Everything is Everything Book 2 (28 page)

With a sigh she pointed. “We’re almost there. Just park behind Charisma’s car.”

A moment later he did and when she made to get out of the car he gripped her hand. She looked at him and he studied her face.

“I was wrong. I should have never asked you to leave and I knew it after I got out of solitary confinement. Honey, I figured out my mistake before I knew that you were pregnant. If I had known I would have never told you to leave-“

“Scotty, how can you say that?” her expression was angry and he watched her rapidly building anger with surprise.

“I sent you a letter telling you about the baby and weeks later I get a letter back telling me that you needed to focus on your jail time and that you were breaking up with me. You didn’t even have the decency to fake something nice about the pregnancy!”

Scotty’s frown deepened and he shook his head. “Vanessa I lost mail privileges when I was in solitary confinement! I never got any of your letters until weeks after my arrest. By then I’d been in a fight and I thought my time was going to be about me fighting to stay alive!”

A look of confusion began to replace Vanessa’s angry expression.

“I figured that I was going to have to fight my way through the next fifteen years and I didn’t want you to see the stitches in my head or the cast on my arm. I didn’t want you to have to live through what I was sure I was about to live through! That’s why I wrote that letter.

“Then I got out of solitary and the first thing I wanted was to see you baby. I just wanted to see you. And that’s when I got my mail and learned that you were pregnant.” He watched her sincerely. “I swear it.”

Vanessa placed her fingertips against her lips. “I thought you would change your mind when you found out about the baby … and when you didn’t I thought you were like the rest of them; my dad, Jalissa’s dad, your brothers and sister’s dads-“

Scotty leaned back in his seat and looked at her with a pained expression. “No. I’m not like them.” The muscles in his cheeks clenched. “You’re not the only person who was hurt. All this time I felt as if you were using the baby to hurt me. Because you didn’t make any attempt to tell anyone news about the baby. How is that fair?”

Vanessa shook her head. “I thought you knew about the baby and you didn’t care-“

“That’s your justification for not telling Phonso or Miss Gloria or the others?”

Vanessa pulled her hand from his grip and climbed out of the car on shaky legs, slamming the door behind her.

Scotty closed his eyes and bounced his head off the headrest of the car.

Fuck!

He hadn’t meant to tell her about his hurt and he hadn’t understood her misunderstanding. Damnit! Scotty pulled the key from the ignition, climbed out of the car and followed Vanessa to the house where her friend Charisma was standing in the doorway, evidently watching their argument.

“Vanessa.”

She didn’t stop walking.

“Look, you have a right to be mad because I was stupid and thought I was right to push you away. But I have a right to my pain too!”

Vanessa stopped walking and after a moment she turned her head and looked over her shoulder.

“I know. And I just can’t face you. I just don’t know what to say.”

Scotty placed a gentle grip on her arm and turned her to face him.

“I love you Vanessa White. I love you. You are my soulmate. Do you remember telling me that?”

Tears dripped from her eyes. She nodded, unable to find words that could express the depths of her sorrow.

“My love for you has never diminished. I want you now, as much as I’ve ever wanted you. You are my past, my present and my future. And if it’s okay with you, I don’t intend to ever let you go again.”

Vanessa felt her heart soar at his words and when she tried to look down he tilted her chin up so that she was looking into his eyes.

“Tell me you love me,” he whispered.

Vanessa nodded and sniffed back her tears.

“I love you.”

He leaned forward and kissed her lips. He did it twice more, only lingering for a moment before he pulled back and looked into her shimmering brown eyes.

“Now introduce me to my son.”

Vanessa smiled. “Okay.

Charisma let the couple into the house. They were hand in hand and even though one was white with blonde hair and blue eyes and the other was brown skinned with brown eyes they looked right together. The two belonged together and it went beyond what could be seen on the outside, but something that exuded from within them.

After a brief introduction she left the room.

Crash was already in his jammies and when he saw his mother he squealed happily and hurried to her in his side-to-side gait.

Scotty froze and stared as Vanessa stooped down to scoop up the toddler as if she didn’t notice that there was a metal bar keeping his feet spread.

Once she had him in her arms she looked at Scotty.

“He has bilateral club foot and has to wear this bar to turn his feet outward.”

Scotty reached out and touched one of his shoes.

“He can take it off for about an hour a day,” Vanessa continued. “Usually just when he’s bathing but sometimes he won’t let me put it on so I let him go without it for a few minutes in the morning when I’m getting him dressed.

Scotty stared down at the face of his son. He reached up and touched the little boy’s hair. It was just like his except more golden. And his eyes were the same blue-grey.

“Hey, Matthew,” Scotty said in awe. “I’m your daddy.”

Matthew looked at Scotty with interest.

“We call him Crash.”

“Crash?” Scotty couldn’t stop himself from touching his son’s hair, his little hand and his feet. Crash didn’t seem to mind since he was holding a toy car in his chubby fist.

“Crash because a crash cart had to be used on him when he was first born. He stopped breathing and a tube had to be placed down his throat.”

Scotty’s mouth fell open as he listened.

“Do you want to hold him?” Vanessa asked. Scotty nodded and lifted his son from his mother’s arms.

Crash stared at Scotty as if he was an alien.

“I’m your daddy,” Scotty repeated. “Can you say daddy?”

Instead of answering, Crash drove his car up his father’s chest and made zooming noises.

Scotty smiled and looked at Vanessa. “He’s smart. Say Crash,” He cajoled to his son.

“Cwash,” the toddler said matter-of-factly.

Vanessa cheered. “He said it!”

Scotty kissed his cheek. In just one minute he was head over heels in love with the boy.

They were in the kitchen eating pie and drinking milk. Mama Rose had come in about an hour ago to make sure they had something to eat and to offer to take Crash off to bed with her. But Scotty was holding his sleeping son in his lap and wasn’t interested in allowing him to be taken away.

Charisma had hurried into the room to shoo her mom away, which let Vanessa know that Charisma was somewhere listening. She didn’t mind—she intended to rehash the entire conversation with her best friend, anyway.

Now it was close to ten P.M. and Vanessa and Scotty were still talking, reluctant to let the other go—even for just a few hours.

Vanessa had recanted every anecdote imaginable about Crash. She’d discussed her morning sickness and cravings and it seemed that by unspoken agreement tonight they would keep the conversation neutral.  

“So for the last year you’ve been out of prison. What have you been doing?”

He smiled. “I’m in college.”

“Oh Scotty! I’m so proud of you!” She almost hugged him but remembered the baby sleeping in his arms. Instead she squeezed his arm.

“I was taking classes in Lebanon so I’m actually ahead because I basically was able to double up. I just need one more semester and I can begin teaching.” He eyed her as she beamed.

“And what about you Miss Vanessa White? You never told me what happened up in New York.”

Her smile faded. “Maybe we can save that for another day.”

He watched her in worry. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded and gave him a slight smile. “I worked but …” she didn’t know how to put it into words. After being Crash’s mother, she was unsure if she still wanted to be a professional performer. It was hard to actually verbalize that thought since it had been one of her desires since she was a child.

“What are you saying, babe?” He asked. She felt warm and secure at the familiar term of endearment.

“I’m saying that I think I might want something else now.”

“Do you want to tell me?”

She shook her head shyly. “Not yet.”

“Okay.” He looked down at their son. “Vanessa … will you come home with me and stay the night? You and Crash?” He quickly met her eyes. “I don’t mean—you know! I can sleep on the couch and you and Crash can have the bed. I just … don’t want to leave you.”

She smiled to herself. “I don’t know. I don’t want to offend Charisma’s family since they-“

Charisma called out from a different room. “Go ahead, girl. I’ll explain to Mom and Dad.”

Vanessa scowled.

“We don’t mind!” Mama Rose called out.

Scotty chuckled. “They’re okay with it. Now if you’re okay …?”

Vanessa nodded and then got up to pack a bag for her and Crash.

Scotty had a small one-bedroom apartment within walking distance of the University. Vanessa had always liked that part of town for it’s lively atmosphere and cool shops and restaurants. 

He explained that he was a full time student and survived on a full scholarship that paid for his schooling, housing and left him with enough money so that he could afford a used car.

The apartment where he lived was in an old yet stylish apartment building. There were high ceilings and carved moldings and a hardwood floor. As Scotty showed her around his place she saw that it was much more homey than his last bachelor pad.

The last place had been upscale but he had not done anything to make it a home until she had moved in with him. But this time it was different. He had furnished it and decorated it from posters on the walls, matching furniture and an overflowing bookshelf. The kitchen actually looked like someone regularly used it. And the bedroom was neat and had more than just a bed and dresser.

Scotty pulled down the covers and they put their son to bed. He lingered in the doorway watching Vanessa.

“Sleep good. I’ll see you in the morning. Call me if you need anything.”

Vanessa nodded. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He closed the door and she went into the adjoining bathroom and got ready for bed. As she slipped between the sheets Vanessa caught the smell of Scotty on his pillow. She snuggled against it and placed a protective arm around her son. Today felt like the beginning of everything.

Later Scotty cracked the door open and peeked into the room. Vanessa was in a deep sleep and his son was lying on his back with his limbs sprawled out. Scotty wished he could remove the corrective bar but understood that it was necessary. Regardless, he had the cutest son in the world and Scotty couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips when he looked at him.

Scotty’s eyes moved to Vanessa and lingered. She was lying on her side with an arm thrown across their baby. He could see her chest rising gently and knew that she was asleep. He wanted to stand there and stare at her; at them both. But he knew that it wouldn’t be a good idea. He was already tempted to climb into bed with them just to hold them in his arms. Instead of giving in to temptation, Scotty closed the door and returned to the living room.

He picked up the phone. It was late but he knew that the person he called kept late hours and wouldn’t be asleep yet.

“You’re not going to believe this. I want you to guess whose asleep in my house at this very moment. No! Of course I’m talking about in reality!” Scotty chuckled. “I’ll give you one guess.”

Scotty sat down on the couch, his smile becoming broader. “You’re brain is totally going in the wrong direction. It’s Vanessa … and my son.”

Scotty chuckled at the response he received. He even had to pull the phone from is ear as the response was loud enough to probably wake up Vanessa and the baby if they were in the same room.

“No, not tonight,” Scotty said. “Juan Carlos I mean it! Don’t come tonight, they are already in bed and asleep. Besides, she has no idea you’re out of prison and she doesn’t know you. Give her time to get to know you, okay. I know. I’m excited too. But I wanted to call you. Dad, my family is home for Christmas.”

Scotty rubbed his face in disbelief at how quickly his life had changed. “Good night old man. I’ll call you tomorrow.”