BUBBLING WITH JOY ON THE inside, Kayla’s eyes roamed over the quaint family room at the oceanfront beach home she’d soon move in with Richmond. Standing in the center of the room with a dirty rag hanging over her shoulder, dust on her face, and her hair tangled in a crazy mess, she’d cleaned the house from top to bottom today. Glad about how the renovations were coming along, she loved the look of the off-white wooden floors she’d had installed. The renovations were moving at a quick pace, making Kayla very happy. If things went as planned, maybe they’d be moved in by Christmas.
Definitely before the New Year. Kayla looked out the window and fixated her gaze on the ocean. Grey clouds floated in the sky over the dull blue sea. Waves crashed along the edges of the soft sand. A white sailboat cruised the waters in the far distance. Playing house, Richmond’s never going to marry you, her conscious warned inside her head. Bottom lip folding under from her negative thoughts, Kayla turned from the window and made her way into the kitchen.
The beach theme throughout the house seemed to come together perfectly with the help of her interior decorator. Grey painted walls, stone white glass cabinets in the kitchen, and light blue sofas in the family room, she could live here forever, and hopefully she would.
Wanting to touch up the stove just a little bit more, she grabbed the oven cleaner, a small bucket of water, and a clean rag. Lowering the latch, she got down on her knees and sprayed the oven cleaner inside the stove. Circling the rag on the bottom of the oven, she heard the sliding glass door open.
“Mommy!” CJ screamed. “Look what I got!” Kayla stood to see what all the ruckus was about. As Richmond closed the sliding glass door, CJ and Isabelle were running up to her, carrying pails and shovels in their hands. “We found seashells, Mommy!”
“You did?” Kayla wiped her flat dirty hands on her worn jeans. She peered down at CJ’s pail, loaded with beautiful seashells. “Wow. Looks like you both found a lot.”
Isabelle extended her pail towards Kayla’s face. “I found some, too, Mommy!”
Oh geez. She called me Mommy. As Kayla’s eyes met with Richmond’s, she felt a shock run through her. Unsure of how to respond, she chose her words carefully.
Not wanting to hurt Isabelle’s feelings, Kayla stooped down in front of her and cupped her tiny little shoulders. “Isabelle, I’m not so sure if you should call me Mommy, sweetheart.”
Isabelle’s head tilted. “But I want you to be my mommy.”
Brushing her long, curly hair, Kayla’s heart turned to mush. She and this darling little girl shared a strong, special bond. She loved Isabelle like a daughter, so she definitely understood where the precocious kid was coming from. “I know you want me to be your mommy, Isabelle. But it’s important that you remember you already have a mommy. Your mother is in Heaven, and she loves you.”
Isabelle nodded. “I know. My mommy told me so when she came to see me in my dream. I think my real mommy likes you. Can we go play with the seashells?”
Not sure how to respond, Kayla rose to her feet. Thank God Isabelle had changed the subject, because she didn’t know if she was doing a good job at trying to explain things to her. “Sure. CJ, don’t forget your father is coming to pick you up soon, so don’t get dirty.”
“Yay! My daddy is coming to get me.” CJ was ecstatic about seeing his father, Carson.
As soon as Isabelle and CJ left the kitchen to go inside the garage, Kayla breathed out a deep breath. A despondent look took over Richmond’s features. “I’m so proud of the way you handled Isabelle.”
Kayla rubbed her arms. “I didn’t know what to say.”
“Me either. But I can assure you…your answer was way better than the one I probably would’ve given.”
Skeptical to ask Richmond about Salina, Kayla nibbled her bottom lip. “There’s something I want to ask you, but I don’t want you to get mad at me for asking.”
“I don’t want you to ever fear asking me something. You may not like my answer, but I want you to be comfortable with coming to me about anything that concerns you. We’re about to move in together, share a life together. Communication is key in having a successful relationship.”
“So I can ask you anything?”
“Yes. Anything.”
Broaching a subject about Salina may make him sad. Knowing this, she grabbed his hand and led him to sofa. Sitting next to him, she grabbed both of his hands and linked her eyes with his. “I wanted to ask you about Salina.”
Richmond’s eyes turned dark and insolent from the mere mention of Salina’s name. “What is it you want to know about Salina?”
“When I look at Isabelle, she looks so much like the lady in the picture on her dresser. I guess I’m wondering if they had similar personalities?”
Richmond snarled. “No! Isabelle is nothing like her mother. She’s a good person.”
Was Salina a bad person? He seems like he despises her. Speaking with Richmond about his deceased wife, Kayla suddenly felt like she was entering dangerous territory. Like she was stepping on eggshells that’d break any minute now, placing her in a world of trouble, and a difficult situation.
Skating on thin ice, Kayla pushed to learn more about Salina. Maybe if she learned more about Salina, it’d answer some of the questions she had. Like why was there a syringe and picture of her inside the safe inside her grandfather’s closet? “Okay. So are you saying Salina was a bad person?”
Richmond’s weight shifted on the sofa. “Let’s just say she wasn’t the woman I thought she was.”
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, Richmond, but it seems like you’re mad at her, and I can’t help but wonder why. What did she do to make you feel the way you do? What did Salina do to hurt you?”
Shadows of annoyance crossed his face. “It’s private.”
“Okay. So she did hurt you?”
He gave her a black, layered look. “I’m sorry. We can talk about anything except for Salina. What she did to me is unforgiveable. I’ll never forgive her for it.”
“What did she do?” Kayla pressed.
Richmond bolted from the couch. “I said drop it, Kay! Just drop it!” His face looked as if it were caving in.
Ding dong. Ding dong. The newly installed doorbell chimed. Kayla put a hand to Richmond’s arm. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I won’t ever ask you about Salina again. But if you ever need or want to talk about her, just know I’m here for you.”
The hard lines in Richmond’s face disappeared. “I know, my love. Sorry for snapping at you. Maybe I can make it up to you later.”
Ding dong. Ding dong.
Wanting to ease the tension that’d brewed between them, Kayla teased him. “I have the perfect present in mind for you to say you’re sorry with.”
“What?”
“This!” Kayla grabbed his shaft and squeezed.
Richmond chuckled. “You can always get that. Think of something better.”
She pecked his lips. “Trust me. There’s nothing better than making love with you.” Bedazzling him with a smile, she turned and headed for the door.
“You’re my kind of woman!” he shouted after her, heading to the garage to get the kids.
Bracing herself, Kayla grasped the door knob and pulled open the door. Carson stood on the porch wearing a white collared Polo shirt and a pair of khaki pants. “Come in.” Still hesitant about letting him take CJ off by himself, she stepped to the side.
Carson’s eyes stretched wide as he stepped inside her home. “Is this where you’re going to be moving?”
“Yes. It’s still not finished yet, but hopefully it will be soon.” Closing the door, Kayla tried not to think negative about Carson. But with everything he’d put her through, how could she not? It just seemed like…out of the blue, he wanted to start doing right by her and CJ. Was it possible that he’d changed? Or was it that he didn’t want her, but didn’t want anyone else to have her either? Knowing Carson the way she did, it was the latter, she thought, entering CJ’s soon-to-b
e bedroom.
Richmond handed Kayla CJ’s backpack. Using a washrag, he then wiped CJ’s face and hands. “Are you ready to go with your father?” Richmond asked CJ.
Uncertainty showed on CJ’s face, especially in his eyes. “I don’t want to go no more.”
Kayla caressed his back, trying to comfort him. “Ah, CJ. Your father is so happy about spending time with you. The two of you will have so much fun. Let’s not keep him waiting.” She grabbed CJ’s hand and headed out of the room.
Richmond, Kayla, Isabelle, and CJ entered the living room looking like a loveable family. Richmond and Carson nodded at one another, but neither of them bothered to open their mouths to speak, causing Kayla to feel extremely uncomfortable.
With CJ standing by her side, Kayla handed Carson CJ’s bag, then she bent down and kissed CJ’s cheek. “Please have him back by seven. He has school tomorrow.”
“School? Where does he go to school?” Carson asked.
“He’s home-schooled. I teach him.”
Carson smiled down at CJ, then ruffled the hair on top of his head. “Are you ready to go have some fun, CJ?”
CJ pouted. “I don’t want to go with you.”
“Why not?” Carson responded.
CJ shrugged. “Because I don’t know you. I want to stay here and play with Isabelle.”
Carson picked CJ up, and what in the world did he do that for? CJ hollered at the top of his lungs. Wriggling and writhing in Carson’s arms, CJ extended his arms towards Richmond. “I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go!”
Tears welled in Kayla’s eyes. Seeing how frightened CJ was, her heart broke. “But CJ, you said earlier you wanted your father to come get you.”
Then Isabelle started screaming, “Don’t take him! He’s scared!”
When CJ reached for Richmond for the fifth time, Richmond finally took him from Carson, and then he picked up Isabelle, too. Carson’s facial expression remained intact, which really made her feel as if he’d changed. Now cradled inside Richmond’s arms, both CJ and Isabelle stopped crying.
“I have an idea,” Carson said. “How about we all go out to dinner, including you, Richmond. My treat.”
But he’s too broke to pay me my child support.
Richmond’s eyes assessed Carson sharply. “I can’t. I’m busy. But I think you should go, Kay.”
Kayla detected a sense of approval in Richmond’s tone a few seconds ago. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I’m positive. CJ needs to get comfortable with him first before he goes off with him by himself. Would you like for your mother to go with you, CJ?” Richmond asked, wiping his wet eyes with the pad of his thumb.
CJ nodded. “Yes. Mommy, come with me, please?”
“I didn’t bring any extra clothes over here, so we’re going to have to go to the park or something. Give me a few minutes to at least comb my hair, though.”