Stronger Than Ever (My Best Friend) (19 page)

“I don’t want her around my son.” She squeezed the little boy’s hand.

“Well, we are going to have a problem, because if he is mine, she will be around him.” Jason bent down and took the little boy’s hand. “Hi Jacob, I’m Jason.”

Jacob, with gray eyes and brown hair, was shy and hid behind Kimberly.

“He doesn’t speak to strangers.”

Jason stood back up.

“Baby, its okay. I’ll go play with the kids while you spend time with Jacob,” Kay said, staring at
Jason
.

He grabbed her hand. “No, she has to deal with it.”

“It’s about him right now. The kids and I will be fine.” She kissed him on the lips and walked away.

“Look, Kimberly, I won’t let you disrespect
her
again
.”

He bent down. “Hey, Jacob, do you want to go play on the swing and monkey bars with me?” The little boy nodded and placed his hands in Jason’s and they walked over to the swings next to Angel. Jason spoke to Jacob, but he wouldn’t talk back. All he did was nod or shake his head, but Angel talked for both of them.

Kay took that opportunity to talk to Kimberly. “I know you don’t like me, and as a matter of fact I don’t like you either, but it’s not about us. It’s about the kids.”

“Don’t talk to me about kids. If it wasn’t for you, Jacob would’ve had a father.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s because of you Jason didn’t get to know he had a son.”

“Okay, I tried to be nice, but that’s not working. Don’t you blame me for you not telling Jason about his son. You didn’t tell him because you didn’t want him to know, or because you don’t know who the father is?” Kay had moved up in her face, with Jeremy on her hip.

“What the fuck?” Kimberly asked, getting loud.

Jason heard the commotion. He left Angel and Jacob on the swings and walk
ed
back.

“Look at yourself in the mirror. Your daughter is blac
k, and
she doesn’t look anything like Jason. You’re the one that needs to get a fucking blood test
done
on he
r.
D
o you know who her daddy is?”

“Watch your mouth in front of my son,” Kay said, turning Jeremy on her shoulder.

“So do you know who your bastard kid belongs to?”

Jason walked up behind them and yelled, “Damn it, Kimberly, what’s your problem? Don’t come here attacking my family,
and stop blaming everybody but yourself for the outcome.”

Jason’s yelling scared Jeremy and he started
crying. Jason felt bad and took him from Kay. “Sorry,
boo
bear, Daddy didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, bouncing him.

“Jacob, it’s time to go.” Kimberly yelled, waiting impatiently for him to come next to her.

But Jacob didn’t move. He shook his head.

“Now, Jacob,” she yelled.

“Why are you taking him?” Jason said, looking at Kimberly. “He’s having fun.”

“No, it looks like you’re more concerned with defending your bitch of a wife than spending time with your son.” She
went
over and grabbed Jacob’s hand.

“Look, Kimberly, I won’t take any
more of your insults.” Kay
walked
toward Angel.

“I’ll see you in court.” Jason said, walking
forward
to Jacob. “Hey, Jacob, I’ll see you very soon. This is Jeremy, and he’s looking forward to spending time with you, too.” He leaned down and kissed his forehead.

“Come on.” Kimberly grabbed Jacob’s hand and walked off. He turned around and waved bye to Jason.

Jason walked over to Kay and Angel. “Princess, are you having fun?”

“Yes, Daddy, me and Jacob played on the monkey bars and I fell,” she said, laughing.

He took Kay’s hand. “Come here.” He put Jeremy in his stroller.

“Are you okay?” he asked
.

“I’m oka
y. S
orry you didn’t get to spend more time with him
. N
ext time I’ll stay home with the kids.”

“No, Kay. You’re my family, and if he is my son, he will be spending time with all of us.”

“She blames me.”

“I don’t care what she says or thinks. She’s to blame. She should’ve told me.” He put his hand in
hers. “I got a sample from him
, and
tomorrow I’ll take it to the lab.”

“I can’t believe you did that.”

“I can’t wait any longe
r
.
I don’t understand why
she keeps putting it off.”

“You know I’m always on your side.” She squeezed his hand.

“Something is wrong with Jacob. He wouldn’t talk. It’s like he was afraid, and he’s too skinny.”

“I noticed that, too, but once we find out if he’s yours we’ll take care of him and make sure he is taken care of.”

He kissed her forehead. “Thank you for being understanding.”

“It happened before us.”

He grabbed her hand. “Let’s enjoy the rest of the day.”

***

Two weeks later

“Hey, baby, I have the results. I want you there when I read them. Meet me for lunch.” Jason spoke urgently into the phone.

“Okay, when?” Kay asked.

“I’ll meet you at home for lunch.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then. I love you.”

***

“I love you more
you hung up before I could tell you,” Kay said,
coming
in the front door. She
went
to where he was sitting down in the living room and leaned in and kissed him.

He smiled. “I don’t think so doll eyes.” He handed her the envelope. “Open it.”

She grabbed the envelope, turned it over, and opened it. She rea
d
the result in silence. She looked up at him. “He’s not your son.”

“She lied to me.” He
ran his
hand
through
his hair.

“Maybe she didn’t know who the father was.”

“You always try to see the good in everybody.” He kissed her on the cheek.

“What are you going to do?” she asked him.

“Nothing. She’ll contact me.”

“Will you be all right?”

He pulled her close and kissed her. “I will. See you later, sexy. I love you to infinity and beyond.” He laughed.

She laughed back. “You’re so silly, but I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

Jason’s cell phone rang. The number on the screen was his private investigator. “Hello?”

“Hey, Jason, it’s Patrick.”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“I’ve continued to dig into your wife’s assault. There was
something off to me. I felt like he didn’t act by himself. Do you know a Kimberly Carter?”

Jason’s heart sank when he mentioned Kimberly’s name. “Yes.”

“Jason, Mrs. Carter is related to Bobby Kidd.”

“What the hell are you saying?” Jason picked up his keys and walked out his office door.

“Mrs. Carter arranged for your wife to be assaulted by her cousin. She paid him to kill her, but he told the authorities that he couldn’t
take someone’s life.”

“Why would he tell the cops this now? Damn it, Patrick. We spent time with that bitch.”

“He spoke because he’s afraid his cousin is going finish the job. He said she’s unstable, and he also took a plea bargain. The cops are looking for her as we speak. Jason, you need to find your wife.”

“I’m on my way no
w.
S
he went home early because Jeremy isn’t feeling well. Fuck, man, I let her back into my life. She has a little boy.”

“I’m looking for he
r.
I’ll call you back as soon as I know more, Bye man.”

He drove up to their driveway and saw Kay’s car. He ran up to the house. The door was wide open and he could hear Jeremy crying. He looked around the living room. “Kay, Kay,” he yelled. Jeremy kept crying. He ran into the nursery, but he wasn’t in his crib. His cries were coming from the closet. Jason stalked to the closet and opened it. To his relief, Jeremy was wrapped in a blanket on the floor of the closet.

“Okay, baby. Daddy’s home. It’s okay…everything is going to be okay.” Kissing his cheek, he looked down and found a note.

Jason, if you’re reading this
that means something went wron
g.
I saw it in her eyes. Jason, I love you so much. You will always be in my heart no matter what. Please tell our kids every day how much their Mommy loved them
.

“No…” he whispered, staring at the piece of paper in disbelief.
He got teary
-
eyed
. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Officer White. “She took my wife!” He explained everything he found.

“I’m on my way, Mr. Anderson.” Officer White said.

He then dialed Patrick. “She got her, and there’s nothing I can do.”

“When?”

“I got here too late. Jeremy was in the closet, crying. Kay knew something was wrong. She kept him safe. I want to get out and look for her, but where? Where?”

“I will find her, Jason. Kay will be okay. I got to go. I’ll call you.” Patrick hung up the phone.

He looked at Jeremy, now sleeping in his arms. “Mommy is going to be all right. She has to be. She’s part of me.”

He looked down at the floor and spotted blood.

***

About an hour earlier

Kay checked on Jeremy again. His fever was low, but seemed stable. She was reassured because at least he was still eating. After she fed him, she’d given him medicine and put him down to sleep. The medicine always put him to sleep. She smiled, looking down on her sweet angel. “You’re getting so big. Every day you look more and more like your daddy.” She smiled.

There was a knock at the door. With a strange premonition, she left his room and went to answer it. She looked through the peephole and it was Kimberly, pacing from side to side. She had anger written all over her face.

She bang
ed
on the door, yelling. “Kay, I know you’re in there. Your car is outside and someone at your office said you came home. I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

Kay walk
ed
backward. She couldn’t hide. Kimberly knew she was there. “I’ll be right there, I’m getting dressed.”

She ran to Jeremy’s room, wrapped him in a blanket, kissed him, and laid him in his closet on the floor. She knew he would be out for a while. She grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it, then kissed Jeremy one more time and said, “I love you.” She got up and closed the doors to the closet.

She thought of calling the police, but what would she say?
I think
…
no. Kimberly hasn’t done anything.

She swung the door open. “What’s your problem?”

“Are you alone? Where’s your son?” Kimberly asked, forcefully passing her to get in.

“I didn’t invite you into my house.” Kay
turned
angrily.

“I need to talk to you. Where is your son?” She
looked
back
at Kay.

Kay left the door open. “He’s with his grandmother. Why are you asking?”

The woman just stood there, looking at Kay.

“Look, Kimberly, I’ve had a long day. Get out of my house. Jason is not here. I don’t have time for your shit right now.” Kay opened the door wider.

“Well, you’re going to make time for me. I’ll talk to Jason later.”

“Get the fuck out!” Kay yelled.

Kimberly reached into her bag, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Kay. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, bitch. You took something dear from me and my son, and I’m taking yours.”

Kay just stood there in shock, not moving. She was thankful she’d given Jeremy some medicine. It meant he would stay quiet.

“Jason was mine until you seduced him. He would’ve never left me for a black woman, especially one like you. You seduced him and told him you were pregnant with his baby, but both of us know he’s not the father of your bastard daughter. You knew that Jason would leave me. Since I’ve known you, you’ve wanted what was mine.” She practically vibrated with anger. “You better be thankful your son is not here.”