A Rich Man's Baby. Daaimah S. Poole
I still might have to get a second job to handle all my expenses. The only time I missed Tyrone was when I started thinking about my finances. I was so happy to have my bed to myself. I stretched out and didn’t have to hear no snoring. I didn’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to turn off the television, and I didn’t have an old man begging me for sex.
My only regret was I wished I had left him sooner. I’d been feeling incomplete for years, but I was too scared to leave. I always asked myself, Who’s going to help me with the children and pay the bills?
I should have him left when I was in my twenties, ’cause now at thirty-two, I wasn’t old, but it was going to be a little harder getting on the dating scene. I knew I still looked good. No one could ever believe I was over thirty. I didn’t do anything special, but I maintained my weight. And I drank a lot of water. My mocha skin was always smooth and soft, and my hair, I wore it just below my shoulder. I did very little makeup. But however I looked on the outside, I didn’t feel it on the inside. I’d been around an old man for so long I had old-lady ways. Tyrone was still heartbroken, but I couldn’t live for him. His best friend George’s wife, Rose, had been calling me, asking me to reconsider. His chains were off me. I was free, and I wasn’t turning back.
I soaked in the scalding hot bubble bath. I liked my water so hot that I could barely take it. I sat in the tub and just relaxed. I had the Smooth Jazz station playing. My mind was at ease. I had my dinner cooking on low and had just enough time to relax, until I heard a loud knock at the door. It never failed. I couldn’t even take a bath without somebody bothering me. I loved my kids, but I always imagined life without them. I’d been tied down since I could remember.
“Mommy, my daddy told me to tell you he downstairs,” Kierra yelled.
“Okay, tell him I’ll be down,” I said as I hurried and washed and let the water out of the tub.
After I dressed in my walk-around-the-house clothes, I came downstairs to see Tyrone sitting on the sofa. He looked like he had tried to clean up some, and he had lost a little weight. He had a haircut and shaved off his gray sideburns. I still wasn’t attracted to him. He stood up so I could see the changes.
“What’s up?” I said as I looked at him with my hands on my hips.
“Nothing, just wanted to have a quick visit. Where are Jamil and Alexis?”
“Alexis is over at her friend’s house, and Jamil didn’t get in here yet.”
“Well, hopefully I’ll get to see them before I leave. Jamil had called me yesterday, said he wanted to talk to me. Something smells good,” he said as Kierra played with his nose and eyes. I guess he wanted me to ask him if he wanted some dinner.
“You want something to eat?” I huffed.
“That would be nice. I’m losing weight; ain’t been eating right since you kicked me out,” he laughed. He was looking for a reaction from me, but he didn’t get one.
“Your dinner’s on the table. Kierra, go eat,” I said as I went to get Kierra’s and my clothes ready for the next day.
I came back downstairs and he was sitting on the sofa. Baby Girl was asleep on his chest. Ty’s boots were off and he had the remote in his hand like he still lived there.
“All right, Tyrone. I’m going to bed.”
“Is that an invite?” he chuckled.
“No, it is not. I’m too tired to play with you.”
“So you sure you don’t want me to come up? Kierra’s asleep and the kids are not here.”
“I’m very sure, Tyrone. Can you lock the door on the way out?”
He looked at me like I had said something wrong.
“All right, soon as I see the end of this I will. I’m going to put the trash out for you.”
“You don’t have to. Jamil will do it tomorrow.”
“I don’t mind.” Tyrone was using any excuse to stay a little longer.
Chapter 5
Adrienne
I was preparing a healthy meal that consisted of a medley of vegetables, baked chicken, and brown rice. I had leaned over to turn my rice down when my cell phone rang.
“Hey, miss,” a voice sang out.
“What’s up, Stacey?” I asked as I drained the steaming pot of rice.
“I want you to come to my bridal shower. I need your address. It is very informal. Me and some of my friends are renting a stretch Hummer limo and having fun.”
I gave her my address; then she asked me what I was doing.
“Cooking.”
“Cooking dinner? Oh my God, you have a boyfriend,” she said excitedly.
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Whatever, you are going to have to update me when you get to work.”
I couldn’t wait until we got to work to fill her in. So I put the pot on the stove and said, “It’s my trainer.”
“Your trainer? I knew you were getting a little too toned,” she yelled.
She wasn’t lying. In three weeks, my body was firm. It was nice having a boyfriend and trainer in the same person. Our relationship was going at an accelerated pace, but it was good.
“I’ll see you when I get in,” I said as I cut my vegetables off.
Fifteen minutes later, I heard keys jingling in the door. Kyle walked into the apartment. I was just setting the table. I usually would never let a man I just met have keys to my house or stay with me. But it felt so good having someone around, and it wasn’t like I didn’t know him.
He washed his hands and began making his plate. He poured almost the entire pot of vegetables on his plate and half of a chicken breast. He then poured a giant-size glass of water. I didn’t really like sitting down with him to eat. It seemed like he was counting every calorie that went into my mouth. I put a few spoonfuls of rice, a full breast, and what was left of the vegetables on my plate.
“Don’t eat too much. I don’t want you to mess up how tight I got that butt,” he said. He was right. Since I’d been dealing with him, my abs and butt were tight as hell. I could go pose in a spread in any magazine now with no airbrushing.
“How was work today?” I asked.
“It was okay. I’m just going to have to drop you off at work because my car is giving me problems. I took it to the mechanic on the way home. He said it is going to be around four hundred.”
“What’s the matter with it?” I asked as I cut my chicken across with my knife and fork.
“The alternator and the fan belt. You think I could borrow the money until I get paid Friday?”
“Okay.”
“Can you go get the money out before you go to work? That way I don’t have to use your car again. I can drop my car off tonight.”
Before I went to work Kyle followed me to the ATM. As I withdrew the money out of the machine, something clicked in my head. Why am I getting his car fixed? I felt a little silly. But I knew once he got paid he would give me the money back.
Friday came and I didn’t hear from Kyle. The last time I talked to or saw him was when I put the money to get his car fixed in his hand. He had let three days go by without calling me. I wasn’t even calling him about my money. I was just trying to see if he was okay. I dialed his number and he didn’t answer his phone. That was strange, but I still didn’t panic. But by twelve I was almost in tears. We were dating for only a few weeks, but I felt so close to him and knew he wouldn’t stop calling me over money. I got out of my bed, drank some water, and tried to go to