She found him fresh out of the shower. He stood with a white bath sheet around his waist as he groomed himself while looking into the mirror. She stared at his reflection, "I'm so sorry, babe."
He turned to her, "There's nothing to be sorry about. I just wish you would have told me sooner. I would never want to do anything that jeopardizes your health.
Ashlyn confessed to Chima after three months of trying that she could not risk getting pregnant. She had health concerns that warranted treatment, which would later require her to have a hysterectomy.
He pulled her into his arms, "We have a beautiful daughter, and we have each other."
She caressed his face, "Is it possible for you to be any more wonderful?"
He smiled, "Well, I'm already so wonderful."
She chuckled, "Let me go check on the baby."
"Okay, I'll be home late today. I'm picking my parents up from the airport."
His parents were coming down from Virginia for Simone's first birthday party. Ashlyn acknowledged his statement and headed to the nursery to check on the baby.
Simone was standing at the side of her crib bouncing up and down, "Hello Simone, my love," she said as she lifted her daughter. She felt the diaper. It was squishy, "Looks like you need a fresh pamper."
*****
The baby was in the highchair making a mess of her breakfast. Ashlyn's eyes were glued to the computer. She had sent Kendra many messages but had not heard anything from her in months. She was nervous and fearful.
When Chima entered the kitchen, she looked at him with those eyes. He sighed, "What is it?"
"I haven't heard from Kendra."
He made a face, "The online chick?"
"Yes. Kendra. What if something terrible happened to her."
"Or maybe she's just taking a break. You know being online can bring about a level of toxicity that people need to detox from. Including you, babe."
She sucked her teeth, "Chima."
He huffed, "What do you want me to do?"
"You have a friend who's a private detective. Can't you get him to look into this?"
He knew that the only answer she wanted to hear was, "Yes."
He nodded, "Fine. Give me her name."
Ashlyn screenshotted some pictures of Kendra's social media profiles and sent them to Chima's phone. He kissed her forehead, "I have to go. I'm running late for a meeting."
*****
After meeting with his clients, Chima drove to work. He walked in and greeted his assistant and later went to his office and shut the door. He opened his phone and looked at the pictures of Kendra. He smiled. She looked like Zinchle, the pretty brown-skinned woman he met on a visit to his mother's homeland.
He called his friend who lived in Dallas and spoke of the issue to him, "Who is this woman anyway?" his friend asked.
"A woman my wife knows. It's important to her."
"Say no more. As soon as I know something, I'll let you know."
"Thanks, man."
After the call ended, Chima found himself scrolling through the many pictures and videos of Kendra's page. After an hour drifted by. He put his phone away. _This is crazy, _he thought.
*****
She heard the front door open. Excitedly, Ashlyn grabbed the baby and greeted her guests in the foyer. His parents were excited to see them. They had not been there since Simone's birth. His mother was gorgeous. Her brown skin was flawless and she wore her hair cut short in tiny curls.
"Let me see my grandchild," she said as she took her from Ashlyn's arms, "and how have you been my dear?'
Ashlyn looked at Chima. She wondered if he told his parents. She smiled, "I'm doing well."
"Good to hear."
*****
Chima's father went to bed right after eating. His mother was in the den watching television. Ashlyn and Chima were in their bedroom. "I was going to ask you earlier but--"
"I have Ibrahim working the case. He's really good you know. I think he helped the government track down Osama Bin Laden."
"Chima."
"Sorry." He cuddled close to her, "As soon as he knows something, I will let you know. I promise." He kissed her neck, "now can we?"
"Yes."
******
Christmas came and went. It was not until late January that Chima's cell phone rang with news about his wife's friend. "Hey, man. What's the good news?"
"Interestingly, she's down your way. Living in a town called Ruskin. It's a house that was passed down to her father after her grandmother died. Her parents live in the Bahamas. She was living in Atlanta for a while."
"Yeah, right okay. So living here in Florida now. I wonder why?"
"I don't know. But I sent you her address. Perhaps you or Ashlyn can ask her."
"Thanks. I owe you one."
"You sure do. I don't work for free," he joked.
Chima laughed.
****
It was an older house which rested on a nice plot of land. The grass however looked thirsty. The plants were mostly dead. He sighed as he approached the home which looked less than one thousand square feet.
His hand touched the old white door badly in need of a paint job. He heard footsteps approaching. The door opened slowly and he stared into her eyes. Her hair was pulled up into a bun. She wore large framed eyeglasses. Her skin glowed.
"Hello," she said pleasantly.
"Hi. I'm Chima. This is going to sound weird."
She listened intently as he spoke but somehow, she felt as if she knew him or at least had seen him."
"Chima? That's a very South African name."
He smiled, "It is. My mother is from South Africa and my father is from New York. I've lived here all my life though."
She smiled, "That's so wild, my mother is from South Africa as well. My father is Bahamian."
He chuckled, "Small world."
"Come in."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Of course," she replied and stepped aside. "It's not much. Please excuse the mess. I just moved here about a couple of months ago."
There were clothes on top of the sofa that needed to be folded and put away. There were some boxes in the small space and the kitchen, "May I offer you a drink?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he replied as he sat on the recliner, "I came by because my wife was worried about you."
"Your wife?" she made a face.
"Ashlyn. She follows you--"
"Oh my goodness, yes, Ashlyn. How is she?"
He nodded, "She's okay. I guess you two became friends online. And when she hadn't heard from you in months, she got worried."
That's so sweet, she thought. Kendra wore baggy sweats and a large oversized hoodie. She pulled the hoodie tight. Chima's eyes widened. She sighed, "I've been trying to figure things out."
"Oh wow, and the baby's father?"
