6. Kayori
Chapter Six
KAYORI
I had to get back into the swing of things, like waking up early in the morning.
I woke up at five in the morning, showered, and got dressed in something simple but decent.
Since I would be working with a one-year-old, I decided against wearing nice clothes.
I found my old pair of black Nike Air Force Ones and some gray sweats with a black and orange Poetic Justice graphic t-shirt that I had picked up from Fashion Nova.
It was one of my favorite shirts. The shower caused my hair to curl up a little so I slicked it into a high ponytail.
I teased my curls, so it appeared to look like a nice curly fro.
I got a little artistic and hooked up my baby hairs.
When I was done, I applied a little lip gloss and sprayed my favorite perfume.
Packing up my purse with everything I would need for the day, I headed over to what I assumed to be Praise’s house.
I said a silent prayer, hoping things would go smooth.
I was still confused about what my job title actually was.
It felt like a nanny job except I would have to carry a pistol when or if I took the little girl in public, which then would make me feel like I was a real bodyguard.
That made me a little uncomfortable but for the pay, I could cope with it for now.
I only planned on working this job for a small amount of time.
I had other things I wanted to pursue and from the outside looking in, it appeared like Praise and his baby mother was nothing more than drama.
It reminded me of how rude it was of me not to get this chick's name.
I made it to their beautiful house at seven am.
Ringing the doorbell, I stepped back and waited patiently.
When the door opened, I smiled at the woman that stood before me.
“Good morning, I know I’m here thirty minutes early. I just wanted to get a look at the schedule before I became hands-on with little Ms. Mattea.” She smiled back at me and opened the door wider allowing me into her space.
“Girl you a big blessing to me. Hell, I don’t care if you come an hour early.”
She switched away in her silk robe as I entered the living room area. This was a nice crib. It had a lot of space. I couldn’t wait to get me an up-to-date house and decorate it.
“I’m sorry for being so rude. I didn’t get your name the first day we met.”
She turned around picking up what looked like a hair bucket, with bows and barrettes, grease, and different brushes and combs.
“My name is Laquanna. This is Mattea’s hair bucket.
You’re going to cook breakfast and clean the kitchen.
After that put her in the tub, get her dressed, and do her hair.
She loves that Cocomelon shit, so make sure you put it on while doing her hair.
She won’t scream as loud after that. Her daddy likes her to smell like baby magic and jam grease, girl so good luck pleasing his crazy ass.
Your break when she’s napping, which is noon.
When she wakes, you can take her to the park, do an activity around the house, or backyard with her.
I know you should already know kids like to eat so make her something else.
I won’t be back until three pm, but when I do return, I need at least an hour to unwind.
I’m assuming you can get off around four-thirty.
Whatever else Beast wants you to do is fine with me.
Feel free to use the kitchen and make or eat whatever you like.
It’s more where that shit came from. Oh, and her bedroom is straight down the hall to the left. ”
She inhaled then exhaled and switched away with no other words.
That was a lot to digest. She didn’t tell me if the little girl had allergic reactions or anything.
So far, this shit sounded ghetto mixed with rich people's problems. This was definitely a nanny type of job. I went straight to the kitchen. I decided to make oatmeal and toast for me and Mattea. I washed my hands before getting all the items out. Once that was finished, I got her high chair and sat it right next to the island. I really didn’t know shit about kids except how my mom tended to me and my baby brother.
I recited everything in my head that Laquanna told me, then made my way down the hall to get Mattea ready for the day.
Her room was beautiful. It was all pink with butterflies scattered amongst the walls.
She already was sitting up in her baby bed with a baby doll in her hands.
Once she looked up and saw my face, she gave me a warm small causing me to smile back at her. She lifted her arms in the air.
“Up, up!”
Giggling a little with her, I picked her up and placed a kiss on her cheek.
It warmed my heart when she hugged my neck tight and patted me on the back.
She was such a loving baby. I gave her a bath and picked out a pretty pink sunflower dress with pink sandals to match.
After that, I turned on her Cocomelon. She sang the best she could with the cartoon as I parted her hair in four sections, curling the tips with a little water and a leave-in conditioner.
The jam gel was too thick and greasy for her hair type.
For the finishing touches, I put pink ribbon bows on each ponytail and laid her baby hair down.
She looked so pretty as she stared back at me with those gray eyes that mimicked her father.
Her dimples just made you want to do nothing more but spoil her and give her the world.
I had her smelling good and looking good.
Placing her to her feet, I made her walk to the kitchen with me.
Singing songs to her, I made our oatmeal and toast and sat down next to her.
I prayed over our food as she giggled and talked the best she could then we ate.
After that, the day went by really smoothly.
It was about two o’clock, with no signs of either parent which was cool with me.
Mattea and I sat in the middle of the floor while she played with big blocks.
I read her a story then took her into the backyard, which was set up like a mini playground.
Making sure she was secure on the swing, I pushed her lightly as she clapped her hands and tried singing the itsy-bitsy spider with me.
Mattea was very affectionate and she demanded attention around the clock.
I stifled a yawn and noticed the patio door opening up.
There he stood looking like a sexier version of Method Man.
Praise wore a tight-fitting tank top with Nike basketball shorts.
I could see those gray eyes all the way across to where I was standing.
My stomach got butterflies and I quickly made them go away.
He swaggered over to me and Mattea as she started screaming and yelling.
“Dada, dada! Up! Up!”
He smiled and I smiled on the inside. It was a beautiful thing to see a black father so in love with their child.
“Hi, daddy’s baby! You having fun with Ms. Yori?”
Yori? He just gave me a nickname as if we had known each other for years. I just smiled as she nodded her head yes. Stepping back and sitting down in the lawn chair, I gave them their space.
“You look so pretty, Tea and you smell so good!”
He buried his nose in her neck as she giggled. He placed kisses all over her and that explained why she was so spoiled. She didn’t let me out of her sight. Those gray eyes met my eyes causing me to become nervous as hell. When he smiled, I felt a calm come over me. Damned this cocky ass bastard!
“Thank you, Ms. Yori. I’m glad I hired you. My baby girl hasn’t looked like this in a while.”
I really didn’t know what he meant by that but I returned his smile and told him that he was welcomed.
Vegas sun was making me hot as hell. It beamed down hard on us.
I was desperate to get back into the house under the AC.
So when he walked towards the sliding glass door, I followed right behind him with a good distance between us.
I sat on the couch while Praise got comfortable about three feet away from me on the floor as he played with the blocks with Mattea.
I didn’t want to watch them that much because it would force me to watch him.
I liked about a hundred pictures on Instagram before he started making conversation with me.
“How did you get those scars?”
Sighing, I realized he just wouldn’t let the shit go. I got tight whenever someone asked anything about my scars.
“Why did you get those teardrops underneath your eye?” I shot back. His face stayed unmoving and I cursed myself for giving him a comeback so hard. I tried to clean it up a bit. “Look, my apologies. I just don’t like talking about my scars…”
It was often very hard for me to hold back and bite my tongue. I spoke my mind. I didn’t like people feeling like they were entitled to knowing my personal life.
“Understandable.” He dropped the subject and put his focus back on his baby girl. “You can take off early if you would like. We will see you back here the same time tomorrow.”
Nodding my head, I felt happy as hell to be leaving two hours early. Praise made me feel so nervous so uncomfortable to be around him. He was just too damn fine for his own good. Men like him just knew they could get and have whatever female they pleased.
Grabbing my purse, I told Mattea bye and she started to cry. Praise had a look of shock on his face as I stopped in my tracks and picked her up and consoled her. I couldn’t just leave baby girl crying for me.
“Bye, bye?” She asked with tears in her eyes. Her sad voice pulled more of my heartstrings as well. Seemed like she was used to her parents leaving her and probably had attachment issues.
“I’ll stay a little longer with you pretty girl, then I’ll have to leave. I’ll come back tomorrow, okay? I promise.”
Praise looked on with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“So, I see Quanna got you playing the nanny role. I still need to teach you about firearms and safety in case you ever have to leave the house with my daughter. I decided to give you Thursday and Friday off so we can go to the gun range. Does that work for you?” His deep voice spoke with so much authority.
I nodded my head as Mattea sucked her thumb and laid her head on my chest. He stared at me like my head nod was not enough.
“Yeah, that’s good,” I answered as I swallowed down and continued to make eye contact.
“You don’t have to be nervous around me Kayori. I never bite unless I need to or a pretty lady like yourself wants me to.”
My eyes bulged out of its sockets. I searched my brain for a comeback instead I found the corniest shit to say.
“Pretty?”
I questioned him like he was crazy. Didn’t he see my scars? I was pretty sure he would never look twice at a woman like myself.
“Yes, pretty. Why you questioning that like it’s…”
The door opened and I was saved by the fucking bell.
Laquanna walked in with an entourage behind her.
They talked loud as hell and had a pungent weed smell that followed.
I broke eye contact like I had been caught doing something I was not supposed to and put my eyes on Mattea.
She was happy her mom was home, so she hopped out of my lap like it was on fire.
“Mommy, mommy! Up,! Up!”
Those were her favorite words. Praise stood to his feet and without wanting to, I noticed the big print in his basketball shorts that caused my yoni to clench.
“Hey, baby! Did you have fun today? Oooo girl you got my baby looking fly as fuck!”
She looked at her daughter and smiled with hooded eyes that were a light pink from getting high. She threw the doll head that she had in her hand along with the small school duffle bag and picked Mattea up and hugged her tight.
“Watch your mouth, Laquanna.” Praise warned as her three other friends looked at him with heavy lust.
“Quanna girl, baby daddy is fine as ever! I see why you be wilding. I would too,” a light skin chick spoke boldly as she popped a lollipop out her mouth and held it in her hand openly checking Praise out.
“Girl, come on. Let’s go to the kitchen. I got the munchies.”
Laquanna brushed it off and walked off with Mattea on her hip. She didn’t even acknowledge me after that, which was fine with me. I stood to my feet and stretched as I grabbed up my purse and phone from the couch.
“Well, thanks. I enjoyed my day with Mattea. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
Nodding his head, he walked me to the door. He was so close to me. I felt nervous walking in front of him. When I made it to the door, we stood almost nose to nose. I almost hated the fact that I even turned around. I could smell the fresh mint on his breath as he smiled at me knowingly.
“You do know that you’re pretty as fuck right?”
He asked me with questioning eyes, my own eyes dropped to the floor.
Sometimes I knew it but most of the time I questioned it.
I barely accepted my own scars at times so I was understanding if a man didn’t like them or thought I was ugly.
I could speak up for myself. I didn’t let anyone treat me any type of way.
When it came down to loving myself fully and telling myself I was pretty, I had it hard doing so.
Truth was, I used to feel like the baddest plus-size woman in America.
When I got into that car accident, it changed so much in me.
I went through my bitter stages when I was in the hospital for three months.
When I got out, I was even more bitter. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror without feeling shameful of my scars.
I knew it was my fault for my irresponsibility of drinking but I also blamed God sometimes.
I went from having a beautiful face that was acne-free, to one side with scars.
I prayed for forgiveness every night for the way I thought about it.
I wanted to love myself fully and accept all my flaws but struggled with it.
“Praise, you’re my boss, and I respect you. I don’t know if you’re flirting with me or trying to be funny. I know you see how I look. Furthermore, I would appreciate if we kept things professional ‘cause even if you did like me or found me attractive, I would never mess with your type.”
With that, I turned on the balls of my feet and walked away before he could respond. Hopefully, that would make him stop whatever stupid games he was trying to play with me. I was there to collect and stack up some checks, nothing more nothing less or so I thought.