Chapter 16
Oden
When everything happened with Ashley, I truly thought my life was over, and for years I lived in that.
I existed in this dark ass cloud of despair until I got to know myself for once in my life.
I took the time to be aware of the things I wanted and cared for.
I took the time to care for myself all while my brother raised my child.
Of course that was flawed in some eyes, but I knew while I was freshly carrying the guilt of what I had done, I wouldn’t be the best version of myself for Aja.
How could I care for my daughter when I couldn’t even care for myself?
Never in a million years did I intend to meet and fall in love with the woman who now owned everything about me.
I was sure she hadn’t intended to do so, and shit I didn’t intend for her to, but somehow, between coming up with code words and experiencing her, she became everything I didn’t know I deserved.
Maybe I didn’t deserve her, but for the rest of her life I’d work on that part.
When we returned from the store earlier, all of the tests confirmed what we both already knew. Jade was carrying what would be our first child together and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. My baby was having my baby.
Movement on my chest interrupted my thoughts and immediately I glanced down at her.
She was cuddling closer to me in a deep sleep while I lay awake thinking about a future that felt limitless.
Though I was lowkey overthinking, things like that were necessary.
I was mentally planning a life with Jade with the intent of it being forever.
The love and assurance I got from Jade was unheard of.
She made me feel human and fucking seen.
I told her about the darkest moment in my life and she spoke life into me.
Even after knowing what I had done, she didn’t look at me any differently.
If anything, it made her hold on to me even tighter, heightening the assurance she already gave.
Eventually I fell asleep, but the sound of my phone vibrating against my nightstand woke me up hours later.
Where Jade could sleep through any noise, I couldn’t.
Especially if it was a ringing phone. I had to know who was calling because knowing my brother it could have been anything.
Probably not now, because he was a family man, but before Harlem he was a wild nigga.
I reached beside me and grabbed my phone. At first glance I peeped that it was Reminisce. The fuck was he calling so early for? Then I looked at the time. It wasn’t early at all. I had fallen asleep later than usual, now my time was off.
“Yeah,” I answered, eyes moving around the room from the empty space next to me.
“You sound like you knocked out. My bad, bro. But your boy is gonna be at the shop today, for most of the day until close. Ol’ girl just called me.” His background was noisy, but I heard him loud and clear.
“Bet.”
“I’d slide but I’m fucking stuck in Vegas. My flight had a fucking layover that went from an hour to six. I’ve been tryna get to Cresent Falls all fucking morning.”
“Damn. It’s cool I got it.”
“Bet.”
Once we hung up, I lay in bed for a minute, staring at the ceiling.
Then I decided to get up and see where Jade was.
Usually, she would have awakened me when she got up, but this time she didn’t.
She must have been working. When I finally got up, my first stop was the washroom.
After, I came back into the bedroom and grabbed my phone.
I checked my phone and found the usual. Lois with updates about the restaurant and this upcoming shoot and my daughter letting me know she wanted me to pick her up from her uncle’s house tonight.
She didn’t need a response to know I’d be there to get her.
When I walked into the kitchen, Jade was seated on the island in my shirt with her phone glued to the side of her face.
“No Beyah, I am not neglecting you or my nephews. I have been busy, and you know it.”
A few seconds later she laughed, holding on to her chest with her free hand. “I don’t say anything when you’re all up under my brother, so please stop getting on my case. Plus, if you wanted to see me, you very well could have come to see me.”
She then laughed more before those big, expressive eyes landed on me. “Wait, that is true. How about we plan to meet up next week in The Loop?”
While I decided to get started on breakfast to feed her pretty ass, she finished her conversation. About five minutes in, she was off the phone and I felt her staring right before she spoke.
“What are you making?”
“You something to eat.” I went into the refrigerator for chicken sausage and eggs.
“Would that happen to include pancakes?”
“If you want it to.” I peeked over at her and the expression on her face had me grinning. That grin lit up my whole world.
“You keep it up and I’m gonna be so spoiled.”
I turned around and looked at her. “And you don’t think you are now?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, am I? Choose what you say wisely, Chef.”
I shook my head and decided not to say anything.
“Good choice. I made the appointment for Monday, if that’s okay with you. I know you’re cooking Tuesday and Thursday.”
I nodded. “That works. You wanna ride out to the house with me to grab some things Saturday evening?”
She nodded, extremely excited. “Can we stay the night and come back Sunday afternoon?”
“Yeah. I fuck with that.”
She giggled. “Maybe I could watch you chop more wood.”
“You like that, huh?” I placed the sausages in the pan and turned to wash my hands. Then I found my way between her legs since she wanted my attention so much.
“Yes, I do. It’s sexy. My lumberjack without the plaid.”
I busted up laughing. “Jade, that ain’t what that means.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s how I see it and I’m so fine with it.” Her arms found their way around my neck while my hands found where her body met the island. “I’m not going into the shop today. Ava has convinced me that she has it.”
I nodded. “You trust her, don’t you?”
Jade nodded. “Of course I do.”
“Then that’s th—” My statement was interrupted by a knock on the door. Immediately, I questioned who I could be. “I got it, baby, flip the sausages for me.”
I didn’t wait for her response. I was already moving toward the front door.
Once at the door I looked through the peephole.
Irritation immediately filled my body because what the fuck was she doing here?
I stepped back and opened the door with a mug plastered on my face.
Showing up to my business was one thing, but to pop up at my home was something different.
“You wanna tell me why you’re at my door?”
She smiled politely, eyes roaming from my face to my bare chest. They lingered for a moment before the sound of my voice interrupted.
“I said would you like to tell me why you’re at my fucking door.”
She cleared her throat and changed her stance, eyes finally finding my face again. I could see in them that she damn sure wasn’t thinking about a case. “I was wondering if you had time to meet with me about some of my findings as it pertains to your wife’s case.”
I laughed. “Ex-wife.”
“Oh my apologies, your ex-wife. From what I understand, her auntie who used to keep Aja wasn’t aware that the two of you were having problems.”
“That makes two of us.” I stood firm at the door, waiting for her to finish her spiel.
“What I’m saying is, there is no indication that there was anyone else she could have left you for. How do we know she ran off?”
“Except the letter and the money she took, right? But I’m not about to keep having this same conversation with you, especially whe?—”
“Baby, who’s at the door?” Jade’s footsteps and voice made me turn around. There she stood, her wild hair all over the place and inquisitiveness in her eyes. When I didn’t respond, she eased under my arm to see who it was.
I could see irritation in Detective Jordan Oaks’ eyes when she laid eyes on Jade. Shit was crazy because this woman was supposed to be here to investigate the disappearance of my ex-wife, yet she was mugging Jade up.
“Baby, this is Detective Jordan Oaks. She’s here to investigate Ashley’s disappearance. She just finished talking.”
“Oh, okay. Well, have a good day, Ms. Oaks. The sausages are done, babe.” Jade turned on her heel to walk away, but I caught her hand.
Before she could say anything else, I closed the door with my free hand and pulled Jade against me. I spoke lowly against her forehead “Nothing to worry about, I promise.”. I figured I’d address it before it festered. I pressed a kiss against her forehead.
“Okay.” It lacked confidence, but it was cool. All I could do was show her that I wasn’t going nowhere and there wasn’t anything for this detective to find.
When we made it back to the kitchen, I immediately got back to making her breakfast. I needed to feed her and my baby, because knowing Jade, she’d think a cup of tea and dried cereal was a meal. It damn sure wasn’t.
“What are your plans for today?” Jade asked, hopping back onto the counter.
“I don’t know, you tell me. You got me for a whi—” My phone rang, pausing my words. When I pulled it out of my pocket, I saw it was Kinga calling. I answered immediately.
“Yeah.”
“Good morning to you too, motherfucker,” he greeted and I laughed.
“I’m with you all day, baby. Then we’re having dinner at Harlem and Kinga’s house since we’re picking Aja up. That cool with you?” I asked and she nodded but he started talking shit.
“Nigga, I ain’t invite you over for dinner. Where did you get that from? How do you even know my wife is cooking?” Leave it to Kinga to be this damn disgruntled. It was literally his normal personality trait and had been since we were kids.
“Yes, I’m cooking, and Oden, tell Jade to bring a bottle of wine. We’re drinking tonight,” Harlem answered happily in the background and my brother sucked his teeth.