Nude Awakening II (28 page)

Thirty-Three

A Night to Remember

The burning trap house in Carol City had nearly burned to its foundation by the time the police and fire department arrived. An APB was already out for Swagga and the white 760Li. Once the Feds got word of the BMW's location, they rushed to the scene ASAP. Many weren't surprised when a charred body was found in the closet. For what it was worth, the coroner pointed out the single bullet hole in front of the skull. Until a DNA test was done to identify the body, the cause of death would be listed as a gunshot wound.

Swagga's life came to an end due to his jealousy and fear of how others viewed him. His demise also centered on him being enthralled with things he didn't have while ignoring the items he possessed.

***

LaToria had to practice what she wanted to preach to Trevon. She had to give Tahkiyah a chance to speak the truth. Tahkiyah tearfully told LaToria how she was raped, and gave birth behind her husband's back. She pleaded for LaToria to forgive her for putting her up for adoption. Tahkiyah sobbed deeply, asking for forgiveness and a chance to make things right.

LaToria had known of Tahkiyah by her first name only, since she was ten. She cried with her mom, choosing forgiveness over hate. She told Tahkiyah of her unfair past and what pushed her to do porn. Together they cried for both hurt and joy. LaToria knew she wouldn't be alone anymore when her mom promised to never leave her again. As for Trevon, Tahkiyah had sent him a text message that same night before she left the room with LaToria.

I hope you will take this with an understanding that even I myself find hard to grasp. Our night. Let it stay between us. I was wrong to let it happen and had you known who I was, I doubt it would've happened. I'm sorry, but building my bond with my daughter is all I live for now. TTYL

Tahkiyah, LaToria's mom.

***

Trevon had read Tahkiyah's text message twice, but was too numb to show any reaction. It was too much to add to his troubles. With his head back against the wall and his eyes shut, a black female surgeon entered the waiting room.

“Is there a Mr. Trevon Harrison here?” she asked softly.

Trevon shot to his feet. He had waited for this moment since he first learned of the accident. “How is she?” he asked, full of concern.

***

At the same time, LaToria and Tahkiyah walked up on Trevon and the surgeon. LaToria watched closely as the two spoke quietly.
Please God. Let it be good news.
She was coming up behind the surgeon when Trevon had an outburst of grief that caused LaToria to prepare her heart for more pain.

CHAPTER

Thirty-Four

Things Done Changed

May 25, 2012

Friday 3:45 pm – Miami, Florida

Three months later . . .

Trevon's career had shot past the moon and risen to a status of A-list stardom. With a new manager at his side and two new films on the market, his life was nothing like he dreamed of. His name was buzzing from New York to Hollywood, California, with rumors blowing up left and right about who he was dating or fucking. He made the threesome film with Cherokee and Pinky that was currently his bestselling DVD. His appearance on
The Wendy Williams Show
had caused his Facebook page to max out with friend requests only five minutes into the show. Porn was his true hustle. He was now getting appearance fees to show up at clubs, and a buzz grew instantly when he was spotted with Maliah Michel on his arm at Club Liv. Because of his hustle and the team behind him, Trevon was a star.
Any
woman he was seen with, the media easily speculated he was fucking them. In some cases they were correct, but in truth, he was 100% single and focused hard on his career.

The sun had its chest out today with the roasting temperature up and around 89 degrees. Trevon slowed his outrageously painted light green Aston Martin Rapide in front of a modest fenced-in home. Trevon's new sedan sat mean on a set of chrome 22-inch Strappo Rucci rims. The ride was a gift to himself, and of course, he broke his mom and sister off with money for GP and love. With the engine running, he tapped twice on the horn and then muted the music. Pulling out his iPhone, he sent a quick text message to Kendra.

Hey u! Hope all is well wit u and lil one. Just had u on my mind. Be sure to call me as soon as you have the time. Take care.

Trevon's conscience was a little troubled over Kendra's daughter having to grow up without a father. The day it was proven that it was Swagga that was shot and burned, Kendra and her daughter moved up to Raleigh, North Carolina. With the money left to her from Swagga's estate, she had no reason to ever work again. Trevon would never tell her of the role he played in Swagga's death. As for the video Swagga had downloaded of the threesome with Kendra, it was deleted. The same was done with the videos of Swagga with Chyna. When a shadow moved over Trevon, he looked up from his phone.

“Y'all ready?” he said, getting out of the Aston Martin sedan to help Ariana with the bag she carried.

“You're the one that's late,” Jurnee said as she moved slowly toward him. Trevon smiled at his best friend. The accident had caused her to lose her left leg from the knee down. Though her walk was slow in the prosthetic limb, she was alive and deeply in love with Ariana. Trevon tried to help Jurnee inside the car, but she slapped his hands away.

“How you feeling?” he asked Jurnee when they were all inside the car. Jurnee leaned across the center console and kissed Trevon lightly on the lips. What had troubled her mind on the day of the accident was the issue of what
she
had to tell Trevon. She was going to tell Trevon the truth about Kandi's baby, but it would've come after she told him about hers. Jurnee was three months pregnant by Trevon, and there were no doubts about it. The bond Jurnee and Trevon shared was beyond unique. As for people that didn't understand it, they dared not to even waste their time to explain. As long as they were happy, fuck what everyone else thought about it.

“I can't believe Janelle is getting married today!” Jurnee said when Trevon pulled from the curb.

“And she's two months pregnant,” Trevon added. Rick Ross' “Hold Me Back” lightly thumped in the trunk.

“Hey,” Ariana said from the backseat. “You two come up with a name for the baby yet?”

Jurnee smiled, looking at Trevon and caring so much for him. She had mad love for him, but it was Ariana that she was in love with. She could still recall the day Trevon was at her side, nine days after the accident. The doctors had already told Trevon about Jurnee being pregnant, but he still took it as new news from Jurnee herself. As a true friend, he was the rock she needed when she faced hard times during her period of healing. When she was physically able to have sex, she did so with Trevon until she could barely move. She needed to
feel
alive, and yes, she called him papi while he pounded at her sweet wetness. As for life with a baby, they would deal with it and take it day by day. And most important, there would be no regrets.

***

Nashlly was still in Miami and living off those five minutes of fame she had by dating the late Swagga.
Hip Hop Weekly
and
XXL
had done big stories on Swagga's unsolved murder. Nashlly flawlessly played the role of a broken-hearted lover in both magazines. It was
rumored
that she was dating/fucking a baller in the NBA, but he was remaining nameless.

Jamilah collected a check for $7.5 million, only half of what Kendra got. Jamilah knew Kendra was always number one out of his three baby mommas. Reluctantly, she gave Nashlly $800,000 just to keep her out of her face. As for Art, he was back up in New Bern, North Carolina thinking of ways to triple the $500,000 Jamilah had dropped in his lap.

***

LaToria and Tahkiyah had stayed true to their word. They both gave each other a chance, and through time they became inseparable. They lived together in a five star condo on Miami Beach and became what many people take for granted, a family.

“This doctor needs to hurry his tail up!” Tahkiyah said, losing her patience while sitting in the obstetrician office with LaToria.

“Something's wrong, Ma,” LaToria whined from up on the examination table.

“Hush girl, and stop all that worrying. He's just running some tests and—”

“My baby is too late, Ma. I shoulda had her two weeks ago!” LaToria had done the math in her head.
I was fourteen weeks pregnant back in November, so my nine months is . . . now! Please God. Let my baby be okay.
Lying on her back, she caressed her swollen belly with fresh tears pooling in her eyes. She
knew
something wasn't right. Her soul was telling her so. Listening to her mom, she thought of Trevon, so she wouldn't worry herself too much. She was still in love with him, but she understood his choice to take things slow. He showed his care for her and the baby by attending a few Lamaze classes with her. Back in February she had visited him on Valentine's Day. Emotions that were once hidden were shown openly. They had sex twice that day, but a wall still stood between them. They spoke daily, for neither could go on and ignore the feelings they still shared for each other.

Now in truth, LaToria was happy that Jurnee had pulled through. But in secret, she had cried her eyes out when she learned that Jurnee was pregnant by Trevon. There was no hate, only a hurt that left an aching pain on LaToria's heart. With her effort to gain Trevon's love back, his connection to Jurnee would forever be unique and special. Jurnee would give Trevon his firstborn.

LaToria needed to know what was wrong with her baby. A call suddenly came through on LaToria's cell phone that her mom answered.

“Hi Trevon.”

LaToria wanted to hear his voice, but she didn't think she could hold herself together. Instead, she motioned to her mom that she didn't want to talk. She settled to listen to her mom talking.

“Yeah, we're still at the doctor's office—okay—well, we shouldn't be here much longer and no, we won't miss the wedding and—” She paused when the doctor walked back in. “Trevon, let me call you back. The doctor just got back in. Okay . . . bye-bye.”

The white male doctor stood by the examination table with an iPad in his hand. “We have a problem here, Ms. Frost.”

LaToria moaned, causing Tahkiyah to come to her side.

“Relax, baby.” Tahkiyah rubbed LaToria's face, feeling scared of the pending news herself. “Please tell us what's wrong with the baby,” Tahkiyah said.

The doctor sat down. “The baby is in great shape. All of the tests are fine.”

“But . . . you said there's a problem,” LaToria cried.

“Ms. Frost, when you went to see that
other
doctor back in November, he made a mistake.”

“What kind of
mistake
?” Tahkiyah asked sharply.

“Ma'am, your daughter isn't late at all. The mistake came in the form of your daughter being told she was fourteen weeks pregnant. The truth is she was only eight and a half weeks pregnant. You're only eight months pregnant, Ms. Frost. Your baby isn't due until June.”

Only the sound of the air conditioner running filled the office. Kandi was pulled back to reality as her mom started crying.

“Baby,” Tahkiyah cried. “You hear that? The baby is Trevon's!”

It was true. A small mistake had sent LaToria on a path of destruction that tore up her happy home. LaToria had no doubt who the father was. Trevon Harrison!

CHAPTER

Thirty-Five

The Last Scene

One year later . . .

There would be no embarrassing moment on
The Maury Povich Show
for Trevon to learn the truth of his firstborn. He was at LaToria's bedside back in June of last year when she gave birth to a baby girl. Then a week before Thanksgiving, he repeated the special event again with Jurnee. She gave him a baby boy.

Trevon was still doing porn while finding a balance in his life around being a father and his expanding career. He took things slowly, putting nothing before his kids. To be the man he wanted to be, he had to be willing to face his faults. He understood his fears in life, for no man or woman stood without fear. He understood the pain of having missed out on fifteen years of his life behind bars. Facing it, he made the choice to put it in his past. With each new day it was a challenge and yet a gift for Trevon.

As for dealing with his heart, he was able to forgive LaToria for her misguided actions without blame or fault. The two met halfway on their trip back to commitment. Nothing in Trevon's sight would push him from his course in life.

In private he had a long mature talk with Tahkiyah to speak on the secret they shared. They both understood how lust proved to be their only link. What happened between them, they promised each other to take it to their grave. Trevon also promised that he would treat LaToria right and gladly welcome Tahkiyah as his mother-in-law when that day came. He found his balance by being himself and not what others expected him to be.

“Smooch!” LaToria shouted from the kitchen. “The baby is crying again.”

Trevon was already making his way to the bedroom with Rex on his heels to check on the little ones. By the tone of the high-pitched cry, he knew it was his daughter. Reaching the crib in the bedroom, the crying stopped once his daughter saw him. She was spoiled and hated being alone. Her brother was wide awake as well, sharing the crib with his sister. Seeing his kids gave Trevon a purpose to live. A reason to be something that was taken for granted by many men, a father.

T h e  E n d . . .