Page 83 of Taeja

Taeja smirked as she pushed past Teddy. She followed Jerry into the living room and rolled her eyes when Teddy entered the room as well. “We cya have likkleprivacy?” Taeja spat. “Jerry neva tell yu seh him want security.”

“I am free to go wherever I want to in my son’s house,” Teddy argued, lowering herself onto the sofa beside Jerry and keeping her posture rigid.

Taeja rolled her eyes. “Nuh know why yu feel seh yaa smaddy.”

“Taeja,” Jerry chastised, laying his head back with a heavy sigh.

“Are you okay?” Taeja asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Do I look okay?”

“You look… better,” she admitted. “Are you going to sue Damon?”

Jerry peeked open an eye. “Why would I sue your boyfriend, Taeja?”

“I thought you would because he— Never mind. Sorry.”

Jerry exhaled a breath and closed his eye. “What do you want?”

She cleared her throat. “The bank says you closed my account and took my money—”

“Have you ever worked a day of your life to have a claim to any money?” Teddy hissed.

Taeja’s hand curled into a fist atop her lap. Refusing to look at her grandmother, she remained focused on her father. “I wanted to work, but Jerry always said no.”

Jerry sat upright, opening his eyes while running his hands down his thighs. “Yes. I closed the account.”

“Why?”

“Because you left. You have another man taking care of you now, so you do not need to have access to my money,” he answered, and Teddy nodded fiercely.

Taeja’s mouth dropped. “Seriously, Jerry?!” she exclaimed. “A so yu look pon life?! A from mi ina high school mi a beg yu fi mek mi work fi mi owna things, and wa yu always tell me?No. And now you’re cutting me off? Just like that?!”

“Yes.”

“Wow…” Taeja looked at the ceiling, blinking away tears. “Just wow.”

“What is there for you tojust wowabout, little girl?” Teddy asked condescendingly. “It is my son’s money! You never worked a day of your life, so you have no right to be angry!”

Taeja dragged her eyes from the ceiling, holding her head low while hershoulders slumped. “Sorry…”

Teddy nodded and relaxed into the seat.

“A neva this yu want, Taeja?” Jerry asked, and Taeja shook her head, unable to speak. “Then come home,” he said. “Or stay with Teddy until you learn how to behave. I am tired of telling you that you are acting like a whore.”

Taeja’s head snapped up, anger burning in her teary eyes. “Wow,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’m your only child, and all you do is belittle me.”

Jerry was unmoved by her tears. He always was. “I am not belittling you. I am trying to change your behavior—”

“Change my behavior?” Taeja scoffed. “You were never here for me when I needed you most, so nuh seh yu raise me when the two a wi know seh a tha broad face bitch deh and nanny raise me!”

“Who are you calling a broad face bitch?!” Teddy exclaimed. “You should be thankful that I took care of your ungrateful self after Cassedi dumped you on us! No wonder you are like this! You never had a good role model to begin with!”

Taeja pointed a shaking finger at Jerry and yelled, “Tell her that I’m like this because of you! And you’re mad at me?Me?! Know what—” Taeja stood, her hands clenched tightly at her side. “—fuck you, Jerry. Mi man shuda mash in yu face. And for your information, dutty Teddy, when Cassedi was in my life, she was a better role model than you’ll ever be!”

Teddy gasped, moving a hand to lie flat against her chest. “Jerry, are you going to allow her to speak to me with such disrespect?”

Jerry glared at Taeja. “I am tired of telling you to respect—”

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