Chapter 44 Nyree
All this came at the worst possible time. I had to catch a flight tomorrow morning for a photo shoot for Grammy award winning Young Dro. I was supposed to be gone for the weekend, but I didn't want to go out of town and leave things like that with my wife.
After I left Asia's apartment earlier, I went back to my hotel room.
I packed my equipment and clothes for the trip, but I couldn't stop thinking about her.
About the hurt in her eyes when she asked what I would do if the baby was mine.
About how she'd lost her job on the same day she found out her new husband might have a four-year-old child.
I had to see her again before I left town. I had to try to make things right, or at least not leave them so broken.
I went by her apartment again that evening. When she opened the door, she looked surprised to see me, but she let me in. Asia was drinking in the living room, a bottle of wine on the coffee table. My heart went out to her.
"I wanted to check on you before I leave tomorrow," I said, sitting down beside her on the couch.
She just nodded, taking another sip from her glass.
"Baby, I know you're worried about finding work," I tried to comfort her, "but we will find you another contract. I can even ask around and see if I can find someone who needs your services. A lot of my clients could use a good graphic designer."
She just stared at me like she was looking through me, like I wasn't even there. It hurt, but I understood. I had brought chaos into her life, even if it wasn't intentional.
"Hey, I have an idea," I said, reaching for her hand. "Why don't you come with me for the Young Dro gig? It might take your mind off things. You could use a change of scenery, and it's only for the weekend."
She pulled her hand away. "No thanks."
It hurt me, but I didn't know what to do. Everything was going right between us before it all went to shit. We'd been so happy the day we got married, so excited about our future together. Now she could barely look at me.
"Asia, please. We need to talk about this. We need to figure out what we're going to do."
"What is there to figure out?" she asked, her voice flat. "Either the baby is yours or it isn't. If it's yours, then you have a child with another woman. If it's not, then this Isis chick is just trying to mess with us. Either way, I still feel like a fool."
I sighed. "I don't know how to handle everything that's been thrown at us, but I'm going to step up to the plate and be a man about it." I reached for her hand again. "Whatever happens, we can face it together. That's what marriage is about, right?"
She didn't pull away this time, but she didn't return the pressure of my fingers either. Her hand just lay limply in mine.
"I pray that baby is not mine," I admitted. "But if it is, we'll figure it out. I promise."
Asia stared at me. "And what does 'figuring it out' look like, Nyree? What does that mean for us? For me?"
I didn't have a good answer. I hadn't thought that far ahead. "I don't know yet. But I know that I love you, and I want our marriage to work."
She withdrew her hand and picked up her wine glass again. "I think you should go. I want to be alone."
Her tone hurt me but I knew she still thought I lied to her, so I couldn't hold it against her. I had no choice but to leave her alone with her thoughts.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me tomorrow? The flight's not until 10 AM. You could still pack in the morning."
"I said no, Nyree. Go."
I stood, feeling defeated. "Okay. I'll call you when I land."
She nodded, but I wasn't sure she would answer.
I had no choice but to go to the hotel. I needed to be well-rested for the shoot. But I barely slept that night, thinking about Asia, about Isis, about a child who might be mine.
The next morning before my flight, I went back to Asia's apartment to see if she changed her mind. I still had hope that she might want to come with me, that we might have this weekend to reconnect and figure things out.
But when I got there, her bedroom door was locked and she told me to go away.
That stung, but I had no choice. I had a job to do, a client expecting me. I couldn't miss this opportunity, not when Young Dro was such a big name.
"I'm leaving now," I called through her door. "I'll call you when I land."
No response.
"I love you, Asia."
Still nothing.
I caught my flight, thinking of her the whole time. I checked my phone as soon as we landed, hoping for a text, a missed call, anything. But there was nothing.
***
The shoot went well. I got great shots of Young Dro, capturing his charisma and style.
He was cool to work with, professional but laid-back.
Under different circumstances, I would have been more excited about this opportunity.
But instead I was just going through the motions, doing my job but unable to enjoy it.
And then, a stroke of luck. One of Young Dro's friends, an actress who'd come to hang out during the shoot, liked my style.
She needed shots for her charity event next month and asked if I was available.
Just like that, I scored another celebrity client.
My business was growing, my reputation spreading.
But it felt hollow without Asia to share it with.
Once back in my hotel, I went to my phone and pulled up a payment app. Without overthinking it, I sent Asia $5,000. It wouldn't solve our problems, but maybe it would ease her immediate stress about losing her job.
She called me.
"Hello?" I answered, hopeful that she was ready to talk.
"Why did you send me money, Nyree?" Her voice was tight, controlled.
"I want you to know I can take care of you," I said. "That should cover your rent, right?"
She scoffed. "I can take care of my damn self."
"I know, but let me take care of you instead."
She fell silent, and for a moment, I thought we'd lost the connection.
"Asia, listen. I know our situation is fucked up right now, and that's my fault, baby.
I didn't know Isis had a baby, but whatever happens with that, I'm willing to handle it like a man.
But I don't want whatever happens with that to ruin us before we have a chance.
I meant what I said at the courthouse. I plan to be your husband in every way, if you will just be my wife. "
Asia fell silent again and I waited, but she never responded. I heard her sniffling before she hung up the phone.
I stared at my phone, debating whether to call her back. But what more could I say? I'd laid it all out there, told her how I felt, what I wanted. Now it was up to her.
She just needs time, I reasoned, lying back on the hotel bed and staring at the ceiling. This was a lot to process. Finding out your new husband might have a child with another woman, losing your job, all within a couple of days... anyone would need time to work through that.
I decided to give her space. I would finish this job, get back home, and then we could figure this out face to face. Maybe by then, she'd have had time to think, to calm down. Maybe by then, she'd be ready to talk.
But the next morning, I woke up to see that she sent the money back. No message, no explanation. Just a notification that she'd returned the $5,000.
It felt like a door closing. She didn't want my help, my support, my money. What did that mean for us? For our marriage?
I sat on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, wondering what to do next. Should I call her? Text her? Or should I give her more space?
I couldn’t do anything til I got home. But as soon as I arrived, I was going to find a way to fix my marriage. Because despite everything, I loved Asia. And I wasn't going to let her go without a fight.