What's His Is Mine (8 page)

I
knocked on the door and heard my six-year-old daughter, Kierra, yelling, “Daddy, someone's at the door.” I didn't know what kind of reaction I was going to receive from my daughter and my ex-husband. Were they going to be happy or mad? Cuss me or hug me? I just wanted the door to open so I could see my baby girl.

I could hear Tyrone's slippers approaching the door. I took a step back as the door opened. I was so scared. Tyrone opened the door and his mouth dropped before he could say anything. Kierra ran past him and screamed, “Mommy, oh my God, Mommy!” She jumped in my arms and hugged me. I hugged her back.

Tyrone stood still, his thick body frozen in place. His hair had more white in it and his middle was rounder. My ex-husband appeared as though he had aged several years.

Kierra was holding on to me, crying and saying, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, where were you? I missed you. Why did you leave me? I thought I wasn't going to see you again.” I just held her and swayed her back and forth, while patting her back.

Tyrone finally snapped out of his daze. “What the hell happened, Tanisha? Where have you been for all this time? What's going on?” he said, looking around to see if anyone was with me and attempting to separate me from Kierra.

She wouldn't budge. She continued holding on to me tightly, repeating, “Mommy, Mommy, I missed you.”

I knew this wasn't a conversation we should be having outside. “Tyrone, let me in; I will explain it all,” I said as I began crying. I didn't know what else to say. He hesitantly let me in. I followed him inside the house. Everything was still as I remembered.

Kierra was still wrapped around me. I held her close. I wanted to immediately explain myself, but I didn't want Kierra to hear. Tyrone just looked at me in disbelief, shaking his head. He sat across from me. I'm not sure if he wanted to lecture, hug, or hit me. Tears were forming in his eyes. I didn't know what to do or say. He just kept shaking his head. Tyrone looked at me as he picked up the phone and began dialing numbers. He said something fast and then hung up the telephone.

“Your children are on their way.” Then, not able to hold it in anymore he repeated, “Tanisha, what the hell is going on? Where have you been?”

“I'm going to explain everything,” I said as I patted Kierra's back; it was fifteen minutes later and she wouldn't let go. The excitement and me patting her back finally knocked Kierra out. Tyrone picked her up and took her upstairs.

He came back downstairs and yelled, “Tanisha, where the hell have you been?”

“Listen, Tyrone, I can explain everything. There is a lot I didn't tell you.”

He got up and said, “Have you called Kevin yet?”

“Kevin?”

“Yeah, Kevin. Your son's father?”

“Okay, hold up. Let's not call Kevin yet.”

“Why not? I'm sure he wants to know that you are here,” he said as he dialed his phone.

“Hey, Kevin, this is Tyrone. Um, man, call me as soon as you get this message. It is an emergency.” Momentarily I forgot the fact that I had been missing for a year. I just wanted to know how the hell Kevin and Tyrone knew about each other. I never talked about my ex-husband to Kevin and Tyrone didn't know Kevin existed.

Tyrone sat down and said, “I don't know what is going on with you. I just filed papers to declare you legally dead, and now you just come waltzing back in here. What the fuck, Tanisha? What the hell is going on?”

I stood up and said, “Tyrone, I killed a woman in the park last August. I was on my way home from the hospital visiting my baby, and this woman jumped in the car with me and she made me drive to the park. She had a gun and before she could kill me, the gun went off and I killed her. And I didn't want to go to jail, so I ran away.”

“What woman?”

“I don't know. I think she was Kevin's ex-girlfriend.”

“What, Tanisha? Kevin's ex-girlfriend is in jail.”

“In jail?”

“Kevin's ex-girlfriend is in jail for shooting Kevin, and she was about to be charged with your disappearance. Your murder.”

“My disappearance. Huh? She's alive?”

“Yeah, she is alive.”

“I didn't kill her?”

“No, Tanisha. You thought you killed her?”

“Oh my God, she is alive. I didn't kill her.” My body started getting warm. “I ran away because I thought I killed her. I thought I was wanted for murder. I'm not wanted for murder?” I asked, still confused.

“No, we thought she murdered you,” Tyrone said. It took me several minutes to digest what he just said. He said that the girl in the park was shot, but she didn't die. If what he was saying was true, I ran away for nothing. I was on the run for nothing. Everything I had experienced was for nothing.

“Are you sure, Tyrone? I saw her die. She was bleeding and lifeless.”

“She is not dead. Her name is Dionne Matthews and she is in jail.” I was about to pass out. I couldn't understand. I thought she was dead. I took a seat. I heard Tyrone ask me if I was okay and to have a seat. I felt a little dizzy and then I heard the front door open; it was my nineteen-year-old daughter, Alexis. She stood at the front door and screamed and jumped up and down in one place, her hands covering her mouth as tears streamed from her eyes.

“Mom, you're alive? You're alive? You are here—what happened? Where were you?” Alexis said. I walked over to her and began hugging her. She hugged me. Then she separated from me. “Mom, you dyed your hair?” she said, touching my blond and brown short hair.

“Yeah.”

“I like it,” she said, giving me a slight smile. “Mom, what's going on? We have been worried sick. We thought you were dead.”

I repeated the story again and then Tyrone's phone rang. He stood up and walked into the kitchen and said that Jamil was on his way.

In a few minutes Jamil ran through the door. He was looking at me like he had seen a ghost. He had facial hair and a more manly look to him. I stood up to embrace him. He stepped back and asked, “Mom, where have you been? I've been going crazy. I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone. Couldn't you have called? You couldn't pick up a phone in a year?” he sobbed. I pulled him into my chest and then began apologizing to him and trying to explain what happened.

For two hours I went back and forth with Alexis, Jamil, and Tyrone about my entire ordeal. For the most part they understood. They pulled up Internet articles for me to read off the computer. When I saw a newspaper article that showed the woman who tried to kill me, I began crying. I prayed for her every night. I prayed to God that she was protected and I didn't go to hell for ending her life. And there she was in the newspaper, being led in handcuffs, walking toward court. My family also showed me missing person articles about me. In one of the articles, there was a picture of a distraught Kevin alongside my picture. They said he had offered a reward for me, and took my disappearance really hard. I almost couldn't believe all of this was true. I had hurt so many people. My children, my ex-husband, my boyfriend. My life was upside down because I didn't think. Oh my God, I shouldn't have listened to Adrienne. I needed to rest—I felt my chest getting tight again. I really couldn't take anymore. I thought I was dreaming all of this and that I would wake up and realize that I was still in Detroit.

Tyrone wanted to call the police to let them know I was okay, but Alexis said we should probably call an attorney first and let him advise me. And she was right. I was so glad I didn't turn myself in downtown. Tyrone kept trying to get in touch with Kevin. I didn't know how to tell Tyrone I'd had enough for today. I couldn't deal with Kevin. I had so much regret. Seeing my children should have been the hardest. Facing my ex-husband was difficult enough. Now knowing I had run away in vain, I couldn't face Kevin and my baby boy. I didn't want to see him. I owed him so much, and I couldn't bear to look in his eyes.

I
got a call from Tanisha's daughter and I was scared to answer the telephone. I looked down at my cell phone nervously. I didn't know what kind of news she had, so I didn't answer. Hopefully, she would just leave a message saying what was going on. She didn't though. She just kept letting the phone ring over and over. I finally answered.

“What's wrong, Alexis?” I questioned.

“My mom is home.”

“She is? Where was she? Is she okay?” I asked, trying to act surprised.

“Yeah, you should come over.”

“Okay, I'm going to come over now,” I said as I hurried and dressed myself and Asia.

I didn't know what to expect when I reached Tanisha's house. Should I cry and run up to her, or act calm? I didn't know what would be the right way to react to seeing a missing friend. But I did have a lot of real questions for her. What was she doing? How come she didn't call me so we could match up our stories? I had no idea what I should say or not say. Her ex-husband Tyrone answered the door. Tanisha was sitting on the sofa. She had cut her hair, and looked different. She gave me a very slight grin. I sat next to her and said, “Hey, Tanisha.”

“Hey,” she said as I reached out to hug her, and I got this real cold look and feel from her. She kind of pulled back.

“Look at Kierra. She got big,” I said as her little girl ran past me and got on her mother's lap.

“Yeah, she did.”

“So what's up? How you feel?”

“Fine, I guess,” she said, but her eyes revealed tiredness and worry. I asked her a few more questions and she gave me very short, one-word answers. I didn't understand why she was acting strange and had an attitude. I mean, I literally ran over there to make sure she was okay and to see if she needed anything. I asked her where she stayed, what she was doing, and she said she didn't want to talk about any of it. I asked her to go outside and talk with me several times. I guess when she was ready to talk to me she would. I didn't stay for too long.

When I called her later, her daughter said that Tanisha said she would call me back. I guess she forgot I was the one who kept her secret for this last year. All I made was a suggestion. I didn't force her to leave, so she shouldn't be mad at me.

 

 

I wasn't sure why Tanisha was being so distant, but her being home was one less thing for me to worry about. The other thing I just wasn't sure of was if it was possible to meet my next man in a club. I've only been off the scene like a year or two, but it just seems like this new batch of guys are just so disrespectful. This young guy I met texted me a picture of his dick and asked me what I could do with that. What the hell? I think I need a little older, settled-down type of man. Maybe a coach or agent or even a retired player. I need someone who is tired of running up in everything and can show a little respect. I don't know. I've been to a few parties and already I felt like I was seeing the same people. I really needed my ring finger to get rocked. But at this rate I don't know how. I was just happy today was my last day at work and then I had the next four days off. I didn't know how I was going to spend them yet. I didn't feel like hanging out. Angelique had left me a message about going to another party. I wasn't up for it. I think I just wanted to relax and take Asia somewhere.

On the way home to my mom's house, I saw DeCarious's number come up. I was about to not answer, but decided to pick up.

I answered and he asked, “Can you bring Asia down? I really miss her.”

“If you buy us a ticket to Atlanta, I'll come.”

“I'll buy your ticket. My parents want to see the baby. So can you do that for me, please?”

“I guess I can bring her down there.”

“You going to order the tickets now?” he asked.

“Okay, we are going to come tomorrow. When I get home, I'm going to book my flight, but I need my money back as soon as I get down there.”

“I got you. Thanks, Adrienne.”

“Yeah, just have my money, DeCarious,” I said as I ended the call.

As soon as I came home I searched for a flight. The only ticket that was available was $429.00 and that was for coach. To upgrade to first class was only $60.00 more. So I bought it. I didn't care; I didn't have to pay for it. Me and Asia are first-class ladies anyway. I was going to pack our clothes later on after I got up. I needed a little getaway; maybe I'd let DeCarious babysit while I went out and had fun in the “A.”

 

 

Our two-hour flight to Atlanta went fast. The plane ride didn't bother Asia—she slept the entire ride. Once I had my luggage, I called DeCarious to tell him I had arrived. But all this dumb-ass could say was that he forgot I was coming.

“What do you mean, you forgot, DeCarious? You the one who begged me to come down here yesterday.”

“I know. Um, hold tight, my mama will come and get you,” he said. Then he called me back and told me to catch a cab.

“A cab is going to be way too expensive. What are you, out of your mind, DeCarious? You better come and pick your daughter up now! You the one asked me to bring her. So you better come and get us!” I demanded.

“All right, calm down. I'll be there, but it's going to be a minute, though. I'm on the other side of the city.”

DeCarious's minute was almost an hour, and then he had the nerve to pick me up with that flamethrower in the car, his cousin Rock. I hated Rock. He was the reason we weren't together. Rock spoke to me and I rolled my eyes. I couldn't wait until Asia was old enough to travel on her own. Then I won't have to look at DeCarious or his cousin's face ever again.

DeCarious opened up the back door for me and I sat Asia down on the seat. As I was getting in the car, DeCarious's big-ass muscle-head self said, “Damn, Adrienne, you getting thick.”

“Whatever, I'm not thick,” I said as DeCarious got in the car.

“If you say so, but a gym visit might not hurt you.” I could already tell what kind of weekend I was in for.

 

 

We pulled up to DeCarious's house in Alpharetta. It was a newly built mansion that sat at the end of a long cobblestone driveway. He had it built as soon as he was drafted. There were tall trees all around that divided his house from his neighbors farther down the road.

We walked inside where everything was bright and open. Miss Anne was sitting on the large black sectional watching the huge 55-inch television.

“Surprise, Mom!” DeCarious said. She jumped up when she saw us and came over and took Asia from me. Asia was still a little sleepy and wasn't that excited. Miss Anne smothered her with kisses and took her to go have a seat with her on the sofa.

“What are y'all doing here?” she exclaimed. “You know you can leave her—I'll tend to her.”

“Yeah, Mama, I knew you and Daddy wanted to see the baby. So I got Adrienne to bring her down.”

“Are you staying at a hotel, Adrienne?” Miss Anne asked.

“No, we are staying here until Monday.”

“So you came all the way from Philadelphia to stay a couple of days.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, that's wonderful. I can spend some time with my grandbaby.”

While his mama got comfortable with Asia I put my hand out to DeCarious for my money.

“How much did it cost, Adrienne?”

“Seven hundred.”

“You're lying.”

“No, I'm not; it was a last-minute flight,” I lied. I needed the extra money and he wouldn't miss it.

“Okay, here,” he said as he handed me seven crisp one-hundred-dollar bills. I thanked him and placed them in my bag.

 

 

Miss Anne kept Asia busy all weekend. She took her to the aquarium and to visit her friends and family all around town. And I did absolutely nothing all weekend and it felt good just to sit back and do nothing. While I took long naps and chilled poolside, DeCarious was in and out. Him and Rock had a studio now at some house. I wasn't impressed; Rock had been trying to get him to invest his money in a studio for years. But what impressed me was DeCarious. There was something different about him. I couldn't explain it exactly. He just looked kind of handsome. He just had this new energy and glow about him. He was almost sexy to me, and I didn't even think I liked him. However, everything was very clear to me: I wanted a man who had money, a big house, a big car, good looks, treats me good. And I already had all of that in my baby's father. The only problem was, I didn't know how hard it would be to get DeCarious back.

But if I got him once, without even trying, I'm sure I could do it again. It had to be easier to get him to fall back in love with me than to start from ground zero with someone else. I didn't have months to build trust and fall in love and weed out other chicks. With DeCarious, I just had to work my way back into his life. And when I did, this time I was not going for just a baby. I wanted the full Monty. I wanted security for life, so I was going to need him to wife me. If I did, my daughter could have her father and I could have the good life.

First plan of action was to get this extra weight off. The next time he saw me, I was going to be thin. I was going on an extreme diet. Maybe I'd just drink lemon water and eat lettuce, combined with some kind of workout plan. I only had a few weeks before I saw DeCarious again, and this time the weight had to be off.