Chapter 60 Ari
Ari
It’s time.
I’m sitting on the couch with my parents flanking me and Ashara, Jada, and Jenae on the floor in front of us. They flew in this morning.
“I should pop some popcorn,” Jada announces, but we all shush her.
Vincent’s on tv.
My heart swells when I see him sitting in the studio in a suit, of all things. So handsome. Barbara, the CNN anchor, makes the introduction while pictures of Villain onstage flash on the screen. Then, the interview begins.
“I think the first thing the viewers would want to know is how you’re doing.”
“I’m…managing,” he says. “Some days are better than others. I’m just grateful to be here.”
Barbara nods sympathetically. “Two-hundred and sixty-eight days. It’s difficult to imagine.”
“Try living it.”
“Indeed. Can you tell us what it was like those first few days after the crash?”
A picture of the burnt plane flashes on the side of the screen.
He swallows and glances down. “It was…it was hell, honestly. We didn’t know if anybody was coming. I assumed there was probably a major search going on, but at that point, we were just trying to make it through the night.”
“And how did you make it? Food? Water? Shelter?”
“We got as much food off the plane as we could before it caught on fire. Water. First aid. That lasted us for a while, then I started fishing. Hunted a little bit. It was really just trial and error. I don’t think anybody trains for it. It’s just…raw survival.”
“That was quick thinking, taking the supplies off the plane.”
“It was. That was all Ari. Ana,” he adds quickly.
My nieces look back at me and smile.
“She was the flight attendant,” he continues. “She’s real smart. The kind of person you want with you in a crisis.”
“Yes. And can you—“
“She’s the reason I’m alive to talk about this.”
Barbara smiles. “There’s been a lot of curiosity about her. A lot of speculation. Can you clear anything up for us this evening?”
My heart hammers as I wait for them to put my picture onscreen, but they don't. Vincent must have insisted.
Thank God.
“Like I said, she’s the reason I’m here. She…” he trails off, his lips curving into a smile. “She kept me alive in every way a person can.”
This time my smiling mother turns to look at me, but I ignore her.
“Villain, if you don’t mind me asking, your fiancée Shemari Foster has been very public in her support since your return. What was it like to see your bride-to-be again?”
I stiffen as a picture of them appears onscreen.
Daddy glances at me.
“Shemari…has been supportive. As you know, we share a child together. Shout out to JR. Love you baby boy.”
“That’s sweet.”
“Yeah. It was good to get back to him.”
“Is it safe to say the wedding is still on?”
He shifts in his seat, and my heart pounds. “It is…not safe to say that, actually. I’m no longer with Shemari romantically, but she’s an amazing mother, and we continue to coparent our son together. He’s our priority.”
“That’s tough.” She hesitates, then goes in for the question on everybody’s mind. “Is the reason you aren’t together related to your time on the island?”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation.
“In what way?”
“I think my time on the island changed me in a lot of ways,” he says. “I came back a different man than the one who proposed to her.”
Barbara shifts in her seat. “And Ariana…Ariana Williams, the attendant on your flight…is she—“
“I would like to protect her privacy,” he says carefully. “But what I will say is that…I mean, it’s obvious at this point, so I’ll just confirm that yes, that’s my baby she’s carrying.”
Barbara can’t contain her smile, and my nieces can’t contain their annoying little squeals.
My face is suddenly hot. My heart racing. My stomach fluttering, and not because of the baby.
“Villain, can we be a little corny here and say that your tragedy had a happy ending?”
He smiles at that. “I don’t think we’re at the ending, actually. For me, it feels like the beginning of something.”
Barbara turns to us. “And there you have it, folks. Villain, thank you for your time this evening.”
“Thanks for having me.”
Daddy turns the tv off, then we all sit in silence for about ten seconds before it starts.
“Oh my God!” That’s Jada.
“How do you feel?” my mother asks me.
“He did what needed to be done,” Daddy says.
“He calls you Ari? That’s so sweet!” Janae squeals.
Finally, I just smile and say, “I feel fine. He did very well.”
“That’s all you have to say?” Jada asks, her little teenage heart broken. “What’s tea though?”
Shara shakes her head. “Y’all so nosy. Go find something to do.”
“Go take a shower,” my mother says. “One of y’all is musty.”
We all laugh at that.
After dinner, we all retreat to our rooms, but Shara insists on hanging with me at the foot of my bed. I’d rather go to sleep alone, but I don’t mind her company.
“Okay, wait.” She frowns at her phone. “Jada just texted me and said your man is live.”
“In what sense?”
She laughs at me. “In the TikTok sense.”
“What?”
“How are we the same age but you stay giving old lady?” She hands me her phone, then sits next to me to watch.
And there he is. My man. He’s looking sexy with his tie loosened and a toothpick hanging out of his mouth. He looks happier than I’ve seen him in a minute.
“So what y’all think?” he asks. “Keep the cornrows, start some locs, or cut it low?”
The chat explodes with opinions that I don’t see why he would value, what with them being strangers and all. But I guess that’s why I’m not a celebrity.
He leans toward the screen, squinting as he reads. “Why is your baby mama older than you?” He sits back and makes a face. “Why yours ain’t?”
Shara bursts out laughing.
“Why is he even entertaining these people?” I ask.
“That’s how it works now.”
I shake my head. “Ugh, he’s reading another one.”
“Why did you break up with Shemari? Man, y'all better watch the interview. It’s up. I ain’t rehashing that shit.”
“That was rude,” I say, laughing.
“What did you do all day on the island without a phone or a tv?” He smiles slyly, and I know what’s coming. “Honestly? Y’all want the real?”
“Oh, God,” I say. “Don’t say it, don’t say it, please don’t say it.”
“Sleeping,” he answers. “I slept a lot.”
I exhale in relief.
“Walking, too. A lot of maintenance type shit like burning trash, digging trenches, shit like that. I fished. Ummm…what else? Well, I guess it’s obvious, but we was out there fuckin’. A lot.”
“Oh my God! Why would he say that?”
When he lifts a glass to his lips and drinks something brown, me and Shara look at each other as we both come to the same understanding at the same time.
It’s gotta be Hennessey in that glass.
“How do I get somebody’s live disconnected?” I ask to Shara’s laughter.
“You can’t,” she teases. “And thank goodness, because at least somebody’s finally giving me the tea.”
I shake my head.
“I woulda been fuckin’ too. Yes!” he says. “Thank you! Sick of y'all niggas actin’ all high and mighty like you woulda been celibate out that muhfucka.”
“Turn it off,” I say.
“No! This is hilarious.”
“Are you in love with her? Yeah. Of course,” he says, taking another sip.
“You go through something like that with somebody, that shit really shows you what matters.” He pulls at his tie until he works it free.
“She’s stuck wit me, y’all. My little island angel.
I don’t think she knows this, but that’s what I called her in my head. ”
That makes me smile.
“Did you get her pregnant on purpose? Nah. She was on the pill. My sperm just real potent.”
“Okay, enough.” I sit up and grab the phone from my giggling sister. “Help me get him off of there.”
She types something, then hands me the phone.
“Stop embarrassing me. Oh, shit! There go my angel,” he says.
“Y’all say hey to my baby. She watchin’ me.
Hey, beautiful.” He grins into the camera in a way that makes my panties melt as little red hearts explode onto the screen.
“Alright, y'all. My baby mama said it’s my bedtime. I’ll catch y'all on the next live.”
I sit there shaking my head in disbelief while Shara giggles endlessly. If I could move, I'd throw a pillow at her big head.
"You gotta get used to it," she says. "Celebrities engage with their audience online now. It's harmless."
"He told all of our private business."
She rolls her eyes. "Girl, your private business is protruding about twelve inches away from your body. Get over yourself."
"Shut up."
"He's young and famous with millions of fans. This is your life now. Embrace it."
I guess it'll take me some time, but if that's part of his life, I guess it's part of mine, too.
Two days later, Dr. Ellery tells me and Vincent that the baby is still right on track. We're both relieved.
Vincent takes me by the mall afterwards to buy me a few new maternity outfits, then to the nail salon for a much needed mani/pedi. After, he takes me to the hairdresser where I get a fresh silk press.
I feel like myself again. My pre-island self, that is.
I fall asleep on the way home, like I do most days. When we pull up to the house, he nudges me gently.
“Wake up, my angel. We’re here.”
He helps me out of the car and up to the front door. As soon as we step in, a chorus of voices shouts, “Surprise!”
Confetti, balloons, banners, and a room full of our family and friends.
It’s a baby shower.
At first, I smile. Really smile. Then it falls off my face like a mask. I want to laugh and feel joy, but all I feel all of a sudden is shock and panic.
“I…” I try to say something, but a sob bursts out of me instead. I move as quickly as my big belly allows, pushing past the decorations and everybody’s cheerful faces. I head straight to my bedroom, shut the door, and collapse onto my bed, hot tears streaming down my face.