Chapter 6
"OMG Mom!" Lucy said over the phone as Jayda walked into her living from outside. She'd been talking to the sheriff over last night's encounter with the other neighbours and the police department have assured the residents that there will be two patrol vehicle stationed in the area for the time being.
"It's been taken care of so I don't think they'll be coming back," Jayda said as she made for the couch.
"But still, you need to move out of that house" Lucy suggested.
"You know I can't"
"Why? Because it's grandma's house?"
"That and the fact that your schooling needs all the finance I can get"
"Well mom you don't need to overthink your pretty head about that because Keira and I got a part-time job to model for some app and the pay is a mouthful"
"No no mo" Jayda immediately opposed the idea. "I don't want you doing part-time jobs when you're supposed to be studying"
"It doesn't conflict my studies at all Mum." Lucy faked a crying tone.
"My answer is no. Besides, New York is still new to you. That place is so different from here and people aren't the same so I suggest you focus on what I sent you to do which is to study and not parade yourself in clothes that are not conservative all in the name of modelling"
"I have to go, mum," Lucy said with the intent of halting the topic.
"We are not done talking about this young lady and you take care," She said before Lucy hung up first.
On another note, Lucy is just like her. Stubborn, and strong-willed like she was when she was much younger than her. Jayda went down memory lane and remembered when her granny used to warn her about Donnie and how she refused to listen because Donnie had already swept her off her feet. She was so reluctant to the idea of staying away from him because she was already madly in love with the charming boy from then. It was when she got pregnant with Lucy that the reality of what she had done dawned on her but she was ready to take up the responsibility and the day grandma threw her out was the day she became an adult.
Since she dropped out of school, she'd not been able to go back unlike Donnie. While they were living together, he enrolled himself in university and broke up with Jayda after he was offered a mouth-watering offer in Beverly Hills. She never heard from him again since then. How a man can forget his daughter for years still surprise Jayda.
************
A FEW DAYS LATER
Jayda walked down the stairs to see who'd been knocking on her door and She was not surprised when she found the person to be none other than the sheriff.
She's been used to having him come over every evening to check on her and the other residents as a follow-up from the last attack.
"Hi" She smiled at the Forty-something-year-old man.
"Hello Ms Jayda, how are you this evening?" He asked
"I am fine and no, I didn't witness strange activity today" Jayda giggled after replying what she knew would come next. It's become a daily routine and she's used to it.
"Point taken," He said, silencing his chuckle too.
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way" Jayda apologized.
"Don't worry about that. I do understand what that meant"
"Regardless, it came out the wrong way"
"Trust me you're not the only person who's said it to me but at the end of the day, doing these rounds is part of my job to ensure the safety of the residents. Any strange observation would go a long way"
"Do you want to come in for a drink or dinner?" Jayda said with a shy laugh at her way of making amends.
"It's really not a problem. Besides I'm still on duty" He looked down at his uniform trouser.
Jayda didn't know why she felt a sudden hit of disappointment.
"But I can take you up on that offer tomorrow evening. What do you say?" The gentleman offered
"Yes, sure we can swing that Officer..." Jayda attempted to read the nametag on his uniform. "Shawn"
Jayda closed the door and rested on it while trying to remember the last time she felt so uneasy with a man. She cringed when she remembered that time to be with Donnie. Although a little bit of it happened with Brian but she was filled with anger than uneasiness at the teenager.
Jayda had noticed Shawn during his third visit and had been told the forty-year-old gentleman is harmless, easy-going, dedicated to his job and most of all, single.
At this point in her life, she didn't want to feel lonely anymore and is fully ready to consider the officer. She knows it's time to fill the spot her child can't fill. That spot belongs to a man that would caress, care, love and make love to her.
She'd missed being made love to the most. She'd forgotten how it felt to have the length of a man in her, forgotten how her body felt when hugged by a man, how her lips melt in the moment of lip-locking, how her brain snapped when she's about to orgasm, how engorged her nipples rose when the tongue of a man travelled down the nape of her neck and most of all how secured, wanted, and loved she felt with a man.
Donnie was the first and last man to make love to her. She couldn't remarry and have her little child share her love with a newfound man. She'd heard unhealthy stories about stepdads and their stepdaughters who don't get along and Jayda wouldn't bring herself to intentionally hurt her daughter whom she cares for the most in the world.
But now that Lucy's grown, Jayda knows it's time for her to go back to that chapter of her life. She'd considered one night stands but, she's also not the kind of person to jump on a stranger and then have sex with him. She's a traditional person who believes sex and love align.
Chapter 7Jayda giggled like a toddler at ice cream when she and Shawn made their exit out of the cinema. They just finished watching the latest horror film titled 'forgotten and instead of coming out with a rather intense expression, the duo laughed their way to the parking lot."So where are we going next?" Jayda asked as Shawn put the car in motion unto the express."I was thinking of dinner" he said."I'm quite full from the popcorn and Soda""How about a walk in Glover?" He suggested.Jayda had heard of the new park in town but has not had the opportunity to visit the place even though she'd heard a lot of awesome reviews from the people in Ely."That'd be great," She said.They arrived in the park in half an hour and since there wasn't much to do because most of the vendors have closed for the day, Sha
Chapter 8"Where's the new commercial clip?" Brian said while flipping through the pages of the folder in his hand."We are yet to shortlist the candidates.." The fidgeting thirty-something years old creative director managed to say even amid stammer.People working under Brian always find talking to him intimidating and somewhat scary. It's hard to share the same space with his arrogant and rude attitude."You're fired," He said without flinching."Sir?" She questioned in disbelief."Are you deaf? I said you're fired! I can't have incompetent people working in my company" he didn't look at the poor lady, not even as little as a wink.Just as soon as she walked out of his office, Khloé walks in majestically while strutting her curves in the perfect motion."Hey baby" she greeted before taking her seat.
Chapter 9A few weeks later.Lucy walked into ChaseApp headquarters alongside Keisha for their callback interview with the brand. The duo had applied a week ago to model in a commercial much to the fact that one appearance costs so much more than the regular coffee shop attendant job they'd been doing secretly to help lift the burden a bit off their parents.Both girls gawked at the enormous elegance of wealth and class that littered the ground floor. There was so much professionalism in how the ladies who worked there walked and talked. They weren't dressed corporately. Some even wore shorts that went as far as the curve of their butts but their carriage is classy as hell."Wow. Pinch me Keisha" Lucy said trying to get out of what she thinks could be a dream.They'd researched the company ahead of their interview but the pictures didn't do the building justice. I
Chapter 10Both girls screamed out of the ChaseApp building after being among the five models picked for the commercial that was later said would continue during the final casting."Do you think if the President was seated, we would have been given the spot? I mean, considering what happened in the morning""We didn't do anything wrong! What makes you think we did? We were just talking. He seriously can't be that bad""Have you heard of this man!"They both walked down the walkway to catch the bus heading their way.********"There's something I need to tell you," Shawn said, as he arrived with Jayda under her porch."Some time ago before I met you, I had plans of transferring to NYPD for the sake of my daughter so that I can be close to her instead of having her travel down here once a while" He paused a bit before con
Chapter 11BeforeJayda 22Brian 12"Jayda!" Brian hurried outside to where Donnie and Jayda are seated, smoking."Putt off the cigarette" She whispered. She stomped on both stick with her feet before Brian's arrival.Donnie rolls his eyes in disbelief at her."It's Lucy. We were playing and then she tripped and bruised her leg. I already applied first aid but she keeps crying and won't let me put a band-aid on it."The trio hurried to the backyard to find little Lucy on the grass, crying."Hey, sweetie" Jayda bent down to inspect the scratch. "Pass me the bandaid" she collects the strip from Brian's hand and places it on Lucy's wound carefully."Check the lower kitchen cabinet by the fridge, bring the pack of candy in it," Jayda told Brian and he returned a few seconds later with the
Chapter 12Throughout the flight to New York, Jayda felt very scared and the nervous feeling from the pit of her stomach made her more scared.She'd received a call from Keisha that Lucy got into an accident and is in the hospital. She couldn't even wait to hear everything Keisha had to say and just tool off to the airport.She would die if anything happened to her daughter. The flight took longer than usual and it made Jayda regret staying far away from Lucy. She ought to be by her side and not two hours away from her. She didn't want to be a hovering type of mother, it's all she's been doing since Lucy's birth and that's why she let her do her thing by supporting her when she said she's going to study further in New York.As she makes her way out of the airport, Jayda switches off the Flight mode on her phone and begins to dial Keisha's number. She picks almost immediately.
Chapter 13A WEEK LATERJayda settles on the blanket she spread on the floor of her one room apartment. She has been trying to get a job since she moved in five days ago knowing fully well that she only has enough to live for just a couple of months in the city coupled with Lucy's needs. Lucy had suggested they sell off Grandma's house but Jayda wouldn't hear it. She only went back to Minnesota to pack a few essentials like her laptop, couple of blankets and pillow, the rest she will buy in bits and then sell off after four years.She'd been on almost all job seeking platforms looking for any opening whatsoever but the ones she had seen so far require at least a bachelor's degree which she doesn't have. The only thing she learnt and did for a living back in Ely is baking. The skill earned her a job spot in one of the popular confectionaries in the town where she was able to care for herself and Lucy for a long while.
Chapter 14It's Saturday and like every other weekend, Lucy visits Jayda. She even brought back their weekend breakfast ritual- cooking pancakes.It's been almost a month since Jayda's official move to New York and so far so good. She'd managed to acquire Mrs Mary old coffee shop and set to officially open for business in the coming month. She would have opened but the renovation seems to be taking longer than expected. She even opened a business account on Instagram for the shop which she changed to Euphoria coffee and Confectionaries as well as uploaded some of her past works in Minnesota. She's pretty much determined to make the business a hit- she doesn't really have a choice. She has to make sure there's a lot of sales in the next couple of months to fully buy the shop off and pay back the loan from the bank so as not to lose the house."You really need to get at least some pieces of furniture, for now, mum" L
Chapter 24Jayda scooped her phone off the nightstand table and turned off the annoying ring of the alarm. It’s a bright Monday morning yet, Jayda didn’t feel like stopping by at the store today. Some days she wished she’d hired a manager on her behalf so that she can excuse herself from work on days like this but, she’s yet to afford extra hands.Shortly after, her phone rings from an unknown number.“Hello…” She said wearily.“Is this Euphoria?”Jayda quickly sits properly on the bed to receive the call in an appropriate tone. She most times forgets her line is on Euphoria’s social media accounts. It’s too late to do anything about the unpleasant early morning client calls; she will just have to purchase another number in place of her line.“Yes it is”“I k
Chapter 23“Mum please get the door, I’m still in the shower,” Lucy said at the top of her voice prompting Jayda to get the door from the kitchen. She twisted the knob open to see Brian standing in front of her. She gasped in shock and almost closed the door but, he stuck his foot out to halt the movement. Jayda had no idea why she wanted to close the door: It is not like she is doing anything illegal. Just then, Isabelle slid her head out behind Brian.“Aunt Jayda,” She said with an enchanting giggle and hurried to her embrace. Jayda hugged her while still in shock as to how Brian knew her address.“Brian, you are here!’’ Lucy exclaimed on her way to the door while still slightly dripping from the shower she just had.Jayda watched in awe as Lucy ushered both Brian and Isabelle in.“And you must be Isabelle? I have heard so much about you. Come here you little cutie” Luc
Chapter 22It’s been three days since the Tuesday incident as well as the last time she heard from both Shawn and Brian. She’d worried more about the latter than the former. Life gave her another chance to mark a clean slate with her godson but Brian ruined that chance when he tried to uproot the same mistake that drove a wedge of distance between them nine years ago. She feels very remorseful for not pushing him away the minute he pulled her close…. She’s far older and should know better.After carefully thinking about everything, Jayda came to the conclusion that she and Brian need to sit down and talk about this in a more civil manner… One that does not involve any sexual tension.She also wondered if what happened in her office was payback for throwing him out because why else would a married man do such a despicable thing and worse, with his child around? This only made her feel dirty, one,
Chapter 21 On the walk back home, Jayda couldn't excuse the event that just happened in her store from her thoughts even if she tried. At some point, she absentmindedly smiles but was quick enough to replace it with furrowed brows so as not to let Shawn catch on.Jayda couldn't deny the fact that that the rest of their celebratory dinner turned awry following the incident. She had been silently praying to God that Shawn doesn't bring up the issue because of the continuous awkwardness it would breathe.Who would have thought? All these years she'd been constantly hating on herself for letting him go and worse, letting her friend down. She'd been praying to God every single day for his wellbeing wherever he may be and for God to make them see each other at least one last time.The little boy she knew is no longer little, he's a man. A married man and father to a girl she adores. While he almost kissed her, Jayda found
Chapter 20"Daddy!" Isabelle hurried to Brian's embrace. He's been leaning on his car while waiting for her arrival at the school gate which just a few feet from the school building. He hardly shows up to pick her at her school- the driver or Khloé does- but today is different."Came to surprise my birthday princess" He bends down to meet her height. She gives him a tight hug.Isabelle climbed into the back seat and Brian closed to door to start the car."Mum brought me cake""Where's my chunk?""Ms Jayda shared all of it to my classmates""Ms Jayda?" He asked, curiously looking at her through the rearview."Yes, the woman from last time who saved me. She made the cake mum ordered and brought it to my school. We took pictures, danced and had so much fun." The little made so many happy gesticulations while narrating her experience."That's so kind of her" Brian said absentmind
Chapter 19After the finishing touches, Jayda stared at her just-concluded creation. The two tiers red velvet cake had red crumbs around and layered with dripping like cheese butter frosting coupled with an animated picture of Moana in the middle. It's a couple of minutes past two and she is more than happy to have finished the job on time.She took a quick peep at the cake one more time before calling it a night. Although her house is just a few blocks away, Jayda couldn't take the risk of going back home especially because of the dark ally she'll need to walk through before her house. She'd brought all her toiletries in the morning and a change of clothes. She makes a mental gratitude for that.She contemplates calling Shawn, not wanting to disturb him in case he's asleep but then again, she needs to shut her eyes too. It's been a busy opening day and coupled with this order, it is only natural for her to just go to bed. Feeling too tired to take a showe
Chapter 18"I look like a zombie," Jayda says as she enters Shawn's living room."No, you look perfect" He objects."You are only saying that because I am your girlfriend. It's only natural for you to make me feel good""Make you feel good, yes. But, its the truth. You are a very beautiful, smart, funny and stubborn woman that I love."She's not ready to say the words yet so instead, she gives him a warm smile."It's okay. I'll wait until you're ready" He kisses her passionately and it was until a knock on the door interrupted did they stop."That must be Selena," Shawn said as they break from the kiss.He hurried to the door while Jayda stayed back.He walked back in shortly holding Selena with one hand and her bag in the other. Gigi walked in after them."And this must be Jayda," She said in her almighty expensive-looking midi length fur jacket.
Chapter 17Jayda hurried to the switch to turn on the newly fixed Edison bulbs in the shop. She opens her eyes in shock at the beauty of the entire interior. The bulbs did the icing on the cake making everywhere glow up like a dreamland. She smiled at her newly accomplished goal with pride.She changed almost all the furniture as well as repainted the wall and got a few machines to add to the existing ones.The interview for a few positions will be held today and although it's scheduled for three in the afternoon, three candidates already arrived by one. She's planning on hiring a Cashier, one cleaner, for now, one barista, two salesperson and two assistant bakers.By six, she'd finished everything and gotten her workers who will be resuming the coming week which is in two days. Jayda will be using the weekend to stock up the shop with goods.Shawn arrives just before she could turn off the Edison bulbs that mostly gave the sourc
Chapter 16"It's Sunday Lucy, no one is supposed to be here" Keisha whispers as they walk further into the floor.Keisha sights a rotating CCTV camera."You do know we are being watched right?"Lucy is unmoved and at some point, Keisha stops walking behind her fearing they might get into big trouble snooping around the president's office.Lucy shuffles and quickly scan through a bunch of papers and folders on the secretary's desk. An alarm from another elevator distracts her."Someone is here, hide," She tells Keisha who hurriedly finds a safe spot to hide. Lucy scoots under the secretary's table.Brian walked into the floor and being a very neat person, the littered desk catches his eyes as he walks by and worst of all is that he saw footprints on the mopped floor.He stops and traces the footprint leading to the desk out of curiosity."I'm so sorry" Lucy apologise as soon