CHAPTER 7
ONE OF Y’ALL THE DADDY, SO LET’S FIND THE FUCK OUT
“PANCAKE!”
Kyren reached for the bag again.
Kavon looked down at him.
Then at Zaviyah.
Then at Rashaad.
Nobody moved.
Kyren frowned.
“Mine.”
Zaviyah snatched the bag from Kavon.
“Yes, greedy. They yours.”
She turned toward the kitchen.
“Everybody else can get the fuck out.”
Rashaad laughed.
“I’m not leaving.”
Kavon stepped inside.
“Neither am I.”
Zaviyah turned around.
“Did I miss the part where either one of y’all pay bills here?”
Kavon looked at Kyren.
“I came to talk about the test.”
Rashaad nodded.
“Me too.”
Samaria was still standing near the window.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Zaviyah looked at her.
“You okay?”
Samaria laughed softly.
“No.”
Kavon looked at her.
“Mari.”
“Don’t.”
His face fell.
Samaria grabbed her purse.
“I’m leaving.”
Zaviyah put Kyren down.
“Wait.”
“No.”
“Mari, please.”
“I cannot stand here and watch this.”
“Watch what?”
Samaria looked around the room.
“This.”
Her eyes landed on Kavon.
“You bringing breakfast to my sister’s house.”
“It was for Kyren.”
“I know.”
“That’s why I came.”
“I know.”
“Then why you making it something it’s not?”
Samaria laughed.
“Because yesterday you were my man.”
Kavon went quiet.
“And today you standing in my sister’s living room trying to find out if y’all got a baby together.”
Nobody said anything.
Samaria wiped beneath her eye.
“I know she had him before you met me.”
She looked at Zaviyah.
“I know you didn’t cheat with him.”
Zaviyah swallowed.
“But knowing that shit and watching it are two different things.”
“Mari.”
“I love Kyren.”
“I know.”
“That’s my baby too.”
“I know.”
“So if Kavon is his daddy, what the fuck am I supposed to do?”
Zaviyah had no answer.
Samaria looked at Kavon.
“Get back with you and watch you play daddy with my sister?”
“It wouldn’t be like that.”
“What would it be like?”
Kavon opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Samaria nodded.
“Exactly.”
She walked toward the door.
Rashaad moved out of her way.
Before leaving, Samaria looked at Zaviyah.
“Do the test.”
Zaviyah stared at her.
“Today.”
Then she left.
The door closed.
Zaviyah stood there feeling like shit.
Kyren tugged her shirt.
“Pancake.”
She looked down.
“Baby, give Mama a second.”
“No.”
Rashaad laughed.
Zaviyah glared at him.
“You find this funny?”
“The boy hungry.”
“He ate last night.”
“It’s morning.”
“I know what fucking time it is.”
Kyren pointed at Rashaad.
“Bad word.”
Rashaad laughed harder.
Kavon smiled.
Zaviyah looked at both men.
“Oh, now y’all friends?”
“No,” they answered together.
She rolled her eyes.
“Of course.”
Zaviyah opened the pancake container and put Kyren at the kitchen table.
Kavon sat beside him.
Rashaad sat across from them.
Zaviyah turned around.
“What the fuck?”
Kavon looked up.
“What?”
“Why y’all sitting down?”
Rashaad shrugged.
“Because we talking.”
“Not while my child eats.”
Kavon tore a pancake into smaller pieces.
Zaviyah froze.
“What are you doing?”
“He was trying to cut it with the fork.”
“He can do it.”
Kyren shook his head.
“No.”
Zaviyah looked at him.
“Traitor.”
Kyren smiled.
Kavon pushed the plate back toward him.
“There.”
Kyren grabbed a piece.
“Thank you.”
Kavon’s whole face softened.
“You’re welcome.”
Rashaad watched them.
Zaviyah noticed.
She also noticed how tight his jaw had gotten.
This was exactly what she didn’t want.
Two grown men competing over a child neither one knew belonged to them.
“Stop.”
Rashaad looked at her.
“Stop what?”
“Whatever you thinking.”
“You read minds now?”
“I know men.”
Kavon looked at him.
“What’s he thinking?”
Zaviyah pointed at Kavon.
“You too.”
“I ain’t doing shit.”
“You came here with pancakes.”
“For Kyren.”
“Exactly.”
Rashaad laughed.
Kavon looked at him.
“What?”
“You doing a lot for a maybe.”
Kavon leaned back.
“And you doing a lot of talking for a nigga who showed up two years late.”
Rashaad’s smile disappeared.
“You showed up the same fucking day I did.”
“I came because I found out yesterday.”
“So did I.”
“Then what’s your point?”
“My point is you ain’t got shit on me.”
Kavon stood.
Zaviyah slapped the counter.
“Sit the fuck down!”
Both men looked at her.
Kyren jumped.
Zaviyah immediately lowered her voice.
“Sorry, baby.”
Kyren shoved pancake into his mouth.
“Okay.”
She turned back toward them.
“If either one of y’all raise your voice around my son again, everybody leaving.”
Rashaad sat back.
Kavon sat down.
“Thank you.”
She grabbed her phone.
“Give me the clinic information.”
Kavon looked up.
“You serious?”
“Yes.”
He immediately pulled out his phone.
Rashaad leaned forward.
“They can test both of us?”
“I’m calling.”
Zaviyah dialed.
A woman answered.
“Good morning, Broward Family Diagnostics. How may I help you?”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
She couldn’t believe she was doing this.
“Hi. I need to schedule a paternity test.”
Kavon and Rashaad both stared at her.
The woman asked, “Legal or informational?”
Zaviyah frowned.
“What’s the difference?”
“For legal testing, collection must follow chain of custody procedures and identification is required. Informational testing is for personal knowledge only.”
Zaviyah looked at the two men.
“Legal.”
Kavon’s eyebrows lifted.
Rashaad nodded.
The woman continued.
“How many alleged fathers?”
Zaviyah covered her face.
Of fucking course she asked it like that.
“Two.”
Silence from the men.
The woman didn’t sound surprised at all.
Apparently she had heard worse.
“Okay. And the child’s age?”
“Two.”
“We can collect cheek swabs. We have an opening today at two thirty.”
Zaviyah looked at the clock.
“Today?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She looked at Kavon.
He nodded immediately.
Rashaad nodded too.
“Fine.”
The woman gave her the information.
Zaviyah wrote it down.
“Results typically take two to three business days after all samples are collected.”
Zaviyah frowned.
“Two to three days?”
“Yes.”
“Y’all don’t got no hurry the fuck up option?”
Silence.
Kavon covered his mouth.
Rashaad turned away laughing.
The woman cleared her throat.
“We do offer expedited processing for an additional fee.”
Zaviyah sat up.
“How expedited?”
“Potentially next business day, depending on laboratory intake.”
“Do that.”
Kavon nodded.
“I’ll pay.”
Rashaad looked at him.
“I can pay.”
Kavon looked back.
“I didn’t ask you.”
Rashaad stood.
“I don’t need you paying for shit involving me.”
Zaviyah put the phone against her chest.
“Both of y’all shut the fuck up.”
Kyren looked up.
“Bad word.”
“Sorry.”
She returned to the call.
“We’ll take expedited.”
After hanging up, Zaviyah put her phone down.
“Two thirty.”
Kavon nodded.
“I’ll be there.”
Rashaad stood.
“Me too.”
“You need identification.”
“I got identification.”
“And apparently your wife tracks your location.”
Rashaad’s face tightened.
“Don’t worry about Jalisa.”
“Oh, I’m worried.”
“I’ll handle her.”
Zaviyah laughed.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I will.”
“You know she gonna ask where you going.”
“I said I got it.”
Kavon looked between them.
“Who’s Jalisa?”
Samaria’s friend.
Zaviyah didn’t want to explain another fucking relationship chart.
“His wife.”
Kavon stared at Rashaad.
“You married?”
Rashaad looked at him.
“What that got to do with you?”
Kavon laughed.
“Nothing.”
“Then mind your business.”
Kavon looked at Zaviyah.
“You was fucking a married nigga?”
Rashaad stood.
“I wasn’t married!”
Zaviyah’s eyes widened.
“Oh, now everybody wanna judge me?”
Kavon lifted his hands.
“I asked a question.”
“Ask another one and I’m canceling the test.”
He shut up.
Rashaad smiled.
“Smart.”
Zaviyah looked at him.
“You’re next.”
His smile disappeared.
“Get out.”
Rashaad frowned.
“What?”
“Go handle your wife.”
He grabbed his keys.
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Don’t be late.”
“I won’t.”
Rashaad looked toward Kyren.
For a second, it looked like he wanted to say something.
He didn’t.
He left.
Now it was just Zaviyah.
Kavon.
And Kyren.
That somehow felt more dangerous.
Zaviyah immediately pointed toward the door.
“You too.”
Kavon looked at her.
“Can I finish my coffee?”
“No.”
“Damn.”
“Go.”
He stood.
Kyren looked up.
“Kavon go?”
Kavon stopped.
Zaviyah’s heart squeezed.
“Yes, baby.”
Kyren frowned.
“Why?”
Kavon looked at Zaviyah.
She hated this shit already.
“He got stuff to do.”
Kyren looked at Kavon.
“Come back?”
Silence.
Kavon’s eyes filled.
Zaviyah looked away.
“Maybe.”
Kyren smiled.
“Okay.”
Kavon crouched beside him.
“Be good for your mama.”
Kyren nodded.
“I good.”
Zaviyah laughed.
“No the hell you ain’t.”
Kyren looked offended.
Kavon laughed.
Then he stood.
At the door, he stopped beside Zaviyah.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Doing the test.”
“I’m doing it for Kyren.”
“I know.”
“And Samaria.”
His face changed.
“I know.”
Zaviyah opened the door.
“Kavon.”
“What?”
“If the test says you’re his father, everything changes.”
He stared at her.
“For me too.”
“I mean everything.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
She lowered her voice.
“You don’t get to walk in and start playing house because you missed two years.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“You don’t get to decide his schedule.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to start popping up whenever you want.”
“Okay.”
“And whatever happened between us in Tampa is dead.”
Kavon’s expression changed.
“I didn’t say it wasn’t.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I see how you look at me.”
He stared at her.
Zaviyah’s stomach tightened.
She should not have said that.
Kavon stepped closer.
Not touching.
Just close enough.
“How do I look at you?”
Zaviyah swallowed.
“Like you remember.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth for half a second.
There.
That shit.
Exactly that shit.
Zaviyah stepped backward.
“Get the fuck out.”
Kavon smiled slightly.
“You brought it up.”
“And now I’m ending it.”
He walked onto the porch.
“Two thirty.”
“I know.”
He started toward his truck.
Zaviyah closed the door.
Then leaned against it.
“Stupid.”
Kyren looked over.
“Mama stupid?”
“No, baby.”
She sighed.
“Mama might be.”
Her phone rang.
Samaria.
Zaviyah answered immediately.
“Hey.”
“Did you schedule it?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two thirty.”
Samaria went quiet.
“You coming?”
“No.”
Zaviyah’s heart sank.
“Okay.”
“I can’t.”
“I understand.”
Another pause.
Then Samaria asked, “Are you alone?”
Zaviyah looked toward the window.
“Kavon just left.”
Silence.
“Mari.”
“I asked if you were alone.”
“Yes.”
“Did anything happen?”
Zaviyah’s face tightened.
“No.”
“Did he touch you?”
“No.”
“Did you touch him?”
“No.”
“Did y’all talk about Tampa?”
Zaviyah hesitated.
That tiny hesitation fucked everything up.
Samaria laughed.
“Wow.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“There go that fucking sentence again.”
“He asked about Kyren.”
“And?”
“And I told him Tampa is dead.”
“Why would you need to tell him that?”
Zaviyah closed her eyes.
“Mari.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m trying to set boundaries.”
“Did he say he wanted you?”
“No.”
“Then why set that boundary?”
Zaviyah had no good answer.
Samaria went quiet.
Then she whispered something that hurt worse than yelling.
“You still feel something for him.”
“No.”
“Don’t lie to me again.”
“I’m not.”
“Then say you feel absolutely nothing.”
Zaviyah opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because she loved her sister.
And after everything that had already happened, she couldn’t lie to her again.
Samaria exhaled shakily.
“That’s what I thought.”
The call ended.
Zaviyah stared at the phone.
“Fuck.”
Kyren looked up.
“Bad word.”
“I know.”
At two twenty six, Zaviyah pulled into the testing center with Kyren strapped into his car seat.
Kavon’s truck was already there.
Rashaad pulled in behind her.
One on each side.
Perfect.
Zaviyah got Kyren out.
Kavon approached first.
Rashaad approached from the other side.
Both men looked at Kyren.
Then at each other.
Nobody said anything.
“Good,” Zaviyah said. “Keep it that way.”
They walked inside.
The waiting room was quiet.
Too fucking quiet.
A receptionist handed them forms.
Mother.
Zaviyah.
Child.
Kyren.
Alleged Father One.
Kavon Mercer.
Alleged Father Two.
Rashaad Bell.
Zaviyah stared at the paper.
This shit looked insane in writing.
The receptionist called Kyren first.
He cried when they swabbed his mouth.
Kavon immediately stood.
Zaviyah looked at him.
“I got him.”
He sat back down.
Rashaad watched.
Then Kavon got swabbed.
Then Rashaad.
Ten minutes later, it was done.
That simple.
Two years of questions reduced to three cotton
swabs.
Outside, Rashaad checked his phone.
His face changed.
Zaviyah noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That ain’t a nothing face.”
Rashaad looked toward his car.
“Jalisa knows I’m here.”
Zaviyah’s stomach dropped.
“How?”
He turned his phone around.
A text.
JALISA
Broward Family Diagnostics? Really, Rashaad?
Underneath it was another.
JALISA
What the fuck are you getting tested for?
Zaviyah covered her mouth.
Kavon looked over.
“What happened?”
Before anybody could answer, a black Range Rover swung into the parking lot.
Rashaad closed his eyes.
“Oh, shit.”
The Range Rover parked crooked across two spaces.
Driver door flew open.
A woman stepped out.
Long red nails.
Long black hair.
Big sunglasses.
Samaria’s friend.
Rashaad’s wife.
Jalisa.
She slammed the door.
Then she saw Zaviyah holding Kyren’s hand.
Saw Rashaad.
Saw Kavon.
Saw the testing center behind them.
Her sunglasses came off slowly.
“Rashaad.”
Nobody moved.
Jalisa pointed toward the building.
“Why the fuck are you at a DNA testing center?”
Rashaad opened his mouth.
Jalisa’s eyes moved to Kyren.
Then to Zaviyah.
Then back to her husband.
Her face changed.
“Oh.”
Zaviyah’s stomach dropped.
Jalisa laughed once.
It had absolutely no humor in it.
“Oh, bitch.”
She looked directly at Zaviyah.
“Please tell me this ain’t what the fuck I think it is.”