After I ended the call with my mother, I thumbed through my mail and decided to call Jaylin. He answered the phone and sounded upbeat.
“What you so excited for?” I asked.
“Shit, I just got my money from Felicia! She broke it up in installments, but the final cashier's check just came today.”
“So, I guess you're a rich man again, huh?”
“I'm a richer man, Shane. I keep on climbing up the ladder, not down it.”
“Well, I'm afraid, through your eyes, I might be climbing down it. I've decided not to make a move to Florida, and Scorpio and me gon' chill right here.”
Jaylin was quiet. “So, when did all this come about? I just spoke to you this morning, and you were on your way tomorrow. I made arrangements for you to have a nice place, and I found an office for Alexander & Company. What ... what's going on, Shane?”
“Man, I don't know any better way to say it, other than I'm in love. I know you have never seen it that way, but I can't just drop everything and leave Scorpio like that. I appreciate your friendship and all that you've done for me. It will never, ever be forgotten. I wish you wouldn't have asked me to choose, but I understand not only your reason but your purpose as well. My decision is to stay with my woman and my baby that's on the way. I hope you'll be happy for me, as much as I've always been happy for you and Nokea.”
He hesitated and let out a deep sigh. “A baby, huh? Are you sure it's yours?”
“I expected you to ask that, but I'm one hundred percent positive that it's mine. Scorpio gives me what I give to her. That's peace, understanding, and respect. It's all she's ever asked for.”
“Well, Shane, congrats to you, and I do wish you well. I won't lie to you and say that we can all sit around and be one big, happy family, because you know that's not possible. I'm not happy about your decision, but I'm proud of you for making the right one for you. If any woman makes you feel how Nokea makes me feel, then don't lose out. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll get over my selfishness and be able to cope with the situation. That goes for Nokea, too, but for right now, you'll have to give us some time.”
“I will,” I said, while reading over a mailed letter from Felicia in which she apologized for her ignorance but informed me that she'd “missed a few periods.” She said that if she was pregnant, the child was most likely Stephon's, but there was a small possibility that it could be mine. She assured me that she'd keep in touch.
“Shane,” Jaylin said, responding to my quietness.
“Yeah, I hear you,” I said, balling up the letter and tossing it in the trash. “I was just reading a letter from ole girl, informing me of a possible pregnancy.”
“Who?”
“Felicia”
“I told you that shit was coming, didn't I? She amazes the fuck out of me, and her bullshit is ongoing. All I can say, Shane, is welcome to my world. Been there, done that shit before. Handle your business, though, dog. One of my threats to her was to not interfere with you anymore. If you need for me to make her disappear, I will.”
“Man, I ain't worried about Felicia. I got too much to be thankful for, and I'm looking forward to my baby coming into this world. I hate to bring this up, but are there any changes with Nokea's situation? Since the accident, have the doctors said anything about her being able to conceive another child?”
“They say it's not possible. I, on the other hand, see it another way. As long as I keep
spreading
and
giving
my love to her, anything's possible.”
“I agree, and please keep the faith. In the meantime, take care of your family and give them plenty of kisses and hugs for me.”
“No kisses for my wife,” he joked. “Only for the kids and Nanny B. During our downtime, you take care of your family, too. I know you'll be a good damn daddy, and be extra good to Mackenzie. She deserves extra special treatment, because she still belongs to me.”
“I'll do my best.”
“I've seen your best. Your best ain't good enough, so do better.”
“I bet I will be better at fatherhood than you. As a matter of fact, I'm a better man, a better worker, a better loverâ”
“Shane, don't get carried away. The proof has been in the pudding, and you can't touch nothing I do with a ten-foot pole.”
We laughed, and for the next hour or so, we continued to have our disagreements, debates, and disputes over the phone. Sometimes, I might have misjudged Jaylin a lot, but the one thing I knew was he needed my friendship and I needed his. Out of respect, I intended to give him all the space he needed, but I was positive that time without our friendship would give him time to heal. I didn't expect for our time away to be long, and I looked forward to the day we all could get along and accept each other for who we wereâdown-to-earth, entertaining, and real people with a whole lot of everlasting drama.