Page 63 of See No Evil

Desiree’s eyes grew big and her stomach dropped. The silence that ensued was deafening.

“What you mean, just Kaylee? That’smydaughter, man.”

Oh, so you want to act like she’s yours now that another man has helped step up to the plate!Desiree wanted to scream those words out, but decided to stay quiet, and calm. Keep her thoughts to herself.

“Man, don’t trip. Kaylee knows, I know, and Desiree knows she has a father already. Desiree has her side of the story, you have yours, but all I care about is the kid’s wellbeing, man. You gotta take ego outta this…my daughter,shit like that. I know that’s your child, man, but that’s my woman’s child, too. She raises her the majority of the time. Period. This ain’t no beef unless you want to turn it into one. The choice is yours.”

“I ain’t tryna beef with you. I’m just saying she already has a daddy. I don’t know you, man. I’m funny about who’s around my kids.”

Oh… I can’t believe this! Jacob is tryna show his entire ass!

“That’s good, but be funny enough about them to be in their lives more, Jacob, so they can see your face. Be funny enough to pay their way in life. Send that money on the regular. Des told me you ain’t have a father in the home, and neither did I. That means we should appreciate even more when a child has her daddy around. Kaylee got two. Straight, no chaser.”

Desiree smiled at that.

“Nah homie, yo’ math wrong. She gotonefather, and then there’s you. A boyfriend. Don’t get too attached to my daughter. You’ll be gone in a month or two. Just like all dem other niggas Desiree ran through.”

“Let me hip you to some game, mothafucka.”

OH SHIT! LEGEND, NO!She opened the door wider, just in case she had to break up a fight.

“I’m the one payin’ for the uniforms Kaylee needs for school, puttin’ lunch and field trip money in her school account. It was me, with Desiree, at the parent teacher conference, not you, and you knew that ’cause Desiree told you, but you ain’t have no issue with that, now did you? You can’t just do the fun shit and call yourself a daddy, then get mad when another man fills in the gaps. It is what it is.”

“I actually asked Desiree to give me yo’ number, because—”

“Nigga, I ain’t hard to find!”

“Who you callin’ a nigga, nigga?! I don’t give uh fuck if youishalf Puerto Rican, mothafucka! YoulookWhite, and—”

“You didn’t try and call me and tell me about myself when I was paying for yo’ seed’s bills, now did you?! You a part-timer, for a full-time kid! Ain’t no off days! You better watch yo’ fuckin’ mouth before you find all ya teeth on the gotdamn floor. Then maybe you can tell the tooth fairy to come get them mothafuckas, and she can give you a few bucks, so you canfinallystart taking care of your kid!”

Both men turned towards Kaylee’s bedroom door when Desiree poked her head out, giving them the evil eye…

“Settle down, and let’s act civil,” Legend said after a long exhale. “We can’t be hollering at each other like this. We’re two grown men giving love to that little girl. Blessings. All I’m saying is that I treat her as my own. You should want that. I’m not on no bullshit. Nobody is tryna write over your name on the birthcertificate. Put your daughter first, ego last, and everything will be gravy.”

“…I do want that. I just, uh, yeah… okay. Well, we better get going. Hey, Kaylee! Daddy’s here! You ready?!” Jacob’s voice cracked.

“Almost, Daddy!” the girl stated excitedly.

Desiree helped her fit a few more socks and what not inside her suitcase, then zipped it up. They walked out of her bedroom door, to the living room area. Jacob was waiting in a black hoodie and jeans, six feet with a muscular build. Yet, he looked so small next to Legend. In more ways than one.

Jacob got ready to speak, then wrinkles formed along his forehead as Kaylee raced past them both and jumped in Legend’s arms. Legend smiled and kissed her cheek.

“You be good this weekend, okay?”

“I will!” Kaylee kissed him back, right on the cheek, hugged and kissed her mother, then took her father’s hand. Desiree and Jacob spoke of a few details, such as confirmation of arrival times and what not, and then, she opened the door to let them out.

“Bye, Mama!”

“Bye, baby! Call me a lot, okay? I want to hear about the swimming pool, and everything!”

“Okay! I love you!”

“I love you, too!” she and Legend said at the same time.

When they were gone, she closed and locked the door. She shook her head, then turned to him, smiling.

“I think I’m having a harder time than she is. She loves her daddy, no matter how many promises he’s broken. All he has to do is keep one or two, out of hundreds that were ignored, and she’s wrapped around his finger.” She sucked her teeth and made her way to the kitchen. Legend followed. Standing close, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

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