Playing With Fire: Loyalty Demolished

by Charlee Renea

  “I have important evidence regarding the burning of Ashley Chop’s shop. The investigation concluded it was arson and I have a witness who took pictures of her pouring gasoline everywhere.”

  Even though she worked out of the L.A. office, she was still good friends with the boss. She wanted to show her she was ready to work back in Kansas City. Nikki had called her up and asked her if she could show her she was a good worker.

  “Really? Where is the witness?”

  “She’s here, ready to give a statement.”

  Her boss completely stopped what she was doing and followed Nikki to the interrogation room. After the witness gave her statement, an arrest warrant was issued. The police headed to Ashley’s house. They knocked on the door a couple of times.

  “Yes, who is it?”

  “It’s the police. Open up!”

  She did just that, thinking Chris most have done something wrong and his dirty ways had finally caught up with him. She was wearing a smile, feeling relieved inside that this nightmare was coming to an end as she opened the door.

  “Yes, how can I help you?”

  “Are you Ashley Chop?”

  “Yes. Is there something wrong?” She was confused, thinking, ‘Why are they asking for me, not Chris?’

  “In fact, there is! You’re under arrest for the arson of the Salon of Styles.”

  “What? You’re joking, right?”

  The officer grabbed her arm and turned her around. “No. We have a witness.” He started reading her her Miranda rights.

  Chris had made sure he and Brittany weren’t there.

  “Wait! You’re joking, right? I found a letter in Chris’ office thanking the person who set the fire. Can I please go get it?”

  “Ma’am, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You may want to be quiet!”

  “Oh my! I can’t believe this fucking shit! That pussy set me up!”

  The officer walked her out to the police car.

  “Please, sir! This is a mistake! I have proof! What about my daughter?”

  “Ma’am, you can talk to the detective when you get downtown!”

  He placed her in the backseat as neighbors gathered to watch the entertainment. Yet again, Ashley was embarrassed in the public eye by a man.

  After getting booked, Ashley went to the phone area to make an important call. The time was now to lay everything out about what had been going on in her life. She hated to call her, but she deserved the truth.

  Her mother answered, accepting her collect call. Ashley took a deep breath and prepared herself to break down.

  “Hello? Ashley?”

  “Yes, it’s me, Mom. I’m . . . I’m in jail, Mom.”

  “Why? What’d you do this time? You’re always up to something.”

  Ashley was confused at how her mother was coming at her. Ashley had kept her business from her mother, so for her to come at her like this, started to piss her off.

  “Why are you coming at me like this? You don’t even know the situation or if it’s my fault.”

  “So what happened?”

  Ashley’s mother was far from stupid and she knew her daughter better than she thought she did. She knew Ashley was sneaky, a liar, and disloyal.

  “I was accused of burning down my shop, but I didn’t do it. Somebody set me up and the police say they have a witness.”

  “Really? Where’re Ray and Brittany? When did your shop burn down?”

  She’d had a feeling the question of Ray’s whereabouts was coming.

  “Ray? He cheated so I left and took Brittany. He wanted me back, but I told him no because he was cheating. I believe he had something to do with my shop burning down. When the police picked me up, Ray was with them and I believe he took Brittany. I’m not sure, Mom.”

  Ashley lied through her teeth with ease. She just couldn’t break herself down and tell her mother what had really happened. She wanted to make Ray look bad.

  “What? Why are you just now saying something?” her mother said, angry.

  “Because I wanted to work through our problems in private. Eventually, I was going go back, but it was going to be on my terms. I just didn’t expect him to burn my shop down then I get blamed for it.”

  “So now what? I need to know where Brittany is! Then we’ll have to figure out the next step.”

  “Well, I’ma call Ray then I’ll let you know. Right now, can you find me a lawyer? I can’t sit in jail, Mom.”

  “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Find my grandchild so I can go pick her up!”

  “Okay, I will.”

  After they hung up, the story wasn’t adding up. Ashley’s mother didn’t believe it and she want to get to the truth. Her grandchild was missing and she wasn’t feeling it.

  Ashley sat on the bench to think. She didn’t like lying to her mother but she had no choice. Now she had to figure out how she was going get Brittany away from Chris. When a phone was open, she got up to call Chris. Surprisingly, he answered.

  “Hey, Chris.”

  “What? Why are you calling?”

  “Can we please let the attitude go? It’s an important matter here and—”

  “Bitch, fuck your important matter! You’re right where you need to be—locked up! What? You think you’re the only one who could set people up and fuck-up their lives? Cop a seat and swallow a taste of your own medicine.”

  “Wait! What are you talking about?”

  “Everyone knows you set up Bella. I put the pieces together of how you used me to get to Ray and he doesn’t even want you. So sit down and do your time. Bitch, you aren’t getting out, and don’t worry about Brittany!” He hung up the phone before she could explain herself.

  Ashley was heated! She called him back but he wouldn’t accept the call. She slammed the phone down and walked off. She’d thought her life was at the deep end when she moved in with Chris, now it really was at the deep end. She knew she didn’t have the money to put up for a lawyer. She didn’t know what she was going to do.

  ~ ~

  Chyna had prepared dinner for the family with the help of Lashan, and surprisingly, her mother. Tara had agreed to move in the house with the Smith family and Chyna. She wanted to be there for her daughter and to see her grandson. Plus, she didn’t have a choice. She wasn’t too pleased with the change, but she promised herself she’d work through it and she’d also work on getting along with everyone.

  She’d tried calling her oldest daughter but couldn’t get in contact with her. She was a detective and she understood she kept a busy schedule. She hoped she’d get in contact with her so she could move where she was. She would have contacted her other children, but they were still working on their degrees and were struggling with money. She didn’t want to add stress to them so she’d let them be. Her only other choice was to take the money she got every month from her husband’s death and try to make it on her own.

  Chyna and Ray’Sha put the food in plastic serving bowls so they could wash the pots and pans. They were like sisters and always listened to each other’s problems and concerns.

  “How’s everything going with him seeing y’all’s daughter?” Chyna asked.

  She knew Ray’Sha was bothered by the fact her daughter’s father wasn’t present in their lives. She’d call on the daily and he wouldn’t answer. She was starting to be fed up with his careless ways, like her daughter didn’t mean anything to him. They were on good terms when she left Kansas City, and he’d promised he would stay in contact. Ray’Sha really hadn’t wanted to leave, but he’d helped convince her. Now she believed he was okay with them leaving so he wouldn’t have any responsibilities. To her knowledge, her daughter was his only child.

  “Girl, that bastard! I asked him to come see us in New Jersey and he came up with every excuse. I’m so sick of his no-good ass! He knows I can’t come back to Kansas City, yet he’s questioning when am I going to come back whenever we do talk!”

  “I know that shit pisses you
off! I’m sorry you have to go through that nonsense but, girl, you know I’m always here!”

  “Yeah, but how did you go without seeing Junior every day? I’m curious.” Ray’Sha couldn’t spend a day without missing her daughter.

  “It was hard, but I knew I was gone for a good purpose—making money for us! I thought about him and kept pictures of him. My ma did a good job raising him. This one right here,” she rubbed her belly and looked down at it, “she’s going to know who her mother is! I can’t leave her, and I’m so excited about these nursing classes I’m taking!”

  “I’m happy for you and glad to see you want a better future for y’all. Out of all the women my brother’s had, you’re the only one who has something going for herself. I want to see him turn his life around for the better!”

  “We all do, girl!”

  Ray walked into the kitchen, interrupting their girl talk. “What y’all in here talking about?” he asked, hugging Chyna from behind.

  “Yo’ trifling ass!” Ray’Sha said and started laughing.

  “Remember my trifling ass is why you’re staying by the beach!”

  “Boy, go on! I’d rather be—”

  “In Kansas City laid up under your BD. I know,” he interrupted her.

  “Whatever; don’t say it like that!”

  “Um, but it’s the truth!”

  “Fuck him!”

  “Come on, y’all! Let’s set the table. Baby girl is hungry and doing circles in my stomach,” Chyna said, rubbing her belly.

  They grabbed the paper plates and started setting the table. The smells of basa fish, hot chicken wings, homemade mac-and-cheese, greens, sweet potatoes, Hawaiian rolls, and shrimp filled the air and looked good. Everyone made a plate and Ray fixed his, Chyna’s, and Junior’s plates. Everyone gathered around as Lashan said grace. Lashan asked everyone to hold hands and bow their heads.

  “Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with strength, the ability to face challenges, and to make it through them. Thank You for bringing us all together and blessing us with two beautiful grandchildren and another one on the way. Let Your will be within us as we come together and work with each other. Thank You, Lord, for this good-smelling food as we dive in. In Jesus’ Name we pray, amen.”

  “Is that it?” Tara asked, looking at the food. She hadn’t eaten all day and her stomach was in knots.

  “Excuse me, what did you say?” Lashan asked, not sure if she’d heard her correctly.

  “Is that it? I’m ready to eat!”

  Lashan wasn’t feeling Tara’s rude attitude and was wondering where it was coming from. They were just getting along so well while cooking dinner.

  “That is it, but we don’t need that negativity at the dinner table, please!” Chyna spoke up. She wasn’t feeling her mother’s attitude either.

  “So, what? You’re on their side now?" Tara asked, standing up and putting her hand on her hip.

  “There are no sides. We’re family and we stick together! That was disrespectful and uncalled for what you just did! Mrs. Smith gave a beautiful speech, whether it was long or not!”

  “What-the-fuck-ever! I don’t have to deal with this bullshit. Sit here with your new family and that no-good-ass nigga!” She walked off and headed outside.

  Chyna was embarrassed by her comment. She’d always kept to herself how her mother felt about Ray to keep down the tension. They all had shocked expressions on their faces except Ray.

  “I’m so sorry, y’all. I didn’t know she would act like this.”

  “Go check on her, baby,” Ray said, rubbing her back.

  Chyna got up and walked out behind her.

  “She’s fighting some hidden pain!” Lashan said, forgiving her for her rudeness. “Where’s her husband?”

  “He was killed overseas while on duty with the Navy,” Ray answered.

  “Oh, well, she’s probably still hurting about that. We’re going to get to the bottom of things.” Lashan was also helpful when talking to people who were hurting inside.

  “Yeah, ’cause she almost got smacked!” Ray’Sha said.

  If Tara was a woman off the streets, she would have said something. She hated it when anyone disrespected her parents!

  “We raised you better than that! No need for violence,” Lashan reminded her.

  Tara was sitting on the pouch stairs smoking a Newport. Chyna stood in front of her.

  “What’s your problem, Ma?”

  “I don’t need no damn lecture! I’m grown, remember that.”

  “You just disrespected dinner and Mrs. Smith! She didn’t do anything to you!”

  “I’m not feeling her son! He just pops in and out like that shit is cool and his family’s okay with it. What the fuck? What sense does that make?”

  “Ma, Ray is doing all he can to hold down the family. I’m sorry we dragged you into our mess. I won’t ask you to help with the children any more.” Chyna walked back up the stairs.

  “So what you want me to do now? I have no job or home back in Kansas City. You just want me to leave?” Chyna stopped and turned around. “The rest of my children are doing their own thing. So you’re just going put me out? Over a nigga?” She stood up and faced Chyna.

  Chyna couldn’t believe what she was saying. Chyna would never put a man before her mother. “I never said I was putting you out! I said don’t worry about taking care of my children! You’re talking crazy now, and it’s best I walk away before this conversation goes down a road it doesn’t need to!”

  Chyna walked into the house and a tear fell from her eyes. She couldn't believe her mother felt that way. She was the only one who hadn’t run off and forgotten she had a mother like her siblings had. They barely called to check on her and they knew she’d lost their father. She didn’t understand why she was so negative toward her. She figured if she had a degree, her mother wouldn’t act the way she did, but she felt she shouldn’t have to have a degree to get treated with respect. She should treat all her children equally because none of them was better than the next.

  Tara took the last puff on her Newport. ‘Am I overreacting?’ she thought. Lately, she hadn’t been feeling like a diva and the stress was starting to take over. She pulled another Newport out the box, sat back on the stairs, and lit it. ‘Naw, Ray had better start doing right by my daughter and grandchildren! I don't care if he is paying the fucking bills!’

  Everyone was eating when Chyna walked into the dining room. She sat by Ray, who was feeding Junior some mac-and-cheese. She’d made sure to wipe away the tears to hide her pain. Junior was starting to cling to Ray and call him Daddy. That was making Ray feel happy inside.

  “Is everything good, baby?” Ray leaned toward Chyna and asked her in a low tone.

  “No! She’s really tripping!”

  Ray’s phone started ringing. He grabbed it out his pants pocket and it was Bella. ‘She can wait!’ Ray thought. Right now it was about his family.

  “Is everything okay with your mother?” Lashan asked out of concern.

  She wasn’t too thrilled about how Tara had spoken about Ray. He wasn’t perfect, but he did put in an effort and he took care of his children. Yes, he could work on being involved in their lives more, and that was something she planned on talking with him about.

  “Yes, she’s fine. She’s under a lot of stress. I’m sorry about how she acted. I didn’t expect her to flip out like that.”

  “It’s okay, sweetie. If she needs to talk, I’m always here. We’re all going to get over this hump!”

  After dinner, Ray’Sha cleaned the kitchen while everyone got ready for bed. Chyna was giving Junior a bath and Ray decided to watch TV with his father.

  “Changes have to be made, son,” Ronald said. He’d raised his son better than this, and one thing he’d preached was being there for his family.

  “Huh?” Ray said, caught off-guard.

  “Don’t huh me! Changes need to be made. She’s due any day and it’s taking an effect on her mother.”

 
; “I understand, Pops, and that’s why I made up my mind this will be the last job.”

  “Why don’t you just leave that job alone?”

  “Because bills have to be paid! You know that feeling when your back is against the wall, Pops. Everyone’s counting on me. This is it and I’m out!”

  “You’re right! Your mother’s counting on me to make sure the lights and gas don’t get cut off, and we aren’t homeless. When I was unemployed, I searched for work sun up to sun down. A lot of places wouldn’t hire me because I didn’t have a diploma or a GED. It was a struggle, but I managed, making your mama proud of me! I love that woman. I would do anything for her and y’all. What do you need me to do, son? You can’t carry this family by yourself.”

  Ray was shocked. He knew it was too risky for his father to join the game.

  “Nothing at the moment. I do want to open my own business. You can help in that. I just need you for the most part to look out after everyone while I’m gone to L.A.”

  That wasn’t the response Ronald was hoping to hear. “Okay, son. You know I’m on that.”

  “Okay. I’m about to go help Chyna. Good night, Pops.” He walked out the living room and headed to the bedroom.

  Tara came into the living room after Ray had left out. She sat on the couch and started playing with her phone. Ronald looked at her then back at the TV. He still was upset about how she’d acted so rudely at dinner. Tara felt the stare and decided to voice her mind.