* * *
Simone and their grandmother, Big Ma, cleaned the house after everyone left. Big Ma flew in early for the funeral and had held everyone and everything together since Kharri’s death. They had just finished the dishes when Jared came into the kitchen.
“Is Kennedy all right?” Big Ma asked.
“Yeah, I guess as well as can be expected,” Jared said as he sank down into the kitchen chair.
“Jared, how are you holding up? Can I get you anything?” Simone asked as she came up behind him and patted his shoulder.
“No, I’m okay, thanks. I’m just really messed up behind all of this. I should’ve known,” Jared said as he rested his head in his hands.
“Jared, baby. You should’ve known what?” Big Ma asked.
“I just should’ve knew. I mean, I’m a doctor and I should’ve insisted that the hospital perform an MRI. But I wasn’t thinking. When nothing showed up on the head X-rays, I didn’t think anything of it. I just figured, hey at least we know Kharri didn’t hurt her head when she fell off the bike—”
“But how could you have known, Jared?” Simone asked. “The doctors said that it was a subdural hematoma, and that it could take weeks or months to even show any symptoms.”
“That’s right, baby. Don’t go blaming yourself. It’s not your fault.” Big Ma bent down and kissed Jared on top of his head.
“Yeah, but when she started having headaches, and eye problems . . . Kennedy said she was sleeping a lot. I should’ve guessed that something was wrong,” Jared said as tears started streaming down his cheeks.
“No, not necessarily,” Big Ma said. “I remember when Kennedy’s daddy was going through something similar. He was having headaches, he was tired a lot, and his eyes hurt, too, and you know what cured him? Glasses. You and Kennedy did the right thing. How were you supposed to know that Kharri was bleeding?” Big Ma held him.
Jared stared up through tear-filled eyes at Simone. “Simone, when were you guys going to tell me that Kennedy’s pregnant?”
“Pregnant? Boy, what you talkin’ ’bout? You must be jesting.” Big Ma laughed.
“Kennedy’s pregnant? How far along?” Simone asked in disbelief.
“Who’s the daddy, you?” Big Ma sat down at the table.
Jared shrugged.
“Get out of here. So you’re the one she’s been sneaking around with for all these months?” Simone sat down at the table next to Jared.
“No, she’s seeing this other guy. What’s his name . . . I can’t recall right now. But it’s an easy one,” Jared stared up at the ceiling.
“Well, never mind him. Seems to me, you think you the daddy, huh?” Big Ma crossed her hands and waited for an answer.
“I don’t know, Big Ma. Me and Kennedy . . . well you know. I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I’d bet money that there’s a possibility.”
“Well, you . . . him. What’s that they say, Simone? Oh, I got it. Momma’s baby, daddy’s maybe.” Big Ma got up and chuckled, shaking her head.
* * *
Kennedy rested her head in Michael’s lap as he massaged her scalp. She knew he was worried about her but was too afraid to say anything. For the past month she had been more than fragile and didn’t want to be reminded of her pain. Michael had reminded her anyway. After Kharri’s death, she went into overdrive and didn’t even take a break from school, but instead had received a 4.0 grade point average. Michael told her that a psychiatrist friend told him that was Kennedy’s way of coping and eventually she would slow down. She had to. But how could they expect her to get over the death of her child?
“So, how do you feel?” Michael asked as he bent down and kissed Kennedy’s forehead.
“Much better now. I’m so glad the semester’s over. Can you believe that I finally did it? I am officially done.” Kennedy forced herself to smile and wiggle a little dance on the sofa.
“I knew you could do it. I told you that you could. Now don’t you feel better, like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders? Now you can rest and take care of both of you,” Michael said as he patted Kennedy’s protruding stomach.
“Yeah, I guess I can do that. I have to . . . God’s giving me a second chance,” Kennedy said as she offered a smile that Michael hadn’t seen since Kharri died.
Kennedy watched as Michael placed the star on top of the tree and couldn’t believe that Christmas Eve had come already. Time had flown by so fast and Kennedy began to feel better when she felt the baby move. She knew that she would grieve and hurt for Kharri for the rest of her life but she also knew that she had to find strength to hold on, for the sake of the baby. She thought of Kharri, and ached. Nothing had ever hurt so much. She knew everyone worried about her, so she pretended to heal. She never would.
Michael had been there for her every step of the way and she was at a point in her life where she had begun to grow. She was no longer mad at Jared, but instead, wished him well and meant it. She would always care about him. He had been so supportive, and she couldn’t have asked for a better father for her daughter. Jared had grieved as much as she did, but he put his hurt aside to help her cope with hers.
Kennedy sat on the bare floor next to the huge tree as she put the myriad Christmas gifts under it. She looked down at the gift she held and a single tear ran down her face. She had forgotten all about the gift that Kharri insisted that they buy for Jared. Kennedy stared at the blue-and-silver box that Kharri had so carefully wrapped, using almost a whole role of tape, and kissed it. Kharri had been adamant on wrapping Jared’s present herself. Kennedy smiled. What a little lady Kharri had been. She had done some good for the world, even if only for four and a half years.
Stealing a candy cane from the tree, Kennedy got up and saw Michael waving his finger at her. She laughed.
“How about a little music? Turn the radio on to 107.5 because they always play Christmas music at this time, Kennedy said as she tore open the candy cane wrapper.
“I got one better,” Michael said as he went over to the stereo and popped in a CD.
“Donnie Hathaway, huh? I knew you’d learn a thing or two from me,” Kennedy joked and started to sing at the top of her lungs.
Michael cleared his throat.
“What? Boy, you know I can sing, cut it out. You like my singing, admit it,” Kennedy said as she put herself in a boxer’s stance in front of Michael.
Kennedy and Michael started to play-fight and Michael pulled her close and they began to dance. Michael felt so good. He was big and strong, and Kennedy felt safe and protected in his arms. She could’ve stayed there forever but the doorbell interrupted them.
“Who is it?” Kennedy yelled on her way to the door but no one answered.
She peeked out of the peephole and saw Jared standing there. At first she didn’t know what to do, but then, why should she be nervous? She didn’t have anything going on with Jared. And he was having a baby and getting married himself. Kennedy turned around and looked back at Michael and opened the door.
“Merry Christmas, Ken,” Jared greeted as he kissed Kennedy on the cheek and walked into the apartment.
“Merry Christmas, yourself. I was just thinking about you,” Kennedy said nervously.
Jared looked past Kennedy and saw Michael. Jared nodded. Michael nodded. Kennedy looked from Michael to Jared and back to Jared again. Jared’s eyebrows were drawn together as he stared coldly. What did he expect? He knew that she was pregnant and in a serious relationship.
“Kennedy, I was on my way over to your sister’s house and decided to come over here to drop this off,” Jared said as he handed Kennedy a bag and went into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Jared, but I didn’t get you anything,” Kennedy said and shrugged at Michael.
“No problem,” Jared said, returning with a glass of soda. “It’s not from me. It’s from Kharri . . .” Jared sat down on the sofa facing the one on which Michael sat.
“Oh yeah, you got one from her too. That’s why I was thinking abo
ut you. I just finished putting the presents under the tree.” Kennedy smiled as she began to pull the gift from the bag.
“I don’t think you want to open that right now. Why don’t you wait until you’re alone—”
“Why is that?” Michael asked.
“Because it’s something private from our daughter. You’re Michael, right?”
“Yeah. Kennedy told you about me, right? I’m the father of the baby she’s carrying,” Michael answered and patted Kennedy’s stomach.
“Oh, is that right? You think so?”
“Jared, what is that supposed to mean? Where do you get off, coming over here with a chip on your shoulder? Respect my house,” Kennedy snapped.
Jared sat up, twisted his face, and cut his eyes at Kennedy. “All right. I may be wrong, but if that’s your man, your baby’s daddy, where was he when Kharri died? I didn’t see him there comforting you. I comforted you—I comforted her, man, not you,” Jared stood. Michael stood and put up his hands.
“Let me talk to you for a minute.” Kennedy grabbed Jared’s hand and pulled him into the kitchen. Any minute Jared and Michael would be fighting like two schoolboys. Kennedy stood against the counter with her right hand over her face before finally glaring at Jared.
“Jared, what is your problem? We were sitting here enjoying ourselves and you had to come in starting shit. And what in the hell did you mean by that remark about the baby?”
“Just what I said. Tell me, Kennedy, how far along are you?”
“Five months, why?”
“So that means you got pregnant in July, huh? So how do you know that I’m not the father?” Jared asked.
“Ssh! What the hell are you talking about?” she whispered harshly. “Are you crazy or something?”
“Well, we did have sex in July, remember? Don’t tell me that you—”
“So what? We used a condom.” Kennedy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
Jared shook his head.
“What do you mean, no?” Kennedy shuffled from one foot to the other and pounded her fist on the counter.
“Do you remember when you nodded and I asked you if you were sure? Well I meant if you were sure about . . . you know . . . without a condom. I didn’t have one and you must’ve known, I mean you were right there just like I was. It wasn’t planned—”
“So what are you saying, Jared? That you think this is your baby? Please.”
“Why not? I mean we had sex in July, what? Five times. All the while we were in Virginia Beach I didn’t use a condom,” Jared pointed out.
Kennedy just shook her head. But Jared was right. How could she have been so careless, so stupid? What if Jared was the father?
“I can’t believe that I let you . . . and I knew that you were with that chick. I can’t believe I let you inside me unprotected, and ugh . . . you were doing the same to what’s-her-name.”
“Wrong. I never went in her raw and that’s how I knew that wasn’t my baby. I never had unprotected sex with anybody but you. Honest.” Jared held Kennedy’s chin and stared in her eyes as he spoke.
“What? What is this, some kind of game?” Kennedy asked. The baby wasn’t his?
“I said the baby wasn’t mine. I doubted it from the beginning but you know how much I love children. Well, she knew that too. But I never had unprotected sex with her, and I know you don’t want to hear this, but the condom never broke and it was always in place afterward. She had the baby and it wasn’t mine. The DNA test proved it. And that’s what you’re going to have to do, Kennedy. I’m not playing. I think you’re carrying my baby and I want you to take a DNA test. If not, well, just say the courts love men like me, men who want to take care of their children,” Jared said and kissed her on her cheek and walked out.
* * *
Jared sat on Simone’s sofa and told her and Derrick the whole story about him, Kennedy, and Michael. Simone and Derrick kept asking who Kennedy’s man was. They had been trying to find out since after the funeral. Simone guessed the man was married, and Derrick thought Kennedy was just embarrassed.
Jared stood and waved his arms in the air. “Are you two even listening to me? Did you hear a word I said? I can’t believe that you are more concerned with who he is than what I’m saying.”
“Sorry, man.” Derrick nudged Simone and put his finger in front of his mouth. “We just want to know who this mystery man is. If it were your sister . . . man, you know what I mean.”
“So what are you going to do?” Simone asked, giving Jared her undivided attention.
“I’ll take her to court if I have to,” Jared said.
“Good for you. That’s what we men need to do, we need to take them before they take us,” Derrick joked and slapped Jared five.
“Please, Derrick, you know you need to hush. Just because Jericha has you in court every time you get a raise—forget it. Jared, look, I don’t know, but if you are certain that this baby could be yours, I guess you’re going to do what you have to do. But you know Kennedy is going to have a fit,” Simone said and crossed her legs.
Derrick’s cell phone rang and he walked out of the living room.
Jared paced and loosened his collar. “Simone, I don’t know what to do. I just lost my little girl and I can’t bear the thought of having a child out there and not being able to raise it. Do you understand what I’m saying? And Kennedy needs to let him go.”
“You still love my sister, don’t you, Jared? I know you do. I see the hurt in your face, and this is about more than just the baby.”
“That’s not the point—”
“Well, what is?”
“Simone, look. Kennedy and I had a beautiful time together, and she said that she was through with this Michael person and she went right back to him.”
* * *
They talked for a long time. Simone offered to run interference with Kennedy for him. Her sister was stubborn, but she wasn’t stupid. Kennedy would never lie about the paternity of her child. What decent woman would?
Derrick came out of the kitchen and started searching the living room for something. He removed the pillows from chairs and dug his hands down in the grooves. He flipped through the magazines and then shook them.
“Derrick! What are you looking for?” Simone stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I wish you’d sit down. You’re making us nervous.”
“Yeah man, you need help or something?” Jared asked.
“No, I’m just looking for my keys,” Derrick said and put his hands in his pocket and smiled.
“I guess that means you’re going to see Courtney?” Simone said.
Derrick froze. “Why would you say that?”
“Who?” Jared asked.
“Courtney, Derrick’s new flame that has him spinning on his head. Isn’t that right, Derrick? That’s how come he has that big Kool-Aid smile on his face.” Simone laughed.
“Yeah, that’s right. But I’m going to see her later on though. Her brother is picking me up so we can meet up with Courtney later,” Derrick said as he grabbed his coat and scarf.
“All right then, D, take care and have a merry Christmas if I don’t see you tomorrow,” Jared said as he and Simone walked Derrick to the front door.
“You too, J, and don’t worry about Kennedy. She’ll do the right thing. And between me and you . . . I hope it is yours. See you tomorrow, sis, I promise,” Derrick said as he opened the door and kissed Simone on the cheek.
Jared looked outside and then to Derrick. “Is that your friend’s car right there?”
“Yeah, you know him?” Derrick asked, raising his eyebrows and rearing his head back.
“Looks like my boss Michael’s car to me,” Simone said.
“Michael? Wait—I might be wrong but it looks exactly like the car that was parked over at Kennedy’s apartment,” Jared added.
“Nah, couldn’t be. Maybe it was a car like his but it wasn’t him. I know it wasn’t him,” Derrick added as he started walking down the steps.
“How can you be so sure?” Simone asked as she shivered from the cold.
“Trust me, I know. He just bought the car today and he wouldn’t be interested in Kennedy—he’s on the other team.” Derrick nodded and paused before he walked away.
* * *
Jared and Simone walked back into the house and were quiet for a moment.
Finally Jared asked, “Are you buying that?”
“I don’t know. I think Derrick knows something and isn’t saying anything. He and Kennedy have been rather close lately. But I can tell you one thing, I know my boss’s car.” Simone paused and pursed her lips. “Wait a minute, you saw him, right? I mean, you saw Kennedy’s man, right? What did he look like?”
Jared and Simone exchanged details. Kennedy’s Michael was Simone’s boss. Simone was pissed.
“Simone, why are you so upset?”
“Because I have a rule about my brother and sister dating any of my coworkers. The rule is: don’t.”
“Why? What’s the big problem with that?” Jared asked, sitting up.
“Well, I don’t know if you are aware of this or not, but a long time ago Derrick had a fling with one of my bosses. Anyway he dogged the poor woman out and I had to hear about it every day at work. And one day I just got tired of hearing this woman dragging my brother’s name through the mud and I flipped out, then she flipped out, and I slapped her. She was being rude, and not just about him, she pointed her finger in my face. I just lost it . . . job and all. So ever since then I just told them, Derrick and Kennedy, to stay away from anyone that I work with or I’m friends with. I do the same for them,” Simone explained as Jared nodded.
~ 14 ~
Derrick and Courtney were sitting in BBQ’s in the Village having lunch. Derrick sat across from Courtney, waiting for Courtney to stop beating around the bush. Courtney had called Derrick at the office earlier, saying that they needed to talk about something important. Derrick didn’t know what it was but he had a good guess. Courtney had been very attentive since the holidays and also very, very generous. On Christmas morning Derrick woke up to find himself by himself. He was angry at first because he hated when Courtney disappeared. But when he went into the bathroom he found a note taped to the mirror.
Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe Page 16
