Page 40 of Somebody Else Will

“Biologically, you’re sisters. Why are you trying to sabotage her livelihood and life? Don’t you have your own life to live?”

“No, I don’t. I’m sick of not measuring up to her success and being forced to take the blame for him not being in her life. I got beat every day for not being her! I got sexually abused and assaulted because I didn’t measure up toher! So I don’t give a fuck about her being related to me. She’s related to my abuse!”

My lips parted as the detective asked, “Who did those things to you?”

“Her father! He hated me because I wasn’t her! My mother died emotionally from a broken heart and left me with him. She literally skipped town without me! And she knew what he was doing to me! Neither of them loved me! Oh, but her time was coming next had I gotten out of town quick enough.”

She stood from her seat and paced back and forth. “So excuse me if I feel nothing for her. I’ve felt nothing but painbecauseof her. I just wanted to send her to hell to be with her father. That muthafucka was on his deathbed and still refused to apologize to me for all the hurt he brought to my life. You know what his final words were? Huh? I love you, Denishia. He hadn’t seen her in thirty years! So fuck her, and fuck her mother too! She denied him visitations with his only daughter. Because of her denial, I suffered! He said I wasn’t his daughter. I was his fucking property to do with as he pleased.”

I was stunned into silence. I wanted to go in there and choke her to death, but at the same time, I felt sorry for her. It was his fault. He created this mess. She was angry. I knew a conversation with her would get me nowhere. It was best to leave well enough alone. He was dead, so he couldn’t even be questioned about the validity of her statements. Honestly, I didn’t care to know anything further.

He nodded, then left the room and came out to me. Before he could say a word, I said, “I don’t want to talk to her. It won’t solve a thing. I don’t want to know any more than I’ve already heard. Let me know when her trial is or if she bails out.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. I don’t care to hear anything about a man that abused my mother and abandoned us.”

I walked away from him, and he quickly got ahead of me to escort me out. She hated my mom and me, and I didn’t care enough to know why. They would probably have to handcuff me to keep me off her. That probably wouldn’t even stop me.To know that his so-called love for me caused him to abuse her made me sick inside. So… I would go back to the way things were before she showed up… just without my mom.

I missed Denishia like crazy.I’d been out here a week, and I was lonely as fuck. Although we’d talked every day, that was nothing compared to being in her presence with my arms wrapped around her. Knowing that I’d gotten the starring role in the Broadway play had put me on a high I thought I couldn’t come down from. However, the minute I told her by phone yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to celebrate all over her beautiful body.

I’d been somewhat of a recluse while here. If I wasn’t working or meeting with people, I was in my room. My agent had asked me to extend my stay because there was a movie role she was trying to negotiate for me. It wasn’t the lead role, but it was close. The role was the best friend of the lead. So, the role would definitely be as memorable as I could make it. She was supposed to let me know today if I would get to read for it.

As I waited for my breakfast, I grabbed my phone to FaceTime Denishia. It was only eight here, but I knew she was wide awake. I was an hour ahead of her since I was here in New York, but she was usually awake at six when she planned to go to the floral shop. While it rang, I thought about all the shit that came to a head while I was gone. The police had tracked her sister down rather quickly. I supposed it wasn’t hard since she was sitting outside Denishia’s house.

In my opinion, I believed she wanted to be caught. Why would she have been sitting there if she didn’t? After all the details Denishia gave me about why she did what she did, I still didn’t feel an ounce of empathy. None of that shit had a thing to do with Denishia. She should have taken that out on their father while he was alive. For all we knew, she probably did. Sometimes, people’s behaviors couldn’t be explained in a way where it made sense.

I could understand her jealousy because of Denishia’s success being shoved down her throat for years, but I didn’t understand her hatred for Denishia or Ms. Patsy. His actions were his actions. He was the culprit for all her anger, hurt, and feelings of inadequacy, and her mother was just as guilty for leaving her with him. However, I was grateful Denishia didn’t want to talk to her after the things she said in the interrogation room. It would have only tormented her later. That would have meant that Sabrina had accomplished what she set out to do, which was put Denishia in as much mental turmoil as she was in.

Denishia didn’t answer the FaceTime call, so she was probably busy. Shortly after I ended the call, she sent a text.Hey, baby. I’m extremely busy. I’m a little behind because I forgot to get Ford’s purple magnolias. He normally gets them earlier, but he’d changed the schedule because they were on vacation. I’ll call you as soon as I get a break.

That was weird. If she had time to text all that, she could have just answered the call and said what all she messaged. I supposed I was just wanting to see her face that badly. My agent had three more days to make something happen before I hopped a flight to Houston. I had to get back to Beaumont to see Denishia. This shit here was for the birds.

I knew for sure I would be going to Beaumont next month, no matter what I had going on. Denishia’s birthday was coming up. We’d missed Valentine’s Day because of her mother’s sudden demise and all the bullshit. I had only gotten flowers for her. I needed a do-over. Her birthday would be special and memorable. She deserved that and more.

The knock at the door halted my thoughts. Before I could check to see who was at the door, I heard a woman’s voice say, “Room service.”

Still, I looked through the peephole. You couldn’t be too careful these days. When I saw the Hispanic lady holding the tray of food, I opened the door, preparing to take cash from my pocket for her tip. However, when I looked up and saw Denishia, I nearly lost my shit.

“Oh fuck! Denishia! Damn, girl.”

I pulled her to me, forgetting all about my food. I was about to let the door close right in the lady’s face. The aroma caught my attention, bringing me back to the task at hand. I grabbed the tray from her and handed her a ten-dollar-bill then allowed the door to close. Practically dropping the tray to the table, I went right back to Denishia.

“That’s why you didn’t want to FaceTime me.”

She giggled as I pulled her close and leaned over to kiss her neck and suck on her earlobe. My dick was hard as a steel bat, ready to swing and knock her shit out the damn park.

“Ezekiel, I missed you so much. I don’t know how I’ve been able to function for the past week. I have to thank Jerzey forkeeping me occupied. She’s been coming during the evenings to help me and Grandma.”

“How’s Jamia doing?” I asked.

“She’s good. She’s at home, dying to come back to work. I need her to rest though. I told her I may let her come back next week. I worked my ass off yesterday, being sure all the bouquets were done for today and the rest of the weekend. I leave to go back home Sunday evening.”

“You just don’t know how you’ve given me air. My balloon was deflating fast without you. Just that week or so at your place has me spoiled as fuck. I’m glad Jamia is still doing well. Did Jerzey ever talk to her sister?”

She pulled away from me and smiled slightly. “Yeah. She had me sit in on it. Some of the things they said are still bothering me. The things they went through as kids is heartbreaking. Seeing and hearing their tearful expressions was hard. Despite all that, I believe Jerzey was able to get everything out in the open to Mekayla and express exactly how it all affected her. It’s why she isn’t in a relationship. She doesn’t want one because of the trauma from her childhood. She feels like she can’t fully trust men. I feel so sorry for both of them.”

“Wow. Do they have a relationship with their parents?”

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