Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
MEKAYLA
“ H e didn’t have life insurance, Mekayla,” Zhori said.
“I need to go outside.”
I stood and walked away from Uncle Storm without a word. LaTee had nearly fallen to the floor since she was on my lap. All I could see was red, and I couldn’t say the shit I wanted to say in front of her or Karima. I knew Uncle Storm would probably egg me on. Jacob was at the front door, welcoming more of his family inside, so I knew he wouldn’t be following me.
When I walked out the back door, I said, “Now start again.”
“When he tried to get insurance a year and a half ago, they wouldn’t insure him. He’d already been diagnosed with cancer. So, he doesn’t have insurance. He didn’t have a wife or any other kids, so it’s up to us. He and I just made things right a couple of weeks ago, and here he is, in my pockets.”
I rolled my eyes. All Zhori ever thought about was money. It was probably because we never had any. My line beeped, and I saw it was Keonshay. “Zhori, I’m a single mother. I don’t have any extra money to pay for a funeral.”
“You can’t ask your boyfriend? I mean, that platinum grill had to cost a grip.”
“Nigga, watch your fucking mouth. Burying Stacy isn’t his responsibility, and honestly, it ain’t ours either. Jacob and I have only been together a couple of weeks or so. I am not about to ask him for his hard-earned money for nothing! One thing I have never been is a fucking gold digger or an opportunist, and I’ll be damned if I’m gon’ look like one.”
I ended the call and called Keonshay back.
“Mekayla, I’m so sorry. Mama just told me. Where are you? Do you need anything?”
“I’m in Nome at Jacob’s house. His family is cooking and trying to keep LaTee and I in good spirits. Your brother fucked that shit up though. Stacy didn’t have life insurance, and Zhori don’t wanna pay for his funeral. I don’t have the money to pay for it.”
I huffed as she said, “I’ll talk to Kace and see if we can help out.”
“No. Zhori has the money. He just doesn’t want to spend it on Stacy’s funeral. He doesn’t even have to have a funeral. Somebody had to sign something for the funeral home, right?”
“Yeah. Mama did. She told me what the hospital did to you. That was messed up. Your father was dying, and they were worried about a kid being in there? Speaking of… I know you were triggered. How are you feeling now?”
I glanced inside through the window and saw LaTee talking to Uncle Storm. “I’m okay. I just hate that I acted an ass in front of Jacob. I could tell he was confused as to what was going on with me. We’re gonna talk later when everyone leaves. Sis, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Please let me know when you get home. We’ll come by.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I ended the call and made my way back inside as I saw Jacob looking for me. His mama and his two aunts were in the kitchen, and the front room was full. I’d seen most of them at the diner earlier. As I got closer to him, his eyes met mine, and he smiled.
“I was wondering where you went. Uncle Jasper was looking for you.”
I smiled slightly. “Okay.”
He grabbed my hand and led me to him. He gave me a soft smile and a hug. “Hey, niece. Sorry about your pops.”
“Thank you.”
“I can tell by your lips that you ain’t a stranger, so I rolled you a lil something.”
I gave him a one-sided smile then accepted the fat ass blunt he held between his fingers. “I appreciate you. I’m not a stranger, but I hadn’t had one in a long time. This will definitely take me far away from here tonight.”
He chuckled. “If you want company, you in a room full of it. We smoke nearly every Friday night as a family. I smoke every other day though.”
I chuckled. “Y’all smoke as a family? That’s different.”
He laughed. “Hell yeah! We roll as a unit!”
I looked around the room and didn’t see LaTee. “Excuse me, Unc.”
I walked back to the couch where she last was and glanced around the room. I could feel myself starting to panic. My face was hot as hell, and my mind was racing. What if one of the men took her to a back room? What if they took her away from the house? What if a fucking woman took her? What if she’s exploring my child while I’m accepting a fucking blunt? What if…
“She’s in the kitchen.”
I spun around to see Karima. I felt like I was about to have a fucking panic attack. She grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen to see LaTee with Jacob’s mother. “Diamond, how do you get mac and cheese inside the chicken?” LaTee asked her.
Apparently, she’d settled on a name for her. As I watched them interact, Karima lightly rubbed my back. “She’s okay. I’m not going to tell you to relax, because you’re a mother, but you’re in the company of family. We got’chu. That type of time ain’t happening on our watch. Unfortunately, we had to learn to be diligent at the expense of my cousins’ innocence. It won’t happen again.”
“How did you know I was looking for her?”
She smiled. “I could see the panicked expression on your face. I pay close attention to things. Plus, my spirit is extremely keen. I can sense things. I do not participate in the family smoke sessions on Fridays.”
I chuckled. She was extremely sweet and calming. I felt like I was on the verge of hyperventilating earlier, but now I was calm as hell. She grabbed my hand, and I swore God had touched me. My entire body heated up as I closed my eyes. The spirit of God seemed to inhabit her and He was now inhabiting me. I could see why Jacob always talked to her, especially when he was having issues.
“Mama! Come see!”
I opened my eyes and turned my attention to my baby as I released Karima’s hand. She was gesturing for me to go closer. “Mama! Diamond puts mac and cheese inside the fried chicken!”
I giggled. “I know. I’ve eaten it before. Why are you calling her Diamond though?”
“Because she shines bright like a diamond,” she said, mimicking the Rihanna song. “It’s her hair and her smile! Look at her!”
Mrs. Jen smiled big. She was eating up this attention from LaTee. One would have thought she didn’t have a grandchild already with the way they’d already bonded. She hugged LaTee then me. “I’m so sorry about your father, baby. It’s been a full, emotional day for you, huh?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m thankful for y’all though.”
“This is what family does. We’re there for each other. Your family is more than welcome to come here. They are welcome because they are a part of you.”
I smiled. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
I turned to see LaTee was over by Aunt Chrissy, watching her take French fries from the grease. Mrs. Jen gently rubbed my back. “She’s fine. Go find your man and rest, sweetie.”
I smiled at her and left the kitchen, heading to the front room where mostly everyone was. I was nervous, because I never left my baby under anyone’s supervision, except Jivoni’s and Keonshay’s. When I got to the couch, I closed my eyes and counted to ten, trying to relax. I slowly opened them to see Cassie and Mya sitting on either side of me. They wrapped their arms around me at the same time.
“Thanks, ladies. I appreciate you.”
“Of course. We’re gonna move out of the way because Maui, Ashanni, Angel, and Milana were looking for you too. They wanted to introduce you to the twins since they’re here,” Cassie said.
“Who has twins?” I asked.
“I’ll let you tell us who they belong to once you meet them,” Mya said then chuckled.
Just from that disclaimer, I knew they had to belong to Uncle Mayor. I slowly shook my head as I saw the others headed my way. Maui and Ashanni did the same as Cassie and Mya, hugging me tightly, then Angel and Milana. God, the love was palpable, and they didn’t even know me. When I saw the twins standing there staring at me, I stood.
Unfortunately, they weren’t privy to how things went down between their father and me our first time meeting. They didn’t know I could be a whole jackass, just like them. I gave them the same look they were giving me… like they didn’t belong here. They glanced at each other and laughed. I frowned as the one with a slightly fuller face said, “Daddy Mayor didn’t lie. She ’bout it, huh, sis?”
“Hell yeah. Our cousins picking their women right !”
“I’m Noni, and that’s Bali. Storm is our father.”
I smiled slightly and nodded. “Nice to meet y’all. I’m?—”
“Pam. We know. That nigga is practically our best friend. We know your real name is Mekayla, but Pam is for sure gonna stick.”
I slowly shook my head. They were indeed just like their father. “What’s the easiest way to tell y’all apart?” I asked, going back and forth between the two of them. “Never mind. I found something.”
They both frowned. “What did you find?” Noni asked.
“Bali is a little taller, but your noses are slightly different. Yours is a little more pointy.”
“Hmph. That was pretty good. People usually say Bali has a fuller face or that she’s bigger.”
“Well, I noticed that too, but I didn’t want to offend either of you by saying so.”
They glanced at each other and nodded. They gave me slight smiles and walked away without another word. “Well, damn. I stand corrected,” Maui said from next to me.
“What do you mean?”
“They weren’t as rude as I thought they would be. They have no shame, just like their father.” She cracked up. “They’re my older sisters. That’s why I can say that.”
I chuckled too. “Y’all are like night and day.”
“Yep.”
I sat back on the couch, and Jacob joined me. I leaned against him, soaking in his love for me. I could feel it even with all these people here. He slid his arm around me and kissed my head. “You have a house full of people that just wanna love you and LaTee.”
“I see. Thank you, baby. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After I finished showering and brushing my teeth, I headed to the front room to talk to Jacob. LaTee was in bed watching TV, and I would be joining her after our talk. I was so grateful for Maui. She and Ashanni had gone to the store to buy some things for LaTee and me. I didn’t know how she knew our sizes, but she did. Jacob said he’d told her to get what she thought we needed, and she did a great job. I got happy when I saw the Target bags. That was one of my favorite stores.
It was almost one in the morning, and I was beyond tired. The family had kept me thoroughly entertained, especially after I got high. I kept LaTee extra close after that, because I was paranoid as fuck. That was the only thing I hated. Whenever I was high around people I didn’t know as well, I was paranoid as hell.
Uncle Jasper was fun as hell, though, and had told me I was welcome to go to his house or his smoke and chill spot whenever I wanted. Listening to him and Uncle Mayor go back and forth was thoroughly entertaining, especially when he called him a tropical storm for being sensitive with me. I almost choked when he said he needed to go back out in the water to get his strength up.
When I got to the couch where Jacob was, I smiled and flopped down next to him. I was still somewhat drifting through the clouds. That was some good shit Uncle Jasper had access to. I leaned against him as he chuckled.
“That shit still got you higher than Cooter Brown.”
I frowned. “Who the hell is that?” I asked then laughed.
“It’s just an expression.”
“Oh. I really enjoyed your family tonight. Thank you so much. It took a lot off my mind.”
“Anytime, baby.”
He kissed my cheek then my neck. That shit felt so good, but I had to stop him. “If I let you keep going, we won’t be talking.”
He nodded and bit his bottom lip. Damn, I wanted his sexy ass. He put his feet up on the ottoman and gave me his undivided attention.
“When I saw my mama close to you, it made the old Mekayla resurface. Although I’ve forgiven her for everything, this is a new situation for me. Back when I was younger, Mercedes didn’t give a damn who she flirted with. She’d even flirted with Keonshay’s boyfriend… Kace. Had she flirted with you, I would have beat her ass right there at the hospital. I would have gotten put out before seeing my dad.”
I took a deep breath. “After that, it was like I was in the wrong frame of mind. I was emotional, confrontational, angry, defensive, and loud. I’m so sorry I yelled at you. My mama has never been alone with LaTee. Not many people have… only two of my sisters. Because I was raped by my mama’s boyfriend and later by Kace’s frat brother, whenever LaTee is out of my sight, I get nervous, thinking someone is doing things to her. When you picked her up…”
I dropped my face to my hands. I knew Jacob would never hurt LaTee, but seeing him hold her that way while I was losing it took me back to my trauma. I never wanted to think that way about him unless he gave me reason to. He had been nothing but understanding, patient, and kind to my daughter and me.
“I get it, baby. I would never hurt you or LaTee, but I can understand where your mind went. I’ll be mindful of that.”
“No. I want you to be comfortable. I don’t want to ever feel triggered by anything you do. I know what I feel for you, and I know you are a genuine soul. I don’t want to dim your experience with our daughter because of my past. I’m trying to get past all of that. I could tell Mercedes was hurt. I have to talk to her too.”
“Zhori had said to be patient with you. What did he say in your ear?”
“He said that I no longer had to be that Mekayla.”
He nodded.
“That was why I didn’t want to leave you or LaTee alone with Mercedes. I suppose, deep down, I still don’t trust her. Then again, it’s not so deep down. I have never let LaTee be alone with her. That shit is intentional. While I believe I forgave her, I haven’t forgotten. Whenever I behave this way around her, it doesn’t allow her to forget either. She knew her boyfriend raped me, but she kept him around. My biggest fear is that my daughter will suffer the same fate.”
“I understand, baby. I’m going to do my best to help you work through it.”
“I could tell you were getting frustrated. I’m sorry for lashing out at you. It’s like I can’t control it when I’m that worked up.”
“Shh. We’re good. I got’chu. Maybe you can talk to the family counselor, too, since she’s back to stay.”
I knew he was speaking about Karima. She and I had talked a little more before she left. She was an angel of God… had to be. She could see things I wasn’t saying. I glanced up at him and said, “Maybe so. She’s a sweet soul.”
“Yep. Well, you ready for bed? We’ve had a long day.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna sleep with my baby.”
He nodded. I could tell he wasn’t happy with that arrangement, but I had to make sure she was okay. The loss we’d suffered today was just as bad for her. She only knew how great of a person he was. Knowing that he left this world with her lying next to him was hard for her. Jacob stood, and he led me to the room she was in. I noticed he was limping slightly. He’d done too much today.
“We can have a session tomorrow, if you want.”
“Naw. I’ll wait until Monday. I’ll just rest it a bit. I love you so much already.”
I slid my hand to his face then pulled it to mine and kissed his lips. I loved him more than I’d ever loved anyone. He pulled me closer and slid his tongue to mine. He was gonna have me sneaking to his room later.
“I love you so much too. Thanks again for everything.”
“Mm hmm. I’m your man. It’s my job to be here for you… even if you need me to pay for the funeral.”
My eyes widened because I didn’t know how he knew. He kissed my forehead and said, “Get some rest, beautiful.”
I watched him walk down the hallway to another bedroom in awe. I slowly shook my head and went inside the room with my daughter, wishing I could have followed him to his.