When Jaida Met Kadeem

40

***

The following week I had my ultrasound appointment the doctor was then able to identify that I had an ovarian cyst that was inflamed and this is what was causing the disruption in my stomach. I was relieved when the doctor assured me that no treatment was needed because ovarian cysts usually went away on its own.

"But we will schedule a follow-up ultrasound just to be on the safe side." she informed me I nodded.

As soon as I exited the main entrance of the hospital building I immediately retrieved my phone as I walked through the car park towards my car. I swiped up my contacts list with my thumb immediately tapping on Rex's number without thinking, I ended the call immediately when I realised before quickly calling Kadeem. I hovered in front of my car as I pressed my phone against my ear while tapping my foot impatiently as I muttered, "Pick up...pick up...pick up..." under my breath, I sighed before removing the phone from my ear when I was forwarded to Kadeem's voicemail.

Kadeem had returned to Manchester two days after Shane's funeral, I remember the stiffness in his hug and the detached affection that he had occasionally shown me during the entire weekend and when I asked him what was wrong he would reassure me that everything was fine.

"Are you sure?" I pushed as I took a step closer to him in Michael's kitchen, my eyes chasing his as I looked up at his distracted facial expression, I then picked up on the sound of slow, cautious footsteps entering the kitchen causing me to turn around curiously, my eyes then settled on Taylor who met my gaze with a small, kind smile before her eyes focused on Kadeem.

"Kadeem, Uncle Paul wants to know whether you brought an iPhone charger with you?"

"No," Kadeem responded in a low tone, keeping his eyes on me as he spoke. I glanced over at Taylor once more to find her nodding before she walked across the kitchen towards the kettle, "Rex thinks I'm his slave he's getting me to make him coffee," she explained while chuckling fondly. I frowned.

"But Rex hates coffee," I said. "He says it tastes like poison," I added while laughing a little before my laughter settled into a smile as another pang of affection randomly caught me off guard. I missed him so much and although we had been in the same house we did not speak, he remained on his side with Taylor and some of the boys who stayed over like Prince, Jordan, Emmanuel and Damien while I remained in my corner with Brianna and Tiana.

Occasionally we would catch each other's eye and he would offer me a small smile, I would just stare back at him confused at the way we were behaving with one another.

"What's going on with you two?" Brianna leaned over and whispered in my ear. "What's all this weird eye contact and smiling about?" she then added causing me to look in her direction and shake my head while shrugging.

"I have no idea," I responded as I briefly glanced in his direction once more to catch him interacting with Taylor, I noticed the way she was looking at him and smiling as she spoke. She adored him...she always had.

I looked away unable to decipher how I felt. But I knew one thing and that was that we should be comforting one another because that was what best friends did during times like this.

***

It was a new academic year and Janelle had started reception which meant she was now in school from quarter to nine until three thirty and she also attended the after school club as I was busier than ever at work and finding myself falling behind with university assignments.

I had been sitting in my car in a thoughtful daze before the sound of my phone ringing in my bag caught my attention. I was now immediately alert assuming it was Kadeem calling me back after having seen my missed call. I was surprised to find that Rex was calling me. I held my iPhone in my hand watching as my phone screen continued to light up and ring as I contemplated answering the phone. As I watched my phone ring, it occurred to me that I was watching my phone ring I watched it ring until it stopped. I frowned at these unfamiliar actions. This was Rex, when he rang my immediate response would be to answer the phone, it was not to hesitate, it was not to feel unsure. Why did everything suddenly feel so different? Why did I think it was best to not answer the call? I did not have a long time to dwell on these questions that had temporarily clouded my mind, as I had to go and pick up my daughter from school.