Chapter Twenty-seven
Kylee got in her car and tried calling Ja’Nay several times only to have her calls go straight to voicemail. Kylee was beyond heated as she started up her car and pulled off. She was on her way over to Ja’Nay’s; there was no way she was about to let this ride. Pregnant or not, Kylee had planned on whoopin’ Ja’Nay’s ass for this one. She turned down Ja’Nay’s street and stopped in front of the house. There wasn’t a light on. Kylee sat in her car and waited for almost an hour to see if Ja’Nay would come home. Tired of waiting, Kylee pulled off and called I’reon.
“Naw, sis, tell me it ain’t so?” I’reon said, shaking her head in disgust.
“I wish I could.” Kylee bawled. Every time she thought about Ja’Nay being pregnant by Eli it made her cry.
“How long you think they have been messin’ around?” I’reon asked.
“I don’t know. He said it only happened once,” Kylee said, wiping the snot and tears away from her face.
“Wow! Do you believe him?” I’reon asked.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Kylee said.
“Where you at?” I’reon asked, knowing Kylee she was at Ja’Nay’s house.
“Just leavin’ Ja’Nay’s house,” Kylee answered.
“I knew it.” I’reon laughed. “Girl, stay the fuck away from that bitch. You know her scary ass ain’t gon’ fight you. She gon’ fuck around and call the police on you.”
Kylee knew I’reon was right. Ja’Nay wouldn’t be pregnant forever. She would eventually get the chance to dig off up in her ass!
“Where Eli’s ass at?” I’reon frowned.
“I left that bitch at the house. I told him I wanted him gone when I got back!”
“You think he gon’ leave?” I’reon questioned.
“He don’t have no choice but to get the fuck outta mines! His name ain’t on shit!” Kylee fumed.
“Well wit’ him bein’ gone, how you gon’ pay your bills?”
“I’ll manage, like always,” Kylee answered.
“Well you know if you ever need some money, I got you,” I’reon said.
“Thanks, sis,” Kylee said, grateful that she had at least one loyal friend.
“No need to thank me, that’s what friends are for,” I’reon said.
“Well, look, I’m about to let you go on back to sleep. I forgot y’all five hours ahead of us.” Kylee laughed, thankful she had I’reon to help calm her down.
“All right, girl. And stay yo’ ass away from Ja’Nay,” I’reon warned.
“I will.”
“Promise me!” I’reon demanded.
“I will, but only until after she has that baby; then I’ma put my foot off up in her ass!” Kylee said.
“That’s wassup! All right, I love you.”
“Love you too,” Kylee said, hanging up and heading over to the one place she knew no matter what she’d always be welcome.
“Mom, you in here?” Kylee yelled, walking into her parents’ house. Seeing their cars parked in the driveway, but getting no answer, Kylee walked down the hall and into her parents’ room. “Mom, you in here?” Kylee asked again, pushing the bedroom door open. She saw her mom sitting on the bed, crying, with a black eye and busted lip.
“What the fuck happened to you?” Kylee screamed. Seeing her mother’s face made her cry all over again. “Who did this to you?”
“Don’t cry, I’m fine, Kylee,” her mother assured her, but Kylee wasn’t buying it.
“Did Daddy do this to you?”
Her mother didn’t respond.
“Answer me dammit! Did that muthafucka do this to you?” Kylee screamed as tears streamed down her face. Kylee was furious.
Kylee’s mother was in a fragile state. “Kylee, don’t talk about your father like that! All your life the only thing he tried to do was protect you,” her mother cried.
“Fuck that! How you gon’ let that nigga put his hands on you? I’ve always despised you for lettin’ that nigga dog you the way that he does! You’ve always taught me to dog a nigga before he ever gets the chance to dog me! So much for takin’ your own advice!” Kylee screamed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Because I deserve it, that’s why I let him treat me like shit!” her mother screamed as the tears flowed.
“Mom, what you sayin’ don’t make sense! No woman deserves to get beat,” Kylee frowned.
“I do, Kylee,” her mother said as guilt ate away at her. “Because he knows he’s not your real father,” her mother blurted out.
Kylee froze while thinking she was hearing things. “What are you talkin’ about, Mommy?”
“Look, Kylee you are not a little girl anymore and deserve to know the truth!” her mother stated sternly.
“The truth about what?” Kylee asked, confused.
“I had an affair years ago and your father found out about it. We were young and really didn’t know what we wanted at the time. He was doin’ his dirt, messin’ around wit’ Sylvia and other women.”
Kylee was outdone that her mother knew about her dad’s ongoing affair with Sylvia. She was even more surprised that her mother was having an affair as well. “During one of the times we broke up, I ended up gettin’ pregnant by the guy I was messin’ around with.”
Kylee sat in silence as tears streamed down her face while her mother spoke. She was in complete awe.
“But your father and I decided to stay together and work on our marriage, because we thought we loved each other. He agreed to raise you as his own child, but over the years your father has never been able to get over the fact that you aren’t biologically his. It has nothin’ to do with you, because in his eyes, you are his child; he just can’t forgive me.”
Kylee was at a loss for words. She could not believe what her mother was telling her.
“He wanted to tell you a long time ago, but I refused to let him. That’s why he used to lash out at me all the time. He was feelin’ guilty for lyin’ to you and felt you had the right to know. He used to take his anger out on me because I didn’t want him to tell you.”
Kylee wanted to ask questions but didn’t know what to ask. Her mind was clouded with all kinds of thoughts. All these years the man she called and thought was her daddy wasn’t. Kylee knew after that night her life would never be the same. She didn’t know if it would make her better or bitter. Kylee built up enough nerve to ask her mother the one question she should have been expecting.
“Who is my real dad then?” Kylee finally asked.
Her mother looked at her as tears rolled down her face and said, “Tony.”
Before Kylee could respond, her father walked in the room and noticed the perplexed look on Kylee’s face.
“I told her, Vince,” her mother said crying.
“Kylee, I’m sorry, I’ve been wantin’ to tell you ever since you were a little girl,” her father explained frantically.
Kylee was mortified. She couldn’t believe she’d been fuckin’ her own father. Where they do that at?
“Who all knew?” Kylee cried, while thinking that’s why she and I’reon resembled each other so much.
“Kylee, calm down, baby,” her father said.
“Who all knew that Tony was my real dad?” she screamed.
“Everybody except you and Tony,” her mother replied, wiping away her tears.
“Even I’reon?” Kylee asked, hoping the answer would be no.
“Even I’reon,” her father cried.
Kylee couldn’t believe she’d been betrayed by everybody who had claimed to love her. In her eyes all her relationships were built on lies and deceit.
She looked at her mom and dad with pure disgust and said harshly, “I know I can try to forgive you guys for this one day, but I really can’t imagine when. The only feelin’s I have for you two right now is hate!”
The words stung the both of them deep.
“Don’t talk to us like that, Kylee. We’re your parents,” her father pleaded.
“You ain’t none of my daddy,” she said before turning to walk away.
Her parents stood in the middle of their bedroom and for the first time in years they held each other and cried.
Kylee cried as she walked down the hall. She entered the living room, looked at the big ten-by-thirteen family portrait of her, her mom, and dad, and knocked it off the wall. She watched as the glass shattered all over the floor before walking out the door, vowing never to speak to Vince and her mother again.