“Yes ma’am,” Junior said, giving me a suspicious look. “But what’s happening with Daddy and Jacob?”
“Don’t worry about it, Junior. Watch your sister,” I said as I left out the room and walked up the hall.
“Why don’t you go ahead and just leave,” I heard Montie telling a defiant Jacob when I walked into the foyer.
“I am not leaving here until Destiny tells me what you are doing here,” I heard Jacob say. He barged past Montie, looking to me for an answer as to why Montie was defending my honor in my home. “Is there something else you should tell me, Destiny? Is he the real reason you gave back my ring?”
“Get out of this house,” Montie said, pushing Jacob back toward the door.
“I’m warning you to keep your hands off me, Montie,” Jacob said, as his eyes traveled to mine. “She’s not unconscious anymore, so she can speak for herself.”
“She sure can. Tell him to take his ring and get out of here, Destiny! He’s clearly hard of hearing,” Montie said, stepping up beside me. He turned to face me, pleading with his eyes when I didn’t respond. “Tell him, Destiny.”
“Montie, I can handle it!” I said, moving away from him.
“No, you can’t,” Montie said. He turned to Jacob and positioned his body in a martial arts stance, while raising his hands as if he were going to Kung-Fu chop Jacob. He went into a full demonstration of swinging his arms and making waves with his hands.
“What are you doing, man?” Jacob said as he looked at Montie in bemusement.
“You think I’m funny, huh?” Montie said, as he propelled a chop in Jacob’s direction. Jacob deflected the chop and retaliated by hitting Montie in the chest with his fist. An all-out chop versus fist fight was in motion within seconds, with more chops than fists making the connection.
I begged both of them to stop as they tussled around in the doorway until they fell backwards onto the front porch with Montie landing on top. Montie proceeded to administer chop after chop to Jacob’s upper body, until Jacob flipped him over and landed on top. Montie’s jaw was no match for Jacob’s hard punches that landed at lightning speed. I ran to them and attempted to break them up.
“Stop Jacob! Get off him.”
“You’re defending him?” Jacob yelled. He continued to be relentless in his attack until Montana shrieked out a holler.
"Acob, you hitting my daddy!" she said followed by a squealing cry.
Jacob stopped punching Montie when he turned to see Junior holding Montana close trying to console her. When Jacob stood up, he fixed his clothes and ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t need this shit,” he said through clenched teeth. He kicked his leg free of Montie, who was trying to pull him down.
Junior ran over to help his dad up. “You okay, Daddy?”
“I’m fine, son,” Montie said to reassure Junior. “Take your sister back into your room.”
Jacob looked in Montana’s direction. “I’m sorry, Montana,” he said.
Montana didn’t dare respond as she stood there looking confused. Junior had a flash of confusion in his eyes as well. However, it was clear both children had chosen sides, when Junior looked at Jacob angrily and Montana ran over to help her father.
“Come here,” Jacob said as he pulled me by my arm and toward his car. “Why is Montie over here acting like you belong to him?”
“Jacob, I don’t owe you any explanation,” I said pulling away. “I already gave your ring back. If it wasn’t over before, it’s definitely over now!”
“Like hell it is!” He was so close to me that his warm breath hit me in the face. “You better start talking fast!”
“Jacob, you have some nerve to come over here starting fights and asking questions,” I said through clasped teeth. “You have your own mess to explain before you try to control what I do.”
“Me and my wife are back together. Leave our house before I call the police," Montie was saying as he limped over to the car holding his stomach.
Jacob had the most evil look when he balled his fists and said, “Montie, take your weak ass somewhere and sit down! One more step toward me and the police will not get here fast enough for you, buddy. If you want another ass whipping, I got one reserved with your name on it.”
“Do your best to me,” Montie said. “Just know Destiny is mine.”
“Is that what you think, Montie?” Jacob asked, accusing me with his glare.
“I’m not with Montie, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said, looking from Jacob to Montie, who shot me a telling look. “I mean, we did...” I looked back to Jacob and finally said, “I’m not with Montie and, as of this moment, I'm not with you either Jacob."
"So the other night meant nothing?" Montie asked with wrinkle lines stretched across his handsome brown face.