he was disgusted. “I can’t believe you.”
“Hold up! You living with a broad and you going off on what I’m doing?” Kayla could not believe the nerve of him. It was she who looked at him like he was a fool this time.
“I know you’re smarter than that. You don’t even know this nigga.”
“And how long have you known the woman you’re living with, G.? You know what? We really don’t even need to be discussing this. You can leave, too. Go home to your woman.” Kayla opened the door for him and he left without saying another word.
