Page 91 of Intentional Foul
“Are married,” she finished as she leaned backward. “Malcolm, I’m not stupid. The other night, I thought to myself,‘why would Jhae venture into the wives and girlfriends section?’She only knows two basketball players and only one of them is in love with her. I called in a favor and you know what hit my computer this morning? Pictures of you and Jhae in Chicago and St. Thomas, with both of you wearing wedding bands. But you were slick in L.A., both of you used Marquise as a thirdwheel. When my PI couldn’t find the marriage license, I knew you wrapped your sister into this bullshit.”
“Anissa, I tried. . .” Jhae blurted.
Mom lifted her hand to pause her statement.
“I don’t want to hear it, Jhae. I asked you to be Khaira’s godmother. You’ve been fucking my son and using my jet to do it. Excuse me, youmarriedhim and didn’t have the guts to tell me. We are supposed to be better than this. You lied to me at Vine, and you’vebeenlying to me. Jhae, you had ample opportunity to tell me,” Mom said.
Jhae untangled her hands from me to face off with mom. “Anissa, I was scared because I didn’t want to lose you. I didn’t plan this. It happened, and I love him.”
I held my tongue from behind as I witnessed the rage on my mother’s face. Jhae had found her voice and her feistiness as she defended our union.
“Did you groom my son?” Mom asked.
Jhae shot up from her seat. “Are you fucking crazy? I would never do that.”
Those words triggered me to defend my wife. “Mom, you’re going too far. I’m an adult with my own mind. I pursued her the same way Pops did you.” I said.
I tugged Jhae to lower her back to my seat.
“You told him to do this?” Mom asked after she shifted in her seat to face Pops.
“Niecy, that’s a loaded question. I didn’t know he was talking about Jhae. Why does it matter? Our son is happy and Jhae is a good person. Would you rather he be with someone we didn’t know?” Pops asked.
Mom scoffed at Pops’ statement as if he spewed something hateful into the atmosphere. I witnessed him swallowing the lump in his throat.
“Kal, my best friend is fucking our son and tricked him into marriage. And you’re okay with it?” Mom asked Pops with a slanted head and folded arms.
“Niecy, they are adults. Malcolm wasn’t going to stop until he got Jhae, his music note. We know our son,” Pops said, stating the obvious.
Mom moved to the end of the couch with her eyes fixated on Pops. “Tell you what, you stay here with your son and this backstabbing bit...”
“Mom!” I roared to stop her from finishing her sentence. “Jhae is my wife and there will be no name calling. You taught me to be respectful and to fight fair, but you’re in here being disrespectful. When Pops came into the picture, I accepted him with no questions asked. I’m asking for the same courtesy,” I said.
“Mom, that was foul. You taught us both better. I know your feelings are hurt but Malcolm is grown. If you’re Jhae’s friend, why wouldn’t you want her to have the same happiness you have?” Marquise questioned.
The room fell into a temporary silence as Mom stood on her feet. She removed her earrings and kicked off her shoes.
“Niecy, what are you doing?” Pops questioned and he angled his body in her direction.
“I’m going to beat her ass,” Mom confirmed before she tried rounding the ottoman. Pops secured her body, lifting her in the air. Mom swung her arms wildly as she tried to force herself from his hold. Jhae’s body stiffened as she blocked her face, expecting blows.
“Khalil, let me go. She turned my family against me and fucked my son,” Mom demanded through screams.
Pops ignored her request and ushered her to the opposite side of the room. The atmosphere was chaotic with mom screaming to get at Jhae. Marquise was frozen and I knew thistriggered his trauma, but I couldn’t focus on him. I lowered Jhae’s hands.
“It’s okay, I deserve it,” she said.
I cupped Jhae’s face, wiping away her tears. “Baby, no you don’t deserve anyone putting their hands on you. Go to the bedroom and wait for me,” I said, and she shook her head in agreement.
“This is wild as fuck,” Marquise said as he stood, witnessing Pops restrain Mom.
I waved my hand in his face to get his attention. Once he diverted his eyes toward me, I asked, “bro, can you take Jhae to the bedroom?”
“Jhae, I’m ruining your shit. Kiss that career goodbye. You’ll be selling CDs on the side of the road when I’m finished,” Mom screamed as Marquise ushered Jhae out of the living room.
I waited until they turned the corner before I approached my parents. “Mom, I love Jhae,” I said, and she furrowed her brows as Pops held her.
“You’re getting a divorce,” she said, and I shook my head no.
