Chapter 2
TWO
TATIYONNA
I double-checked my email to make sure my assistant had the address correct and that the appointment was confirmed.
I spent my earlier years headfirst in my schooling to become a Licensed Speech Therapist. After working at a few places, I got all my credentials and opened my own business that I ran with just me and my assistant.
It allowed me to do other things that I loved to do and not have to worry about someone telling me what to do.
Of course, my dad and Kileen pushed me to do it.
It was shaky at first, but after three years of being on my own, I was well-established.
Once I confirmed I was at the right address, I grabbed my purse and phone, rushing to the front door because I hated being late, and I was already pushing it.
This was my first time with this client, so I had to get to know them.
I hit the doorbell and stepped back slightly to give myself some space from the door.
“Hey, you must be Ms. Cole?” A woman with auburn hair answered the door.
“Yes.”
“Great! I am Lonni Grant, the one who contacted you about my niece and nephew.”
“I wasn’t aware that it was two.” I double-checked the text messages between my assistant Wesley and me.
“I apologize. I thought I made that clear with your assistant.”
I wanted to reschedule to regroup. Being unprepared threw me off.
“Everything okay? I’m sorry, I thought we made that clear.”
“Yes, everything is fine. I’m sure I can handle it. We have plenty of paperwork to fill out anyway.”
“Come in so I can introduce you.”
The home was very nice. It was bigger than it appeared from the outside. As soon as we walked in, I could tell that the twins were the ones who ran the home. She had no control over them as they ran through the house.
“Please excuse their mess. The maid will come behind them and clean it up.”
“So, you said the twins are your niece and nephew, correct?”
“Yes, they are my sister’s kids.”
“Are you the guardian?”
“No, my brother is, but he’s extremely busy, so we take care of them together. They are with me the majority of the time so he can work.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to speak with the guardian of the kids. He will need to be here to sign their paperwork.”
“By the time you’re done with this appointment, he should be walking in the door.”
She walked me into the den where the kids were playing. The little boy was just about to push his sister down until he noticed his aunt and me standing in the doorway.
“And that is Mr. Dream and she is Miss Reign. Don’t let her pretty eyes fool you, she’s a bossy something.”
“Hello, Dream and Reign. My name is Tatiyonna. Can I sit and play with you and your sister?”
They both nodded. I placed my bag down and sat on the floor.
For an hour straight, I would let them play but pay attention to their behavior.
I took notes and recordings. For them to be four, their speech and behavior were behind.
Usually, I would go through my clients' files, but the bullshit with Kileen had me thrown off.
They communicated with each other well, but it was hard to understand some words.
I wrapped up my session so I could get my paperwork done and schedule the next appointment when the finest man I had ever laid my eyes on walked in.
He was tall, dark, with a nice fade with waves so deep they would make you dizzy.
His beard was trimmed so well that it looked like it was perfectly laid like a damn lace front.
He was so put together that I was in a trance.
That was hard to do. He caught me staring at him and cleared his throat.
“Ms. Cole is here for the twins. She said that I couldn’t sign the papers because I’m not their guardian. I know you hate me to bother you while you’re working,” Lonni told him.
“It’s cool. Where are the papers?” The fine man asked.
I heard him, but I was distracted. All I could think about was what was under the nice ass suit that he wore. He was dressed in a suit, but the diamonds and tattoos around his neck let me know there was a little roughness in him somewhere.
“Aye! Where are the papers? I got things I need to be doing so I can afford to keep things running.”
“Sor…sorry,” I stuttered. “It’s a few papers I have here. You can put your number…I mean, your sister can put her number if she’s the one who watches them while you work.”
He looked up at me and smiled with the prettiest white teeth.
Damn and his teeth clean and straight.
“I’ll put both of our numbers on the paperwork. We both take care of them despite what Lonni told you.”
“I haven’t mentioned anything about your big head ass. Ms. Cole here is going to be worth every dime,” Lonni told him.
“I hope so. You’re not cheap.” He handed me the papers with his signature.
“I’ll call for the next appointment. On my next visit, I’ll have activities for them both to do. Dream seems to be a little more behind than Reign is. When I’m done, they’ll be up to speed, but it will take some effort from you guys as well.”
“You tell us what we need to do, and we’ll do it,” Lonni stated.
“Thank you. I’ll give you a call this evening once I get my schedule in front of me.”
I worked three more cases before I went home to do the rest of my work, which required me to put notes in and go over my schedule for the rest of the week.
Wesley told me I needed to clear my schedule for a few days to clear my head, but I wasn’t in the mood.
I just wanted to work to take my mind off things going on in my life.
After a few hours, I closed my laptop when my phone pinged.
Kil: Are you free to talk?
I rolled my eyes and went to take a shower.
To me, there was nothing else to talk about.
The house was so empty without him here.
I would usually be cooking dinner and he would be in his office on the phone.
Life could change at the blink of an eye.
Did I miss my husband? Of course, I did, but I was not about to let him think what he did was okay.
A fuck up is sleeping with a person one time.
He was comfortable enough to sleep with her without protection.
Nothing he could do would make me trust him again.
As I dried off, I applied my skincare and wrapped my hair as Casi’s face popped up on my phone.
“Hey girl,” I said.
“I was just calling to check up on you.”
“Just got out of the shower.”
“Tati, for real. How are you? I know we joke and play all the time because that’s how we deal with our trauma. Let’s put all that to the side and talk to me.”
Neither of us were the weak friend. We were always strong. This was the first time that I felt like I wanted to cry. As I looked at myself in the mirror, the big diamond ring sitting on my finger reminded me that I needed to stop faking like I was okay.
“I’m scared, Casi. I loved him so much and this is what he does to me. I’m hurt and I’m trying to push through and not think about it.”
“You do know it’s okay to be hurt. You’ve given him so much of yourself. Do you want me to come over or you come over here, and we have a girls’ night?”
“No, I’m fine. We can meet up for lunch tomorrow. I need a drink and a good laugh.”
“Now you know I got you on that. Lunch is on me. I’ll text you later. Love you, girl.”
“Love you too,” I said as we ended the call.
When I was stressed, I did what I loved first, but I couldn’t do it as a full-time job.
I changed my clothes and headed to the studio that was not far from my house.
Once inside, I stripped out of my first layer of clothes until I was only in my lingerie.
Taking my rag, I wiped the pole down before connecting my phone to the speakers.
The soft voice of Usher crooned through the speakers as I sashayed around the pole.
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been fascinated with music and dance.
I opened this studio two years ago and was too afraid to open it up to the public.
Fear was something that stopped me from living my dream.
The vision I had for this place was so big, but I didn’t want to hear my dad’s mouth about the money that was paid for me to go to school.
When work stressed me out, this is where I would come and lie and tell my husband I was in Pilates.
By the time I was through getting all my frustrations out, I was sweating and breathing hard.
The tears stung my eyes as the warmth ran down my face.
Men never gave a fuck how anything affected us.
Yet we always made sure to nurture a man and stroke his ego even when he was wrong.
Just like any other heartbreak, I wiped my tears and held my head up.