My Married Boyfriend (16 page)

“I'm on my way.”

* * *

It was June fifth.

Nicole felt some kind of way about having to drive to the hospital while she was in labor.

When she tried calling Rashad again, she couldn't get him. She called Shyla once more.

“Where are you?”

“Nicole, I'm on the way. How far along are the contractions?”

“They're not too bad, I guess. Hell, I don't know.” She paused. “I need you to call into the job and let the boss lady know I probably won't make it in today. I wish I knew where Rashad was.” Nicole hung up and drove to the visitor parking lot. Shyla pulled in a few cars behind her.

They hurried to check in and she was admitted.

“Um, Nicole,” Shyla said as she was being wheeled down the hospital corridor.

“Yeah?”

“Our boss is out of the office today. Alexis told me that today is their final court date for the divorce proceedings. They are on the docket for nine-thirty. Actually, I saw this info on the Internet, but I thought you'd have your baby after their case was completed.”

Nicole wasn't surprised. In her mind, it seemed that somehow Kiara Eason was always trying to upstage her.

“I'm so sorry. I know you wanted Rashad to be there with you. I know how superstitious you are.”

“I hate that this is going on right while I'm in labor, but what else can I do? Ask my doctor to delay my baby's birth another twenty-four hours? It sucks, but even if Rashad can't make it in time, he's going to be an involved father. That much I know.”

Hours later, at 1:06 p.m., Eminence Forever came into the world screaming her lungs out. Nicole took one look at her and decided yes, she was royalty, so the name sticks. The bundle of joy had a head full of hair and was a mixture of pink and brown. Nicole was instantly in love and was very happy and grateful for her child, even though Rashad wasn't there to witness his daughter's birth. It didn't matter to her because Nicole was thinking that by the time she returned home from the hospital, her married boyfriend would finally be divorced and completely hers.

The first thing Nicole did after her daughter was born was set up her Instagram account. She posted photo after photo whenever Eminence had any new developments. Her constant hashtag was #EminenceForever or #NicolesFinest.

When her daughter was two weeks old, Nicole wanted to go to the mall. She asked Rashad to go with her. She wanted to be sensitive to him since he had just survived the divorce and she wanted to again clarify the settlement terms.

“So are you sure we are going to be financially all right, babe?”

“What? Oh, yeah. We kept our respective vehicles and will pay off our own credit card bills. We got joint custody, which is what I really wanted to have. And the best thing about it, Eason and Son Contractors was considered separate property since my daddy founded that company. So that's all mine. Our bank accounts were split, even the secret account she tried to hide. But our profit sharing and my retirement were divided. And, of course, they got me good on child support.”

“Ouch, that sounds like a whole lot.”

“If it weren't for my business, I'd be screwed. I took a little bit of a hit, but it just means I have to work harder, accept bigger projects, and keep grinding.”

“Whatever you need to do, I'm here for you, babe.”

“Thank you, my ride or die.”

When they arrived at the shopping center, she asked Rashad if it would be all right to purchase a few items for Emmy—her baby's nickname. He said absolutely. Excited and grateful, Nicole bought Disney rompers, a dozen onesies, Mickey Mouse bath robes, and a nanny cam.

“Why'd you get this nanny cam?”

“When I go back to work, there's no way in hell I'm going to place my child in a daycare center. So many questionable things go on in those places. I won't take any chances. So I've already started interviewing nannies, Rashad.”

“Nannies? Are you kidding me?”

“I'm very serious. Emmy is going to get the best care by a highly recommended nanny. I'll make sure that she really loves children and I will contact as many references as I can. I will hire her a week before I return to work. And you best believe my eyes will be monitoring her whenever she's in our house.”

“I don't think we need a hidden camera. That's like an invasion of privacy. We will just have to trust her.” Rashad argued with Nicole about the pros and cons of paying for peace of mind. And they both decided to get a nanny but scratched the idea of a nanny cam. Nicole promised to return the camera and get a refund.

The first time Kiara saw Emmy was a day she'd never forget. Five weeks and three days after the start of Nicole's maternity leave, Nicole made a comeback appearance at work.

Kiara had actually just returned from lunch. Alexis went with her that day. They ate at a Louisiana grub hole-in-the-wall near downtown. So when Kiara pulled up to her parking space in the employee parking lot next to their building, she was more than curious when she noticed an unusual scene.

“What the hell is going on?” she asked Alexis.

“Maybe that's the president's car?”

The president of Texas South West University usually was chauffeured around the campus either in his deluxe golf cart or a state-issued luxury vehicle.

“This is not President Hoffman's Escalade.”

A sleek black late-model town car was parked at an angle in the lot right in front of Kiara's reserved parking space. A uniformed chauffeur leaned against the passenger side of the car.

“You'd think Beyoncé had just popped by the campus for a visit.”

Alexis said, “I think she has. And she must be carrying Blue Ivy.” She pointed at Nicole, who was dressed like she was going to the club. She had on six-inch heels and a short black dress that exposed her thighs. She wore dark sunglasses and was pushing a baby carriage that had all the works. Bottle holders on each side. A stroller base and a rocker base. It had a sunshade to protect the child from the sun.

“Is that one of those thousand-dollar strollers that famous people buy? The Orbit Baby travel system. They call them the Lamborghinis of strollers. Look, it even has a paparazzi shade. If I didn't see this sick shit,”—Alexis laughed—“I sure wouldn't believe it.”

“This is just ridiculous. She's not rich. She ain't famous. Who does she think she is? Ciara?”

“Ciara has an adorable baby boy, so no—”

“Nicole is such a show-off. Where'd she get the money to afford that type of carriage?”

Then it clicked. Ever since Nicole became known for helping out the children during that tragic fire, the public went out of its way to help her. They deposited over twenty thousand dollars in a GoFundMe account that a total stranger started up for her.

That, combined with the fact that Nicole had hooked up with Rashad's cash, made Kiara feel the entire scenario was so unfair; that this woman had financially benefitted from other people's pain.

“You know what, she can do whatever she wants as long as she doesn't touch me and mine,” Kiara decided. “I'm leaving her fate up to God. That's what Mama Flora told me and that's what I plan to do.”

“You're so right, because as soon as you start plotting and scheming on Nicole's level, you may find yourself backed into a corner so tight that you won't be able to get out of it.”

“One day she'll get what's coming to her,” Kiara said. “Like she says, she's going to do her and I think we should let her.”

“Agreed.”

And the two women walked away together and quickly changed the subject.

A
jalon Cantu walked down the steps of the Greyhound bus. He'd just been let off on the southern edge of downtown Houston. It was 5:35 p.m. on a Tuesday in early August. He traveled through the busy terminal and out the front door onto Main Street. This was his first time in Texas. He silently beheld his surroundings. Several men who wore tattered clothes sat on the hard concrete. Their backs leaned against the exterior wall of the bus station. One elderly man's bony hand was stretched in front of him.

“Got any spare change?”

Ajalon flipped a fifty-cent piece and watched it drop onto the man's filthy palm. He shook his head in sorrow. The face of Houston's urban plight looked just like his native New York.

Ajalon dodged oncoming traffic as he headed across the street to the McDonald's located at Main and West Gray. He ordered two double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a cup of coffee. He took his time eating his meal. Then he opened his leather wallet. Only thirty-five dollars remained. He also had a prepaid debit card with a hundred-dollar balance.

Ajalon killed some time inside the restaurant by toying with his cell phone and looking up info. He plugged in his wall charger and took advantage of some free electricity. When he finally returned to the streets, the sun was slowly lowering itself. A vibrant streak of orange indicated that the day was over, and night was about to begin.

Ajalon boarded the number 41 city bus; soon he was on his way. An hour later, when he reached the neighborhood he wanted, his shoulders were taut with nervousness. Would she be shocked to see him? His pride told him that she'd be happy and it gave him the strength to continue his journey.

The streetlights were shining down upon the house that Ajalon was looking for. The one-story dwelling appeared quiet and peaceful. He wanted to ring the doorbell, but the van in the driveway made him reconsider.

He glanced at the house once more, then proceeded down the street. He observed his surroundings and noticed several cars that looked like they were at least twelve years old. Luck was on his side when he grabbed the heavy door of a Pontiac sedan and it sprung open. He quietly slipped in the backseat. It smelled of musty laundry and motor oil. Ajalon grabbed a wrinkled beach towel and balled it up. He rested his head on the towel and crouched in the darkness. Tired and anxious, he drifted into sleep.

When morning light woke him, Ajalon's legs were cramped. Yet he was glad to realize that he still had a neck; he was still breathing. His stomach growled and he felt the pang of hunger. For a minute he missed being in the joint. At least he knew they'd feed him while he was there.

When Ajalon grew tired of being crouched in the backseat, he quietly exited the Pontiac. With his light skin and straight dark brown hair, he foolishly wondered if he'd stand out. Ajalon was a handsome man who wasn't aware of his looks. When women passed by him and smiled, he barely noticed them.

He had a lot on his mind and ended up walking all through the neighborhood from morning until afternoon. But when he returned to the little house and noticed a man emerge, get in the van, and drive off, Ajalon felt ready.

He went up the door and pressed the doorbell.

It was the morning of Wednesday, August fourth. The streets were quiet and peaceful.

He heard the padding of house shoes sliding across the floor.

From the other side of the door, a voice rang out, “What the hell?”

The door swung open. There she stood, the woman he hadn't seen in ages.

When he grinned, his dimples sunk in.

“Hi, lady. I just got into town from Seattle. And I wanted to know if I could borrow a quarter . . . till I get my check.”

At first she stood with her mouth wide open. “That's not funny. You ain't been to no damned Seattle.”

“Nicole, baby. It's me.”

“I know who you are.”

“I thought you'd laugh. Why aren't you laughing?” His eyes sparkled with delight.

“ 'Cause it's not funny.”

“Okay, sweetness. I'm no Kevin Hart. But aren't you still glad to see me? Aren't you going to say
ciao
?”

“How about
arrivederci
?” she said sarcastically. Nicole's remembrance of the Italian word made him chuckle. His heart warmed at the sight of her; the Nicole he knew could usually act sassy and hard. “You're still the same little firecracker.”

“Ajalon! What are you doing here? And how the hell did you find me?”

He glanced out at the street. “I will tell you all about it. But can't you invite a bruh in?”

“What? No. I-I can't.”

“Why not? I'm here for you! I remembered your birthday is August second.”

Nicole's eyes lit up. He was lucky that he caught her at home, which was only because she decided to take off a couple of days from work due to her birthday.

“I wanted to celebrate with you. And I came all the way here because of you. I'm so, so glad to see you.”

“Oh, Ajalon.”

“I've missed you.
Ti ho mancato
. Did you miss me, Nicole?” He reached out and grabbed both her hands and brought them to his lips.

Speechless, Nicole could only shake her head. She shivered as he brushed his lips across her knuckles. At that moment, she knew without a doubt that Ajalon had missed her. He was rarely shy about expressing his feelings for her. It was one thing that she loved about him. Still in disbelief, she snatched back her hands and took a good hard look at her ex-boyfriend.

Ajalon was tall and lean, yet his chest was broad and his shoulder muscles looked toned and tight. His body seemed to be in perfect shape. He had nice even teeth and a chipped tooth that gave him character. But it was his eyes that got to Nicole. His eyes conveyed a lot. If he didn't like someone, his facial expression could be brutal and vicious. Yet they also held a kindness she found irresistible.

The sound of a police siren screamed in the distance. Ajalon begged her. “Nicole. Please let me come in. It's hot as hell out here.”

She finally smiled. “You're loco. You're from Brooklyn and you should be used to the heat.” She glanced out the door and told him, “Hurry up. But you can't stay long.”

He smiled back at her and quickly stepped inside the foyer.

“This is nice, Nicole.” He walked through the living room and scoped his surroundings. He noticed lots of photos of Nicole and her baby.

“Eh?”

“No, Ajalon. That isn't your daughter.”

“Just checking. Next time?”

“Please.”

He looked as if he wanted to grab her in his arms. The thought of that frightened Nicole. It all felt like a weird dream and she didn't know how to act. “W-why are you here? How did you find me?”

He pointed at the HD television that covered nearly an entire wall of the living room.

“You're famous, Nicole. I saw you on the news a while ago. On this channel, and that channel. Internet.”

“Oh. That. Damn.”

“So I knew you were in Houston. And when I got back in the outside world, I went to the place where we used to stay. I saw some old mail that was supposed to be delivered to you. It had a forwarding address label. And—”

“And you decided to head out west unannounced.”

“Why do I sense that you don't want to see me? Didn't you care if I was dead or alive? Why did you stop coming to see me? You stopped taking my calls. You never sent me a letter.”

“Ajalon. It got too hard for me to deal with. I couldn't take your being locked up anymore. Too much was going on. Things started feeling sad. I wanted to feel happy again.”

Nicole's face reddened with shame. She was sure he felt like she abandoned him; that her one hundred pledges of loyalty turned into one hundred disappointments. The man who stood before her used to almost be like her son, except he'd been her lover. She took Ajalon in when he had nowhere else to go; when his family told him point-blank that he had to make something of his life and then treated him like a stranger. Nicole was three years older than he was. Now he was twenty-three. Still young; still virile. Yet he had a hardened edge to him courtesy of the streets and to that two-year bid he served courtesy of the State of Alabama.

“Ajalon, I need you to understand that I had to get away because I decided I needed to start over again. I wanted a new beginning.”

“And you need to understand that you hurt me when you left me without even letting me know that you left me. I kept looking for you to visit. Day after day visiting hours came and went. I eventually figured out you weren't coming to see me again. And I felt more alone than I ever felt in my life. I-I sat up in that jail and pictured myself ending it all.”

“No more. Stop. Please.” His words made her feel like trash. “I-I'm truly sorry, Ajalon. I wanted to tell you my plans but I couldn't. I didn't want to go back to what we used to have. I hated when you'd go on those road trips delivering that dope. I was always scared that one day you wouldn't come home. And I decided I wanted more.”

“That's cool. You wanted what I want. I want more, too. With you.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” she said. Confusion pounded at her brain. She could not believe he was in her house. They had been together as a couple for several years. He got arrested and she stuck by him for almost a year. Then she left. When she relocated to Texas last summer, she never thought she'd see this man again.

“When'd you get out, Ajalon?”

He turned away from Nicole and began sniffing.

“Um, ahh, yeah. That's it. That smell brings back memories.”

“What brings back memories?” she asked as she stared at him and became mesmerized by his appearance.

Ajalon was a man of mixed heritage whose features made him resemble the rapper Drake or even Vin Diesel. His mother, Callista, was from a wealthy family and was born in Calabria. His dad, Lorenzo, was African-American mixed with Italian. Lorenzo was raised near Birmingham but his family relocated to Brooklyn when he was a kid.

Ajalon was a lighter version of his dad: his wide almond-shaped eyes, unusually thick eyebrows, and ethnic features caused him to get noticed in her home town. Most of the men in her hood didn't look like him and they gave Ajalon a hard time until they got to know him. Even though dating the New York transplant brought negative scrutiny, Nicole had always been proud of the fact that her boyfriend was incredibly handsome, young, and exciting to be around. Even though he foolishly got caught up in the drug game, he had a good heart.

“I can smell your collard greens and sour cream cornbread. I haven't tasted food like that in a minute. And I am hungry, Nicole. I need my strength. Can you feed me?”

“Ajalon!”

“What?”

“My cooking will make you fat.” She laughed in spite of herself.

He couldn't stand it any longer. Ajalon placed his arms around Nicole. He allowed his embrace to enjoy her body. Her breasts felt fuller, hips even wider. Motherhood had served her well. And he felt very jealous that the baby wasn't his, and that another man had been with his girl.

“You look better than ever, Mami.” He let her go and suddenly pretended like he was running. Lifting his legs high up, he asked, “Remember how we used to go jogging in the park? How we had goals and we would motivate each other to be our best?”

His energy was magnetic. Nicole couldn't forget how much Ajalon inspired her; he made her feel sexy and aware of her body when they'd work out together. But after prison became his home, she had no one else to motivate her. And because he wasn't around anymore, back then she started to let herself go. She didn't care about how she looked when her man was locked up. Being pretty didn't matter anymore.

But now, when she looked at her ex, her memory was awakened.

“We ran. We walked,” Ajalon said. “We talked. We held hands. We got fit together. We did everything together! You remember that?”

She grew sober as he excitedly rehashed his memories. He was great at recalling the good. But she wanted him to remember the bad times that made her flee.

“I remember you getting arrested,” Nicole told him. “And I remember a lot of us running from the police and nearly getting caught.”

“But you got to stay in the free world, didn't you? I set you up with a nice little fence parole. Johnny Law never saw you. And now you are free.”

“Am I?”

“But it's all good,” he told her. “I got to do my cat nap instead of the nickel term that they gave me. So all is forgotten. Except the good times we shared. They won't ever be forgotten,” he said and winked at her.

Nicole's eyes glazed over. The time they spent together in Birmingham seemed a million years ago. It was such an odd yet exciting time. The two of them met through a mutual friend. They hit it off immediately. Ajalon liked Nicole the moment he saw her. He hung around her the way a toddler clings to its mother. He never wanted to let her out of his sight. She was annoyed at first, but because of his persistence, charm, and willingness to prove himself, she gave in. She wanted him in her life. She taught him everything she knew, like how to be responsible, how to deal with his problems, and what it takes to be a good man. And he taught her how to relax, have fun, and take risks.

“I know you want a new beginning. But I want old mixed with new,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “Me. You. We're good together.”

“Hmm, Ajalon. According to your family, we're not good for each other.”

“Ouch. Tsk tsk tsk. Do not remind me.” Then he said, “You're my family. You!”