Chapter 17
Stormy Weather
K
iara was adjusting to her new life. She finally went through every square inch of her house and unloaded each item that reminded her of the past. Eddison suggested she give Rashad's things to the Salvation Army, but Kiara packed his belongings into some garbage bags and gladly drove away to the nearest dump. Eddison couldn't help but laugh and beam at her with pride. She then recovered all of her ex-husband's books and sold them at Half Price Books. She only made fifty dollars out of the deal, but it was enough to buy tickets to the State Fair of Texas for herself, Myles, Eddison, and the baby. It was held in the Dallas area. They woke up that Saturday morning in late September and drove up I-45 in a rented SUV. The road was clear and the weather felt perfect.
She sat back in her seat and sighed with contentment.
“What are you smiling about?” Eddison asked as he glanced at her profile.
“Happiness, babe. I never dreamt I could be this happy.”
“Well, I'm glad to hear that.”
“Jazz did well at her recent check-up. I've lost all my baby weight. Got rid of all that trash.” She giggled.
“I didn't want to say anything, but now that you've gotten rid of items that you should have dumped a while ago, your mind is going to be a lot clearer. You will be able to see the things that you were blinded to before.”
“And how do you know that?”
“Because it took me years to get to that point after Nina passed. So actually you are doing better than me.”
“That sounds impossible, too, Eddy.”
“But it's not. I am learning you and I can see the pep back in your step. You are becoming a more complete woman.”
The sweet words he spoke to her made her desire him in ways that she knew she could do nothing about. They were going to drive up to Dallas and stay at a Marriott one night, then head back home the following afternoon. The kids were in tow so love-making was out of the question.
“Hmm, I have you to thank for the good things that have happened. I mean, look at you. You are stepping up. I thought you would have changed your mind, but you didn't.”
“I told you,” he said. “You don't listen to me.”
“I plan to listen to you from now on.”
They arrived in Dallas hours later and were immediately struck by all the sights and sounds. They had fun exploring one pavilion after another. They munched on turkey legs and funnel cakes, played games, showed Jazz things she'd never seen before, and let Myles explain to them all the fascinating details about the animals that were housed at the farmyard exhibit.
Kiara thought it hilarious that he became an expert at a place he'd only just discovered.
“See that baby calf? He's only a few hours old, yet I think he weighs more than me. And that exhibit over there is where the chicks are going to hatch when they peck through the egg. And they are very curious and will wobble around, eat some food, then they'll close their eyes, lean over, and fall asleep with their feet up in the air.”
“Sounds like someone I know,” Kiara teased Myles.
“Yes, that sounds just like you, Mommy.”
They all laughed and continued to let Myles act as their tour guide.
Life certainly was good. Kiara's family felt complete and she no longer cared if anyone gossiped about her or their judgment. It's what her family thought of her that counted.
* * *
At the beginning of the next week, Rashad was pleased with his work and decided to promote Cornell by increasing his responsibilities and upping his salary twenty dollars per day. During the last week in September, Rashad explained to his crew that he had to go on a trip that would keep him out of the city for ten hours. By then Ajalon had been in Texas for exactly two months. Life was going good. But he still wasn't where he ultimately wanted to be.
That Tuesday night after his shift ended, Ajalon's adventurous side motivated him. Instead of waiting for Nicole to show up at Arthur Storey Park like he usually did, he decided to catch the bus to her house.
It was twilight by the time he arrived on her doorstep. He rang the bell and was shocked when an attractive woman answered.
“Hello, may I help you?” The woman was holding Emmy in her arms and softly singing to her.
“Aww, Emmy. Such a pretty little girl,” he said. “Is the child's mother or father home?”
“Um, who are you?”
“You must be the nanny. I don't remember ever meeting you. I'm a friend of the family.”
“Your name?”
“Call me Cornell.”
“Like the university?”
“Like the rapper Nelly.”
“Oh! Well, neither she nor her husband is here.”
His eyes clouded. “Excuse me? Did you say her husband?”
“That's what she calls him. I think. I'm not sure. Just forget it.”
“I see. Um excuse me, miss, but is it all right with you if I come in and wait?”
“I am not allowed to let strangers in the house while my employers are gone.” She started to close the door in his face, but he reached out and stopped the door from shutting all the way.
“I understand your concern. The parents are very good to put you in charge of their child while they're not here. What's your name again?”
“Um, I am Miss Nadia.”
“Nadia. That's a pretty name for a very pretty lady.”
Ajalon hoped that Nadia was a sucker for a compliment. It looked like it as she began to relax and soak up his attention.
The sound of thunder ripped through the air. At sixteen weeks of age, Emmy was able to let out a healthy, piercing scream. Nadia grew worried as she peered up at the darkening sky. “I think it's about to storm.”
“Are you all right? You look very afraid, Nadia.”
“I hate thunder.”
Lightning suddenly brightened up the sky. More thunder boomed. The atmosphere felt very static.
“Oh, my Lord,” Nadia said. “The ground is shaking like we're in an earthquake.”
“If you want, I will stay with you. There's nothing to be afraid of as long as you close this front door and think happy thoughts.” Ajalon slickly slid inside the doorway but wouldn't go any farther.
“I will wait inside until this storm passes over. I'm sure it won't take long. Maybe the man and his wife will be back soon?”
“Oh, no. Mr. Eason is gone for the entire evening. I am waiting on his wife to return from buying groceries. She doesn't like to shop and try to look after her daughter at the same time. Sometimes I go with her, but tonight the baby was fussy. So she said she'd make a quick grocery run and would be back soon.”
“You're a very caring woman to help her out like this.”
“Why don't you come have a seat in the living room instead of standing there by the doorway? What if the lightning gets inside the house?”
He followed her inside. “I'm not worried about that. You'd have to be the unluckiest person in the world to get struck by lightning, Nadia. Wow, you have such a pretty name. And your eyes are so beautiful.”
“Ohhh, thank you.” She blushed. She invited him to sit down as she sat near him. The television was playing a music video channel. Nadia resumed singing to Emmy and smoothed her hair. “Are you the godfather?” she asked.
He said nothing.
“Cornell?”
He ignored her.
“Mr. Cornell, are you all right?”
“Oh, sorry. I was so mesmerized by your beauty I could no longer hear or speak. Forgive me.”
She giggled and grew more comfortable.
“Are you married or single?” she asked.
Suddenly Ajalon looked up at a display on a table directly across the room. It was filled with a variety of stuffed animals. He stood and calmly approached the table.
“The baby has lots of presents and toys, eh?”
“Yes, she does. She's a little princess and gets whatever her parents want to buy her.”
“I see.”
Ajalon picked up the largest teddy bear. He began to feel around the stuffed animal, from its head to its paws to its feet.
“Cornell, what are you doing with the baby's toy?”
“Just looking.” He located a zipper in the back of the teddy bear. Ajalon unzipped the cloth and continued fiddling around with the animal. Soon he found what he was looking for.
He produced a teddy bear spy cam and held it up.
“Do you know what this is?”
She shook her head no in response.
“I'm afraid that your bosses don't trust you. This is a hidden camera. Who knows how long it's been there and what info it's picked up. I hope that it hasn't shown them anything you wouldn't want them to see.”
She gasped and stood up. “Oh, my God. Maybe you should leave.”
“I'm not trying to scare you, Nadia, but you should just stay aware of everything you do inside this house.”
“Are there any more cameras?”
“Let's find out.” Ajalon thoroughly investigated the remaining stuffed animals that were displayed on the table. Then he went into Emmy's nursery, where he found another one in her crib.
He returned to the living room holding the device.
“Got it.”
“Thank you for what you've done. But won't my employer be upset to find out that you removed the cameras?”
“Would you rather I put them back? You tell me.”
“Oh, okay. I'll pretend like I know nothing about it.” She paused. “Thank you.”
Ajalon thought quickly and ran into the hallway. He pulled the string that opened the door which led to the attic. It was there that he stored the hidden cameras.
As soon as he was done and returned from the attic, a thunderclap boomed so loud the house vibrated.
The baby cried even more. Ajalon gently removed Emmy from her nanny's arms.
“Shhh, it's going to be all right.”
The front door opened and Nicole burst through the door. She exchanged an awkward glance with Nadia.
“What's going on?”
“Um, ma'am, Cornell came by and wanted to see you and your husband.”
Nicole studied Nadia. “Okay. You shouldn't have let
Cornell
in here while we were gone. But it's okay. He's one of our employees.” Nicole removed the baby from Ajalon's arms.
“Nadia, you may go now.”
“A-are you sure?”
“Yes. It's fine. Everything is okay.”
“Okay, ma'am.”
She saw Nadia to the door and closed it firmly behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought we were going to walk but it is raining hard.” He looked calm. “I knew that you probably wouldn't go to the park tonight.”
“True. But still. You shouldn't have . . .”
“It's okay. Call your husband.”
“Huh?”
“Call him. You're concerned about him. You want to make sure he's okay on the road. That he's reached his destination. You want him to know that you are fine and you're riding out the storm.” He sounded authoritative as well as seductive.
Ajalon being there in the house with Nicole made her think of Rashad. Many days he didn't arrive home until his dinner had gotten cold. He wouldn't answer her questions about why he was so late. He'd say, “Business matters.” And now he was gone out of town. She fought hard to believe whatever he told her. But occasionally she wondered what he was really doing. Who was he with? It was at those times that she was glad she had Ajalon to talk to. He was familiar. They had each other's backs. And she felt she needed him in more ways than one.
Soon Nicole was on the phone dialing Rashad's number. They spoke briefly. He assured her that he reached his destination, on the outskirts of Louisiana. And he informed her he'd be back tomorrow, but he couldn't tell her exactly what time.
“I just need to wrap up some loose ends here. Kiss the baby for me,” he said. He was on speaker phone.
The thunder clapped again.
“Are you sure y'all will be all right?” Rashad asked.
Nicole had put Emmy in her crib. She was nice and snug and had even fallen asleep.
“We'll be perfectly fine,” Nicole told Rashad as she stared at Ajalon. “See you sometime tomorrow.”
She was trembling as she hung up.
Ajalon was leaning against the wall in between a doorway. She saw his silhouette. He was very quiet. But Nicole knew he was watching her.
She set down her cell phone and decided to go get something cold to drink.
As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, all the lights flashed then went completely out. The noise from the TV went silent. They were in total darkness.
“Are you all right?” she cried out.
“I'm wonderful.”
Nicole couldn't see Ajalon anymore. But soon she smelled him. He groped around in the dark and managed to find her inside their house.
He reached out and found her hand and held it.
“Everything's going to be all right, Bella.”
She swallowed deeply. Her mouth felt completely dry.
“I, umâ”
“Shhh, come with me.”
Heart beating wildly, she followed the voice that had given her the command. She walked in the darkness with Ajalon leading. He went through the house until he came to the back door that led to the backyard. They had a covered patio. It had a small slanted roof and an area with some patio furniture, several chairs, and a few potted plants situated around the covered area.
“What are you doing?” she asked.