Chapter Twenty
“Why didn’t you just hire a moving company to come over here and get all this stuff?” Martha Jean dropped a box inside the U-Haul with a heavy thud.
“Mom, I told you I would move heavy boxes you just get the light stuff.”
“There ain’t no more light stuff, and I don’t wanna be standing around watching you and Claudia do everything when I’m here. I might as well help.”
Samiyah sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “Why don’t you just have a seat on the passenger side until we finish. There’s not much left.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Why didn’t you hire a moving company?”
“Because I can do it myself.”
“But you’re not doing it yourself, are you?”
Samiyah loved her mother, but she was really working her nerves right now. “I know you at least know a few men who could’ve helped us.”
“What you like for me to call David?”
Martha Jean turned her nose up. “Now you tryna be funny?”
“That’s the only man I know!”
“What about that guy you were all cuddled up on the newspaper with, he looked strong enough to carry this whole house on his back.”
With the conversation switched to Jonas, Claudia interjected her two sense, “Oh yeah what about him Samiyah, you know he’s got six brothers. I’m sure, if you would’ve asked they wouldn’t mind helping.”
“Six brothers!” Martha Jean screeched.
Samiyah stacked a cardboard box on top of the one her mother placed in the truck. “Seriously? Now you want me to call him? I thought all men were evil and they only wanted one thing, mama. Make up your mind!”
“Well I didn’t say go and fall in love with him. But six brothers? You should’ve asked. That’s just common sense.”
Samiyah rolled her eyes. She felt like a teenager being chastised. “If you must know, I don’t talk to him anymore. You should be proud mama, mission accomplished.”
“Excuse me, what mission would that be?”
“The mission to make sure I’m just as single and alone as you for the rest of my life!”
Martha Jean opened her mouth to respond but closed it. “Ladies, let’s not get out of hand, okay?” Claudia turned to Samiyah; her face frowning into a worried countenance.
“I’m only trying to help you. All men cheat, they’re all liars, what is wrong with me wanting to save you a lifetime of heartache?”
“Forget about it,” Samiyah waved her hand dismissing the conversation.
“No, I can’t forget about it now. You brought it up, it must be something you’ve held in for a long time now but let me tell you; I am not lonely! I am fine just the way I am. And I’d rather be by myself then put my trust in another rusty, dusty, man!”
“Well that’s you! I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life, and there’s nothing wrong with that! If I have to go through a few heartaches just to meet the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with then so be it! But it would help mom if you could provide some understanding and support my decision to have one. Sure, I know your marriage failed, my marriage failed but newsflash it’s not the end of the world!”
Samiyah turned and went inside the house dragging the dolly behind her. Martha and Claudia followed closely. “You know what, fine! From now on you won’t hear me say anything about your life!”
“Thank you very much.” Samiyah was exhausted. Not from moving but the back and forth between her and her mom. It had been nine years since her father and mother divorced and ever since all she’d heard was her mother’s venom when it came to men. Martha went and stood against a wall with her arms folded looking like a child in time out.
She watched Samiyah and Claudia, as they moved the washing machine onto the dolly and took it to the truck. When they came back for the dryer, she was still perched up mumbling something incoherent to herself. She cut her eyes at Samiyah as she walked past then left the room to go outside for a smoke.
It had been five years since Martha had a cigarette. No doubt the end of her marriage caused her to start. However, Martha called it quits after figuring out how much money she spent on smoking per year; an overwhelming figure that knocked some sense into her real quick. Martha pulled out her electronic cigarette and leaned against the van, continuing to mumble underneath her breath. A luxury four-door sedan pulled in front of the mailbox and parked.
Martha Jean blew out a cloud of smoke peering at the expensive vehicle. Jonas stepped out in a casual gray V-neck t-shirt and jeans that hung slightly off of his hips. He slipped off the ultra-violet sunglasses that adorned his face as he jumped the curb to approach her.
“Good afternoon.”
Martha’s eyebrows arched no doubt noticing how handsome Jonas was up close. The newspaper did him no justice. “She’s inside.” Was her bland statement.
“Am I interrupting?”
“If you’re going to help us pack up this truck then no, if not then yes.”
He chuckled, “I’m Jonas Alexander Rose,” he reached for a handshake. Martha tilted her head to the side and blew out smoke. “Are you here to help or not?”
“As long as you need me.”
“That’s more like it,” she said accepting his handshake. “Come inside,” she put her vaporizer away and walked to the house. When they stepped in, Samiyah came face to face with him. She paused, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to help wherever you need me.” His gaze bore into her making her insides melt.
Keep your focus, Samiyah reprimanded herself. “Thank you, but we don’t need your help.”
“Jonas don’t you listen to a word my daughter is saying. She has a bad attitude today. Don’t pay her no mind.” Martha grabbed Jonas arm, “Follow me.”
They went upstairs. Samiyah rubbed the temples of her head. “Girl are you really going to let that man get away,” Claudia whispered.
Samiyah gave her a warning look, picked up another box and headed to the U-Haul with Claudia on her heels. She put the box down and turned to her, “Don’t start okay. I just want to get this done and over with.”
Claudia put her hands on her hips. “You know, you’re not fooling anyone. I know you still want that man and your mother does, too.”
“Okay, you got me, but it doesn’t mean a thing. Now move out of my way.”
They exited the truck just as Jonas came downstairs carrying the queen size box spring. “Excuse me ladies.” He winked at Samiyah, and she couldn’t help but watch as he walked to the truck.
“Your mouth is hanging open,” Claudia whispered in her ear. Samiyah swatted her. “Shut up!”
Claudia yelped and ran to the kitchen to get another box. On his way back in, Jonas stopped in front of her. “Can we talk.”
“I don’t have time, as you can see I’m busy.” She turned to leave, and he reached out for her halting her departure. She side eyed him.
“Please, I haven’t heard from you in two weeks.”
“After you take this mattress to the truck. Oh, and these dressers, and this TV,” Martha imposed.
Jonas flashed her a heartwarming smile. “Of course,” he said.
Samiyah peered at her mom but didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to argue with her any more than she had to.
“Well, at least he’s good for more than that so-called husband of yours! He wouldn’t lift a finger. I hate lazy men.”
“You hate all men mama!”
“Well,” she stuck her lip out watching Jonas. “Maybe not.”
“I can’t even…”
“You can’t even what?” Martha folded her arms.
“Nothing,” Samiyah went to the kitchen to find Claudia. She found her talking in hush tones on her cell phone.
“I gotta go, I’ll speak with you later.” She ended the call.
“Don’t try and get out of helping me. You’re mine all day.”
“Girl you don’t need me, you’ve got that sexy Casanova doing it all for you.”
Samiyah rolled her eyes. “That is all my mother’s doing, it has nothing to do with me.”
Claudia twisted her lips. “Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?”
“Can you just help me get this chair into the truck?”
Claudia pointed towards the living room. Jonas was lifting the furniture with ease, carrying more than one piece at a time. “Like I said, you don’t need me and I ain’t mad about it.”
Samiyah felt warm and fuzzy all over. Jonas crossed her mind on a daily basis. He’d gotten into her soul in a way that was a bit frightening. But she wouldn’t let him win. She couldn’t, no good men seemed to be attracted to her, and she had to break those chains. She turned back to Claudia. “I don’t understand my mother. One minute she’s fussing about trying to save me from heartbreak. The next she seems to be purposely keeping him around.”
“Well you did ask her to show some understanding and you made it loud and clear that you didn’t want to be alone. So maybe she’s trying to do that.”
“I didn’t expect her to do a complete turnaround asap!”
“Hold your horses; this is your mama we’re talking about. That still doesn’t mean she couldn’t possibly be trying. You are her only child. She loves you.” They watched as Martha pointed from one thing to the next. Jonas never wavering in assisting with the heavy lifting.
“He’s actually a good packer,” Claudia said. He’d moved around some of the boxes and situated furniture in an order that would get everything in the truck to make one trip.
“And we couldn’t possibly move that fast. His adrenaline is astonishing. Must be nice,” Claudia cooed.
A shudder crawled through Samiyah’s bones. The thought of his adrenaline transporting her back to their many sex sessions in Puerto Rico. Claudia glanced at her watch. “I don’t want to interrupt what I know is some steamy thoughts, but If we want to get this done before it gets dark, we better get going.”
Samiyah blinked several times trying to get her mind right, but every time he moved she would drown in the brief sight of his abs, the flex of his arms, and the grin he would give her mother after she’d boss him around to do something else.
With the living room now bare, her feet finally moved, and she lifted the last of the boxes in the kitchen. Like a zombie, Samiyah stepped out the front door; her mind still reeling with thoughts of him. He went to her taking the box out of her arms.
“That goes in the car,” she said. “Thank you for helping, you didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.” He closed the car door. “Can we talk now.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Why are you running from me?”
“I’m not running. I’m being smart. I don’t need a man nor should I be pretending I want one.”
A look of surprise crossed his face. “Pretending?”
Samiyah had no idea why she’d said that, but since she did, she stuck with it. “Yes, pretending.”
“So, you’re saying the connection we have is all in my head?”
“You were nice; we had a good time in Puerto Rico. I appreciated the trip. That’s it. We’re back in the real world, now, let’s not twist reality. I don’t need you to help me unpack this stuff since the condo I’m moving to has a moving staff. It was nice knowing you.” She held her hand out.
Jonas was not one for begging or trying to convince anyone, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk away from her.
“Liar,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me; the reality is you’re running scared. You think because you’ve had a bad relationship that somehow all men will turn out to disappoint you. And you’re wrong.”
Samiyah bit her bottom lip. “Are you going to prove me wrong, the man I saw flirting with his assistant? I can’t compete with her. She’s around you for everything, knows your every move, and frankly, I don’t want to. Do whatever you like.”
She tried to side-step him, but he blocked her exit. “I wasn’t flirting with her.”
Samiyah glared at him.
“I know what it looked like, but it was really platonic. I’m sure she’s grown to have a love for me, and I do her, but it’s not in the way that you think,” Jonas said.
“If you really believe that, then you are blind and I won’t be a part of whatever it is she thinks you have going on.” She pushed through him.
“Samiyah!”
Samiyah jumped in the driver’s seat of the U-Haul and pulled off with her mother following closely in tow.
“Are you okay?” Claudia asked.
Samiyah didn’t know, but one thing was for certain, she was definitely running.