The Only Exception

32

Jo

My hands buttoned up my blouse as people ran around my house like chickens with head cuts off. Makeup brushes were on my face and combs were running through my hair. Everyone was anxious and nervous— well except for me. It didn't matter if I won or not. I had nothing to prove to anyone and quite frankly, I had nothing to win for.

Still, spirits were high all around me as they chattered but I couldn't bring myself to say much. This is what I wanted— but when I wanted this I had no one. Letoya changed my perspective and actually made me realize that I cannot love the fame and the respect but I actually had to love the career.

Sure, I did love this, politics and all— but I would kill to be cuddled up with Letoya and just going back to owning my business any day. It seemed that reality wasn't going to every really occur and I had come to that dreadful conclusion earlier in the year. She wasn't coming back, I had pushed her to her limit and this was my new real. This was the outcome of all of my actions and I hated every single moment of it.

Gil and Shawnette were around here somewhere, probably trying to make sure I had a smooth transition but if I'm being frank, every transition is going to be rough for me.

I'm going from a high standard African American woman to a high standard African American Senator. It was a difference and I'm not sure I'd like it very much anymore.

William walked in holding his son. I stood and everyone stopped touching me as I cooed at my little man. "Gimme." I motioned for the baby and William handed him to me. His name was Dresden Jordan Garner but I called him DJ. "Hey little DJ. I missed you."

We lied, of course. Told the world that this wasn't Williams son but he's starting to favor William harshly. Still, we would deal with that burden when it truly arises.

Everyone looked on in awe at DJ and I's interaction. A man spoke. "You two should have a child of your own. Look how good you two are with him."

William and I met eye contact and chuckled as I replied. "Maybe later on." When I tickled DJ's side he giggled and everyone smiled at him. "You silly man."

"Jo! You got 15 until we have to leave!" Shawn yelled loudly in the place.

Frowning, I handed DJ back to William. "I'll see you later on DJ." William sent me a look as he grabbed his son back. "What's wrong?"

He sighed. "We will talk after you get done."

"Okay." I nodded at him as he walked out the room.

People finished and gave me five minutes to spare so I went on a hunt for William so that we could have the conversation about that look he shot me. When I found him, he was outside arguing with his baby's mother.

Mandy saw me and scoffed. "William, you have 48 hours. Nothing more, nothing less." With that said, she grabbed DJ's diaper bag and DJ as she took her exit.

William looked at me with tears in his eyes. Oh shit, what the hell was happening?

"William... what's going on?" I asked softly.

Me and the man had began to care for each other here of lately. We were both forcing something that we didn't want, and at this point we realized we might as well be friends.