Chapter 23
Kiara left work two hours early the day she saw Hayley. She could not bear to be in the office any longer. She had so much energy she felt like going home and cooking a big meal, for herself, Myles, and the unborn child. She was in the kitchen trying to remove the tray of cornbread, but pain shot through her knees whenever she tried to squat.
“Myles!”
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Be my little man and grab that oven mitt, open the door, pull it as hard as you can, and take the mitt and get the cornbread out before it burns.”
“Okay.”
Little Myles stuck his tongue out the corner of his mouth and pulled open the heavy metal door with all his might. He skillfully removed the metal pan and stood on his heels as he set the baked bread on the counter just like Kiara instructed him.
“You’re my little buddy. Thank you, my love.”
A few minutes later Rashad came and rang the doorbell. She had taken his key but let him come in if she was there and he needed access to his clothes or other belongings. He still lived with her, but she told him he’d have to get out soon. So much of her situation reminded her of Mama Flora that she wanted to laugh.
Kiara opened the door and let Rashad in.
“I gotta hit the shower and head back out. I know you want me to get out but this is about to be a real busy week. And no, I’m not lying. I will show you the quotes that I issued recently.”
“I believe you. Do your thing, king.”
He ignored her sarcasm and ran to the master bedroom. After a few minutes she heard the sound of the shower running. Rashad took long showers.
Kiara went to her closet and retrieved an iPhone she’d secretly purchased just for one specific reason. She powered up the phone and went outside to Rashad’s work van. Just like she suspected, he forgot to secure the locks. She opened the front door and slid her iPhone underneath his driver’s seat. She quietly closed the van door and returned to the kitchen.
Rashad was still in the shower. She could hear him loudly singing the lyrics of “Make the Money” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
When he emerged dressed and smelling good, she called out to him right before he escaped through the front door.
“You need to take time to find another place to live. Even check into a hotel. I can actually help you find one.”
He sighed. “Kiara, okay, okay. You know I’d rather us work things out.”
“That’s not going to work. I’m giving you two more days. Then you must leave.”
“All right.” He pouted. “I’m running late. Bye.”
Kiara waited a half hour before she logged onto her tablet. She signed into iCloud. She clicked the Find My iPhone icon.
She closed her eyes and held her breath as the page loaded. A map appeared. A blue flashing dot displayed on the screen.
She called out to Myles and told him to put on his jacket. For a mid-October date, it was surprisingly chilly outside and raining. But she was going anyway.
She printed a copy of the map location, took out her main cell phone and turned on her GPS. Soon she was on her way.
Kiara drove calmly and steadily down the wet and slippery highway.
When she arrived at the location on the map, she quickly saw Rashad’s white van. It was parked in the driveway of a little house. Her heart beat out of its chest as she stepped out of the car. She saw Nicole’s Mustang and her heart dropped.
“So this is where she really lives.” She jotted down the address.
Kiara walked up to the door, stood on the welcome mat, and stared through the front window. The curtains weren’t drawn and she could easily peer through the miniblinds. She saw Rashad first. He was shirtless. His bare chest was exposed as if everything he had could be claimed by whoever would have it. She gasped. Nicole Greene was holding a spoon in her hand. She lifted it to Rashad’s mouth. He licked the food off the spoon, chewed it, said something to her, and leaned in for a kiss.
Kiara watched her husband’s lips press against another woman’s. His comfortable appearance made it seem like he’d kissed Nicole a thousand times. Bile rose in Kiara’s throat. She wanted to leave, but she kept watching.
She saw Nicole wrap her arms around Rashad’s neck. She saw the joyous grin the woman offered to him.
She’s in love with my husband.
“Is that Daddy in there?”
Kiara quickly said no and covered her son’s eyes. But she kept watching.
She observed their body language. They stood close to each other, like familiar territory. She saw Rashad’s mouth move like he was telling Nicole something. She saw Nicole laugh and reach up to caress his head; she stroked his hair and touched his body as if she owned him.
Then Nicole took Rashad’s hand and placed it against her belly. He bent over and kissed it.
Kiara snatched Myles’s hand. She dragged him into the car. The rain fell on their heads. She didn’t tell him to put on his seat belt. And she forgot to put on hers. She started the ignition and began to slowly drive away from Nicole’s house. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Rashad’s number.
“Pick up.”
He didn’t pick up.
She hung up and called him back.
It rang and rang.
She hung up and called him again.
She dialed Rashad’s number eleven times before he answered.
“Hey.” His voice sounded muffled.
“Where are you?”
“Working.”
“Working where?”
“Same old same ole.”
“Are you alone?”
“No.”
“Who else is there?”
“Me and some of my men. Why? What’s with all the questions?”
“Are you at her house?”
“Her who?”
Kiara hung up.
A few hours later, Rashad drove his white van into the driveway of their meticulous home. The lawn was perfectly mowed. Beautiful gold and purple flowers lined the sidewalk leading up to their house. He turned off his cell phone right after he’d picked up a call from Nicole. She’d been crying and saying she missed him and that she wanted him to spend the night with her and their unborn baby. He told her he would and got off the phone. Then he mentally switched gears. In his mind, Fresno was headquarters. No matter where else he spent time, Fresno had always been home.
He walked into the house and checked the mail in the front hallway. Nothing.
The song “Tyrone” by Erykah Badu was loudly playing on repeat.
Rashad sniffed and detected the aroma of his favorite dinner. His nose led him into the kitchen. Just when he was about to open the refrigerator to grab a beer, Kiara appeared from nowhere.
“Stop it.”
“What are you talking about ‘stop it’?”
“There’s nothing in there, in here, for you, Rashad. You best be on your way.”
“Here you go again. How many times do I gotta—?”
“I finally realized, Rashad. You don’t get me.”
“Kiara, I heard you.”
“You hear me but you don’t hear. You don’t get me . . . and Nicole Greene, too. That’s not dope.”
“What—”
“You think it’s okay to stick your tool in a woman’s hole whenever you get the urge. Call yourself taking a break.” She paused. “I know about your ‘break’ baby.”
“What break, baby?”
“Rashad, stop the lying. I know about your daughter. Hayley. I met her. Alexis confessed. The child looks just like y’all. How could you do this to me? How can you put on this façade all these years?”
“Babe, it’s not what you think—”
“I don’t want to hear it. You don’t have break babies on me, you hear me. We have never been on a break.”
He stood there looking as stupid as he had ever looked. At that moment, Kiara hated her husband. It was a feeling she never thought she could have for someone whom she’d loved with all her soul.
Rashad attempted to hug her. Kiara balled up her fist and beat his chest with her hands. “I hate you for what you’ve done to us. Don’t you touch me ever again. You hear me?”
“Don’t hate me. Please. I know I fucked up. Sorry.”
Something in her broke. She realized his weak apology was the only confession she’d ever get out of this man.
“I’m not taking the foolery and the mayhem anymore. You’ve got to get out. I don’t care where you go, but I will not live with your disrespect one minute longer.”
“This is my house, my family. I ain’t going anywhere.”
“I can use a butcher knife, a hammer, or some hot grits. Take your pick.”
Rashad saw the lifeless look in Kiara’s eyes. He stormed away and quickly packed his belongings, stuffing clothes in garbage bags; the makeshift luggage for a man kicked to the curb. Erykah Badu’s authoritative voice could be heard singing “Tyrone” in the background, telling her man to come get his shit.
Before Rashad left, he twisted the knob on the front door and looked back to stare. Kiara never met the gaze of his eyes. She just pointed.
“You know the way out.”
He slammed the door behind him and left a hollow echo. Paint chips fell from the ceiling and crashed to the floor. The impact felt instant and irreversible. The house was eerily quiet, his dresser drawers empty. Even his scent was fading away.
“I love you, but you’re an ass.”
Hot tears streamed from her eyes, spread across her cheeks and dripped from her chin. Salty liquid filled her mouth.
Kiara’s husband was gone. Life as she knew it was ending. But she wasn’t afraid. Fear couldn’t win anymore.
She wiped away her tears until she could think clearly. She picked up her iPhone and dialed a number.
“Hello?”
“You wanted him. You got him.”