“But why?”
“Rashad, you just don't understand. I-I-I've wanted thisâa familyâfor a
long
time. I always wanted to be with the people I love, in a house that we share, eating meals together, cracking jokes, playing board games, and watching movies just like we've been doing ever since Friday. This is my dream. I'm on the cusp of living my
dream
.”
“Damn. I see.”
She made Myles go and clean his hands, too.
“Anyway, Rashad, I told you about my ex, Ajalon, and how he blew a ton of smoke up my ass about getting married just to get himself arrested for dealing drugs. I don't mess around with felons. That fool stole all my dreams.” Nicole shuddered at the memory. “And that's why it's been so hard for me to trust a man.”
“Aww, boo,” Rashad said. “That's what you get for fucking around with broke niggas.”
“But see, I honestly learned my lesson. I am so grateful that we met and you're helping me to believe in love again.”
He gently patted her on the shoulder. The more she opened up to him, the more he wanted to try to be a decent man; he was certain he could do better than her ex.
Nicole dabbed at a tear in her eye. “And once our baby gets here, it's going to be an even bigger dream come true. I cannot wait. Moving to Houston was the best thing that's ever happened to me.”
“Yeah. Right. Hmm.”
Myles returned to the kitchen and settled back in his chair.
Rashad stood near Nicole and reflected on all that was going on. Her optimism was great, but he felt caught between two worlds. On one hand, he knew that Nicole loved him. She understood he was still tied to Kiara and that it would take time for that relationship to legally end. He knew she'd wait. Yet, a tiny part of him wished he could still be with Kiara. They'd built so much together, and she really was his day one woman. She wasn't such a bad wife. In fact, Rashad had to admit that Kiara had been an excellent partner. He agreed with her when she said she gave their marriage her all. But he hated that she had an affair with Eddison. It was a swift kick in his teeth and he didn't like it, but he figured she only did it as revenge. She wanted him to feel her pain. So maybe their situation was his fault.
“Have a seat, babe,” Nicole said, noticing the faraway look in his eyes.
Every time Rashad appeared as if he was in deep thought, Nicole felt anxious. She knew she couldn't control him, and he would always do what he wanted to do, but she could spot the look of a man traveling back down memory lane.
“What were you thinking about just now?” she asked Rashad.
“What type of question is that? Nothing.”
“Mmm hmmm. I hope you're thinking about what you ought to be thinking about, I know that much.”
Feeling satisfied, Nicole took extra care to arrange all Rashad's food on his plate. She poured him a generous amount of sweet tea in a glass filled with ice cubes and handed him a fork and a knife.
Nicole did the same for Myles. Rashad watched her very carefully, noting how she treated his son like a little prince. Maybe she would treat their baby like royalty, too. At times Rashad couldn't believe that he'd fathered several kids: Myles was his firstborn with Kiara. Then he had a toddler daughter named Hayley by his former mistress, Alexis. Nicole was pregnant with his baby. And it was possible that his estranged wife was going to have his kid, too.
“Finally,” Nicole happily exclaimed when their breakfast was ready to be eaten. “Let's dig in.”
“Nicole, I want to say it seems you've adjusted to Houston since you relocated.”
“Um, sort of, but I meant to tell you that the holidays sometimes make me feel very sad. So if I act kind of moody, you'll know why.” She paused in dramatic fashion. “A few months ago, I was scared that I'd be all alone during Thanksgiving. But the way things turned out, I worried for nothing. I don't feel lonely at all. And I have you and Myles to thank for that.”
Perhaps fate did have a weird hand in bringing them together. Nicole had been by herself in a strange city, but now she was with him. He had been in a marriage that was on life supportânow he and Nicole were supporting each other.
Lately, life was hard for him. But in the meantime, Nicole's energetic take-charge attitude helped him to cope.
They spent time talking and enjoying their meal. Suddenly, Rashad's watch phone lit up. It was Alexis. Lately she'd been paying him dust. A woman who didn't give a damn about him always challenged Rashad, for he was a competitive man.
“Sorry, Nicky.” He apologized. “I gotta get this.”
“Who is it?”
“It won't take but a minute. Excuse me, y'all.”
He rushed out the front door to take the call, and closed it behind him.
“Hey, you,” he said. “Is everything straight?”
“Oh, yeah, everything is fine. Why wouldn't it be?” He told her that he was at home eating breakfast. Then he asked. “How is my baby girl?”
“Hayley is good,” Alexis told him. “Lately she's been sneaking into my closet and trying to wear my baddest shoes. Have you ever seen a twenty-four-month-old in high heels? It's hilarious.”
“She can never fill your shoes.”
“Why do you say that?”
He looked behind him to make sure the front door was still closed.
“Easy. You're one of a kind. They don't make 'em like you anymore.”
“And what's that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what it means . . . I can't forget all the fun shit we used to do.”
Alexis was repulsed but unsurprised. Most men never forgot the woman that they cared about and with whom they shared great sexual history. And if the woman would let them, they'd always try to get some again.
“Oh, Lord, I know for a fact you are talking to me behind a closed door or something because you would never ever say that in front of that crazy-ass female Shrek you're living with.”
“That's cold, Alexis.”
“So you
are
living with Shrek?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Thanks for admitting the truth for a change.”
“Anyway, I'm outside right now.”
“I figured that.”
“What else do you figure?” he said, trying to be flirty.
“Dude, please. Anyway, I wanted you to verify your
temporary
address.”
“Why?”
“Because your
roommate
still hasn't updated her physical address at the workplace. She's been living there since, what, last June? It's now November but she still has this old-ass address taking up space in the HR system. And we need to know the current location . . . in case of any emergency.”
“Why don't you just ask Nicky for it? I can hand her the phone right nowâ”
“No. Rashad! Don't do that. She'd just curse me out. I don't want her to know I've even asked you for this info.”
“It's a damn shame y'all two can't get along.”
Rashad knew full well that his sleeping around with three women who worked at the same office would create some problems, but at the time he thought he was slick enough to get away with it.
“Don't blame me for us butting heads,” Alexis replied. “Nicole acts so possessive of you. And it's sad because it's not like you're even married to her. I don't have time for that drama and I barely want to deal with her at work, let alone away from the job. So, Rashad, be a sweetheart and give me that info.”
He relented and quickly gave Alexis the address. Alexis would then pass it on to her boss, Kiara.
Even though Kiara already knew where Nicole and Rashad last lived, Alexis knew Kiara had obtained the address through scandalous means when she hid a cell phone in Rashad's ride and tracked the location through her iPhone. Now that Kiara was ready to start divorce proceedings, she'd asked Alexis to intervene for her. Kiara knew he'd originally checked in at a motel and she wasn't sure if Rashad and Nicole were together or if they've even moved to a new place; she wouldn't dare ask her husband for the info, and Alexis was happy to verify the address.
“Thanks, Rashad. You have no idea how much easier you made things by doing this for me.”
“Whatever.” He paused. “Hey, I gotta go now. She just opened the door and now she's looking right at me.”
He waved at Nicole and smiled. She smiled back and suddenly clutched her stomach as if she were in pain. She glared at Rashad then disappeared inside the house.
“Yeah, something is up with her. I need to hang up from you.”
“Poor thing,” Alexis murmured. “I can only imagine how awful it is for you to live the life of a sex symbol. You remind me of Dwight Howard.”
“He's worth a hundred million. I wish I had Dwight Howard's money.”
“Hmmm, I'll bet someone else wishes you had his money, too.”
Rashad chuckled and hung up. Once he got back inside, he found Nicole had returned to the kitchen.
Myles was carefully placing dishes into the sink, which was being filled with running water and dishwashing liquid.
Nicole was wiping the counter and stopped to face Rashad.
“Hey, I saw you holding your belly. Is everything okay?”
“Not really.”
“What's wrong, Nicky?”
“Who were you on the phone with that you had to leave the house to talk?”
Rashad was momentarily stunned. “Oh, so you were faking an injury? Pretending to be hurt?”
“I
am
hurt! Who were you holding secret conversations with on the phone?”
“Damn. That was Alexis, all right? You need to know that she will be calling me at times.”
“Okay, fine. I get it. You two have a child. That's not my concern. I just don't understand why you couldn't talk to her in front of me.”
“Because . . . I wanted privacy.
That's
why.” Rashad was firm with Nicole, not wanting her to assume that she could completely run over him.
“Privacy, huh? Well, I ain't tripping. I was just asking.”
“I understand that. But it was business that I needed to take care of. Stop stressing.”
Nicole backed down and began hand-washing the dishes. She regretted questioning Rashad. She didn't want to seem so insecure, especially when it came to his other kids. But this wasn't about the child. She wondered whether Rashad was completely over Alexis. Did he still have feelings for the woman who bore his daughter? Nicole certainly hoped not. Besides, she didn't trust Alexis. And as she thought about it, she knew that she had to set the ground rules with her man.
“Rashad,” she said in a gentle voice, “if we intend to share a solid relationship, I just think we should be able to talk about all kinds of topics. Nothing should be off limits, no secrets. I know you care about me, but I need you to show me that you have nothing to hide. All right, babe?” Her voice was pleasant and nurturing. She prayed that he understood.
Rashad listened and nodded.
“I'll take that as a yes and I appreciate your wanting to try and work with me on this area of our lives.” She shifted gears. “And now that we've been well fed, I guess it's time for Myles and me to finish up all these dishes, right, son?”
“Right, Ms. Nicole.”
She snatched a dish rag off the counter and began to vigorously clean the drinking glasses and filthy plates.
Rashad let her act as domesticated as she wanted to be. He knew Nicole was opinionated and passionate about the things she cared about. It is what he loved about her.
Rashad retreated to the living room to watch a show on ESPN.
He kicked back and focused on the broadcast for twenty minutes until the doorbell rang.
Myles yelled that he'd go get it. When Myles returned to the living room, he was leading Alexis by the hand. Hayley was perched on her mom's hip. She wore a pink-and-black-striped fleece dress decorated with a big white bow. A cute floral hat topped her braided hair.
“Dada,” Hayley shrieked.
Rashad couldn't believe his eyes.
He rushed to lift his daughter from Alexis's hip and gave the girl a kiss.
“What are you doing here?”
Rashad set her down and Myles led Hayley to the corner of the room; she eagerly watched him while he showed her his video game.
“It's your turn to watch Hayley,” Alexis replied. “Remember, you said that starting this year, you'd want to keep her during part of the Thanksgiving holiday. I guess you were so busy, you must've forgotten.” Alexis casually strolled through the living room, checking out the furniture and decorations. She openly leered at an empty wedding photo album displayed on the coffee table. Then she noticed a large canvas painting on the wall; it was a sketch of a lion, a lioness, and a baby cub snuggling together in the grass.
Someone had taken a black marker and written “Nicole” under the lioness and “Rashad” under the lion. “TBD” was scrawled next to the cub.
“How utterly tacky,” Alexis said with a laugh. “What's all that about?”
“It's about me and my man's business,” Nicole answered as she quietly appeared in the room. “And I suggest you mind your own.”
“Actually, what's in this room
is
my business. Rashad is supposed to hang out with Hayley,” Alexis explained.
“How'd you know where I live?” Nicole demanded.
“That's between me and Rashad.”
Nicole quickly eyed the children and suggested that Myles take Hayley to his room. When the kids were out of hearing range, Nicole addressed Alexis. “When it comes to a chick rolling up into my house uninvited, you are treading on dangerous territory.” She left the room and soon returned, waving a forty-caliber like it was a flag.