Chapter Thirty-four
“Karlie!” Myra screamed.
With the force of a hurricane, the pint-sized woman snatched Karlie in an embrace so tight, Karlie swayed back and forth.
“Where have you been?” she chided, swatting Karlie on the bottom. “I can’t believe you didn’t answer our calls. Neil’s been worried sick. That man hasn’t stopped praying. He’s been on his knees day and night.” Myra paused for a breath.
Karlie smiled at her adoptive mother. She knew from experience she wouldn’t be able to provide an answer because Myra wasn’t done.
Myra stepped aside. “Come in. I don’t know why you rang the doorbell like you’re a stranger. You have a key. Addie’s going to be so excited to see you. What a great going-back-to-school present.”
Karlie held onto her purse while she stood in the foyer.
“Neil!” Myra bellowed. “Addie!”
Karlie heard the back door slam. Neil must have been in his office. Addie’s feet scampering down the steps told her she had been in her room.
“Karlie!” Neil exclaimed. He rushed forward and scooped her in his arms. “I’ve been worried sick.” After a tight hug, he released her.
“That’s an understatement,” Myra chimed in.
“Karlieeee!” Addie squealed and vaulted into Karlie’s arms.
Addie had always jumped with abandon because she was sure Karlie would catch her. Karlie wished she had her sister’s faith. She needed to fall into God’s arms like that. With a laugh, Karlie kissed Addie’s cheeks and tickled her until they both fell to the ground. Hearing Addie’s infectious laugh, Karlie realized how much she had missed her family.
Myra fussed nearby, wiping at a stray tear.
“I’m sorry,” Karlie said. “I shouldn’t have stayed away so long and have you all worried about me.”
Myra lowered her eyes. “We’re glad you’re back. We weren’t sure . . .”
Karlie understood. She scanned all of them. “You’re my family. I just needed some time to process. Ryan’s news hit me hard.”
“I understand,” Neil said. “But you should’ve come home. I know you texted saying you needed space, but I stopped by your hotel suite. I badgered Brian so much. Where were you?”
Karlie gulped. “I was with Merle.”
“Huh?” Myra’s mouth hung open.
Neil jutted his chin but said nothing. He turned and stormed toward his office. Karlie hesitated for a second before following him.
“Dad?” she called out before entering his office. “I thought you would’ve told Mom where I was.”
Neil faced the window. “It looks like rain.”
Karlie walked over to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Please don’t be upset with me.”
“Merle hated your mother. She treated Tiffany like dirt. Tiffany begged her.” He held her shoulders until their eyes met. “Begged. Begged Merle to take you in so you would have a home before she left this world. Merle rejected you and threw Tiffany out of her home. Tiffany cried so hard, I feared for her mental health.”
“I needed to be around someone who . . .” Karlie didn’t want to sound insensitive.
“Someone who shared your blood?”
Guilt-ridden, Karlie nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’m sorry if that hurts, but I won’t lie about my reasons.”
Neil gave a small, sad smile. “You wouldn’t be Tiffany’s daughter if you did.” He patted her head. “I understand your reasoning, and I have to respect your wishes as an adult, but I will tell you to be careful. Be careful of Merle because you never know her motives.”
Karlie looked down. She thought of the car she had recently purchased for Merle and the stainless steel appliances she had bought while at Merle’s. Merle had not asked Karlie to do these things, but Neil’s words of caution made her wonder if Merle was manipulating her. She bit her lip, feeling unsure.
He lifted her chin. “I know we don’t share the same blood, but you’re every bit my daughter. Nothing will change that. Just as how when we accept Christ, we become His heirs, one of His. It’s the same way I feel about you. No pop-up father is going to take my place.”
Karlie scrunched her lips when she heard “pop-up father,” the perfect segue to another topic she needed to tackle. “I’m going to take the paternity test.”
Neil nodded. “You should. For your sanity and mine. You need to know who you are, but it’s me you belong to.”
Karlie reached out to take his hand in hers. There was nothing like knowing someone had your back without question. “No one will take your place. Ever.”
“I saw your video,” Neil said changing the subject. “It brought tears to my eyes. You don’t need the fanfare and gimmicks, Karlie. You sang from deep in your soul, and it is reaching millions. I’m proud of you. If singing is what you want to do, I’ll support you. I do wish you’d reconsider doing the TV show though.”
“I know you won’t understand, but I want to do the show. With Brian. Though I was more scared than I’ve ever been in my life, I felt alive. I felt like I was singing my own tune instead of only learning the notes. You know what I mean?”
Neil touched her cheek. “I do. I’m being overprotective, but I’ve placed you in God’s hands, so I have to trust He’s got you. What about this whole mess with you and Brian?”
Karlie broke eye contact. She wasn’t comfortable talking about her feelings with Neil. He was her dad, after all. “Brian and I are in a complicated spot. I thought it would be me and Jamaal for life but . . .” She shook her head. “I can’t say anymore because I’m unsure myself.”
“You know Jamaal called me, right?” Neil asked. He arched an eyebrow. “He’s hoping you’ll give him another chance.”
Karlie’s nose flared. “Why’s Jamaal calling you? He didn’t call when he was messing—” She clamped her mouth shut. There was no way she would continue this discussion with her dad. “Can we change the subject? Please?”
Myra poked her head into the room. “I have dinner on the table, and as luck would have it, I’ve made your favorite dessert.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Karlie said, savoring the smell of brownies baking in the oven.
Brownies were comfort, love, and home wrapped up into a delicious chocolate morsel. Karlie couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into the tasty treat. She pushed thoughts of Jamaal aside to devote time with her family.
“You’ll have to wait until after dinner,” Myra said, pointing a finger at her.
Karlie laughed. It felt good being around people who knew her. Addie delighted her with all sorts of antics. She enjoyed the barbecue chicken, beef ribs and macaroni and cheese dinner. The ribs were so tender they slid down her throat, and the barbecue sauce tasted like heaven popped into her mouth.
Even with all that, Karlie saved room for a piece of brownie. She took a bite. “Mmmm, this is so good, Mom,” she uttered.
Myra bagged a few pieces for Karlie to take back with her. All in all, Karlie’s heart rejoiced. It was after ten p.m. when Neil walked her out to her car to see her off.
“Where will you be?” he asked as he flicked a small crumb of brownie off her cheek.
“I’m going to see Jamaal,” Karlie said, biting another piece of her brownie.
Neil opened his mouth but must have changed his mind. Karlie was glad, although he would not have been able to talk her out of going across the bridge anyway. She had put Jamaal off long enough. She needed to settle things with him tonight.
Forty minutes later, she swerved into the parking garage of Jamaal’s apartment complex. Dressed in her jeans and heels, Karlie strutted with the confidence of a New Yorker used to roaming the city at all hours of the night. At the entrance, she caught the door as Jamaal’s roommate exited.
Pharrell’s comedic double take brought Bugs Bunny to mind. He pushed his cap further down his head, although those ears couldn’t be helped. He muttered, “Jamaal’s up there. Although I don’t know if—”
“Thank you,” Karlie said quickly, and she slipped inside the building. She made her way up to Jamaal’s room. With a sharp rap, she stepped back and waited for him to answer.
“It’s you,” Jamaal said when he opened the door. Shirtless, he fidgeted with the belt on his shorts.
Her woman radar beeped loud and clear. Karlie narrowed her eyes. Jamaal is nervous. “Are you going to let me in?”
He immediately closed the door behind him and chuckled nervously. “It’s like a hurricane in there. I’m embarrassed at the empty pizza boxes and clothes tossed everywhere . . .” He gazed at her. “Let me grab a shirt and we can go somewhere to talk.”
Karlie clutched her stomach. Oh, noway, nohow, was she buying that nonsense spilling out of his mouth. “No. I don’t mind the mess. I’m coming inside.”
Jamaal blocked the door.
She noticed a tie on the doorknob. Karlie wasn’t stupid. She knew that was man code for “woman-inside-don’t-come-in.” Her chest heaved, and her palms grew sweaty. “Jamaal, get out of my way.”
“Karlie,” he pleaded. “I can’t. It’ll ruin everything.”
She gritted her teeth. “Move. Out. Of. My. Way.”
Jamaal shook his head.
With the strength of a woman betrayed, Karlie swung her hips, and Jamaal tripped over his Tims. She barely spared him a glance and shoved open the door to the studio suite.
Karlie rushed inside. She saw tossed jeans and empty soda cans but no female in sight. But, her radar still beeped. Carefully treading through the clothes, Karlie headed to the bathroom. She pulled the curtains back with a flourish. No one.
Hmm. If I were creeping with another woman’s man, where would I slither to hide?
“See, I told you no one is here,” Jamaal said from behind her. His frantic, bright eyes told the truth.
Karlie turned up her nose and elbowed him as she went back into the room. “You must think I’m stupid. I know there’s someone in here.”
She wandered over to the closet. Bingo! Her heart pounded, but Karlie opened the door. When she saw who stood there quivering in her undies, instant rage flowed like lava through her being and erupted into a wail powerful enough to rattle the apartment building.
“Nikkiiii!!!”