CHAPTER 6
WHY THE FUCK IS EVERYBODY CLAIMING MY BABY?
“Is that little nigga mine?”
Zaviyah stared at Rashaad.
Then she looked at Samaria.
Then back at Rashaad.
It wasn’t even eleven in the fucking morning.
She hadn’t brushed her teeth.
Hadn’t had coffee.
Hadn’t even put on a bra.
And somehow she had two possible baby daddies, one pissed off sister, and somebody else’s husband standing on her porch asking for paternity.
This was some bullshit.
“Rashaad, lower your voice.”
“Answer my question.”
“No.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“No?”
“No, I’m not discussing my child on the front porch.”
“Then let me in.”
“Hell no.”
Samaria spoke from behind her.
“Actually, let him in.”
Zaviyah turned around.
“Whose fucking house is this?”
Samaria folded her arms.
“Yours.”
“Exactly.”
Rashaad looked past Zaviyah.
“Samaria, what the fuck did you ask my wife?”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“Your wife.”
Rashaad looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Jalisa.”
“Yes.”
“The Jalisa who be at my sister birthday dinners?”
“Yes.”
“The Jalisa who got them long ass red nails?”
Samaria frowned.
“What her nails got to do with anything?”
“I’m making sure it’s the same bitch.”
“Yes, Viyah. Same Jalisa.”
Zaviyah looked back at Rashaad.
“Well, congratulations.”
Rashaad stared at her.
“Thank you.”
“You welcome.”
“Now answer my question.”
“No.”
“Zaviyah.”
Kyren tugged her robe.
“Mama.”
She looked down.
“What, baby?”
“Pancake.”
Rashaad’s face changed.
Zaviyah saw him staring again.
At Kyren’s eyes.
His nose.
His skin.
His curls.
Here we fucking go.
“Baby, go watch TV.”
“Pancake.”
“I’m gonna make pancakes.”
“Now.”
Samaria covered her mouth.
Zaviyah glared at her.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I didn’t.”
“You about to.”
Samaria looked away.
Kyren pointed at Rashaad.
“Who dat?”
Zaviyah sighed.
“Nobody.”
Rashaad frowned.
“Damn.”
“What?”
“You ain’t gotta call me nobody.”
“To him, you are.”
“Maybe I’m not.”
Zaviyah’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t start that shit.”
Rashaad looked at Kyren again.
“When’s his birthday?”
Zaviyah pushed Kyren gently behind her.
“Stop asking questions about my child.”
“If there’s a chance he’s mine, I have a right to ask.”
Samaria mumbled, “That sound familiar.”
Zaviyah turned.
“Bitch.”
“What?”
“Not now.”
Rashaad frowned.
“Who else asking?”
Nobody answered.
His eyes moved between them.
“Who else thinks that’s their son?”
Zaviyah folded her arms.
“Why are you here?”
“I told you. Jalisa called me.”
“What did she say?”
“That Samaria randomly called her this morning asking when me and her got back together.”
Zaviyah looked at Samaria.
“You messy as fuck.”
“I asked one question.”
“At ten in the morning?”
“I was awake.”
“You should’ve went back to sleep.”
Rashaad stepped inside.
Zaviyah stared at him.
“Did I invite you in?”
“No.”
“Then get the fuck back outside.”
“Viyah.”
“No. You got a wife. Go home to her.”
“You weren’t worried about my relationship status two years ago.”
Zaviyah laughed.
“Because you told me you were single!”
“I was.”
“Apparently for twelve fucking minutes.”
Samaria’s eyebrows lifted.
“Oh.”
Zaviyah pointed at her.
“Don’t.”
Rashaad rubbed his jaw.
“Me and Jalisa were separated.”
“Good for y’all.”
“We got back together after you and me stopped dealing with each other.”
“Again, congratulations.”
“Why you acting like this?”
“Because you standing in my house asking if my two year old is yours when you ain’t checked on me since before I had a fucking stomach.”
Rashaad went quiet.
Zaviyah laughed.
“Exactly.”
“You never told me you were pregnant.”
“We were done.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“That’s what everybody keeps fucking saying.”
Rashaad frowned.
“Everybody?”
Zaviyah immediately regretted that.
Samaria looked at the ceiling.
Rashaad caught it.
“Who is everybody?”
“Nobody.”
“You just said everybody.”
“I was being dramatic.”
“You always dramatic.”
“And you always irritating.”
Kyren tugged her robe again.
“Pancake.”
Zaviyah looked down.
“Baby.”
“Pancake.”
“Give Mama five minutes.”
Kyren frowned.
“Five?”
“Yes.”
He held up three fingers.
“Free.”
Samaria snorted.
Zaviyah looked at her.
“Don’t.”
Rashaad smiled.
“He funny.”
Zaviyah’s smile disappeared.
“Don’t get comfortable.”
Rashaad looked at her.
“I’m just saying.”
“Well, don’t.”
Kyren ran toward the living room.
Zaviyah waited until he was out of earshot.
Then she lowered her voice.
“There is a possibility.”
Rashaad went still.
Samaria looked at her.
Zaviyah continued.
“You and I were together before I went to Tampa.”
“How long before?”
“About a month.”
Rashaad’s jaw tightened.
“And you got pregnant after Tampa?”
“I found out in November.”
“Who the fuck you went to Tampa with?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because obviously something happened in Tampa.”
Samaria laughed.
Zaviyah turned.
“Girl.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
Rashaad looked at Samaria.
“What happened in Tampa?”
Samaria’s smile disappeared.
“Ask her.”
Rashaad looked back at Zaviyah.
“Who else?”
Zaviyah said nothing.
His voice hardened.
“Who else could be Kyren’s father?”
Zaviyah walked toward the kitchen.
“I need coffee.”
Rashaad followed.
“You need to answer me.”
“I don’t need to do shit.”
Samaria followed both of them.
“You probably should tell him.”
Zaviyah stopped.
“Whose side are you on?”
“My own.”
“Clearly.”
Rashaad looked at Samaria.
“You know who it is?”
Samaria folded her arms.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
She looked at Zaviyah.
Zaviyah shook her head.
“Don’t.”
Samaria’s eyes narrowed.
“Why are you protecting him?”
“I’m not protecting anybody.”
“Then tell Rashaad.”
“Why does he need his name?”
“Because we all about to find out who Kyren’s daddy is anyway.”
Rashaad stared at her.
“Who?”
Zaviyah sighed.
“Kavon.”
Silence.
Rashaad frowned.
“Kavon who?”
Zaviyah didn’t answer.
Samaria did.
“My Kavon.”
Rashaad’s eyes widened.
“Your boyfriend?”
“Ex boyfriend.”
“Since when?”
“Last night.”
Rashaad looked at Zaviyah.
Then Samaria.
Then back at Zaviyah.
“You fucked your sister’s man?”
Zaviyah slammed her coffee cup onto the counter.
“BEFORE THEY FUCKING MET!”
Kyren yelled from the living room.
“FUCK!”
Everybody froze.
Samaria slowly looked at Zaviyah.
Zaviyah covered her face.
Rashaad started laughing.
“Man, what the fuck is going on in this house?”
“Get out.”
“I’m serious.”
“GET OUT.”
Rashaad stopped laughing.
“I want a DNA test.”
Zaviyah dropped her hands.
“You and everybody else.”
His face changed.
“Kavon asking for one too?”
“Yes.”
Rashaad stared toward the living room.
Zaviyah stepped in front of him.
“Don’t.”
“I’m just looking.”
“Don’t.”
“If he’s mine.”
“If.”
“If he’s mine, I want to know.”
“And what about your wife?”
Rashaad went quiet.
Samaria leaned against the counter.
“Yeah. Let’s talk about that.”
Rashaad looked at her.
“Stay out of it.”
She laughed.
“Oh, now everybody wanna tell me to stay out of shit.”
“Because it ain’t your business.”
“That baby is my nephew.”
“And maybe my son.”
“And your wife is my friend.”
Rashaad’s face tightened.
“Jalisa doesn’t need to know anything until we know something.”
Zaviyah stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“So I’m supposed to sneak around doing DNA
tests with you?”
“I didn’t say sneak.”
“What the fuck you call not telling your wife?”
“Being smart.”
Samaria laughed.
“Men love calling lying being smart.”
Rashaad ignored her.
“If Kyren isn’t mine, why blow up my marriage?”
Zaviyah stared at him.
“Because there’s a chance he is yours.”
“Exactly. A chance.”
“And if he is?”
Rashaad rubbed his face.
“Then I’ll handle it.”
Zaviyah’s eyes narrowed.
“Handle it?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No. I don’t.”
“I’ll tell Jalisa.”
“And then?”
“And then I’ll be there for my son.”
Samaria laughed.
Rashaad turned.
“What’s funny?”
“You.”
“Why?”
“You been in Fort Lauderdale this whole time?”
“Yes.”
“So has Kyren.”
“I didn’t know about him.”
“Neither did Kavon.”
Rashaad frowned.
“What that supposed to mean?”
Samaria shrugged.
“Nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing.
Zaviyah heard it too.
For the first time, both men were standing on equal ground.
Neither knew.
Neither had intentionally abandoned Kyren.
That somehow made the whole situation worse.
Because Zaviyah couldn’t hate either one for not being there.
She could only figure out which one should have been.
Her phone started ringing.
She looked down.
KAVON.
Everybody saw the name.
Rashaad’s eyebrows lifted.
Samaria’s entire face changed.
Zaviyah immediately declined the call.
Samaria laughed bitterly.
“Why you ain’t answer?”
“Because now isn’t a good time.”
“Look like the perfect fucking time to me.”
“Mari.”
“No. Answer him.”
“I’m not doing this.”
Rashaad folded his arms.
“I wanna talk to him.”
Zaviyah stared at him.
“Nigga, this ain’t Maury.”
Samaria burst out laughing.
Even Rashaad smiled.
Zaviyah didn’t.
Her phone rang again.
Kavon.
Samaria looked at her.
“Answer.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re standing here.”
“So?”
“So I’m not disrespecting you like that.”
Samaria’s face softened for half a second.
Then hardened again.
“You already did.”
Zaviyah swallowed.
The phone stopped.
A text came through.
KAVON
I found a place that can do the test today. I’ll pay for everything. Just tell me what time works for you.
Rashaad leaned over.
“What he say?”
Zaviyah moved the phone.
“Back the fuck up.”
“Is it about the test?”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
“No, you’re not.”
“If we doing DNA, test me too.”
Samaria nodded.
“Might as well.”
Zaviyah stared at both of them.
“Why y’all making plans with my child’s DNA like I’m not standing here?”
Rashaad looked at her.
“Because this shit needs to get settled.”
Samaria nodded.
“For once, I agree with him.”
Zaviyah looked toward the living room.
Kyren was sitting on the floor pushing his truck across the carpet.
Completely unaware.
Her baby.
Her whole heart.
And suddenly everybody wanted a piece of him.
“I need to think.”
Rashaad shook his head.
“You had two years.”
That pissed her off.
Zaviyah stepped closer.
“And you had two years to keep your dick out of women while you were figuring shit out with your wife, but apparently we all made questionable decisions.”
Samaria covered her mouth.
Rashaad stared at Zaviyah.
“That was unnecessary.”
“It felt necessary.”
He sighed.
“Just call me.”
“You changed your number.”
“I’ll give you the new one.”
“Fantastic.”
Rashaad pulled out his phone.
Before anybody could say anything else, a car horn sounded outside.
Once.
Then again.
Zaviyah frowned.
She walked toward the window.
A black truck sat at the curb.
Her stomach dropped.
Kavon got out.
Samaria came up beside her.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“I told that man yesterday not to keep coming over here.”
Rashaad walked up behind them.
“That him?”
Zaviyah turned.
“Don’t.”
Rashaad looked through the blinds.
“That’s him?”
“Yes.”
He nodded slowly.
“I remember him.”
Samaria frowned.
“From where?”
Rashaad’s face changed.
Zaviyah noticed.
“Rashaad.”
He didn’t answer.
“From where do you know Kavon?”
Rashaad looked at her.
“Basketball.”
Zaviyah stared.
“What?”
“We used to hoop at Dillard Park.”
Samaria laughed.
“Of fucking course.”
Zaviyah rubbed her forehead.
Fort Lauderdale was entirely too damn small.
A knock hit the door.
Nobody moved.
Another knock.
Then Kavon’s voice.
“Zaviyah.”
Rashaad started toward the door.
Zaviyah grabbed his shirt.
“Don’t.”
“If that’s the other possible father, we need to talk.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
“There is no fucking we.”
Kavon knocked again.
Kyren ran toward the door.
“Kavon!”
Everybody froze.
Zaviyah’s heart stopped.
Samaria looked at Kyren.
Then at Zaviyah.
Her face crumbled.
Kyren smiled.
“Kavon outside!”
Samaria’s eyes filled.
Zaviyah whispered, “Mari.”
Samaria stepped backward.
“No.”
“He only met him last night.”
“I know.”
“Kyren remembers everybody.”
“I said I know.”
Kyren reached for the doorknob.
Zaviyah grabbed him.
“No, baby.”
“But Kavon.”
“I got it.”
She picked him up.
Rashaad stared at Kyren.
Then toward the door.
Something ugly crossed his face.
Jealousy.
Already.
Wonderful.
Zaviyah opened the door halfway.
Kavon stood there holding a small paper bag.
He smiled when he saw Kyren.
“Hey, little man.”
Kyren smiled immediately.
“Hi.”
Kavon lifted the bag.
“I brought breakfast.”
Zaviyah stared at him.
“What?”
“Pancakes.”
Kyren nearly launched himself out of her arms.
“PANCAKE!”
Zaviyah looked at the ceiling.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
Kavon laughed.
Then he noticed Samaria standing behind her.
His smile disappeared.
“Mari.”
Samaria looked away.
Then Kavon noticed Rashaad.
Everything about him changed.
“What the fuck you doing here?”
Rashaad stepped forward.
“Could ask you the same thing.”
Zaviyah looked between them.
“You two really know each other?”
Kavon stared at Rashaad.
“Unfortunately.”
Rashaad smiled.
“Been a minute, Kav.”
Zaviyah’s stomach dropped at the nickname.
Samaria noticed too.
Kavon’s eyes moved to Kyren.
Then back to Rashaad.
“What’s he doing here?”
Nobody answered.
Kavon looked at Zaviyah.
“Why is Rashaad here?”
Zaviyah exhaled.
“Because he might be Kyren’s father too.”
Silence.
Kavon stared at her.
Then at Rashaad.
Then at Kyren.
His face went completely blank.
Rashaad folded his arms.
“Looks like we both need that test.”
Kavon’s jaw tightened.
Kyren reached toward the paper bag.
“Pancake.”
Nobody moved.
“PANCAKE!”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
Because while three grown ass people stood in her doorway ready to ruin each other’s lives, her son only cared about breakfast.
And honestly?
He was the smartest motherfucker in the house.