November 2022
"Yara Elizabeth, what are you feeding this baby?" Aunt Denise queried as she kissed Jahi's stomach making the five-month-old smile.
"Mostly breast milk, he eats a lot though."
Yara smiled fondly at her son before she shuffled around Amari's cabinets looking for bottles. Payton had helped Amari sort the last of his stuff out last night when she heard their aunt and uncle were coming in. They'd even ended up having a couples movie night when Jahi had went to sleep. Yara really liked Payton. She was a breath of fresh air almost, gentle and calm.
"I can see, he's so chunky. Greg, you remember when Amari was like this?" Denise mused happily as she looked back at her husband who now reached out for the young baby.
"Yeah, Amari was a big baby. We didn't know how Amaia carried him and Aya at the same time."
Gregory sniffed the air before he raised the baby and made a face.
"Smells like it's time for a change. I got it; it's been a while."
With that said Uncle Gregory took Jahi into his makeshift nursery leaving just Yara and Aunt Denise in Amari's Kitchen. Yara was preparing Jahi's bottles and Denise watched her. She was glad to see that Yara was handling life so well especially after what occurred. Denise knew that Jordan was not the one, she'd told Yara but the young woman insisted on following her own path.
"How've you been sugarplum?"
"I've been alright, mostly working and when I'm not doing that, I'm trying to find a house down here. Amari's crafting out his own life and I don't want to intrude on it too much you know? He and Payton are getting really serious."
Denise pursed her lips and nodded before she noticed a red mark on Yara's neck.
"I realized; she seems to be very sweet. I'm happy for him but he's not the only one getting serious with someone is he?"
Immediately Yara turned to meet her aunt's eyes. For some reason she never could hide anything from Denise, most of the time she never tried to in the first place.
"Auntie, Jordan's going to be here any minute to see Jahi. Do you really want to start this conversation right now?"
"Absolutely Yara, we can stop it when Jordan comes but until then we will have it. Is it Quincy?"
"Yes, it's Quincy." Yara turned away just as Uncle Gregory and Jahi walked back into the room "It's always been Quincy."
She muttered the last part. It had taken her so long to realize but he wasted no time settling into her life. Quincy was always at the house, or they were always at his luxury high-rise condo. He'd even set up a crib for Jahi. They were moving quickly but Quincy didn't want to waste any more time and he'd made that clear. She tried to slow things down as much as possible because at his rate he'd give her a Birkin and a baby tomorrow.
"Now, do you think that you're ready for a new relationship plum? All of that with Jordan, having things crumble that way Yara it takes a toll on you emotionally."
"What new relationship?" Uncle Greg looked at Yara incredulously as he bounced Jahi on his knee. Denise rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Greg look at her neck, and you saw her room. There's another man in this house, Quincy."
Denise made sure to put emphasis on the name and Uncle Greg couldn't help but to chuckle when he heard who it was. From day one, he'd told Yara that Quincy seemed like a man who knew what he wanted. Back then, Yara didn't want anything besides her career.
"Baby girl are you sure that you're ready for that so soon?"
"Honestly, Quincy is the first thing that's been right in a while aside from Jah. Also, we're not getting any younger he's 31 and I'm 25."
"Yeah well, time shouldn't be the push plum. Do you love him?"
Aunt Denise asked as she got up and began to pat at Yara's neck with her powder foundation. Gregory tried to ignore the mark as he waited for Yara's answer. She'd always be that little baby who'd sit on his lap and demand another story at bedtime. He couldn't believe she'd gone through so much. When she'd said Jordan's first visitation was today, he'd insisted he and Denise come down to supervise. It was going to take a lot for him to not pummel the young man, but he had to try.
"I'm falling in love with him." Yara admitted for the first time "I think I always have loved him and I fought it but Quincy looks at me the way you look at Aunt Denise. I never thought I'd have that."
The older couple softened as Yara's statement resonated with them. Jahi made a small coo from her uncle's lap almost as if he agreed.
The doorbell soon rang taking them all out of their pensive dispositions. Placing Jahi's bottle in front of her uncle, Yara went to the door and opened it only to be wrapped in a pair of arms a second later. Quincy kissed her forehead as he moved them inside.
"Hey beautiful. How's your day been?"
"It's been good, my aunt and uncle are here. We were just talking about you actually."
Quincy released her and looked over her body. He was reading its language, but he also appreciated the simple tan t-shirt and biker short combo she had on. She looked so at ease, in the past few weeks she'd smiled more, seemed happier than before.
"Good things I hope." He grinned before he kissed her softly and raised a paper bag up that he was holding. Yara's eyes lit up immediately as she recognized the smell.
"Those aren't beignets, are they?"
"They are. I figured we could use a treat."
Her smile widened as she took them from him before she walked him into the kitchen. Aunt Denise's face immediately lit up, but Gregory remained stoic.
"Mom and Dad, this is Quincy and he brought beignets!"
"Nice to see you again Mrs. Underwood and nice to meet you Mr. Underwood." Quincy hugged Denise and shook Gregory's hand, not shaken at all by how he was being sized up. Jahi reached out for the man who took him easily.
Yara was too busy stuffing a beignet in her mouth to notice the way Denise and Gregory marveled at how Jahi snuggled into Quincy's chest. If Jordan saw that it would be a really great thing that Gregory insisted, they come down.
"We've heard very good things, years ago and now again today. You seem to be very persistent. You know that Yara is my niece but really, she's my baby girl. The last man's intentions weren't the best, so yours better be."
Yara tried to not groan as Gregory let the subtle threat come off his tongue like it was nothing. Denise couldn't help but smirk. She was caught off guard by how handsome the young man was, in the time that lapsed since the last time she'd seen him nothing had changed. She'd always liked Quincy. From day one, he'd been a gentleman who looked at Yara like she was precious. Men didn't look at women that way anymore.
-
Yara groaned as she lugged three boxes into the lobby of her apartment complex. Aunt Denise was on her heels, trying her best to hold back her apprehension at leaving the young woman here. Los Angeles was very different from Colorado. She didn't mind it when Yara had come up to attend UCLA but now she was permanently moving. Denise didn't know if she liked the thought of being an empty nester.
"Sugarplum, I could help with those you know?"
"Nah Mom, I just need a break. Besides, you shouldn't put that stress on your back."
As the women went back and forth, A young man emerged from the elevator and took them both in. What struck him was the younger woman and how petite she was. So tiny but yet so fierce in her energy. Her curly black hair cascading down her back and her curves were mesmerizing. Her face was almost ethereal with wide brown eyes, a button nose and full pink lips. She was moving into his apartment and he had to know her.
"Do you need help?" He offered kindly, his eyes never leaving hers as soon as they met. Denise observed this but said nothing as the young man jogged over to them and introduced himself.
"I'm Quincy, I live on the fifth floor."
"Yara, fifth floor as well and this is my mom, Denise Underwood."
"Nice to meet you both. I guess we'll be seeing each other around Yara."
"Will we?" Yara teased as the man took the boxes up as if they were nothing.
"I hope so." His voice was honest, earnest and Yara was flattered.
Quincy was fine, there was no denying it but she was her. They'd never amount to anything substantial but at least she'd have a dick appointment right down the hall. They went back and forth all the way to her living room where placed the boxes down before he looked around.
"This is almost as nice as mine." He joked and she rolled her eyes at him as Aunt Denise observed them.
"Well, I'll be the judge of that." Yara remarked softly and Quincy raised an eyebrow before he smiled.
"You're something different Yara Underwood."
"I try to be. Thank you for all the help."
"It was no problem; in fact it was my pleasure."
"I bet it was."
His eyes couldn't leave hers; he'd even forgot why he went downstairs in the first place but now he was sure that it was to meet her.
-
Denise knew from that moment and Yara's recollections that Quincy wouldn't go anywhere. Yara had run into him at her first event a week later. Turns out, his family was very close to her boss, so he and his brothers made an appearance. He didn't let her out of his sight all night, so it was no surprise when they'd gone home together. She'd gotten to see his apartment and it was nicer than hers.
"I understand, I honestly can't believe Jordan messed up the way he did but I'm glad that I get to call her mine now. That's what I've wanted for a long time now. I know she'll need time but I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for her and Jahi, always."
Quincy's honesty disarmed everyone in the room except for Jahi who began to fuss for his bottle. Quincy took the bottle and walked to the nursery with the baby as he fed him. Aunt Denise followed, no doubt with more questions for the young man. Uncle Gregory however smirked as Yara passed him a beignet.
"He's sincere." That was all the older man said " I still have my guard up but he looks at you like you're the center of his world and he loves Jahi. The way that baby reached out for him, will he even react to Jordan that way? Yara I've been around a long time, I've seen you and your sister go through a lot with men. Aya and Lucas then her and Devin , you and well, the list is too long."
Yara hit his arm playfully and he grinned.
"I'm happy when you're happy baby girl, that's all. If he hurts you though, I will be very unhappy which means he will also be very unhappy."
"I got you Unc. Just like Amari, which is why I scheduled this meeting when he'd be at work. Where is Jordan?"
Almost as if he'd been summoned, the doorbell rang and Yara answered it. The man looked at her with regret in his eyes. He looked like he'd lost a bit of weight. He smiled softly when he took in her appearance, she was so beautiful. Yara remained straight faced.
"Hey Yara."
"Hey Jordan, come in I'll get Jahi. My aunt and uncle are also here by the way."
With that said, she walked away from the door and Jordan entered, he took in the modern appliances and furniture as he ventured passed the entrance and living room to the kitchen where Gregory sat stone faced.
"Hello Mr. Underwood."
Gregory only nodded in acknowledgment before he went back to his beignet.
He didn't know what he'd expected from the man, but he was glad that he wasn't hostile. Venturing deeper into the room, he took in a picture of Yara and Jahi at a garden and his heart swelled. He missed them.
"What was the reason?" Gregory's voice broke through and Jordan looked at him confused.
"What was your reason to do that to Yara and your son?"
"I don't know, I guess I wasn't ready. Yara is amazing and when you meet someone like her, you want everything, but I wasn't prepared to give her that then. I thought I was but I wasn't. I didn't want to lose her or my son so I didn't want to tell her what I'd done. Those things don't stay a secret for long though."
"No, they don't because good people shouldn't get fucked over and manipulated into things. Jordan you're Jahi's father so you'll have to be around, and I hope you shape up because that little boy will look up to you and all I see is another little boy with a supersized pay cheque and no regard for his health or those around him. You put at my daughter at risk, and you hurt her. For that, I can't forgive you, but you can be a good father to Jahi, matter of fact you don't have a choice but to be. That little baby deserves everything, and you will give it to him."
Jordan didn't know what to say to that. Gregory's tone made it clear he didn't need or require a response. Yara walked back in with the content baby a minute later and Jordan felt something warm spread through him. He could see himself in his son but he could also see Yara, Elijah was the perfect mix of both of them and he'd gotten so big.
Jordan reached out for the baby and Yara allowed him to hold him. Unsurprisingly, Jahi began to cry as he looked at the unfamiliar face.
"He just has to get used to you." Yara assured "Rock him, walk around the kitchen. It calms him down."
The man did as told while Yara took a seat on the counter. Jahi was settling but any wrong move could set him off.
"Hey little man, I'm sorry I haven't been around as much as I want to, but I love you. Daddy loves you so much Elijah, and you're perfect."
The moment was a tender one, Gregory looked on approvingly just as Denise called him to the back.
"If you need me just shout." He whispered to Yara who nodded.
She didn't factor in being alone with Jordan but as soon as she was, he began to go exactly where she didn't want him to.
"So, are you still refusing to talk to me about us?"
"Jordan there is no us. You're here with your son, focus on him."
She didn't get why that was so hard for him to comprehend.
"I am but Yara, we left things on really bad terms. I can understand that there's no us and I can't blame you. I just want to clear the air so this tension isn't always between us."
"Jordan I'm not the one giving it off. I don't think there's anything to talk about. You cheated multiple times and you got someone else pregnant twice."
"I know I fucked up Yara but have you ever thought about why I did that in the first place? You never made us a priority."
"WOW, Jordan you did it because that's just what you wanted to do. I could've bent over backwards to be everything you needed but you still would've cheated because that's just who you are."
Jahi began to fuss once more prompting Jordan to move again just as Quincy came out.
"Everything okay?" He looked directly at Yara as he asked, and Jordan watched them before it clicked.
It didn't help that Jahi immediately reached out for Quincy, even going as far as to cry for the man leaving Jordan with no choice but to hand him over. As soon as the baby was in Quincy's arms he laid comfortably against his chest.
"Wow, this nigga. Really Yara? He's just my friend Jordan. Friend my ass, we haven't even been over 4 months and you're fucking someone else. Bear was right, you're a heartless hoe."
"Aye watch your mouth bruh." Quincy immediately was at Yara's side.
"Man, fuck ya'll. I can't believe you Ya. YOU HAVE THIS MAN AROUND MY SON!"
"OUR SON, JORDAN! JAHI IS OUR SON AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME WHEN YOU HAD TWO OTHER RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF OURS! YOU HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY!" Yara exploded, she was so tired of him.
"NO I DON'T!" Jordan exclaimed.
Jordan stepped to Yara menacingly and Quincy quickly passed Jahi to Yara before he shoved Jordan away.
"Get out her face man."
"OR WHAT? SHE WAS MINE FIRST!"
"Actually, she wasn't and she's not property. She's trying to make sure you see your son and you're acting like an ass."
"Stay the fuck out my business silver spoon and stay the fuck away from my son."
Quincy laughed at Jordan. Was he serious?
"I can't even take you serious man. You're so selfish and hurt that you'd rather your son be fatherless until you decide to show up just so you can think there's a chance for you and his mother? There is none Jordan and I'm not going anywhere. Who do you think is making sure your son is good when you're too stuck up your ass to do it? Yeah, Jahi is your son but I'm also in his life and I'm not going anywhere. Someone has to stick around."
The words were like fire in Jordan's veins, before he could stop himself, he swung on Quincy and a full out brawl ensued in the Kitchen.
"STOP IT!" Yara screamed at both of them, but they ignored her. Quincy punched Jordan in his stomach taking the wind out of the man.
The uproar prompted Aunt Denise to run out and grab Jahi before taking him to the back while Uncle Greg broke the two men up. Jordan's nose was bleeding. It looked a bit off center.
"Jordan, your son is right in the other room. This is about him, not you or Yara right now." Gregory tried to remind him, but the young man wasn't hearing him. Jordan's heart felt like it was breaking in his chest. She had already moved on.
"Maranda lied Yara, she lied. She was never pregnant, she just wanted to tie me down. She wanted us to break up and she succeeded."
It was a last-ditch effort. The news disarmed Yara a bit. She could see that he was greatly affected by that, by everything but it was his own creation.
"I'm sorry to hear that but she couldn't have fooled you if you weren't sleeping with her unprotected Jordan. Look, we must coparent we have no choice. We both must be happy and make this work so Jahi will be good. Quincy makes me happy Jordan. What just happened, that shit can't happen again. We're too grown for all this dumb shit."
In disbelief and hurt, Jordan clenched his jaw and shook his head. He couldn't believe he was going through this.
"Elijah is my child and I'm not okay with Quincy being around. I will take you to court if I have to."
"Now, wait a minute..." Gregory began but Yara was already on it.
"I dare you Jordan. You haven't seen your son for two months because you refused to set a date unless I talked about 'us'. In that time, Quincy's been there for both of us. You haven't seen Jayden in how long Jordan? You pick and choose when you want to pop up for your kids and blame it on basketball. You can't be a part time father and you damn sure don't have the right to tell me who I can and can't be with. Mylin and Ashlee didn't do that to you and you're not going to do it to me! If you took Jahi around Mylin or Ashlee I wouldn't hold that against you because they're the mothers of his sisters. Man the fuck up Jordan."
"I can't believe you." That was all Jordan could muster before he stormed out of the kitchen and left.
"And just like that, he didn't even say goodbye to his own child." Yara huffed, annoyed at everything. The regret for her choice of baby father hit her hard.
"I'll go talk to him." Gregory stated before he walked out leaving Quincy who tried to wrap his arms around Yara only for her to push away from him before she walked into her room. Without a second thought, Quincy was on her heels.
"What's wrong?" He queried genuinely confused as to why she was acting like this.
"Did you have to fight him Q?"
"He swung on me Yara!"
"Yeah, but you could have dodged it, you didn't have to break his nose."
He couldn't believe this, Quincy stared into Yara's eyes.
"With what he did to you and the way that he stepped up to you like he wanted to hit you Yara, he's lucky all I did was break his nose. I'm not apologizing for defending you, or us."
"Quincy that was assault, if Jordan wants to seriously take this to court, he could bring that up."
"First of all, it was more self-defense and he threatened both of us. Jordan's not going to take you to court Yara, his pride is hurt but he's not that stupid. Deep down he knows Jahi is better her. Seeing another man with your woman and child on top of the guilt, regret and whatever else he's feeling made him lash out. He's not going to do anything Yara, he just wanted to hurt you."
"You can't know that for sure."
"Well, if he's that stupid then he'll lose. It's that simple Yara, no one takes a child from their mother unless the mother is unfit. You won't lose Jahi, neither one of us will let that happen."
He pulled her into him and held her close before he kissed her forehead. Yara clung to him, she couldn't believe that had happened.
"I didn't want all this drama. I wanted things to be easy. Everything has always been so complicated from day one with me."
Quincy knew where this was headed. They'd had this conversation a couple times and Yara always shied away from making the one step that could help her.
"Baby it's alright, we're alright and Jahi is alright. You're doing amazing especially with Jordan as he doesn't make it easy. To be honest, I think you need to free yourself from these fears you have of being a bad mother because you're not. You should talk to your mom Yara, your birth mother."
"I know, I will but can you just hold me right now?"
"Of course."
Guiding her to the bed, Quincy cuddled with her for as long as she needed. He hated the way that had turned out, but he didn't regret his actions. He'd defended his family. Eventually he felt Yara's shallow breaths and realized she was sleeping. Careful to not wake her, he maneuvered his way out of bed and walked to Jahi's nursery where he found the sleeping baby in Denise's arms as she sat in a rocking chair.
"Not a scratch." She teased Quincy about his appearance "How's Yara?"
"Sleeping, she's stressed but that's understandable especially after what was said."
"Yeah, and you putting a fist into her ex-fiancé's nose also didn't make it better, but I understand why. I always knew Jordan wasn't right. You should've seen Gregory when he got back in from talking to him, I haven't seen him that upset ever. He's sleeping now too."
"Jordan is something else. I just wish she didn't have to deal with all this drama."
"Me too but we create our own paths Quincy, things work out. Jordan is coming to terms with lying, being lied to, and being left behind. That's a lot to take in. His son clings to you like you're his father, that's also difficult. However, it's all the consequence of his actions. He won't try to take Jahi, he told Gregory as much. He just wanted to hurt Yara, and that made Gregory want to hurt him."
"I can't blame him."
"Me either. Do you really love her Quincy? Because she comes with a lot of pain and baggage, but she opens to you, she doesn't do that with a lot of people."
"I love her more than I can ever say Mrs. Underwood and I'm here to work through all of that with her. I've had my own baggage. She helped me with that, I didn't fully grieve my mother's death until two years later and she was there. No one is perfect, we're all a little chipped or cracked but it doesn't mean we're broken. I won't let her break."
"I know you won't Q, thank you."
"You don't need to thank me."
"No, but I did."