Love & Loyalty

Do The Right Thing

Jay took a couple months off and I could tell he was going through some changes. I found coke in his wallet and talked to my mama about it. Again she gave me the stand by your man and save your family speech. Jay and I decided to take a trip to Disney world with the kids and we were having a great time. I had my Kodak camera ready for pictures and for the first time in a while I was happy . We took pictures on the boat and ate at a fancy restaurant. While we were walking to the car to go back to the hotel a white car with tinted windows pulled up . Someone rolled down the windows a little, just enough to let their arms hang out and took a picture of us. I rolled my eyes and continued walking with the kids and Jay..

Upon our return to the hotel, the constant beep of Jay's beeper punctuated the air,
. "Who is it?" I asked..curiosity tinged with a hint of suspicion.

"Carlotta..." Jay sighed, the weight of her name hanging in the charged atmosphere. "This is her third time calling today. Tell her you'll call tomorrow," I suggested, the urgency of the situation evident in the insistence of her calls.

Jay, however, decided to confront the issue head-on. He strode over to the phone with purpose, dialing Carlotta's number. As the conversation unfolded, it was as if the tension in the room escalated with each word exchanged.

"Carlotta... you spoke to me twice... what do you mean why they couldn't go? I asked you twice if they could, and you said no. I gotta go; I'll talk to you tomorrow," Jay asserted, his voice a blend of frustration and finality. The abrupt end of the call left a lingering sense of unresolved tension, the implications of the conversation adding an unspoken layer of complexity to the atmosphere in the hotel room.

"This is getting annoying, Jay. There have to be boundaries," I asserted, frustration coloring my tone.

"Lyric, I have to answer the phone because she has my kids," Jay replied, his tone carrying a mix of defense and weariness.

"Yes, just like I do. You got us in this situation, so it's either set some ground rules or I'm gonna-" My sentence hung in the air, unfinished, as Jay moved closer with fists balled up. My gaze shifted to Journey and Michael, their innocent eyes now fixed on the unsettling exchange unfolding before them.

"Never mind, Jay... just forget it," I said .choosing to diffuse the escalating tension. I settled down, flicking the TV on for the kids, attempting to divert their attention from the weighty atmosphere that lingered in the room. The glow from the screen cast a subdued light, contrasting with the unresolved emotions that simmered beneath the surface. As the sound of the television filled the room, it served as a temporary distraction, masking the complexities of the situation that remained unspoken but palpable.

The rest of the trip was awkward. Michael started teething and cried the whole ride home. When I placed the kids down for bed Jay cracked open a bottle of champagne and sat on the couch.
"I gotta go back on the road tomorrow. I have a shoe in Detroit and Tenneseee." He said. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of champagne myself.
"When will you be home?"
"You coming with me this time. Have your mama watch the kids just for two weeks." He said. Inside I was happy that I could finally go on the road with him. I kissed him on the cheek and walked into our room to pack. The phone began to ring and I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Is Jay there this Carlotta?"
"Carlotta it's 9 pm... Jay and I are getting ready for bed. Are the kids okay?"
"Bitch put Jay on the phone I don't care what time it is."
I slammed the phone down and walked back out to the living room.
"Baby what's wrong?"
"Carlotta I can't take this mess you gotta take her to court . Visitation rights and restrictions I'm tired." I cried. Jay held me in his arms and began to kiss me.
"Baby baby don't cry. Imma handle this I promise you." He said kissing me and walking me to our bedroom. He undressed me and began kissing on my neck. My nipples got hard and my legs began to feel numb. After undressing I laid on the bed and spread my legs so he court taste me. My moans were quiet and I shuddered when he slipped inside of me. Holding onto his back and burying my face in his shoulder I felt myself cumming. Sweat dripped down from his body and onto my chest and soon we came and laid in one another's arms. We fell asleep and woke up early so we could get on the plane. We both decided to wear blue and held each others hand as we walked through the airport.The paparazzi began to take pictures and ask questions but we were on the clouds. Once we landed in Detroit we headed right to the venue so he could perform. Every entertainer that you could think of was there. I stood beside him as he sang and when he was finished singing his songs we kissed one another. We were on live television and I knew Carlotta would be watching so I snagged another kiss in and this time with tongue. After performing we went out to dinner before heading back to the hotel. Jay took a bag out of his pocket and did a line before handing it to me.

""Come on, baby... this is fine, just pure coke from the Dominican Republic."

"No... Jay, who have you become? You aren't the same Jay..."

Tears welled up in Jay's eyes, but he fought them back. With determination etched on his face, he seized the bag of coke and, without hesitation, flushed it down the toilet. The sound of the swirling water seemed to echo the decision he had just made.

He returned to the room, the gravity of the moment settling in, and dimmed the lights, casting a subdued ambiance. In a voice marked by newfound resolve, Jay uttered, "Starting Monday, I'm filing for custody of Alina and Javier, and I'm going into a program."

The room seemed to absorb the profound resonance of Jay's declaration, the gravity of his words lingering like a weighty mist. It wasn't merely a rejection of a bag of contraband; it was a profound act of self-redemption, a commitment to confront the demons that had lured him into the shadows.