Chapter 61 Hallow
Hallow
Inside, Gavin’s on a stool, hanging up a blown-up photo from my latest shoot. My fit is tea. I still can’t get over it. I’m wearing a black blazer suit, red bottom heels, and my long Burmese middle part falling in soft waves down my back.
“Watch boss lady pan nice wall!” Gavin claps as he hops down, proud of his work. Perioddd.
I smile to myself and hug my cousins, if there’s one thing they’re good at, it’s coming through. Sash stares at it.
“This nyam up fi real eno.” she says, looking to the other girls who agree immediately.
“Thanks ladies,” I smile, feeling good. Sash and the girls go back to helping customers while Gavin steps outside to take a call, covering the security work today. I take one last look around, pleased with how everything’s running, then get in the car and grab my phone.
I call Nickoi.
The phone rings and he finally picks up. I can hear our babies all over him, and I chuckle softly. His smile widens when he sees me.
“Look pan yuh pretty mommy,” he says, gently turning Zahira’s face toward the camera. She giggles, and my heart melts.
“Hey, pumpkin,” I grin.
Zahir tries climbing up to Nickoi’s shoulder.
“Aww, he was trying to stand!” I laugh.
Nickoi’s dimples show as he smiles but he keeps his focus on Zahir. “Look pan mommy nuh,” he says, and Zahir leans closer to the screen, looking right at me. I rest my hand on my cheek, love swelling up inside me. Watching my babies grow is the best feeling ever.
Nickoi puts the twins down and props the phone on the table. From the background, I hear Gavin’s voice and laughter.
“Look like we affi go, go past 6pm. We can do that?” he asks, spraying sanitizer in a customer’s hand just as I’m about to press the ignition.
I glance at the time.
The shop is still full and sales are flowing, but I’m tired. Still, I nod. “Yeah, you can do that.”
“Mi cook food,” Nickoi says and I put my hair behind my ears and he bites his lips.
“Why you do that?” He smirks.
Him like it.
I shrug, acting innocent. “No reason.”
“Hmm,” he smiles and I start smiling too then Gavin coughs.
I look over at him. I thought that he was directing that to us but actually it’s Sash. She’s talking with a boy at the door and he’s handsome. I guess she’s just being awfully nice to a next guy.
I look back at my phone, focusing on Mr. Fine. Thinking of it I never really called him Mr. Fine, I always thought of it though.
“Come yer deh Zara,” Gavin calls me out of my car, and I follow knowing I’m getting tea.
I walk in again, and Sash is smiling a lot with the guy.
She’s wearing blonde braids, pink blouse with my logo on the left with her denim jeans and pink crocs.
It’s basically the uniform. They wear any pants or shoe that they want.
“Been a while Ethan,” she blushes and I finally take him in. He’s not the type of guy you’d see Sash crushing on. He’s pretty decent. He dresses nicely but he’s not a scammer. I’m sureeee.
I’m astonished that this guy is able to make Sash blush because she’s always behaving like she’s blind to every man but scammers.
“Where you live now?” She tilts her head up at him.
Mi shock eno… mi shock.
“New Jersey mi live man mi just come link mi grandmother,” he says and her face falls. She nods slowly before she smiles.
Watch yah nuh.
“Okay, it’s good to see you,” Sash a speak English?
Nosah.
She not even a act like Sash.
A who this?
She a try fi come off… decent? Nosah mi need fi know who this bwoy is because them seem like them have quite a history.
True! Blushing and all these thingzz! My subconscious shrieks.
I look over at Gavin and he’s looking at her too with a weird smile. He’s thinking what I’m thinking.
Me see why unuh a best friend.
“Um you know him?” I whisper and he shakes his head no, still looking at them.
“Mi nuh know him,” he’s fighting his smile.
I smile too. “Them have a history, mi nah ask,” I say and he chuckles.
“Mhmmm,” he nods, glancing at them.
“Mi a go home now fi real,” I announce.
“Take care boss!”
“Bye Zara!” Sash says, surprising me.
Wah bout dolly?
“Drive safe best fren, mi a tun detective likkle from this and sen yuh the tea, weh yuh want it pan voice note or voice call? Talk fass,” he says making me laugh.
I hug him before I peck his cheek.
“You should a turn comedian,” I finally say to him and he laughs.
“Bye!”
I honk the horn and reverse out, my phone resting on my lap. He’s sitting there, eating something that looks suspiciously like curry chicken, and I gasp.
“A CHICKEN THAT?” I blurt out, louder than I should, startling him. He bursts into laughter, caught off guard.
“No,” he says, still laughing.
“Wah then?” I ask, narrowing my eyes as he lifts the food to show me.
“It’s mushroom,” he says, still grinning.
I sit back in my seat, a little amused and a little embarrassed. “Ohh,” I say, smiling.
“When yaw come home, woman?” he asks, and I laugh at how he says it.
“Wah the woman name?” I tease, and he smirks, not missing a beat.
“Nick woman,” he says, eyes holding mine steadily.
I blush at the name, my heart fluttering in a way I wasn’t expecting. “Fair enough,” I mutter, pretending to focus as I press the gas. My legs are a little cramped, but I ignore the discomfort.
“Arite, mami… I love you,” he says, his voice soft now.
“I love you more,” I reply, feeling the warmth of his words settle inside me.
The night breeze is hitting hard, brushing against my skin through the half-cracked window as I drive. When I make a turn, my eyes catch a familiar face, one of my students. I think her name is Jania. Isn’t she Jordane’s girlfriend?
She’s walking beside a stout man, heading toward the bus stop. My curiosity is instantly piqued. She doesn’t live on this side of town, and as her teacher, I feel responsible, especially given the time.
I quickly turn the music down and blow the horn. She looks over, surprised, then walks toward the car. I pull over to the side and lower the window as she reaches me.
“Good night, Mrs. Williams,” she says politely.
I smile at her, though something tugs in my chest.
It’s Mrs. Jacobs, my subconscious corrects gently, and I shift in my seat.
“Good night, Jania. Where are you heading?” I ask, glancing at the man she was just walking with. He’s standing across the road now, watching us. There’s something unsettling about his presence.
I turn my attention back to Jania and that’s when I see it her face. It’s bruised, swollen in spots, and her eyes are puffy from crying. Dark bags sit underneath them like she hasn’t slept in days.
“Um, I’m going to look for someone,” she says hesitantly.
“Okay… so it’s a little late,” I respond, scanning the area. There are no buses in sight, and the road is unusually quiet. “What time you getting a drive?” I ask gently, trying not to pressure her too much. I glance back at the man. Something’s off.
“You traveling with your dad?” I inquire, choosing my words carefully. He doesn’t look old enough to be her father, but I’m hoping the question opens her up.
“He’s a friend,” she answers, avoiding my eyes, “and no, we are not traveling together. He’s going back home, but I should get a drive to um, Spanish Town.”
Her eyes waters. Something is definitely wrong. My chest tightens, and I know I can’t leave her here.
“Get in the car,” I tell her firmly. “I… I’ll take you.”
It’s going to be a lot for me, especially when I’m already this tired, but she needs someone. I push aside my fear of Spanish Town, just this once.
As she nods and walks around the car, I call out to the stout man to let him know I’ll be giving her a ride. He approaches, cautious but silent, and I prepare myself for whatever comes next.
“I’m gonna take her, okay? I’m her form teacher, Mrs. Jacobs. Take my number,” I tell the man as I hand him my card.
“Thanks,” he nods.
He seems like a good guy, respectful and calm. Nothing about him feels alarming, which gives me a little peace. Still, I can feel Jania’s eyes on me as I get ready to drive. She’s staring at me like she wants to say something, but whatever it is, she’s holding it in tight.
As I drive, my mind is racing. She’s not okay. Her face, the bruises, the way her eyes sink like she hasn’t slept in days, something is seriously wrong.
Where exactly is she going this time of the night?
I stay quiet, trying not to overwhelm her, but I press the gas just a little harder. The silence between us is heavy, tense. She keeps glancing at me now and then, and I know she wants to speak.
“Miss,” she finally says, her voice trailing nervously.
“Yes?” I glance at her quickly before turning my focus back to the road.
“I-I always see J-Jordane around you… a-are you related to him?” Her voice cracks and I hear the sob build.
I furrow my brows, heart dropping a bit.
“He’s my brother-in-law,” I reply.
She wipes her face, but the tears keep flowing. “Um… is… Junior, uh, is he your husband?” she asks, trembling now.
I shake my head. “Nickoi is.”
She gasps quietly, almost like something just clicked into place.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” I say softly, but firmly.
“Um… I-I was in a relationship with him. I mean Jordane, and I… I…” Her voice crumbles again and my chest tightens. I know this feeling. I’ve been there, wanting to speak but afraid, not knowing where to start.
“You’re pregnant,” I say gently, making it easier for her to admit it.
“Y-yes,” she nods as the tears come faster.
“Is Jordane gonna help?” I ask, though deep down I already know the answer.
She shrugs, still crying.
“Miss, I don’t know. I’ve been calling him, and it seem like him block me.
His girlfriend fight me off with her friends, and mi never know him have her.
Now, from mi mother hear about it, she just a beat me.
But miss, mi just want to see him because mi want him fi tell me him a go support me.
Mi mother a pree something else, and that’s why mi a try fi see him as fast as mi can. ” It’s painful to hear her like this.
She doesn’t deserve this.
I sigh and take out my phone, dialing Jordane. He answers on the first ring.
“Zara,” I hear Nickoi’s voice instead.
“Jordane deh over our house?” I ask quickly.
“Yeah, him and him girl a have some issues, so him a gwan relax. Him deh inna the kitchen with the babies,” Nickoi responds.
“Nickoi, mi have his girlfriend,” I say, glancing over at Jania.
She nods, silently giving me permission to continue.
“She’s a student in my class… and she pregnant.
His other girlfriend weh him live with fight her, and now her mom is mad at her.
So mi a bring her there. She want fi talk to Jordane.
She want to know if him willing fi help. ”
“Jah Jah… alright, bring her,” Nickoi says after a pause.
I exhale deeply. “Okay,” I say, then hang up.
I start heading toward home, and Jania gently touches my arm.
“Sorry fi have you a drive up and down, Miss,” her voice trembling.
“No problem. I’m willing to help, Jania,” I tell her with a small smile.
“Thank you,” she looks down, her voice breaking into sobs.
“And if he doesn’t help… my husband and I can. Or I can,” I say firmly, squeezing her hand.
“Thank you, Miss,” she repeats, still crying. I turn the music up a little to break the silence as I drive. My body feels heavy now. I yawn deeply, fighting the tiredness. I continue on, passing a few cars in the other lane, and then my eyelids begin to droop. I blink hard.
I can’t stop now.
Why mi never just wait fi Gavin?
I hiss under my breath. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel.
Suddenly, I blink again and I’m too close to the car in front of me.
My heart stops. I jerk the wheel, but it’s too late.
The car clips the one ahead, and the impact sends us both swerving toward the soft shoulder.
Screams fill the air, Jania’s, mine blending into the screech of tires and the terrible crunch of metal.
I see everything but nothing. I hear voices, but I can’t speak.
Mi swear wi dead.
I’m frozen, completely traumatized.
Oh God.
“It’s just a dent, she look like she let go the steering,” I hear a man say. His voice is far away, like it’s behind a veil. If it wasn’t that serious, why do I feel like my whole life just flashed in front of me? Breathe, Zara.
“Miss Jacobs!” Jania calls out to me, voice panicked, but I can’t answer her. I want to, but I physically can’t.
My mind is spiraling.
All I can think about is the fact that I almost didn’t make it. I wouldn’t have gotten to see my family ever again. I wouldn’t have seen my babies grow. I wouldn’t have felt Nickoi’s lips again or hear his voice whisper “I love you” while half-asleep.
I feel the tears now. I know I’m crying, my vision is too blurred not to be.
I don’t think I ever want to drive again. Maybe I’m not ready for this.
I’m done.
Zara, anything can happen when you’re on the road.
Maybe… maybe it’s me.
This never happens when babe is driving. Maybe I’m the problem. Maybe I need more practice.
Zara… stop.
“Get some air, Miss,” Jania says softly, and I nod. The man who came to help opens my door, and I step out slowly, trying to bring myself back to reality. He’s right, the car isn’t damaged completely. Just a small dent on the front.
If I don’t talk about it, no one will know.
“Seet, a nuh nothing too serious, muma,” the guy says, smiling kindly, and I nod, even though my heart is still pounding.
“Mi know the Benz parts them dear, so muma would a affi a fret,” he chuckles.
Him think a that mek mi zone out? Him crazy?
I stare at the dent, feeling numb.
If only he knew the car was the last thing on my mind. My husband has a garage filled with cars. I wasn’t worrying about that. I was only thinking about my family. But him wouldn’t know that.
“Just make a body man deal with that man. And your car brand new again,” he says, and I nod once more, still dazed.