Suave looked at them apprehensively and said, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just want Mr. Esquire to tell me where my girlfriend is.”
“Who is your girlfriend, sir?” one officer asked mockingly.
“His daughter, Nadine.”
The officers chuckled, and the crowd nearby roared with laughter. The thought of this boy with Mr. Esquire’s sophisticated and well-bred daughter was as farfetched as a pig flying in the sky. Impossible.
“Sir, I am going to ask you to please put your hands behind your back,” the police officer said. “Mr. Esquire is pressing charges against you for trespassing. Please don’t cause any trouble and make this any harder on yourself.”
Suave stared at the police officers in shock. “Press charges against me?” He was getting a little nervous now. Not at the bogus charges by Mr. Esquire but the probing that would follow as a result of his arrest. Suave was living on the wrong side of the law. Being interrogated by the police would open a can of worms. He had to find a way out of the situation.
“Okay, I’ll leave,” Suave said. “There is no need to arrest me.”
“Hands behind your back, sir,” the police officer’s voice held a dangerous tone, his gun was now in his hand and was pointed at Suave. His partner held a similar position.
The crowd gasped and backed farther away. The situation was getting out of control.
Suave looked from one police officer to the other, wild ideas racing through his mind. You can’t afford to go to jail. You know you can take them both. Go on, pull your gun, and shoot your way out.
“Fine.” Suave put his hands behind his back. Again, he had to be smart. Suave flinched when the handcuffs tightened on his wrists. How ironic that he wasn’t getting arrested for his drug dealing but for a woman. His anger was again intensifying toward Nadine.
The police officers led Suave out of the supermarket, one on either side of him. Outside, one officer opened the back door of the police car for Suave to get in. Suave slid into the car, wondering how he was going to get out of the jam he was in.
Both officers hopped into the front of the car, leaving Suave by himself in the back. As the driver started the car, a tall, distinguished man hurried out of the supermarket toward them, waving his hand for the police to wait, a security guard on his heels.
This must be the great Mr. Esquire, Suave thought. He could see some of Nadine’s features in the man, especially the light brown eyes.
“Hello, Mr. Esquire,” one police officer greeted, giving Suave the confirmation he needed. “Is there something wrong?”
Mr. Esquire walked to the back passenger window where Suave sat. He locked eyes with the young man responsible for his daughter’s downfall, wondering what Nadine had seen in Suave to throw away her future.
Suave held Mr. Esquire’s stare without flinching. The old goat could get him arrested, but he wasn’t going to keep him locked up. Suave was going to make sure of that.
“So, we finally meet, Mr. Brown.” Mr. Esquire moved closer to the car. “You wanted to know where my daughter is, right?”
Suave didn’t respond. If looks could have killed, Mr. Esquire would have been a dead man.
“She is far away from you, and you will never, ever see her again,” Mr. Esquire laughed. “Did you know that my Nads has dual citizenship, here and the U.S.?”
Suave’s heart fell. Yes, he knew. Nadine had told him that she was born in Miami, Florida. Her parents were students at the University of Miami when they met. Her mother, who was born and raised in the United States, fell in love with the young Jamaican man. Upon their graduation, they got married and eventually moved to Jamaica when Nadine was two years old.
“You can keep her away from me, but you can’t change the fact that I’m the father of her child. Nadine and I will always have a bond that you can never break.” Suave was speaking as if he knew for a fact that Nadine would have the baby, but deep down inside, he wasn’t sure.
The police officers were silent, listening to the incredible exchange between the men.
Mr. Esquire’s chest rose and fell in anger. The truth in Suave’s words had hit home. This scumbag was going to be the father of his first grandchild, whether or not he liked it. “I’ll drop the charges if you promise not to come back here again,” Mr. Esquire said to Suave. “Nadine is now living in Miami and has no intention of returning to Jamaica.”
Suave gasped loudly. He fell back against the car seat, his mouth wide open. Good God, Nadine had really left the country with his unborn child. “Did... Did she... I mean, is she going to have the baby?” He stared up at Mr. Esquire through glassy eyes.
Against his better judgment, Mr. Esquire nodded. “Yes, she’s keeping the baby.”
The water tank burst open, and Suave lowered his head into his lap and sobbed. He may never see his child, but at least he knew there was going to be one.
Mr. Esquire looked at the police officer in the front passenger seat and nodded his head.
The officer got out of the car and walked around to Suave’s door. Pulling it open, he said, “You are free to go, Mr. Brown. Please stay away from Mr. Esquire and his business.”
Suave didn’t need to be told twice. He leaped out of the car. Standing inches away from Mr. Esquire, Suave peered at the older man. “I won’t be back,” he remarked. “If at all possible, please tell Nadine to take care of herself and the baby. I’ll always be here for them both.” With his head hanging low, Suave walked away. There was nothing else left for
