"Let me ask you a serious question," I said. "If you don't like me and you're constantly trying to find stuff wrong with me, why are you forcing your son to marry me of all people?"
"That was my husband's idea," Zuri said flat. "Your father has connections that we need. It made the most sense."
She paused, studying my face like she was looking for something specific.
"Your family is well known in the public eye with a picture perfect life," she continued. "At least on the surface. I do extensive research on everyone who comes into my family, Tattiana. Your deepest, darkest secrets that you think are buried? I know all about them."
My stomach dropped but I kept my face straight.
"I'm choosing to keep quiet because we've already made arrangements and we need you right now," she said. "But I don't want you to think for one second that I don't see you. I don't want you to think for one second that I don't know who you are and what you've done. But I do understand that everybody has a past. I can't fault you for who you were as a kid. But trusting someone who has secrets like that is going to take a lot of work."
She leaned forward slightly.
"And I want to know what you plan on doing moving forward about that secret," she said. "I really want to know what kind of woman you really are."
My eyes went wide. My heart was pounding so hard I thought she could see it jumping out of my chest. Did she know about my business? How could she possibly know? Not even my father knew what I was hiding.
I tried to keep my face straight.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said. But my voice wasn't as steady as I wanted it to be.
Zuri stood up from the table.
"Yes, you do," she said. "But it's time for me to let you to go about your day. Remember, I see you."
She turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking on the floor like a countdown to something I wasn't ready for.
I sat there shaking after she left.
I couldn't understand why they were forcing me into a family where the mother clearly didn't like me. And worse, she knew things about me that I thought were locked away. Things thatcould destroy everything. Things that could put my livelihood in jeopardy.
After I finished breakfast, I went out on the porch to get some fresh air and try to calm my nerves.
That's when Kaseem’s father, Kadeem came walking up the driveway.
He threw his hands up and surrendered when he saw me.
"I come in peace," he said with a slight smile. "I didn't know my wife was coming over, but when I realized she was here, I came up to make sure she wasn't causing too much trouble."
I almost laughed but I was still shaken from our conversation.
"Whatever my wife said, ignore her," he said, sitting down on the porch steps beside me. "She's losing her oldest son to another woman. That's hitting her different than she expected. But I want you to know that we value you. I appreciate you for being here."
He looked at me direct.
"Just like I told Kaseem, we're going to protect you and take care of you by any means," he said. "You're family now. That means something to us."
I felt tears starting to form but I blinked them back.
"I appreciate your kind words," I said.
He gave me a brief hug before standing back up.
"I'm going back home to have a talk with my wife," he said. "You shouldn't be hearing anything else from her. Not like that anyway."
He walked back toward the way he had came, leaving me sitting on that porch trying to figure out what Zuri actually knew and how long I could keep my secrets before they came out.
—
