Duke's Jazz

Chapter 4

Duke

Sad to say I was pissed off when I got home from my first day of being CEO of Black-Storm logging and lumber. Eva called me all day to get more money from me. I put my car in park in the driveway and walked to the house. From the side of the house I saw a boy with black hair, blue eyes, about five feet, playing with the family dog. Confused, I walked into the house and to the living room, spotting my mother and Millie watching the boy play and then it clicked the boy was Jazz’s kid.

“Mom”

“Oh, Duke come here.” Walking over, Millie stood up and opened her arms. Leaning down to her 5’3 in height, I gave her a hug.

“It’s good to see you Duke.” She whispered in my ear.

“It’s good to see you too, Millie.” I really did miss the woman. She was like the grandmother I never had.

As I released her, I asked “So, who is that young man on my folks' lawn?”

“That would be my Great-grandson Avery, isn’t he adorable? I keep telling Jazz she needs to get him a puppy, but she says ‘there is not time for a puppy’.

“That sounds like Jazz. Why don’t you excuse me while I go change my clothes and meet Avery?”

In unison from both Millie and my mother, who was still watching Avery from the window “That sounds, good.”

Walking up to my room, I found it odd my mother was so fascinated by the boy that she couldn’t stop watching him.

In my room, I changed out of my coal grey suit and put on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes and headed out to meet Avery, the son of my best friend and the woman I could never have.

***

Grandma Millie

Watching Avery Play

“Millie, I can’t believe how much they look alike. It’s like watching little Duke play in the front yard all over again. In these past ten years why didn’t Jazz tell us? We would have helped in any way possible.” She was still watching Avery from the window like she was watching her first born all over again.

Chuckling. “Well she didn’t want Avery to be raised by Eva. She knew that if Duke knew Avery, he wouldn’t have been in her life, considering that it was really rough for her after she had him. She worked full-time and went to night school and there were times when money was tough, but she always made sure Avery was fed, clothed, and had whatever he needed, even if she went without. You know Jasmine's pride will forever and will always be the death of her.”

“Millie, you can be serious, are you saying she never asked you for help?”

Smiling like the proud old woman I am. “Nope and believe me, I offered. All she ever asked was if I could watch him while she was at work or school. I also noticed Ms. Black-storm that you didn’t deny about Jasmine’s fear of Duke and Avery.”

“Oh, Millie, what is there to deny? When Avery was born you could have bet your bottom dollar that he would have taken Avery and I don’t hold it against Jasmine, considering we know what Eva is like now.” She sighed. Our conversation stopped as we heard Duke come down the stairs and we held our breath as he walked out the door. Now, watching Duke sit down next to Avery sitting in the grass talking to the dog.

“You can’t let her know you noticed. I can’t take that chance and she will stop allowing me to bring him over.” I state a matter of fact considering I had mentioned to Jasmine over and over again that the Black-Storms should have known about him after he was born. The next thing i knew, she was gone until she called one night because Avery was sick and her landlord kicked her out because of Avery’s crying.

“Fine, I will act completely normal until Duke notices, but you have to remember Jasmine is smart and she will figure out I know.”

Turning to look out the window, I see Avery laying down now, with his head on the dog's belly and Duke sitting next to him. I can’t help but smile considering they had finally found each other and they didn’t even know it.

***

Jasmine

“Sam, can you keep a secret because there is something I know you will notice when we get to your house later and I don’t want you to hate me and tell Duke?” I said, biting my bottom lip waiting for his reply.

“Sure what’s up?”

Okay here is goes. I have son and he is nine and he is also your ne….ph…ew? I spoke really fast hoping he didn’t hear me.

“What? When? How? And Why?” He asked

“I have son and he is your nephew, I had him after I turned 18 and he use conceived a month and two days after Duke turned 18 and we hung out in his is room and I convinced him that if I was going to lost my virginity I wanted to lost it someone I knew who wouldn’t judge me. I hope you know how considering… you know pole A goes into Slot B. And why well because I didn’t want him and Eva to raise my baby and you know your mom would have told me.” I finished by holding my breath.

He paused, looking at me before he spoke words I wished I wouldn’t have to hear. “You know Duke has moved back right?” He smirks and puts his apron away. “You better hurry if you want to get there before he finds out since he should be home by now.” At his last comment I shut my mouth throwing my apron, locking the door and getting in my car.

But before I shut the door, “Sam, you know how Duke always hated being called Baby by your mother well…”

Duke

“Hi, who are you?” I stated, looking at Avery, trying not to be intimidating.

“Hi I am Avery” he smiles and keeps on playing.

“So how old are you Avery?” What is up with me and 21 questions this week, first Sam, then Mom, and now Avery?

“Nine”

“So what’s your dad like?” I regretted the question as soon as I asked.

“I don’t have a dad. Why is having a dad so important anyway? All the kids at school ask me the same question, is it really that important?” I didn’t know how to answer his question, but my stomach did flips knowing Jazz wasn’t married.

“I can’t answer your question, Avery, but does your mom ever say anything about the man who is your dad?” I questioned asked hoping to get information about the man I would have to compete with, since she had to have loved the man she had a child with. Also, considering Jazz wasn’t the type of girl to sleep around. Hell, she gave her first time to me at the age of seventeen and the idea of another man being with her made my blood boil.

“She only said that she loved him a lot and that I was the best gift he could have ever given her.” He turned yelling the dog’s name so they could lay down in the grass and look at the sky. Watching him get comfortable lying on Maxy’s belly, I realize he is beautiful just like his mom and I can’t take my eyes off of him. I felt sad for the boy, considering the way he spoke made it sound like the man was dead.

I turned my head looking away from Avery, as I heard Sam talking to someone, as he was getting out of the car. As soon as I noticed who he was talking to, I stopped breathing when I saw her. In tight jeans that hugged her ass in all the right places, along with a tight-fitting cotton t-shirt and formed her lean hour glass figure. Her blond hair was in a ponytail, showing off her thin neck. When she turned around, my heart stopped as I saw her pert nose and blue eyes. Her mouth was in a thin line, which was odd considering she always smiled when she saw me. Well, I guess things have changed after ten years. She sure as s**t wasn’t the B cup skinny thing she was in high school. She was more beautiful than I remembered her to be.

“Avery, baby what are you doing?” was yelled from the driveway.

With annoyance, he replied “Don’t call me that, and I am playing with the dog.” For some reason, Sam started laughing his ass off and Jazz looked at him and mouthed “Told you so.” Then she waved him off and started walking to the yard. Then she stopped in front of me. I stood up at my full height and looked down at her.

She looked me in the eyes and I couldn’t help it. I picked her up, hugging her as she wrapped her legs around my waist and I squeezed her tighter like my life depended on it, like she was my last life line.