Page 41 of Risks

I walk over. Varen stays close.

“Thank you for meeting me,” Jesiahsays in his thick voice, shifting from one leg to the other.

He’s tall. Broad shoulders. Muscularbuilt in his fitted flannel shirt. Skin the same shade of brown as mine with abronze undertone.

He looks his age, mid-thirties, witha low beard and low-cut hair; not a single visible wrinkle.

Onlookers wouldn’t guess he’s thefather of an eighteen-year-old, considering he and Mom were teens when she gotpregnant.

I was too surprised at the firstencounter to take in anything. But my gosh, we do resemble. It’s damn apparentthat we’re related.

“Hi, Latoya,” he says softly andalmost as if still in shock. He reaches out to me. “It’s so good to meet you.”

Trembling, I grasp his large hand.His palm is warm, calloused, and welcoming.

I pull away and wring my fingersawkwardly.

Jesiah shakes Varen’s hand and gesturesfor us to join him in the booth.

“Uh, I could give you both space,” Varenoffers.

“No,” I quickly refute, grasping hishand. “Stay with me.”

He nods and slides onto the seatbeside me as Jesiah settles across from us.

The waitress comes over to pourcoffee, and we ask her for some time before we order.

“Um, happy holidays,” Jesiah says.He retrieves a small box from beside him. “This is for you.”

I look at the gift and raise my gazeback to his face. “Tell me what happened. I want to hear your side.”

He eases back, still clutching thegift box on the table. “What did Lisa tell you?” Distaste rings in his voiceand expression, and he has every right to be furious with her.

“Nothing. I need time before I faceher again.”

“I understand.” He dips his head,tracing the box with his thumb. After a long pause, he begins. “Lisa and Ibecame friends after working at the same deli one summer. We started dating insenior year. I played basketball and did well academically, so I had a lot ofinterests from big colleges.” He sighs deeply. “A few weeks before graduation,Lisa told me she was pregnant.”

“Did you…suggest an abortion?” I ask,voice hitching.

“No,” he dispels in a serious tone. “Thatwasn’t even a thought. I told Lisa I’d take classes in the evenings and workduring the days. I wanted to take care of her and you.” Sincerity beams in hiseyes. “Lisa told me to wait until after graduation to tell my parents. But...”He clenches his jaw. “The night before, she said she couldn’t have a kid. Thatshe went ahead and aborted you.” His voice breaks. “I was upset because shedidn’t discuss it with me…and sad that my first child was gone.” He pauses,expels a long exhale, and continues. “I kept it from my parents. They weremoving to D.C, anyway. I left for college in Ohio and tried to forget.”

Unable to hold back, the tearsescape and trickle down my face. “Mom told me you didn’t want me.”

“That was a damn lie, Latoya. Youknow that now.”

Varen makes soothing motions withhis hand on my back, which helps calm me a little.

I sniffle and push down a sob. I don’twant to break apart and start bawling in the diner.

“So, where do you live? What haveyou been doing since college? What did you study? Did you continue playing basketball?”

Jesiah pulls his mouth into arelaxed smile. “I got injured and had to stop. It didn’t affect me too muchbecause of academic grants. I got a computer science degree. I lived and workedin Washington up until two years ago. Something kept pulling me back toBaltimore. My place isn’t too far from here.”

“What about your parents?” I continuethe questions. “Are you married? Do I have any siblings?”

He chuckles grittily. Delighted, itseems. “Your grandparents still live in D.C. I told them about you. They’reeager to meet you—when you’re ready, of course. I’m not married, but I amseeing someone amazing. Shanice. She’d love to meet you as well. No siblingsfor you.”

I bob at everything and peer down atmy lap.

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