He stared at his wife, almost in disbelief that feelings of pure hatred were boiling up in him and making him flush with so much anger that he started sweating.
“Mommy, I want to be with my daddy. Let me go.”
“Stop all that yelling, Myles. I want you to come back home with me.”
Several cars slowly drove past them, which infuriated Rashad. “Look at this shit. You got people staring at you like you're crazy.”
“The hell with them. I'm not crazy. I'm just doing what I have to do to protect my son.”
“He's my son, too, Kiara. I don't know why you seem to have forgotten that.” If his wife wasn't pregnant there was no telling what Rashad would have done to her. He didn't want to fight, but her unpredictable reactions drove him to respond in ways that he hated.
“All I know is, it's damn near Christmas,” he continued in a choked voice. “I wanted to take Myles shopping this weekend. I-I-I have all
kinds
of plans for him, don't you understand that?”
“I don't give a damn about your stupid plans,” she retorted. “You better learn how to speak to me like you have some sense. You can't just say anything in front of a child.”
Rashad felt like his wife was a hypocrite. She clearly saw his sins but was blind to her own. But he counted to ten and calmly told her, “Kiara, I apologize if it seems like I was disrespecting you. But can we let go of this argument? Please. And let me give Myles the chance he deserves to hang out with his father . . . his
real
father.”
“Oh hell no. I know you're not trying to throw shade at Eddison who's been nothing but remarkable to us. Plus, that boy's not stupid. He knows who his daddy is.”
“Mommy, you're hurting me. Please let me gooo.”
Kiara then realized she had Myles in a death grip. She felt his fragile bones between her fingers. She heard the hurt in his voice. She released him.
“Oh God. I'm sorry baby. I-I . . . please forgive me.”
With tears in his eyes, he nodded and leaned on his father's stomach.
“Kiara,” Rashad said in a gentle tone. “So you're going to let him be with me till Sunday night?”
She hesitated and reached in her purse. “Fine. I'll let him go with you since we went through all this trouble in the first place. We can negotiate a fair time for his drop off. But I want you to know that I bought him his own cell phone today. Whenever he's away from me, he must keep it on him at all times. And we taught him how to use it. In case of an emergency.”
“You really don't trust me, do you?”
“No, I do not. But that's beside the point. I just want Myles to be okay. I just want him to be happy.” Kiara's voice caught in her throat as she wiped tears from her eyes.
She kissed Myles's little cheeks and allowed a brave smile to brighten her face. “Bye baby. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Mommy. Come on, Daddy. My stomach is growling. Can't you hear it?”
“That's a damned shame. We'll go eat right now, son.”
Kiara swiftly turned around to leave. The street was slippery and wet. In her rush to get away, her feet got tangled together. The wedge heels were narrow and clumsy. Her right ankle twisted and gave in underneath her. Her umbrella plunked to the ground. She slipped on a pothole, and fell forward, but landed on her thigh. Her hand scraped the rugged, scraggly surface as she braced herself from injury.
“Ugh, ouch. Dammit.”
She lay on her side feeling totally embarrassed and wincing. Rashad wanted to ask if she was all right, but he simply stared at her.
Rain water sprayed her hair and cheeks. Her hair became a matted mess.
“I can't believe this. Rashad! Can you help me up or are you just gonna stand there?”
He gaped at Kiara and wondered if she just got what she deserved.
She'd made life so difficult for him recently. Rashad knew she was now seeing that man from her job, Eddison Osborne, and Nicole told him that they'd had an affair.
Rashad could clearly see Kiara's tiny baby bump. He wondered if the baby was his, even though she'd told him that it was.
“Rashad, did you hear me? I need your help.”
“Why should I?”
“Huh? I can't believe you said that!”
He had the eyes of a reptile; cold, curious, and calculating.
“I don't know whose baby you got inside of you.”
“Rashad, oh my God. How can you go there?”
“Because
you
went thereâwith that other nigga!”
“Now is not the time. Help me up, please.”
He stared down at her belly. And so did Myles.
Kiara felt completely humiliated. She never wanted their son to see her like this.
“Rashad, show your son how to treat a woman.
Show
your
son
how to
treat
a
woman
!”
Rashad looked skeptical and unmoving.
“Myles baby, please.”
Myles raced to his mother and immediately grabbed her outstretched hand. His tongue stuck out of his mouth as he struggled to help Kiara. Rashad suddenly rushed to the other side of her and held out his hand too.
Wincing in pain, she got on her knees, and leaned on Rashad as he hoisted her to her feet.
“Thank you, baby.” She ignored Rashad. “You are my precious son. You must always remember to be a gentleman, and help your mother. And always be good to a lady. Promise me.”
“I promise, Mommy.”
“Ha!” Rashad muttered.
“All right, okay. I can do this,” she said to herself. “I can make it to the car.”
“Bye-bye, Mommy. Don't forget to pick me up on Sunday.”
“I can never forget anything that has to do with you.”
She watched Myles excitedly race around to the other side of Rashad's sedan. He went and opened the passenger door for his son. Kiara waited until Myles was safely inside the car. She rubbed her hip and hobbled over to Rashad.
“You didn't act concerned about our unborn baby for one second.”
“I don't know whose baby that is.” He paused. “How many times did you fuck that dude?”
“How many times did you fuck both your baby mamas?”
“Oh, so you hooked up with him just to get revenge? Was his dick bigger than mine? I don't care how big it was, no man could ever love you like me!”
“Oh my God! Just be quiet with all that. I can't believe I used to love your pathetic ass. And you best believe that part of my life is gone. I'm moving on. And you're acting like a dick and trying to shame me in front of Myles is unforgivable. You'll never get this pussy again.”
She turned away again, this time moving more slowly than the first time. Then she quietly limped away. Hair soaking wet, but head held high.
After Kiara slid into the vehicle, she slammed her door, revved the engine, and waved her middle finger at Rashad as she drove past him.
Eason v. Eason had officially started.