~Twelve

“Two hundred fifty people,” April breathed, amazed as she scanned the invitation list. “All for my Shank, huhn?”

“I think we’re on track in terms of planning. Love Is Action and the Connecticut Kings are throwing lots of resources into this.” I sat back from the table, scratching my scalp and yawning.

It was time for me to take this weave out and wash my hair. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I’d been thinking about leaving it out for a while. Or at least I was before all of the shit with Trent blew up a few days ago before he left for the road again. I’d been in a slump all week.

“Trent said so. He said it ain’t been hard to start this foundation.”

“And watch how it grows. I bet if he stays at it, the name will be recognizable for every HIV/AIDS community-based organization across the U.S. I wish I could do more to bring it to fruition.”

“Oh, baby!” she cried. “You’ve done a lot. You wrote up that fancy mission and goals for it to make people respect it.”

She was talking about the mission statement for the Shank Bailey Foundation she and Trent conceptualized last year, just after his death. When Trent started inquiring about how to start a foundation, he was told to write down its purpose. I’d just taken a grant writing course last semester as a filler and was familiar with the basics of asking for money. I sat with April and Trent to pull goals and objectives from them and took it from there.

“I just hope the recipients take to it. Continuum care and clean needle access are ground-level. Those in need of this service should take advantage of it.”

“Well, those are the people we ran into the most in the clinic and hospital. For some reason, Shank saw more drug users than people who got it like he did, through sex. He said if he could do things differently, he’d help them. Those people, he really took to them.”

I nodded, my eyes to the dining room table where we were meeting for me to share the update the coordinator had provided me. Trent had hired her to spearhead the ball. August would be here before we knew it. We wanted April informed, Trent and I both.

“How’s the big party plans coming along?”

I exhaled, rubbing my eyes. “They’re coming. Thank God for Elle. She’s been a miracle worker. Honestly, there isn’t much for me to do”—I relaxed in the wing-back chair and went for my belly—“but find something to hide this.”

April laughed, but I caught the adoration in her eyes. “Girl, you ain’t gone be able to keep that secret for long. I been noticing it. Could be because I know, but it’s making itself known. By Trent’s birthday, it’s gone be screaming ‘hi’ to everybody!” April cracked herself up. “Damn, I miss Shank. I know he smiling down on Trent.” Her forehead nodded toward my small bulge through a thin t-shirt. “She’s proof of it. Trent’s blessed for having you, honey.”

God, I miss him…

My arms dropped and belly leaped as my elbows went to the table.

“You okay, baby girl?” April’s voice was soft, her regard just as careful.

I sighed, trying to pass it off as a laugh. “I’ve seen better days.”

“Jade, take it one day at a time. All marriages are assigned cars on the rollercoaster. Just hold his hand while going down. It’ll feel that much better when you peak again.”

My brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

She started gathering her things at the table, neatly packing the handouts I printed for her into the portfolio I purchased for her storage.

“It means you gotta know you’ll come back up. Together. Nobody likes a fair weather friend. If you’re with them in the good, you gotta do that bid in the bad, too. The same as in marriage. Yeah. You recognize the fights, the pain, the problem. But right there is when you should determine in ya heart that you’re going to get through this one together. And brave the next one together. ‘Cause, baby,” she sang. “Them lows gonna keep coming.”

My folded face went to the paperwork scattered in front of me, my eyes all over, making sense of what she was saying.”

“But technically, we’re not married.” It had become so real to me once Trent made it a big deal.

“You done told me about the wedding on the beach where Shank’s remains are. You took vows before God and Shank. You two are married. Next step is to legalize it. Find out how to get it done.” 

My phone vibrated over the table, alerting me of a text.

Lex Carmichael: Hey girl! Just got a moment to text and say THANKS for the gift basket! The Carmichaels will be Gucci and Ase Garb’ed OUT this spring. My divo of a man loved the horsebit slippers! Now I know why you asked for our sizes. LMAO

I rolled my eyes and snickered, happy to feel her positive energy through a text. Lex couldn’t shake the profanity. It was one of the perks of Trent having an endorsement deal in place with them. I couldn’t go crazy, ordering things for other people, but there was an allowance for gifts to friends and family. This seemed like an appropriate occasion to utilize it.

“I’m off. I need to get a nap in before Kyree gets home. He and I are going out to get snow sleds today. They said we’re getting a lot this weekend.” She stood, collecting her things. “Can you believe we gettin' more snow?” She moved to leave out.

I smiled, shrugging with my forehead.

Me: I just wanted to apologize to him and say thank you to you. I feel horrible. I still can’t believe how you handled my ignorant baby’s daddy.

I snorted a laugh, though it was inappropriate to feel humor under the circumstances.

Lex Carmichael: He was light work. You gotta remember I got that #HarlemPride in me. I’ve been dealing with much worse in my line of work. Even grew up around it.

I wasn’t familiar with the hashtag.

Me: Can I ask a personal question?

Lex Carmichael: Yes

Me: How ugly was it between you and Pastor Carmichael when you got home? Are you past it?

Lex Carmichael: Pretty bad. I’m not used to seeing him lose it in front others. Only me. He spanked my ass and slept well that night. LMAO

I cupped my mouth, eyes bulging.

Don’t go there… Don’t go there!

Me: I’m not going there. Sounds like you’re still married though. Thanks again Lex. You were a needed friend.

Lex Carmichael: Cool beans sis. I keep telling you I’m not a first lady. I’m a work in progress married to the preacher man. Maybe I’ll run into you at bible study.

That was a load off. A comical one—but needed. I hoped her husband was just as forgiving.

For that matter, I hoped mine was, too. In fact, I needed to get a husband. The day Trent left, I called down to the clerk’s office with questions. We had six months to file the marriage license. We were five months out at this point, with not much time to spare.

I just didn’t know if I had a willing husband anymore.

My shoulder shook. I sniffled, rolling my eyes.

Damn!

All I did was cry. I was tired of crying. Never cried so much in my life. It was crazy. I’d seen a bad day or two in my day, but I’d never battled fear to this degree. My eyes blurred from tears, as I observed the tag of the fourth dress I tried on this morning for church. Fourth! It was also the fourth I couldn’t fit. I’d just worn this one last month.

As I sat inside the closet, on an ottoman with only a towel wrapped around my naked body, I was wrecked with unfair emotions. It wasn’t just about the dresses—but very much about the dresses. It was because everything around me felt blue. I was heavier, breasts impossibly bigger, tracks loose in my head likely from pregnancy hormones…nail chipped before getting in the shower. All of it. I was over it all, and even in a moment of hormonal insanity, I contemplated cutting my hair all off.

I heard him clear his throat at first. “I owe you an apology.”

And that was my biggest source of anxiety this morning. Trent was back from his motivational mentoring tour in Louisiana. Today would be our first time going to church together in a while. I’d been too much of a coward to go last week, so I viewed the service online. I did make it to Bible study, though. I actually looked forward to church and attended without Trent all the time. But this morning was different. He’d just gotten in from his flight at five this morning. By six he was out for his morning run, followed by his workout. We’d spoken sparsely while he was away.

My back was to him. I couldn’t face him. But the tears halted. I had to get it together. My eyes widened and whipped around in their sockets.

“Why? Because it’s the right thing to do or you think I deserve an apology after embarrassing you in front of your pastor, his wife, and your staff?” My eyes raced.

“I owe you an apology because you’re my wife—no matter the state knowing. I married you for better or worse. I was at my worst that day and…apparently, your worst was brought up. We were there together, and I didn’t respond to it the right way. This ain’t how I wanna kick this thing off, Jade. It’s not why I got into this thing,” his voice was so raw, so revealing. “Neither of us were perfect people—are perfect people. I was less perfect than both of us. There’s no way I can judge you or cast shame upon you for something you did before you met me.” I could hardly hear him, his tone was so soft.

“You were right: a lot of my mistakes were made since we’ve been married. What went down with you and Ryshon was before we met. If I learned anything from that Brielle shi—situation, it’s that I can put mistakes that were made before me behind us.

I snorted, sitting up, and sniffling back my tears. My back was still to him. “You want to know the worst thing about it?” His silence spoke. “The fact that I never even did it.”

“What?” was released curtly.

I closed my eyes, fortifying myself then turned to peer over my shoulder to finally face him. I widened my eyes, confirming my statement.  “I never slept with Little X,” my tone was just as soft as his earlier.

“Why didn’t you say that when he said you did?” Trent tossed his thumb over his shoulder. Below his neck was virile beauty, above it was confusion and anger. “He lied on you.”

I swiveled around to fully face him. “Because in the world Ryshon and his friends come from it doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t understand. Dude accused you of doing something grimy and you don’t at least set the record straight? Wasn’t nobody gonna challenge you while I was there.” His face was hard as stone. “Why didn’t you say that?”

“Because I wanted to!” I blurted over him with closed eyes. I took a deep breath before peering over to him again. “I wanted to. I was the one who backed out in the end, but it was me who put it into play.” A wry smile formed on my face. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

Another stunned emotion struck Trent’s face.

“I wanted to hurt Ryshon. He’d done it to me over and over. You notice I don’t have any girlfriends, other than my cousin, who are confidants? I did at one point. Kyree even had a godmother. He’d slept with her while I was in my last weeks of pregnancy and for weeks after I gave birth. He slept with another friend I went to high school with a year later. He humiliated me time and time again. Then he embarrassed me in front of my cousin, Lashawn, by trying to talk to her girlfriend at a club. That was the last straw. He got locked up not too long after that, thinking everything was going to be cool. We were going to do another bid together. I had other plans. Little X distributed his money to his kids’ mothers when he was away. One day, he came over and I seduced him. It was the best acting job I’d ever done. I wanted revenge.”

Things got quiet. I didn’t know if he cared to hear more. The reemergence of the pain was keen.

“I had my reasons for doing it. It was for the pain he’d caused me over the years. At some point, for him, the romance was over. Interest in the charming, naïve rich girl from South Orange wore off. I wasn’t anything special to him.” I shrugged. “So, Little X was with it. He came over at the agreed upon time and I was ready. We were almost naked and I couldn’t do it. Something hit me so hard as he was pulling down his jeans. I stood with my bra exposed and felt rocked, dizzied, all of a sudden. I was spinning out of control.”

I choked on a cry. “I couldn’t go through with it. There was no intrigue, attraction, love, or lust. I wasn’t that girl. I’d only been with three guys.” I wiped my face. “Little X got angry…started pulling back on his clothes. He was yelling, ‘You know what this means, right? You know what this means? I’m telling everybody we did it. They not gone believe you. What bitch line up a fuck with her old man’s right hand while he locked up? You know he knows, right. You know I told him’.” I’d never forget his words.

“He was being honest. Ryshon told him to go through with it.” Hot tears fled down my cheeks. “He did it. Little X went around telling people he’d slept with me. And in their world, it only takes your boy to say he slept with a woman. Because I’m a whore. Right?” I shook my head. “I mean… Just look at me. The weave, slayed face, boobs, and ass. Just like the world thinks I’m your whore now.”

“Jade, you should’ve said something down there! We would’ve believed you. We know the woman you are!”

I shook my head again, wiping my tears, and sniffling. “You know what? It’s… It’s… It’s over with.” I picked up dress number four from the floor and stood. “I deserved it. I should’ve never dealt with Ryshon or people like him in the first place. I just can’t shake this. I can’t shake it.” I shook my head, decided. “I’m going to always be the cunning whore. The one prone to blunders.” A cynical giggle shot from the back of my throat as I stared at the size six tag in my hands. “As soon as I was gaining my ground, becoming a new person—turning over a new leaf—it all blew up in my face.”

My eyes fell to my protruding belly. April was right: it seemed since we learned about the pregnancy, the pregnancy told on itself.

“Jade!” his commanding tone snatched my attention. My eyes flew to him immediately and caught his on my belly, too. Trent had caught on. “For some reason, it’s always about what other people think, never about just me and you. When we exchanged those vows, who was there? It was me and you. The only other people had a role in making it official. Nobody else matters. You gotta get over that, Jade.”

“Remember you said after the party how you had your trust flaw? Well, you’re aware of my insecurities. It’s always been about how people perceive me. I can’t shake that either, it seems.” Trent shook his head, frustrated. “You know why I love this place? You know why I took to it so easily during one of the lowest points of my life?” His doubtful eyes met mine. “Because it was big enough to hide myself inside of. I can become a different person. A new person. I could reinvent myself. I could give something to it. I felt you may not have needed me, but this house did. I proved something to these four walls!” I pointed to no place in particular.

“I was something useful to something that knew nothing of the old me. It knew nothing about my past. The house even protected me by keeping my baggage from my old world in an adjacent place: the furthest garage from the main house! Trent, I am so tired of being what these people say I am. I just want to move on. I thought I was.” I grabbed my belly. “But…” I stopped to breathe.

I caught Trent’s face opening as his eyes were stapled to my midsection. “So, what me and my daughter represent to you is another mistake?” He took a step back, tearing me in two. “If that’s the case, I ‘on’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know who the fuck I married.”

He walked out. Just as quiet as Trent came in, interrupting me from my self-loathing tears, he left me to them with fresh agony.  

   

“Trent!” Chéri called my name like she missed me. By the time I turned from the painting hanging in the hall close to the front door, I caught her approaching me, looking over my shoulder, with her arm wrapped around her husband, George. “It’s so wonderful to see you.”

She made her way over, wasting no time to hug me.

“How are you?” I greeted as she squeezed tight.

When Ms. McDowell backed away, I caught a glimmer in her clear green eyes with gold specks in them.

Damn, she fine like Jade…

It was hard not to acknowledge. I couldn’t speak about her body because Chéri dressed her age: not much fitted on her—thank God. But her face and exotic eyes were my lady’s: through and through.

She backed away and her dreamy eyes and excited smile went up to her husband, making room for him to greet me.

George stuck out his hand. “TB! Good to have you over.”

We hugged, too.

“Good to be here, man.”

“Come, Trent.” Chéri waved me into a room not too far from the door.

I followed her into what ended up being their formal living room. I knew about those since becoming a home owner. All big houses had one, from my understanding. George pointed to a seat in the corner, a fancy sofa chair, white with a dark wood trim. I took a seat.

“I understand you just arrived back into town,” Chéri shared, sitting down to where only half her bottom was on the sofa, she crossed a leg over the other, and straightened her spine. “May I offer you a refreshing drink? Something to eat?”

“Yeah,” I sat back in the chair. “I just flew into Teterboro from Milwaukee. Nah, I’m good. I don’t wanna take up too much of your time. I just wanted to touch down with you then I gotta get home to check in with Jade and Ky to make sure everybody’s good and in one piece.” We laughed together. “Take care of what needs to be handled after being away for a few days. Then I know Jade’s gonna give me a good hour before she makes me go lay down and relax. I’m sure she got something cooked and waiting for me.”

“Oh. Okay,” Chéri sang in soprano, her eyes bounced around a little, making me believe she was analyzing something I’d just said.

George lowered his chin as he stared at me. “So, I take it all is well with those two?” He really wanted to know.

“Yeah. Yeah!” I piped up, not wanting them to think I was about to drop a bomb on them—well, nothing out of control, at least. “We’re definitely good, a tight unit. Got a lot going on. We’re finally settled in the house from her working her magic, making it feel like a home.”

All the time I’m talking, Chéri’s sitting stiff and looking to not being able to breathe, waiting for my next word. She was literally sitting on the edge of her seat. It was almost comical. She wanted to know why I was here.

“I just wanted to come and kick it about Jade—”

“What did she do now?” Chéri asked with her face frowned and nose in the air, almost like she was angry.

I paused.

What the he—

I chuckled, brushing off the chill in her tone. “She’s getting married.” I tried to take on a friendly tone. I wanted no trouble with queen pit bull, but her tone was reckless already. 

“Oh,” George nodded slowly then looked over to his wife with the perfect posture. “Okay.”

“We settled on a date.”

“Well, I wasn’t told that!” Chéri made known with her chin in the air, this time looking stubborn.

God, help me…

I’d already prayed the night before and on the way over here. I asked God to guide my lips and tongue and let only peace and humility come from them. I hated family drama.

I combed my beard with my fingers. “Yeah. I know. That’s basically why I’m here. I know you two haven’t been speaking, and it’s never been my thing to get in the middle of two women, especially strong minded ones like you and your daughter.  But I’ll do anything to make my wi—” I licked my lips, catching myself. “My lady happy. One of the things I know she needs is her moms.”

Unbelievably, Chéri’s eyes lit up. “How so?”

So, Jade’s need to be needed got a source, huhn?

“Well…” I licked my lips again, thinking. “Just being there and giving positive energy is one way. But she even mentioned the spot we chose to have the reception at being something you two spoke about in the past.” With stretched eyes, I shook my head. “But thank God we got over that hurdle—”

“And where’s that?” Chéri couldn’t contain herself.

Wow…

I scratched below my bottom lip.

“LaChateau—”

“I—in Midtown Manhattan?” Those green eyes sparkled with familiarity.

Good…

“Yeah.” I chuckled again, my eyes going to the brass statue in the corner. “Jade told me you dig the place. She thought it would make you happy the reception’s going to be there.”

Her chin went into the air again. But nothing more.

My eyes shot over to George, who was looking at her. He was always looking at her, allowing her to overshadow his presence.

“Well, like I was saying: we got over that hurdle. But another one is the wedding dress. Jade said you had one in mind.”

“Yes, I do. I’ve been between two, though this was years ago before…” She angled her neck and her eyes fell. “Before Kyree. I was going to let her be the tie-breaker.”

“I know it’s not my place to say this. Again, it’s not my nature to get in the middle of women no matter who it is. But things have changed. I’m taking on a lifetime with Jade. I wanna spend the rest of my days with her and I’ll do anything to give her the best. And right now I think the best for my lady is for her and her moms to be cool again.” I sat up in my seat, taking a deep breath to get ready for this. “The dilemma is, she’s pregnant.” Chéri sucked up all the air in the room.

“Well, how is she going to find a gown in that condition?” I wasn’t sure who she was asking because her eyes raced every which way, probably at the speed of her brain at this point. Then her eyes were on me. “Oh! I’m so sorry. So sorry about this, Trent! You know, I had an idea something like this would happen. I tried talking to Jade over and over again!”

“It’s okay!” My hand pushed out in the air, palm asking her to pump the brakes. The woman looked like she was hyperventilating. I was fighting to keep my cool at this point. What did she really think of her daughter? “You can calm down. I take full responsibility. I love my unborn child. I love Jade. I’m glad she’s going to be the mother of my first child—all of them. I’m good on it.” I tried for a smile to calm her. I almost laughed at her, I was kind of disgusted by her reaction.

“It’s okay. We’re good. I just understand how this poses a problem for her, looking for a gown. Because if she wasn’t, I’m a hundred percent sure she would go with one of the ones you liked. But now she’s got a change of plans. Now, we all know Jade is resourceful. She can figure it all out on her own—one of the smartest people I know. I’m just thinking the dress dilemma would be a good place to end this beef. Now would be a good time for you to reach out to her to help her out with that. Help her find a dress that’ll match her beauty.” I made my smile even bigger to disarm her.

The room went quiet for a minute.

“Well, that’s a lot of work. And lots of explanation. People are going to wonder how this came about. And they may even question if she took advantage of you!” She spoke with her eyes to her feet and her palms turned toward the ceiling. “And I just—it’s going to be—I…” She tripped over her words, so worked up. Then those gorgeous green eyes were on me again. The little chin pushed high again, too. “Well, if Jade needs me again, she must be the one to make it right.”

Chéri jumped up to stand on her little legs and marched out of the room, being led by that damn chin.

I sat frozen in my seat.

What in the world just happened?

My eyes were glued to the door my mother-in-law just made a dramatic exit from. She stayed on zero to sixty. I was now convinced. Was this a waste of time? A mistake?

She at least coming to the wedding? 

“I know what you’re thinking,” George’s voice reminded me he was still in the room. I turned to him, still crazy confused by what had just gone down. “I’ve been here with these two going at it since Jade was an itty-bitty thing.” He chuckled, but in a way that told me he understood this wasn’t a laughing matter. “And it’s not easy. You probably thought you were going to come here and announce this blessed pregnancy. And like any normal mother, she was going to get excited, forget about their fight back in February, and run to be at her daughter’s side.” George shook his head, losing all humor in his face. “But not Chéri.”

“That’s what I don’t get. I thought this would be an easier route than with Jade, because she’s dealing with so much: the pregnancy and trying to plan a…” My hands shot in the air as I searched for words to best describe what I felt in front of this big time lawyer, who I finally had something in common with. “…celebrity wedding. Thought this was the best way.”

“No.” George’s face was unsmiling for once. Now, he looked…tired.

I sat up in my seat, burying my face in my palms, feeling exhausted my damn self. I was confused, tired, and hungry. Nothing sounded better than being home. But this had been on my heart basically since we found out about the pregnancy. I’d finally gotten the time to speak to Ms. McDowell and it didn’t work. I felt powerless, now, too.

What am I gonna do now?

“It’s getting hot in here, Trent.” My head shot up to George. He pushed himself from the couch to stand. A scowl now on his face. “Follow me.”

My face folded, wondering what he meant. But I followed him out of the living room where he grabbed a coat from the closet in the foyer. We stepped out of the front door, and George led me from the circular driveway, over to the side of the house on a narrow walkway.

After a short time in the stroll, he finally spoke.

“Chéri’s problem with Jade is Chéri. It’s taken me years to articulate this to someone, but she damaged that little girl. She put her through all those mouse obstacle courses, promising her unconditional love and perfection through Chéri’s eyes upon perfect completion. When Jade stopped performing, Chéri washed her hands of her.”

I turned to look at him for the first time. My chest tightened at that visual. George kept his eyes on the clear pathway before us, one without the snow that was on the grass. He continued, in his own little world.

“From the day I met her, Jade was a sweet child—very bright—always outshining her peers. There was never a class, team, or group she was a part of where she didn’t stick out. It’s just who she is. So, it was no surprise when she attracted you and fit so comfortably in your arms.” George finally looked over to me. “It’s because she was born a star in her own right. So, if anything, Chéri pushed that girl so hard, she almost broke her. So much so, she sent her into the wrong hands with that Ryder kid.”

He stopped out of nowhere and faced me. I soon stopped, too.

“Now, I’m going to tell you this, but if you repeat it, I’ll swear under oath it never came from me.” He chuckled to soften the blow. George was definitely a lawyer. Who said things like that? “Jade’s father is the reason why Chéri pushed that girl so hard.” I felt my forehead wrinkle. “Chéri grew up dirt poor down in South Jersey: Bridgeton. Dirt poor. Don’t let all this grandeur fool ya.” His hand swept to reference his massive property. “Pardon my French, but Chéri ain’t have shit when I met her. She ain’t have shit.”

I switched weight on my hips, not expecting that.

“She was an effortlessly beautiful girl. Exotic features. She could play the part of class and elegance, and I fell in love. It didn’t take much for me. She had this little girl, who was gorgeous, too. But I used my resources…did some digging around and discovered Jade’s father never picked up after her was because Chéri was never meant to be a permanent fixture in his life. He came from a line of doctors, wealthy family for about three-four generations. He was on his way to Princeton. One summer, they hooked up in Philly…had an affair that lasted a while. There was no commitment, just a setup of fun. Well, at least for him.”

George laughed, eyes cast out into the snowy lawn. “My Chéri wanted more. She somehow got pregnant with Jade and thought that was going to keep the man. It didn’t.” George’s big shoulders shrugged. “The guy basically said, ‘fuck you and the baby’. She later told me he said she wasn’t on his level, how she came from the slums of Bridgeton while he was from Bernardsville. He told her she would never look good on his arm. He could never have this kid, because the kid had to come from another bloodline of wealth.” Reading my shocked expression, George nodded, telling me he agreed.

This sounded like old world politics.

“That did something to Chéri. She’d always had self-esteem issues. Always wanted to be something bigger and better than her Bridgeton upbringing, even found a way to travel abroad to investigate her new identity.”

That confused me. And just like the sharp lawyer he was, George picked it up.

“You don’t think a woman, birthing her child in urban South Jersey would name her Chéri, do you? God bless the dead, but Ms. Patty wouldn’t know to accent the ‘e’. My dear wife was born Sherileen Brown. Her family knows her as Sherry. She changed the name on her birth certificate to match her new persona after giving birth to her daughter.”

Shit…

“So, these issues of needing to fit in and not having the strongest sense of self came from Jade’s mother. They were passed on, but not through DNA; through a broken mother, pushing her to be things she wished she was to be accepted by men like her father…and me.” His face turned hard. “And you.”

That hit me hard.

“All those flaws are what Chéri battled with, coming of age. She even tried to step up her game with Jade’s father, who rejected her for being common. And that’s what my wife thought she was doing to her only child—a female like herself. She was grooming her to not be average or subpar. She wanted her extraordinary, only Jade was that naturally. She didn’t need the fillers of grooming schools and social clubs.”

George laughed, more to himself. “You know, it was like the Kris Kardashian/Nicole Brown/Faye Resnick affect.”

He paused waiting for it to click for me.

I shook my head. “I ‘on’t get it.”

“You know, the single women who know the right circle of wealth to infiltrate to become the next Mrs. Millionaire. Some women know where to go to snag a man with money. The ones who breed their daughters to strategically marry the ‘right’ pedigree. That was my Chéri. It’s what she thought she could do with Jade until Jade charted her own course and hooked up with Ryder.” That name dripped from his mouth with disgust.

I shared the same feelings.

“Chéri looked the part: nice body, gorgeous face, elegant manner of speaking, perfect posture—even manufactured her resume. She knew how to play the role. She was sure to be in social circles where business men like myself retreated to. That’s how I met her.”

He stepped closer. “But I saw a broken—but determined—young woman, who needed help with her little girl. Eventually, I fell in love with her. It didn’t take much time. I can take the pretentiousness. I can deal with the self-consciousness and heavy concern about appearances. The one thing I couldn’t stomach was how she treated that little girl. She put her in every class she could to enhance her etiquette and breed, overworked Jade with her own expectations. But Jade is a fighter. It’s already in her. She’d already arrived. Her mother tried putting layers on top of what was already there.”

George swung his hands in the air, taking a deep breath. “And I kept silent for years because, at the end of the day, I believe it’s a woman’s role to raise children. And Jade was not mine. But I loved her. I paid for every request made by Chéri without flinching. When they reconnected a couple of years ago through Kyree, I thought I’d come to a place of believing my silence was worth it. But now that there’s been another break between them, I don’t know what to do. So,” George offered me his hand for a shake. “I bid you good luck. But this is what I’ve known of them since Jade came into my world.”

I joined him in a handshake and now felt the burden he claimed to have been drowning in for years. My mind racing, trying to fight the image of a young hazel-eyed girl being told she wasn’t smart enough, pretty enough, or just enough. That shit hurt. Jade worked hard every day to tell Ky and me how special we are—good looking, talented, and capable. At first it was weird and I thought it was her way of securing me—although I’d already fallen for her. Then I got used to it and learned to depend on it. Now, I see it was because she didn’t want us to feel like she had under her mother’s strong hand.

“Well,” George’s sigh broke me from my thoughts. “I know you got to get out of here. I know Jade and how demanding she is.” He laughed. “In some respects, she’s like her mother. She likes to make sure Poppa Bear is taken care of. So, I’m going to let you go on your way.”

He turned first, headed back up to the front of the house. I followed with haunted thoughts. I swear, the only reason why his story had any effect on me at all was because I could relate to not being accepted by your mother.

George and I shook hands again before we parted ways: he went left for the front door, I kept straight ahead for the waiting truck where my security sat. Then I stopped.

“Yo, McDowell!” I called out. He turned to me, first over his shoulder, then full body. “You know whatever happened to her pops?”

George frowned, the bright sun in his eyes as he thought. “You know… I haven’t heard much about him over the years. Haven’t heard his name around the circles. But I remember he’s from Bernardsville. Kincaid. David Kincaid. They ain’t hard to locate.” He smiled, that expression I was used to seeing on him.

I couldn’t do the same if I tried, but managed a nod.