Serenity’s Bliss Part 9

Jhaylen sat in the backyard on the deck, whiskey glass in hand, jazz music meeting the summer stickiness in the air. His undershirt clung to him outlining every sharp cut of muscle, legs apart, back leaned forward, eyes straight, staring into the dark. Calm. Yet, beneath that calm, a quiet storm shook his nerves while awaiting the arrival of his ladies.

Syncere– once the love of his life. His high school sweetheart that blossomed into a beautiful woman who birthed the deepest love he’s ever been graced to know, Serenity. He longed for this moment for years, and now that it was happening, his heart quivered a little.

He heard the pipes of the Camaro as Syn pulled into the driveway. His heart rate sped just a little, unknown how this reunion would go, but he knew this was necessary. He blew out a deep sigh, stood up, and awaited their entrance into the house.

Syn fought with the keys to the door in slow motion, her high leaving her delayed. The door opened, Serenity stepped in, “Ma, you okay.. you need me to..” her words were interrupted by a presence she wasn’t sure she was seeing correctly. Jhaylen walked into the back door, and stood in the kitchen, watching his now grown daughter walk inside.

“Daddy?, MA YOU CALLED MY DADDY?!” Serenity bellowed out. She didn’t know if she wanted to run into his arms and embrace him, or be upset at her mother for even feeling like she had to call him here.

“Watch your tone.” Jhaylen calmly spoke with the smoothest authority he could possess as he sipped from the whiskey glass. Serenity’s eyes widened, her right brow raised, and her feet became glued to the marble flooring beneath her as the weight of her father’s tone settled in.

She stood there, staring unsure how to move. She looked at Syn in utter disbelief, tears forming in her eyes. “Ma, you really called him?! Why?!” Before Syn could fix her lips to part, Jhaylen answered. “Because you need me.” He paused to take another sip. “ You needed me then, and I couldn’t be here, but I’m here.”

Serenity didn’t remember her dad possessing this level of calmness, this degree of smoothness that comes across demanding and firm. She wanted to yell, she wanted to scream, but the way her father just demanded control effortlessly scared her. “ Do I need you?” She managed to mumble.

“Speak up. Never mumble, it’s a sign of fear, and fear was never instilled in you.” Jhaylen said. “You have no reason to fear me Serenity, but you will respect me.”

Syn stood there watching her baby daddy in a light she had long forgotten. This was turning her on — and she’s been over him. Maybe it’s the blunt? She thought.

She couldn’t get over how much he had changed, from the muscles to the swag, to the way he was calmly getting Serenity together. “Jynae, respect your daddy baby, I called him for a reason! Now, I gotta pee, behave I’ll be back.” She said as she hurried down the hall.

Serenity stood there, watching her father stand before her, tapping into the little girl he had left behind, all while seemingly honoring the young woman she was maturing into. She didn’t know whether she wanted to respect the man he’d always been to her or lean into the fact that he has been absent for three years.

Serenity’s breathing picked up pace, her hands began to shake, eyes giving away her pain. Her face met her hands, sobbing, non stop.

While Serenity attempted to find her footing in terms of her dad, across town there was someone else longing to find there footing as well.

Bentley laid back in his bed, one arm behind his head, scrolling through his socials. Liking photo after photo, meme after meme, until he paused. There she was, on his screen, unknowing gracing his screen with her presence.

One of his friends captured photos from the party, and Serenity was in the shot. He hadn’t heard back from her, and he was hoping by now they would have at least scheduled a date. He wanted to message her again, but he also didn’t want to seem too pushy nor creepy.

He hit the search bar on his Instagram screen. Typed in Serenity, and hit the return button. Who knew there were so many Serenity’s on IG. He chuckled, and began tapping each profile until he realized he found her.

Once again, her beauty graced his eyes, he didn’t understand why he was so drawn to her. He doubled tapped a few pictures and noticed she hadn’t posted since before the party. He paused, “I remember she and her friend having a rough night that night. I hope they’re okay.” He thought to himself.

He picked up the phone and hovered over her name. He tapped the call button and crossed his fingers.

“Damn, straight to voicemail.” He said. His fingers tapped dance across the screen.

Bentley: Serenity it’s Bentley again, I hope everything is okay with you and your girl ma. I really want to get to know you, hmu when you have some time.

“This is my last time texting her.” He said aloud as he hit send —his final text of the night. Sent to prettiest girl he’d laid eyes on in an extremely long while.

He turned over. Wrapped his arm around his pillow and allowed sleep to take over his body.

Sleep claimed Bentley’s thoughts, allowed him to achieve a peaceful slumber. Yet, just a few blocks away, Chance and peace were mortal enemies.

Chance wrestled with his thoughts. His time was growing near, anxiousness filled his chest. He couldn’t wait to finally see her.

“Breaud.” He heard the nurse call his name. “Meds.” Chance slowly approached the male, retrieved the medication, and continued with his routine. Pills in, water down, say ahh. Only thing is, he wasn’t swallowing the meds.

“After your meds, you have a visitor.” The nurse said. Chance blinked in confusion. “You sure me?” Chance asked. “Yes. I’m sure, I’ll be back to get you in five.” The male nurse walked away as Chance watched him walk away.

Chance’s mind started racing. Who could it be? Is it her? How do I look? Duh, you look crazy dummy. His thoughts were impeding faster than he could manage. “I’ve got to get my shit together.” Chance said aloud.

He hadn’t seen anyone, in over six months. So why was he getting a visitor now. Questions ricocheted through his mind, but the truth of the matter was, he also needed this.

Dr. Sylvie watched from behind the one way mirror as Chance entered the visitor room. Notepad, pen, coffee. Sylvie paced the room back and forth awaiting for the visitors face to be revealed.

“Part one of the observation commences.” He mumbled as he jotted across the pad. Sylvie reached into the inside right of his coat, pills. He swallowed, jaggedly, no water. “Ahem.” He cleared his throat, forced composure, and watched on.

The middle-aged man walked into the room, stoically, unnerved, and prepared for this meeting. It was long overdue. He took off his black blazer, neatly folded it at the collar, laid it on the table and fixed his gaze on Chance.

He looked into the eyes of the young bull who was supposed to be off to some D1 school doing his thing on the field. He felt like maybe he had contributed to the downfall of the boy not young man that sat across from him. “How did we get here.” He thought.

As he loosened his tie, the echo of two words rattled the room- “Hi Son.” Myles broke the silence watching his son’s mind unravel through those piercing eyes. He had purposely stayed away for months to pace his visits and measure the progress of his son.

Chance looked up at his father, heart rate elevated, mind gone. Triggered. “Why the hell are you here?”

Sylvie’s lips curled into a sly grin. A sick gratification of this moment spreading across his face as he watched this unfold.

Myles chuckled lowly. “Nice to see you too, son.” He sat down eye level to the kid he’d created and by somehow dismantled along the way.

“I take it your upset about my absence.” Myles stated in a deep baritone voice that carried both quiet fear and unshakable confidence.

“Your absence! You call six months of no contact absence? But I’m the crazy one right? You and mom left me in here with no trace of the outside world! And you have the damn audacity to ask me if I’m upset about your damn absence?”

“Un-fuckin-real! “Nah dad,” Chance said with a half shifted lip, “I’m perfectly happy being abandoned by those who should love me.”

Myles stared at Chance coldly. Firmly. “Son, you put yourself in this situation, and it hasn’t been easy for any of us, but you won’t disrespect me.”

Chance burst into a diabolical fit of laughter. “You really have balls huh pops? To come in here after six months to tell me I won’t disrespect you?” Chance was on the verge of a diabolical crash out.

Myles looked on, calmly. Unbothered by the antics of his unraveling son. “I’ll tell you one more time CHANCE, you will respect me. And you might want to reel it in so we can have this much needed discussion.” Myles never raised his voice, just spoke sternly while he fixated his eyes on his son.

“What could you possibly need to discuss with me now? You had nothing to say for months, now you want to talk.” Chance spewed. He was livid.

Sylvie jotted note after note. Chance was giving him more than he had expected yet he still needed more. Cynicism vs anger. What would reveal itself? He needed the answers.

Myles tapped his fingers on the table. “Chance you have two options. Be released and move to Denver for further treatment or stay put for another sixty days.”

“What- the- fuck- you-mean?! I was just told I was about to be released, now you coming with this?!” Chance had began sweating. Clear indication that he was now losing it.

“Listen Son, although you think otherwise, I want you to succeed. Theres a facility in Denver I believe you can thrive in.” Myles said calmly.

“I’m not moving to Denver, and I’m not staying in here for another 2 months. This is insane. I’ve worked the damn program pops, why do you want to do this to me?!” “He’s trying to keep me from Paige. Does he want her? He wouldn’t? Why the fuck can’t I just get out of here and go home?” Chance’s thoughts were getting the best of him.

Myles prepared himself to tell his son why he couldn’t come home. This wouldn’t go well.

While Chance was depleting every ounce of hope he had left, Serenity was facing her own paternal issues. Serenity finally allowed words to part her lips. “What do you possibly think I need you for, three years later?” She spoke subtly, almost in a whisper, allowing that hurt teenager appear for once.

Jaylen, rolled his shoulders in an attempt to brace himself for what came next.

“Get out all you need to say,” Jhaylen said calmly. “It’s been three years, I’ve gone through hell without you, what makes you think we need you? We did just fine without you!” Serenity said, breathing heavily, tears streaming down her face.

Jhaylen looked at Syn with a look of confusion. “Nae,” Jhaylen called to his baby girl with the same nickname he had given her as a child. “I get it, you feel abandoned, but that wasn’t the case baby. I’ve been around, just not visible, by no means have I meant to hurt you. Yes, some of my decision kept me away from you, others were decisions of others.” He sternly gazed into Syncere’s eyes. “Give me a chance to fix this shit baby girl.”

Jaylen never imagined in a million years that he’d have to beg his babygirl to be a part of her life, when his life was all about her. He also couldn’t believe that Sun hadn’t told her the truth after all of these years.

“Save it Daddy, I’m just not in the mood to hear your sorries tonight.” Serenity yelled out while walking to her room. She was a ball of emotions. She was angry that her father hadn’t been present for the most traumatic parts of her life, the times when she needed him most.

Serenity slammed her door and fell face first into her bed yelling out a muffled scream into her bed. She kicked her legs viciously while bunching into the mattress. Her heart felt heavy and empty and the same time. She couldn’t seem to gather her thoughts logically, nor could she decipher how she should feel. Her sobs continued until her eye ducts couldn’t produce another tear.

Those three years presented more heartache than one girl could take, and she longed for her daddy. Though she was livid at his sudden appearance, she was grateful he was home, but confused on how to feel, how to repair the relationship with the one man that could savage her heart. “Where do I begin?” She thought.

Jhaylen turned his focus to Syncere brows frowned in confusion. “So you’re just gonna stand there and not say anything,” Jhaylen said in a monotone tone. Syncere hung her head. “Jhay, not now please.” She whispered. Syncere looked at Jhay head hung, eyes slightly raised, eyes glossy, hands sweating. She couldn’t handle another revelation to her daughter tonight. Her father being here was enough.

“I definitely didn’t see this coming.” Syncere thought to herself as she stood there praying this man would grant her a smidgen of pity.

Jhaylen grabbed the whiskey glass, down the rest of the drink, cleared his throat, slammed the glass down and walked outside to the deck. He sat there, thoughts rambling, heart dismantled at the unraveling of his babygirl.

He expected her anger, but to see her breakdown, broke him. He had to mend this with Serenity there was no way he could leave their bond severed. The sound of the crickets seemed to get louder as he focused his thoughts on the one female he’d fight for forever.

As he sat back in the chair, rested his head against the back of the chair, he focused on the stars. Realizing the only thing that ever shined light in the darkest times of his life was the love he had for his Nae.

Everything in him told him go to her room and fight for his daughters heart, but the side of him that knows the hurt of an absent father knew she needed tonight to gather her thoughts.

While the chaos at Syncere’s seemed to be bubbling over, Paige and Patience were both trying to reel in the fact that Chance Breaud would indeed be released sooner than they assumed.

Patience held her daughter close while laying across the bed. Paige sobbed herself to sleep, nose red, eyes puffy. Patience knew something had to be done, but she didn’t quite know which step to take first.

She kissed Paige on the forehead, exited the room, walked into the kitchen, grabbed a wine glass, a bottle of Pinot Noir from the wine cabinet and began to pour. She sat down on the sofa, legs folded under her, phone in hand. She glanced at his name, wondering if she should call.

Landon Turner appeared on her screen, finger hovering over. She turned the glass up to her head, swallowed hard, & whispered two words. “Fuck it.” She tapped the phone icon.

Bentley pressed record on the voice memo app, “I can’t believe I haven’t heard from her yet. What if she’s not really interested? She seemed interested though. You know, I really have a track record of going after girls who may not be emotionally available.” Bentley spoke into the mic.

He had been recording these kind of self reflection sessions for a while now. “ I think I should go over to her house, show her I’m really trying to date her. Or is that doing too much.” He continued to speak. The phone buzzed in his hand, startling him. He regained composure, pressed pause and checked the phone.

Serenity: Hey Bentley. I got your message. Please forgive me for my lack of communication, I’ve got a lot going on. If you never want to speak to me again, I definitely understand.

His heart skipped beats as he sat up in the bed. He tried to hide the huge smile stretched end to end across his face, but had he been in-front of a mirror he was busted.

Bentley: I definitely want to speak to you again ma. I’m patient I promise. Hopefully we can still schedule our meet up and get your mind off of whatever is going on.

He hit send then continued his voice note. “She just texted me, I’m overthinking it.” He pressed done. He got up, walked over to the linen closet, grabbed towels, and waltzed his way into the bathroom to shower feeling like he had just gotten a new glimpse of hope with her.

The night sky presented itself across the city. As one man fought to prove his love another didn’t think he had ever shown his kid enough. Secrets were starting to unravel while the hearts of these best friends laid in shambles while two boys had high hopes for each one.

The chaos and the drama were far from over, and just before the sun would set another day, someone’s secrets would be revealed.

Sylvie sat in his office, staring ahead out of the window while rubbing his chin. “Today showed promise.” He spoke into his recorder. “He’s showing signs of weakness, signs that he’s still brittle, but he didn’t break.” He added with a smirk across his face. He pressed stop. Stood up, opened that bottom drawer yet again. This time, placing the recorder in the black bag.

He closed the drawer, walked over to his door, grabbed his coat, left the office with thoughts of success. Every little win would be a success, no matter how demented they seemed.