Chapter 32 Kamryn
Kamryn
Kamryn woke up the next morning with a pounding headache from crying all night. Giselle’s nasty words had played in her mind
on a constant loop. She didn’t know what made her angrier: the fact that she called her a ghetto queen or that she’d insulted
Tariq by insinuating that Kamryn wasn’t worthy of him. One thing was for sure—she’d been justified in keeping her distance
for the past couple of years. She rolled her head toward the clock and groaned. That simple movement intensified the pain.
It was after ten in the morning and she knew she should probably get up, but she decided to lie there a few minutes longer.
She hoped the throbbing in her head would subside soon. Closing her eyes, Kamryn tried to calm her mind. She cracked one eye
open briefly when she heard the door open. Tariq. “Hey,” she croaked. Great, now she had a sore throat as well.
Tariq eased down on the side of the bed next to her, and she scooted over to make room. “How’re you feeling this morning?”
“My head is killing me, my throat is sore, I’m still pissed, and I owe your parents an apology.”
“I can help with the first two.” He gestured to the nightstand. “I brought you some ibuprofen, tea with honey, and a couple slices of toast.”
“Thank you. You’re the best husband ever.” She slowly sat up, and he adjusted the pillows behind her back before carefully
placing the tray over her lap. Kamryn took the pain meds first, then started on the toast and tea. She took a moment to scan
his tired features. She hadn’t been the only one affected by the hate-filled words spewed last night. “How are you? I’m so
sorry. This has to be hard for you and Shawn, and I feel really bad. But last night, she pushed one button too far, and I
lost it. I’m not proud of that because I had hoped by keeping my distance, she’d let whatever her issue is with me die down.”
It would be a long time before the image of Shawn’s stricken expression left her mind’s eye.
“I’d be lying if I told you what Giselle said didn’t strike a nerve. Not sure what to say to her now. Shawn and I will be
fine. He’s my big brother, and nothing and no one will ever change that fact. I went looking for him this morning but didn’t
see him. Apparently he slept in the room next to Damon’s.”
When they were selecting rooms, Mama Yvonne made it clear that although Damon was welcome, because he and Taylor weren’t married,
they would not be sharing a room. “Wow. He must’ve really been upset. I feel like I need to apologize to him too.” It was
probably not a good thought, but Kamryn couldn’t blame him for wanting to be away from Giselle for a while. She wanted the
same thing and had pleaded with Tariq to let her leave and go home. But he wouldn’t even entertain her request.
“Although it’s not necessary, I think he’d appreciate it. I’m a little worried about his and Giselle’s marriage. It hasn’t been great for the past couple of years or so, but he keeps everything close to the vest, so Vince and I don’t always know what he’s thinking.”
Kamryn had noticed the same thing about Shawn. Whereas the other brothers were pretty open with sharing their feelings, Shawn
tended to be more reserved. “I’ll still probably do it, though.” She finished off the toast and the rest of the tea, then
placed the tray on the nightstand. “Where’s Imani?”
Tariq chuckled. “She and Little A are hanging out with my mom. Mom said she’d been waiting for some uninterrupted time with
her babies. We’ll be lucky to see them for more than fifteen minutes.”
She laughed. “She loves those babies and has been campaigning for more.”
He slid a hand up her thigh. “I’m down if you are.”
“If we’re going to do it, we’d better get started. I’m already thirty-five, and I’m not trying to be running after kids at
forty.”
“True that. I’m two years older, and this body is already starting to creak.” Yawning, he went around to the other side of
the bed and stretched out next to her.
Kamryn caressed his face. “I’m sorry for keeping you up all night.” He’d held her and whispered words of love and assurance
whenever she woke up crying throughout the night.
“Like I told you last night, there’s no need for an apology.
I love you, and part of that is making sure you’re okay.
” Tariq lifted his head. “I know you aren’t still worrying about that whole ghetto queen comment.
Kam, there isn’t a better woman for me. You’ve enriched my life in ways I’ll never be able to explain, and you will never have to worry whether my love for you is true or that you’re not good enough. Baby, you are enough.”
“See, I promised myself that I was done crying, but you’re over here making me go back on my word.” She slid down and crawled
on top of him and stared into his eyes. “You are my everything, Tariq. I have never doubted your love for me because you show
me every day what that love looks like.”
“And I don’t want you to ever forget that.”
Kamryn laid her head on his shoulder and released a sigh of contentment. Minutes later, Tariq’s breathing became deep and
even. She carefully lifted her head. He’d fallen asleep. I love this man so much. Easing off his body, she quietly left the bed. After dressing, she went in search of her daughter and hoped she didn’t run
into Giselle. She wasn’t in the mood for round two.
Downstairs, she saw Chanel and Vincent sitting at the kitchen table talking and eating bowls of fruit.
“Hey, you two.”
“Hey, Kam,” Chanel said.
Vincent pulled out the chair next to him. “Hey, sis. Join us.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your private time. I was looking for Imani.”
“You might as well pull up a chair then,” he said with a smile. “Mom took them down to the lake about twenty minutes ago and
said they’d be back in an hour.”
“Well, alrighty then.” She slid into the chair. “Sorry about last night.”
Chanel waved her off. “Girl, you have nothing to be sorry about. I’m surprised it took this long for you to snap. I don’t
know if I would’ve been able to deal with it for so long. Now that everything’s out in the open, hopefully this will be the
end of it.”
“I don’t even understand how this all got started.”
Vincent set his empty bowl aside. “We all noticed there was some tension, but I didn’t realize she had so much anger toward
you. Did you guys have an argument or something way back?”
“No. Nothing. The first day Tariq brought me to your parents’ house, she was shooting daggers at me for no reason. I could
never figure out why. But after everything she said last night, it makes me wonder if she’s jealous of me for whatever reason.
The thing is, both Taylor and I told her that we’d help her if she ever decided to finish college. Not sure how that turned
into some full-blown drama. In this instance, I think it’s best if we just keep our distance for the rest of the week since
Tariq vetoed my request to leave. I don’t want to mess up Mom and Dad’s week any more than I already have.”
“You absolutely are not leaving,” Chanel said. “I know what it’s like to grow up in a toxic environment, and this is just
a drop in the bucket. We all decided last night—Vincent, Taylor, and I—that we’re not going to let this mess up the family.”
“We mean it, Kam. I’ve lost one brother already, his life stolen by someone who decided to get behind the wheel when they
shouldn’t have. I don’t plan on losing anyone else.” Vincent hugged her. “We’re going to work through this . . . as a family.”
“This is why I love this family so much. Thank you.”
The door opened, and she heard the sound of little feet echoing on the wood floors.
“Mommy!” Imani ran toward Kamryn.
“Hey, baby. I missed you.”
“Me and Grandma and Austin went to see the water. And see my hair?”
Smiling, Kamryn said, “It’s pretty.” Her hair had been parted down the center and styled with three connected braids on each side and barrettes at the ends. “Did Grandma comb your hair?”
“No. My daddy did it.”
“He did a great job.” Tariq had become as efficient as Kamryn when it came to doing their daughter’s hair.
Imani grinned as her head bobbed up and down.
“Hey, Little A,” she said, picking up her nephew. He responded with babble and hand gestures, and the only words she could
identify were water and play because he was so excited and his words sort of ran together. But he quickly left her arms for his father’s. The little boy looked so much like the photos of Vincent at that age that
they could be twins. When her mother-in-law came into view, Kamryn excused herself from the table. “Hi, Mama Yvonne. Can I
talk to you for a few minutes?”
“Of course. Let’s go sit on the porch.”
“We’ll watch Imani,” Chanel volunteered.
“Thanks.” Imani, however, was caught up in whatever her uncle was saying and didn’t even notice Kamryn leaving.
Outside, Mama Yvonne took a seat on the swing and patted the space next to her. Once they got settled, Kamryn didn’t know
how to start. Finally, she said, “I’m so sorry about last night.”
Mama Yvonne laid her hand on Kamryn’s. “I figured it would come to a head sooner or later. I just wish I understood what happened
between you two.”
“If you find out, then we’ll both know.”
“Everyone isn’t as strong as you, Kamryn, and didn’t have the same support and love you did growing up. Now, I’m not trying
to justify her actions, but I just want to give you a little background.”
Did that mean Giselle had some kind of issues with her family growing up? Kamryn couldn’t recall her ever talking about her family. The only thing she remembered was Tariq mentioning her mother being a trip. Even still, she didn’t understand why Giselle felt the need to lash out at her.
“There’s going to be a lot of healing that needs to take place, and I’m confident that years from now, it’ll be something
to laugh about.”
You’re the only one, because I don’t see it. At. All.