Page 251 of Taeja

“I’m great,” Taeja replied. “Leff Cassedi house and stop trouble mi father.”

Wayne scowled. “Aunty, yu know seh yu pickney nav no manners? Mi cyaexpect any better from foreign people still.”

“Wa me do now, Wayne?”

“Yu cya sehMommaeandDaddae?” he asked, faking an accent.

Taeja laughed. “We don’t speak like that in America.”

Wayne hissed his teeth. “Wul a unu a the same thing to me.”

Cassedi scoffed and pushed Wayne toward the front door. Cassedi glared as he stepped onto the veranda. Lowering her voice, she added, “Nuh go tell yu mother that my husband is here. Mi cya badda with more problems right now.”

“Husband? Eeh? My silence has a price, Aunty.”

Cassedi huffed before going to her room and returning. She slapped a fifty-dollar bill in his open palm.

Wayne held the foreign note toward the light, then smiled before pocketing it. “Always a pleasure. Later, Aunty.” He skipped toward his minibus.

Cassedi rolled her eyes and closed the door. Returning to her seat, she did her best to ignore Jerry’s attention while she said to their daughter, “Sorry about that, baby girl. Good morning.”

“Good morning!” Taeja replied. “Was just checking on you.”

Her eyes flickered to Jerry. He was still looking at her, so she glanced away. “I-I’m fine,” Cassedi stuttered, wishing she could get her body under control.

“You sure? Yu sound a way.”

“I’m good, baby girl. I’ll call you later.”

“Mek sure Jerry nuh seh nun to yu. If him upset yu, tell me so me can—”

Cassedi sighed along with Jerry. “Behave yourself, Taeja,” she hissed. “Goodbye.”

“G—” Taeja paused. “Damon seh yufi call him later.”

Cassedi smiled and nodded. “I will,” she promised, and Taeja hung up.

Resting her phone beside her, Cassedi looked at Jerry. “Were you that much of an awful father to her that she hates you this much?” she asked, a weight laying on her when his eyes dimmed. “Wow.”

“I am trying to right my wrongs…” Jerry whispered.

“Whatever you say.”

“Please do not treat me this way, Cassedi… Just talk to me. Go ahead. Ask me what you want to know.”

“Were you being honest when you said you cut off Teddy?”

He nodded. “Yes, Cass.”

She shook her head. “Cassedi. Call me by my name.”

He sighed. “Sorry, Cassedi. Yes. I cut off my mother.”

“I find it hard to believe.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve told you about her for years, J… Jerry, and you shrugged me off. You saw how she treated our daughter, and you always believed when she saidshe’s just helping to raise our baby girl. It was bad enough that I had to leave her with Teddy, but how could you becomeexactlylike your mother? Taeja didn’t deserve that.”

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