My Woman His Wife Saga (42 page)

My son was coming home today. After about two weeks, and a major setback, he was finally getting out of the hospital. The puncture in his lung was giving him more trouble than the doctors anticipated and he had to go back into surgery because there was a small leak near the inside suture site, but he pulled through just fine. The kids were so glad he was coming to the house, but it was a bittersweet moment because their mom was still down for the count. Splitting my time between home and the hospital was draining, but I didn't have a choice. Yes, Jazz's family was there to help, but I had to step up to the plate and take care of my business. The doctor said that the swelling in her brain was making progress and going down as scheduled, and they didn't want to chance waking her up too early and making matters worse. She responded to the touching of her feet, and hands, and displayed normal brain activity for someone in a dream state. I was relieved to hear that, and was happy to know that there was still a chance.

The kids and I spent the entire morning decorating the house for Jordan's welcome home party. After baking cupcakes and hanging streamers and balloons, we cleaned up and were ready to go. I warned the kids before I left that Jordan wouldn't be able to run around with them because of the type of surgery he had, and he might be asleep well before the party was over, and they appeared to understand. Janice was super excited because her other half was finally back. She was lost without him, and I could see it all in her actions. She wasn't as energetic as the other kids, and was sad all the time. When I told her that he was coming home, her entire mood changed.
Thank you, Jesus!
There were other family members there as well to great him, and everything was going as planned for the first time in never.

Jasmine's mom and dad stayed with the kids at home and her brother rode with me up to the hospital to help me with Jordan. I didn't want Jordan to see his mom in the ICU, so we stopped there first to see Jasmine before going up. I knew I would have to bring the kids up eventually, but not in her current state. They would have tons of questions that the younger ones wouldn't comprehend and it was just too much at once.

When we got to the room, the doctor was there charting observations, and instructing one of the nurses on doses of medication for Jasmine. We stood back to let him conduct business, waiting patiently for him to finish. I knew he would fill me in on everything afterward. It didn't take him long to finish up, and pretty soon he was ready for us.

“Mr. Cinque, it's homegoing day for young Jordan, right?” he asked as he shook my and my brother-in-law's hands.

“Yes, sir, it is.” I smiled at him. “The kids and I are excited.”

“That's good. He's been waiting for you guys since early this morning,” he responded as he scribbled something else in Jasmine's chart. “As for your wife, I pushed up her dosage of pain medication due to her response to the pain overnight. She hasn't woken up yet, but her blood pressure did shoot up a little, and the nurse charted some incoherent moans, indicating discomfort. She was taken off of the drugs that put her in the coma-like state so that she could wake up slowly.”

I nodded as he talked, not really sure on how to respond. I had so many mixed emotions, and I wasn't really sure how I was going to be able to deal with Jasmine once she was finally allowed to wake up. How would she respond to her scars? So many emotions and questions were swirling around in my head, and I had to take a seat to digest it all.

“So, for now, I want you to enjoy your time with your son. The hard part hasn't begun yet, James. Once Jasmine comes through, it's going to take a lot of work and determination. There's a possibility that she will be angry at first, and maybe for a long while. We have therapy and everything here to help you through. For now, concentrate on your son, and everything else will fall into place.”

I nodded my head as he talked, going into my own thoughts. Were we going to need therapy? I was certain that she was going to be angry because it was my fault that she was in here in the first place. Shit just got real, and I would be the first to admit that I wasn't handling it too well. It just sunk in that it was going to be a long time before there would be some kind of normalcy in our family.
Lord, just help me get through it.

“So, take a few minutes to let your wife know that you are here. She can hear you, she just can't respond right now. The nurses are here if you need anything, and I know Jordan is excited, so enjoy your ride home,” the doctor concluded, shaking our hands and giving the nurse further instructions before leaving.

I was stuck on stupid for a minute just standing there staring at Jazz. Her brother excused himself to give me a little privacy, letting me know that he would be waiting outside the room. There was an awkward silence in the room. It was funny how since she'd been here I never bothered to say too many words to her. The majority of the time I just sat and stared at her and wished that things were different. What was I supposed to say? I was sorry that things turned out like this? I'd already said that a million times. I guessed she would want to know if the kids were okay, but after telling her that what else was there to talk about? It was too early to talk about the “who's your daddy” issue with the twins, and we would just have to cross that road when we get there.

Taking a seat next to her bed, I took her hand into mine and just stared at her. At that moment I didn't see the banged and bruised Jasmine lying in a hospital bed. At this moment it was on our honeymoon, and we had just finished making love for the third time. Even then I couldn't believe I lucked up, and got to marry her. Tracing a finger along her bruise, I saw her at a time when she was taking a quick nap and exhausted from carrying our first set of twins, and not in a medically induced coma. We were so excited and cautious at the same time because she had already miscarried twice before. She had made it to almost seven months, and the twins were doing good.

“Jazz . . .” I began in a hesitant voice, trying to unscramble my words and my thoughts. “Jazz . . . I'm sorry this happened to you. I know I've already apologized a million times, and if I need to I'll do it a million more. I love you, and I'll be here for you when they wake you up.”

Her fingers tightened a little around my hand, and a tear slipped from my eyes. She heard me, and that's all that mattered. I sat there a moment longer, taking her in and remembering the times we had. Even the dumb shit that happened over the years, and I knew for certain I wasn't meant to spend my life with anyone else but her. As I prepared to leave, the doctor stepped back into the room.

“James, I'm glad I was able to catch you before I left for the day,” the doctor began as he walked closer to us. “A young lady stopped by earlier to see your wife. I believe her name was Sheila. She said she didn't know your wife was here and that you guys are good friends. Just wanted to tell you that just in case she called.”

“Oh, okay, thanks a lot,” I responded. Monica was a slick bitch indeed, and I knew I needed to stop her in her tracks before she started some shit. That was clever of her to give the doctor a different name, but I knew the game and was already five steps ahead of her conniving ass.

“No problem, I'm on call if you need me.”

After giving Jazz a kiss on her forehead, I met up with her brother in the hallway, and we made our way up to Jordan's room. I felt for my wallet, remembering that was where I stuck Monica's number, and I decided that I would call her once I got settled later in the day and all of the kids were asleep. This bitch always showed up at the most inopportune times, and I had to get her straight before Jazz came back into the picture. My wife didn't need to be stressed out with her antics; we already had enough drama going on.

When we approached Jordan's room I could hear his laughter before I even got to the door. He sounded stronger today, and that just warmed my heart to know he was recovering in a timely fashion. I hated to see my son all strapped up and taped up with tubes coming out of everywhere, and I was glad to see them removed. It was just too damn emotional. He was cracking up watching a cartoon, and his little voice spoke volumes of how he was feeling.

When I and his uncle walked into the room, his face lit up, and my heart broke when he tried to move in the bed and realized he couldn't. Quickly moving to his bedside, I took him into my arms as gently as I could, and gave him a hug. He looked so happy to see us, and I was definitely glad that he was well on his way to getting better. Just thinking that he could have easily died in that car crash brought me to tears every time, but I had to be strong for him.

“I'm going home today!” my son shouted as he jumped around a little too much for my liking. The pain medicine that they had him on must have really been on point because he was acting like he didn't feel a thing.

“Yes, you are. Are you ready to see your brothers and sisters?” I asked him as I helped his uncle change him into an outfit to go home in. The streets were a little better today, but it was still really cold outside, so we made sure to bundle him up as best we could with keeping him comfortable at the same time.

“Yes, I miss everybody,” he said in an excited voice.

“That's good. They all missed you too,” I spoke to him as I blinked back tears. “We have a surprise for you when you get home.”

“You do?” he asked with that bright smile on his face that almost made me forget that he was conceived by someone else. “Will Mommy be there?”

The room went silent, and I looked to Jazz's brother for help. He busied himself with the packing of Jordan's stuff, but I could see the nervousness in him. How did I answer the question without causing alarm in my young son? He was still fragile from his own shit, so I didn't need him to worry about something that he couldn't fix.

“Mommy won't be home for a while because she's not feeling well,” I began, hoping that he understood. “Your grand-mom and your brothers and sisters are waiting for you though. Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Yes, Daddy,” he said as his little eyes began to close. The medicine that they had him on was making him sleepy, and at the right time. Lord knows I didn't feel like answering a bunch of questions that I really didn't have the answer to. Jazz's brother looked relieved as well that Jordan was falling asleep, and once I signed the discharge papers, and got the medicine from the pharmacy, we were ready to go.

As I drove back through the city to take my son home, I just hoped that I could do this by myself. Although I had plenty of help from the family, everyone couldn't stay forever, and would have to get back to their own lives pretty soon. I also had to get at Monica before she started acting crazy. It'd been a few years, but I wasn't sure about her mental state. For all I knew she might just try to take her son from us, and that in itself was a whole, entirely different headache that I didn't feel like dealing with. Jazz probably wouldn't mind seeing him go since she never really got attached to him in the first place and he was such a problem child in her eyes, but the kids would be devastated and I wasn't about to let that happen. This was too much going on at one time, but it was happening for a reason. It was just time for me to embrace it, and try to move forward.

I was getting bored sitting around this house. The judge was still locked down in the hospital surrounded by security, and I wasn't permitted to leave the house without a guard as well. This was some bullshit, and I swore as soon as I checked on my seed I was out of this joint.
Philly can kiss my black ass.
Shit with the butler got real old real quick as well. He had the tools to get things popping; he just didn't know how to use them. That was a shame, too, because his head game was off the hook! I ended up beating off in my room because this fool just wasn't hitting the mark.

So, I found myself not wanting to do shit, and the only time I called the butler was when I wanted something to eat. The streets were clearing up, and the storm had moved on, so it was safe to go outside now. I just didn't have anywhere to go. I wasn't even amused by the Cinque updates on the news anymore, and I was getting pissed because James had yet to call me. What was this fool waiting on? The one time I snuck up to the hospital I found out that their son had been discharged by cutie behind the desk, but Jazz was still there. I attempted to visit Jazz, but as soon as I stepped off the elevator, the judge's bodyguards rushed me and had me escorted back out. They weren't even trying to hear that I was there to see someone else, and that time I was actually threatened not to show my face up there again. That was like a week ago, and I was ready to bounce.

The plan was to dip into Philly, check on my seed, and slide back out undetected, but shit never worked out the way I wanted it to. I had a damn lunatic following me around in a car I didn't recognize, but it had me nervous about going back out on the street alone. The Cinques were experiencing their own bullshit, and I was stuck in this gorgeous-ass house with nothing to do but play with my pussy all day. For some that may have been the bomb, but for me this was not the move. I wanted out now!

I just couldn't bring myself to leave for some reason. There was no one or nothing keeping me from driving to the Philadelphia International Airport, turning in my rental, checking my bags, and getting the hell out of dodge. Not one thing that I could think of really. My assistant kept me abreast on business, and everything was running smoothly. She even checked the condo while I was away, and there was nothing to report, so what was really keeping me here?

Even though I gave up my son it was my responsibility to make sure that he was safe and being taken care of properly. This feeling I was getting in my gut wasn't merely a case of bad gas; my son needed me. Or so I led myself to believe. From what I'd seen so far he didn't seem to be in harm's way. His hair was cut and his clothes were clean, he was gathered with the family and not set off by himself, and he looked like he was being fed and not undernourished. There was just something that I couldn't see right now, and I knew if I left before finding out what it was I would regret it, so for now I was staying until I felt like I could go in peace and not have to worry about him.

Deciding to make contact with the outside world, I thumbed through the Rolodex in the judge's office to see who I could get to help me with this kid situation that I was having. I knew there had to be someone out there who could help me, and I didn't want to have to wait on the judge to get better to get to work on this. I was not staying in Philly any longer than necessary. I had businesses to run back in Atlanta, and being here wasn't working in my favor.

A lot of the names I didn't recognize, but from the listing of the Rolodex they appeared to hold prestigious positions so I took the liberty of storing the info in my phone of the ones that I could utilize later on. I made my visit to the office quick, after snagging Sheila's number, because I didn't want to get caught by the butler. After all, Stenton was just asking for someone to be in his business. My office would never just be left open for anyone to walk in and browse around. I had too much at stake.

Once back in my room, I blocked my number and called Sheila to see if she would answer. She was probably at work and wouldn't answer right away, and I decided against leaving a message because I knew she would never call back. Allowing the phone to ring until the voice mail picked up, I hung up and called the courthouse instead. That was a phone she had to answer.

“District Court, how may I direct your call?” Sheila answered the phone in a very professional voice that held a lot more confidence than I remembered. I guessed once I left Philly she was able to do her.

“Sheila, it's Monica. I need your help,” I began, ready to run down a list of errands for her. As I was talking I noticed the phone was awfully quiet on the other end. Taking the phone from my ear, my screen read that the call was disconnected.
Did this bitch just hang up on me?
Going to my call log, I hit the number again, waiting for her to answer.

“District Court—”

“Did you hang up on me?” I spat into the phone, ready to get rowdy if necessary.

“Monica, now is not the time—”

“Then when is the time? This is about my son,” I said, cutting her off midsentence.

“Look, I get out of here at five. Get a pen and pad to take down my number and we can discuss it then. Right now, I'm working and don't have time for this.”

Seems like we got a backbone while I was gone,
I thought as I got a piece of paper ready. I already had a number for her, but the judge's Rolodex may not have been up to date, or she may have been operating from a different phone. The number she gave me was the same number I had, and after confirming that I would call her at five fifteen, I hung up. I needed to get in touch with James, but I wasn't really sure how to go about it.

Falling back on the bed, I just stared at the ceiling, trying to sort everything out. My phone ringing scared the shit out of me, and I jumped up to see who it was. The screen read Jaydah's name above the number, and I was not beat for her today. I was surprised that it took her this long to call me. Maybe she had book signings or something that kept her busy because surprisingly she hadn't called me since we touched down in Philly three weeks ago. I wondered to what I owed the pleasure of her call today. I was almost tempted to let her go to voice mail, but I was bored out of my mind and could use some form of entertainment for the time being.

“Hello?” I spoke into the phone in a sleepy voice like I had been awoken from a nap or something. Hopefully she would take that as a hint and not want to talk my head off.

“Monica, how have you been?” She spoke in what I assumed, by the huskiness in her tone, was supposed to be a sexy voice, but I was not moved by it at all. As good as the sex was with her, I didn't need to give this chick any ideas. She was too damn clingy for me, and I just didn't feel like the shenanigans.

“I've been good,” I responded, not bothering to give up any detail. She knew what I was here for, but I wasn't about to give up details. We were just fucking, ain't like we were buddies.

“Okay . . .” she said, becoming silent for a while. I just sat on the phone, listening to her breathe. “Well, did you find your son?”

“I never had to look for him. I know who he's with.”

“Yeah, but you said they had moved, and—”

“So, what exactly is the purpose of this call? I know you didn't call to get in my business,” I responded, rudely cutting her off. This bitch was acting like we knew each other forever.

“Well, I was in fact calling to see if you made progress, but you've made that clear that it's not my business,” she answered in a measured tone that indicated I might have struck a nerve and was working her nerves. Ask me if I cared.

“I'm doing okay.”

“Cool. So . . . ummm . . . when are you going to let me eat your pussy again?”

Speechless. Direct and right to the point was usually how I liked it, but this one definitely caught me off guard. I must say she had me intrigued. Taking a second to think, I knew I had to meet up with Sheila later in the day, but it was still early. Maybe I did have time to fool around with Jaydah for a second. I could definitely give her something to write about in one of her freaky novels. The butler was out getting food and paying bills for the judge, and I didn't see security anywhere so maybe I could sneak out undetected for a while. He wouldn't even know I was gone.

“Okay, what's your address? I can't stay long, but I guess I can come and play for a little while.”

“Or I can come to you if that would make it easier,” she offered, sounding suddenly happier that I agreed.

“No, I'll come to you,” I said, looking for a pen to write down her address. I couldn't be that disrespectful and invite her here because I didn't know how the judge would feel about it. I had a feeling that I might be able to talk the butler into a threesome, but Jaydah didn't like to go home when it was time. I found that out the hard way when she came to my house. Basically, the safest bet was to just meet up with her.

Writing her info down, I took a few minutes to refresh and get myself together because if I knew her, she would be on me the moment I walked in the door. The streets looked pretty clear from here, so I made sure I was by myself before jetting out. I didn't feel like being surrounded by bodyguards today, especially since I didn't really need it. Unless the judge had a hit out on me or some shit.

I got down to Jaydah's house in no time, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror to make sure I wasn't being followed. I didn't know who was trying to set me up, and my motto was always to trust no one. When I pulled up to her condo I could hear my phone ringing, and became instantly annoyed.
Is this bitch eyeballing me from the parking lot?
I never told her what kind of car I was driving, so how did she know it was me? Searching my bag for the phone, I pulled it out, ready to go in on her ass, only to see a strange number on my screen. I didn't think nothing of answering, figuring maybe she was calling from a house phone.

“I'm on my way up now,” I spoke into the phone as I gathered up my stuff. She must have been extra horny to be stalking me, but it was cool. I was one hell of a catch.

“Monica?” A male voice came across, and I had to pause for a second. Was this who I thought it was?

“James? Is this you?”