by Zi'ere
On the morning of the wedding I attempted to eat each and every piece of food that passed my face but my stomach would not hold it for more than thirty minutes after I ate it. By lunch I was married to a sleeve of saltine crackers and a Sprite. After one too many knowing smiles and eyebrow raises from my mom I finally confessed that I hadn’t seen my period in three months but that I was convinced it was abnormal due to all the stress I had been under lately. It was then that mama cleared the room of everyone except me, her, and Cecelia.
“Baby, let me get a look at you.” She came and stood directly in front of me and looked me deep in the eyes. “Baby, you are just as pregnant as you could be!” She let out in a high pitched squeal sounding like a school girl.
“Anna, what do you mean she’s pregnant?”
“Ce, what I said is what I meant! My baby is having a baby!” Mama moved from in front of me and pulled Cecilia into an embrace.
“Mama how did you know?”
“Baby Steph, I can see it in your eyes. And what they don’t tell, your complexion and appetite says the rest.”
I hung my head and began to wring my hands. If mama spoke it, there had to be a baby in my stomach.
“Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit! I can’t be pregnant right now! We already have three kids! How could I be so careless?” The words echoed in my head over and over.
“Steph, you okay in there?” Cecilia came over to me.
“Baby, you’re making me nervous now- say something?”
“What am I going to do with a baby right now Mama? I am already a train wreck, I am barely keeping the kids I have now alive.”
“Now hush Steph, don’t worry. Babies are a blessing from God. You have been doing an awesome job with the children and I’ve never seen them happier. My son couldn’t have fallen in love with a more suitable woman to take care of his children- all of them.”
“Baby, who told you this was going to be your baby anyway? Do you know how long I have been waiting for my Baby to have a baby? All I need you to do is carry it and be healthy. You should already know this baby is going to be my baby!” My mom coolly added.
“Ce, I don’t know what to tell you but, I’m not going to want to share this baby!” My mom was so happy she had started to cry.
“Put a smile on your face and let your beauty shine bright. This is a big day and now we are privy to a surprise that makes it even bigger!” Cecilia was smiling from ear to ear.
“Can I tell your daddy Baby?”
I could only giggle, mama knowing information about me that daddy didn’t know was a total violation of the ‘daddy’s princess code’.
“Ma, you know he would skin us both for keeping a secret from him.”
“Congratulations on the new addition. I know my son is going to be beside himself when he finds out. I am so grateful we have you. You are exactly the type of woman a mother hopes for their sons. You truly make him happy and for that I love you and you are my friend.” Cecilia cradled me into her arms while we shared a bonding moment.
42
I looked around the room for a clock. Ced had not called like he said he would. Then it hit me that none of the men I loved had called me. “Mama, have you talked to any of the men this morning?” I was seated getting my make-up done but I could see my mom stop dead in her tracks. I looked at all the faces in the room and noticed no one would make eye contact with me.
“What happened?” Tears welled up in my eyes, my heart got heavy, and my limbs began to tremble.
The make-up artist began to do damage control on my make up that had already been completed.
“Baby, don’t get upset okay?”
I could not form coherent words.
“Remember, you need to stay calm at all times.”
“Ma, tell me what happened! Did something happen to one of my brothers?” That couldn’t be it because we were getting ready for my wedding not rushing to the hospital.
But, still something major had to have happened for none of them to call me. I had even yet to see my dad.
“Your daddy hat to go bond all them out of county jail this morning. He sent me a text saying that they would be on the way as soon as the boys’ personal items had been received.”
“WHAT?”
What in the world were they doing to end up in jail?
“They had an altercation last night, all of them including Cedric. All I know for sure is that they exchanged words with somebody, they all fought, and they were all arrested- that’s all I know.” My mama was a horrible liar.
There was no way possible that Anna did not have a full report on the actions and subsequent charges of her boys. I knew then that the entire story had to be too overwhelming for me to hear. I leapt out of my seat and darted to my purse which held my cell phone. I speed dialed all six men, not one picked up the call. On the quick call to John’s cell, a female answered and informed me that she had found the phone in the club last night after a fight. A fight? In a club? The girl gave me a blow by blow encounter of my fiancé and brothers getting into a physical altercation with a female and two other guys.
She specifically called out Angel’s name as the female that started the fight and was transported out of the club unconscious on a stretcher. My entire male bridal party was charged with various forms of assault, domestic violence, resisting arrest, harassment, public intoxication, and hindering a police investigation. After I thanked the girl for giving me scoop, I felt the room begin to spin. With the help of several hands I made it back to my seat. I was in a daze; I didn’t speak, or make eye contact with anyone. I said a prayer of thanks that my men were all safely housed in jail but I made no mention of their safety once they were in arms reach of me.
An hour later my cell began to sound of signature ringtones that suggested my men now had their personal effects. The calls were coming so frequently everyone on the room began to dance to the beats since I had not answered one call. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. I shook my head no; mama opened the door only after my dad identified himself. He was noticeably irritable and did not address any of the other women in the room aside from me and his wife. He rushed over to me and held me in his arms, never saying a word he kissed me on the forehead. Cecilia rounded the women up to get dressed to give me a private moment with my parents. As soon as the room was cleared, I began to speak.
“Daddy, I really don’t-“, he placed a finger to my lips to silence me. He pulled out his cell phone and commanded “Call Son 1”, Terrell answered on the first ring.
“Baby Steph we are all so sorry we spoiled your morning. You know we would never jeopardize your happiness but when you find out what happened you will understand that we had no choice. I promise you this was not our faults at all.”
I continued to give the phone the evil eye but remained silent.
“At first we were at Club 480, that’s where the bachelor party was hosted. Everybody was having good, wholesome fun when Angel showed up with three other females and two dudes. Come to find out, she and the girls she was with were the strippers for the night. But instead of her completing her job she starts to go in on Darrell about him not returning her calls, not supporting her anymore, and you being the reason he wasn’t with her no more. After it was clear she had no intentions of doing her job, we had her and her crew put out the club. In the midst of them being ushered to the door Angel turned her attention to Ced and began to tell him she’d gotten out of jail faster than he did, she could prove he murdered Leslie, what she had planned for you on your wedding day, and that she would never let you live happily ever after. At first Ced wouldn’t respond but the more she talked he lost his cool. That’s when one of the dudes Angel was with stepped to Ced about him respecting Angel and what he better not say. Next thing I know we are all sitting on the curb handcuffed, watching Angel get carried off in an ambulance.”
43
Instead of offering a reply I pressed the end button on the phone. My dad simply left out of the room. After I hung
up on Terrell I began to think of Angel. She’d crossed me for the last time but this time it had caused her bodily harm. She’d hurt my family, played my brother, and finally attempted to disrupt my marriage. Angel’s attempt to cause interference in my life had caused her bodily harm and I truly felt sorry for the way her life had turned. My thoughts were interrupted when the women re-entered the room fully dressed, made up, and escorted by Haywood men. Each man held a dozen white roses in crystal vases. My daddy entered the room last carrying three jewelry boxes, one with that familiar signature turquoise bow. I couldn’t help but notice a few bumps and bruises on my brother’s otherwise perfect faces. Darrell had stitching tape over his eyebrow; proof that they had probably torn the club up last night. I was still opting silence to them as punishment so they spread the flowers out throughout the room.
My dad was the only one to speak, “Baby, I want you to know that even though I will give your hand to Ced in the ceremony, in no way am I handing over my little girl. You will be his wife true enough, but you will always be my little girl and I will always have the role of dad in your life. This is your ‘something new’ that I would like for you to wear today.”
He opened the rectangle box to reveal a two and a half inch wide diamond and baguette tennis bracelet in a platinum setting. It was breathtaking and fit for a princess. After the bracelet was secured on my wrist he handed me another box.
“You know who this box is from, right?” I offered a weak smile and accepted the box.
“This one happens to be from your husband to be” I was handed a white jewelry box with a platinum ribbon around it.
I immediately opened the box that held a platinum set, three row band with diamond and baguette’s alternating on each row. All of the pieces matched my engagement ring and scheme for the wedding entirely. Tears began to fall from my eyes as my dad instructed me to wear the band on my right ring finger per Cedric’s request to seal both of my hands in marriage to him, our children, and our families. The wedding planner advised me that it was time for me to get dressed. I took my time getting dressed with my daughters and mom only in the room.
“Steph, you’ve got all day tomorrow to day dream! We’ve got to get you married now!” my mom pulled me out of my thoughts. I received the white rose bouquet accented with Swarovski crystals that appeared to be diamonds.
“Mama do you think I should tell Ced before the wedding?”
“Baby, Ced has waited years to have you by his side. That detail is only going to be a cherry added to his already ice cream sundae. Don’t worry yourself sick.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I joined my father in the foyer just moments before the double doors were opened and we floated down the aisle to a soulful rendition of Here and Now by Luther Vandross. Thirty minutes later I was officially Mrs. Stephanie Haywood- Goldman, Sr. My daddy wept during the entire ceremony. Just before I got into the private car, I gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. Once inside the car, we took turns telling the other how amazing we looked. I took that as my cue to let him in on the surprise. And a surprise it was, Ced was stunned speechless for a few minutes.
“My life has done nothing but increase in value ever since I got you in my world. Even though our family was started before today, I can say that nothing would make me prouder or give me greater joy than to see you carrying my seed!”
“Really Ced?”
“Steph, we’re going to have a house full of kids!”
I finally had the man of my dreams, a constant companion, my partner for life. I was blind to everything Ced might have been, all I saw was how he was with me and our family. He handled all of the women in his life with care and the utmost respect. He was a true gentle giant just like all my dad’s.
Epilogue
“Mommy, can we have another cookie?” Our two year old daughter Cee-Cee had somehow become the boss of our now five year old Chyna. Whenever they were in cahoots, Cee-Cee was always the voice of the outfit. Her little chubby fingers were outstretched and pointing towards the cookie jar.
“Honey, desert is after dinner, not before” I stressed with patience.
“Daddy, can we have a cookie please?” I could only raise my eyebrows at the boldness of the toddler.
Cee-Cee was pulling out all the stops, batting her thick lashes over big hazel eyes at her daddy. Before the entire question was out, I knew Ced’s answer would be a shameless “yes sweetheart”. Being an old pro at fatherhood, Ced still possessed a weakness towards his three daughters. This weakness did not go unknown to the girls, along with the undeniable fondness of them show by their grand-dad and uncles. Grandmothers and mother were immune to the puppy dog faces and sugar sweet laced words.
Ced was home early in the evening, helping me prepare myself and the kids for dinner at my parent’s house. Although he made a point to be available to me and the kids at all times, this particular day was different. I had just turned thirty-nine weeks pregnant with our son the day before. We would be staying at the big house until Cedric III made his debut along with all the other expecting women in the family. Mama and Daddy brought their ideas to fruition about renovating the big house. It was no longer a quaint mini-mansion; instead it was a much bigger home that had undergone extensive add-ons to hold the growing number of Haywood’s. A state of the art nursery had been constructed that would rival a first class daycare center. Rooms for the older grandchildren, Ms. Cecilia, a game room, and a renovation to the patio and bar-b-que area were needed according to dad.
Of course John and Samantha were married when she was introduced to the family, but in just a little over a year Terrell, Darrell, and Carlos were all married and expecting as well. Terrell and Simone welcomed their daughter Stephanna just a few weeks after my wedding. Darrell and Emani were expecting a boy and girl set of twins. Carlos and Amina were expecting a set of all girl triplets. And, John and Samantha were expecting their first son. In true Haywood fashion all of the expecting moms were due within days of each other. This bustling number would put Greg and Anna’s number of grandchildren at eleven. After every weekend we spent together in the big house, our love for each other multiplied. The Haywood clan would continue to love blindly for many years to come.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblances to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
©ZI’EREBOOKS est. 2013
Zi’ereBooks 2016
Prologue
Part 1
‘Good morning Laini. It’s time to start another fabulous day.’
My mother’s soothing voice was recorded to serve as my wake- up call every morning at six am. Because I hadn’t closed my eyes once the entire night before, the alarm had startled me a little. I had been contently staring off into space with one too many thoughts running through my mind at one time. I aggressively threw the covers aside exposing my body clad in only a matching bra and panty set. I looked around the room, surprised to be alone. Memories from last night’s events began to come forth.
“Surely my life cannot get any worse than what it was yesterday. Today has to be a better day Laini, just wait and see.”
The mere mumble of those words was the pep talk I had to give myself just to get out of bed. For the first time ever in my life, I contemplated calling in sick from work. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I was sure everyone could understand that I deserved at least one personal day to be totally unproductive. After I had freshened up I had officially decided to take some time off, but not just for the day.
I needed a vacation, alone. I wanted to go somewhere nobody knew my name. That would be next to impossible but I could certainly try.
I made my way to the front door of my spacious two story home dressed in an oversized plush baby pink terry cloth bath robe and the pink fuzzy bunny slippers to match on my feet. Opening one of the double front doors, I stepped off the front steps to retrieve the daily newspaper from my front lawn. I had bent from the waist down to pick up the paper but I could feel my gut beginning to loosen. Even though the paper was tri-folded, I could clearly make out my face splattered on the front cover. My heart dropped. Zoey was going to kill me, I was sure of it. I used both hands to frantically tear thru the mint green plastic casing. I looked behind me to check the windows of the house, top and bottom. I was relieved to find them all empty. My right hand went up to my temple as I steadied the paper in my left hand, reading the caption out loud.
‘CHANDLER SOCIALITE LAINI JEFFERIES THE CENTER OF CATFISH SCANDAL’
Below the bold faced caption was an eight by ten photo of me, captured by paparazzi at the airport just last night. In the picture wide tears streamed down my almond colored pie face. The tears were the official stamp that I had been publicly hurt to the core. As much as I wanted to forget the events that had caused this latest and greatest tribulation in my life, I knew that was not going to happen. The situation had totally spun out of control and there was nothing I could do to stop it now. I could feel tears starting to well up again.
My heart ached, if only I could just turn back the hands of time. I hadn’t shed a tear since last night. I thought I was all cried out then, apparently I still had water left in my well because they began to fall again. I closed my eyes in an attempt to calm my heart rate and wish the pain away. The heart wants what it wants but there was no way I could have what my heart was longing for. Today I had no clue if my heart still wanted what it had yesterday afternoon. All of the relationships I had that were so uniquely different, yet still perfect two days ago, were now mixing to make a perfect storm.
