Misguided

Chapter 6: Little Surprises

As promised, Jamal worked hard everyday to show Tanya how much he wanted to work on their relationship. Although he couldn't be there physically, he continued to shower her with emotional support and affection.

He sent her texts every morning encouraging her to stay beautiful and have a great day. He never ceased to tell her how much she was missed either. Throughout the day, they would text frequently, and he made sure to call every night.

Jamal wanted to prove that she was the first thing on his mind when he woke, and the last thing before he went to bed.

Tanya was grateful to be back at the place they were in the beginning, and was slowly starting to lower that wall again. She knew that trust was important, and wanted to be able to give Jamal that.

She felt conflicted, because in a way she was justifying the fact that she decided to date him again, given his relationship status, but this was something that she thought long and hard about.

Not that she compared or anything, but there were people who made way worse decisions than this. If he said he was working on that divorce, she just had to believe him. Besides, what else had he done, other than his non disclosure of this,  could prove she should doubt him? She felt strongly for him, and unfortunately his marital status couldn't disprove that fact.

Sometimes it was better to have loved and lost, than to not have loved at all. Tanya didn't know what she would learn or gain from this experience, but she was willing to try.

It had been weeks since he was away on business, and they really hadn't been able to indulge in a conversation, besides their short phone calls at night. When Jamal told her to clear her schedule because they needed that time, she was appreciative. At least he knew when he should work a little harder for their relationship, without having to be groomed to do so. How many women could attest to that?

She planned to give him all the time he needed tonight, and wanted to be able to just listen to him vent about work, or talk about current news for that matter. He had been working really hard. Tanya felt the need to reciprocate that same support Jamal had given her over and over.

Tanya laid there in her PINK sports bra and boy shorts, anticipating Jamal's call. She jumped to answer FaceTime when she heard the ringing.

"Hey Baby!" She exclaimed, smiling brightly.

"How are you gorgeous? You must want me to fly home right now. Look what you got on?" He chuckled.

Tanya grinned, he sure had a way with flattery. It also did something to her, when he would lose the professional demeanor and dealt with her in a relaxed way.

It seemed as though Jamal couldn't stop smiling himself as they sat there on the phone. It was clear that they were still in the honeymoon phase. After speaking with her for a while, and catching up they started to discuss more important matters.

"So, then when will you be able to see your daughters?" Tanya asked.

He had just finished explaining that he missed his flight after a prolonged meeting. He had to move some money around to different accounts for a client, and was now scheduled for a red eye departure that would have a long layover. It was predicted to storm, and all these technicalities were sure to have him exhausted.

"Amelia's birthday isn't for another two days. So, as long as I get to see her before then it will work out. I planned on being there for a week anyways, so that I could visit Sasha at the same time." he explained.

Sasha was going on fourteen and Jamal understood the importance of a father being in his daughter's life. He always made plans to support them and be there for them as much as possible. As much as he'd ever messed up with any woman in life, or made bad decisions concerning them, those were two he would never want to have any regret for.

At the age of eighteen, Jamal started hooking up with a few sorority girls around the college campus. He was young, wild, and free. Little did he know he would be in for a rude awakening the following year.

When Suzanne came to him with a small package, he didn't know what to do. His reckless behavior lead to him becoming a dad earlier than he anticipated... and it was a baby girl too. It was then he knew that he should stop being a hoe, before someone dogged his daughter out like he did with women.

Baby Sasha changed him for the better and aided him in giving the women in his life more respect.

"I've already told her I would be there on her actual birthday, but if I do get there tomorrow it would be nice. I'll probably bring her lunch at school or something." Jamal elaborated.

Jamal went on to explain that Amelia told him that she and her mother also had a surprise for him, because they didn't get to see him for his birthday. He was anxious to find out what.

This sent alarms off in Tanya's head. What the hell kind of surprise could she have for her estranged husband? she pondered.  She had even forgotten that he mentioned his daughter was in on the plan with the mention of his wife. 

They ended the call on a good note. He told her he loved her, and Tanya responded, trying her best not to show the worry in her eyes.

Tanya was anxious to call the next day now. She wanted to know what the heck was going on. She had a gut feeling that something wasn't right.

She couldn't help but wonder what type of surprise he would get while he was there. What if Christine tried something?

It could have been anything small, but the way that he explained how his daughter said it was a secret, put fear in Tanya's heart. She had always had a good intuition and a great spirit of discernment.

***

Three days had passed, and Tanya heard nothing from Jamal, adding to her anxiety. She tried to give him space given his plans, and knew that they had a small gathering for his daughter the day before.

She planned to wait until tonight to give him a call.

As soon as the clock struck eight, Tanya dialed his number and was taken aback when she was sent to voicemail.

She decided not to trip. She wouldn't do the back to backs, not tonight. She placed her phone on the nightstand, and watched Love and Basketball until she fell asleep.

Hours later, Tanya was awoken by the constant nagging of her cell phone's ringing. She knew it was Jamal by the sound of the heartbeat vibration she had set for his contact.

She answered groggily and felt as if her suspicions were confirmed when she heard the dejection in his tone of voice.

"I messed up man." She heard him mumble very lowly, as if it wasn't meant for her to hear.

Tanya laid there in her lace nightgown in a panic, her palms starting to sweat, pretending she didn't hear what he just said. If he needed to break some bad news to her, he would have to get it out himself.

"What's up?" she asked softly. She really was frantic with worry now.

"I saw my daughters." Jamal said, making small talk.

"I know... you told me you would." she answered.

Not wanting to beat around the bush anymore, she got straight to the point. "What was the surprise?" she asked.

Jamal was apprehensive. No matter how hard he tried, trouble seemed to always find their relationship. Perhaps Tanya was right. Was it bad karma because of their situation?

He swore to be completely honest while he dated Tanya. He just didn't know he would have to share every last detail of his past.

The past was the past for a reason, and most times things could be left there. It always seemed to be a calamity when it came back to haunt you.

He let out a huge sigh, before he formed his words for what he had to tell her next...