Crown Your Queen

Kaydence

It felt so fortunate to be out of jail. These last four in a half years were brutal but thank God I made it through. I walked out the gates when I noticed who was here to pick me up. I came to a complete standstill. I couldn't believe my eyes. I sized him up, crinkled my nose, and then walked up to him. Rage burned inside of me and all I have seen were red. "Well look at what the devil brought in. What the fuck are you doing here Jeremiah?"
"I wanted to come to get you."
"Ohhh." I laughed. "That's cool you know since you never wrote back nor accepted any of my calls. Yet, you are here to pick me up. Interesting."
"Man it hurt to see you up in there and you know that."
"Bruh you never came to see me in here. Let's not forget yo weak ass was the reason I was in this bitch in the first place."
He just glared at me with his hazel eyes, I took a step back and my God was he even more handsome. He was muscular, full beard, dark-skinned complexion, and pretty ass thick pink lips, basically everything that made me stumble for him. He was 6'2 had dreads with red tips. He had on a pair of black timberlands, with black hoodie and black sweatpants that got my pussy throbbing once I saw his print in them sweats. Man, I was instantly ready to fuck him. I looked back up at him to see him smirking at me.
"Can we go please?"
I took a deep breath and got in his Benz heated. My leg began to shake and I instantly started tearing up. I wanted to punch him dead in his jaw. "I fucking hate you and after today I don't want shit to do with your sorry ass."
"What you mean? I was hoping we could work on us."
I busted out laughing. "Fuck that."
"I'm not going to let you leave me so easily. Till death do us part remember."
My eyes darted towards him, I raised an eyebrow, and my mouth fell open. I put my hand on my chest. "Is that a threat, sir? I'm done being your fucking mule. You so fucking trifling bruh. What these bitches got that I don't, huh? I gave you everything and more, Jeremiah. Yet you delude me for that bitch!" I shoved his head, my eyes simmered with fire.
"Our vows say till death do us part for better for worse. Kay you can't leave me. I need you."
"What bitch you been playing house with?" He didn't confess anything. "Fuck you."
***
1 Sep 2006
My parents strolled into the hospital room with a pink car seat for my baby girl MaKenzie. I was being discharged from the hospital. They took my daughter out to my dad's 2006 Cadillac Escalade while I signed off the rest of my paperwork. I was about to walk out to the truck. "Ma'am, we have to use the wheelchair and take you out." I took a deep breath and lingered around for a nurse to wheel me out. Then instantly my leg began to shake and my veins became visible. I got in my dad's truck. "Ma can you promise to take care of my baby? I want plenty of pictures and videos."
"Leg shaking?"
"Yeah."
"I promise baby girl."
The whole ride was quiet and I was trying to speculate of every way possible to avoid whatever comes my way. We arrived at my parent's house. Pops grabbed MaKenzie as I walked to my black 2002 Corvette. As soon as I reached for my digital camera, my back window shattered. "Man, What the fuck!" I looked around to see Jessilyn standing there. I have been wanting to beat her ass since middle school. I walked up to her and punched her in the nose. I watched as she fell to the ground and was about to kick the shit out of her, but I heard police sirens. I knew I fucked up because I'm on parole and wasn't supposed to get involved in no domestic shit. I was sentenced to four years but end up doing four in a half years because I head butt Jeremiah in court.
***
I wiped my tears from my cheeks and sniffed. I hated that I still had something for this man! "I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me?" Tears started to run down my face. "Did you hate the reality that your bitch out here running shit? You hated that I had so much respect in these streets?" He didn't say anything. "You are sorry as fuck Jeremiah. Where the fuck them divorce papers at I sent you? I'm so ready to be done with your ass."
His eyebrows rose, he frowned, he sniffed, and his eyes glistened. He gazed into my eyes and said, "I burned them, bitches. You can't leave me, Kay. I know I fucked up. I love your ass to death man. I can't live without you."
My eyes began to water again. "You been fucking that bitch this whole time, huh?" He ignored me. "Hellooooo. I'm talking to you."
"Kaydence we got married young and been together for years. What more did you expect from me?"
"For you to be a fucking man and tell me the truth. Ain't no telling how long you had me out here looking fucking stupid with God knows who. I never thought about laying up with another man cause you always been my man, my best friend. Yet you babbling about you love me. Well, you don't lie about shit to the one you love. You don't conceal shit from the one you love. You don't send the one you love to jail. You don't neglect the one person that's been there for you just to get your dick wet."
"So you don't love me anymore?"
I looked out the window. "I wish I didn't. I've done everything I could as your wife. I trusted you. I'm confused about where we went wrong or if you've always been this way and I was too blind by love to see it. I can't believe you turned snake on the one person that had your back." I looked at the side of his face. "Fuck you."
"Kay please, let me make it up to you."
We pulled up to my parents' house. "I see where I stand with you now. Just stay the fuck away from me."
I got out and slammed the door. I pulled myself together before walking into my parents' house. I twisted the knob, "Surprise!" Everyone shouted.
My eyes instantly filled back up with tears. I hugged uncles, aunties, grandparents, cousins, and friends of the family. I turned around and made eye contact with the most beautiful angel I ever saw... My daughter MaKenzie. I dropped down to my knees.
"Hi, mommy." She said running to me. She hugged my neck and began sobbing. "I missed you so much, mommy. You're even more beautiful in real life. Don't ever leave me again. Okay, mommy?"
I nod my head. "Ok baby."
She let go of my neck, took a step back, and looked me in my eyes. Then she held her pinky finger out. "Pinky promise?"
I grabbed her pinky with mines. "I promise beautiful."
This is my first time seeing my daughter in person since the day I was discharged from the hospital. My God, she looked just like her dad. She only had my eyes, nose, and skin complexion. I put both of my hands on her cheeks and looked her in her eyes. "I love you so much, baby. Mommy is not going anywhere anytime soon." I kissed her forehead and stood up. "Go in the back for me and let grown folks talk. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am." She headed to the back with her little cousins in pursuit.
I took a deep breath and rubbed my hands together and said in the calmest tone. "So can anybody explain to me... why the fuck y'all let Jeremiah pick me up?" The fire began to rise in my eyes, but my face remains calm.
"We tried talking him out of it, but he insisted." My mother Gabrielle answered. I scratched my head. "Did we forget that he was the fucking reason I went to jail in the first place."
"Now how you know that, Kay?"
"Why else was he over here? Especially when he knew I was on parole. I haven't talked to him since before I stepped foot in that damn jail and now he wants to show up. Plus why all of a sudden you defending him?" I clenched my fist, then tears began to shimmer down my eyes.
"Kay I didn't realize that made you so upset."
I squinted my eyes. "Do you not know how bad I want to fuck him and that bitch up. I did nothing but love that man. I never let money, power, or respect get in the way of how I felt about his ass." I sniffed. Shit hurts man, for real.
"It's not like we didn't warn you a few years back."
I sat in a chair and wiped my eyes. I can hear my mom voice saying, "You put in too much, Boleg while he's doing the bare minimum spending all your money. I'm tellin ya, ya better leave that alone before you get hurt."
Man, I'm filled with so many mixed emotions. I mean I'm happy to be out of jail but I'm so fuckin mad and ready to beat someone's ass. My brother walked up to me, grabbed my hands, pulled me up, and hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
He sniffed. "Iight baby sis. You going to have to cut this shit out. Men don't cry."
I smiled then whispered. "Real men do."
We laughed and he kissed me on the cheek. My father Nathan Sr walked up to me and put a set of keys in my hands. "What's this pops?"
"I know how much you love Cadillacs. A new one came out about a week ago, and I got your boy Tony to hook it up for you. Welcome home baby girl."
I hugged his neck. "Thank you so much pops. MaKenzie come on baby. Let's go."
She came in running from the back. I looked at everyone in the room. "Y'all just don't know how much this means to me. A lot of shit is about to transpire. I just ask that y'all bear with me until I get everything figured out. Thank you." MaKenzie followed me out the door. We got into my 2010 Cadillac CTS. We headed to my boo Titi's Beauty Salon shop. She was sitting down writing in her appointment book. "Mmmm look at that fine ass chick right there. "She looked at me in the most stunning way.
"Damn boo look at you looking all fine and shit with them Cleo braids." She hugged me. "When did you get out?"
"Today."
"So what you want me to do for you? Deep condition and clip ends?"
"Naw baby girl it's time to go short."
"Girl what?" She spun my chair around to look at me. "How short?"
"Surprise me, I trust you."
"Alright, if you say so." She spun my chair and went to the work on my hair giving me a short curly bob since my hair is naturally curly. Gotta give it to her she made me look like Halle Berry in Cat Woman.
"How much I owe you?"
"This one on me, boo." I hugged her, grabbed MaKenzie by the hand and headed to the house. I took in my alleged step sisters three of them to be exact on my daddy side. I sat in my car staring... Staring at the house I once shared with my husband. My emotions started to disentangle.
"You okay mommy?"
"Yea I'm fine baby. Let's go meet yo aunties."
We got out the car, my body instantly caught a chill. I just don't know what to expect anymore. Soon as I open the door the smell of Bubba Kush and fresh linen hit my nose. MaKenzie held my hand and hid behind my left leg. Once inside I stood there and looked around. Surprisingly nothing had changed. My sister Samantha was lounging on the couch reading Harry Potter. I smiled, "I see you still in them books baby girl."
Samantha sat up instantly. "Kay... You back!" She ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug. "I missed you so much, Kay. I'm so glad you back. Hopefully, things will be back in order."
"What you mean by that?"
She smiled and whispered, "You'll see." She looked down to see MaKenzie peeking at her. "Kay is that..."
"My daughter, yes it is."
"Your daughter?" Samantha said in sync with two other voices. I looked over at the stairway to see Bianca and Leilani. Bianca had a smirk on her face. Leilani hugged me.
"Welcome home big sis."
"How old is she?" Bianca asked with her arms crossed.
"She's four..."
She sucked her teeth and went back upstairs.
I rolled my eyes then went upstairs to my master suite. It was the same way I left it over five years ago. I took a well-needed bubble bath as MaKenzie slept in my bed. I just craved the relaxation. I threw on a white tank top, some black booty shorts, and some black ankle socks. I then went downstairs to the kitchen to see that somebody cooked some spaghetti, cornbread, green beans, and fried chicken. So, I fixed me a plate. I opened two cabinets above the stove. I mixed up some crown, peach schnapps, sprite, and a splash of grenadine. I took a sip and closed my eyes. Man, this shit hit the spot. I was about to walk out of the kitchen when I heard the phone rang. I looked over to see an iPhone 3g. Once it stopped ringing a picture of Jeremiah and Bianca came up with them kissing. I grabbed the phone, took a seat, ate my food, and sipped my drink. I giggled. "I can't believe this shit."
Bianca came downstairs with Leilani behind her. "So, what are you going to do, Bee?"
"Do about what?"
"Jeremiah."
She smacked her lips. "I'm not doing shit. He explained he doesn't want any kids. So, I know for sure he is going to leave her."
"Don't you think that maybe he doesn't want any kids with you? I mean come on that's still his wife."
"If he gave a fuck would this shit have lasted more than 5 years?"
"You dirty Bee."
"Girl boo. At first, you were cool with it. Now that Kaydence ass is back you got a problem with it."
"I always had a problem with it."
"Shut the fuck up, Lei. I'm not tryna hear this shit anymore. He loves me."
"Whatever trick! You better hope and pray Kaydence doesn't find out. Dumb hoe." Leilani went upstairs to her room.
Instantly the front door swiveled open. Jeremiah fine ass bust in holding his belt. "Hey, baby," Bianca said.
He looked around. "What's up? Whose black Cadillac that is in the driveway? What nigga you got over here?" I caught a chill hearing him say that.
"Ain't no nigga here. I believe that is Kay's car."
"She's here?" He moved Bianca out the way running upstairs.
"Well damn." Bianca started looking around. "Where the fuck is my phone?"
He saw MaKenzie asleep on the bed. He checked my bedroom, the closet and the balcony looking for me. He ran downstairs, "Where's Kay at?"
"She's not up there?"
He shook his head and headed towards the kitchen.
I sat there twirling the phone while finishing off my drink. I got up and grabbed a shot cup.
Jeremiah entered the kitchen. He gave me a stunning look. His eyes got big, a smile grew upon his face. "You... you cut your hair?"
"Yea."
"You look amazing."
I threw the shot back and examined Jeremiah. He had on a long-sleeve buttoned-down Polo shirt, with black Levi pants, with the Gucci belt, and a pair of silver Jordans 1. Man, I wanted to jump over that counter and fuck the shit out of him. He was still the finest man in my eyes. I peered him in his eyes. "The fuck you doing here?"
His voice was shaky. "To see if you were here."
I took another shot of crown. "Bring yo friendly ass in here Bianca, I see you peeking." She walked in with her head hung low. "Naw don't bring yo ass up in here like that. You talked all that shit. Now you want to walk in here all innocent." I poured up another shot. "I see that you two motherfuckers been playing house since I been away." I twirled the cup around on the counter.  I pointed back and forth at the two. "How long this shit been going on?" They didn't say anything. I chuckled. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to find out huh?" I threw another shot back. "Helloooo. I'm not talking to myself.  One of you motherfuckers better get to talking. "About 6 years." Jeremiah finally said lowly.
My heart skipped a beat.
"We love each other, Kay." Bianca chimed in.
"Mmmm, you know what I actually believe that. Playing house for 6 years bruh before I went away, gotta mean something, huh?" I stared at the two blankly. This shit hurt like hitting your pinky toe on the end table leg.
"Kay, who is that upstairs?"
"Our daughter." I poured up another shot. I looked at Jeremiah and his whole demeanor changed. "How and when?"
"Four years ago when you wanted to be all big and bad."
"Wow, and you weren't gon tell me?"
I threw the shot back. "Fuck you. How the fuck Ima tell you something when you been ignoring my calls for the last 5 years. I see why now. It is best that both of you stay the fuck away from me."
"Can I have my phone back?"
I looked at the phone, stared Bianca in the face, and threw the phone down as hard as I could which caused the phone to crack.
"Fuck you and that phone. Get your shit and get the fuck out of my house." I walked past both of them. I went upstairs to my room. Jeremiah was right behind me and closed the door. "Kay, can we please talk?" I went out to my balcony. "Please Kay."
"What the fuck we have to talk about? You can't explain that shit to me, man. I understand that shit loud and clear. I just want to know if you love her."
"No, I love you Kaydence and you know that."
"You still going to stand right here in my face and lie to me. You don't hurt the person you love like this. You and Bianca have been at this shit for 6 years and you claiming you don't love her. That bitch pussy that damn good that you can't admit you got some type of feelings for her. If all this shit you had done to me, have done to me, and probably still doing is what you call love. I want no parts in it." I looked up at him. "Why are you still here?"
"I'm so sorry Kay." He sighed lowly and walked out of the house.
Tears flowed down my face.