Daddy Taught Me Better (6 page)

CHAPTER 11 – APOLLO

Damn, I woke up frustrated and angry with the world. I had been blowing up Kasey’s phone all night. She must have cut her phone off since it was going straight to the voicemail. I know she was angry about the situation that unfolded last night but never in a million years did I think Kasey would speak to me the way that she did. I felt the hurt in her voice and the pain in her heart.  I always thought that Kasey was my soulmate but since my cousin had cuffed her first I just played the supportive in-law to her. Listening to her hopes and fears, trying my best to encourage her and make sure she knew her worth while trying to school my cousin to be a better man, a better father and a better husband as a way to protect her heart. I was feeling like I couldn’t lose from winning in this situation. I know they say you have to lose to win, but losing Kasey out of my life was not an option to me. I was ready to live my life for me, make myself happy and fuck who felt some kind of way about it. Truth of the matter I was sick and tired of this hustling shit. I had already shut down all of my trap houses except the one that I let Jason run. I left that one up and running so that Jason would have a way to provide for Kasey and the boys. I wanted to just hand the trap house over to him. However, I knew he was not boss material. I knew his decision making skills were not up to par because he always thought with his little head. He would end up dead and or in jail and I didn’t want to see that happen to him since he was my Aunt Eleanor’s only child. I had been trying to get him to invest his money into real estate but he wouldn’t have it. He loved this thug shit, lived for the street fame. Unbeknownst to him, Kasey took me up on the proposition and now once she completes all of her closings she will be the sole owner of a couple of duplex rentals along with some seasonal rentals that were already furnished. My mom was a successful real estate broker so she usually put me up on the most profitable places that were coming up for sale or going into foreclosure. South Florida had become a haven for flipping houses and making a quick profit or either leaving them as investment properties. I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard my IPhone ringing. I looked at my caller ID noticing that it was my mother calling; damn I was supposed to have met up with her about thirty minutes ago.

“Before you go off on me ma, I overslept. I’m hopping in the shower right now and I’ll be right to you in about thirty minutes” trying to beat my mother to the punch of going off on me.

“Uh huh, well since you late and I got to wait on you, you might as well stop by Starbucks and pick me a White Chocolate Mocha and a ham and cheese croissant. I was rushing trying to get here on time to meet with you that I didn’t get myself anything for breakfast,” my mother said.

“No problem ma, I got you. I’ll be on my way in a little minute.”

I jumped in the shower and took a quick wash up, brushing my teeth in and all while I was in there. Me and my mother were going to scan some upcoming properties that I was going to bid on so I grabbed my cargo Gucci shorts, with the V-neck Gucci t-shirt and my Gucci loafers adorned my feet so that I could be comfortable today. I never tried to be flashy when I wore my labels; if I didn’t tell people what I was wearing there isn’t any way you know unless a person was up to date with fashion. I grabbed my keys, set the alarm, locked up and jumped into my BMX MX6. I made it through Starbucks drive thru line and to my mom’s office in 30 minutes. I strolled into my mom office and casually spoke to Yvette which was my mom’s receptionist and kept it moving, I didn’t have time for her flirtatious antics. I don’t know how many times I had to tell her that I don’t shit where I eat. I would never bless her with my sex game because then it would be awkward coming to my mom’s office because she would be addicted. My mom’s office door was locked so I lightly tapped on it and then preceded in her office.

“Boy what you knocking for, you know I been waiting on you and my food.”

I walked over to my mother desk placing her food on it and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Ma didn’t you teach me manners I was just trying to respect your face.

“Uhhh huh, don’t be trying to sweet talk me because you were late. Since you was late, it gave me the time to look through these properties and narrow down the ones we are going to go look at today.”

“That’s cool ma, go ahead and finish your breakfast and we can leave, I love you and all but you know don’t nobody eat in my cars.”

“Oh hush your face chile,” she laughed at me.

I looked over some of the properties my mom had up on her laptop while she finished eating. Once she got done, we were headed out the door. I didn’t bother to even say bye to Yvette as we walked passed her. My mom let her know that she would be gone for the rest of the day. I opened the door for my mother and then got in on my side and began to buckle up.

“Apollo now you just got done telling me how I raised you with manners why you just walked past that girl and didn’t say bye to her.” My mother tried to check me.

“Ma on a serious note you need to talk to her. When I come to your office, I’m coming for business. Therefore, she needs to conduct herself as such. She stays trying to flirt with me. I’m not sure what she used to but I’m not into women that try to make me their prey.”

“Well, you can’t fault a woman for trying when she sees a handsome man. She is a pretty girl.”

“You see what you said ma, she a pretty girl. I guess that’s all she has to offer. When I give a woman my time like that it has to be more to her than just her looks. Looks are superficial; ultimately you end up getting old like you.”

I busted out with laughter after that one, and only laughed harder when my mother slapped me upside the head.

“I’m only playing with you ma,” I said.

“Oh, I know you are because you haven’t introduced me to one of your women that looked better than me and I don’t get old, I better with time like fine wine.”

“Ma you being lame right now that saying is so old.”

My mother couldn’t help but laugh as she punched the first address into my GPS system for our first location that we were going to view. I always enjoyed hanging out with my mother because it was never a dull moment. I could talk to her like she was my best friend, she educated me on how to become a legit and successful man but would never overlook when I was moving wrong, and she corrected me when she saw the error in my ways. My mom had found some really nice properties right along the Jupiter shoreline that were all going into foreclosure or was going to be put up for the governmental auction due to the taxes being in arrears. My mother and I were at the third location and I still couldn’t get my head in the game. I yes ma’am my mother with every question that she was asking. Usually, I would be the one asking all the questions, but all the answers that I needed from the questions that was messing with my mental today could only come from one person and that was Kasey. 

“Son what’s going on with you today, your body here with me but your mind checked out on me two houses ago.” My mother questioned me with a concerned look on her face.

“I’m just a little tired that’s all ma, we don’t have to look at the other properties I trust your judgement. Whatever you decide is cool with me.” I answered. “Apollo don’t look me in my face and lie to me, I held you in my womb for nine months. I know when there is something bothering you. So let’s leave here and go get some lunch and you can ponder on how you are going to tell me what’s bothering you. I know it has to be serious if you didn’t come out and tell me directly.”

I just nodded my head as I led the way out of the house and escorted my mom out to the car. No words were exchanged between my mother and I while we were in the car. I was indecisive on whether to tell my mother everything that happened and my true feelings. It would be my first time actually speaking about how I truly felt. I had so many feelings embedded in me right now I felt like a pipe that was ready to burst due to the pressure. One thing for sure my mother would never steer me wrong. Since we were already in Jupiter I decided for us to go to The Food Shack, it was rated as the number one restaurant in Jupiter. When we made our way in the restaurant, I asked the hostess if she could seat us somewhere that we would be able to have some privacy. The hostess nodded her head as she sat us in a secluded section in the restaurant.

I still remained quiet as I watched my mother stare at me, eye to eye contact. It’s like she was telling me that I can let my guard down and tell her what has been so heavy on my heart and on my mind. The waitress came over and placed glasses of water with lemon in them and asked for our drink orders. I told the waitress that we would also be placing our food order at that time as well because I did not want us interrupted repeatedly. We gave the waitress our food orders and she let us know she would bring our drinks out with our food as a way to limit the interruptions.

I let out a long sigh. “Look mom I’m in love with Kasey and I have been since the day I laid eyes on her.” I finally confessed to my mother.

My mom began to choke on her water.  “Lord have mercy on my soul, how could you be in love with your cousin’s wife? Now you know that’s not right. Right is right and wrong is wrong, I’m not about to uphold you on your wrong doings Apollo.” My mother stated.

“Hear me out mom; I have never acted on my feelings. I respected Jaden and Kasey’s relationship and then their marriage, but after everything that happened last night why should I sit back and watch him destroy Kasey’s heart when I already know her heart was made to beat with mines.”

“Last night, what could have happened so bad last night that makes you think it is okay to pursue your cousins’ wife.”

I explained to my mother about the baby Jaden had on Kasey and Keisha leaving the baby on their doorstep.

Apollo now this is just messy, I guess that’s why Eleanor called me and asked me had I talked to you.”

“I don’t know why she calling looking for me. I don’t disrespect my elders, especially my Aunt but if she calling me to confront me about the words me and Jaden passed last night she might get the whole clip from me.”

“Hold on now Apollo, you will not be giving my sister the whole clip. We all we got and we have to stick together. I know my sister and her son can be extra. They have that spirit of greed and envy. Sometimes you have to love people from a distance when you know you can’t tolerate their wicked ways. I’ve told you that many times when it came to you and Jaden, so I don’t know why you and Jaden would be passing words.”

“If you would let me explain it, I haven’t even told you the worse part though ma.”

“How much worse can this foolishness get?”

“Well, Kasey came to the trap with her home girl Nic to bring Jaden his baby and caught him in the act with another girl, man Kasey and Nic shut it down. I never seen that side of Kasey before and I don’t think I want to.”

“Sweet Baby Jesus, good thing I don’t have high blood pressure because if I did, I would be having a heart attack right now. So now you want to swoop in and mend her broken heart causing more confusion.”

“It’s not how you making it seem ma. When Kasey was unleashing her wrath on everybody at the trap, she said some hurtful things to me that made my heart literally ache. She put me in the same category as Jaden and I don’t want her to perceive me in that light. The way I felt after that had me stuck. I never wanted to be part of the reason that Kasey felt any kind of pain.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you and Jaden exchanged words. Get to the point Apollo because right now you beating around the bush.”

“I tried to tell Jaden he was wrong and was moving real fowl. You know him and your sister act just alike so you know I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that his response was of a man that didn’t give a damn about nobody but himself. He doesn’t have any intentions of doing right by Kasey and then the nigga fixed his mouth to tell me it’s nothing between us but business. You know I’m over this street stuff ma; I was just making a way for him.  I just want to settle down and enjoy the fruits of my labor,”

“Jaden is a grown man and he need to make his own way for him and his family. You said it best yourself, Jaden is all about himself so why are you putting yourself out there for him like that. Clearly he doesn’t appreciate it and I’m not trying to lose you, you can’t be trying to live right, yet still dancing in the devils den; it will only lead to you to hell or jail.”

“You’re absolutely correct ma, as of today I am officially out the game. Jaden don’t want to have anything to do with me but on a business level and like you say I need to love him from a distance. So he can have that trap house and all the problems that go with it. That’s chump change to me compared to the money I’m making with the real estate when you weigh it against jail or hell.”

“Apollo I’m so proud of you right now. These knees were getting bruised staying on them at night praying for God to deliver you from that lifestyle all together. I know you explained everything that happened last night but I’m still lost about the Kasey situation.”

“Well, it’s quite simple to me. I’ve been sacrificing for him all my life because you always preached family over everything and I’m over it. Kasey wasn’t meant for him, God made her for me and I feel it in my heart and I’m not sacrificing anything else for him. You always wondered why I never settled down. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, but I knew they were not the women that God had created for me. I’m ready to get what I believe what was rightfully mine in the first place. Just live, laugh and love you feel me ma.”