Chapter 11
11
Weston
I t was Monday evening, and Taja and I had been cooped up in my place since everything took place on Sunday. Instead of going to the office to work, I worked from home, and Taja took the day off. She spent most of the day watching movies in my bedroom. In between meetings, I would go in and check on her. I had wrapped up my last meeting and was preparing myself to go check on her again when my phone rang. I looked and saw it was Keezy.
“What’s up, man?” I greeted while shutting down my computer.
“Nothing much, man. I’m finna head back to the city. I was going to ask if you were at the hospital. I was gonna stop by to check on you and your family.”
“Actually, I’m home working. I—”
Keezy cut me off. “Aye, man, I’mma keep it real with you because you’re my best friend, shit more like my brother. You only get one mama. Let all that other shit go. The fact that Rae had to let me know what was going on is crazy. Nigga, I thought we were boys.”
Keezy was pissed, and I understood why. I should’ve called him and let him know what was happening. My head was all over the place, and I had forgotten.
“Keezy, chill. I had planned to go over there this evening. I just wanted to make sure my...” I paused.
I wasn’t sure what to call Taja. She wasn’t my girlfriend, but she was more than a co-worker, and she wasn’t someone I was sleeping with. So, I referred to her the only way I knew how.
“My friend was good. Once I do, I will be heading back there.”
“Friend? Nigga, huh? Your ass don’t make friends.” Keezy laughed. “Who is this little piece you done met?”
I shook my head as if he could see me. “Nah, she’s more than that.”
The phone went quiet. I had to look to make sure he was still there.
“Keezy?”
“You feeling her, ain’t it?”
“What makes you say that?”
“Your tone, your choice of words. You’re already planning to go to the hospital without me cussing your ass out. Who is she?”
“Keezy, you going to the hospital or not?”
He laughed. “Nigga, you ain’t shit. But yeah, I might be late. If I stay on track, I should make it. If not, I will be there tomorrow.”
“Bet.”
We hung up the phone, and I made my way out of the room. Keezy was right. The way I was feeling about Taja was true. I was feeling her and had been feeling her since the first night I laid eyes on her. However, my guard remained up. I fought and fought my feelings so that they could remain protected. Yet the more I was in her space, the lower my guard fell. Taja was my kryptonite. No matter the fight I tried to put up, it was a losing battle.
I knocked on the door, and she called for me to come in. She had the phone up to her face and an irritated look on her face.
“You good?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about it, Jay. You made your bed. Now lie in it. After today, your number is blocked. Leave my key at the leasing office.” She hung up the phone and tossed it to the side.
She huffed. “He’s been calling all day. He even called my best friend, and she’s in Japan doing a photo shoot for the next line that’s coming out.”
I knew Taja was referring to Allison. She was the leading model for TRU and had done the majority of the international photo shoots.
“He’s hurting. He knew he lost the best thing that was out there. Of course, he’s going to go through extreme measures to talk to you.”
She shook her head. “He can try to, but I’m done.” She let out a deep sigh. “How was work? Did you hear from your mom today?”
Taja was special. Even though she was dealing with her own personal issues, she still took a moment to check on me. She was making me fall harder and harder for her, and she didn’t even notice.
“The usual, a lot of meetings. I’m actually about to head to the hospital now. Would you like to go?”
“Yeah, I need to apologize and thank your sister for her support. She didn’t have to do what she did.”
I smiled as I thought about Rae. Rae was the perfect big sister. She showed up for people all the time, even when people didn’t show up for her. I regretted straining our relationship. The distance between Rae and me boiled down to being my fault. The chip I proudly wore caused it all.
“Yeah, she is special.”
* * *
One hour later, after a Target run, we were pulling up to the hospital. Taja insisted on stopping and picking up a gift for Rae. She got her a card, wrote a message in it, and included a gift card.
I shut the car off and side-eyed Taja. After leaving Target, we had a playful debate about whether sleeping with socks on was weird.
“Don’t look at me like that! I can’t help it. I have to have socks on when I sleep. I always have,” she proudly affirmed.
“Mentally, that means something is wrong with you. Anyone who takes the time out of their night to make sure they have socks on for bed is crazy.”
She playfully slapped my arm. “Don’t play with me, Weston.”
I held my hands up, surrendering. “My bad, serial killer,” I joked.
“Get out of the car before you be checking into the ER from me beating you up!”
I laughed at Taja while following behind her as we headed to the elevator. Even when we rode up, I continued to tease her.
“Stop, Weston! I’m telling Rae that you’re calling me a serial killer.”
The elevator dinged, notifying us we had made it to the floor my mother was on. Taja stormed out with her lip poking out. I laughed at the tantrum she was trying to throw. I could see her trying her best to hold her laugh but failing miserably. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her into my body before we could walk further into the unit.
“Don’t be mad at me,” I whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry. You forgive me?”
With Taja pushed up against me and me being inches away from her lips, I felt myself bricking, and I know she did too. She hadn’t answered me yet. I leaned in closer, placing my lips centimeters from her ears. This time, when I spoke, they brushed up against them.
“You forgive me, Ta?”
I could feel her swallow deep. “I forgive you.”
I placed a soft peck on her ear and smiled. “Thank you.”
Removing my arm from around her waist, I walked in front of her. She hadn’t moved. She stood there staring at me. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah...um sure. L-let’s go.”
Spinning on my heels, I turned around. I couldn’t contain the smirk on my face. I could hear her feet behind me as we walked toward my mother’s room. My smile changed once I saw Rae standing outside of my mother’s room in Keezy’s arms. He was holding her tight and whispering in her ear.
“Yo, what the hell is going on?” I asked immediately, walking up on them.
Keezy looked at me. Rae pulled her head from Keezy’s chest. The look on her face caused my soul to leave my body. Her eyes were swollen and red.
“Rae, what’s going on?”
She sniffed and sobbed. She tried her best to talk, but nothing was coming out. I looked over at Keezy. He took a deep breath and sighed.
“Keezy, what the fuck is going on, man?”
“The...the doctors gave your mom less than twenty-four hours. She took a turn for the worse this morning. There is no brain activity. Her vitals are going down. They are asking for y’all to say your goodbyes.”
Taja gasped behind me. “Oh no!”
There was no way this was happening. My mother was supposed to live forever. These doctors didn’t know what they were talking about. I needed to remove my mother from this facility and send her somewhere else. That’s what I wanted to do from the beginning. Now, my mother was dying, and they gave her no fighting chance.
“Where is the doctor?” I yelled.
Rae was in no shape to speak. She was still crying. Keezy looked at me.
“Wes, come on, man.”
“Keezy, this is my motherfucking mama! These doctors don’t know what the fuck they are talking about! Get me the goddamn doctor or the nurse now!”
I stormed into my mother’s room, grabbed the call bell, and rapidly pressed the button to alert the nurse.
“Man, don’t do this,” Keezy pleaded, walking into the room.
Rae was behind him, still crying but looking at me, confused. “Wes, what are you doing?”
“The shit I should’ve done before. I’m transferring her up out of her. These shitty ass doctors know nothing. That’s why you should’ve let me move her when I suggested.”
“These are some of the best doctors, Wes! Don’t do this. Moving her would only cause more damage.”
Before I could respond, the nurse came running into the room. She was a young nurse. She wore a face full of makeup, curly brown hair, and tight scrubs. I could tell she only cared about the aesthetic of being a nurse and not the care of my mother.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“No, fuck no, it’s not. Where is the doctor? I want my mother moved up out of here.”
She looked back and forth between us. “I can try to page him. He might be with another patient at the moment—”
“I don’t care about that. Get him here, now!” I cut her off.
The nurse rushed out of the room. I paced back and forth, trying to control my breathing. I looked over at my mama, who looked as if she was sleeping peacefully. I ran to the side of her bed, grabbing her hand.
“Mama, don’t worry. I’m going to make this right. Trust me, once I get the paperwork, you will be going to the best facility there is. I don’t care about the cost. I’m going to take care of you, Ma. I swear I am.” My voice was breaking, and tears were flowing.
Seconds later, the doctor came marching into the room with the nurse behind him. “I heard I was needed?” he asked, looking back and forth between us.
“Yes,” I said, wiping my tears. “I want my mother out of here. Who are you to play God and say how long my mother has to live? Give me the goddamn paperwork to have my mother transferred to a hospital that won’t give her a timeline and try to play God with her life.”
“Weston!” Rae shouted.
“Nah, I don’t want to hear that shit, Rae. We wouldn’t be dealing with this if you would’ve just let me move her the first time! I bet if it would’ve been about something stupid, you would’ve taken the money!”
Rae gasped. “Fuck you, Weston. You will never change. I’m the power of attorney, and we are not moving her. Plus, she has a DNR in place.”
The room went quiet. Keezy stood there, shaking his head. Taja looked at me with so much sadness in her eyes.
“A...a what?” My voice cracked.
“She didn’t want the burden of us having to take care of her if something happened to her. She knew it would be a strain mentally, physically, and financially. So, if her heart stops beating, there is nothing we can do.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My mother wasn’t even giving herself a chance to fight. My emotions were all over the place. I was more angry than sad at this point. It felt selfish of my mother to even think of doing something like this. I pulled out my phone in search of my attorney. I wanted him to review the paperwork because there was no way my mother would think to leave this earth without a fight.
“Weston, who are you calling?” Rae asked.
“My attorney! Who the fuck else? I don’t believe Mama would want to leave us on this earth without her. You’re full of shit, Rae. Who even reviewed the paperwork? Y’all probably had some piss poor lawyer instead of just asking me for my attorney! Now look at this shit that we are in!”
Rae’s eyes widened. Keezy shook his head, still holding onto Rae.
“Sir, I understand you are upset about your mother. If you move her, the damage will be done. It’s best if you prepare to say your goodbyes now.”
The doctor left the room, shutting the door behind him. My eyes bounced toward my mother. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Everything felt as if it was my fault. If I had just listened that day at her house, all of this could’ve been avoided. I moved closer to her bed, laying my head on her lap.
“Mama, I’m so sorry. Mama, I didn’t mean any of the shit I did. Mama, please, please wake up for me so I can make this right,” I begged.
I broke down. My sobs were loud, and my shoulders shook. I could have spent years loving her and experiencing our relationship instead of building a wall between us. My mother was supposed to live forever. I felt a hand slowly rub and down my back. I turned around and saw a wet-eyed Taja standing there rubbing me on my back. She said nothing as she continued her gesture of comforting me. That broke me more. My mother would have never gotten the opportunity to meet the woman who I was falling so deeply for.