Chapter Thirty-seven
Ke’yoko ran into the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. Cooking for a picky five-year-old every day was something she definitely had to get used to. After getting a cart full of junk food for Aiko, Ke’yoko headed toward the register.
“Shit, I forgot the Popsicles,” she said and made a U-turn toward the frozen food section, knowing it would be a war zone in her household if she went home without Aiko’s favorite snack.
Ke’yoko smiled down at a little boy who was whining to his mother about getting some ice cream while pulling on her leg. She knew her mind had to have been playing tricks on her because she swore the cute little boy was the spitting image of Aiko.
“I told you we not gettin’ no ice cream, Relly. Now stop pulling on my leg,” the mother said sternly.
Relly? Noooo, it couldn’t be, Ke’yoko thought, quickly looking over at his pregnant mother, discreetly staring at her to make sure it wasn’t who she thought she was. A warm sensation came over Ke’yoko’s entire body and she felt nauseous.
Ke’yoko’s heart nearly jumped in her throat when she realized this definitely was the broad from the pictures. Ke’yoko didn’t know what her next move would be so she played the situation by ear.
“You got a cute little boy,” Ke’yoko said to the chick while checking her out to see what Ja’Rel saw in this broad. She wasn’t bad looking. Ke’yoko definitely had to give credit where credit was due, but no doubt about it, she wasn’t as fine as Ke’yoko was. You could tell this chick was used to the finer things and kept herself together.
The chick looked over at Ke’yoko and smiled. “Thank you. He looks just like his daddy.”
He sure does. “When are you due?” Ke’yoko asked, pointing at her huge stomach.
“I got a month left and, girl, I cannot wait!” she replied, looking like she was ready to pop as well.
“What a coincidence. I got a month left too,” Ke’yoko replied.
“Oh, wow.” The lady smiled. “Is this your first one?”
“Yeah, this my first one. I’ve had a few miscarriages in the past, so I’m kinda excited.”
“I bet.”
“Crazy thing is, my husband is even more excited than I am,” Ke’yoko said, wanting to bust Ja’Rel’s lying, cheating, no-good ass out, but didn’t.
“Yeah, my fiancé is ecstatic too.”
Fiancé? Bitch, please, get in line wit’ the other broads, Ke’yoko thought, wanting to laugh in this naïve broad’s face; but she kept it together.
“He’s always wanted children but his ex-wife couldn’t give him any, so you can only imagine how happy he is to be a daddy for the second time,” the lady said.
Ex? Bitch, I’m still Mrs. Barnes, Ke’yoko wanted to say badly, but didn’t. “Yeah, I bet,” Ke’yoko said slowly.
Ke’yoko was on fire but decided to take the high road. That was the problem with this world today: bitches always wanted to attack the other female when they found some mess out, instead of dealing with the man. Ke’yoko refused to be a statistic; plus, this woman didn’t owe Ke’yoko anything. Ja’Rel did. She was married to his ass not the woman in front of her.
“Well, congratulations and good luck on your delivery,” the lady said, smiling.
“Same to you.” Ke’yoko smirked, before turning to walk away.
Ke’yoko was happy about how she’d handled herself as she made her way to the car with her groceries. The old Ke’yoko would have confronted this chick before exposing Ja’Rel, but the new Ke’yoko didn’t have time for that nonsense; she had more important things on her mind. Plus, it wasn’t that chick’s fault that she’d gotten involved with a fraud-ass nigga. She would find out soon enough. Ke’yoko kinda felt sorry for this broad, because she was about to be in the same boat. She was going to be a single mother and didn’t even know it yet; she just hoped and prayed that the chick was strong enough to handle it like she was.