Unbearable

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

(Ron’s POV)

He looked at me once again. Staring me down. Scoping me, like I was seconds away from attacking him or something. Pure insecurity. His ego had to be threatened for him to be gawking at me like that. “Ron Tanner. Yeah. Sure, come on in. I’ll get Vanessa—Christina for you.” I nodded as I stepped into his home. Very well decorated. There was definitely a woman’s touch up in here. Kenneth stepped off going up a flight of stairs. I couldn’t help but look at the family portraits. Was that what Christina looked like now? Lord, forgive me for what I was just thinking. As far as I could see in the picture she looked stunning. She looked like a vixen. I stepped off and into what was obviously the living room. I made myself comfortable on the couch. I’ll admit I was tense. I knew I had a lot of explaining to do. I had a lot of making up to do too. I was kind of pleased when I got that phone call from Christina. It was like a heavy burden was finally lifted off my shoulders. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I looked back to find Kenny. “She’ll be down in a sec… I was gonna say make yourself comfortable, but I guess you beat me to that.” This man’s insecurity level was a pure joke. The attitude wasn’t necessary. He obviously wasn’t aware of who I was. He stepped off and there was a constant thudding down the steps. It sounded like a stampede. “Can’t catch me! Can’t catch me!” a little half naked boy yelled running through the house. There was another little boy following up after him laughing. They were in swimming trunks. “Mommy said no running in the house!” a little girl yelled rushing towards them with nothing on but bikini top and some shorts with towels hanging over her shoulder. That wasn’t my daughter. Couldn’t have been. She was too young. Must have been Christina and Kenneth’s three kids. Funny. I didn’t notice three children in the family portrait. The boys looked around the same age. Stop it Ron, you’re over analyzing again. Leave your work at work. I said to myself. “Ron,” a soft familiar voice muttered from behind me. I turned around, and Lord, did heaven shine down on her. I stood up and walked over to her. She smiled. “Christina,” I said gazing in those sweet hazel eyes.

“Glad you could make it,” she said holding my hands tenderly. I nodded. Man, she looked good. That dress was working wonders for her curves. It took me back to them days. Back when she was all mines. If I knew she’d turn out this fine, Tangy and I would have been out of the question. “You look great,” I said trying not to sound too corny.

“Thank you. So do you. You definitely beefed up.” She playfully squeezed my bicep causing the two of us to laugh. I wonder if she was feeling what I was feeling. I think I fell for her all over again. This was way beyond ridiculous. I cleared my throat which stopped me from staring in those eyes for just a moment. “So is she here?” I asked referring to our child. She nodded. I grew a little tenser. I knew she could tell. “Relax,” she said calmly rubbing arm.

“I’m good, I’m good,” I lied. “So how should we execute this? Do you wanna introduce us or should I?” I asked.

“Mom Kenny said to bring the steaks out,” a voice said. I looked over at the young lady who had just entered the room. It wasn’t the same little girl from before. This had to be her. Christina and I shared the same expression to each other. “Oh, I’m sorry. Was I interrupting something?” she asked sweetly with a smile.

“No honey. Actually, we were just talking about you. Come over here, I think you need to meet my friend right here,” she said looking at me with a smirk. I wasn’t smiling. There was no telling how she would react to me. I feared the worst. She walked into Christina’s extended arm and looked at me with a smile. “Hello,” she said.

“How are you?” I said finally. I felt my legs wanting to give out.

“Darryl, I want you to meet Ronald Tanner. Your father,” Christina said. Darryl immediately let out a silent gasp. She looked at her mother then me. “I can’t,” she said breaking from Christina’s side hug and running upstairs.