Page 132 of Taeja

Taeja smirked. “It’ll be fine. I’ve done this many times before.”

“And how many times did you hang upside down in this tree, waiting for someone to save you?”

Taeja gasped. “Onetime! Mi nuh know weh mi tell yu dat fa.”

Damon smirked. He looked from her to the window on the second floor, then he gulped hard.

“Damon.” Taeja laid her hand on his forearm. “You don’t have to do this for me if you don’t want to. I can wait until Zain’s back.”

“It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Damon nodded. “Now come climb up on my back. I’ll stay right here.”

Smiling, Taeja mounted him. She reached for the highest branch, then climbed into the tree. She looked down at Damon, whose brows were knitted. “Text me if you hear his car pull up. He’s usually back by seven,” she said, and Damon nodded.

With one last look at him, she climbed higher until she was at her bedroom window. She usually kept it cracked a little, and she was extremely thankful that Jerry hadn’t shut it. She opened the window from the outside and climbed inside her room, instantly being greeted by all her Kirone Tyke posters. Taeja blew a kiss toward one of them. “My man for life.”

Taeja tiptoed out of her room and down the hallway to Jerry’s bedroom. “Hope mi nuh see nun mi nuh supposed to see,” Taeja muttered while looking around the room.

She hadn’t been in here in ages, she almost forgot how large of a room it was. Taeja remembered waking up early on Christmas mornings and running to this room. She’d hop into the bed, and her parents would pretend she scared them.

Taeja smiled at the memory. Those were good times. If only they’d lasted longer…

She sighed. “Focus.”

She walked toward the cabinet in the furthest corner. A year after Cassedi left, Jerry moved most of his office supplies into the room. She glanced at the artwork that lined the wall toward the cabinet, mesmerized as the paintings shifted from intricate portraits of Cassedi to chaotic murals of swirling colors and unknown forms.

Arriving before the large cabinet, she opened a drawer and searched throughthe many files and documents until she found what she was looking for.

The family albums.

“I’m surprised he kept them…”

They were numbered by the year, so she quickly found the one when she was eleven.

She sat on the floor beside the open drawer, then opened the thick album. A bright smile painted her face when she saw the first picture. It was a New Year’s picture. There they were — all dressed in gold and white, looking elegant and sophisticated. Cassedi was on a throne, looking like royalty, while Jerry stood behind her with one hand on the back of the chair. Taeja stood beside Cassedi, smiling brightly, and showing her missing front tooth.

“I can’t believe they didn’t tell me not to smile,” Taeja laughed and skipped the page. “Ratid. Watch costume! Nobody cudn tell mi seh mi nuh look good ina the piece of wig?”

Laughing to herself, Taeja leaned her back against the cabinet. As she skipped through the pages, her heart grew heavier. This album wasn’t even a quarter full, so the last page came quickly. It was a picture of Cassedi and Jerry, smiling and looking at each other lovingly. She traced a thumb over Jerry’s smile. “He used to be so happy…”

“I was.”

Taeja’s head shot up, her eyes widening when she saw Jerry standing in the doorway. She was shocked to see him, but more than anything, she was hit by a stark realization. This man was nothing like the person in the photos. This Jerry looked older than his age.

Taeja snapped the album shut and jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be here—”

“It is fine.” Jerry dropped his briefcase in a chair before walking toward the bed while removing his jacket.

Taeja watched him, hugging the album close to her chest. She was unsure if she should stay or leave.

Jerry sat on the bed with a heavy sigh. “What are you looking for?”

“A picture of me and Cassedi.”

Jerry tensed — so quickly Taeja almost missed it — then he relaxed. “Why?”

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