Page 61 of The Promise

The promise…

“Shit.” I rubbed my face with my palms. “Look, E, if you’re hinting at there being more between Ashira and me, I can tell you it ain’t. She never really got down with the kid like that anyways. The one time I felt like we were on the same page, that shit was like a jailhouse wet dream because it happened so damn fast. I’ve supported her dreams since she carried my daughter. I haven’t laid a hand on her in over nine months. I’ve released the possibility—that wasn’t a possibility at all.” I was frustrated. Fucking flustered, too. I needed a moment to calm myself. “I know we need to talk shop, so I’ll put it to you like this. I’m not sorry for what I did to her ex.”

“They say people with specific antisocial personality disorders are unable to feel remorse.”

“I ain’t crazy, E.”

“Oh, I know.” He scoffed while readjusting himself in his seat. “But you need to be sure Ashira Witherspoon does as well. Your behavior was reprehensible, and even if you cannot find it in your heart to feel guilt, I admonish you to find a level of human decency to express sorrow to the mother of your child. You’re building a legacy in this life, not perpetuating the pathology your cousin spoke of.” I nodded, accepting his discipline.

“Good,” Ezra answered my energy. “Because if you’re under my spiritual leadership and on my roster of friends, I’m going to trust you’re accepting my caution. Now, let’s work. Shall we?”

I shook my head, going back to my laptop.

Damn…

ChapterTen

Part III

March | Three Years Later

“Do mine yike dis, Mommy!” Chi-Chi demanded, standing at the canvas with a dripping paintbrush.

She was asking me to draw the eyes on her clown as I had my own. Her speech was developing just fine, but there were still things that may not have been coherent to others, but Mommy understood everything.

“Okay.” I walked over to her on my knees and tried painting over her smeared attempts. “Oooh!” she marveled. “Pretty!”

My daughter was hyping me up, trying to get me to correct more of her tracing art. “Thank you, baby. You can finish it now. Right?”

“Yet me see, Mommy. Yet me see,” she wriggled between me and the canvas.

“Okay.” I backed up to watch.

“Chi-Chi,” Ines called from the doorway of the living room. “time for your bath, young lady.”

Chi-Chi spun around dramatically. “Bath time?” Her eyes flashed wide, and teeth clamped together.

I snickered as Ines rolled her eyes, beyond smitten by Chi-Chi’s charisma.

“Yes, lil lady. Bath,” Ines repeated. “Your momma got work to tend to. And if you don’t hurry up, I’m going to pick the toys you play with inthere—”

“No!” Chi-Chi cried, turning to hand me the paintbrush. “Here, Mommy!” she hissed before taking off to her room.

“Wait.” Ines caught her. “Let’s take this off first, baby.” She quickly untied the smock from behind Chi-Chi and brought it over her head. Then she folded it inside out, so the soiled side was not exposed. “You’re about to handle that?”

I nodded, fully understanding what she meant. Ines had been encouraging me to get out of my feelings regarding Chi-Chi’s father along with my therapist. So, I’d been making attempts to. I closed the paint palates and wrapped up the brushes before sauntering to the powder room to clean up. Returning to the living room, I rubbed lotion into my hands before grabbing my laptop. Then I perused my inbox until arriving at the name that never failed to make my belly turn over. Last week before the vicious, brutal, and unnecessary assault, Ava Dallas reached out to me with Jas’ vacation ideas. Of course, they didn’t include Paris. Nonetheless, his suggestions were pleasantly surprising and strikingly generous.

Shaking my head, I continued to read words typed by an enduring sneaky link disguised as an erudite, efficient personal assistant, trying to stay focused. The doorbell rang, pulling me from my misery. I placed the laptop to the side on the sofa then toed to the door. The sight on the other side by way of the peephole tightened my jaw from surprise and curiosity.

I swung open the door with filled lungs, frozen by his unannounced presence.

“Yo,” was how Jas greeted thickly while rubbing the side of his jaw.

“Hi,” I dispelled the building air.

He snorted, “Can I come in?”

That’s when I jumped to my senses. “Sha-sure!” I backed away, inviting him inside. “You want Chi-Chi?”

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