Chapter 17
When we got to the shop, I slowly shook my head. Ignant ass ho. I couldn’t wait to look at the camera footage to see if I knew who she was. I really wanted to unblock Will and go the fuck off, but I decided to allow the police to do their jobs. That window she threw the brick through was the most beautiful part of the shop. It had flowers and my logo painted on it. It was special because my mama was the one to paint it.
After Ezekiel got out of the car, I took deep breaths, trying to steady my emotions. He said I didn’t have to be strong all the time, but I knew no other way to be. It was how my mama raised me to be. She told me not to depend on a man to do shit for me or make me feel validated. I needed to be able to do that shit for myself. I’d stuck to that mantra like gorilla glue.
Will didn’t make me feel confident in his ability to support me emotionally or any other way for that matter. Shit, I was supporting him financially for most of our relationship. Why would he go to these lengths? He had to know this shit wasn’t going to convince me to go back to him, especially since I was no longer in love with him. His thinking had to be backward as hell.
Ezekiel helped me from my seat, and we walked to the entrance to unlock the door. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to mentally prepare for what I would see. My OCD was gonna kick in, and I was going to want to clean all that shit up. Before I could open the door, my phone chimed with text messages. I frowned slightly then pulled my phone from my pocket as Ezekiel caressed my back.
Hey, Denishia. I took pictures of all the damage. I’m sorry that shit happened at your place. Jerzey wanted to clean shit up, because she said she refused to have you go into that mess. You have enough on your plate, dealing with grief. So I took these pictures so you could show them to the insurance adjuster.
I released a sigh of relief and true gratitude. That message was from Daryl at the barbershop. He was always friendly, but I didn’t expect him to go above and beyond for me. Opening the door, I walked in, and the shop was completely clean, looking like it did the last time I was here.
“Oh wow. Who cleaned up?” Ezekiel asked.
“A guy I know that owns the barbershop down the street. I owe him big time. I don’t know how I would’ve reacted to seeing glass and blood everywhere. God bless him and Jerzey.” I turned to Ezekiel to see him looking around. Stepping toward him, I extended my phone. “He took these pictures. I really don’t want to look at them right now, but that was who texted me as we were about to come inside.”
He took the phone from me as it chimed again. I walked away to look around to make sure everything was cool and in its proper places. To know I had people looking out for me the way they did today was somewhat overwhelming. Even all the flowers were put in their proper places. I hated that we had to let customers down today. I was supposed to be delivering a couple of bouquets around noon.
It was already three o’clock, and I knew I would have to refund their money. When I felt a touch on my shoulder, I flinched. I’d retreated within my own thoughts and had completely forgotten Ezekiel was with me. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Umm… you got a new text.”
“Yeah. I heard it chime when I handed it to you.”
“From what I saw on the message preview, you might wanna check it,” he said as his phone rang.
He handed me the phone, and I immediately opened the message.
I know who did that shit. If you unblock me, I can tell you. That’s what I’ve been trying to talk to you for.
I rolled my eyes. Did I believe him? Partially. Will probably had an ulterior motive. I believed he probably had information, but I also believed he wouldn’t tell me everything. I was more than sure he was involved in some way. Of course, that would be the part he left out though.
I quickly messaged back. I’m not unblocking you, Will. However, you can give the information you have to the police. I’m not about to play games with your ass.
I turned to Ezekiel to see him staring at me. “Will says he knows who’s behind this.” I rolled my eyes. “I bet he does.”
He came closer to me and enveloped me in his arms. “I’ll go with you to meet him, if you want to. I have bad news though.”
I pulled away slightly and stared into his eyes. “You have to leave, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I have to meet with a director for a Broadway production in a couple of days. So I’m gonna have to fly out tomorrow evening.”
I lowered my head, wishing I could leave with him. He lifted it by my chin. “I promise, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I know you have business to handle; otherwise, I would ask you to come with me. So whatever you wanna do regarding Will, I’ll be there for you.”
Before I could respond, my phone chimed again. I pulled away and rolled my eyes. It was another message from Will.
I can’t do that. You know they already on my ass. I’m not going to jail over no bullshit I ain’t got nothing to do with. Meet me at Starbucks at six. You need to know, Denishia. It will help you understand everything, including my actions a couple of weeks ago.
I glanced up at Ezekiel to find his eyes on me. “He wants to meet at Starbucks at six. He’s refusing to go to the police.”
He nodded. “The question is, do you think he knows something that can help you? Something that can get that woman arrested?”
I thought hard for a few seconds. Since I had Ezekiel with me, it couldn’t hurt to meet up with him. There was no way I would meet up with him alone. I huffed. “I do. I originally thought he was involved, but I don’t know now. I just don’t understand who else would want to hurt me. After what Jamia said, the lady may not have wanted to hurt me physically… just my business. My pockets.”
I was staring into space as my mind ran in circles, trying to think of anyone I may have rubbed the wrong way, and I kept coming up empty. This was weird as hell, and my curiosity was more than piqued. Breaking out of my thoughts, I stared at Ezekiel.
“Okay. Well, let’s go get a late lunch. Call and see if Jerzey wants something.”
I nodded, then did as he said. I couldn’t wait to put this behind me. After getting her order for Whataburger, I called to check on my grandmother and update her on the happenings. She decided she would be going with us to Starbucks too. I hated that all this shit was going on and couldn’t wait for it to be over. I could really let my new relationship with Ezekiel soak in.
I was in a relationship with a whole ass superstar, and I couldn’t even enjoy it. The looks we would probably get if we went ate somewhere would have me giggling like a schoolgirl. I was never one for attention, but for once, Denishia was winning, and I wanted everyone to know. I glanced over at him and said, “Tomorrow, I want to take you to brunch before you leave.”
He gave me a slight smile. “Okay, baby. I can’t wait.”
He kissed my hand and headed to Whataburger.
My nerves were all over the place as Ezekiel, Grandma, and I entered Starbucks. My stomach was so nervous, it felt like I would throw up any minute. It wasn’t because I was meeting Will. I was nervous about what he would reveal. I didn’t even have a clue as to who was behind what happened at the shop and why.
I wanted to be able to just enjoy my time with Ezekiel today and not worry about anything. I’d just buried my mother this past Monday, and I could barely grieve her properly because of all this other shit going on. While I knew grief was a daily struggle for however long, I didn’t want to prolong it, and it ended up hitting me suddenly, debilitating me with its force. I wanted to begin dealing with it now to where I could discover techniques to help me cope. Everything crashing down on me at once frightened me.
After we found a seat, I could see Ezekiel scanning the area. He didn’t trust Will. Hell, I didn’t trust his ass either, and I’d known him for years. My grandmother reached across the table and grabbed my hands. “I’m sorry my house has been full. I know you need my attention. Day after tomorrow, we can go to the shop and make bouquets or do whatever you want to do.”
I gave her a soft smile. “It’s okay, Grandma. Ezekiel has been keeping me company. I didn’t realize how much of a social butterfly you were.”
She chuckled. “Chile, I am not a social butterfly. People just gravitate to me. I’m just fine at my house by myself. You know that. Ain’t nothing changed. I appreciate their concern though. Usually, after the funeral, people forget about you, and you’re left to pick up the pieces alone. So all this attention shocked me. I’m grateful for it though.”
“I’m glad you have that too. Those are genuine friends and acquaintances that think enough of you to check on you like that.”
“Yeah, but I understand that people have lives to tend to. It’s just that we’re old and ain’t got nothing else to do.” She chuckled again. “Y’all young people got so many irons in the fire, it’s nearly impossible for you to come up for air at times. I concentrate on the heart of people. Just because they haven’t come around doesn’t mean they don’t care. They just have a lot to tend to, and it sometimes causes them to lose track of everything else.”
I nodded. That was a perfect explanation. I learned a long time ago to stop expecting so much out of people. We all had shit we were dealing with. Their shit didn’t stop because of what was going on with me.
“Grandma, you want something? I think I’m gonna get a latte. Will is late, but I’m not surprised.”
“Yeah, baby. I just want a regular coffee. I don’t need all that fancy stuff.”
Ezekiel chuckled. “I’ll take a regular one too, baby,” he said as he handed me a twenty-dollar bill.
He always wanted to pay for everything. I wasn’t mad at that shit either. After supporting Will’s broke ass for all that time, I was grateful that someone wanted to support me for a change. After placing our orders, I glanced around and saw Will walk in, looking paranoid as hell. That put me on edge. He kept looking over his shoulder. Since I was on the other side of the counter, waiting for our coffees, he didn’t see me.
When he walked toward the back, I realized he’d seen my grandmother. She smiled at him. I rolled my eyes. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body. I definitely didn’t inherit that from her. I wouldn’t piss on Will if his ass was on fire. I’d walk right by like I didn’t see him.
Once they set our drinks down and called my name, I grabbed a couple of packs of Splenda for my grandma and sugar for Ezekiel. I glanced over at them to see Will hadn’t sat down yet. I supposed he was waiting for me to get to the table. After grabbing hazelnut creamer for Ezekiel, I made my way to them.
When I set the tray of drinks down and sat, Will did so as well. He looked so fucking nervous. My grandmother patted his back as Ezekiel stared at him. He couldn’t have been that nervous about Ezekiel being here. Finally, I said, “Hello, Will.”
“Hey, Nishia. Once everyone gets their drinks situated, I’ll let you know what’s up.”
I nodded, then took a sip of my latte. My leg was bouncing uncontrollably. Ezekiel noticed. After he stirred his coffee and put the lid back on, he rested his hand on my thigh. His touch calmed me significantly. I stared into his eyes and said, “Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead as Will stared on. Punk ass. When Grandma finished, he fidgeted nervously. “So the day I came to your job… she threatened me before I could get to you. I was already there because I wanted to take you to lunch and apologize for not treating you the way I should. I wasn’t falling for her bullshit until she pointed a gun at me. Now that I know what I know, I would’ve known that she wasn’t going to use it.”
I frowned, trying to figure out what the fuck he was talking about. He needed to get to the point. Apparently, he caught the hint when I sighed loudly. “Her name is Sabrina Boswell. She’s your sister, Denishia.”
“My sister? What the hell?”
“She grew up with your father in her life and suffered by his presence. She’s jealous of you and your success. It seems him being in the wind was what was best for you.”
“How did you find this out?” Ezekiel asked him.
“She told me. She was having an angry rant when Denishia wouldn’t give me any money. Your dad molested her. Her life was hell growing up. He tortured her and her mother. Her mother was too afraid to leave him.”
My grandmother’s mouth had dropped open. I couldn’t believe this shit. All this because she was jealous that I had a good life? I hated that she went through what she did, but in no way was that my fault. This was beyond insane. She needed help.
“Is that why you keep looking over your shoulder? She’s following you?”
“She was the other day. I hadn’t seen her today, but I saw on the news what happened to Jamia. I knew I had to say something before someone got killed because of her foolishness.”
He slid his hand down his face. I was trying to cypher through the information I knew about Ray Boswell. “So she’s younger than me,” I said mostly to myself, but then looked up at him to confirm.
“Yeah. She’s thirty. He and your mom split up when you were three, if I’m remembering details correctly. I remembered, at one time, you longed for a relationship with him. Good thing you didn’t have one. There’s no telling where you would have ended up.”
I looked away from him, going over everything he’d said. Will only lied when it benefited him. This wouldn’t benefit him one way or the other. It wasn’t like I would take him back because of the information he gave me.
“I can’t believe this.” Suddenly, it felt like a ton of bricks fell down on me at once. “Did my mama know?”
“I think so, because she seemed to know who Miss Patsy was, like they’d met before. I think that was why she ended up having a massive heart attack. Apparently, that man was abusive to her too.”
I turned to my grandma with my eyebrows lifted, waiting for answers. “Your mama almost killed him for putting his hands on her. That was why he didn’t come around anymore after your fifth birthday party.”
My lips parted as I allowed her admission to take my breath away.