“I don’t want him to go, but I have to work,” Kady pouted as she lifted him gently and placed him in his carrier. That nigga was knocked the fuck out so he didn’t open his eyes once.
I kissed Kady’s lips a few times, then lifted Ishaun’s carrier to take him out to the car. After securing his shit into the backseat and letting Kady inspect it for her approval, I hopped into the driver’s seat and sped to my mom’s spot around the way. When I pulled up I saw my aunt’s car was there, and contemplated leaving. I low-key didn’t want her around my kid, but I didn’t want to deprive my mom of seeing her grandson.
Getting out, I walked to the door and let myself in. I heard them talking in the kitchen like always, so I came in with my son’s carrier in hand.
“Ooohhh give him here,” my mother beamed and rounded the counter. She took the carrier in her hand and set it on the bar before peeling the blanket back to look at him.
“Ishmael, you look nice.” My aunt half smiled as she filled her glass up with one of my mom’s nasty ass teas. She was wearing a two-piece bathing suit with some jacket like thing that was open. My aunt’s body was better than a lot of twenty year old’s, and she loved to show it. I low-key cringed seeing her son’s names tatted down her side even though it never bothered me before.
“So do you. Heard you went into some kind of rehab.” I sat down at the bar next to my mother who was now tuned into my aunt’s and my conversation.
“Oh, did you now?” She sipped her drink. “Well, yes, I did, and I’m still going to therapy sessions. Hopefully soon I can be back around my children and their children you know?”
“Hope so.”
“Well, I’m going to the pool in the back. Meet me out there okay?”
“Okay,” my mother nodded.
“Ma, I gotta tell you some shit and when I tell you this, do not go and run ya mouth to yo’ sister, aight? I’m only even letting you in on this shit because I need to know what the fuck to do exactly.”
I hated that my mom gave the best advice because I wanted to not need her for anything, but I couldn’t help it. Not to mention being in her presence still gave me a sense of calmness; had been that way since I was a little ass boy.
“What is it, honey?”
“Pops is dating this girl, and umm, her and we kind of slept together. But, I didn’t know she was his girl when I slept with her. She approached me in the club one night trying to umm, well it don’t matter. She approached me and we got it popping.”
“You cheated on Kady?” she frowned.
“Nah, I ain’t cheat on Kady. Kady and I hit a little snag over some bullshit, and during that hiccup in our relationship, I hit this new bitch— woman. What I wanna know is, should I say something or just let him ride this one out. I know it ain’t gon’ last.”
“Why? They don’t seem in love or something?” she asked but not in a way that said she just wanted to know in order to help me. It was almost like she wanted to know for herself.
“Nah they don’t. He told me she was his friend and anytime a nigga calls a woman his friend, it ain’t serious. When we’re serious we want everyone to know she’s spoken for.”
“I see,” she nodded and then looked into my son’s carrier as he slept. “Yeah tell him because you’re his son and he expects you to be honest with him.”
“Yeah you’re right.” It was quiet for a moment before I said, “I’m sorry Ma, I shouldn’t have told him about—”
“No, I shouldn’t have expected you not to. And your father is a great man so he deserved to know the truth.”
“Yeah, but had I not done that shit y’all would still be together. It seems like y’all are both miserable as fuck being apart.”
“I’m not completely miserable. I’m doing okay.”
“How? How are you doing okay and your marriage is over?”
“Well, it’s been over for quite some time now, Ishmael; for two years to be exact. And I spent so much of the marriage alone and wanting someone there with me, that us being apart doesn’t really seem that different. So yes, I love your father and I wish it could have worked out, but I can’t say I’m miserable.”
“Damn.”
“So, make sure you give Kady the attention she needs because when you ignore someone, you’re just helping them get stronger without you. And that’s exactly what happened with your father and me. I got used to being by myself.”
I just stared down at the extremely clean counter top, taking in my mother’s words. What she said made a lot of sense; it even applied to me. Because my father was always working and rarely home, these days when we didn’t talk for a couple weeks at a time, I wasn’t bothered by it. Versus my mother, if we go even two or three days without contact, I’d be feeling some type of way, even during the time I really hated her ass. And I guess that was because she’d always been there and my father hadn’t been… physically.
“Aight, well thanks, Ma. Kady will be here to get him in a few hours. And thank you for this too, okay?” I kissed her cheek as she nodded. “I love you.”
She paused and looked up into my eyes for a moment, obviously surprised. I went from saying that shit every day to not saying it at all once I found out she had a baby on my dad. This would be the first time in a while.
“I love you too.”
She pulled me in by my forearm, and I bent down so she could lock her arms around my neck. I hugged her torso for as long as she hugged me, and then we pulled away. It felt good to see her smile so brightly like that.
“Bye, player.” I touched Ishaun’s stomach but he didn’t budge. I hoped that nigga wasn’t dead or some shit.
I left my mom’s and went straight over to my dad’s. I noticed another car parked behind his, and exhaled heavily. I wanted to talk to him in private, and his ass had company. This nigga hadn’t had company the majority of the two years he’d been living alone, but the one day I got some shit to talk to him about, he wants to be entertainer of the fucking year.
Climbing out while mumbling shit under my breath, I hit the alarm on my car as I stepped onto the sidewalk. Making it to the door, I hesitated for a second but then knocked lightly on the door.
“Dad—”
When I saw Tee or Althea or whatever the fuck her name was answer the door, I lost my train of thought. Her smile faded quickly as hell, and she stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind herself.
“Hey, I know you have no reason to help me out, but could you not tell your dad what happened between us.”
“That’s exactly what I’m here to talk to him about, so…” I shrugged.
“Althea, who is— oh, hey, son, come on in.” My father came to the door and stepped back to allow Althea and me back inside.
“Dad, I need—”
“Gordon, can you help me in the kitchen.” Althea smiled widely at him and this nigga turned to follow her like I just wasn’t trying to talk to him.
“Pops, I fucked her!” I called after them, stopping them both in their tracks. She wasn’t about to steer me away from what the fuck I came here to do.
“What?” He turned to me.
“Before I knew about y’all, she approached me at one of my artist’s performances, and I hit her in the parking lot. She sucked me off and everything.” I hated to get detailed, but since this bitch wanted to try and play me, I was gon’ put her on blast.
No words came from my dad, he just looked to Althea with a deep frown, waiting for her to say otherwise.
“Gordon, I didn’t know he was your son.”
“I told you his name!”
“Yes, but I didn’t put two and two together. You said your son was into the music business but I didn’t think he was the Ishmael Myers. And you don’t have any pictures of him here! I’m so stupid, please don’t let this come between us.”
Bursting into laughter, I threw my head back and clapped my hands before taking a seat on the couch.
“Kick this hoe out, Dad.”
“Ishma
el,” he called my name sternly, so I just threw my hands up in mock surrender, still snickering.
“Althea, I’m gonna need you to leave, please.”
“Gordon—”
“Honey, just go. It’s not gonna work.”
My dad was a for real gentleman because I would have been calling that bitch every got damn name under the fucking sun.
Tears streamed her cheeks and I couldn’t help but chuckle as she snatched her jacket from the coat closet. She grabbed her purse from the couch, and then left abruptly after, sniffling and shit.
“I’m glad you think this shit is funny, Ishmael.”
“Pop, I’m not laughing at you, I’m—”
“Then what the fuck are you laughing at? I don’t see what’s so comical about you accidentally sleeping with a woman I was interested in.”
“What? You can tell she’s a hoe from a mile away, Pop! Please don’t tell me yo’ skeezer radar is broken.” I grabbed the bowl of chips sitting on the coffee table. I’d gotten an STD test a day after I fucked her so it was plain to see she was a hoe. Bitch had me scared.
“She’s promiscuous for sleeping with you in the parking lot, and you’re not promiscuous for doing the same?”
I paused putting a chip into my mouth and just looked at him.
“Aight, yeah, what I did was some slutty shit, and I’m sorry for laughing. I didn’t know how you felt about her.” I placed the chip bowl down.
“Thank you. Now since you made me get rid of my cooking assistant, get yo’ ass in here and help.”
“I have to meet Kady—” I tried to lie.
“Boy, get yo’ ass in here,” he spoke calmly and I just scoffed and punched the air before following behind him.
Cassie
KNOCK! KNOCK!
I looked up from the note Jude had given me a while back, to see the real Ellison knocking on my window. When we made eye contact she smiled, and the only reason I somewhat returned the gesture was because I needed her help.
“I admit I was surprised to hear from you, Cassie. I guess it was a good thing that I left my number with your mother,” she said as soon as I opened my car door.
I’d asked her to meet in the shopping center on Crenshaw and Imperial, right in front of the Rite Aid pharmacy. This was down the street from where the Fake Ellison lived, and I wanted the real one to assist me in finding out who this bitch was. And it was like Fake Ellison knew that I’d caught onto her because when I texted her to hang out, I got no response.
“Yeah, I wasn’t gonna call you but I needed your help with something.”
“Oh, so this isn’t to like have lunch or something.” Ellison nodded and looked away briefly before gaining eye contact with me again. “Okay, I mean, I guess I can help you considering what I did to you back in Memphis.”
“Thank you.”
“So, what is it? You’re not about to like rob this pharmacy or something, are you?” She chuckled but it faded when she saw my stale expression.
“No, I need you to help me get into the apartment of the girl who pretended to be you.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know why the hell she did what she did! Don’t you want to know why someone went out of their way to impersonate you? And she knew things about you, and your father.”
“My father?”
“Yes, he’s not my father. He just assisted my mother in getting me here, nothing more.”
“Understandable. Well, I didn’t think about it too much, but yeah, I guess I would like to know who she is and how she knew things about me.” Ellison exhaled before saying, “But how am I gonna get into her apartment?”
“Because you’re the real Ellison. Just tell the old grumpy ass landlord that you got locked out. When he asks you for ID, show it to him.”
“What if he knows what she looks like, Cassie?”
“So what! I’m telling you she has your same hair color and even her eyebrows are dyed like yours. She was dedicated to the cause, so he won’t even notice you guys are two different people. You know some white people think we all look the same,” I said and we both giggled lightly before an awkward silence took over in the noisy parking lot.
It was the middle of the afternoon, so the shopping center was quite busy with shoppers, bums begging for change, and cars honking at one another because they didn’t turn on the green arrow quickly enough. This area of Inglewood was always popping according to Kordell, because of the popular street it ran along; Crenshaw.
“Alright so let’s do this then. Where does she live?” Ellison looked over her shoulder as if it’d be somewhere in this shopping center.
“A little ways down. I will drive you, unless you want to take your own car.”
“No, no, it’s cool. I’ve never ridden in a G-Wagon.” She scanned my Mercedes as she rounded the back to get in on the passenger’s side. Once we were both inside, she said, “Damn girl, I need to start modeling if it gets you cars like this.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t this well off at the beginning. It took some time, but I’m happy I can afford things like this. I don’t splurge though; I’ve just always wanted this car. I had to hurry and buy it before my husband bought it for me.” I backed out of my parking space, and then switched the gear to drive.
“Oh yeah, Kordell from the Hunnit Boyz. He’s really handsome. Your mother said he’s really tall in person.”
“Yep, six feet seven.”
“Get out!”
“I’m serious.” We chuckled in unison.
“Does he have a brother hidden somewhere that I can take back to Connecticut with me?”
“Knowing his father, he probably does, but not one that I know of. All of his brothers are taken.”
“Of course. All the fine niggas always have girlfriends. You just have to find the ones willing to cheat.” It got quiet as hell in the car. “I’m kidding, Cassie,” she added when she saw me look her way at the red light.
“Oh, okay, good.”
I didn’t know if she was kidding or not, but I made a mental note to never let her ass meet Kordell. And if she did, she wouldn’t be alone with him. Suddenly, Orchid crossed my mind and I tittered at the thought of me whipping her ass with Kordell’s thick belt.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing.”
I swooped into the little sectioned off area that all the apartments were in, and found a park a little ways down from Fake Ellison’s apartment complex. Ellison and I exited the car, and then rushed to catch up with some guy who was entering, but we were too late. Luckily the gate was broken so Ellison just yanked it open so we could go in. I guess I’d forgotten about the gate being broken, because last time I came I didn’t remember needing anyone to let me in.
“This way,” I told her and led the way to the manager’s office. “Fuck!” I shouted when I saw it said he was out to lunch.
“Need something?” his weak but deep voice bounced off the walls, making both Ellison and I turn in his direction. He was holding a big thing of keys, and a stack of envelopes in his hands, which were covered in liver spots.
“Yeah, I uh—” I tried to talk but thankfully Ellison stepped in.
“Sorry to bother you, sir, but I was rushing out this morning to meet my sister here at the nail shop, and I locked my key in the house. I usually keep it on a lanyard, but my nephew broke it so I had to carry the key by itself. Do you think you can let me into my place?”
Damn this bitch was a natural at lying.
“Who are you again?” he pulled some little blue notebook from his pocket.
“Ellison Reid.”
“Got some ID on ya?”
“Of course I do.” She dug into her small cross body bag. “You wouldn’t happen to be from the south would you sir?”
“Yeah, Alabama. Why?”
“Knew I heard an accent. I’m from Memphis, but my family is mostly in Alabama as well. You kind of remind me of my father.”
“Ohhh, I think I’m too old
to be your father,” he chuckled, obviously feeling flattered.
“No way. What are you, forty-five?” Ellison quizzed as she handed him her ID. Even I looked at her ass like she was crazy because this nigga here had to be knocking on seventy.
“Much older than that, darling, but I gets my exercise and I guess that’s what keeps me young.” He smiled and handed her the ID back, even though he hadn’t even looked at it. “Come on honey.” He waved us to follow him as he led us to fake Ellison’s apartment.
“Dang you’re good,” I whispered to her and she shrugged.
I was happy he led the way because neither of us knew what apartment number Fake Ellison lived in. We waited as he double-checked in his notebook, then he slipped the key in and unlocked it.
“There you go, ladies, and make sure you get a new lanyard for your keys, ya hear?” He grinned widely at Ellison.
“Yes, sir. And sorry to bother you!” she called after him and he just waved her off to say it was alright.
“Hello!” I shouted through the apartment.
The lights were off but since it was quite sunny outside the windows let in some light. Ellison closed the front door, and then followed me further into the apartment. All of the doors were open so I was able to see that no one was in the bathroom, nor in the bedroom. There was hardly any furniture, so either Fake Ellison was on her way out, or she never quite moved all the way in.
“Oh shit!” Ellison chuckled once we stepped into the bedroom.
The walls were covered with pictures of me. Some of them were from photo shoots like clothing websites or magazines, and others were candids of me out and about with my husband and kids, or alone. The pictures completely covered one side of the room, and Ellison and I just scanned quietly.
“What the fuck?” I mumbled, completely losing my mind over this.
“This bitch is psycho,” Ellison shook her head as she bent her head back to look at the pictures of me on the ceiling.
BOOM!
Suddenly we heard the front door open and close, making Ellison and I both jump at the sound. Whistling could be heard throughout, and it got louder as the person got closer to the bedroom.
My Baby Is A West Coast King 4 Page 29
