You're My Lady: All Fairytales Ain't Sweet

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Jalanda

"Dad, thank you so much!" I said, giving him a tight hug as we pulled into the driveway. I didn't dare tell my father, my crazy, loving father, what my ex Jerome did. I should have. But, I didn't. I didn't want the dear boy to have three holes blew in his scrawny back by the double barrel shotgun my father had tucked away in his office.

Chewing on my lip gloss covered bottom lip, my dad looked at me and said, "It's no problem, but why didn't you tell me sooner? You know I could've helped you; you know I have-"

"Money. I know that, dad. But, you know I want to do something for myself. I tried dad, and you know that. I don't want my ex-football player father to give me a hand out every time I need it. If mom wanted to leave you for a white man and drop me on your door step, that's on her; she did that. I just want to make it on my own and not depend on a man, like mom," I sighed and looked over at him, "Dad, I just need a steady job. I know you wanted me to go to school. But, thanks to mom, that didn't go the way we planned. Just look what happened. So, I said forget it, you know? Now, I just need a good stable job and I'll be fine, dad. That's all. Now please, dad, please help me get a good job?" I asked, giving him the puppy down eyes. He sighed and looked at me.

"Baby girl, you know I will. Just give me a few days. You'll stay in the guest house and let your dad help you out for a good few weeks. Okay?" I nodded and we both got out of his BMW.

My father, ex-NFL football player Reggie Hughes, was the best father any girl could ask for. My so-called mom, on the other hand, she disgusts me. She left me and my dad for a white man; rich old man. Even though my daddy was mixed with black, white, and Indian, that wasn't good enough for her. She wanted a man who had money for days. When she saw my dad wasn't going to be in the NFL anymore. My so-called mother bolted. After he injured his knee for the fourth time; he officially couldn't play anymore. His lifelong dream was over. And the love of his life was gone.

Instead of staying with my dad and supporting him, being there through thick and thin all that other jazz, she left him! Even though she kept me for a while, like a mother was suppose too. She was the main reasons why I didn't have the push to go to college. Even high school was a struggle by the way. After she got sick of tending to my needs and wants, she did the best thing in her mind; she dropped me on my father's door step after she gave me a sour but tender kiss on the forehead. A crap-tastic hug and scurried off in her six-inch heels — leaving me, for good. I was only thirteen going on fourteen back then. That's why I said, 'fuck it'. She drove off into the sunset with her new boo, an old perv with hellafied money. Need I hashtag that on for your future references.

I guess my face was screwed up because my dad had to yell my name, just to catch my attention. "Jalanda?" I shook my head, shaking away all my thoughts as my dad called out my name.

"Yea, I was daydreaming. "I lied, more like traumatizing myself in the head even more. So, I looked away from my dad, fixed my frizzed hair, and said lowly, "Here I come." Stepping out of the car, I looked at my familiar surroundings. The fresh cut green grass, the smell of my favorite tulips in the garden, and the big Brownstone townhouse I once lived in, straight on 161 West 91st Street. Yes? My dad could've bought a mansion, which he was pressed on doing soon.

But me? I loved this home, it was just like me... priceless. Pushing my hair back, I walked up the marble path and into the house. The smell of soul food hit my nose. "Oh, my gosh! Lana!" I looked at the elder woman, Ms. Sylvia. The cook and my nanny at one point. She was my mom.

"Momma Via! I've missed you so!" I said as I embraced her into a tight hug.

"Chile! You have grown in all the right places too!" She spun me around as she looked me up and down. My cheeks flushed red as she examined me. "Mhm, my greens went right to them hips and ass."