Chapter 18
Ride or Die
T
he month of October had arrived. Rashad told Nicole that he must return to Louisiana. It was early Saturday morning and he had a rare morning off. He'd be leaving Houston the next day and said he'd be back on Wednesday. She felt disappointed, but helped him pack his overnight bag.
“I hate leaving you. But I thought I told you that I have a case. Someone is suing me for damages for an injury that happened on a construction site. I was a party named in the suit. Their headquarters are in Louisiana. The suit was filed there. This time I will be gone a few days. This is bullshit, but I will deal with it.”
“I guess I'm seeing the other side of business. A side I didn't realize existed.”
“Exactly. And lawsuits come with the territory.”
“Damn, that's all we need is more legal trouble. I hope you win your case.”
“Thanks, Nicky. I'll make it up to you.”
Since Rashad had given her a heads-up, Nicole had time to bake him a quick pan of banana bread.
“This smells and tastes good,” Rashad told her. “Sometimes I think you're too good to me.”
She didn't respond; she turned her back to him as she packed him a cooler filled with water bottles and fresh fruit.
“Just be safe on the road.”
“I will,” he said. “What do you plan to do these next few days?”
“Oh, same old same ole.”
He just stared at her. “Well, be good and don't do anything I wouldn't do.”
His words sent a chill down her spine.
Does he know what I've been doing behind his back or is his choice of language a mere coincidence?
Nicole decided not to worry about it. She felt Rashad still cared about her or else he wouldn't be with her. In fact last night was the best time they had together in a while.
He came home early last night.
And he brought in bag after bag of seafood. Shrimp, lobster, snow crab, and loads of stuffed mushrooms.
“What's all this for?” Nicole squealed.
“Just because. Mommy needs a break from cooking and changing diapers and working and trying to make sure I'm okay. Plus, you still find time to try and exercise.”
“Oh, wow,” she said. “Rashad, you are shocking the hell out of me tonight.”
“I forgot to tell you. I specialize in that sometimes,” he replied. “It's just that I've been so busy with work and business matters that a brother just plain forgets sometimes. I told myself that I would never do that again. But, dammit, I still do it. Have you noticed?”
“Have I? Never ever,” she teased. And right then Nicole felt good and encouraged. She hated herself for sometimes not feeling as ride or die as she should. She felt she should just weather those relationship storms and maybe one day everything would work out between them. But Nicole was impatient and demanding. She needed constant encouragement to feel that her life was in order.
Rashad gave her his undivided attention after dinner. They played with Emmy and both marveled at her personality. Their child had Rashad's determination and Nicole's feistiness.
And with that memory fresh on her mind, Nicole felt it was time that she really showed him that she was down for him.
She had a sudden idea. “Before you head out of town, I want us to do something special today. As a family.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “What's that?”
“I know you mentioned that Myles is about to come over. And I think it's time we went to see the wild animals that he's always talking about.”
“The Houston Zoo, right?”
She laughed. “Where else? We don't have time to go to Africa in a few hours.”
“Hmm, all right.”
“C'mon, it'll be fun. It's a great day to be outdoors. I will get Emmy dressed. Be ready soon.”
And right on the dot, Kiara pulled up in front of Nicole's place. She had a huge smile on her face when she dropped off Myles. Nicole overheard Kiara telling him to be a good boy. When Myles saw Nicole, he waved. “Hey, Ms. Nicole.”
She waved back, then walked around to Kiara's driver's side. She peeked in the backseat.
“Hmm, Jazzy sure looks jazzed up today. Is that a corduroy headband? Where'd you find that?”
“I ordered them off the Internet.” Kiara hesitated. “Etsy dot com from that Baby Bloomz Boutique.”
“That sounds like my type of place. Well, you did a great job; Jazzy looks beautiful.”
“I want to believe you, Nicole butâ”
“I'm being genuine. Your daughter is my child's sister. Emmy may want to grow up and be like Jazz. I guess I'm trying to say that we all need to do better.”
“Well, thank you, Nicole. I appreciate your words. But I need some action too and I am requesting that you watch over my child like he was your own.”
“I promise. He's in good hands,” Nicole said and waved as Kiara drove off.
After a while, the entire family piled in Rashad's sedan and was soon on its way.
“I'm pumped, Daddy.”
“Oh, yeah, son? Why is that?”
“You're finally taking me to the zoo.”
“I could have been taking you. But you said you weren't feeling these Houston animals.”
“I'll take what I can get.” Myles giggled. “Next up? Africa.”
“Keep dreaming, son.”
“Rashad, you know you ain't right,” Nicole chimed in. “I think it would be great if you took Myles to Africa.”
“Oh, yeah? Why is that?”
“Because even you said so. It's his dream. And he deserves to have his dreams come true.”
“We'll see,” was all Rashad would offer.
The family arrived at the zoo and purchased their tickets. Myles ran through the entrance ahead of everyone, eager to observe the sea lions. His eyes were lit up with excitement as he pointed and jumped up and down.
“He acts like he's never been to the damned zoo before,” Rashad said.
“It's not the zoo, babe. It's the fact that you followed up on a promise,” Nicole explained. That's why he's so happy, and I can't say that I blame him.”
Later they visited the African Forest, the elephants, ostriches, and spent time in the petting zoo.
But Myles was eager to see the bird exhibits, which included flamingos, macaws, and other endangered animals.
“Hey, look, Daddy. There's a cassowary. We learned about them in school.”
“That's a big-ass bird,” Rashad exclaimed.
“They look like they wear faded haircuts,” Myles informed him. “But that's not real hair. It's feathers. And some of them are tall, way taller than me and you, Daddy.”
“Okay, son. Calm down. You're starting to make me feel short.”
Next Myles asked to see the homing pigeons. “No matter where you take a homing pigeon, no matter where in the world, it will always find its way back home. Daddy, how can it remember where to go when it's let out in a strange place that it's never been before?”
“I guess if it tries hard enough, it eventually finds its way back to where it belongs.”
“So when are we going to see them?”
“I hate to tell you this, little man, but I don't think they have those kinds of pigeons.”
“Aww, Daddy.”
“For some reason,” Rashad told Nicole, “he's always been fascinated. At least that's what Kiara tells me.”
“Oh, you still talk to her about petty stuff?”
“It's not petty if it has to do with Myles.”
“I didn't mean it how it sounded; it's just that I didn't know y'all still talked.”
“Nicole, please. You already know we discuss the kids. Nothing slips past you.”
“Apparently, it does, because I honestly didn't know. At least not how much you two talk. Remember we were supposed to be open and honest? So if you need to speak with your ex-wife, I don't mind if you do that in front of me, Rashad. I really want you to understand that.”
Rashad didn't answer. And Nicole thought she knew exactly why. She was aware whenever Rashad arrived home later than usual. But if it honestly had to do with meeting up with Kiara about their children, she could understand that. She just wished he'd tell her instead of being secretive, assuming that was his reason for being late.
At that very moment, Nicole realized that Rashad shut down. He walked alongside Myles while she was left behind pushing Emmy. She hated feeling neglected.
Nicole couldn't take it anymore. If they were going to make it, she needed Rashad to know that she was down for him in every way. As his woman. As a potential stepmother. As a genuine mother figure to Myles. She spoke up.
“Hey, you all. Let's go visit the cheetah display. We haven't done that yet.”
“Yayy. Let's go,” Myles said.
Rashad eyed his watch. “I got to be getting on the road soon.”
“C'mon,” Nicole coaxed him. “It'll only take a few minutes. It's on the way to the exit so it's not an inconvenience. Plus, Myles is turnt up and I love it when he's happy.”
Rashad didn't argue. He trailed behind Nicole, who continued pushing Emmy in her stroller. Myles ran ahead squealing. Once he came upon the cheetah exhibit, he maneuvered his way past the other kids who were staring down at the animals. Some cheetahs were partially hidden out of view as they stood at the opening of their cave. Others lazed around a pool of water. Their claws were long and vicious looking. Their spotted coats were beautiful. The cats looked like royalty.
Nicole calmly approached Myles and squeezed past a couple of kids to stand directly next to him. “Wow, those are so cool. Can you see?”
“Not really.”
“You're too short to see clearly over this wall.”
“But I can see a lot better if you pick me up. I'm not heavy. C'mon, Ms. Nicole.”
“No, that's a bad idea. Since I'm taller than you, how about I take a few video clips through my phone and you can see the cheetahs that way?”
Myles pouted. She felt bad that he came all the way to the zoo and couldn't get to see some of the animals that he really liked.
Nicole tried to ignore Myles's pleading. She examined the pit in which the cheetahs were housed.
“Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” she called out. One curiously opened its eyes as it sat on the grass. She had an idea. She reached in a pocket inside Emmy's stroller and grabbed a bag of snacks that she liked to store for herself when she took the baby for walks.
“The sign says don't feed the animals,” remarked an elderly man with large black glasses. He carefully watched Nicole.
“Oh, these PETA maniacs won't feed these animals what they want, which is the big piece of chicken. And it's a damned shame,” Nicole told Myles.
“They are actually being deprived of food. So I think it would be fun if you just tossed some trail mix in their pit, don't you think? You can go back to school and tell all your friends how brave you are because you helped out an endangered mammal.”
Rashad soon approached them. “What's going on?”
“Nothing.” Nicole shrugged. “Just talking.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, look over there at that concession stand. They have cotton candy and snow cones. Please go get some!”
“That line's too damned long. I don't have time.”
“Please, Daddy . . .”
Seconds later Rashad started walking toward the concession stand. Nicole immediately lifted Myles by his arms until he was slightly hanging over the stone partition that separated the animals from the zoo visitors. “Go ahead. He's hungry. Throw the food at him.”
At first Myles was all game. But then he sized up the display and hesitated. “This looks dangerous.”
“I thought you loved animals. And let's face it; this is as close as you're ever going to get to a safari camp. Just throw a little bit of food and we'll be done.”
He shrugged and said, “Okay.” He leaned forward ready to toss some snacks.
Nicole tried to hold Myles securely but he felt heavier than he appeared. In fact, she was sweating so much that beads of water covered her forehead. She looked down into the pit. Two other cheetahs weren't paying attention, but the other one's long legs advanced near the wall right below Myles. The cheetah seemed to lock eyes with Nicole.
“Uh oh, by the look he's giving me, I don't think Mr. Cheetah is into trail mix. We'll just take video like I suggested before.”
“Okay, Ms. Nicole.”
She tightened her grip on Myles, preparing to pull him back toward her.
Myles's foot slipped. He began to dangle by one arm. His leg hung helplessly. The cheetah stared at the boy as he wildly jerked back and forth.
The cheetah circled beneath Myles's leg. Nicole saw his long teeth.
Myles screamed and yelled, “Mom.”
Nicole completely froze. She couldn't believe what he called her. It was music to her ears.
“Mom, help me.”
“Okay, son,” Nicole said, “hold on.” She tugged hard on his arm, and managed to safely pull him up.
Rashad finally returned as he watched Myles being placed firmly on his feet. When he saw what was going on, he dropped the snow cones and popcorn on the ground.
“Daddy,” Myles said, choking back tears. “He-he-he almost got me, but I was too fast for him.”
Nicole knew Myles was being overly dramatic for the benefit of his father. But as she thought about what could have happened if she hadn't had the strength to pull him up, she wanted to cry herself. She fell against Rashad and hugged him so tight she nearly choked him. Then she pulled Myles in and they all embraced one another.