Chapter 20

20

Evenie

I put the finishing touches on my makeup and stood back to admire my work in the mirror. Today was a very special day at school for my baby. Parents got to have breakfast with the kids at school, and I was excited about it. Other than meeting her teachers, it would be my first school event with her.

“You look cute,” my mother said from my bedroom door.

“Thanks. You don’t think it’s too much? Too tight?”

It was toward the end of October, and the temperature had dropped significantly. I wanted to be warm but still cute and presentable because I had plans to stop by my old job after we left. Today I was dressed in a long-sleeve, black turtleneck that I tucked into a black and white plaid skirt. I paired it with a pair of black tights and black high-heeled booties. I’d dug through my jewelry box and added some silver accessories. My curls were now bone straight with a side part, and I’d done a light beat of makeup.

My mother waved me off as she stepped into the room. “You could never do too much, baby. With these new hips and curves you have, you can pull off any outfit.”

I giggled. “So what you’re saying is I was barely getting by before? Got it.”

She playfully smacked my arm. “Girl, stop. You have always been flawlessly beautiful. I’m just saying, the meat on your bones looks great on you. You might just catch up to me.”

I jokingly rolled my eyes. My mama looked good as hell for her age. Sis was thick in all the right places, and my daddy couldn’t keep his hands off her.

“I just hope I look as good when I get your age.”

“You will… Well, that’s if my genes kick in. You know your daddy has that one auntie that—”

“Don’t start on Aunt Gerty, Cheryl,” my father said, sticking his head in the door.

My mother laughed. “I didn’t even say a name, baby.”

“You didn’t have to.” He came into the room and gently pinched her. “You look beautiful, baby,” he said to me.

“Thank you, Daddy.” I stood from the vanity and grabbed my purse. “Let me grab Summer so we can go.”

Today, I was driving myself for the first time since being home. I was nervous, but I had to get used to it. If I was going to ask for my old job back, I had to get comfortable with driving again because I wouldn’t dare ask my parents to take me everywhere.

We left the bedroom, and I found Summer waiting in the living room, only she wasn’t alone. There stood Tyrion, dressed down in a black collar shirt and gray slacks. When his eyes met mine, he smiled softly as he looked me over. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him right now. After learning that it was Iona who sent me the divorce papers and not him, I was questioning things about him.

I felt like he let her get too damn comfortable calling whatever shots she called in their relationship. One thing was for certain, and two things were for sure: I wasn’t the bitch for her to play with, and if we had to take it there, we could.

“Good morning,” he said to everyone.

My parents spoke as they took a seat on the couch.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I told you I was driving this morning.”

“I know, but I figured you might be a little nervous, so I was just gonna follow behind you to make sure you were okay.”

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. I guess that was thoughtful of him.

“Thank you,” I said.

“No problem. You look very nice.”

“Not today, Tyrion. Come on, Summer. Daddy, I’ll be back with the car later.”

“Take your time, baby. Love you guys.”

We gave him our love, then headed out the front door. Tyrion opened the passenger door to let Summer in before coming around to open the driver’s side. I didn’t say anything as I climbed into the car. He shut the door behind me and retreated to his respective vehicle.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and said a quick prayer before cranking the car up. As the engine roared, a slight sense of panic set in. Summer Rose reached over and grabbed my hand.

“You’ve got this, Mommy. You’re a strong, independent, black woman.”

That made me burst into laughter.

“Where did you hear that?”

She grinned. “Auntie Nina. She said it would make you laugh.”

“That sounds about right.”

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great. I can sing you a song if you get scared, okay?”

“Okay, baby. Thank you.”

She settled into her seat and waited patiently for me to back out of the driveway. After another deep breath, I put the car in reverse and eased my foot off the brake pedal. The descent down the driveway was a smooth one. Putting the car in drive, I pulled onto the neighborhood street.

I hated to admit it, but having Tyrion follow behind me put me at ease. If anything were to happen, he could get to us first. Finally somewhat calm, I turned up the radio. The smooth sounds of “If Only You Knew” by Pattie Labelle filled the car. Of course it would be on an old school station.

Summer smiled as she sang along.

“What do you know about Pattie Labelle?” I asked with a laugh.

“Paw Paw only plays old people music.”

“I’m gonna tell him you said that.”

She shrugged. “It’s true. He took me and Nana to a concert with him last year, and it was all old people. I had fun, though, and I knew all the words.” She gasped. “Maybe me, you, and Daddy can go to a concert. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“It would be fun. You know I love music.”

“Daddy told me. He said you used to make him… what’s it called? A mixtape?”

I giggled. “That’s it.”

Back when we were in high school, I made Tyrion mixtapes all the time. They were usually filled with love songs, but I’d mix a few other things in there too. He’d kept every single one. Back when we were renovating the house, he would pull out his old boombox and pop one in. We’d relive our glory days while we painted walls and deconstructed shit. It was like having our own little party.

I sighed at the memory. Too bad they were just memories now.

Summer Rose started singing again, and I joined in to take my mind off the past. We pulled up at the school about fifteen minutes later, and Tyrion and I parked and got out. Summer grabbed both our hands and led us toward the front of the building. Nina, Jaime, and Jersey were walking up at the same time.

“Oooo, friend! You cute!” Nina said, snapping her fingers.

I blushed. “Thank you. I’m going to Curated Realm after I leave here to see if they have any openings.”

“You’re going back to work?” Tyrion asked.

I shrugged. “That’s the plan. I mean, I can’t sit at home and do nothing forever. I’ve been home for a month now. It’s time to get back in the swing of things. Even if I don’t get my job back, I’m gonna work somewhere.”

“Good for you,” Nina said. “I’m sure they will take you back. You were one of the best they had.”

“Let’s hope they remember that.”

We headed into the school and were greeted with a big ass welcome sign and balloons. A few staff members were waiting in the lobby to say good morning to the parents. Amongst them was that bitch Iona. Her face held the most awkward smile. I glared at her, and I was sure it didn’t go unnoticed. Tyrion didn’t look at her at all. As we neared her, she tried to reach for Summer Rose, but her father quickly and discreetly blocked her as we kept it moving.

When I looked back at her, she wore a frown. A few of her co-workers passed looks between each other. Embarrassment played on her face as she stepped away and went into the office. When I turned back around, I found Nina looking at me with an expression that said she saw it too.

Neither of us said anything as we kept walking toward the cafeteria. Inside was decorated to welcome us as well. We fell in line with the rest of the parents and kids to grab our food. Once we were all served, we found a table with enough seats for the six of us. While we ate, the girls pointed out different students in their grade and gave us the gossip on them.

They had girls fighting over little boys. Kids who bullied other kids. Kids who cheated. Kids who stole. Who knew elementary school had so much drama? Nina didn’t make it any better because she was tuned in and whispering things to me about some of the parents. All I could do was laugh and try not to get caught staring.

Thirty minutes later, the girls were headed to their classroom, and we were going to the parking lot. Nina and Jaime split from me and Tyrion to head to their car. The walk to ours was quiet and very much awkward. We’d barely spoken since the festival if it wasn’t about Summer Rose. I really didn’t know what to say to him.

Unfortunately, he seemed to want to talk. As I was about to get into my dad’s car, he gently took my arm. I turned to face him with a stoic expression.

“What?” I asked.

“I just want you to know that things are over between me and Iona.”

“Oh?”

“When I got home after the festival, she was moving her things into the house. I confronted her, and she admitted what she’d done. We had this whole big blowup, and I told her I was done and to take her things and get out.”

“Hmmm. I hope you don’t think that is supposed to impress me. And I really hope it wasn’t for my benefit.”

“No, Evenie. Honestly, it needed to happen. We were never going to be happy as long as you were in the picture at any capacity. I know we aren’t on the best of terms, right now, but I wasn’t going for her disrespecting you.”

“So what would you like me to do with this information, Tyrion?”

“I just thought you should know.” He stepped closer to me and took my hands. “I love you, Evenie. I’ve always loved you, and I will never stop loving you. While my feelings for Iona were real, I shouldn’t have asked her to marry me, knowing I still held on to hope of you coming home. I was wrong for that, and I own where I fucked up in this whole situation.”

His hands moved to cup my face. He peered down at me with deep sincerity in his eyes.

“I don’t want a divorce. The truth is, I’ve been miserable since the day you moved out, Evenie. I’ve spent too many years knowing what it’s like to live without you. I don’t want to feel that pain again. What I want is my family. Me, you, and Summer Rose. I want to make up for all the time we’ve missed out on. You and our daughter should be home with me. We should be having family nights or going on vacations, and shit. I should be falling asleep next to you… holding you… making love to you.”

He gently caressed my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. I was trying my best not to be a weak ass bitch and cry.

“I know we aren’t there yet. I’m sorry I made you wait, but I’m willing to wait as long as it takes to win you back, Evenie. If I have to be your friend… if I have to court you all over again… whatever it takes. Just… please. If you love me… give me a chance to make things right.”

My heart was saying yes, but my head didn’t know if I could trust him again. Before I could answer, someone called his name.

“Tyrion!”

We turned to see Iona storming toward us. Tyrion groaned as he dropped his hands.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her hands on her hips.

“I’m talking to my wife.”

“You could’ve let me speak to Summer. I work here. I’m gonna be around her. You can’t just take her from me.”

“Iona, I’m not doing this with you. Not here, not now. Go back to work.”

She scoffed. “You don’t get to dismiss me, especially in front of her .” She snarled as she looked at me.

I laughed. “ Her ? Oh, you big mad, huh? I’m his wife. Everything you want with this man is already mine. Don’t fucking forget that shit. I should whip your ass for sending me those divorce papers. Were you that desperate to get rid of me?”

She glared at me but said nothing.

“You don’t hear me talking to you, bitch?” I asked, advancing toward her.

Tyrion grabbed me around my waist and pulled me back.

“Not here, love,” he said, putting me behind him.

“Not anywhere ,” Iona said, clearly unbothered. “You don’t know it, but I’m not a bitch you want to try like that, Evenie.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m letting you know what’s up.” She turned to Tyrion. “Like I told you, I’m giving you a chance to reconsider. I know you love me as much as I love you. You’re just upset right now. If you love me, you’ll give me a chance to make it—”

Before she could finish her sentence, I reached around Tyrion and popped her in the mouth.

“Dammit, Ev!” Tyrion said, guiding me back to the car.

“That’s the only chance you’re gonna get. Whatever you had with my husband and my child is done.”

Iona touched her now bloody lip. She licked the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled at me.

“I hope that felt good,” she said as she backed away. “Savor that feeling.”

Without another word, she strutted back across the parking lot to the school. Tyrion hung his head and sighed.

“I’m not sorry,” I said, crossing my arms.

“I know you aren’t. You shouldn’t have hit her here. There are cameras—”

“She had it coming.” I huffed as I smoothed my clothes out. “And I don’t wanna talk about her again. Now, I’m headed to Curated Realm to see about getting my job back. You head to work or wherever. I’ll see you when you drop Summer off.”

I opened the car door. Before I climbed in, I looked back at him.

“If you really want this family back, I need to see action behind that declaration, Tyrion.”

He nodded. “I can do that. I promise.”

I stared at him for a moment. “I love you too.”

He blushed and grinned as he backed away and rounded the driver’s side of his car. I closed my door and cranked up, praying that I was making the right decision in letting him work to get me back.

After leaving the school, I finally made my way over to Curated Realm . The little powwow with Iona had threatened to shift my mood, but I didn’t let it. I knew I was going to have to talk to Dr. Stewart about that shit because she was going to ask how things were going. Of course, she was going to frown upon my actions, and maybe I would feel bad about it later, but right now, I couldn’t care less.

I pulled into the parking lot and took a deep breath.

The place still looked the same. According to my research, it was still holding on to that award-winning title, and that made me proud. I’d planned to call before I just showed up, but I talked myself out of it multiple times. The truth was, I was a little nervous to come here. This was my first and only job right out of college. I loved it so much that I wasn’t sure I’d want to do anything else if they didn’t take me back.

I mean, I guessed I could always think about opening my own business, but I didn’t think I was ready for that. This had been home. Lacey Tommin, my old boss, was the best in the business. She’d been in the game for over twenty years. Before she settled here and opened Curated Realm , her clientele ranged from actors to musicians, to sports superstars.

I’d watched her on reality shows, and once upon a time, she had her own show. As a teenager, I dreamed of working for her, and when I finally got the chance, I soaked up every bit of knowledge I could from her. It started with an internship in high school. She saw my passion and told me I had a lot of potential. When I told her I was going to school for interior design, she told me to come back when I graduated. I hadn’t expected her to remember me, but when I walked in with my degree, she interviewed me on the spot and gave me the job.

I’d only been here a few years before I was kidnapped, but I’d made a name for myself. Hopefully that meant enough to get me back in the swing of things. Climbing out of the car, I smoothed my hands over my outfit before closing the door and heading inside. As I walked in, I looked around the place, taking in the familiar air. Sitting up front was the receptionist I remembered as Jaclynn.

She looked up at me and smiled. When her smile faded, her eyes squinted, then widened.

“Oh my gosh! Evenie!” She jumped up from behind the desk and rushed around to hug me. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! It’s really you!”

I smiled as I hugged her back. “It’s me.”

“Ms. Lacey!” she screamed.

So much for making a quiet entrance.

Ms. Lacey came strutting around the corner in all her fabulous glory.

“Jaclynn, this is a place of business. Why are you—Evenie!”

She screamed just as loud as Jaclynn as she ran over to hug me.

“Oh my God! You’re back! When? How? It’s so good to see you!”

She squeezed me tighter, damn near cutting off my air supply. I had to gasp when she released me.

“It’s good to see you too, Ms. Lacey,” I said, clutching my chest.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I was too excited. Back to my question, though.”

“I’ve been home about a month. Slowly getting back into things.”

“How did you… maybe I shouldn’t ask. I don’t want you to relive that. The important thing is you’re home.” She cupped my face and gave me a tearful smile. “I can’t tell you how devastated we were when we heard the news. It felt like we lost part of the family. I’ve thought about you often.”

“Enough to give me my job back?” I asked hopefully.

She laughed. “Come to my office. Jaclynn, get back to work.”

Jaclynn hugged me again before going back behind her desk. Ms. Lacey draped an arm around my shoulder and led me toward her office. Of course, we had to make a few pit stops along the way so I could greet a few of the old team. Everyone had the same reaction, and it made me feel good to know that I was missed.

Back in Ms. Lacey’s office, I settled into the plush chair while she took a seat behind her desk.

“I have to ask… how are things?”

“Let’s just say I’m not where I was before. I’m in therapy. I’m getting to know my baby girl. That’s been amazing.”

She smiled. “She’s adorable. Every time I see her with Tyrion, I just have to tell him what a great job he’s doing with her.”

“He did an amazing job. She knew exactly who I was because of him.”

Her hand flew to her heart. “I love that. So… how are things with you two? I um… I know he’s engaged. I can imagine things are awkward.”

“They were at first. I have a lot of feelings about that, including being unfairly upset that he moved on. He actually broke off the engagement. I won’t go into detail, but… it’s a lot of shit.”

“Are you two gonna work it out?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. My heart loves that man.”

“You two were always one of my favorite young couples. I remember him bringing you lunch every day during your internship back when you were kids. I knew then you were going to marry him. I hate that tragedy put so much time in between you two. I’m not gonna get in your business much longer, but I will say this. If you believe it’s worth it, fight for it, honey. Ain’t too many good men left out here.” She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Now, I’m off my soapbox. You ready to get back to work?”

“Very ready.”

“You know, things are forever changing in the design world. If you come back, you have to come back ready to learn and apply.”

“I’ve got this. I’ve already been looking up current trends.”

Ms. Lacey clapped. “That’s my girl. So I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning?”

“Wait… that’s it? I can have my job back?”

“I know you, Evenie. I know what you are capable of, and you were one of my best designers. I’d be crazy not to bring you back. We can do your paperwork right now if you want.”

My heart raced with excitement. “Yes!”

I sat there smiling hard as hell as she began gathering everything for the new hire packet. I knew it was going to be a big change getting back into the work field, but I needed it. If things didn’t work out with Tyrion, I still needed a way to support me and Summer. Even though I knew he would take care of her, I was her mother. I had to fulfill my motherly duties with or without him.