by Jahquel J.
“I was born and raised here. Plus, I was getting home sick and decided to move back.” I smiled and picked up my books. Standing up, I came around the table and shook her hand. “I just need you to show me the rooms so I can snap some pictures, then I’ll be in touch.”
“Shoot. I have a manicure appointment,” she sucked her teeth. “You know what? G can show you around,” she smiled and motioned for me to follow her. “Babe, I have to run off. Can you show Free the rooms? She needs to shoot a few pictures and then she’s gone.”
“Ight.” Was all he said as he was finishing the green apple he was holding. Shakira gave him a kiss, grabbed her purse and then turned to me.
“Thanks so much, Free. I’m sorry I have to shoot out of here so quick. My nails are gross and need to be done,” she explained like that made it better for her leaving. I didn’t give a damn because this home consultation was costing her five hundred dollars. My clients usually held me up the full hour with a bunch of stupid or self-explanatory questions. I didn’t mind having a fifteen-minute meeting for five hundred dollars.
“You’re fine.” I smiled and she quickly headed out the front door. Ghost stared me up and down before I spoke. “Mr. Davis, can you show me to the assigned rooms?”
“Knock all that shit off, Free,” he sternly replied.
“Gyson, I’m here to do a job. Nothing more. Nothing less.” I could tell the cool behavior was all an act for his fiancée. Underneath all of that, he was fuming with anger and questions.
“You dip on me all those years ago and then don’t think you owe me a fucking explanation?”
I headed to the door because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with all of this. “I don’t have to explain to you why I left. I did and it was for the best. You’ve gotten along just fine in my absence.” I pointed around our dream home we had spoken about.
“You fucking bounced and didn’t give a fuck about me. Then you come up in here and try to dismiss me!” he yelled.
“I’ll come back when your fiancée is here,” I shook my head and continued to the door. He didn’t follow behind me or call out for me.
Shakira’s car was gone when I made it outside. I hit the locks to my G Wagon and climbed inside. Before I pulled off, tears fell down my cheeks and I had to catch my breath. All those years I had worked so hard to forget all the memories and feelings I held for Gyson Davis. It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do in my life. I wanted so bad to crank my Nissan back up and make the drive home. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was for leaving, but I never did. I stayed in Atlanta, Georgia. I went back to visit, but I never stayed in Staten Island. My sisters and mother would meet me in the city so we could spend time together. Moving to Georgia was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do in my entire life. I was scared, worried, and had so much stacked against me at the time. Homesickness kicked in the moment my wheels touched down on Georgia state lines.
After getting myself together, I pulled out the iron gates and headed down the hill into Dungan Hills. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t think I would end up arguing with Gyson. My phone pulled me from my thoughts. Hitting my steering wheel’s button, I answered.
“What’s good, Free? You finished with that meeting?”
“Yes. Just got finished,” I replied to Zoe. It wasn’t anything serious between the both of us. We had dates and slept together occasionally, when I wasn’t busy.
“Word? Let’s go meet up and have lunch or something. I sure could eat.”
“I’m actually meeting my sisters to grab lunch right now. We can try and do dinner tomorrow night, if I’m free. I think I have three clients tomorrow.”
“I forgot just how big time you are. Have I told you how much I’m feeling the fuck out of you?”
I smiled. “Ehh, no, but you can remind me?”
“So much, Ma,” he responded. “The way you go and secure that bag makes me proud to be in your presence,” he continued.
“Awe, thank you. I appreciate you for recognizing that.” I smiled because Zoe always built me up. He made me seem like I was the CEO of Apple or something.
“Of course. Have fun with your sisters. I’ll get up with you later,” he told me.
“I will. Thanks, Zoe.”
Once I ended the call, I smiled at how Zoe made me feel. Things with Zoe was so easy and carefree. I didn’t have to put a lot of thought into it, it just happened so organically. After ending a relationship that took everything out of me, it was nice to finally have a friendship with the opposite sex without it being so difficult.
I had been back in Staten Island for little over three months and me and my kids were adjusting fine. I was in Stapleton going to my favorite Chinese spot when I spotted Zoe. He stopped talking to his friends to come over to me and try and convince me to go on a date with him. He was charming, handsome and I could tell he had money. His long dreads stopped at his shoulders, they were twisted neatly and pulled back out of his face. His chocolate skin tone was blemish free and he had a low-cut beard. He was around 6’5” with an athletic build. I was licking my lips the whole time he tried to kick game to me. By the time I grabbed my order from the counter, and he walked me back to my jeep, he had my number stored in his phone. The thing I loved the most about what we had was that we didn’t put a label on it. He didn’t force me to put a label on it either.
When it came to my children, he was patient and didn’t rush me into having him meet them. Plus, when I had to work or was spending time with my kids, he didn’t get pissed. Our time we spent together was special and uninterrupted. My kids were either with my mother or sisters and my work phone was off so we could spend as much time as possible together.
Zoe was in the streets. He didn’t have to tell me, everything about him screamed streets. I didn’t care. The thug in him was what drew me to him a bear to honey. Everything about Zoe screamed boss nigga and I wanted to lick him from head to toe because of the swag he carried. Eventually, I knew I would have to introduce him to my kids because they were starting to ask questions about where and who I was spending all my time.
Samaj and Somali were my pride and joys. When I stared into their eyes, I felt like I had did something right in the world. Samaj and Somali were fraternal twins and were nine years old. When I left New York, I had no idea that I was pregnant. Here I was comforting my sister about her pregnancy, and I was pregnant with not one, but two kids. I found out that I was four weeks when I went to the doctor for a simple check-up. I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to be sure that I didn’t have the flu or anything like that. When that lady came back with the pregnancy test, she forced me to pee on, I nearly passed out. If that wasn’t the worst part of it, she did an ultrasound and there were two small babies in separate sacks. How could you abort a miracle? You couldn’t and I didn’t. They belonged to Ghost and I never reached out to tell him. I should have told him that he had babies on the way, and one of them was a boy, but each time I picked up the phone I ended up stopping myself. How could I leave this man and then return with his babies like it was normal? I couldn’t, so I stayed away and raised my children the best way I knew how. It was easier keeping this secret between myself and my sisters. Even my kids didn’t know who their father was.
I never wanted to see Ghost’s face if he found out that he had twins with me. The hurt would be too much to bare. It was selfish of me to keep the secret to myself and not tell him, but I had to do what was best for me. If I would have told him that I was pregnant I wouldn’t have the things I have now. He would have forced me to come back home and took care of me. I was an interior decorator and owned my own business because I decided to choose me. Choosing me may have caused some people a world of hurt, still I had to do what was best for me and my children. I was given a second chance that night I was pulled over and I was determined to take it. I went to Atlanta to go to college and that ship sank soon as I found out I was pregnant. Instead I worked odd jobs until I helped a friend set up her apartment. She was so happy
with me decorating her apartment that she had got me a gig with her boss. At the time she was working as an assistant for a high-profile lawyer.
I knew nothing about what I was doing when that lady wrote me a check and expected me to turn her master bedroom into a relaxing oasis. I was so worried and nervous because it was my first job and this lady handed me six thousand dollars. After I finished her bedroom, she was in love. She hired me to do her entire house and that pushed me to get more into designing. I went from doing her home to doing a bunch of other high-profile people’s homes.
I worked hard to build myself and company up. There was a lot of long nights and tears that came with getting my company off the ground. My kids didn’t get to see me before school or before they closed their eyes because I worked so much. To me, it was worth it. Now I had a company that was successful, and I had a team that allowed me to take time off to spend with my children. With an office in Atlanta, the show didn’t stop because I moved back home. My plan to move back was to spend more time with my family and children. Being alone in Atlanta, I realized that I needed my family around. The kid saw the nanny more than me and it shouldn’t have been that way. Especially when they had a grandmother and aunts who wanted to spend more time with them. My plan was to open an office here and build up my clientele in New York too. When I grew tired of being back home, I had plans to expand in California.
I made it to Applebee’s where my sisters had agreed to meet. I saw Liberty’s Jeep Wrangler parked next to Justice’s Jeep Cherokee. Even in my absence my sisters continued with life and accomplished their goals. I was so proud of them. Liberty was a Registered Nurse and Justice was a teacher at Staten Island Academy. Both of my sisters loved their careers and I was so proud of them. When I walked in, I saw them sitting in a booth and made my way over to them. I had been home for three months and it felt so good to be back. I never realized how much I missed and needed my family until I moved back home. A simple lunch in the middle of the day with my sisters was small, yet meant everything to me.
“Hey bitches… damn, y’all greedy.” I looked at the appetizers they had ordered.
“Shit, we didn’t know how long you’re meeting was going to take,” Liberty replied as she smacked on a piece of buffalo chicken. “How was the meeting?”
“Can I have a drink before I tell you both what the fuck went down?”
Justice’s eyes widened. “It was that bad, Free?”
“It was Ghost’s house,” I revealed and flagged down the waitress. I ordered two margaritas and a glass of wine. I needed everything to get me calm from what happened today.
“Perfect. Now you can tell him about his kids and you both can be together,” Liberty replied nonchalantly.
Justice was the dramatic one, Liberty was the nonchalant one and I was in between them both. Depending on the day, you could get either reaction out of me. “Are you crazy? I’m not going to tell him.”
“What the hell you mean you’re not going to tell him?” Justice gasped. “Being in Georgia was one thing, but being back home in the same borough and not telling him is cruel. It’s cruel either way, but it’s your life.” She shrugged her shoulders and popped a jalapeno popper into her mouth.
“It’s so easy for the both of you to judge, but none of you know what I have to deal with,” I snapped.
“Before you get all pissed off… how did the meeting go? Did you run into him?” Liberty asked.
“I did. His fiancée is the one who wants me to do their home. They have two daughters and a beautiful mansion in Todt Hill.”
Justice gasped. “Free, that was the dream you both shared.” She placed her hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
“Girl, the youngest one may not even be his,” Liberty waved what I said off. “Shakira is a fucking hoe and everyone except Ghost knows it. The thing I’ve been trying to figure out is if he really doesn’t give a fuck or he really believes she’s the perfect woman for him,” Liberty further explained.
“Ghost has the power to find out any and everything he wants. You really think he would allow her to flaunt around knowing she fucked another nigga and conceived a baby? He would kill her if he even heard she blew a kiss at another nigga. You forget I was in a whole relationship with him?” I asked Liberty. “And, how do you even know all of this?”
“Because Shakira runs her damn mouth so much. She goes to the same eyelash technician I got to and she told me all her business. Her body fake, she had it done a little while after her youngest was born,” Liberty continued to give us all the tea.
“I saw her a few weeks back in the supermarket looking so lost like she didn’t know what the hell to do,” Justice laughed. “I also noticed that new body. She had more ass than I do, and I was born with mine.”
“I want her doctor’s number. My breast are too small,” Liberty got to messing with her boobs. “Anyway, they were supposed to have twins through IVF and Shakira chickened out at the thought of carrying two babies at once.”
“Damn, so he was trying to have twin twins, huh?” Justice giggled.
“My babies are naturally made. And, they were made with love. I can bet on that.” I accepted one of my drinks from the waitress. “And you need to stop knowing all that woman’s business. Anyway, he started yelling about how he deserved an explanation. I left out of there without even completing the job. I’ll get my assistant to go by and take the pictures.”
“You kind of do. Where the fuck do you think that’s fair?”
“Liberty, what I chose to do with my life was my decision. I don’t have to explain shit to anyone.” I sighed.
“You do, Freedom. It wasn’t like you both were just fucking. He was in love with you and you were in love with him. He didn’t deserve you running away without even an explanation. If that doesn’t make it worse, you go and have his babies and not even tell him,” Justice added her input into the conversation.
I knew the both of my sisters were right, but I didn’t want to admit it. Yeah, it was fucked up of me not to tell Ghost. Despite everything that went on, I should have reached out and told him about the kids we shared together. It wasn’t about me and more about them getting to know their father. The kids had asked me about their father and I always told them that he died before they were born. It was fucked up of me to take the chance to meet their father away from them, but I was doing what was in their best interest at the time. I didn’t see Ghost with his daughters, but knowing him, I knew he was probably an amazing father who loved his daughters very much. If he knew he had kids by me I’m sure he would be pissed and might even try to kill my ass. Ghost didn’t play around like that when it came to things that mattered the most to him.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.” I waved them off and finished my first drink. All of this was too stressful and made me wish I was back in Georgia. I could easily hang up the phone on them when they said what I didn’t want to hear. Except now, if I walked out of here or hung up on them, they would show up to my house and force me to talk to them.
“You don’t want to talk about it because you’re still in love with Ghost,” Liberty accused. “I know the love you share doesn’t just go away. Ghost probably loves you too. Who else would be this mad about an ex leaving him and not telling him? Especially since he’s engaged with two daughters living the life,” she did air quotes with her fingers.
“You said it yourself, Ghost was your one and only true love,” Justice brought up what I had said previously.
“I know what I said. People’s opinion on things change. Plus, I’m seeing where things can go with Zoe,” I argued.
“If that’s what you want to tell yourself. Zoe is cool and all, but I know with you being in the same borough as Ghost, you’re going to end up in his arms again,” Justice pointed a chicken wing at me as she spoke.
“Blah, blah, blah.” Liberty replied. “Get some dick from Zoe and Ghost. Shit, Shakira fucking whoever she wants and Ghost. Get your man, girl,” Liberty enc
ouraged, like only she would.
“I don’t want to fuck Ghost and I have already got dicked down from Zoe. Case closed. We should be worried about you being single, Liberty. You’ve been single for a while now.”
“I’m fine with being single. After Pook’s ass, I’m good on niggas all together. All I need is some dick occasionally and I’m good.” She waved the waitress over and we placed our order for food.
“Have you spoke to him at all?”
“No, but his home boy, Seize kept hitting me up for a while then he stopped. I don’t have time to play with him. Last I heard, shorty that was in the front row ain’t even with him. She live in Vermont and is married to some nigga in the Navy.”
“You know everybody damn business,” Justice laughed. “Meanwhile, you’re still legally married.”
Liberty shrugged her shoulders. “So?”
When Liberty told me that she was legally married to Pook’s bum ass, I wanted to scream and then beat her ass. She never filed for divorce or tried to annul the wedding. To this day they were still legally married. Liberty went on with her life and aborted the baby she was carrying and then enrolled in nursing school. She loved helping people and was good at it. If you could get past her smart-ass mouth, then you would know that she is very caring, nurturing and good at what she does.
“So? What if that nigga get out and try something?” Justice was more concerned that I was. Being Liberty’s twin, I realized that I couldn’t sweat things the way my sister did. She was so nonchalant about shit and you would be worried like it was your own issues. I had kids, business and my own life to be worried about and I couldn’t afford to be more worried about Liberty’s life than my own.
“What we need to be discussing is that fuck boy of a man you got living with you,” Liberty bought up Justice’s personal business.
Justice got quiet and rolled her eyes. “Why do you feel the need to bring up my business?”
