If I'd Only Known (Milan Women Series Book 1) (35 page)

She
stopped warring against him.

“We're
on the same side, baby. Let's not forget that, because you need to remember it.
Okay?” He paused in thought. “Let's just go look around one more time,” he
suggested. “Obviously we're missing something here.”

She
huffed. “You really believe that?”

“You
got a better theory?” he shot back at her. “And keep your voice down.”

“Oh,
please. What I've got are eyes and I can see,” she whispered harshly.

“Yes,
Perri, that's right. You can see. So, baby, maybe you wanna open your eyes to
see the truth surrounding us right here.”

She
raised her head defiantly. “And that would be?”

“Perri,
you do have eyes and you can see. The point is you only see what Nia wants you
to see.” Look around us, Perri.” He watched her overtly glance around. “We're
in some old museum expecting to find our infant daughter. Why? All because you
got some crank call—”

“It
was not a crank call. Stop calling it that! It was real. I know that much.”

He
gritted his teeth. “Alright, fine; a call from a stranger. Whatever. The fact
is you still don't know who it was. And you've still yet to receive proof that
anything they said was the truth.”

“And
that means what, Barrington?”

“Perri,
sometimes the eyes lie,” he spoke deliberately and slowly. “You got a phone
call from God knows who. Whoever told you what you most wanted to hear.; we get
here and . . .”

“And
what, Barrington?”

Rubbing
his hand down his face, he sighed heavily. “And you see exactly what whoever
the caller wanted you to see.”

“You're
wrong, because I don't see anything.”

“Exactly,
baby.”

“What
are you saying, Barrington?” She arrested him with a hostile stare. “And don't
you dare tell me my baby's not coming home today.”

He
refused to back down. “You said it yourself, Perri. We've combed this place
three times and not one sign of Imani, have we found.” Barrington's heart
lurched when he saw his wife's lip quiver, her eyes shimmering with unshed
tears. “Baby, the police have been on this case for the past two months, and
still, they haven't gotten any leads.”

Perri
sniffled. “No,” she whispered.

“Baby?
I'm just saying—”

“No!”
she whispered harshly.

“Maybe
it's time to—”

“Time
to what, Barrington? Give up? On our little girl? Our helpless baby?”

“Baby,
we can always keep hope alive and Imani will always live on in our hearts.”

“Stop
it,” she ordered. “Stop speaking of her in the past tense!”

“Perri,
you just listen—”

“No,
you just listen, Barrington.” She slapped her left hand against her chest. “My
daughter is not dead. I'm her mother. Don't you think I would know it? Feel
it?” She shook her head. “Those nightmares I've been having. They mean
something, Barrington.”

“Yes,
they mean that you miss your baby terribly. And you want more than anything for
her to be returned to you and for you to be able to take her home.”

“And
what's wrong with that?” she shouted, not caring who stopped to look.

“Nothing,
Perri, except for when it leads you on a wild goose chase such as now,” he
said.

Biting
her lip to stop it from trembling, she shook her head in denial.

“It's
time to go home, Perri.”

“No.”

“She's
not here, baby. It's nothing more we can do; she's not here. Okay? She's not.
Imani's not here.” He shook his head. “Baby, she's just not.”

Perri
sobbed uncontrollably.

Barrington
hugged her tight.

“I
was so sure,” she cried. “So sure I felt it, you know.” She clung to him. “I
want my baby; I want my baby.”

“I
know, baby. I know you do, Perri. I want her, too.” He pulled back lifting her
chin. “The fact is, though, she's not here, baby. No matter how long we go
around this building, she's still not going to be here.”

“But—”

“Perri,
listen. Please?”

She
sniffled.

He
touched her protruding belly. “We've still got another helpless baby to
consider. We have to look out for this baby every bit as much as we're trying
to look out for Imani, because just like Imani, this baby can't fight for
itself either. Do you understand what I'm saying, baby?”

Perri
didn't answer. She couldn't. Her heart was aching and breaking and there was
nothing she could do to stop it. Trying to come to terms with reality, she
buried her head in her husband's chest and cried until her eyes were dry.

Not
caring how long it took, Barrington stood right there in the middle of the old
museum, consoling his wife in his arms.

Some
time much later, Perri said, “I need to go to the bathroom before we go.” She
patted her belly. “Nature calls.”

Barrington
kissed her lips. “I'll walk you and wait outside the door for you.”

“Okay.”

Perri
went inside, relieved herself. She heard the door open and the sound of
footsteps. Her mind wondered what she could've been thinking to actually
believe yet again that someone knew the whereabouts of her daughter. She wiped
herself. The bathroom door opened and closed again. She flushed the toilet.
Going to the sink, Perri washed her hands trying not to look at herself,
knowing she looked a pure-d mess. She heard the sound of giggling. Or she
thought she did. She shook it off, dismissing it as a figment of her
imagination. She inhaled deeply. Then she inhaled deeply again.

“Imani?”
she whispered, as more tears sprang to her eyes. “Stop it, Perri. Barrington's
right. It was just a cruel hoax. Imani's not here. She's not.”

Perri
heard giggling. That familiar scent teased her nostrils once more. Feeling
compelled, Perri finally looked into the mirror. Instead of her appearance, her
eyes focused on something she saw underneath one of the stalls. She shook her
head. “It couldn't be.” She shut her eyes tight. “Perri, you're finally losing
it. For real.” She slowly opened her eyes.

She
swung around, running to the fourth stall and flung the door open. Perri
grabbed her chest. “Oh, God!” she screamed.

Barrington,
who'd been pacing back and forth, waiting for Perri, was talking to Kane on his
cell phone. “No, man, we didn’t find her. Yeah, she’s pretty devastated. Me?
Don’t worry about me; I’m still standing. Barely, but standing,” he was saying
when he heard Perri’s scream. “I gotta go, man!” He ran into the bathroom.

“Imani?”
Perri dropped to her knees, lifting Imani from the car seat.

“Perri!”
Barrington yelled, busting through the door. “Perri?” He looked around.

“In
here.” Perri called out, inhaling her baby’s scent.

“Oh
my God!” Barrington dropped to his knees, holding Perri and Imani in his arms.
“She’s here,” his voice broke.

“Yeah,
baby. Our baby is here.” Perri sobbed, kissing Imani’s whole face over and over
again.

“Let
me hold her, baby.” Barrington didn’t bother to wipe the tears that fell from
his eyes. He kissed every inch of his daughter’s face and neck. “Cupcake . . .”
He kissed every inch of her face again.

“Da,
da, da,” Imani cooed.

“Did
you hear that?” Barrington and Perri asked each other.

“I
thought it was me.” They said at the same time.

“It’s
not you.” They declared, engaging in a family hug, they’re tears mingling.

“Mu,
mu. Mum,” Imani said, giggling.”

“Oh,
God . . .” Perri cried, kissing her daughter’s forehead. “I love you, baby.”
She sniffled. “Your Mum loves you, Imani.” She carefully extracted her from
Barrington’s embrace and gently laid her in her lap. Perri slowly began
undressing her daughter.

“What
are you doing, Perri?”

“Taking
care of my little girl; she’s mine, Barrington. Because of that crazy Nia, I
missed out on hearing the first words she ever spoke.” Without looking up at
him she reminded him, “So did you. She taught my child to say
Mum
. I was
supposed to teach her, her first words. I’m her mother; I was supposed to be
her first teacher. Always.” Having stripped Imani bare, Perri announced, “I don’t
want that woman’s clothes on my baby, too.” Perri hugged Imani to her chest.

Barrington
stripped out of his shirt. “Put this on her, baby, so she doesn’t catch cold;
it’s cold in here.” He watched as Perri wrapped their daughter in his shirt.
Standing, he asked, “You ready to take our baby home, sweet Perri?”

She
nodded, smiling through her tears. “Almost.” Perri removed the sandals from
Imani’s feet.

Barrington
reached for his daughter then helped his wife up with his other hand. “Let’s go
home, ladies, so we can really get our family reunion started right,” he
announced.

Perri
tossed the clothes and shoes she removed from her daughter in the trashcan.
“Amen.”

It
took another two hours before they could take their daughter and go home,
because when they stepped out of the bathroom the police had them surrounded.
Chief Morris was elated to see Imani was safe and sound, but still insisted on
having her checked out at the local hospital. From there he escorted them to
the police station, where they had to give a formal statement of what
transpired, leading up to the reappearance of Imani Sinclair Knight.

“I
can't believe you guys pulled this welcome home party together on such short
notice,” Perri said.”

Hunter
wiped her sister's tears. “That's the third time you've said that.” She hugged
her. “And stop that crying, you know I can't let you cry alone.” She discreetly
wiped tears of her own.

“Besides,”
Tyler chimed in, “you didn't really think we wouldn't be throwing the biggest
celebration for our baby who has finally come home, did you?”

“I
know that's right,” Mattie said. She smiled, looking across the yard at her
great grandbaby being rocked to sleep by Linda. She chuckled.”That poor baby;
we have worn her slap out.”

“And
I'm not complaining one bit,” Perri said, laughing. “I'm glad she's home.”

“We
all are,” Journey was saying as she finishing up a long French braid down
Crush’s back.

“You
better say that,” Crush chuckled. “I thought I was gonna have to kill B before
this was all done and over.”

Everyone
laughed.

Hunter
fingered Crush's braid. “Y'all are so ghetto.” She looked at Journey, “Sitting
out here braiding this boy's hair like you in the country.”

“Don't
hate 'cause your braid fake.”

“Let
me tell you something, man.” Hunter picked up a handful of her hair. “All my
stuff is real. I don't model with fake hair. So when you see me up on that
runway, you can be assured I didn't buy that hair; I grew it.”

Everyone
laughed.

“Usher?”
Crush looked at him. “Is that really her hair, man?” he winked.

“Why
you asking him?” Hunter demanded with one hand on her hip.”Like my husband, you
a white man, so why you want your hair braided anyway?”

Crush
grinned. “It’s hot as hell’s soup kitchen out here, Hunter. I like my hair
braided so it don’t sweat out. You should understand that, right? He pointedly
looked at her hair. “Now back to your hair.” His eyes slid to Usher and back to
her. “So I’m just wondering if when things get intense between you two, if
Usher has to be careful not to pull your hair too hard.”

“Excuse
you.” Hunter feigned offense.

Laughing,
Usher embraced his wife's waist. “Man, I can't tell a lie. Everything on my
baby is real; we don't do the fake stuff. Period.” He kissed Hunter's neck.

“I
can see why, man.” Kane connected with Tyler's eyes as she smiled timidly.
“It's not like they need it or nothing.”

“Amen.”
Barrington and Usher said in unison.

“Hold
up now,” Crush patted Journey's legs. “Journey didn't miss out in the
better-than-blessed department, either, 'cause my baby is fine!”

Journey
laughed. “Thank you, baby boy.” She kissed his head. “And Miss Tina is a
beautiful woman too; look at that hour glass body she’s working with.”

“Here,
here!” The others agreed while Tina could only look down, embarrassed.

“Here,
Journey.” Hunter offered her a cup of punch.

“No
thanks, Hunter. I'm not thirsty.”

“Honey,
that's good, because this is just to wash down that mouthful of oily hair you
just tasted from slick-head's scalp.”

“You
got jokes, Hunter,” Crush said, laughing. “Girl, I wash my hair every day, thank
you.”

Everyone
laughed as Hunter and Crush continued to trade playful insults.

A
few hours later, Imani's welcome home party was still going strong. The men
were off playing a fierce game of basketball, and the women were lounging in
the front yard.

“Oh,
I don't even believe this.” Tina shielded her eyes with one hand while looking
across the expanse of Barrington's yard.

All
the women stopped what they were doing and followed her gaze.

Journey's
mouth fell open as her anger began to build. “What is she doing here?” she
hissed.

“Let's
just find out,” Linda said and started out to meet the young woman.

Perri
stood frozen in place, too stunned, shocked, annoyed, and downright angry to
make a move.

The
young woman unashamedly pranced toward them, her protruding belly leading the
way.

“What
are you doing here, girl?” Linda demanded when she met her.

“Isn't
it obvious?” She rubbed her belly. “I'm here to see my baby's daddy.” Nia
laughed at her own pun.

“Oh,
you got jokes, Huh?” No one even saw Perri coming until she was right there, up
close and personal, in Nia's face. “Well, let me tell you what I got.” She went
to swing at Nia but Mattie grabbed her hand, stopping her.

“It
isn't worth it, Sugarplum. Imani's home; she's safe, she's sound. Just let the
police handle that crazy child standing yonder.”

“Nia,
what the hell are you doing on my property?” Barrington stood in front of
Perri, bracing his hands on either side of her thighs.

Nia
watched the affectionate display in disgust. “I work here. Remember?”

Linda
scoffed. “Girl, you done lost your natural mind.”

At
the same time, Barrington said, “Not anymore you don't. Nia, you have got to be
bent if you think I’d allow you to step one foot back in my home.”

Nia's
glance slid toward her ex best friend. “What are you doing here, Tina?”

“She
was invited. Unlike you,” Crush stood by his brother's side.

Nia
laughed, eying the two handsome men. “What are you, Crush? Your brother's
keeper?”

Crush
stepped forward. “I'm your worst nightmare if you don't get out of here.”

“Now,
now, Crush,” Nia taunted, “is that anyway to talk to your niece's Mum?”  

“What
the hell kind of game are you playing, Nia?” Barrington demanded.

Nia
smiled up at him sweetly before saying, “I assure you, sir, this is no game. My
pregnancy is real. And you are my baby's daddy.” She laughed.

Perri
stepped around Barrington. “And what you are is crazy, girl, if you think my
husband is going to play daddy to that kid.” She pointed at her stomach.

“Think?
Is that what you said, Perri, darling?” She shook her head. “'Cause I can just
about assure you that Barrington will never turn his back on his own child. Not
after the hell you put him through.” She tsked. “Using that sweet child that
you don't deserve as a pawn to hurt the man you claimed to love.”

Perri
lurched for Nia, but this time, it was Bobby who picked her up and held her as
she continued to struggle in his arms. “She's not worth it, baby.”

“I
want you to get out of here, Nia!” Tyler ordered. “While you still can.”

Nia
laughed. “I doubt anyone here is going to risk hitting a pregnant woman.”

“Knock
it off, Nia.” Barrington warned.

She
watched Barrington’s lips as he spoke. Nia could just about imagine his lips .
. .

Raising
her head defiantly, she reminded him, “I don't take orders from you since according
to you I am no longer employed here.”

“Which
means you're trespassing, so leave,” Hunter got directly in her face.

Amused,
Nia tried to stifle a smile. “What's this? A family affair?”

“Thanks
to you, it's a family reunion,” Tyler said. “And we were having a wonderful
time before you so rudely showed your face here.”

“Which,”
Kane joined Tyler's side, “is just downright stupid considering you're a wanted
fugitive.”

I
take it you must be Barrington's infamous cousin I've heard so much about.”
Nia's emerald green eyes roamed him up and down. “You are a handsome thing.”
She grinned and said, “Did you know your cousin wanted me to consider going out
with you? I guess now you can thank your lucky stars I refused the offer.”

 Kane
rolled his eyes. “Sweetheart, you're not even in my field of interest. And as
far as being lucky goes, I'm a star player on God's team, which automatically
means I'm fortunate. Luck is for amateur players like you, who star on the
devil's crew.”

Having
understood sports humor, Crush, Bobby, Usher and Barrington laughed.

“Oh,
you've got jokes.” Nia tilted her head. “In addition to being handsome, you're
a funny man too, I see.”

“B,
why don't we just call the cops?” Kane said, waiting for his cousin to give the
cue.

“Oh,
now, Mr. Kane, you wouldn't really go putting an expectant woman in jail, now
would you?”

Barrington's
temper went into overdrive. “Nia, the only thing you should be expecting is to
have the book thrown at you. What the hell were you thinking pulling a stupid
stunt like kidnapping my daughter?”

“That's
what we'd all like to know?” Mattie folded her arms.

Ignoring
everyone but Barrington, Nia said, “What I did, sir, I did for you.” She nodded
toward Perri. “That woman kept the fact that she was even carrying your child
from you for the entire time she was pregnant. What do you call what she did to
you?”

“Whatever
I did or did not do to him is none of your business,” Perri hissed.

“And
apparently, Perri, you thought it was none of his business either. But maybe if
you'd thought about someone other than yourself, you'd have known what a
blessed woman you were to be carrying his child.”

“I
will hurt you, you stupid wench.” Perri lurched for Nia, just to be picked up
once again by Bobby.

“Stop
it, Perri,” Bobby spoke firmly. “Honey, she's just not worth it; think of
Imani, sweetheart. She needs you; remember that.”

Nia
stepped back and looked at Barrington. “You talk about me being a criminal.
Your wife can't even control herself.”

“My
wife, Nia is none of your business. And neither am I. Got that?”

“What
I've got, is your child,” she placed a hand over her belly, “in my womb.”

“A
child you obviously care nothing about, other than to use it as a pawn to snag
the supposedly father—who by the way, had no involvement or say yet again in
the life of his children.” Barrington regretted the words the moment they
slipped past his lips. He could feel Perri's eyes boring into his back.

Shocked
by her husband's last remark, Perri could only stare at Barrington.

Celebration
danced in Nia's emerald green eyes. She taunted her opponent, “Sounds like your
husband hasn't forgiven you after all, sweet Perri.”

Barrington
gripped Nia by the shoulders before he knew he moved. “Shut up, Nia. Don't you
say another word to my wife, or I promise you, you will not like me very much
afterward.” Without releasing his hold on Nia, he glanced back at Perri. “Baby,
I did not mean what I said as criticism toward you. I have forgiven you, and
you know that for yourself. Don't let Nia shake your faith in me or in us.”

Tears
streaked Perri's face as she could only stare at the man who was supposed to be
her husband, protector, defender. Her eyes lowered and with painstaking horror,
she watched his hands. They were on
her
! It wasn't her—his wife—he was
holding; it was Nia—his ex housekeeper and now, mother to his other unborn
child. Feeling sick to her stomach, Perri turned her back and without warning,
started throwing up.

“Looks
like I win by default after all, Perri. I mean your husband's hands are on me.
Didn't you see?” Nia grinned wickedly.

“Let
me at her.” Hunter went for Nia but Usher grabbed her forearms.

“This
heifer is asking for it.” Tyler went for Nia but Kane blocked her path.

“Get
out of my way!” Hunter and Tyler screamed at Usher and Kane, neither of which
was about to budge.

Barrington
couldn't recall ever feeling so angry, not even when he found out about Perri's
deception. “I told you to shut up, Nia. And lay off my wife,” he warned for the
last time. “Don't you make a mistake and think I'm holding you for you. I'm
only holding you to keep my wife and sisters' out of jail, and nothing more.
You hear?” He swore to himself if he could just make himself forget it was
wrong to hit a woman . . .

Nia
was crestfallen, realizing that what she saw in Barrington's eyes was pure
contempt. Contempt meant solely for her. She'd never seen him look at anyone
the way his beautiful yellow-green eyes were now boring into her—like he could
smash her to smithereens with just one slip of his self-control. She blinked back
tears.

Tina
graciously intervened, “Nia, please. I know there's still some good left in
you, so please, Nia, just go. You've hurt enough people already. Most of all,
you've taken two helpless victims: Imani and your own unborn child.”

“Nia,
I want you off of my property and out of my family’s life forever, or I swear,
I will have you arrested and brought up on charges of kidnapping.” Barrington
dared her to challenge him. “Tina, take her anywhere but here.”

“What?”
Perri shouted. “Barrington, tell me you're not serious. You can't be letting
that woman just walk out of here like she didn't do anything wrong. She stole
our daughter for crying out loud.”