Page 110 of Baby Daddy

CHAPTER 44

Dee

Saturday. It was moving day. Everything was packed. Boxes filled with wrapped dishes and glasses as well as others filled with Ty’s picture books and my art supplies lined the living room floor. All my paintings were off the walls, each bubble-wrapped and packed in a carton. Ty’s ginormous plush frog, Froggie, sat upright against one of them. He was coming in the truck with us. Froggie looked sad, at least I thought he did. Tears welled in my eyes at the memory of Drake winning the oversized amphibian at the Santa Monica Pier. And the incredible evening that followed. Though I’d only been in this house for a short time, it held so many memories for me. It was impossible for me to mentally pack them away. Everywhere I looked I thought about Drake.

Soon the house would be demolished, making room for a condo complex that would stretch across the empty lot next door. I only wished my memories of my time with Drake would be demolished along with it. Not a minute went by without thinking about him. Despite my conversation with Brock last night, I knew the chances of having Drake back in my life were slim. Yes, yesterday he’d come by to see me. But opportunity didn’t knock twice. It was time to let him go.

The moving van would be here shortly. Lulu and I had hired some cheap students with a van to help us with the big stuff and to collect some of my furnishings, which were in storage. Hopefully, Lulu, who had run out to pick up some donuts and coffee, would be back before they showed up.

With a heavy heart and a little time on my hands, I did a final check. One painting remained. One I’d secretly started and almost forgotten. I’d hidden it under my bed. A portrait of Drake carrying Ty on his shoulders the day we all went to The Pier. I had committed that image to memory. Staring at it, my eyes watered. I had captured the moment perfectly, the sparkle in Drake’s beautiful blue eyes and the glee written all over my baby girl’s face. Heaving a deep breath, I debated whether I should leave it behind. Let it be demolished with the rest of the house. Before tears erupted, I impulsively carted it into the living room and decided it would come with me in the back of the pickup. I wasn’t sure if I’d hang it in my new place, but one day, I would have the courage to finish it. I wanted Ty to have this painting. To know there once was a good man in her life, who loved her with his heart and soul. As if she was his very own. Maybe one day they would connect again.

Setting the painting against a wall, my eyes darted from corner to corner. All looked good. Despite my gloom, I reminded myself that Ty and I were going to a better place to live, not too far away. With the substantial fee our landlord had given us for evacuating the premises before Lulu’s lease was up, I was able to afford a nice although small two-bedroom apartment in a secure apartment building where visitors had to use an intercom system to have tenant access. Lulu was moving into a one-bedroom in the same building though I had a hunch she would be moving in with Brock sometime soon.

“Mommy, when will the movers be here?” asked Ty, running in from the backyard where she’d been playing. Amazingly in good spirits and excited about our move, my sweet, precious girl was wearing overalls and the empowering red cape Drake had given her. I didn’t think she’d ever take that cape off. And truthfully, I hoped she wouldn’t for a long, long time. Besides my souvenir mug from the Santa Monica Pier and some photos, which I couldn’t bring myself to delete, it was my one other connection to Drake. And a very special one.

“Very soon,” I answered.

And then, the doorbell rang. The movers? I wasn’t sure since I didn’t hear a truck pull up to the house. Perhaps, they had to park it down the street. And then a loud knock followed. My heartbeat sped up. Was opportunity knocking again? Could it possibly be Drake?

With Ty following me, I hurried to the front door and peered through the peephole. I blinked hard. It wasn’t who I expected. What was she doing here? Bile rose up in my throat. She was the last person I wanted to see.

Krizia. My eyes met hers. “What do you want?”

“Please open up. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes and apologize for my behavior.”

A sickening feeling fell over me as I weighed her words, wondering how she knew where I lived. Had Drake told her?

“Please. I’ll only be five minutes. It would really mean a lot to me.”

“Mommy, who’s there?” Ty’s words drifted into my ears as I pondered what to do. The last thing I wanted was a confrontation with Krizia. Moreover, what good would her apology do me? It would be like rubbing salt in a wound and only burn a bigger hole in my heart.

“Please, Deandra. I’m not leaving until you open the door. I need to unload.”

She sounded desperate and sincere. And she actually got my name right. I hesitated. Then, with a shaky hand, I undid the double lock and swung the door open.

I immediately regretted my decision. Towering over me in her stilettos and sexy ensemble, she treated me to a slow, poisonous smile. I felt sick to my stomach.

“Come on in.” The sooner she left the better.

“Get out of my way, bitch!”

Oh my God! That voice! My heart leapt into my throat. I blinked my eyes one time too many. Before I could blink again, Kyle shoved Krizia aside, sending her crashing to the pavement, and then burst into the house.

“What are you doing here?” I asked in a panic. Madness flickered in his eyes. He was definitely high on something.

“Mommy, who is this man?” asked Ty, fear rising in her voice as she clung to me.

My heart racing, I urged her to run to our bedroom and lock the door.

But it was too late. Before Ty could take a step, he snatched her from me.

“Mommy!” she screamed.

“Oh my God! Let go of her!” I clawed at Kyle like a wild animal as he tore out the door, throwing a screaming Tyson over his shoulder.

“What the fuck, Kyle? What are you doing?” I heard Krizia mumble, stumbling to her feet. Ignoring her, I almost knocked her down again as I bolted out of the house, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

“Ty, baby!” I cried out at the top of my lungs, running after her down the narrow, serpentine street. My worst nightmare was happening. And with each step, they were getting further and further away from me.