CHAPTER 27
I shut off the whip, hop out, and take in the enormity of Zavier’s home after taking a case of beer from the backseat. The place is expansive, reminding me of my home back in Bridgeport. The deep green grass speaks to its elegance. The smell of meat and charcoal lures me to the side fence. The gate has been left open for guests.
Judging from all the cars parked out front, He has quite a few.
When I pulled up, there were at least fifteen cars in the driveway and now, walking into the backyard, I can hear people laughing and carrying on. Then my eyes catch sight of the lake. It’s nothing short of magnificent. Living in a community this upscale and having a lakefront property is a flex. Zavier must be doing well for himself.
I walk further back, getting a closer look. The place is already peaceful and serene. Add good food and family, and this is paradise. Adding Zimyra St. Claire would make it heaven.
I haven’t seen or spoken to her since Sunday morning when I left her house. That would make one full week of not being in her presence or hearing from her. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. I tried many times. I went by her house with flowers on Tuesday to congratulate her after her test. There wasn’t an answer. I tried again on Wednesday. Nothing. She hasn’t been to work all week either. I checked with Peter who confirmed that Zimyra put in a leave of absence request for two weeks – this past week and next week. They’ve sent a fill-in for her. I wonder if she ever plans on coming back.
I can’t say where her mind is right now because I haven’t had a chance to talk to her at all. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to do that today, but I didn’t see her car parked out front so I don’t even know if she’s here. Surely she wouldn’t miss a family cookout, would she?
“Welcome to my home,” Zavier says, walking over to greet me.
“Thanks, man.” I slap hands with him and glance around, hoping to see Zimyra out here, but I don’t.
“You didn’t have trouble finding the place, did you?”
“No, not at all. I brought some beer.”
“Oh, thanks, man. You can put it over there by the cooler.”
I walk with him to that section to see the people sitting under the umbrella tables. Zander is on the grill. I know because when he turns around and sees me, he glares. It’s funny how identical they are, yet I can tell them apart by their demeanor.
I walk over and speak to Nykendy and Kaden. When I see Zimyra’s mother, Zayda, I walk over to her.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Zayda.”
She stands up, hugs me, and says, “It’s good to see you again, Axel. Wait—it is Axel, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I’m so bad with names. I’m surprised I remember my own.”
I grin while she laughs.
She says, “FYI, I bought a couple of pies over. Make sure you get yourself a slice before you leave.”
“Oh, yes, ma’am. I will.”
“Hey, do you know everybody?”
“Um…I’ve met Nykendy and Kaden. I know Zander, Zavier and—”
“You know me, too, big dawg,” a guy stands up and says. I remember his face, but I don’t remember why.
He says, “I’m Jeremiah. I saw you at The Promenade with Myra.”
“Oh, that’s right. How are you doing, man?”
“I’m straight. These knuckleheads are my brothers Jaysant and Jacob.”
“Sup wit’cha,” Jacob says.
“Ay, Jeremiah, who’s this cat, yo?” Jaysant asks, looking up from his phone.
“This is Axel—Zimyra’s friend.”
With a frown, he turns and resumes what he was doing on his phone. I grin. Zimyra’s cousins must be on the same thing Zander is on. Doesn’t bother me much. I came to this barbecue for one reason and one reason only – to see Zimyra.
I have yet to lay eyes on her, and it’s really irritating me. That irritation wanes when I watch her emerge from the house and join her friend at an umbrella table on the patio. I remember that’s the girl she was out to lunch with.
I hadn’t meant to stare, but after a week, something just seemed so different about her. She has her hair up in a bun, something she rarely ever does and she’s wearing a long dress with blue, white and turquoise stripes. A dark pair of sunglasses hide her eyes, so I’m not sure if she’s looking at me even though her body is turned in my direction.
“Excuse me,” I say to Jeremiah and his brothers and head over to Zimyra’s table. I introduce myself to her friend saying, “Hi. I’m Axel.”
She reaches to shake my hand saying, “I’m Capri. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well.”
“My fiancé is floating around here somewhere. I’ll introduce you later.”
“Cool,” I say, then I look at my girl and say, “Hi, Zimyra.”
“Hi, Axel,” she responds. That’s it. She doesn’t smile – she barely even looks at me.
I ask, “How are you?”
“I’m good. You?”
I’m not good because I don’t know if you are.
Instead of saying that, I say, “I’m okay. It’s a beautiful day.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I know I shouldn’t be staring at her so hard, but I just…
I miss her.
I miss her face.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
Her cute, little laugh.
I miss her feet on my lap.
Her soft hands on my skin.
Her head on my chest.
Her lips touching mine.
Her tongue in my mouth.
Her fingers wrapped around my heart.
It’s unreasonable for me to have to live without that now.
Just when I was about to ask to speak with her privately, I hear Zavier say, “Yo, Ax.”
“Excuse me,” I tell the women and then walk over to the grill where he’s standing with Zander.
“What’s up?”
“We were trying to get a feel for what everyone liked to eat. You like steak?” Zavier asks.
“That’s fine. I’m down for whatever.”
“Yeah, see that’s the problem I have with you when it comes to Zimyra,” Zander says. “A man who’s down for whatever ain’t really that wholesome, family man that I picture my sister with.”
Zavier grins and shakes his head. He says, “Zander, did you really say wholesome ?”
“Yeah, I did. Ain’t nothing funny.”
Zavier tells him, “I think you might be doing a little bit too much, bruh.”
“And you ain’t doing enough. Everybody don’t need an invite to the cookout. Y’all be inviting anybody with legs.”
Baffled by his hostility, I say, “Well, when you have a cookout at your house, feel free to leave me off the guest list.”
It sounded ruder out loud, but he’s not the only one that can be rude and disrespectful. I ain’t never done a thing to this guy. The only reason he doesn’t like me is because he thinks I’m bad for his sister. I got news for him – I think I’m bad for her, too, but that’s not going to stop my pursuit. If I said she’s mine, she’s mine, and that’s all there is to it.
He mugs me and resumes cooking.
I tell Zavier, “I bet it’s nice watching the sun come up in the mornings.”
“Oh, yeah. It’s my own slice of paradise. I can’t imagine it any other way. Having Nykendy and my son make it that much more special to me.”
“I can only imagine.”
“Ay, let me talk to you for a minute.”
We walk out toward the dock and, after taking a few steps across the wooden planks, he asks, “So, what exactly are your intentions with my sister? I mean, are you two a couple, or—?”
“We’re not a couple because it’s not what she wants.”
“What does she want?” he asks.
“You don’t know?”
Zavier laughs. “No, I don’t. Women are complicated. Now, I know what mine wants because we’re like this,” he says, holding up two intertwined fingers. “However, most times, it’s a guessing game. And Zimyra—she’s always been about being self-sufficient and independent. This is the woman who learned how to change her tires, jump a battery, and put on brake pads. And she can cook. She does it all so she doesn’t have to depend on anyone.”
“And where does that drive come from?”
“It comes from our upbringing. I mean, our parents were good together, but years later, we found out our father had another family. Zimyra hasn’t said it outright, but I believe that has influenced many of her decisions. It’s why she’s been single for so long. Depending on someone means being vulnerable and not in control. She won’t have that.”
Walking further onto the dock, I say, “She didn’t come to work this past week.”
“She decided to take some time off. I think that whole situation at the job had her more shook than we all realized. She’s so good at hiding things, keeping her true feelings buried beneath a happy persona when really she’s struggling internally. But I’m glad she’s taking some time off. She never does. She needs it.”
“I agree.”
Zavier crosses his arms and says, “And you never told me what your intentions were.”
I slide my hands into my pockets and look the man in his eyes and say, “My intentions are to make your sister the happiest woman in the world. I care about her as much as I love her.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” I affirm. “Really.”
“You told her that? That you love her?”
“No.”
“And how many times have you seen her this past week?”
“None. I went by there a few times, called and texted.”
“What else?”
“What do you mean, what else? What else is there?”
“You tell me, Axel. If you love somebody, nothing stops you from seeing that person. I know that for a fact.”
“After what she’s been through, I’m not going to be that man to irritate her.”
“Who said anything about irritating her?”
“Showing up when she’s not necessarily in the mood for company is irritating. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I would, but showing up, even when she doesn’t answer the door shows her that you care.”
“I’m doing that already.”
“You are. Just keep doing it. That’s what I’m trying to emphasize. You can’t let up on a woman like Zimyra. She’s tough. If you’re not persistent, you’re not winning that race.”
I agree with him on that. I know how headstrong Zimyra is, and I’ve grown to adore that about her. I just don’t like it when it works against me .
I say, “Question—you don’t seem to have a problem knowing I like your sister. Your brother, on the other hand, hates my guts.
Zavier grins and says, “So, here’s the thing, Axel. Love is supposed to make you crazy and desperate. It’s a feeling you’ll know without a doubt because you’ll do things you never imagined you would. And no one, and I mean no one can get in the way of that. I’ve been there. I know the feeling. So, what if Zander hates you?” He shrugs. “He’s not your focus, is he?”
Zavier pauses a moment and then says, “I don’t have a problem with you because you’ve proven that you care about her. You were there for her when me and my brother weren’t, and I’m counting on you to be there for her now. My sister needs help. I can only do so much. But you—you have her in your hands. Do something about it.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” I tell him.
“Yeah…don’t make me regret it,” he says, then walks the length of the dock until he returns to the yard.