Taeja

26. Chapter 26

26

She knocked on the door. Seconds later, the door opened.

Liyah’s eyes widened as she forced a smile. “Hey, Damon and… you .”

Taeja rolled her eyes. “ Zain .”

“I know you call me a madman,” Zain said, and Liyah gulped.

“She doesn’t mean it.”

“I do,” Liyah blurted. “You broke my door and didn’t say sorry.”

“I got it fixed,” Zain said.

Liyah crossed her arms above her chest. “An apology would be nice.”

Zain tilted his head to the side, watching Liyah for a moment. Liyah shuffled on her feet until he looked away. Zain stepped toward Taeja, lifting her chin while she tipped. He kissed her lips, long and hard, before pulling away and walking down the hallway. Taeja watched after him, ignoring Liyah’s mumbles.

Damon cleared his throat. “I apologize for my brother.”

Liyah sighed. “Accepted, I guess.”

“Can I get a moment alone with her?”

“She’s all yours.” Liyah went inside the house, closing the door behind her.

Damon held Taeja’s hands and kissed her knuckles. “We’re going to miss you.”

“Nuh unu seh it’s just for the weekend?” Taeja teased.

“Does that mean I’m not supposed to miss you? Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. His heart pounded against her head, a gentle lullaby Taeja could fall asleep to .

She sighed. “Mi wish unu wuda carry me. I haven’t been to that side of the state since last year.”

“We can go whenever you get a break from school.”

“Why not now?”

“I told you it’s because—”

“You’re gonna support your friend. I just wish I could still be around you guys, but I understand.”

“We have time to do whatever you want before you go back to school.”

“Don’t remind me about college. It’s in a week and I’m stressing already.”

“If I didn’t want Liyah to give me a nickname too, I’d hold you against the wall and eat the stress out of your pussy.”

Taeja bit her lip, chuckling as she pulled away. She tipped and kissed his lips passionately. “I’m still sore from earlier. Mi front need rest.”

“We’ll make up for it when we’re back.”

Taeja blushed, looking at the floor while taking a step backward. “Bye, Damon. I love you, and please keep Zain out of trouble.”

“I’ll do my best. Love you, too.”

Her brows furrowed. “Wahm to the I ?”

Damon chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. “I love you.”

Taeja smiled. “Go before miserable Zain drive leff yu.”

Damon scoffed, but he took brisk steps away. Taeja stood in the same spot until he disappeared. It felt like a hole got drilled into her heart, irreparable unless by her men. She missed them so much already.

Sighing, she tightened her grip around the overnight bag in her hand, then entered Aaliyah’s house. She was surprised to see Mason. “I didn’t know you were here,” Taeja said while kicking the door shut.

“In my fiancée’s apartment?” Mason asked, not looking away from the cartoon playing on the TV.

Taeja laughed as she dropped her bag on the floor and sat on the sofa beside him. “Rub it in, Mason.”

“Wait until I start calling her my wife. You’re going to be tired of me.”

“That’s why mi glad mi have a few years fi mi ears eat grass. ”

Liyah laughed as she returned from the kitchen. “Geez, Tae. You can’t control your mouth?”

Taeja pulled her brows together, watching as Liyah sat on the other side of Mason and snuggled herself into his side. “Why? Miss Charm told me to always be honest and direct in everything I do.”

Liyah chuckled. “Babe, can you drop us at Miss Charm before you drop us at my parents?” Liyah asked, and Mason nodded.

Taeja smiled. “Yago show Momz the ring now?”

Liyah nodded. “She said pictures naa cut it, and I need to stop keeping Mason away from her. Nuh know why she a gwan like we don’t visit every other week.”

“Momz loves me,” Mason bragged.

Taeja rolled her eyes. “You feel seh everybody love you.”

“Because they do, but only this one matters most.” Mason kissed Liyah’s forehead.

“All this love makes me sick.” Taeja faked a barf. “I’m going to stab my eyes out being around the two of you for the next few days while my man dem deh a waa part round a waa place.”

“If extra was a person,” Liyah laughed.

“The only thing extra is that ring.” Taeja stretched her hand over Mason’s body. “Let me see it again.”

Liyah laid her hand on Taeja’s, and Taeja smiled.

Taeja examined the ring from every angle. Her smile grew wider after seeing a new intricate detail. “Diamonds dem a sparkle and a dazzle mi yiy so!”

“Yu extra ino,” Liyah laughed as Taeja released her hand.

Taeja smiled and patted Mason’s shoulder. “Cya believe yu sidung pon that ring fi so long.”

“I knew she’d wear it one day, so it was worth it. It’s neat, huh?”

Taeja nodded, smiling as Mason trailed his thumb over the ring. “I love it. Where’s my ring, though? You know Liyah and I are a package and when you guys get married, I’m going to need a room in your house.”

Mason laughed dryly. “You have two boyfriends, Tae. We’re breaking up with you. ”

“Jah. I thought the love we had for each other was real.” Taeja placed a hand above her heart, using the other hand to wipe away a fake tear.

Liyah laughed, removing herself from Mason’s hold. “Unu stop the foolishness and come. Momz lives far and we need to stop at Miss Charm.”

Taeja sighed as she stood. “Miss Charm’s going to be angry at me. I need to bring her a gift. Mason, which car did you drive today? If it’s the SUV, I want to give it to her.”

Mason gasped as he followed them out the door. “Babe, are you hearing this?”

“Mason, a me and you mi a talk bout.”

“I’m not giving away my SUV. Are you mad?”

“No. A little crazy.”

He scoffed. “Like that’s a difference.”

Taeja snickered as they entered Mason’s vehicle. Mason drove away, and they filled the journey with laughs and small talk until they arrived at Miss Charm.

Excited to see the older woman, Taeja leaped out of the car as it parked. She ran up to the door and knocked until it opened. “Miss Charm!” Taeja tugged the big-boned woman into a hug.

Miss Charm laughed while patting Taeja’s back. “My daughter,” she greeted and pulled away, holding Taeja at a distance. “Stand up good mek mi see yu. Bwoy, yu look good! Yu put on weight.”

“Even if yu did see mi yesterday, yu wuda say the same thing,” Taeja laughed and handed the woman a small pot of lilies. “I bought this for you.”

Miss Charm smiled, accepting it. “Aww, they look so beautiful. Thanks, my child.” Hearing a car door slam behind Taeja, Miss Charm squinted her eyes in that direction. Laughing, she placed the pot on the floor to clap her hands. “Thank you, Lord. My prodigal children have returned.”

Liyah laughed as she hugged Miss Charm. “Yu can handle we bad isi.”

“Everyday mi sidung ina the house a wonder when unu a come look fimi. But mi know seh college hard, so mi naa hold it ova unu head,” Miss Charm said as she hugged Mason then ushered everyone inside the house. “Wahm, son?”

Mason smiled as he sat on the sofa. “They’ve been holding me hostage from you. ”

“Mason lie!” Taeja exclaimed.

Miss Charm laughed. “Unu stay right deso. Mi just make some potato pudding. Mason, you can carry piece go give Missa Gordon.”

Once the woman was out of earshot, Taeja shook her head with a smile. “Nuh she seh mi fat and now she a give me pudding? Mi naa complain still cause me will nyam poison if a Miss Charm mek it.”

“She’s blessed, I’m telling you.” Liyah said. “It’s because of her elbow rolls.”

Mason snickered. “I’m telling Miss Charm.”

“Do it and I won’t marry you,” Liyah joked, and Mason’s grin faded. Liyah smirked as Miss Charm reentered the living room.

Miss Charm served them a pastry with a drink. She stood aside and watched them eat while they had small chat. When they were done, she took the plates and returned to the kitchen to wash up.

Taeja followed behind her. She made Miss Charm stand aside so she could wash the dishes instead. “Miss Charm, I need a little advice.”

“Should’ve known that you didn’t just come to visit me,” Miss Charm laughed. “Talk to me, child.”

“I… spoke to Cassedi.”

“Wa yu deh seh to me?”

Sighing, Taeja set the last plate to air-dry, then faced Miss Charm. “I reached out to her, and we talked on the phone. She wants me to visit her.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes,” Taeja said without thinking. “I miss her.”

Miss Charm nodded and held her arms out. “Come here, child.”

Taeja stepped into Miss Charm’s hug, laying her head on the woman’s shoulder, and releasing a long sigh. She blinked away the urge to cry before she spoke. “She told me she didn’t want to leave me, and I want to believe her. That’s why I want to go. I want to look into her eyes and demand the truth.”

“Everything happened so fast. You shouldn’t feel bad about missing out on memories with Cassedi. It was her duty as a mother to at least make you understand why she couldn’t be present.”

More tears pricked Taeja’s eyes, and she quickly blinked them away. “So, you think it’s a good idea to visit her? I won’t go by myself, because I don’t know her, and I don’t remember Jamaica.”

“I think you should if it brings you peace, my child,” Miss Charm said while pulling away. She gave Taeja a smile before wiping her thumb below Taeja’s eyes. “Remember what I told you?”

“I have to be strong for myself because no one else will do it for me.”

“Good. I want you to always remember that.” Miss Charm smiled, patting Taeja’s cheeks. “Who will go to Jamaica with you? Mi hope yu neva come here fi ask mi. Because mi love yu, but yu wuda wicked fi waa put me pon plane when yu know me cya manage the flying.”

“No, Miss Charm. Mi nuh so wicked,” Taeja laughed. “I… already know who I’ll invite.”

Miss Charm laughed and clapped her hands. “How that sound like yu find boyfriend so, child? You should tell me about him, cause see Dee get big and gone live with man, so mi don’t have her to tease.”

“Owen?”

“You know him?”

Taeja shook her head. “No. Mi meet him one time at Dee shop. Yu cudn tell me that she a work at a different salon now?”

Miss Charm hissed her teeth as they started walking toward the living room. “Yaa visit me fi mi tell yu anything? Not even a phone call. You see how children ungrateful? I will pray to Christ that when Liyah and Mason have—”

“Whoa, Miss Charm! No badda wid it, please. We’re not ready yet,” Liyah rushed out.

Miss Charm’s brows pulled together. She handed a container of pudding to Mason while saying, “Not ready? But I dream see fish last night, and you’re glowing like you have one in the oven.”

Liyah gasped, and Mason cleared his throat.

“Nuh listen to Miss Charm, Liyah. Yu know seh she love wish pregnancy pon people.” She grabbed Mason and Liyah by the arm, dragging them toward the door. “Bye, Miss Charm! I love you!”

“I love you too, my child,” said Miss Charm. “But I know unu not leaving without doing what I taught you to do.”

Mason groaned. “I can’t believe you still want us do this—”

“Hush up, boy. Stand before the mirror.”

Mason stood before the mirror on the wall beside the door. He said to his reflection, “I am handsome. I am enough. I deserve all the good this world has to offer. I will achieve my goals and strive every day to become a better me.”

Miss Charm smiled and clapped her hands. “Now was that so hard? Come, Aaliyah.” Miss Charm pointed at the mirror and smiled after Liyah did the same. “Come, my child.”

Taeja stood before the mirror. Looking at her reflection, she repeated the words Miss Charm made her recite since learning she’d been bouncing around sitters after Teddy no longer wanted to watch after her and suggested Jerry give her up for adoption: “I am beautiful. I am enough. I deserve all the good this world has to offer. I will achieve my goals and strive every day to become a better me.”

“Amen.” Miss Charm hugged Taeja. “Take care and let me know how it goes. ”

“I will.”

“Okay. Unu drive safe,” Miss Charm said, waving at them as they exited the house.

Now in the car, Liyah said, “Mason, we need to stop at a pharmacy because if yu breed mi—”

Mason paused putting on his seatbelt to glare at Liyah. “I know you’re not going to say what I’m thinking.”

“Just find a pharmacy and get me out of here. My head’s starting to hurt.” Liyah leaned her head against the door, closing her eyes while her brows furrowed.

That night, Taeja was in bed with Liyah. She sighed into Liyah’s ear, hugging her tighter. “Liyah, I’m going to see my mom.”

“You’re drunk, Tae,” Liyah replied, laughing at something on her phone.

“I’m not drunk anymore, just a little tipsy. I’m thinking straight.”

Liyah sighed, turning to face Taeja. “When you told me you contacted her, I didn’t know that you’d do this.”

“Am I being stupid?”

Liyah shook her head. “The only thing stupid right now is those tests sitting in the bathroom.”

“It’s been a while now. Should we go look at them?” Taeja asked. “I’ll be your baby daddy if you’re scared of what Mason will say.”

“I’m not scared because he’ll be happy. But I’m not ready for this—”

“What did you think would happen if you always have unprotected sex and you’re not on birth control?”

“Don’t go there. You know it gives me headaches and makes me vomit.”

“I’m just saying…”

Liyah sighed. “I know, but I’m not ready for a kid. I’m in debt and I can barely take care of all my expenses. How am I gonna manage a kid?” she asked, her voice cracking. “I’m tired of doing it all on my own.”

“You need to get rid of the mentality that you don’t need help, Liyah.”

“I can’t.”

“You can. You’re just not trying—” Seeing Liyah fight the urge to cry, Taeja paused. “Come here.” Taeja sat up on the bed, resting her back against the headboard. While Liyah laid her head on Taeja’s lap, Taeja gently stroked Liyah’s head. “Let it out, Aaliyah. I’m here for you.”

Aaliyah’s sobs started quiet and muffled, then morphed into loud bawling. Taeja held Aaliyah closely.

It broke Taeja that the mishap that happened two years after Aaliyah was born caused her to be this way…

When his old man passed away, Dadz inherited everything, including a multimillion-dollar car dealership despite not having business knowledge. Her parents began living among their means, and it led to some legal issues Liyah’s parents never told her about. The company got stripped from Dadz, and things had been hard for them since then.

Finally calming down, Liyah took herself off Taeja’s lap and dried her face. “I’m so stupid,” she said. “I should stop trying to micromanage every part of my life because things never work out, even with all that I do. ”

Taeja sighed. “That’s not true, Liyah. You got this far in life by micromanaging it, but it doesn’t hurt to let people help you sometimes.”

“I’ll become a burden to Mason if I allow him to always do things for me,” Liyah argued, tears springing to her eyes again. “It was hard for me to take the car from him and ask him for help a few times I couldn’t pay my rent.”

“You know he moved out of his family house and bought his house so he can live with you, right?”

“He didn’t do that for me… He just needed his own space.”

“He did it for you,” Taeja stated. “And it’s hard to continue doing things for you when you keep pushing him away. I mean, come on, you were crying after you took the tests and he tried to comfort you, and you told him to leave.” Taeja paused to sigh. “Honestly, Liyah, if me did deh with a rich man and him see me a struggle and nuh try help me, I wouldn’t believe he’s the one for me. Stop pushing Mason away. He’s your fiancé now. You need to treat him better before you lose him.”

Liyah sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I should go live with him?”

“No. You should live with me,” Taeja joked, and Liyah smiled. Taeja grinned. “See? Mi love when yaa smile, Liyah. Mi love yu, but mi tired fi tell yu the same thing over and over. Let us help you. Me and Mason nago ever tek back things from you.”

She nodded. “Okay…”

Taeja smiled and hugged Liyah. Her smile stretched as Liyah returned the hug. “Before my boyfriends get back, I can help you move into Mason’s house.”

“That works. Thanks.”

“Good… Now let’s go look at the tests. Pregnancy isn’t the end of the world, and if it’s one person I know who can finish med school while pregnant, it’s you, Aaliyah Norris.”

Liyah chuckled as they walked to the bathroom. “If Miss Charm right, mi naa go back a her house. She have goat mouth, I swear.”

“Remember when I was coming home for spring break and she called because she had a bad feeling and needed me to pull over so she cuda pray fimi?”

Liyah nodded. “Good thing you pulled over when you did or that trailer would’ve run into you.”

Taeja nodded as they entered the bathroom. She rested her hands on her hips. “Should I flip them over or do you want to do it?”

“I’ll do it…” Liyah inhaled a deep breath, then flipped over the pregnancy tests one by one. Seeing the results, she fell to her knees and cried.

Gulping, Taeja looked between Liyah and the tests. “I don’t know if I should cry or cheer.”

“Both,” Liyah laughed, bringing herself to her feet. “Let me go call Mason and tell him.”

Taeja smiled. “Okay.” She returned to the bedroom and lay in bed. She grabbed her phone, her throat drying as she looked at the last text she sent to Cassedi. Exiting the chat quickly, she opened the group chat with her guys.

Damon

We’ll do whatever you want to do, baby.

Zain

What he said.

Crosses Zain sometimes me wish yu wuda tell mi what yu think. Mi ano mind reader.

Zain sent her a private text. It was a dick picture with a simple caption

Ever been to the mile-high club?

Wanna take me there?

Let me see your pussy first.

No. Liyah can walk in any minute.

No more dick pictures for you.

If mi want that, yafi gimi it .

He typed for a while, then the text bubbles disappeared without him sending a message.

Smirking, she went back into the group chat and wished them both a good night. Damon sent her another flower made out of binary codes, and she swooned. Zain left the group, and Damon re-added him to the chat. Taeja chuckled as she read their banter before telling them to behave and resting her phone aside. She pulled the duvet up to her neck and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come.

It was hard to do for several reasons.

One, Liyah’s walls were very thin. Taeja could hear Liyah’s phone call due to it being on speaker.

“Are you mad?” Liyah asked.

“Why would I be mad?” Mason asked.

“Because I told you to leave…” Liyah whispered.

“Stop the loud crunching in my ear. Why are you eating this late? It’s not healthy.”

“Mi fi starve and lose mi fat batty? Gweh,” Liyah laughed. “Ansa mi nuh.”

“No, babe, I’m not mad. But I’d be mad at myself if I got you pregnant before we’re married.”

“Condoms?”

“Condoms.”

“Thinking about condoms is making me horny. Can I see your dick?”

Taeja scowled and stopped eavesdropping. After a pregnancy scare, she thought Liyah would’ve wanted a break from sex.

Taeja had needed a break after having a pregnancy scare that one time…

Pushing away the unwelcome memory, she focused on the more important matter.

Point Two:

Meeting Cassedi.