Never Again, No More 6, page 25
“Indeed. I’ll type up the statement right now,” he said, going to sit at his laptop.
Soon, the statement was typed and printed, and both Gary and my father signed, albeit my father did it begrudgingly. My father stared out of the window as Gary walked me out of the conference room.
Concerned for Gary, I asked, “Are you sure you’re going to be all right? He’s a shark, and he’s just aiming to attack you.”
“He trained me to be better than him. I’m always ten steps and twenty ideas ahead of him, even when he thinks I’m not. I hate to admit it, but when it comes to this, I am truly cut from his cloth. Right now, he’s probably trying to think of some other groups who have voting rights in the company, but all the ones who do are the children of the parents that he was friends with. They have their loyalties to me for saving their asses. You know, getting a DUI charge dropped here or getting the old man to provide them with insider trading information there. I’m a Randall. What can I say?”
“Nah, man. You’re a Jennings.”
He laughed. “True,” he said and bumped my shoulder. “I can never make it up to you about all the awful things I’ve said and done to you and LaMeka, but there is something I want to do that I feel is only right.”
“What’s that?”
“Mom left me a quarter million–dollar life insurance policy that I never cashed. I never wanted to because I turned my back on her so long ago. I felt guilty for ever taking money from her in her death. I’m going to sign it over to you and LaMeka. Consider it an early wedding present or college fund from me.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
He put his hand up. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Let me have this moment, please.”
For a moment, I considered what he was truly asking of me. It was his way of making up for all the hell he’d not only put me through, but our mother. He needed redemption. If his soul felt this was how to make it right, then who was I stand in the way?
“Well, far be it from me to turn down free-with-no-strings-attached money.”
“Good. I’ll have the paperwork over to you in a few days. So, how long are you here for?”
“Another hour. I have to get going so I can hail a cab to the airport. I have a flight to catch.”
“Our limo service will take you,” he said. “I’ll have Lindsey call them. You have a safe flight back, and hopefully one day, I might get to see my niece or nephew.” He hugged me again.
“My door is always open. You decide when you want to come through it.”
He had Lindsey get the limo, and by the time I got downstairs, they were waiting to take me to the airport. I couldn’t wait to board the plane and get back to LaMeka. I had so much to share with her.
The few times on the plane that I nodded off, I jumped up feeling for the proof and the statement, which were still tucked away in my inside jacket pocket. I wasn’t going to sleep until I did two things: show LaMeka the good news and put this good news in my safe deposit box at the bank. There was no way I was going to allow this information to stay at my house for it to magically disappear. I was a Randall man, too, and I knew my father was not above setting up a break-in just to get back at me. He just wasn’t smart enough to realize that I thought like him.
The moment I landed at the airport and got my car, I headed straight to LaMeka’s house. It took everything in me to obey the traffic laws. I didn’t need anything getting in my way of getting to her. I was tired and completely drained, but I pushed all of that to the back of my mind because a bigger issue was at hand. It was time to get my family back.
As I walked up the steps, I said a silent prayer and rang the doorbell. Misha answered.
“I figured it’d be you,” she said. “Come in.”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“In the family room, watching television with Mom and the boys,” Misha answered. “I must warn you that it’s not going to be easy. She’s still highly pissed and extremely hurt. Do you have what you need?”
“Yes.” I patted my jacket. “Right here. In fact, I’d like you and your mother to stay while I speak with Meka. You all need to hear this, and I need all the help I can get.”
Misha sighed. “No truer words have ever been spoken. Come on.” She led the way.
“Meka, you have a visitor,” Misha called out as I entered the room.
She looked back at me and turned back. “I don’t know that man. Since you let him in, you can get him out of my house now.”
Misha looked at me. “I told you.”
I looked at her mom. “Hi, Ms. Barbara.”
She smiled at me. “Hey, Gavin,” she said as the boys ran over to me and hugged me.
“Gavin!” they yelled.
“Hey, boys,” I hugged them tightly. “I’ve missed you guys so much.”
“Boys!” Meka yelled. “Go to your room.”
Without hesitation, they headed out, stalking to their bedroom.
“Was that really necessary?” Ms. Barbara said to Meka.
“They don’t need to reattach themselves to someone who is no longer in our lives. Do I have to remind you that you’re my mother, not his?” Meka said angrily.
Ms. Barbara threw up her hands. “Gavin, do you need some privacy with her?” she asked with an attitude.
“No, he needs to be gone,” Meka yelled.
“You all have a baby together, Meka, damn!” her mother yelled and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry.”
Meka shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if he knows or not. He’s a non-muthafucking-factor now.” She glared angrily at me.
“Meka, that is my child, too. I want to be a part of his or her life—both of y’all’s lives. All of y’all’s lives.”
“Really? So, um, how do you suppose we do that? Live under a rock? I’m not putting my family at risk for your emotions, and you damn sure can’t protect us.”
“That’s why I’m here. I can.”
She threw her hands up and stormed up to me, pushing and hitting me. “Get out! Get out! I’ve heard enough lies outta you. There’s nothing you can do. You are a liar, Gavin Randall, and I do not have time for your fake-ass promises. Get out before I fuck you up,” she screamed as her mom and sister pulled her back.
I put my hand up. “It’s okay. That much I deserved.”
“Ugh! Why are you here?” Meka yelled so loud it shook the pictures. Then she grabbed her stomach. “Ow! Ugh!” She winced, and I ran to her aid.
“Baby, stop this. You’re going to make you and the baby sick.”
“She’s been so depressed lately that the doctor has already put her on strict bed rest for six weeks,” her mother said. “Meka, calm down before you cause harm to this child!”
“Thank you, Mother, for telling all of my business,” Meka said sarcastically as she sat back on the sofa and took deep breaths.
I sat down beside her. “Baby, even if you don’t accept me back, don’t put your health or the baby’s at risk over this. All I’m asking is that you just listen to what I have to say. Please. You can hate me later if you choose. Just don’t do this to yourself or the baby.”
She exhaled, exhausted from the flurry of action. “I don’t even have the energy to argue with you. Make it quick, Gavin,” she said as Misha brought her a bottle of water. She took a sip and looked at me. “Seriously, I can’t be calm while you’re here, so be quick about this so you can leave.”
I took her hand, and surprisingly, she didn’t snatch away from me. “I apologize for not telling you the truth about my dad’s plans before. I always thought I would come up with some way to get out of his scheme without losing you. I’m sorry that it made you feel that I was selling you a fake dream. I just wanted to spend as much time with you as I could while I could.” I caressed her hand.
She looked away from me. “Get on with it.”
“But I’m free and clear of my father for good, and I have the proof. There’s something that you all need to know about me that I just found out this morning,” I said as I pulled out the picture, birth certificate, letter, and statement. “You remember the box of mementos that you always told me that I should go through?”
“The ones your mother left you?” Meka asked me. I nodded. “Yeah. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything. Baby, I should’ve listened to you long ago. The box fell as I was preparing to do something very stupid, and when I looked, I found something that halted my crazy decision.”
LaMeka eyed me in disbelief. “Do not tell me you went for that gun?”
My face was a stone. “Do you see me laughing right now? Woman, do you not know how much I love you? I am prepared to do whatever it takes for you, to have you, to protect you, and to love you. You and my seed.” I rubbed my hand across her stomach.
Tears dropped from her eyes, and she wiped them quickly. “Umm, go ahead with your story,” she said, getting emotional.
“Anyway, I found this,” I showed her the picture.
“Who is this?” she asked as her mom and Misha looked on.
“That is Jerry and Lois Jennings. My grandparents. My mother’s parents.”
She shrugged. “Okay. You finally have a picture of your grandfather.”
“Then there’s this. Pay attention the names and the boxes right beside the names.” I handed her the birth certificate. “Go ahead. Read it aloud.”
Reluctantly taking the paper out of my hand, she rolled her eyes in aggravation. “Certificate of Live Birth. Child: Diana Laurie Jennings. That’s your mother. Okay, so this is her birth certificate,” she said aloud.
I nodded. “Just keep reading.”
She huffed, then continued. “Mother: Lois Zimmer Jennings, and the box beside it says the ethnicity is white. Okay, moving on to the father, it says Jerry Lee Jennings, and the ethnicity box says he is Negro.” She stopped and looked at me. Then she looked back at the birth certificate. “Wait a minute!”
“He’s black?” Meka, Misha, and her mother said together as they all looked back at the photo of my grandfather.
“Yep, he’s got a light complexion, but he’s black.”
“Wait a minute. So your mother, the blond-head and blue-eyed lady you have in your wallet is biracial?” Meka asked.
I nodded. “Yep. She is. She took all of my grandmother’s features.”
“So that means you’re one-quarter black?” Misha asked, though it came off as more of a statement. “Damn it, man. I knew you had some black in you somewhere.”
“That’s not all. Here’s a letter that my mom wrote to me.” I gave it to Meka, and she read the letter aloud.
She gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my God! So, you never knew this, and neither did your brother or father?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
Misha snapped her fingers. “That’s why you left. To tell them,” she blurted as LaMeka looked over at her. “I mean, I’m guessing you told them,” she stammered.
“Mm-hmm. Whatever. I know you can’t hold water, Misha. Save it. You and Gavin have always been two peas in a pod,” LaMeka said.
“I simply can’t believe this. Talk about family secrets. Oh my gosh, Gavin. So, did you tell your father and brother?” Ms. Barbara asked.
“Did I? In fact, I have a statement that my brother personally typed up, stating that they will not interfere with our relationship or bring unjust harm either physically, mentally, or financially to me or Meka and our family. They both signed it,” I said, giving Meka the statement. “Apparently, it’s better for my father to keep up his reputation than to interfere with us.”
Meka gasped. “Gavin, is this for real? Like, seriously for real?”
“Yes. Not only is it for real. It gets better. My brother turned on my dad today after he found out how my dad truly treated my mother, and well, of course, after finding out he was part of a black man himself. I couldn’t have dreamt up a better ending. I only wish you had been there to see it all unfold.”
Shaking her head with confusion, she flailed her hands. “So, how do things stand with you, your dad, and your brother?” Meka asked me.
“Gerald is caught between a rock and hard place. He still doesn’t care for our arrangement, but he has no choice, and Gary has him in a bind with the business so he can’t retaliate. Surprisingly, Gary and I were able to talk for a minute, and he apologized to me and you,” I explained, and then I whispered in her ear so that no one could hear. “He even turned over his life insurance policy my mom left him. He said it’s for our wedding or a college fund for the baby.”
Meka simply nodded to let me know that she’d heard me, and then laughed. “This is surreal.”
“It feels that way, but I promise you, it is very real.”
Ms. Barbara hit Misha. “This is our cue. Let’s give these two some alone time.” They both hugged me and walked out to give us a moment.
I knew this was my time to shine. It was now or never in order to win Meka’s heart back. It was all good sharing the news, but it was all for nothing if I couldn’t have my lady back in my life. I’d never been more nervous in my life when I turned to face her. Yet, by the grace of God, I found the courage to try.
I looked at Meka and held her hands. “You know I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you. When you found out, a part of me died, and when I thought you killed our baby, I was ready to die. Meka, without you in my life, I’m just a shell of a man moving from one day to the next, existing but not living. I want to live, and I want to live with you. Hell, I feel like I need you to live. You, the boys, our baby, you all are my life. I just want my life back. I love you.”
Meka shed the tears she had tried so hard to hide.
“Don’t cry, baby,” I said, wiping her tears away.
We sat in our emotions for a long time. I didn’t rush her or push her. I wanted to be fair and give her the time to process her thoughts, her feelings, and her answer, even if a part of me slowly died on the inside.
“It’s just that I love you, too, Gavin. I know that you went through all this trouble to get this proof and settle this, but I’m so afraid still. Who’s to say that your father won’t think of some way to get back at us? Then I don’t know if I believe in you to protect us the way you say you can. I’ve heard this before, and I still ended up without you.”
“No, you can choose to end up with me. If you had never found out—”
“We would still be in the same position. You would’ve left me.”
“And I would’ve went off the deep end to plot against my family, read the mementos, and we would still be here in the same place—me with proof that they will leave us alone and you choosing whether or not to give me one last chance. Don’t you see that no matter what happens, we always end up back together?
“We pray every day, go to church, and believe in God. Where is your faith, Meka? Don’t put it in me. Put it in God that He’ll take care of us. I have. He’s brought us this far. What further proof do you need?” I was shocked by my own words. I’d never intended to say those things, but it was as if God Himself took over my mouth, and out it flowed. I prayed it would be enough.
She stood up and walked to the bay window and sat down on the ledge. She stared out of it for a few moments, and then I got up and walked over to her. There was nothing else left to say. I’d put it all out there on the line. The ball was in her court. Whatever she decided was what would be. I wouldn’t force the issue anymore if she chose not to be with me because after putting it out on the line like that, I’d finally come to terms that I could make peace with whatever decision she made. I’d take care of her and my child regardless. That was my word.
She looked back at me and stood up. “I never thought that I would say this to you, especially after you didn’t tell me about your father’s threats, but you are right. I pray every day, and yet I still haven’t learned where to put my faith. I thank you for reminding me of that. I needed to hear that. You see, I’ve been praying for guidance, answers, and understanding, and I didn’t realize that God would send all of that through you. The choice is clear, and I choose to trust God,” she said as she walked up to me and held my hands. “I’m going to trust God that you are meant to be my husband, but you have to put forth the effort to get there.”
I smiled at her and gently pulled her to me by the waist. “What does that mean?”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and stared me directly in the eyes. “It means that you have a lot of making up to do. You are at my every beck and call. I figure that you can start with nightly body massages, which means you’d have to stay here every night, and since I’m starting to have cravings, it means two a.m. runs for some Ben and Jerry’s. Perhaps a little girls’ vacation weekend paid for by you for me, Lucinda, Misha, and my mother is in order, too.”
“Wow. All of that, huh?” I chuckled.
“Yep. All of that. And there’s plenty more where that came from.”
“Am I doing all of this as your baby’s daddy, or as your man?”
“Neither.”
I furrowed my brow. “Neither?”
She nodded her head. “Yes. I said neither. You are doing all of that as my fiancé.”
I smiled and hugged her tightly. “I love you so much, baby.”
She pulled back. “I love you, too, but you’re not my fiancé yet.”
“Huh? But you just said—”
“I need the ring back first. Then, it’ll be official.”
“Oh, don’t think I didn’t come prepared. I’ve carried this thing with me everywhere I went, just waiting for this moment to happen.” I pulled the ring out of my inside jacket pocket and kneeled on one knee. “LaMeka Roberts, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She rubbed her thumb across my cheek. “I’d love nothing more than to be Mrs. Gavin Randall.”
I slipped the ring back on her finger. “It’s right where it belongs.” I stood up and passionately kissed my future bride.
In the background, we heard a thunderous applause and yelps. LaMeka and I began laughing.
“Oh, come on in and celebrate with us, you nosy heifers,” LaMeka yelled to her mom and sister.
