Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
TATIYONNA
“Tatiyonna, this is my last time telling you to get the fuck off that ladder,” Jah fussed as he walked in her studio with lunch for the girls and me.
“I tried to tell her to let one of us do it, but she refused,” Lonni said, helping me grab the food.
He knew when I wanted to spend my last few weeks up here before the baby got here that I was going to be up to no good.
I was so excited about the studio that he couldn’t keep me locked up in the house.
As my man, he supported whatever I wanted to do.
After having my desires suppressed for years, it felt great to have the support.
But when it came down to me hurting myself while carrying his baby, that’s when we had a problem.
“Jah, she doesn’t listen. We’ve been friends most of our lives, and she never listens,” Casi stated.
“I like y’all nerves. I told y’all to let me know before he walked in here,” I said, as he helped me down.
“Nah, they did right. Letting me catch you in the action,” Jah stated.
I was glowing. My hair was pulled up and had grown so thick since I had gotten pregnant. I wasn’t a fan of how swollen my face had gotten, but Jah thought it was cute. Being able to feel my baby move and kick made me forget all about the wide hips, heavy breathing, and frequent urination.
“Thank you for lunch, baby,” I said, kissing him.
“You’re welcome. Please don’t be up here too long. I’m going to call before I make my last rounds on this site, and if you’re still up here, we’re going to have a problem.”
“I’ll make sure she’s home, sir,” Lonni joked.
Lonni and I had become closer over the last few months.
I thought Casi was a trip, but them together kept me on my toes.
I was glad to see Lonni finally getting out the house and hanging out with us.
Jah told me it took pressure off him, so he didn’t have to do all the girly things with his sister anymore.
“Aight, y’all be good,” Jah told us before he walked out the door.
Now that I had the sign up and everyone knew what the building was, I took the plastic off the windows so people could vaguely see inside.
Jah had tempered glass installed for when I do my couples date night sessions in the future.
I didn’t want people to get any free shows.
If they wanted to see what I was about, they would have to pay the fee to join the classes.
I watched as he disappeared around the building before I joined the girls.
We fixed our plates and I turned some music on.
I had just put a forkful of food in my mouth when Jah walked back in with a frustrated look.
“I thought you were gone. Is something wrong?” I stood up.
“Siya is outside, and she wants to ask you a question. Now, if you don’t want to talk, I can send her on her way,” Jah let me know.
“Nah, let me talk to her,” Casi said, getting up.
“Y’all, it’s cool. I can talk to her. Ain’t much to talk about anyway,” I reassured them as we all walked back out the door.
Siya was standing there with her arms folded. Her stance must have given Casi the wrong vibe.
“We got pressure or something, little girl?” Casi asked.
“Casi, it’s cool. Let her speak,” I said.
“Killeen has been gone for long enough, and I know your ass knows where he's at,” Siya said.
I should’ve slapped this girl the night I found out she was sleeping with my ex-husband. I placed my hands on my hips to support my back.
“What the hell makes you think I know where your man is? Mine is right here.”
“You should let me get on n her ass, Tati,” Casi paced. “Should’ve been put her in her place.”
“Girl, who the hell are you?” Siya asked, frowning.
“A grown ass woman that will mop the sidewalk with your ass,” Casi replied.
"Enough," I said. “I don't know where that man is. Did you ever think that just maybe he did you like he did me? You’re not exempt.”
Jah stood there trying to keep space between us. Lonni wasn't saying anything, and Casi had slipped her slides off.
“You were the last call from his phone records.”
“Girl, that nigga blocked so how would I know he called me. I get it, you want someone to blame because you let that nigga baby mama you. I don't know what you want me to do. I'm divorced, remember. I gave that nigga to you in a gift bag, and you still blaming me.”
“I know you got something to do with it because your name is on his insurance policy.”
I looked at Jah, confused. I didn’t know anything about an insurance policy.
“We had one policy, and that was null as soon as I signed those papers. Again, you're wrong.”
Siya reached in her pocket and threw the paper. All four of us stared at her like she was stupid.
“Who does she think about to pick that shit up?” Lonni asked.
“Siya, let me ask you something,” I stepped closer. “Have I ever disrespected you?”
“Actually, yes, you have. You popped up to my house and fucked my family up.”
I laughed, “I fucked your family up? Not him or you, but me?! Your dumb ass maybe should’ve did a little more digging before letting him dig in your guts.”
Jah had heard enough of the back and forth.
“Aight, this shit is over.” He grabbed my hand to walk me back in the studio.
“I gave your husband something you were never able to give him. You're no better than me, bitch. Look like you got baby mamaed too.”
Casi punched Siya dead in her mouth before I could say a word. We stood there and let Casi get it out until she was about to slam the girl’s head on the cement. Jah grabbed her and carried her back in the studio.
“Y’all chill the fuck out. I’m sure the cops will be here soon, and I’ll do the talking,” he told us.
I would be lying if I said my feelings weren’t hurt. Being that I was about to be someone’s mother now should’ve made me feel better. I wasn’t able to carry any of my husband’s kids and the fact that she knew that cut deep.
“Come and talk to me for a minute,” Jah said softly, pulling me to the back for privacy. “You good? And don't lie to me.”
“I will be.”
“Tatiyonna, it's okay if that shit hurt your feelings. That's the only thing that girl got on you is a baby by a nigga that is nowhere to be found. You're carrying life now. Who gives a fuck what she’s talking about?”
“Jah, I had no idea about any insurance money. I don't even want it.”
“Not that you need it, but shit, you deserve it. We’ll look into it together.” He pulled me close and lifted my head. “Hold your head up, baby. You’re mine now. All that old shit is irrelevant,” he kissed me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After talking to the police, Jah made us shut the studio down and head home.
Siya didn’t want to press charges. What she did mention to the police was how they needed to do a better job of finding Kileen.
He wasn’t important enough for them to use the resources to find out where he was.
Siya needed to chalk it up and raise her daughter as best as she could, as far as that insurance money went.
I didn’t want it and planned on putting it in a trust for his daughter when she got old enough to use it.
I didn’t have it in me to be nasty to his daughter.
Now, Siya, that hoe wouldn’t see a dime unless her daughter was nice enough to give her some.
“Jah, do you think Kileen is somewhere dead? It is strange for him to leave his daughter,” I asked as he rubbed my feet.
“I don’t give a fuck about that nigga. He could be somewhere rotting, and I wouldn’t bat an eye. He walked away from his daughter the day played in your face,” he told me.
All I did was stare at him, trying to decipher what he was saying.
“That nigga alright, baby. He just ran away from his responsibilities. No need for your pretty ass to worry about it,” he told me.