Page 180 of Taeja

Taeja wasn’t worried about loving them, she was worried about them loving her. She could only imagine all the hate spewed by her grandmother about Jerry before she passed away. Surely the newer generation inherited that hate?

Wanting to distract her mind until they arrived, she continued helping Cassedi and Damon. Zain moved to the backyard moments before Taeja’s family arrived.

“Evening,” Sakara greeted. She was a beautiful black girl that looked and smelled expensive. She had a small child in her hand, who she put to her feet once she was close enough.

ZsaZsa ran toward Cassedi. Cassedi pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheeks.

“Evening,” Wayne said, looking everywhere except at Taeja.

“Evening,” Taeja said with a shy smile.

Sakara laughed. “A me and you used to play with dolly ino, Tae.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember,” Taeja apologized.

“That’s fine.” Sakara sat on the stair below the one Taeja sat. She smiled at Damon. “And who’s this?”

“Her boyfriend,” Damon stated proudly.

“One of…” Taeja muttered, deciding to get it out into the air.

“One of?” Sakara asked, and Taeja nodded. “Oh…”

An awkward silence fell over the group, and Taeja inched closer to Damon. She wasn’t ashamed. No one could shame her for her relationship. She chose this life.However, it didn’t take away from the sadness she felt after seeing disapproval mixed with disgust on Sakara’s face.

Cassedi broke the silence. “Look, ZsaZsa, this is your cousin.”

Sakara smiled at her daughter, her disgust washing away. “Come say hi, baby,” she urged, but ZsaZsa looked away from them, focusing on playing with the hem of Cassedi’s blouse. Sakara sighed and said to Taeja, “She doesn’t take a liking to people too easily.”

“Oh,” Taeja said, offering her younger cousin a smile, which ZsaZsa ignored.

“Alright, Sakara, tek her from me. I’m going to shower so I can hurry to the setup, help, and carry back food for my daughter and herboyfriends.”

“A dead yard food yaa feed the foreigner dem, Aunty?” Sakara asked.

Cassedi placed her hands akimbo. “Yes. It’s the same food.”

“Mr. Valery duppy a help season dat deh pot deh,” Sakara said.

Wayne laughed. “Dead yard food dem deserve.”

Taeja’s brows crinkled as she looked at Cassedi. “We don’t mind.”

“Well, I do.” Sakara stood. “Let me bring you guys to get some real yaad food.”

Cassedi sighed. “Alright, mek mi go see if mi have any likkle shillings—”

“I’ll pay,” Damon offered, and Cassedi smiled at him. He stood, then helped Taeja to her feet. “Are you okay?”

Taeja nodded. “Let me go ask Zain what he wants.”

Damon nodded, and she walked as normally as she could to the backyard. Zain was burning a hole in the ground as he stormed back and forth, barking at whosoever was on the other line. Taeja gulped, wondering if she should turn and run away. She stood a short distance from him, yet she felt anger roll off him in waves. She hoped he didn’t plan on taking his anger out on her again. Her body still ached; her pussy needed a break.

“Zain,” she hesitantly called out, despite knowing that he saw her from the moment she appeared. “Sorry for both—”

“Just talk, Taeja,” he hissed and stopped pacing to fix his angry eyes on her.

Taeja’s mouth and heart dropped. He had no right speaking to her this way! Whatever this was must’ve been getting to him, so she’d excuse his behavior.

---