“Well, as stupid as you are sounding, I should be speaking for you,” Eva raged. “But go on, go ahead. You’ll learn the hard way. Like he really, really cares for us. Seriously, c’mon.”
My dad saw I was serious and said, “Great, I’ll wait out in the car. Thanks.”
As soon as my dad stepped outside, my sister got in my face. I tried to walk around her to pack, but she stood her ground. Usually she ran me. Not this time though.
“Please,” I told her, “let’s just agree to disagree on this one.”
Eva said, “I don’t understand you. Why do you even want to hang out with him?”
Caring what she thought, I said, “I’ve always admired how Hallie is close to her dad. I know Dad left long ago, but I miss his strong arms around me. I want to be told I’m beautiful by the one man who should love me the most. If I got an opportunity to have that, regardless of how I got here … regardless of his past decisions … regardless of what my twin sister thinks, then I’m going to go for it.”
“You too doggone sweet,” Eva lamented. Then she stormed to my mom’s bedroom and slammed the door.
Quickly, I picked up the phone and dialed my mom. “Hey, I know you’re working.”
“Yeah, baby, but what’s up? I just got a second.”
“Mom, I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you if I went to Dad’s?”
“Yes, he called and told me he wanted to have you and your sister over. Is he bringing y’all back tomorrow or should I?”
“No, he’s going to bring me back tomorrow. Eva is not going.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” my mother sighed. “And you’re okay to go on your own?”
“Mom! We’re not joined at the hip. I don’t know this lady he’s getting married to, but I do want to spend time with them.”
“I just want you to know that if you need me for anything, call.”
Soon enough I found myself in Alpharetta, Georgia. It was one of the richest parts of the metro Atlanta area. My dad had really done well for himself. Part of me wondered if I even had accurate information that my dad still owed my mom child support. With everything he had, he did not look like a man who wouldn’t pay his bills.
His house was more spectacular than anything I had seen. A very pretty lady arrived at the door to greet us. She reminded me of Hallie’s bubbly personality. If she wasn’t eight months pregnant, I’d say she was a size 2 or smaller and definitely the opposite of my mom’s size 20. My dad introduced her as Samantha.
“Sister!” a little boy I remembered seeing at the cheer competition shouted. He rushed up to me and put his arms around my legs.
“Hey, Evan,” I said, swooping him up in my arms and spinning him around.
Samantha said, “Eva, please come in. Let’s get you settled. I want you to know—”
“Excuse me … um, Ella,” I said, cutting her off.
“I’m sorry, Ella. It’s hard to tell the two of you apart,” Samantha stated.
I wanted to say, “No, it’s not. We have completely different styles. Hers is more out there. Mine is more laid back. Clearly, I did not come to your house with everything in the world hanging out. I never have my body exposed, so you should know from my father’s descriptions that I am Ella. Why don’t you know that?” But I said nothing.
“Calvin, I’ll take her up to her room,” Samantha said. I followed her up the back set of stairs. “Ella, I wanted to tell you that I’m not the reason why you and your dad haven’t been connecting. I think he should have a relationship with you all, but I didn’t want to be the one to push it. I tried that early on in our dating relationship, and he seemed to resent me for it. In his own time I knew he would want to hang out with you all.”
I didn’t know where this lady was coming from. I had no clue why she was telling me this. Was I supposed to be upset that my dad did not want to hang out with me? Was she trying to get herself off the hook so I would not be against her, thinking that she was the one blocking the relationship? Either way, both of those comments seemed a little negative to me, and I thought I was here to start off on the right foot. So I just looked at her and did not respond.
“Well, you see this is the down comforter,” Samantha said, pointing at the fancy plush covers. “I don’t know how you do things at your house, but I’m pretty particular with our things. I would like you not to sleep on this. Please pull it off like this.”
Samantha started folding it back. I actually did not know about down comforters and the finer things in life. My dad’s extra money was going to her and not to my household whether it was by his choice or her demands. Clearly, Eva and I were getting the short end of the stick.
I had passed by Evan’s room coming up to the guest room. His room was immaculate and four times the size of the one Eva and I shared at our apartment. He was only three and had his own bathroom!
Another baby boy was on the way, and the new baby’s room looked like it was straight out of a decorating magazine. Even the guest room made me uncomfortable because it was so nice. So I just stood there after Samantha left. I did not want to mess up anything. I certainly did not know how to work the three remotes in front of me to turn on the TV.
My dad came by, knocked on the door, and said, “Come on, let’s go see the rest of the house. I’m taking the day off tomorrow to hang out with you if that’s okay.” I smiled. “Ella, I would like us to have a chance. If you give me an opportunity, you won’t regret it.”
After he took me around the house for a full tour, I started to feel good about being there. I was not sure if his wife-to-be was excited I was there. However, like Eva, her feelings were irrelevant. I kept my thoughts about her to myself. I enjoyed the bathroom, the lavish bed, and the fact that I was under the same roof with my father. What a dream come true.
The day started bright and early with my father. It was like he was trying to make up for the ten years he was gone from my life all in one day. We went to breakfast. We went shopping. We went to the matinee. We went to lunch. We went by his office. My dad was a sports agent. He had his own firm. He helped great college players get selected by an NFL or NBA team. After the office tour, we went bowling. Lastly, we went to dinner. He told me to order whatever I wanted. The steak was the best I had ever had.
Over dessert, he said, “Ella, I’m really impressed with the type of lady you are. You are so kind, and you have such a big heart. Is there something you want to talk to me about?”
The rational side of me was like, “You know what, Ella, don’t even go into anything heavy. Just enjoy your dad. The day has been absolutely amazing—better than any time at an amusement park could be. Keep quiet.” But the heart in me, wanting our time to be genuine, demanded I get deep.
So I said, “Dad, what now? I mean, I haven’t spent time with you since I was little, just off and on, here and there, but really being with you and spending a whole day with you … You have another family now, why do you care?”
He paused from eating his cheesecake and then said, “I buried my mom a few months ago.”
“Ah, Dad. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. She and I weren’t that close either. I got to spend some time with her before she passed. She said she regretted not really getting to know me or her granddaughters. I had to examine myself and think what I was missing out on by not being a dad. Sure, I was too young when I found out you were coming, but as your sister so eloquently said, it took two. I was man enough to try and get me a lil’ somethin’ somethin’. Ella, I was so bitter and angry. I felt your mom trapped me, and I never allowed myself to look at the blessing in all of it.”
Hearing my dad express his heart and desire to now be in my life meant the world to me. He deeply wanted to be my father. I could have jumped up and shouted and hugged his neck so tight. However, the restaurant was very upscale, and I did not want to be ghetto.
“Nobody is promised tomorrow. We need to make the most of every day,” he continued. “I tried to tell my mom i
t wasn’t her fault. I could have reached out to her too. You and your sister are still in high school. Heck, I’m in my thirties. She said she was the parent and had made some life choices that didn’t always put me first. Her talk changed me. She challenged me to get to know you girls. Actually, that was her dying wish. I might not be able to make things right with Eva, but I’m gonna try. If she doesn’t let me in, it’s certainly understandable. However, that will be her choice. If I can get to know one of my girls, I am much richer than if one of my players signed in the first round.”
“Don’t worry about Eva, Dad. She just might come around if you give her some time.”
My dad said, “I don’t blame Eva for her bitterness. It’s my fault. But, Ella, being your dad, connecting with you this way, talking to you, apologizing, establishing a real relationship … is priceless.”
We hugged. The only thing I did not like about my time with my dad was the fact that his fiancée kept texting him every hour. It was like she thought he was out with another lady or something. Goodness gracious already, it was my time with my dad. Why was she so insecure? She did not have to trip. He did not want me to know he was annoyed, but it was pretty easy to see his frustration with her.
“We must do this again soon,” he said, dropping me off back home. “If you need me for anything, please call.” I hesitated getting out of the car and he asked, “What’s going on, Ella? Talk to me.”
“Dad, I just need you to pay your back child support. You are doing really well. You live in that big three-story house. We are in this apartment, and we are about to get evicted. You say you love me and Eva and want to have a relationship with us, but right now we just need for you to take care of our basic needs.”
“Okay, I’m confused. I let it slide when Eva said it, but let me be clear, I don’t owe any back child support. I’m not trying to start anything between you and your mom, and I don’t like to always be the bad guy. Is this the reason why Eva hates me so? You both need to know the truth. Your mom had a boyfriend who damaged her credit. He spent all of the money I would give your mom for your support. I even had a college fund set up, and she let the joker blow it. He’s gone now, but so is the money.”
“You mean Trevon?”
“I don’t know his name. The guy who lived with y’all for three years.”
Livid, I said, “Yup, Trevon.”
“I’m not in a position to dig your mom out of the hole she got herself in. I shouldn’t have spent my money on some of the things I did, but I have a job and pay my bills. I live up to my responsibilities. I don’t want you all to get evicted, so I will see what I can do, but I can’t pay two notes. Consider coming to live with me, Ella.”
“Dad, I could never,” I gasped. I had heard enough.
When I got out of the car, he got out too. “Dad, I’m cool. Thanks, you don’t need to help me with my bag. It’s just a duffel.”
He was on a mission. He walked past me and knocked on the door.
“Thanks for bringing her home,” my mom opened the door and said to him.
“Erika, we need to talk right now,” my dad demanded.
“Dad, what are you doing?” I said, knowing that he was going to talk to my mom about what we just talked about. Obviously, she didn’t want me to know about her irresponsibility.
“I think I’ll fight the courts for the girls,” he said to my mom.
“What?” she shrieked.
“You are about to get evicted from your place. I should have done this when you lost their college fund. You let that loser ruin your credit, and now you are struggling to care for my girls.”
“Why now, Calvin?” my mom glared at me and asked. “What have you been telling him?”
“I just asked him to pay his back child support,” I whispered.
“I did not need you to do that. I did not ask you to do that. I have been working two and three jobs. Your dad doesn’t need to be all up in my business.”
“He does need to pay his back child support,” Eva said, strutting into the family room.
“Don’t go there!” I looked over and said to my sister. “You don’t know everything, Eva.”
“See, that’s the problem I have with you,” my dad said to my mom. “You got my girls thinking that I’m not paying my bills, but you are not telling them the truth.”
“There’s no other truth to tell,” Eva interjected again. “You owe money and have not been paying it.”
My dad defended, “No, your mom’s boyfriend used it up. Smoked it up. Drugged it up. Gambled it up. It’s gone!”
“Huh?” Eva fumed.
My dad continued, “Eva, I’m not saying I’m a perfect dad, but I do care about you. I’m trying to make amends.”
“So what? I don’t want to be close to you. Too little, too late!” my sister yelled.
Eva grabbed her jacket and exited like she usually did when she couldn’t stand the heat. I had to stick around to put out the fire as my mom and dad went at it. Unfortunately, neither of them heard a word because they were both going off.
Finally, my dad left. My mom looked at me like I had betrayed her. She went in her room and slammed the door. I sunk to the couch, holding in all my emotions and wondering what I had done wrong. My dad hated my mom. My mom hated my dad. My sister hated both of them, and I could not fix any of it. What a mess!
Thankfully, this was the last day of ISS. I was starting to get a little creeped out. Having feelings for Leo Steele was bothering me. Instead of talking to him, I kept my distance.
Dr. Sapp said, “There were three of you guys in ISS, and now it’s only you two. Listen, I’m going out to the halls as classes change. I expect you to keep it as quiet as it is right now. Steele, you know I’m not playing. You know I’ve given you a pass for staying at my school. I have no tolerance.”
“Gotcha, Dr. Sapp,” Leo said, looking away from me.
I had not seen him since he held my hand and told me thanks in the hospital. I wasn’t sure if he knew I was the one who left him the baskets of food. Some part of me was a little bummed out that he wasn’t making conversation. That’s why I knew it was best for me to just get over whatever feelings I had brewing for him deep inside my soul.
Then I felt two strong arms come over my back. Then he massaged my shoulders. His husky voice whispered in my ear.
He said, “A brother gets out of the hospital, and the one who saves his life acts like she doesn’t care anymore. What’s up? You used to glance over here and bat your eyelashes. Now you are not even looking my way. Did I offend you?”
I quickly turned around and faced him. I was extremely uncomfortable as my heart started racing. However, I stared at him.
“You knew it was me?” I asked.
“I knew what was you? You bringing me the baskets of food or you calling the police when I was getting my head bashed in? I knew it was you for all of it.”
“And you’re not mad?” I asked, not able to keep a straight thought.
He took one of my hands and said, “Listen, I’ve never had a girl care the way you have. I do owe you an apology for giving you such a hard time in here. You helped me turn in my work. You let me eat up all of your food. And then somehow you figured out my situation.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I don’t know. I guess I have been embarrassed. Who wants to tell anyone that they were living in a school? But I figured you knew because you kept prying and asking all them doggone questions. I could not get too mad because the fried chicken, them collard greens, and the candied yams with marshmallows and raisins were to die for. I just could not cut all that off. Tell me, how do you know how to throw down like that?”
“Nah, that was all my mom. She is awesome. Your eye still looks pretty bad,” I sighed. There were cuts and bruises all over his face.
“Yeah, the Axes are crazy. Hey, I’m gonna work at the little camp on Saturday.”
“What camp?” I asked.
“We got a clinic
we are doing for little boys eight and under. Some kids are coming from the Boys & Girls Club, and other kids from the community to meet us and run through some practice drills. I have to do this community service because of the way I was mooching off the school. I’m the first one who needs to be there to give back. Thanks for helping me.”
“You were a guy in need. It surely could have been me,” I said, knowing money was tight at the Blount house.
Whacking his hand in the air not believing, he said, “Whatever.”
“No, I am totally serious. We’ve got problems. My mama has mad drama. Behind on the rent and everything else.”
“It ain’t like she gonna leave you though,” Leo said as if I could read between his lines.
I didn’t know exactly what he was alluding to. I figured if he wanted to talk about it, he would. I did like the closeness we shared. He surprised me when he put his hands behind my neck and brought his lips really close to mine.
I could scarcely breathe when Leo said, “I really do thank you.”
“Steele, why are you up?” Dr. Sapp barked, startling us both. “Nothing’s going on here that I need to know about, is there?” he said. He brought his large body between the two of us. “You go back over there. And you, Miss Blount, sit down right here.” He pointed to two opposite locations in the tiny room.
I could not help but blush Leo’s way. I saw him smile back. I wondered if there was something there.
Later at cheerleading practice, things weren’t so promising. Everyone had attitudes. Guess we just felt the hard work wasn’t paying off.
Whitney, our co-captain and senior who was completely snobbish, stood in front of us all and whined, “You guys really embarrassed me at the first meet. If that’s the way it’s going to be, I don’t want to have any part in this competition cheerleading squad.”
“Whatever,” my sister Eva sneered.
She and I had not spoken since the night before. Our crew knew there was tension between us because she was in one place while I was in the other. Randal was sitting beside her. Hallie was beside me. Charli was up front with Whitney.
Yell Out / Do You Page 4
