Love- a Forgotten Art

by Ivy Symone

  It’s equipped with rocks, stones, flowers, and other exotic plants as if you’re somewhere far way in paradise. It’s one of the best features of the house in my opinion, but that isn’t why I’m nervous.

  Sitting quietly in the center of the gathering room on the oversized circular sofa before the enormous television screen is Dasani. She has stopped doing whatever she was doing before we walked in and is now staring at an awe-stricken Yahara.

  “Oh my God! Perseus! Did you have this designed and built or did it come with the house?” Her voice reverberates off the walls and indoor pool.

  “I had it built,” I tell her. I take a seat at the dimly lit bar off to the side of where Dasani is sitting.

  “It’s gorgeous!” Yahara says as she takes a walk around the area.

  “Is it too much?” I ask sheepishly.

  Yahara stops and side-eyes me from where she’s standing. “Of course, it is. But when do you ever not do anything over the top?”

  “Would you like to come live here with me?” I ask. Dasani slowly turns her head and frown at me.

  “Now Perseus, I don’t think your wife would want her mother-in-law under the same roof along with her,” Yahara remarks as she makes her way back around.

  “But you can have a whole wing to yourself. It’s equipped with its own kitchen and everything,” I tell her.

  She points back to the indoor pool. “But it doesn’t come with one of—”

  She has stopped speaking and is now staring at Dasani who is smiling coyly.

  “Who are you?” Yahara asks. She detours to the center where Dasani is sitting.

  Before Dasani speaks, Bea comes into the area followed by Beanie and Korrine.

  “Look who I got—Mommy!” Bea squeals when she notices Yahara. She runs over to greet our mother with a hug.

  Beanie does the same thing and rushes over to Yahara. “Granny! When did you get in town?”

  Yahara hugs both her daughter and granddaughter, momentarily forgetting about Dasani’s presence. “I got in today.”

  Korrine comes up to me and punches me playfully in the arm. “Nice house, Perseus.”

  “Thanks. I uh…Uhm, I didn’t know you were coming inside,” I say, glancing toward a bewildered Dasani.

  “Well, I wanted to see all of this fabulousness Beanie has been raving about,” she says. She looks toward the indoor pool space and nods with approval. “You always said you were going to do that one day.”

  “Yeah,” I mumble and hop off the barstool. I descend down to where Dasani is and reach out for her. She stands to her feet and I pull her close. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Dasani…my lady. Dasani, this is my mother, Yahara; my daughter, Beanie; and Beanie’s mother, Korrine.”

  “Your lady?” Yahara echoes. She releases Beanie and Bea and approaches Dasani. Her smile is huge which is indicative of how delighted she is. “Dasani is it?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Dasani says softly.

  My mother extends her hand and Dasani takes it to shake. “Well it’s indeed nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Dasani replies.

  Beanie shrieks. “Oh my gosh! Dasani Withers. You probably don’t remember me but you came to my high school and was on a panel with other business owners. You were like the coolest person ever!”

  Dasani giggles. “Really? What school was it?”

  “Kirkwood Christian Academy,” Beanie says. “It was so refreshing to have so many Black women there and being proud of our natural hair that day.”

  I hear Bea say to Yahara, “Isn’t she gorgeous, Mommy?”

  Yahara nods as she continues to stare at Dasani.

  A loud throat-clearing captures our attention. Korrine steps up extending her hand.

  “Hi Dasani, it’s nice to meet my husband’s new girlfriend,” Korrine says with sarcasm.

  Dasani’s smile disappears, and before anyone else can say anything, I grab Korrine’s arm and excuse us.

  Korrine is wearing a taunting smirk as I push her into the main kitchen.

  “What is your problem?” I question.

  “Nothing,” she says innocently. “I’m just trying to meet your girlfriend. After all, our daughter will be around her for the next few weeks.”

  “Why the extra?”

  She shrugs. “Just in case she doesn’t know.”

  “Bye Korrine,” I say with finality. I get the attention of Poodah who’s always nearby. “See her out please.”

  “Why are you putting me out so soon?” Korrine asks angrily.

  Before walking off, I say, “You’ve proven that you won’t conduct yourself appropriately. I don’t want that kind of energy around. Now, have a good rest of the day.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  What has satisfied me the most today is how well Dasani hit it off with Beanie and Yahara. The three acted as if they had been knowing each other for years. Throw Bea in there and all I heard today was a lot of laughter and talking. At one point, I left them to themselves.

  It’s been a few weeks and Dasani and I have fallen into somewhat of a routine. She works hard throughout the week and is dedicated to making her company one of the top brands. I appreciate and admire that about her. Beanie seems to regard her the same also and I think that’s what pissed Korrine off the most.

  If I’m not out of town, Dasani comes over and spends the night or most of the night with me. I have never been to her place, because of her “fiancé” of course. When I ask her about her child, she explains that she’s not ready to confuse her. That’s understandable, I guess.

  “I’m not with playing a side-nigga for too long,” I tell her later that night as we lounge in my bedroom.

  She laughs. “You’re not a side-nigga.”

  “Then what is this?”

  She tries to focus back on the television on the front wall of my bedroom. “It’s just a situation that I’m working on resolving.”

  “Soon right?”

  She nods.

  “And then will I get to meet your little girl?”

  Her face turns serious and she stares at me. She says, “Actually, the little girl isn’t mine. She belongs to my fiancé.”

  “Really?” I ask feigning surprise. I already know there’s more to the story she’s trying to sell me, but still I give her the benefit of the doubt.

  “But I love her like she’s mine,” she says with a look of sadness in her eyes.

  “Why the long face?” I ask.

  She shrugs and smiles as if she’s trying to mask her pain. “I do want a child of my own someday.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’d like another one myself. Your fiancé doesn’t want anymore or something?”

  “No, not really. I realized I wanted another one when I visited my cousin right before Gardenia. She had just given birth and it reminded me of when—” She stops speaking and looks as if she’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

  “What is it?” I ask concerned.

  She shakes her head.

  “You can share with me, Dasani,” I coax softly. “It reminded you when what?”

  She keeps her eyes averted from mine as she confesses, “I was pregnant once. I was a teenager though. I kinda hid the pregnancy until it was too late. My mama and her husband made me give her up.”

  “Her?” I smile, trying to comfort her. “It was a girl?”

  She nods. “I hate that I had to give her up. If I could have, I would have tried being a teenage mom. I think I could have done it and still ended up where I am now.”

  “I think you could have too. You have that drive and dedication in you that I love.”

  She smiles and looks at me bashfully.

  I brush some loose hair around her hairline back. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She blushes. “How many times can you tell me that in a day?”

  “As many as I need to.”

  “You’re so sweet to me.”

  “That’s the goal,” I say. I then ask her, “If the baby you had ev
er sought you out, would you agree to meet her?”

  She thinks it over and a small smile returns to her face. She nods. “I would be thrilled. I mean, I wouldn’t try to replace the woman that raised her, but I would love to build some type of relationship with her.”

  I tell her, “And I’m positive she would think you’re the coolest person alive.”

  Chapter 16: Camryn

  In order for my plan to work efficiently, I must get back on my father’s good side. How I’m going to do that, I’m not sure. First person to come to mind is Unc.

  “Can you set that up or what?” I ask over the phone.

  “Cam, perhaps you should ask Deuce. After all, she is awfully close with Bea now,” he jabs.

  “Whatever,” I say.

  Unc then says, “Honestly, I think you’re going about it all wrong. Forget about robbing him. Besides, you’re not sure how much he has in his vault. And you don’t even know where it is in his home. How did you think you’d obtain all of that information in a few hours?”

  “P knows it all I’m sure. I just gotta get him a little drunk and work my magic.”

  “Hmm, the same magic you work on Reese, right?”

  “It works.”

  “Sometimes,” he corrects. He says, “Listen, if you want him to come up off large amounts of money, you have to go after the people he holds the most dear to him.”

  “Well it sure ain’t me,” I joke dryly.

  “Think about who he puts above you.”

  “Everybody!”

  Unc chuckles. “But which one would he absolutely panic over?”

  I give it some thought and then it occurs to me. “His other child?”

  “Yes!”

  Curiously, I ask, “What are you suggesting?”

  “Take that child and hold her for ransom. He’ll pay. Trust me.”

  “Why are you so sure of it?”

  “It’s one of his biggest fears. Why do you think no one knows her relation to him? How many people you know that knows she is related to him?”

  He has a point. Milani has always been stressed not to let people know who my father is because they could use it to their advantage. I used to think I was special, and it was fun to keep that secret especially being that my father sent Milani so much money to care for me. That’s when I thought my father cared about me. But that changed and I soon realized he didn’t give a fuck about me.

  “He pays up, we split the money, and he gets paid with his own money and I keep my businesses,” Unc says. “But I need you to let Reese execute the whole thing as planned.”

  “Yeah, but now I gotta present this new plan to him,” I say.

  “Trust me; he’ll be down with it. And don’t demand for anything less than five.”

  “Five hundred thousand?”

  “No, five million.”

  “He’d give that much?”

  “That’s chump change to your father.”

  “And you’re sure he’ll give that much for her?”

  “He’ll give triple that for her.”

  I ask, “So how am I supposed to get her?”

  “Think Cam!” he barks. “Who has been around Bea that you know? And can’t Bea have that child in her company at any given time?”

  That’s right! I can still use Deuce to help execute this new plan, but she may be against it. “Deuce won’t go for it. And if she’s in love with Bea now, she really won’t do it.”

  “Yes, she will. I can almost guarantee it. Just let me speak with her before y’all make any moves,” he says.

  “Okay, if you say so.”

  “Just hang on tight, and I’ll call you back soon,” he says before ending the call.

  I hear the sound of footsteps, so I rush out of the bedroom to greet Deuce. I’m a little disappointed that she’s not alone. She has her fat ass cousin with her.

  I roll my eyes. “Why is she here? Don’t she have a home to go to?”

  Natalia is smirking but she doesn’t have a come back which is unusual for her.

  Deuce even ignores my jab and continues to the kitchen. She looks tired and weary, like she has a lot on her mind.

  “What’s wrong, Deuce?” I ask following behind her.

  “Where’s Ari?” she asks going for the door of the refrigerator.

  “She’s with Carmina.”

  “Why isn’t she here with you?” she asks as she search for her choice of drink.

  “I got shit to take care of. Why? You know where Milani lives; you’re welcome to get her.”

  Natalia appears in the kitchen and just leans over the counter. She pulls out her phone and holds it up as if she’s either taking a photo or about to record.

  I look back to Deuce trying to read her body language. “Deuce, what’s up?”

  Natalia whispers, “Just tell her.”

  “Tell me what?”

  Deuce takes her time sipping on a bottle of orange juice. After she’s quenched her thirst momentarily, she releases a deep, dreaded sigh. She says, “I’m just gonna come out with it and keep everything one hundred…It’s over between us. I need you to get your things and move out within the next three days.”

  Natalia claps and cheers. I shoot daggers her way. I really want to grab one of these dirty cups in the sink and sling it at her ass.

  I snap off. “What the fuck you mean we over with!”

  “What I said,” she says. “And I ain’t tryna argue with you, and there ain’t shit for us to discuss. It’s done and I’m ready to move on.”

  “Who is it? Huh? Who the fuck is it?” I demand to know. “Everybody said you been fucking off with Bea’s fat ass but I don’t believe it. Is it her?”

  She looks at Natalia and they share a laugh.

  “Oh, you think the shit funny?” This time I do grab the cup and sling it at Natalia.

  It misses her by a few inches. Both Deuce and Natalia are stunned. Natalia’s fat ass jumps up and run around the counter charging at me. The next thing I know, we’re throwing blows with Deuce trying to separate us.

  Seconds later, I’m scratched up panting on one side of the kitchen and Natalia’s hair is all over her head standing on the other side of the kitchen.

  “I’m fuck her up, Deuce!” Natalia warns angrily.

  “I know,” Deuce says trying to keep her calm.

  “I’m here in case she tried to get physical with you, but I didn’t think the bitch would jump stupid at me,” Natalia says.

  “Don’t let my size fool you, fat bitch!” I yell.

  “If it wasn’t for Deuce, I swear I woulda beat’cho ass!”

  “Can y’all cool it?” Deuce intervenes. She looks to me. “I’m giving you three days. Right now, I’ma go get some stuff and leave for a few days. I’ma let you leave in peace. Like I said, I don’t want to argue or talk about it. Our time has run its course and there’s nothing that needs to be said.”

  “Just like that, Deuce?”

  “Like what, Cam?”

  I try to hold back my angered tears. “What about Ari?”

  “Like you just said, I know where Milani lives. I’m sure that’s where Ari will be ninety-seven percent of the time. I’ll go by there when I want to see her. I’m not going to do her like that just because you and I are no longer working.”

  I try to rationalize with her. “That’s because you—”

  “Uhn-uhn,” she says shaking her head. “It’s over with. Now if you excuse me, I gotta grab my things. C’mon Nat.”

  And just like that, Deuce and I are over with. This just fucked up my new plans.

  Fuck!

  Chapter 17: Dasani

  Positive.

  That can’t be right.

  I keep staring at the now capped and used home pregnancy test wand I hold thinking the symbol will change to a negative sign. It never does. But I still can’t take my eyes off of it.

  I had been feeling off all week. Earlier right after lunch, I felt a little twinge in my gut. Not the literal sensatio
n of a baby being there, but just something…there. It was enough to make me step out and drive to the nearest drugstore. Wasting no time, I peed on that shit as soon I got back to my warehouse.

  I’m in a state of shock. Still standing before the vanity in my office’s restroom, I look up at my reflection. Me…I, Dasani “Deuce” Withers, am pregnant.

  I’m going to have a baby. I can’t believe it. Once even shocking is that I’m not upset about it. I’m actually delighted, nervously excited, and I welcome it. I already know Prime will be ecstatic. I want to tell him in person just so I can capture the look on his face and store it as one of the best memories we share.

  The restroom’s door open and I hurry up and stick the wand in my pant’s pocket. I then pretend as if I’m smoothing out my hair when Jerrica appears. She looks upset and averts her eyes from my reflection.

  Before she goes into one of the stalls, I ask through our reflections, “Are you okay?”

  She nods.

  “No, you’re not,” I say. I turn around to face her. “What is it, Jerri?”

  “It’s your friend. I have no idea where he’s at, and I know you about to fire him.”

  “Yeah, Rico getting fired,” I agree. I’m not sure what’s going on with him, but when I first hired him on as my warehouse manager, he had been so reliable and eager to be his best for the company. In the past couple of months, it’s as if his whole personality has changes as if he’s on drugs or something.

  “Don’t you know he didn’t even come home last night?” she confides.

  “He didn’t?” I have to ask outright, “Is the nigga using drugs?”

  She shrugs. “Man, I don’t even know.”

  I say, “Well, despite what you may be going through, I appreciate you still showing up and doing your job. Keep your head up and stay focus. Don’t let that nigga bring you down.”

  She chuckles, “Girl, you sound like my mama.”

  Hmm…Mama. I’m about to be someone’s mama for real. I smile, “Well, listen to your mama. She knows best.”