Page 95 of Devanté
“Okay, I’m done with my half, D. I’m going to be nosey at the Remington’s.” Janet washed her hands in the bathroom then came out to look at me.
“What?” I asked, after wiping the last baseboard.
“I’m proud of you little brother.” She tossed a playful punch at me then folded her arms. “I mean, I’ve been proud of you but now you’re coming into your own. Something about you and Blake being together looks so good on you. It looks good on her too because she is sparkling.”
“She is,” I agreed with a nod. I wanted to make her sparkle every day of our lives. She deserved it.
“I’m glad you finally grew some balls and subpoenaed that bitch Renee too. Look at my little brother growing up.” She shook her head then gave me a hug. She had to stand on her tiptoes to do it, but it was a hug I cherished.
“Since you had to stand on your tiptoes to hug me, doesn’t that make me the big brother?”
“Fuck no. Stay in a child’s place. I’ll be back in a little while. I’m sure Blake needs someone to rescue her from her crazy-ass mother.” Janet didn’t know how right she was.
After I went to my house, showered, and got dressed, I would head over to the Remington’s house too in case Blake needed backup.
I let my parents know I was leaving then I grabbed my keys and headed out. Before I got home, I stopped at the jewelry store and picked up something I knew Blake would love. I couldn’t wait to see her smile.
After I was cleaned up and dressed, I grabbed my keys and the present for Blake then walked out of the door. I was heading to my car when someone pulled into my driveway, blocking me in. A frown creased my face as I walked over to the car.
When the window rolled down and I saw Renee’s face, I groaned. “Can you move your fucking car? I need to leave.”
“Devanté, please…can we talk?” She hopped out before I went back to my car and clasped her hands under her chin. “Listen, I know the results came back that Little Devanté isn’t yours but…”
“You should stop calling him Little Devanté. He’s not a junior. He’s not even mine.”
“I know. Look, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure and of course, I wanted you to be his father.”
“You weren’t sure? There’s no way in hell I could have been his father and you know it. You wanted to pin your child on me.” My nostrils flared with anger. Renee rolled her lips between her teeth and nodded.
“I wanted a stable father for him. That’s all. Can you blame me for that?”
“Yeah. I can.” I folded my arms across my chest. “What the hell do you want, Renee? I’m five seconds away from calling the cops on you.”
“I wanted to ask you something. I know you’re mad at me and everything but…” She twisted a ring on her finger then looked up at me. “Can you hear me out? My son still needs a good father or at least a father figure. Could you at least be in his life so he knows what a real man looks like?”
I couldn’t believe my ears or my eyes for that matter. Renee was standing in front of me with tears streaming down her cheeks like she hadn’t tried to manipulate the fuck out of me. I blinked slowly to make sure I wasn’t hearing or seeing things.
“What?” The word jumped from my mouth along with a scoff. “You want me to be in your son’s life after what the fuck you pulled?”
“I know, Devanté. I was dead wrong. You can’t blame me for wanting the best for my child.”
“I can blame you for it and I do.” I leaned against my car. “You need to find your son’s father and help him build a relationship with your son. I’m not a part of that and I never will be.”
She blinked away crocodile tears and sniffled. “I know you. You’re all about kindness and giving. Where’s that spirit when it comes down to an innocent baby? A baby who needs a good man like you in his life.”
It was a low blow using my personal philosophy of kindness against me. Normally, the people-pleaser in me would have given in to the guilt trip but Renee didn’t deserve any kindness from me. She would have gladly fucked me over for eighteen years if I hadn’t insisted on a paternity test.
“You know what? Iama good man. I’m going to make sure my kids experience that. I don’t have any obligation to you or your son. I don’t need to be in his life. Find his dad and handle that. Now, move your damn car so I can leave.”
“You’re really not going to be in his life? I’m not even asking for money…”
“Renee, I don’t give a fuck what you’re asking for. I said what the fuck I meant. I’m not going to be in his life. I’m not going to be in yours either and I hope like hell this is the last time I ever see your face. If I do see you again, rest assured I’ll be filing a restraining order and suing you for defamation of character.” I looked past her at her car. “Now can you move that shit so I can leave? Or should I call the police?”
Renee was stunned silent for a minute. When things clicked back into place, she took a step back from me and folded her arms. “Fine. Whatever. I knew you were a fucking fraud. Talking all that love and kindness bullshit…” I stopped listening after that and got in my car.
I rolled down the window and stuck my head out. “If you don’t move it, I’m going to back into it. I have the money to buy a new one. Do you?” That made her put some pep in her step. She got her car out of the way and I sped off knowing I was done with her once and fucking for all.
…
