“Look, Jaylin. I don’t want this to escalate—”
He grabbed my collar and leaned against me. “Bitch, if you ever bring up another motherfucker—”
Before I knew it, I was smacking the living daylights out of him for calling me a bitch. He grabbed me tighter and lifted me up. He banged my head against the cabinet, and when he let go, I felt dizzy and fell to the floor. Afterward, he pulled me off the floor by my arm and shoved me into the living room. He was in a rage and tossed me into a living room chair. His arms straddled the chair and he leaned in front of me. “You’re a silly-ass woman, Nokea. Every time a man puts his dick inside of you, you wanna drag my son into your mess. You’d better learn how to watch your mouth because it’s liable to get you hurt. I’m so sick and tired of you putting me through this shit with LJ, and I promise you, this is the last time I’m going to let you do this to me.” He stood up. “So, tell your new ancient-ass man to bring it on. You are not taking my damn son home with you today, nor will you take him to Detroit. Now, get the fuck out of here like I told you to.” He started to walk away.
Nanny B stood on the Romeo and Juliet balcony with LJ and Mackenzie, looking down at us. “What is going on down there?” she yelled.
“Nanny B would you bring my son to me,” I asked, standing shakily from the chair.
Jaylin turned and sucked in his lip. “You wanna fuck with me, Nokea?” he yelled. “I will kill you over my son!” He grabbed my neck and choked me. After tripping me to the floor, Nanny B ran down the steps and yelled for him to stop. I squirmed around, barely able to breathe with his tight grip and body weight on top of me.
“Jaylin!” Nanny B yelled. She tried to pull him off me, but he ignored her and squeezed tighter. The only thing that stopped him was when Mackenzie started crying and yelling, “Daddy, please stop!” He looked at her and LJ, as both of them stood watching us in tears. Taking deep breaths, he fell into the couch. Nanny B helped me off the floor, as I coughed and tried to catch my breath. She put her arms around me and asked for my car keys. When I reached in my pocket and gave them to her, she picked up LJ and looked at Jaylin.
“I’m taking them home. This is outrageous, Jaylin. You really need to get yourself together,” she said, furiously.
He didn’t say a word, just laid his head back on the couch and looked up at the ceiling. Mackenzie was still crying, and she sat on his lap and put her arms tightly around his neck. Nanny B, LJ, and I left.
On the drive home, I told Nanny B what happened, and she kind of sided with Jaylin. She said he was wrong for putting his hands on me, but she didn’t agree with me wanting to take LJ to Detroit for Christmas. Like Jaylin, Nanny B felt as if I didn’t know much about Collins, and explained what a disappointment it would be for LJ not to be around on Christmas Day. I understood how they both felt, but he was my son too. And to get our lawyers involved would only make the situation more chaotic. I’d had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Frick, Jaylin’s attorney, in action for him several times before. Frick was an asshole, but he definitely knew how to win a case for Jaylin. I had less than three weeks to work with before Christmas, and I hoped by then Jaylin would calm down and see things my way. If not, LJ and I were going to Detroit with or without Jaylin’s consent.
Late Sunday afternoon, I spoke to Collins and told him what had happened. He insisted he wasn’t trying to interfere, and expressed how much he wanted LJ and me to go with him. He even suggested getting to know Jaylin better, so Jaylin would feel comfortable with LJ being around him. He’d gone through the exact same situation with his son when his ex-wife had remarried. He told me how difficult it had been for him to cope with another man trying to step in. Before we hung up, he apologized for putting me in a tough position, and told me he was willing to do anything to make it better. We agreed to see Jaylin at work on Tuesday and talk the situation out with him.
When I called Jaylin’s house the next day, Nanny B asked how I was doing and told me Jaylin and Mackenzie had been gone all day. He’d refused to talk to her about our dispute, and had stayed in his room until morning. She accused me of hurting him, and after I reminded her of everything he had done to me, I ended our conversation. I didn’t want to be disrespectful to her because she had really been there for all of us, so I later called back and apologized. More than anything, I understood that she had a serious bond with Jaylin and was like the typical “mother” looking out for her son.
Collins picked me up around noon on Tuesday, looking dynamite in his tan Brooks Brothers suit. I had taken a couple days off work so I could get this issue between Jaylin and me resolved.
On our way up the elevator in the Berkshire Building, my stomach felt queasy. I was a nervous wreck. Collins kissed my hand and told me to relax, which was, of course, easy for him to say since he hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing the full potential of Jaylin’s ire. The other day was the first time he’d ever put his hands on me. I’d never thought things between us would go to that level. Pressing charges against him crossed my mind, but I decided against it. I knew we could work this out somehow.
Collins was relaxed, strutting with confidence into the lobby. He asked Angela for Jaylin, and when she confirmed that he was in, my heart dropped. She asked Collins for his name, her eyes flirting with him. I stepped forward and told her to let Jaylin know I was there to see him. When she buzzed Jaylin’s office, he said that he was eating lunch and asked for me to come on back. I took Collins’s hand and led the way.
When we walked through the door, Jaylin was on the phone laughing with someone. He was eating a lunch tray of Gourmet To Go, and his smile vanished when he saw Collins’s hand joined together with mine.
“Daisha, I’ll call you back later, all right?” He hung up and looked me in the eye. “You just don’t get enough, do you?”
“Please,” I said. “I just thought it would be a good idea if you met Collins. So, Collins, this is Jaylin, and Jaylin, this is Collins.” Collins offered his hand to Jaylin, but Jaylin just looked at it. Collins pulled his hand back.
“Jaylin, listen,” he said. “Trust me when I say that I know how you feel. The only reason I’m here today is because I was faced with the same dilemma not too long ago. My ex-wife’s husband tried to be a father to my son and I wasn’t having it. So, I’d like to take just a little of your time so you can get to know me better and understand that I’m not trying to replace you. From what Nokea’s told me, you’re a good father and there’s no need for me to step in when you’re handling your business.”
Jaylin got out of his chair and closed the door. I noticed that he and Collins checked out each other’s attire. I was glad it wasn’t a contest or anything because they were running neck-in-neck.
“Have a seat,” Jaylin said, sitting back in his chair. We did, and when Collins folded his leg, Jaylin glanced at his expensive-looking leather shoes with tassels on the flap.
“First, I’ll tell the both of you that I do not like taking care of personal matters in the workplace. Second, I do not like to be put on front-street by anyone. And third, Collins, I apologize for not shaking your hand when you came in here. This chaos between Nokea and me go way back, and I’m sorry you had to get caught up in the middle.” Jaylin reached out and gave Collins a handshake, then looked at me and slightly rolled his eyes.
“I didn’t like the idea of coming to your workplace either,” Collins said, “but sometimes these kinds of places seem to work out better, instead of talking out matters at home. When my ex-wife’s husband came to talk to me in my home, many months after the damage had been done, I was arrested for assault on the brotha. If he had come to me in the beginning, and given me the opportunity to know what kind of man he was, and let me know what his intentions were, the assault never would have happened. After all is said and done, we’re pretty good friends now, however, I still have my moments when the situation bothers me. Especially when my son comes home from college and wants to stay with them instead of me. I have to man up about the sit
uation and let him decide, because if I don’t, it will drive him away.”
Jaylin placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “Collins, this is all very new to me. I have three beautiful children in this world, and it’s like I’m fighting each and every day to keep them in my life. I haven’t a clue where my oldest is. I’ve hired detectives to find her and somehow, thanks to her mother, she’s just vanished. My other daughter is now living with me, but it’s just a matter of time when her mother is going to come for her and take her away—I feel it.” Jaylin spoke with pain in his eyes. “I . . . I’m not her biological father and I know I’d have a tough fight keeping her with me. So, really, LJ is all I got to hang on to. If you and Nokea run off with him, I have nothing.”
“But, Jaylin, we’re not trying to run off with him,” I said. “All I would like to do is take him to Detroit for one week. That’s it. You act like we’re talking a lifetime.”
“Nokea, you say that now, but my biggest fear will be the day you call and tell me you’re moving to Detroit with Collins. Let’s be realistic here, there’s a possibility of that happening, so who knows. I’m letting you know now that occasionally visiting my son is not going to be enough for me. Whether you realize it or not, he needs me and I need him. So, question is, how do the both of you anticipate on working around this scenario, or have you even thought about it?”
“Jaylin,” Collins said. “Honestly, my future plans do include living in Detroit. I mentioned that to Nokea last night. I could actually see myself with her because she’s a beautiful person, and I’ve longed for a woman like her.” Collins reached over and touched my hand. “But one day, she might have a serious choice to make. A choice that I probably will not support when it comes to LJ because this is a personal issue for me and I truly believe that a son needs to be with his father. But remember, we’re talking five or ten years from now.”
“Okay,” Jaylin said, resting his elbows on his desk. “I have no problem with LJ going to Detroit with the both of you for Christmas. But I need something in writing from your attorney, Nokea, that says if you move to Detroit within the next five . . . up to ten years, you move alone and LJ stays with me. By then, he should be old enough to tell us what or who he wants. And at that time, if he wants to live with the both of you, so be it. I’m cool with that. This is the best I can offer right now. These days, I have to look out for what’s in my best interest.”
“I’m so glad the two of you are good at predicting my future,” I said. “Who says I’m moving anywhere? I know that it’s stretching things a bit, but, Jaylin, don’t you think this is taking things too far? I’ve only known Collins for a short time, and you’re already planning my future for me.”
“Nokea, I like to prepare myself ahead of time for things. The unexpected is what hurts. Just a few months ago, I never thought I would be sitting here having this conversation with you and Collins. And vice versa, I would assume. So, if you want my consent, you need to work with me on this.”
Collins and I looked at each other. “I’d probably be asking for the same thing, baby,” Collins said. “I don’t like the idea of getting your attorney involved, but sometimes it’s for the best. Just know that I will never make you choose between your son and me. If this situation ever occurs we will work together to do what’s right.”
I seriously had a problem with giving Jaylin some papers that said if I ever left St. Louis he could have full custody of LJ. It wasn’t like leaving St. Louis was in my plans, but you never know. However, I agreed to it, and after Jaylin seemed cool with the arrangements, we got ready to go.
Jaylin and Collins shook hands again, but before we left, I asked Collins if I could speak to Jaylin alone. He agreed. I closed the door behind him and stood in front of it.
“You have to know that I never wanted to hurt you,” I said. “I’m sorry for the way all this has turned out, but I do have to move on.”
He stood in front of me. “I know. And I’m going to try hard to accept that. Collins seems like a really decent man, Nokea. I’m a little jealous, but you deserve someone like him. And before I forget, I’m sorry for cursing you the other day, I’m sorry for putting my hands on you, and uh, I’m even sorry that it has to be this way.”
“I am too.” I opened my arms for him to hug me. He squeezed me tight, and after he let go, I kissed his left cheek. When I saw how much lipstick I put on it, I wiped it off.
“Jaylin?” I said.
“Yes.”
“Who’s Daisha?”
“What?” He grinned and held my hand.
“You heard me. Who’s Daisha? The female you were talking to when we walked in.”
“She’s just a friend, Nokea.”
“Really? What kind of friend?”
“Nokea...”
“Okay, I won’t pry, but I just want to make sure you’re happy.”
“I am. Really, I am. If not, then one day I will be.” He opened the door. “Hey, have you talked to Pat yet?”
“No,” I said, walking out. “She won’t talk to me. She got her number changed and everything. When I call her at work, she never comes to the phone, so I gave up.”
“Well, don’t. All friendships can be mended, no matter what, especially if you wasn’t the one at fault.”
I gave Jaylin another hug and he walked me to the lobby. Collins was admiring Jaylin’s awards on the wall.
“Man, you got it going on, don’t you?” he said.
“I’d like to think so. I got plenty more of those at home,” Jaylin bragged.
“Well, why don’t you give me a call?” Collins pulled out his business card and handed it to Jaylin. “I have my money invested elsewhere, but if I can switch everything successfully and keep it in the family, I will do so.” He nudged Jaylin.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll make sure that I call you.”
We waved good-bye and Jaylin stood by Angela’s desk, talking to her. As Collins and I waited for the elevator, he leaned forward and kissed me, then gave me a hug and we rocked back and forth together. I couldn’t stop thanking him for handling his business with Jaylin so maturely.
Before I stepped onto the elevator, I glanced at Jaylin again and he smiled, then nodded his head. The last time I saw him do that was when I was walking down the aisle to marry Stephon. This time, I felt as if he was finally letting me go and giving me the go-ahead to move on with my life.
Chapter 19
Scorpio
I had really jazzed up the place since Jay-Baby had gone back to St. Louis. I called Jackson and cursed him out again for giving Jaylin the phone number and key. And when I finished chewing him out, he apologized. He said he’d make it up to me by sending me some more money so I could fix up the place like I wanted to. He advised me to do whatever I wanted to do to it, and sent me another check for $10,000 to get things started.
I tried to make the place feel like home, and went on a shopping spree. There was hella work to be done, and by the time I finished, it finally felt kind of livable. I bought a new sofa-bed for the living room, an entertainment center, two space heaters to warm up the place, white paint for the dingy walls, and even had a plumber come over to replace the old vanity, sink, and tub in the bathroom.
As for the bedroom, I covered the old wallpaper with light blue-and-yellow flower-print wallpaper. It looked much better. I finally had a feeling that I was here to stay.
I had even gotten myself a job at a small café around the corner. It was close by and I needed the money to pay Jackson back the fifteen grand he’d already given me.
I’d been away for almost a month, and talked to Mackenzie every day around three-thirty in the afternoon while Jaylin was at work. Once I got off the phone with her, I normally took it off the hook because I didn’t want him calling me. I had a feeling he was trying to call because I knew he was missing me as much as I was missing him. But until he was willing to make some changes, I was staying right here.
Work was over, so I
made my way home down the blistering cold streets of downtown Denver. I made some hot chocolate and called Jaylin’s house to talk to Mackenzie. I was so glad when she picked up.
“Hi, sweetie,” I said.
“Hi, Mommy. Are you still coming home?”
“Yes. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Nanny B and me are in the kitchen making some cookies.”
“You are? Will you save me some?”
“I guess. That’s if Nanna doesn’t eat them all up,” she whispered.
“Well, put a few of them in your room for me, okay?”
“No. Daddy said food in the room causes bugs, so I’ll keep them in my coat pocket.”
“Thanks, honey. So, are you still coming to see me in a few weeks? Mommy can pick you up at the airport and we’ll spend Christmas together.”
She huffed. “I guess. Can Daddy come along too?”
“Not this time, Mackenzie. We need to have a little girl talk and Daddy can’t hear it.”
“Okay. But, Mommy, he’s really been bad lately. He cried after he beat up his wife the other day. I was scared and I cried too.” I heard Nanny B say something to Mackenzie in the background, and then Mackenzie gave the phone to her.
“Hello, Scorpio,” she said.
“Hi, Nanny B. How’s everything going?”
“Fine, just fine. I picked up Mackenzie from school and we’re in the kitchen making cookies. Her friend Megan is spending the night tomorrow, so I’m trying to get things ready.”
“Thank you so much Nanny B. You are an angel sent from heaven. I don’t know what we would do without you.”
“Well, I enjoy living here. Mackenzie and LJ have brought new joy to my life. I don’t have much of a family anyway so I enjoy their company. Jaylin’s too. Don’t let me forget about him.”
“Nanny B, what was Mackenzie saying about him and Nokea fighting? Is everything okay?”
Naughty 2: My Way or the Highway Page 22
