“You’re welcome. I’ll be around,” I promised as I followed Kody to his conference room, where he had the plans on iPads that he shared with me. We worked harmoniously for overan hour, deciding what made the most sense for a homestead that would have an eight-bedroom main home and two one-bedroom cottages. I was impressed with his expertise, ideas, and enthusiasm about constructing my place. Maybe we could work together and keep it professional.
“The men will start tomorrow, and the secondary plans for the cottage are in my office.” He walked through a door on the side of the conference room. “Take a seat over here while I get the specs together.”
As soon as I sat down in front of his chrome desk, their wedding picture stared back at me. A young Jamie, handsome in a black suit, leaned on his mother, though he held both of their hands. They were outside, and the sun reflected their happiness. No denying that they were in love.
At least in this photo.
Then there was another picture with a pregnant and glowing Jamaica, and Kody’s arms were wrapped around her. Lastly, there was a pic of the four of them. This time, Jamie stood beside Kody while KJ and Jamaica were in front. They were all wearing white shirts and bright smiles. The pain of regret and longing stabbed deeply. All the years of being a critical and commercial success couldn’t top being with a woman and a family you loved. I looked up from the pictures at a smug Kody, unable to hide my hurt.
“I know you believe that we’re not real and that you can just come in and take what was never yours, but this is real.” He pointed to his ring. “This is real. Yeah, I fucked up a couple of times. I’m not going to make the same mistakes anymore. I’m recommitting to my marriage because this...” He picked up the family portrait. “…means more to me than a piece of ass.”
I leaned forward. “Then tell her the truth. Tell her you framed me for a crime I didn’t commit. A crime that could’ve got me fifteen years.”
He half-smiled. “I didn’t frame you.”
“Bullshit. You told my brother about the job. He wouldn’t have known to do something like that without you.”
“Yeah, I did tell him. We did it together.”
“What?” I stood up. “He never told me you were there, too.”
“He didn’t know. I followed him to make sure he didn’t fuck it up. Neither one of us expected anyone to come home. They only saw him when he ran, but knew that it was two of us.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He dropped his gaze from mine. “It was either going to be you or Peace going down for it. Back then, you two looked alike. I figured you would rather go to jail than your brother, so we didn’t say anything. I mean, it all worked out in the end. Look at the life you have now.”
“I wanted Jamaica.” I barely contained my rage. “No, I didn’t go to jail, but I was shipped away from my baby…from my heart for something I didn’t do.”
“You chose to plead guilty.”
“Say that one more muthafucking time.”
He held his hands up. “Look, I didn’t expect to fall for your girl. I felt guilty about what went down with the home invasion, so when I saw her in the store carrying Jamie on her hip, I decided the least I could do was look after her for you. She and I were friends for a long time because she still hoped you would come back to her. She wanted to tell you about the baby, but I didn’t know where you were once you left Laredo. Then, after a while, we decided that I would be Jamie’s father. Hell, I didn’t know you came back for her until we were together. That’s when her father said he was glad that she had found me, since you didn’t want to have anything to do with her once you found out about Jamie.”
“You know me. Would I have ever abandoned my child?” I poked his chest hard. He flinched, though he didn’t move fromhis chair. “The first thing I did once I was released was seek her out. Hoped we could somehow get back together. Her father stopped everything.”
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO
Nervously, I stood before her parents’ door, with flowers in my hand, ready to share about my new agent and work in Nashville. I had a fresh contract for $75k, which was enough to start a new life. The Job Corps had taught me mechanic skills, and I could get a job at an auto shop while I worked on my music.
I had my speech ready to go. I would win her heart back even if she had another. She hadn’t taken my calls, and then her number changed. That still didn’t deter me because I had a plan now. A plan to take care of her while she was in school.
The door finally opened, and her father walked out. He still wore his cop uniform, and I backed up instinctively. “Mr. Bennett, sorry to bother you. I don’t know if you remember me.”
“I remember you. You’re that thug that lives on Charleston with that drunk father of yours and your sissy brother.”
He triggered me with his insults. He could call my father a drunk and me a thug, but to go after my brother was too far. And all that I had been taught at Job Corps to learn self-control almost went out the window. “My brother ain’t no sissy, and I’m not a thug anymore. Don’t know where my father is. I imagine he is somewhere drunk. I came here to ask for your permission to date your daughter if she’ll have me. We haven’t spoken in a long time.”
“I heard about the trouble you got into.”
“I didn’t do it. I pled guilty because the system is stacked against me.”
“Says everybody in prison.” He snarled, “Get the hell off my porch. She doesn’t want you anymore. It’s why she stopped taking your calls and changed her number. She has a new boyfriend, is in college, and is happy. Leave her alone.”
“Please…I know you don’t like me. Have every reason in the world not to like me. But I’m not that person anymore. I really came to see you, to talk to you, man-to-man. We didn’t get off on the best foot, and I want to…” My words cut off at the gun he aimed at me.
I held my hands up.
