“I didn’t make you do this, Susan.”
“Like hell you didn’t. You practically begged me.”
“So? You still didn’t have to do it but I guess the two thousand dollars I paid you helped change your mind.”
Susan was finally at a loss for words.
“Look at who’s money hungry. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Dangling money in your face made you do some unethical things yourself.”
“I’m going to tell you one thing, Zacariah. If I go down, I’m taking you down with me,” she said.
“How? It will be my word against yours. I wasn’t the one who changed anything. And as for the money, I gave you that in cash. You can’t prove that transaction ever happened. So as you can see, your threats mean nothing to me,” I said confidently. The nerve of Susan thinking she could threaten me. Please. She forgot who she was dealing with.
“Like I told you, if this thing blows up in my face, I promise you I will take you down one way or another, even if it means telling Derrick everything you did in order to get him back.”
With that Susan stormed out the house, leaving me dumbfounded for a minute.
Telling Derrick would ruin any chances of me getting him back so that couldn’t happen. This was not going according to plan and I had no clue what I could do next. Derrick and Kea cannot find out they are not brother and sister. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter 27
Kea
When I saw her standing before me, I almost lost consciousness. It was Mother, Ms. Diva herself, standing in front of me with her nose in the air, wearing a cargo pocket-lined dress that showed off her long legs. She looked exquisite as usual.
“Well, are you going to invite me in?” she asked in her snobby tone.
I stepped to the side and let her enter. She looked around as she entered, of course, taking in her surroundings. She never came to see me for anything so I wondered what this visit was all about.
“What are you doing here, Mother?” I asked coldly.
“I wanted to stop by and see how you were living,” she said, looking at the flat-panel TV hanging on the wall, one of the only things I had purchased since I received my money from Mr. Hanks’s will.
“As you can see, I’m living fine, no thanks to you.”
She whipped her head around and gawked at me. She then turned, sitting down on my sofa. I didn’t think she was going to sit at all by the way she was looking at it like it came from a junkyard.
Cutting to the chase I said, “You found out the man who raped you left me a bunch of money, didn’t you?”
She looked at me, surprised, saying, “Well I did hear about it.”
I knew it was a matter of time before she found out. As to how, I didn’t know. But when it came to Mother, if there was anything she wanted to know, she somehow had the connections to find out.
“And you thought you would come see if your daughter would share the wealth,” I said, again cutting to the chase.
“I mean it is my right. I am your mother.”
“So you are playing Mommy Dearest now? The last time I talked to you, you couldn’t stand to look at me, much less talk to me. Emory is your favorite and only daughter, remember.”
“Emory is a fool.”
“You mean she hasn’t met the standard of what a good daughter should be,” I said sarcastically, walking close to her but never sitting.
“She found out Aaron was cheating and has asked him for a divorce.”
“Well good for her. She should leave him,” I said proudly.
“No, she shouldn’t. I told her she needed to stay with him. Emory has a good life and she should suck up his indiscretion and continue to be his loving wife. A little affair here and there shouldn’t stop her from living well.”
“You mean you want her to stand by his money and not her self-respect.”
Mother didn’t agree nor disagree.
“Why is it all about the money with you? When I needed you as my mother, you turned me away. When I didn’t have a dime to my name, you acted as if I were dead. Now, when you hear about me coming into some money, you come sniffing around like a hound who has found its prey. Are you now trying to prey on me, Mother?”
“No one is preying on you, Kea. You are talking foolish. I figured you would want to share your newfound riches with me. After all I do deserve it,” she said complacently.
“All my life you treated me terribly. You beat me, demeaned me, and made me feel worthless. Now that I’m worth some value, you come running,” I said, walking around her to the other side of the room.
“Kea, calm down before you disturb your neighbors,” she said, looking around like one of them was going to come knocking at the door.
“I’m not going to calm down. How dare you come over here asking me for anything? You don’t deserve a damn thing from me.”
“I was raped,” she blurted loudly now.
“So what,” I said angrily. “You made me pay for that so I see that as you getting paid in full.”
“I had to carry you for nine months knowing you were that monster’s child,” she yelled.
“And that made me a monster too, right?” I belted.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to because the way you treated me represents the resentment you had toward me.”
“Enough with the past. I didn’t come here to rehash old demons,” she said like she tasted something repulsive. “This is a new day and I’m here to collect for my troubles,” she said boldly.
“Troubles,” I said, giggling. “Are you going to pay me for mine?”
“Your payment came in the form of letting you be born.”
Just when I thought my mother could never surprise me with more putrid behavior, she came up with something else that made me stand back and shake my head at her audacity.
“You self-righteous hypocrite. I wouldn’t give you a dime if you were crawling in the gutters in the deepest of ghettos. How dare you come over here holding out your hand like I’m supposed to bow down and pay you for my birth? You can go to hell.”
Mother stood abruptly, saying, “And you wonder why I never loved you, you little wench. Joseph never should have spoiled you like he did because it’s made you into this disrespectful, selfish brat I see before me.”
“You are mad because he loved me despite how I was created,” I belted, pointing at her as my anger erupted.
“If he would have shown the same amount of love to me, then we may still be together,” she retorted.
“You only wanted Daddy for his money. I don’t think you ever loved him. The fact you treated him like your own personal ATM and punching bag mentally is the reason why he finally left you. You deserve to be alone.”
“I deserved to have the best out of life, damn it.”
“But why does it always have to be at everybody else’s expense? Having the best also consists of love, family, relationships, and trust.”
“None of that matters to me. No one ever showed me any of that so why should I?” she protested.
“Daddy did. He truly loved you. How could you have not seen that? For goodness’ sake, he loved you enough to raise a child who wasn’t his. He gave you the life you dreamed of. Talk about can’t see the forest for the trees. Daddy adored you, Mother. He worshipped you and you used and abused him just like you did me.”
“Abuse?” she asked, surprised.
“Abuse, Mother. You mentally made him feel less than a man. You whipped me and Emory to obedience. What else do you call it?”
“I call it getting my house in order.”
“And how does that house feel now with no one in it but you?” I asked with tears beginning to form in my eyes. My words shook Mother for a minute. I noticed it but she tried hard to compose herself, like my words weren’t affecting her.
“Mother, I know you have had a very hard life but we loved you. I loved you despite how you treated me. We could have been your riches. N
ow look at you. You have no one.”
“I have friends,” she retorted.
“What friends? How many of those friends stop by to see how you are doing? How many wrap their arms around you and tell you they love you? How many pick up the phone and talk about everyday life with you?”
Mother said nothing.
“That’s what I thought. You are a miserable, stuck-up woman who will one day find out that happiness does not come in the form of money, and if it does, it’s only temporary. But I don’t have to tell you that because I think you already know that,” I said, looking her straight in her eyes. This caused her to turn her head.
“So are you going to give me my money or not?” she asked coldly.
I shook my head and said, “Have a nice life, Mother. I wish you the best.”
“Very well then. I shall be going since you want to act ungrateful.”
I walked to the door and opened it gladly. She walked out into the hallway. Turning to me, she said, “No good things will come to you, Kea, for treating me like this. I’m still your mother.”
“Just like you, Mother, I have already endured hell. So from this point things can only go up.”
With that she turned and walked away.
I felt like years of torment were being lifted from my spirit. It felt good to finally tell Mother how I felt, even if my words didn’t sink in.
Chapter 28
Jaquon
I knew I was taking a risk just stopping by to see Kea but I wanted to see her bad. She had been on my mind all day and I hadn’t seen her since our night together. I was sending her roses trying to win her back but she hadn’t called me to thank me or anything. I was kind of hurt by that.
Kea didn’t say anything to me, but to my surprise she threw her arms around my neck to embrace me. I only hesitated for a split second before I wrapped my arms around her. I could tell she was upset.
Walking her backward into the apartment, I asked, “Kea, baby, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”
She buried her face in my chest and wept. I walked her over to the sofa, sitting her down. I sat down next to her.
“Baby, talk to me. I’m here. What’s got you so upset?”
“Everything, Jaquon.”
“Everything like what?”
“You, me, my mother, my dad, and my . . .” She paused.
“Your what?”
She looked at me before saying, “My relationship with Derrick.”
I sighed at the mention of his name, hoping he was not a part of why she was so upset. I tried not to get upset and continued to try to comfort her.
“It’s been so hard lately and I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”
“Take a deep breath, baby. Breathe,” I said, sucking in air like I was her Lamaze coach. She stopped talking long enough to do what I asked.
“Feel better?” I asked and she shook her head. I leaned back on the sofa and drew her into me. She wrapped her arms around my waist as she laid her head on my chest. The moment felt good, having her close to me again. I was happy I chose to come over. Even if she was thinking about Derrick, right now she was here with me. I wondered if she could hear the pitter-patter of my heart racing. I closed my eyes and took in her fragrance, wanting nothing more than to envelop her. I missed this. I missed her and I didn’t realize how much until this moment. I messed up and lost a good woman and knew I wanted to do anything to get her back, even if that meant talking about her relationship with Derrick.
Kea rose up and I let go of her reluctantly. She looked at me with dampened eyes and smiled. “I’m sorry I got your shirt wet.”
“This old thing,” I said, flicking it. “I got plenty of these. I would let you walk all over it if it meant being here with you again.”
She lowered her head before asking, “What are we doing, Jaquon?”
“I thought we were . . .” I said, then paused, watching her head shake.
“I mean us. What is this?”
“I hope this is us becoming one again,” I said honestly.
“But were we ever that?” she questioned with saddened eyes.
I felt bad, knowing some of the pain she was feeling was caused by me. I sat up, moving closer to her, if that was possible. I took her hands into mine and said, “Kea, baby, I know I messed up. I know I hurt you too many times to count but the one thing that stayed constant is my love for you.”
“But—” she said.
“I know. If I loved you, I wouldn’t have done the things I did. I know this. And even now I can’t explain why I cheated on you. Immaturity played a large part in it.”
“And maybe me being willing to deal with it.”
I nodded reluctantly, saying, “Kea, I was wrong. I would scream this from the Empire State Building, the Great Wall of China, and Mount Everest if this would prove to you how much I love you. I want you back in my life,” I said, looking at her lower her head again.
“I’m scared, Jaquon.”
“I completely understand why.”
“I don’t know which direction to go. One thing I do know is that I don’t want to go back into this with you not knowing where I stand, or you lying to me. Lying creates distrust and right now I can’t say I trust you.”
“Again, I understand but I’m willing to gain your trust back.”
“But it’s not that simple,” she said above a whisper.
“You do still love me, don’t you?” I questioned. I was almost afraid to hear the answer.
She said, “Yes.”
I felt an instant relief.
“I also love Derrick.”
She said it all in the same breath, halting my joy.
She finally lifted her head for our eyes to meet. “I know that sounds crazy but I have to be open with you. Derrick feels like something isn’t right about the test and I’m starting to think the same thing, which is why we are having the test done again.”
“Maybe you should accept the fact. Getting your hopes up on someone who you may never be able to have will only leave you with a broken heart,” I said, hoping I wasn’t coming across as being cold. But I meant it. It killed me that she still had feelings for Derrick, and the fact that she admitted she loved him crushed me. I guessed this was my payback for hurting her but I was still willing to be with her.
“When are you having it done?”
“Soon, and that’s why I’m hesitant about us,” she said sincerely.
“What if the test proves you and Derrick are not related, then what?” I asked, again not certain if I wanted to hear the answer.
“I don’t know, Jaquon. There is a possibility I will go back to him.”
“You know I’m going to fight for you regardless,” I said, wishing they wouldn’t do this. If Kea found out they weren’t siblings, I could lose her forever and I didn’t want that to happen.
Kea smiled and said, “I see that. You are determined.”
“How about we just go with the flow and see where this thing takes us again? I guarantee you the journey will be a lot smoother. Whatever happens, happens. I know going into this again that you may change your mind about being with me, but I’m willing to take that chance. So how about it? Can we be roommates again? Can I be your man?” I said jokingly, but was as serious as a heart attack.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big boy. So can we try this thing to see where it takes us?”
Kea hesitated, twiddling her fingers.
“You know you scared me straight,” I said, giggling, causing her to smile. “I never thought you would leave me, but you did, and it was my wake-up call to treat you like the queen you are, so take me back, please,” I said.
Still Kea hesitated.
“Do you want me to get down on one knee and beg? Because I will,” I said, moving to the edge of the sofa to do just that.
“No, don’t do that,” she said, grabbing my arm, but I dropped to one knee anyway.
“I l
ove you. Can I come back home?” I hung on for her answer as the silence between us made me a little uncomfortable.
“Okay, we can do this,” she said, and before she could say another word I planted my lips on to hers. It was slow, soft, and meaningful. I savored the flavor she left as we pulled away from each other. She was biting her bottom lip and it turned me on so much.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this again with you,” she said.
“Believe it, baby, and I promise to love you wholeheartedly.”
With those words I kissed her more intensely this time. Our lips parted and our tongues found one another moving in a rhythmic motion. I wanted to devour her, and hoped our evening would end with us making love. But before we could get to that point, there was a knock at the door. Damn.
Chapter 29
Kea
I swore I thought Terry could sniff out when Jaquon was at my place. Just when I was about to get me some for real this time, and it wasn’t going to be another wet dream, here she came stomping into my place, dressed like she was going to the club.
“Are you serious, Kea? I mean again,” she said, looking at Jaquon, who was slouched down in my sofa with a hard dick and head leaned back like he wanted to make Terry vanish.
“You have to be a hound from hell to constantly know when I’m here,” Jaquon said abruptly.
“Call it knowing when a punk ass like you is trying to get my friend back in your life. I’m trying to save her from making the biggest mistake of her life.”
“Terry, please. Jaquon is not a mistake.”
“Come again?” she said, tossing her cream-colored tote on my chair. She placed her hands on her hips and with major attitude she said, “Mistake is the least of what he is.”
“Can you leave please?” Jaquon asked.
I looked over at him as he eyed me and I knew what was up. There was that seductive look letting me know he was ready to give it to me good, and I wanted it. “Terry, I’m busy.”
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