Page 37 of Enigma
“Nigga you are hell,” Ahmir said after he stopped laughing.
“It’s the audacity of that hoe ass nigga, my bad Mr. G,” realizing I was cursing.
He waved me off as to say it’s no big deal and I continued what I was saying, “This man living in a house I bought and paid the bills on, driving a car that I gifted, went on vacations that I sent him and my mother on despite his shortcomings as a man, husband, and father and you would disrespect me and the woman that has shown up for me and the kids when they didn’t after Maria passed, even after losing her husband? Nah, I’m not going for that.”
“Boy, a nigga in love will fight a bear over his woman,” Jay said, causing everyone to laugh again.
“But see, son, that’s why you don’t reward poor behavior because it continues to spiral. When I met Angel and he told me he was estranged from his parents and always would be because of how he was treated growing up, I respected it because you have to cut a snake off at the head. Your father is a snake, and you must handle him accordingly. Unlike him, your mother from the little interaction I’ve had with her, seems to be getting her affairs in order to be a better mother and grandmother and so the grace you’re giving her is justified, but even when the time comes to hold her accountable for being complicit in your father’s bullshit for so many years, do it and be unapologetic about it. Most importantly, remember that grace is reserved for people who actually do the work to right their wrongs,” Mr. Graves spoke as I nodded my head in agreement.
There was a knock on the door before it opened, revealing the producer letting us know it was 15 minutes until show time. I was dressed and ready, but before I headed out, I wanted to get Mr. Graves’ blessing to propose, so I went into my pocket and grabbed the Tiffany box.
“Mr. G, before we head out there, I need your blessing.” Sitting the open ring box on the table, “I have tried to think of all the reasons I shouldn’t marry your daughter, and none of them ever make sense. I’ve let my guilt be a reason, the optics of how this looks, and none of it ever matters because the minute I think of a life without Layanna, I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack. She is the embodiment of everything good, and I need her forever,” the conviction and determination in my voice leading the charge.
“About time,” Ahmir and Jay said almost in unison.
“Son, you’re already making my baby girl happy, so of course, you have my blessing. Some people never get to experience one forever, and God sees fit to bless you with two. Take that and run with it. When Angel died, I saw the light that surrounded Yanna leave, and since you two began to support, lean on, and love each other, it’s returned. Cherish that and just know that Maria and Angel would want y’all to find happiness and love again. I know it sucks not to be able to share this with your father, but son, you have a father in me.” he grabbed my hand as he pulled me into a hug.
“Thank you, Mr. G. That means the world to me.”
It was call time, so the fellas and I headed to the recording area. I’d settled on a bold but stylish choice for my wardrobe, wearing a dusty blue polka dot dress shirt with a terracotta suit and navy blue accessories. Opting for a more casual look, I skipped the tie and left the top button undone on my shirt, tying the look together with a navy and dusty blue paisley pocket square. As I made it to the stage, Malaya was there to greet me.
“Mr. Black, it’s an honor! Thank you for choosing me to share your story with.”
“Thank you for extending to my family and me a platform to be heard,” I replied as I noticed Yanna heading towards me.
She was breathtaking in a satin one-shoulder slip dress. The terracotta color illuminated her beautiful skin, the gold accessories and heels were the perfect accompaniment, while she opted to wear her hair in a beautiful updo that brought the attention directly to her gorgeous face.
“Malaya, this is my girlfriend, Dr. Layanna James,” I attempted to introduce before they cut me off, letting me know they’d been chatting in Yanna’s dressing room and had exchanged numbers and planned to get together to hang out.
“If everyone is ready, we can get this show on the road,” Malaya instructed.
“GOING LIVE IN 5…4…3…2…1,” the cameraman yelled.
“Good evening, world, welcome to this special episode ofOn The Clock, I’m your host Malaya Abrams, and today I’m joined by 4-time NBA champion, your favorite commentator’s favorite commentator, model, global businessman, community activist, and all-around amazing human being, Caleb “No Weaknesses” Black!” She introduced me as I walked out to hug her and take a seat.
“This is anOn The Clockexclusive. We would also like to welcome to the show, Caleb’s girlfriend, Dr. Layanna James.” Yanna walked out, and I momentarily held my breath because her beauty caught me off guard every time she came into my line of sight; she was just that perfect in my eyes.
True to her word, Malaya asked the hard-hitting questions about Yanna and me, allowing us to clear up the lies my father had spread. I had a chance to talk in depth about Angel, Maria, and me being friends since we were kids, being a teen parent, Angel being more like family than my own, and us meeting Layanna in college, and her completing our family. We emphasized emphatically that we had never looked at each other romantically nor violated our marriages and spouses when they were alive, to which our children chimed in to back us up and show their support of our relationship. As the interview went on, we discussed how abusive Angel’s parents were and even read the scathing words Angel had written about them when he put together his living will and testament detailing all of the abuse he endured at their hands, and even attached his school records containing the reports made to child protective services for child abuse and negligence. Caleb then discussed his father’s infidelity and how he’d drag Caleb with him to cheat on his mother as a child, even having sworn statements from some of his former lovers. Adding insult to injury, Layanna disclosed that Angel’s parents had never met their grandchildren and had never tried to, nor did they come to pay their respects and bury their son once they learned he had passed and left them nothing. Malaya revealed that she and her team had done their own fact-checking, and several bloggers had sent overproof that Sr. had been attempting to sell false and salacious stories to any blogger who would listen.
“Caleb, Layanna, before we go, is there anything you want to tell the world?” Malaya asked us.
It was now or never, I thought to myself.
“A person or thing that is hard to understand or explain,” I recited the definition, watching confusion cross Yanna and Malaya’s faces. “That’s the definition of an enigma. Layanna, the love that bloomed between us is an enigma, because it was hard to understand and explain how it happened, why it happened, and if it was supposed to happen, but it did. Baby, when we connected, it was because we had to stare in the face of great loss, pain, and suffering, but somewhere along the way, it blossomed into the greatest gain, healing, and happiness I’ve felt since losing Maria and Angel. In the beginning, it felt like an enigma, but now I know we were given another chance at forever. There’s nobody I’d rather spend it with than you,” pulling the ring box from my pocket and dropping to one knee, “Dr. Layanna James, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” I finally asked nervously for her answer as I opened the box, revealing a three-carat, pear-shaped Tiffany Soleste Halo engagement ring.
Looking up at her, tears ran down her eyes, “Cal, only you would propose to me on live TV and have me crying my makeup off,” she blubbered, “I love you so much, yes, yes, YESSSSS!” She screamed as I placed the ring on her finger.
The studio erupted with cheers and applause as I got up and gathered my fiancée in my arms and kissed her senseless.
“That, ladies and gentlemen, is the definition of go big or go home! I want to thank Caleb, Layanna, and their families for sharing their stories with us. It takes courage to share the good, the bad, and the ugly side of life while never letting it break you. I’m Malaya Abrams, and this has been a BSNOn The Clockexclusive!”
“That’s a wrap!” The producer yelled.
“OMG! Caleb, Layanna, what this interview just did for my career, I will never forget! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Her excitement and gratitude bubbled over as she hugged us both.
“You deserve all the success you’ve had and that you will have. Integrity in journalism is becoming a lost art, so to see a black woman forging her own path without giving in to the shock value bullshit is refreshing. You can always get an exclusive with the Black/James family, say the word,” I affirmed her.
I turned to Layanna, who was walking over to our families, flashing her engagement ring as she hugged everyone. The alerts on my phone let me know the internet was going crazy, as Jay walked over with a grin a mile wide on his face.
