“I could’ve made her happy while pursuing my dreams. I could’ve achieved everything put in front of me with her right beside me. Nothing would’ve suffered because she understood. My baby, she was willing to endure whatever bumpy road we had to travel as long we did it together.” I had the letters to prove it. Jacolby wrote me every day up until I ended things. She called and emailed. Did everything she could do to make sure that the beat of our love never stopped beating.
“My problem is that you care more about the legacy of your business than my happiness. That’s what I have a problem with.” I laid everything out on the table without being disrespectful like I wanted to. The anger I felt wasn’t as radiating as it once was since I released everything I’d been holding in.
“She wasn’t what you needed.” She spoke confident as if she had a right to determine that. That decision was never hers to make. That’s what she’s failing to understand. “What about her said prestigious wife to a fortune five-hundred company?” There goes that snarky attitude and entitlement. “That girl changed the color of her hair more times than the sun rotated. And how she dressed?” She kissed her teeth rolling her eyes.
That girl.
She devalued Jacolby’s worth to just that girl.
“What company would’ve taken you serious with a wife that fancied outrageous unprofessional colors and the demeanor of a teenager? I saved you from being a joke. A laughingstock amongst my peers. So yes, you are damn right I was going to do everything in my power to protect the company I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into over your puppy love.” Shakey hands lifted her glass. She finished it all in one gulp. Staggering out of her seat, she grabbed the bottle and refilled her cup.
“Wow.” I had to put some space between her and me. Standing by the entryway I stared at Annette Reid and wondered where my mother had gone. Or maybe this was her showing her true colors. Either way, I was disgusted with the classless woman before me. To my left, the picture on the refrigerator caught my attention. It was the last family picture we took – my parents and all their boys the day of my wedding.
Everything was starting to click the more I stared at the picture of the so-called picture-perfect family. Quincey never moved back after college. He fled two days after his high school graduation and only came home on holidays or important events which weren’t often. Quest spent more time traveling in the military than home, though he had a choice to be stateside. Recalling each conversation I had with my brothers, they made it clear that they kept their personal business personal because our parents, mom in particular, never stayed in her place.
Giving her opinion when no one asked. Making decisions on their behalf that affected their lives. It all made sense now. I got it. Then to think of Kameron and how he too jumped ship once he graduated college and spent years traveling the world. He wanted to get away. He wanted to get away from her. Then Kandon. Though he lived locally he didn’t venture out to our parents unless we were all meeting up.
Annette Reid is the common denominator for all of her sons wanting to live a life that didn’t involve her.
Hands in my pockets I stared at the ground thinking of my final words because they were going to be just that…final. “I’m glad we had this conversation.” Her hopefulness made me snicker. “I plan on doing everything in my power to win my heart back and guess what? She’s still the most beautiful fancy woman in all her outrageously bright colors. Those companies that you were so worried about that they wouldn’t do business with us because of who she was. Those same companies are her clients. They love her authenticity. They love her spirit and uniqueness.
“I never stopped loving her and I never will. But this time around you won’t be a witness to our love because as her man it’s my job to protect her from all evil, harm, and danger. That includes you too. As I said, the blame isn’t yours to take. The blame is mine and I’m going to correct it. I’m going to love her with every fiber of my being. I’m going to earn her trust again. I’m going to make her my wife and fill her womb with my seeds. I’m going to live happily ever after with my woman, and I don’t care to have you apart of that. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”