“My father called me again, and he said that he found out that his girlfriend was cheating on him, and he was really leaving her. After he confronted her with the evidence, she had lied about it and then started an argument with him. After he gave me those details, I finally left my house with my girl angry at me, but I didn’t care. I figured we would work it out later because I had to make sure my pops was good.”
I inhaled and closed my eyes. All I could see was the blood. There was so much blood, and I could smell the metallic scent everywhere. There was another smell in the air. I realized that my pops had pissed his pants when he died. Delaney didn’t need to know all of that.
She reached out and touched my hand. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to go on.” Her voice was a soft, comforting caress against my heart, and it prompted me to open my eyes again.
“By the time that I arrived, it was too late. She had already stabbed him to death. When I arrived, he was lying there in a pool of blood, staring at the ceiling. His neck was slit, and she was on the couch above him crying. When I shouted at her andasked what had she done, she tried explaining that she didn’t mean to do it.
“I was angry and made a move toward her. I swear that I was going to kill her with my bare hands. She must have felt my energy or seen it in my eyes. Because the minute that I took that first step, she shot me in the knee a couple of times. She ran from the scene. They eventually captured her, and she’s now serving life in prison for murder.”
Delaney stared at me for a long time. It eventually became uncomfortable, and I almost regretted telling her all that I had. I hadn’t shared that story with anyone outside of my family and my closest friends.
When she reached across the table and grabbed my hand to squeeze it, I relaxed. The compassion and genuine sympathy in her eyes was evident and couldn’t be missed in the sheen and sparkle of her brown eyes. “I’m so sorry that happened to you and your family, Naijhel. I think it all makes sense now.”
I nodded. “That’s why I was so supportive of Clayton when he came to me because he had an entire story about the abuse he had suffered at your hands. Then when he provided the documentation, I didn’t bother questioning him further. He had pictures, witness statements, doctor reports, and even a police report.”
“All forged,” she replied softly.
I nodded. “Clayton knew what happened to my father. It was easy to believe him because I have seen manipulative women at work who present a sweet, docile front for some people but can be a different person behind closed doors.
“When I saw you, I saw my father’s girlfriend. I’m sorry, Delaney. I’m sorry that I was part of making your life hell and a part of victimizing you and destroying your life. I recognized in hindsight that Clayton used that to manipulate me into taking his case and fighting hard for him against you.”
“My life isn’t destroyed, Naijhel,” she replied with a sweet smile. “In fact, it’s just beginning.”
9
DELANEY
TWO WEEKS LATER
My jaw clenched as I clicked submit. The irony of submitting the loan payment today of all days was painful. Today was the anniversary of my divorce. I had done a lot of shit to Clayton to repay him for the hurt, pain, and humiliation he caused me through the years, only to end up here.
“Come in,” I called out when a knock sounded at the door.
“Hey, this just came for you,” Yogi stated, walking into my office with a box and a plant.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I don’t know what’s in the box, but someone sent this cute little baby.” She set a small white ceramic planter that read “You are loved” on my desk. I removed the card tucked inside of the plant with the initials NK on them.
“I’m heading home for the day. You have a great evening, Boss Lady,” Yogi declared and left my office.
I inhaled the card when I noticed that it had Naijhel’s signature scent on it.
“How sweet and thoughtful. It’s a care package. But why did he have to come from the enemy camp?” I muttered after I opened the box.
I sighed because as much as I wanted to continue pretending he was the enemy, I didn’t believe that anymore. Naijhel made it hard not to like him.
Hearing his story about what happened to him and his father changed my feelings toward him. I now understood his aggression as he tried the divorce case, and my heart had softened toward him greatly.
My fingers lovingly stroked the bottle of wine as I eyed the gourmet popcorn, bath bombs, and cozy socks. I looked at the clock, and it was already after five. I was ready to go home so that I could relax.
I set the bottle of wine aside and checked out the other items in the care package, which included a comforting blanket, journal and pen, cozy pillow, weighted eye mask, and a scented candle.
I finally opened the card and read it.
“Today isn’t a day that you planned, but it is an opportunity to plan for the future rather than reflect on the past. Only darkness lies behind you and light shines brightly ahead, beckoning you into a brilliant future. You matter, and you’re cared about just like the plant you have received. Pour water into it, shine light on it, love it, and watch it grow. Same as I plan to do to you,” NK.
Tears pricked my eyes as I dialed his number.
