When Two Become One
Excerpt
Excerpt
Shayna reached for the kitchen door leading to the garage, and it swung open. Stumbling back, she gasped and her keys crashed onto the floor. The 6’2’, 230-pound obstacle stood in a crisp white oxford shirt and a silk designer tie. For a moment, his cologne flowed up her nostrils, providing a calm sensation from her head to toes. Jonas Ambrose’s aura was as striking as the day they met at an Exxon gas station seven years ago. His dark coffee complexion was crowned by midnight wavy hair. Recently, he had his curly locks cut to make his 28-year-old ‘grown man’ appearance official.
“Hey. Where are you going?” Jonas’ eyes scanned her up and down.
Shayna read the question in his mind: Why are you dressed in sweat pants and a T-shirt? We have dinner reservations. Breaking away from his glare, she bent down to pick up her keys.
"Uh, my mom just called all upset. Janeva is on the rampage again because Mama won't give her some money. I could hear her through the phone yelling and cussing in the background."
Jonas sucked his teeth and brushed past his frazzled wife. She felt coldness from the breeze of his steps and attitude.
Tossing his keys on the granite kitchen countertop, Jonas stated, "Our dinner reservation is in an hour and a half."
"I know. I'm so sorry, but this is an emergency. I don't want Janeva to hurt my mom," Shayna said as she approached him, but when he crossed his arms over his chest her steps halted.
Jonas' jaws clenched, defining their prominent square angle. "What are you gonna do when you get there? Janeva is a junkie, feenin' for a hit. She could hurt both of y'all. Your mom needs to call the cops."
Shayna couldn't stand when he referred to her baby sister as a 'junkie'-even if it was true. "She's not gonna call the police." Shayna said, pacing the kitchen floor.
"Well, why don't you call them?"
Shayna didn't need the police. Her 5'10" stature came in handy when it was time to show authority. Growing up she had always been bigger than Janeva, which helped keep her little sister in check.
Shayna never imagined as an adult she would need to physically challenge her sister, but she had stood by long enough while Janeva took their mother's kindness for weakness. Estelle didn't want to throw Janeva in the streets that she roamed. But Shayna was going to use tonight's drama to serve her sister an eviction notice to get out of their mother's house. It didn't matter that Janeva was five months pregnant. She could go live with her baby daddy-if she knows who he is.
Shayna stopped and looked at Jonas leaning against the counter on the opposite side of the room. "Once I get over there everything will be fine. When I get back in a little while we can walk into a restaurant for dinner, or I can pick up something on my way back home."
"Don't bother."
Shayna sighed, dropping her shoulders in despair. "Jonas, please don't be upset."
He walked out, and she resisted the urge to follow him. Things would only escalate, and she didn't have any more time to waste. In haste, she walked into the garage, jumped in her car, and started the engine. As the garage door slid open, she put the car in reverse and backed out as fast as she couldShayna stopped and looked at Jonas leaning against the counter on the opposite side of the room. "Once I get over there everything will be fine. When I get back in a little while we can walk into a restaurant for dinner, or I can pick up something on my way back home."
"Don't bother."
Shayna sighed, dropping her shoulders in despair. "Jonas, please don't be upset."
He walked out, and she resisted the urge to follow him. Things would only escalate, and she didn't have any more time to waste. In haste, she walked into the garage, jumped in her car, and started the engine. As the garage door slid open, she put the car in reverse and backed out as fast as she could without causing a collision. Past news stories of drug addicts who have killed family members in rage flooded Shayna's mind. An addict knows no boundaries. She mashed the gas pedal, only decreasing her speed at stops signs and known hot spots for police patrol. without causing a collision. Past news stories of drug addicts who have killed family members in rage flooded Shayna's mind. An addict knows no boundaries.
*****
Copyright © Alicia Hill Jones
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