My Married Boyfriend (15 page)

Eddison grabbed Kiara in his arms and lovingly kissed her forehead.

“Oh my God. I-I didn't know if I'd ever see you again.”

“You know me better than that,” he told her.

Kiara threw her arms tightly around Eddison's neck. “I swear you must be the best man, or the craziest man, in the entire world.”

“I love you, man,” he said teasingly.

Kiara lost it. She slumped to the floor and had a good cry. Her world felt so unreal and it finally hit her. “I think I've wanted this type of love for so long, that when I finally got it, I could not recognize it. But I get it now, I get it!”

“Babe, everything is going to be all right,” Eddison told her in a soothing tone. “Okay, the kid is not my child. We are going to figure out a way to get through this. But the first order of business is for you to take off those clothes. Wait. You don't even have to do that. I'll take them off for you.”

And he did. Eddison helped Kiara to her feet. He unbuttoned her loose-fitting blouse and placed it on the bed. He pulled the skirt she wore over her legs. He unhooked her bra and kissed her shoulders. “I feel too dirty,” she complained. He hugged her anyway.

Eddison stood in front of her and without his eyes ever leaving hers, he slid her big maternity underwear down her thighs, over her knees, and down to her ankles. He took in her nakedness. The fullness of her breasts, the broadness of her shoulders. Her delicate arms, shapely legs and hips, and even the scar left from her being stitched up after surgery. Eddison's facial expression said he appreciated everything he saw. When Kiara tried to cover her incision, he playfully slapped at her hands.

“You are beautiful.”

She willingly fell in his arms. “I don't know why you're feeling me the way you do, but I'm so happy that I have you.” She felt grateful that she had a good man whose love was real, genuine, and unconditional.

“I love you, Kiara.”

She nodded, kissed his lips. They were hungry for each other, and it felt good to open up her heart and let love in.

They bathed together and she enjoyed every second. Kiara carefully washed Eddison's body just like he washed hers. She noticed some freckles that she'd never seen before. She saw some scrapes and blemishes on his legs. She recognized her man wasn't perfect; he had minor flaws, but the love he had for her seemed to erase his imperfections. His love made Kiara want to try to love again and give it her all.

She felt she deserved that and knew that Eddison deserved it, too.

F
ive weeks after Kiara gave birth to Jahzara, everyone in the Communications Department received pink, green, and white card stock invitations in their office mailboxes. Even Alexis got one. She stood with her mouth wide open as she read the wording:

Later that day after work, Alexis decided to pay Kiara a visit. She wanted to see Jazzy and check on how the new mom was doing. After they gossiped a bit and retreated to the large family room, Alexis made sure that the baby was sleep and that Kiara was sitting down before she handed her the envelope.

“What's this?” Kiara asked.

“You'll see.”

Kiara read the invite. She stood up. She sat back down.

“What?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“She's naming her baby Eminence?”

“Can you believe that?”

“And they are having the shower at her place? Where Rashad stays?”

“I was afraid to tell you, but I thought you should know—”

“How utterly disrespectful. The judge is scheduled to grant the divorce in a few weeks, but for right now we're still legally attached. What would it look like if people come to her baby shower and see that Eason and Son van up in her driveway? Why can't she have her shower somewhere else? That burns me up. I don't know where my phone is. Can you please get Rashad on your cell phone for me?”

Alexis paused and chose her words carefully.

“Kiara, I know you're freaking out about Nicole's insensitivity and you're right to feel that way, but isn't it time that you truly let him go?”

“What are you talking about? I'm not thinking about that man.”

“Then why are some of his things still in this house? Little things I've noticed; but with all due respect, stuff that should not be here.”

Kiara was tongue-tied as she examined her surroundings. Her eyes rested on the pine bookcase with six wide shelves. It held at least fifteen dusty construction industry reference books. Funny! She hadn't noticed them until now. Upon further scrutiny, she even detected a few mementos that prominently displayed the Eason & Son logo. When she thought about it, she actually still had some of Rashad's personal effects in the closet of her bedroom: Valentine's Day celebration photos, touching little notes and greeting cards, and a couple of giant teddy bears that meant everything to her years ago but disgusted her now. Making a mental note, she realized it was way past time to completely be free of anything that reminded her of Rashad's time as her spouse.

“Alexis, thanks for opening up my blinded eyes. I've been so busy and probably never would have noticed,” Kiara said in all sincerity. “All of his shit has got to go. Now I need you to get him on the phone, because I still won't have Nicole Greene continue to act slick and do this highly inappropriate baby shower.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Alexis was more than willing to do whatever Kiara asked. Ever since little Jazz was born, she and Kiara had made a truce.

It happened unexpectedly.

 

 

So after Alexis spoke with Rashad on the phone, the two women chatted and took care of Jazz. Less than twenty minutes later, Rashad pulled up in the driveway of the Fresno house. He got out of the car and felt a jolt of nostalgia. There were the potted plants that he'd bought for Kiara a couple years ago. And he recognized the wooden bench that a carpenter friend had made especially for him.

“Pieces of me are still here,” he said with pride as he traveled up the walkway and rang the doorbell.

Alexis let him in.

“Well, damn, it's like that?”

“It's like that,” she said.

“And knowing Kiara, she's probably the one that gave you the bright idea to file for child support. I was already taking care of Hayley. So did Kiara put you up to getting the courts involved?”

“You're so off base, Rashad, it's laughable.”

“Why'd you have to go and do something like that when we had our own financial arrangement?”

“Because of that insane chick that you live with . . . I had to protect my daughter. Couldn't take any chances. Plus the extra hundreds of dollars a month truly helps out.”

“I love my daughter and will do whatever to help her, but don't remind me.”

“Bye, Rashad.”

At that, Alexis made herself disappear so he and Kiara could have some privacy.

Rashad looked around the house, scoping out anything that seemed foreign and different.

Kiara was waiting on him. He said hello to her before he started rambling. “Man, I miss this house. I can remember the day we closed on this place and moved in. All those damned boxes scattered everywhere. Remember that, Ki?”

“Ki? You haven't called me that in I don't know when.”

“Tell me about it.”

Kiara discreetly looked at his left hand. He wasn't wearing his wedding band. Good!

“Anyway, it feels weird to be back in this house. It kind of smells the same . . . except more like a baby . . .”

He kept babbling on and on until Kiara said, “Please be quiet, Rashad.”

She invited him to go sit in the dining room.

“Have a seat.”

He sat.

“There'd be very few reasons that I'd want to see you back on these premises, Rashad, but something has happened that I think you need to handle.”

“What? What happened? Are the kids all right?”

“Here, look at this.”

She handed him the shower invitation.

“This,” she said, “is an insult.”

“What? Oh. Yeah.”

“What's up with that name?”

Rashad's face contorted with anger as he realized what was bothering Kiara.

“Hold on, don't tell me you're trying to tell us . . . I mean
her
what she can name her baby. That's
her
baby.”

“I know, but isn't it shady for Nicole to do something like that? My baby's first name means ‘princess who is blessed,' yet she's naming her kid Eminent or some shit like that.”

“Eminence. It means ‘greatness' or ‘prominence.' ”

“I see. Prominence Forever. When did she come up with that?”

“It's
Eminence
. And I don't know when she thought of it.”

“You know. You know damned well Nicole thought of that name right after I had Jazzy and asked Alexis to send an email to the staff announcing our daughter's birth. I got great feedback from my employees and people texted me excited about Jazzy's name and her baby photos. And I remember back then, someone mentioned that Nicole was supposed to name her child Tristan. To me that sounds much better. So I don't understand how you can let her change her mind and end up printing these invites.”

“Kiara, are you blaming me for what Nicole does? Because, guess what? I can't completely control her. And you can't either. You're just going to have to ignore her and stop letting her get under your skin.”

“Really, Rashad?”

“Yes, really. Because you can't be calling me in crisis mode every time that woman does something that you aren't feeling.”

“You know what. This is rare, but I actually agree with you. She and I are two different women. Why would I expect her to think and behave just like me? I don't know what you ever saw in her.”

“Calm down, Kiara, and tell me something. Why can't you simply get Nicole on the phone yourself instead of always putting me in the middle of your beefs?”

“Because it's damn near impossible to hold a rational conversation with her. It's almost like if you're a woman, she wants to fight with you. There's just something off about her. All I know is that she's extremely competitive. And two highly competitive women can rarely see eye to eye.” She paused and wished he could understand. “The reason that I get you involved is because you may not control her but you stand a much better chance of reasoning with Nicole. You've got her whipped. And you can try to get through to her for me. Just ask her to reconsider. Make up something. I'll even help suggest alternate names. Just do not let her name that baby Eminence and hold the shower at your house.”

“If I do that for you, what are you going to do for me?”

“That sounds like a loaded question. So what exactly are you talking about?”

“Hold on a sec. I gotta use the men's room.” Rashad rushed from Kiara's presence and ended up in his former master bedroom. Alexis was perched on a chair toying with her cell phone. She glanced up when he walked in.

“What are you doing in here?” she asked.

“I had to use the men's room.”

“Oh.”

“May I see the baby? Is she here?”

“I think you'd better clear it first through Kiara.”

“Why do I always have to make sure it's okay with Kiara first? Do you know how powerless that makes me feel?”

Alexis said nothing.

“Skillet, you know me. You are probably one of the few reasonable women in my life, even though I hate that you filed on me.”

“It had to be done.”

He frowned and sighed. “Anyway, why is Kiara acting like this?”

“Are you serious? She's hurt. You hurt her.
I
hurt her. Hurt people do hurt things.”

“What can I do to make it better? Make things change so she can stop punishing me?”

“To be honest, Rashad, I have no idea.”

“But you were able to get on her good side. I don't see you two going at it like enemies. Why is that?”

“Maybe it's because I decided I needed to forget about myself and think about Kiara. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes helps you to understand them. Rashad, you can be a selfish asshole and until you change your ways, you'll keep getting the same results. Now I would suggest that you don't bother her about anything. She is still trying to heal from everything that happened, and whether you like it or not, she deserves to be happy.”

Rashad studied the ceiling for a moment. It would probably be the last time he ever set foot in the bedroom again and maybe even the house. He remembered how Myles would come and jump in the bed and settle in between him and Kiara so he could go to sleep. Back then he hated the interruption, but now he longed for that experience again. Rashad felt tons of regret, but it seemed too late to change the time. “Thanks, Alexis. I may not agree with you all the time, but you've always kept it real with me.”

“Sometimes we need that.”

“All right, let me go use the restroom and I'll get outta here real soon. I probably do need to have a conversation with Nicole.”

“You do that. And good luck.” And she meant it.

He returned to the dining room. “Look, you don't have to do anything for me, Kiara. Forget I ever asked. I will talk to Nicky. The decision, though, will be hers, all right?”

“Thanks for trying.”

When Rashad got home and confronted Nicole about the invitations, she feigned innocence.

“Babe, it's all my fault. I tried to change the content on the invites but it was too late. But don't worry. That name isn't written in stone.”

“Good,” he said, relieved. “Don't decide right now. But once she is born, look at her and the expression on her face will tell you what she wants to be called.”

Nicole just stared at Rashad and said, “Will do.”

* * *

One day before Nicole's due date, she was getting dressed to go to work. She was running late. It was seven a.m. When she was in the laundry room looking for some fresh underwear, her water broke.

“I guess this is it,” she said to herself.

Nicole found her cell phone and placed a call to Shyla.

“Hey, girl, what you doing calling me so early?”

“It's time. Can you meet me at the Southwest Memorial?”

“Oh, wow. Do you want me to come get you?”

“No, I think I can drive myself.”

“Where is Rashad?”

“Before he left for work he told me he was going to have a very busy day. I tried getting him on the phone, but it went into voice mail. I can't worry about it. This baby is not going to wait on him, and I'm not either. So you gonna have to be my baby daddy for a minute.”