Chapter 26 Ajaih
After the scare we’d had with Maverick’s dad, it had totally slipped my mind that I would be receiving the results of the test to see if I was a bone marrow match for my baby sister.
I was pacing the living room as I listened to the doctor on the other end of the line.
My heart slammed against my ribs like it was trying to escape.
“Ms. Jeffries?”
“Y—Yes, I’m still here.”
“We got your results back. Great news, you’re a match!”
My knees gave out as I sat hard on the edge of the couch, mouth open, eyes wide, not even breathing. “I’m… I’m a match?”
“Yes. A full match, which makes you an ideal donor candidate. If you’re still willing, we’d like to begin the process for the next steps.”
I didn’t even let them finish before whispering, “Yes, count me in. I want to do it, but I’d like to be the one to let my family know,” I said, the words catching in my throat. Family, I had family outside of Dro.
When I hung up, the room spun. Knox was in the kitchen, drying his hands with a towel, a curious look on his face.
I swallowed, my voice trembling, “Knox.”
He crossed the room in two long strides. “Yea, Baby, wassup?”
“I’m a match for Lena.”
His eyes softened, then widened. “The baby sister you’ve never met, right?”
I nodded. Knox and Maverick have proven time after time that they listen and remember every detail about me, no matter how minor or significant.
“I’ve never met her, but I’m the one who can help her and will help her.”
Knox pulled me into his arms without hesitation, his grip fierce and protective. “You’re incredible,” he whispered into my hair, “Incredible as fuck.”
I let the tears fall as they soaked into his shirt, while he held me, rubbing my back and kissing my head.
“Let’s go tell them,” he said after a while.
“What?” I sniffled.
“Let’s drive down. Two hours, right? I’ll go with you. We’ll look your mother in the eye, tell her what you’ve decided, and make sure your sister knows what kind of woman’s fighting for her.”
I stared at him, overwhelmed. “You’d really come?”
“I wouldn’t let you do this alone.”
Something shifted in me right then, deeper than gratitude. It was love, adoration, and admiration all rolled into one.
He kissed my forehead and pulled back just enough to meet my gaze. “After we deliver that news, I’ve got plans for you.”
“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow, managing a watery smile.
“Yep, one week from today, pack a bag, bring something sexy, something comfortable, and maybe something I can take off slowly, but I’m not telling you where we’re going.”
“You’re serious?”
He grinned, brushing his thumb along my jaw, “Dead ass, Baby. You’re mine for a whole weekend, and I’m gonna make sure you remember it for the rest of your life.”
And just like that, I felt a little lighter. Between being a match for a baby sister I never met, a mother I can’t stand, and mystery dates I was anxious to go on, life was a lot. But Knox? He made the weight feel a little easier to carry.
The drive to my mother’s house was quiet at first. Knox had his hand on my thigh, thumb stroking a slow rhythm against my jeans, comforting me while my heart ran marathons.
My stomach twisted in ways I couldn’t name.
I hadn’t seen Kimberly since the day of my panic attack, and now I was showing up with the news that I was a match for the baby sister I’d never even met.
When we pulled up to the house, I sat still for a long moment, just staring.
“They’re gonna love you,” Knox whispered.
Before I could respond, there was a knock on my window. I jumped, startled, and looked to my right. Standing there, I see Caleb, Maverick, Yanna, Ahmir, and Dana. Tears rushed to my eyes as I opened the car door.
“What are y’all doing here?”
Yanna smiled, her eyes soft. “You really think we were gonna let you walk into this alone?”
I stepped out and was enveloped in a hug from all sides.
The kind of hug that reminded you you were seen, supported, and loved.
My heart exploded with gratitude. When we finally rang the doorbell, a tall man opened it: David, her husband.
I’d snooped on their socials to learn that info as well.
He was the pastor of a mega church, and from what I could tell, he wasn’t one of those pretentious finger-wagging, hypocritical pastors; no, he was a tell-it-like-it-is, hold-you-accountable man of the cloth.
He looked me over with curious eyes, then blinked slowly. “Damn, you look just like Kimberly.”
“Hi,” I said, voice shaking, “I’m Ajaih.”
He nodded once, then stepped aside. “Come in. All of you.”
The house was cool, filled with the smell of something baking, sweet and nostalgic.
A girl’s voice floated down the stairs, “Daddy, who’s at the door?”
And then I saw her as she stopped mid-step, her mouth falling open. She was the perfect mix of Kimberly and her father. She shared features similar to mine, such as her freckles, her curly mane, and her eyes —big, brown, and full of questions.
“Ajaih?” she whispered.
I barely nodded before she flew down the stairs and wrapped her arms around me. I held her tightly, my hands shaking as I buried my face in her shoulder.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” she whispered.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
I pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. “Where’s Kimberly?”
“She went to pick up DJ from the airport. He just finished basic training, so he’ll be home before he gets stationed.”
“What branch?” I asked.
“Air Force.”
My heart expanded, joy rising like the sunrise. My little brother and I had something in common. Maybe I’d have more than just blood to build bridges with. A few minutes later, the door opened again, and there she was.
Kimberly.
And beside her, a young man in uniform, my brother. Before anything could be said, Kimberly froze.
DJ’s eyes swept the room, landing on Caleb.
“Nah, nah, nah, no way,” he whispered, “You serious right now? Caleb Black is in our living room?”
We all chuckled as introductions were made, breaking the ice a little. DJ was charming, Kimberly looked overwhelmed, and Lena refused to let go of my hand.
I cleared my throat, heart thudding.
“I came because, well, I got tested. And I’m a match for Lena.”
Gasps and muffled cries filled the space. Kimberly covered her mouth, eyes brimming. DJ hugged his sister fiercely. David closed his eyes and whispered, “Thank you, God,” under his breath.
“I want to help,” I said, “I want to be a donor.”
For a moment, it was just joy, until it wasn’t. I refused to move forward without going back.
I looked at Kimberly. “Why didn’t you ever come for me?”
The room shifted as she stepped closer, visibly shaken.
“I was young, scared. I didn’t know how to raise a baby alone.
Your father promised to take care of you, us, but he was in the streets, reckless as hell, and I knew if I stayed, he would’ve stayed in those streets until he was dead or in jail.
I thought it was the best and only way to save our lives. ”
“You left me,” I snapped, my voice cracking, “You moved on, made a new family, and forgot me.”
Yanna reached out, but David held up a hand.
“No, she needs to speak what’s on her heart,” he said gently. “Kimberly needs to hear this. She deserves to hear it.”
Kimberly was full-on bawling at this point. “I didn’t tell David or the kids about you. I was ashamed, afraid, but I never forgot you, Ajaih. Not a single day.”
I took a deep breath, fighting back the storm in my chest.
“You don’t get to erase me and then expect me to act like nothing happened.
Not having you mattered. I felt lost for so much of my life.
It’s only now, in my 40s, that I’m finding the strength to be the woman I know I am, feeling worthy of love and belonging without fear of the people I love abandoning me.
And now I’m here, ready to be a big sister, show up, even amid my abandonment issues, and extend you grace? ”
David walked to me and put a steady hand on my shoulder. “No one’s asking for grace, sweetheart. Just your truth. You give it to her—unfiltered. That’s the only way any of this can heal.”
So I did. This was the first time it felt like she was ready to listen without giving me excuse after tired excuse.
Kimberly wiped her tears and took a shaky breath. “Would you consider family therapy? With me, with us. I know I have a lot to work through, and I know I’ve hurt you more than I can ever make up for, but I want to try. I want to build something new, if you’ll let me.”
I was silent for a moment, looking around the room at the faces of my siblings, hope shining in their eyes as they waited for me to answer.
“Yeah,” I said quietly, “I’ll go, and I’ll ask Dro to come too. He’s part of my story; he deserves to be part of the healing.”
Kimberly nodded, her face crumpling with emotion. I exchanged contact info with Lena, DJ, David, and, after a hesitant pause, Kimberly. Promises were made: to talk, to meet again, to take the following steps forward together.
As we stepped outside, the late-afternoon sun cast bold amber hues as it prepared to set; my crew waited for me, never letting me forget that I had an army coming behind me.
Caleb pulled me into a hug. “You were strong as fuck in there, Freckles.”
Ahmir nodded, “Brave, too.”
Yanna kissed my cheek. “And loved. Deeply.”
Knox slid his arm around my waist. “And soon to be swept off your feet.”
I raised an eyebrow, “You’re all being way too smug.”
Dana grinned, “Because we know something you don’t,” she teased, sticking her tongue out, causing me to giggle.
Maverick chuckled, “You’ll see. Just be ready, baby.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the smile stretching across my face. Allowing love in without being guarded or waiting for the other shoe to drop was proving to be the most rewarding part of my self-discovery journey.