I don’t know their husbands personally but those women have power in their own right. I’m so excited about all the things that are happening for my business. It’s only been a month since I met Hayidah but she has connected so many dots for me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think things would take off like this and so soon.
“That’s an awfully pretty smile,” Melvin’s voice pulls me from my moment of peace and gratitude.
I look at him quizzically as his words come off a little harsh and bitter. I push my bag up my arm, but keep ahold of the handle in case I have to swing it. He’s making me feel uneasy.
I place my other hand over my stomach. My little bump has just started to pop. Not enough for many to notice but Omid and I have.
“Hey, Melvin. How are you?”
“Like you care,” he snaps.
I tilt my head at him and lift a brow while I scrunch my face. He’s out here tripping today. “Is something wrong I should know about?”
“You said you weren’t interested in dating. You were keeping your focus on business. You said you’d tell me if you changed your mind,” his voice rises. “I’ve been watching. He’s been coming over here for months.”
“Oh hell, nah,” I say pulling my bag from my shoulder.
I’m going to have to beat his ass with this bag and then my brothers will be here to whip his ass too. I won’t even be mad if they come and see my tiny bump. This dude needs his ass whipped right about now.
He pushes his glasses up his nose. “I know I’m not the coolest guy or built with muscles and stuff but I’m a nice guy. You could’ve given me a chance.”
“Melvin, I told you repeatedly that I wasn’t interested. I was very clear. You were the one that insisted on asking me out over and over again. How many ways can one person say no?” I bite out.
“But you drop your draws for that sand nig—”
“Don’t you finish that shit,” I hiss. “I think you better get your ass off my property. We have nothing else to say to each other… ever.”
“I’m not good enough but he is? You’re just like all the rest. You were sweet to me at first. Now… Sure, just toss me aside.”
“She won’t have to,” Omid booms. “If you don’t step away from her and get the fuck off her property, I’m going to toss you through the fucking window of your front door.”
Melvin spins around to find Omid glaring down at him. He just came out of nowhere. Shit, I’m scared. Even Navid looks menacing as his stands behind Omid. Navid never looks like he’d hurt so much as a fly.
“I’ll call Homeland Security on you,” Melvin threats. “You’re probably already on a watch list.”
Omid grins and snorts. “You have fun with that.”
“I’ll be filing a complaint with the police. It’s clear you’ve been stalking me,” I snap. “We’ll see who’s complaint has more teeth.”
That seems to do the trick. All of the blood drains from Melvin’s face and he scurries his punk ass back to his house. Omid doesn’t give him a second thought.
Instead, his tugs me into his chest. “I left the office early today to do some shopping. Navid and I were coming to surprise you with dinner and your gifts. I would’ve fucking torn his head off if he touched you.”
“I’m fine. Annoyed but fine.”
“Navid, please go to purchase two trunks and a few boxes. We will start to pack tonight,” Omid commands.
“What? Pack for what?”
He gives a bitter laugh. “I’ve been patient. I was allowing you to warm to the idea. Now he has proven this place is no longer safe. You’ll be in our home tonight.”
“I’m not paying him mind. He’s not going to run me out of my house,” I say pulling away to fold my arms over my chest.
The rage that enters his eyes nearly makes me piss myself. I’ve never seen him like this. He moves closer and I take a step back.
“You’re with child,” He seethes. “Do you know what kind of trigger that can be for a man like that when he figures it out? I’ve seen the way he watches you.
“I noticed a few weeks ago. He’s been becoming more bold. You weren’t even aware of it. Why do you think I’ve been coming to your office to drive you home? Why do you think Navid comes when I can’t?”
I shiver and look at him with worry covering my face. I hadn’t noticed anything off with Melvin before today. I place both hands on my bump.
“I didn’t know,” I whisper.
He runs a hand through his hair and takes a calming breath. Pulling me back into his arms he presses his lips to the top of my head. I’m shaking as it all hits me.
“It has taken everything in me not to force you to move once I noticed. I mean, everything. If I hadn’t thought it would be a big fight I would’ve had your things packed up and moved weeks ago. I can’t allow you to stay here,” he says tightly.
“Okay, you’re right.”
“We will take the things you need tonight. Anything else the movers can take care of. You’re not to come here without me any longer.”
I nod my head as I start to sob. I can’t believe I didn’t notice. I placed me and the baby in danger. On top of that, I have to leave my house. I love my house.
“Shh. I will take care of it. I will always take care of you,” he croons.
* * *
Omid
Now that Divine is in my bed fast to sleep, I let my temper show. I’m livid. I’m so close to calling the twins and asking for one more favor.
“He will pay for this.”
My muscles are coiled so tight and I can barely see straight. We arrived just as that piece of shit moved closer to Divine to shout in her face. I didn’t need to hear his words. Both of their body language told me enough. She felt threatened and he was threatening her.
“She is safe now,” Navid says calmly.
“He will still pay.”
It took me an hour to calm her tears. I had to bring her home while Navid collected a few of her things. I didn’t mean to lose my temper with her, but I knew she hadn’t noticed that creep’s escalating behavior.
He started with pulling the curtains back whenever we’d arrive together or when I’d come over for the night. At first, I noted it as a nosey neighbor. Then he started to open his door and stand on the porch watching. Not like a concerned neighbor. No, I could see his growing agitation.
“You have to calm down, şehzade.”
“Do not call me that while she’s here,” I snarl.
Navid sighs. “You still haven’t told her. You have had several close calls. I expected you to tell her about the heir she carries by now.”
I wave him off. “I’m not ready to tell her. The time hasn’t been right. There’s always something in the way. I’ll tell her before the baby is born.”
“I won’t lecture you. You already know this isn’t wise.”
I glare at him. I hate when he does that. I pace back and forth in my study. I have too much anger coursing through me to sit.
“I have bigger things to worry about.” I grind out. “I won’t leave some obsessed man out there after he approached my woman.”
“I can make a call. It would be more than fair to at least look into his past and have him watched for a while. From there you can make a decision on whether or not you want to make further calls,” he offers.
I pause. This is my child and wife. I don’t feel at ease sweeping it under the rug and thinking it’s all over.
“Make the call. I want to know everything. Every move he makes. If he so much as breathes anywhere near her, you know the call to make.”
I start back for the bedroom to hold my woman and child in my arms. I’ve heard stories about Uri Donati and his wife. LaSalle was right about me knowing who those around me are. I’ve never called on their services, but I never had to.
Everything has changed.
Chapter 20
Meet the Favors
Divine
Time has run out. This little bump i
sn’t going to allow me to hide it for one more get-together at my parents’ house. Besides that, my father has been asking to meet my boyfriend. I was able to put it off in the beginning.
Omid has been called to the hospital literally right as we walked out the front door to go to my parents’ house every time. On each occasion he has sent a bouquet of flowers to my mom and a bottle of expensive liquor to my dad as an apology for his absence. That has only peaked everyone’s interest.
Omid does nothing small. While everyone no longer wonders if I’m dating someone that plans to freeload off of me, they do have other questions. All questions I’ve been trying to avoid.
“Here she is,” Patience sings as I walk into my parents’ kitchen. “And again, she’s alone. I’m starting to think she made this dude up.”
“He’s real,” Marica says around the pineapple chunk she just shoved in her mouth.
I roll my eyes at them both and place my bag down on the countertop. I’m so tired. I just want to take a nap. I tried to wait up for Omid last night. He’s been at the hospital all night.
“He just delivered the twins he was waiting on. He’ll be here after he showers and gets in a nap,” I say and take a seat at the island.
My mother stops and narrows her eyes at me. She’s been watching me closely the last few times I’ve been here. I don’t know why I haven’t told them about the baby yet. I think I just feel the pressure of them wanting to meet Omid.
“I’ve had five babies. I know technology has changed all kinds of things, but one thing that has remained the same is the gestation period. Now, this baby over here.” She points to Marica.
“She’s in her first few weeks. Right where she should be for the timeframe you gave me on when you two planned to be inseminated, together, around the same damn time.
“Which means that depending on your bodies reactions to your procedures you two would be around the same weeks. I was quiet at first. Waiting, but if you were pregnant from the procedure you’d be just as happy as Marica. Babbling all over the place.” She pauses to fold her arms over her chest.
It’s like steam is coming out of her ears as she continues. “Your ass been pregnant, Divine. I could see it in your ass two months ago. You’re just like me and your sister. I can tell when she’s knocked up within weeks. It shows right in her hips. That gym hasn’t hid a thing.”
Patience reaches under my chin to close my mouth. “She’s right. I knew you were pregnant months ago.”
I burst into tears. I don’t even know why I’m crying. I tear off the hot ass cape blouse I have on to hide my bump.
“Oh my God. You’re so cute,” Patience sings as she reaches for my belly.
“She’s gorgeous,” my mother smiles rounding the counter to pull me into a hug, rocking me from side to side. “You’ve been glowing, baby. Not just from the baby but this man has you lit up.”
“Divine,” Nashawn storms into the kitchen. We all turn to look at him. “Some dude is here asking for you. His Arab ass got crazy ass looking eyes and shit. You want me to fuck him up and get him out of here?”
“No,” I rush out and stand to go to the door.
Nashawn stumbles back. “Where’d that come from. I thought Marica was the only that got knocked up through the tube. Wait, you’re too big… who’s dude at the door, Div?”
“You’re not my daddy. Move out of my way,” I grumble pushing past him.
I get to the front of the house to found my father and brothers surrounding Omid. The game is still blaring in the living room but no one’s watching it. I roll my eyes at them and move to Omid’s side.
“You look exhausted. How long did you sleep?”
He places his hand on my bump instinctively as he’s grown into the habit of doing and pecks me on the lips. “I slept in the car on the way to the house and then again on the way here.”
“I told you to take your time.”
“Endişelenecek bir şey yok.” He shrugs.
“It is something to worry about. You need rest. You’ve been going nonstop and when you’re not working you’re catering to me. You need to take care of you too.”
“Now wait a damn minute,” my father interrupts our exchange. “You mean to tell me, you’ve been pregnant all this damn time. Who is this?”
I turn to my family and Omid wraps his arm around my waist. “Everyone, this is Dr. Omid. My boyfriend.”
His fingers flex on my side when I say boyfriend. I ignore that as I focus on the shocked looks staring back at me. My father’s eyes bounce between us.
“This girl done lost her mind,” he utters. “As if being a black woman isn’t hard enough… we were too easy on you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I say crossing my arms over my chest.
“You went and got pregnant by some Arab and ain’t say nothing to nobody,” Nashawn says.
“Shut up,” I snap at him. “First of all, not everyone from the Middle East are Arabs, you jerk. Omid is Persian. I just made it out of my first trimester a couple of weeks ago. Women are welcome to keep a pregnancy under wraps until they’re in the safe zone.”
“Girl, please. That’s not why you kept this from us,” my father says. “Son, let me ask you a simple question. What religion do you practice and what religion will you expect your child to practice?”
“I am Muslim. I will want our children to know the teachings of Allah—”
“Exactly,” my father bursts out. “You done lost your mind, Divine. Are you even aware of what you’ve signed up for? Do you know who this man is? You’re dealing with a whole other culture. They’re different, baby girl. They treat their women different.”
“Daddy, you need to stop. You don’t know Omid and you’re making assumptions.”
“Omid, is it? How many wives does your father have?” Daddy seethes.
“He has three but—”
I look up at Omid. This is news to me. He looks into my eyes searching as my father continues his rant.
“But nothing. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Three wives. You didn’t know that did you?” he says to me. “I taught you to respect yourself and to find someone that would respect you and treat you like a queen. You go find the first man that’s going to treat you as a possession that he can replace nightly.
“You know nothing of his culture, nothing of his world. You probably can’t even show your face in his country and I’m not talking about a head wrap. You’re chocolate brown ass ain’t welcome, Div. Dammit.”
With that my father storms off into the backyard. I’m left stunned with tears rolling down my cheeks. I knew my father would be pissed but this has gone behind what I expected.
“Baby, you have to understand some things about your father to understand what just happened. He’ll cool down,” my mother says as she brings over tissue for me. “Hello, Omid.”
“Hello,” he chokes out beside me. I turn into his chest and sob as he wraps his arms around me. “Sh, aşkım. Sorun olmayacak.”
“It’s not going to be okay. He’s never talked to me like that,” I cry.
“Since when she speak Arabic?” Nashawn says.
I spin on him. “It’s not Arabic you asshole. I told you he’s not Arab. He’s speaking Turkish. I know several languages for your information.”
“Chill, Div. The baby,” Lance says. “I don’t know you, bro but that’s my baby sister. I’ll put in work for her. Twenty-four hours, seven days a week she got me on speed dial to come whop that ass if you hurt her. You treat her right, I ain’t got shit to say.”
Nashawn shoves Lance and Neil grunts. My mom shakes her head while Patience hasn’t stopped staring at Omid since she stepped into the foyer. Marica has a worried look on her face as she watches me.
“I’m going home,” I whisper. “You’ve embarrassed me. I’d like to think I wasn’t raised in a prejudiced home but today has shown me different. My best friend has always been welcomed here. Why is it different for the father of my chi
ld? Y’all have a good night.”
Marica rushes to hand me my things she ran to collect from the kitchen. I lace my fingers with Omid’s and start out of the door. I hate the silence coming from him. I hate that his energy has shifted from the confident man I know.
“I’m embarrassed for her,” Patience says as we walk out the door. “Daddy and Nashawn didn’t even give him a chance. That’s not how we do things. Y’all are wrong for that.”
* * *
Omid
“Are you okay?”
I turn to look at Divine as we ride in the back of the car. I should be asking her that. Her father had no trouble expressing his dislikes.
I wrap an arm around her and tug her into my side. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
I’m not fine but I don’t want her to know that. The shock on her face when I replied about my father’s wives twisted something inside of me. There’s so much about me she still doesn’t know.
Her father never gave me a chance to answer either. It was like talking to my own father. They’re both set in their way of thinking. Their opinion of the world engraved and unyielding.
“I never thought I’d hear him talk to me like that. I’ve always known he wasn’t in favor of Islam. I had to hide my first Qur'an. I was curious and wanted to learn more. He would have lost it,” she snorts. “Okay. I shouldn’t be so surprised after all. It still hurts, you know?”
I kiss the top of her head. “I’ve learned that the best way to see change in people is to show them rather than tell them. We’ll show everyone our happiness. Then they will come around.”
She snuggles into my side. “I’m sorry about all of that back there.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. My people have been demonized in the eyes of America. I’ve been stopped in airports for my accent and brown skin. People make assumptions, not knowing the difference between one group of people or culture. Once you’re labeled as such you’re that label.
Doctor Feel Good: A Novel From The Be Yours Series Page 14
