When I arrived at Jacob and Destiny’s mansion, the first thing I noticed was Disney characters at the edge of the driveway greeting arriving guests. Larger than life animated characters filled the property. Minnie, Mickey, Donald Duck, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins and more lavished the place. The sight before me was more than Destiny and I discussed. I guessed I should have been elated, but witnessing an overdone birthday extravaganza for Montana unfold over the next two hours agitated me to no end. I didn’t want my kids growing up sheltered, rich, and unable to tell the difference between a blessing and privilege.
It’s not that I didn’t think Montana deserved the best, but come on man. No three-year-old needed to have this much hoopla going on that they didn’t understand. She was only turning three—not graduating from college. Did Jacob have to get a skyscraper to circle the party writing her name in the sky every ten minutes? The gift table filled with gifts all around it, falling off onto the floor. The setting was a long way from the modest life of a hard worker success story I wanted to display to them. I had a tough job to do with keeping my children grounded as it was. This was pile on. I would keep Junior and Montana humble, if it was the only thing I accomplished in raising them—well, co-raising them.
I wished I could say the extravagance was the only thing that had my attention. However, Destiny’s mother fawning over Jacob’s father was an equal eye sore. She rubbed his face with a towel when he got cake on it. He pulled her off to the side and they danced to their own music. Destiny was planning a double wedding to include them. Maybe my front row seats at this major event would make it clear to me that I was old news as husband and son in law.
Shaking my head, I turned away from Ms. Clara. I felt so out of place sitting around these people that I once knew as my family. They had moved on and belonged to the Turner family. So, with all that being said, what the hell was my purpose at the party?
Jacob had overstepped his boundary as Montana’s stepfather—as if I wasn’t even sitting right there—when it came time to cut the cake. He stood opposite Destiny with his hand on my daughter’s back, encouraging her to blow out the candles. When Destiny realized I wasn’t at the table, she waved her hand, motioning for me to come up and join them. By then, I was sick to my stomach and they had already cut the cake. The glare I shot her way stopped her from beckoning me. It let her know I wouldn’t be participating in the showcase as a side dad.
“Do you mind if I talk to Montana and Junior for a second?” I said to Jacob who was hovering over them at the table that was atop a makeshift stage.
“Sure man.” Jacob stepped aside. “They’re all yours.”
“I know that,” I said for his ears only before saying my goodbyes to Montie and Montana. Jacob was the one acting as if he didn’t know they were mine. Destiny was attending to other guests, so I would talk to her later about what transpired at this bougie party.
“Daddy, you going?” Montana asked in the sweetest voice that instantly melted the boulder of ice that surrounded my heart.
“Yes, I’m about to go, sweetheart. I’ll see you guys soon.” I hugged her and she wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed as tight as her little arms would allow.
“Are you going back to Atlanta?” Junior asked.
“No, I’m going back to my room. I’ll let you know when I get ready to go back to Atlanta,” I told him as I rubbed his head.
“Hey guys, look. It’s the tooth fairy,” Jacob’s annoying voice boomed and caught my children’s undivided attention.
“Wow! It’s the real tooth fairy,” Junior ran over to a lady whose face was painted sky blue. She wore light blue leotards and had huge white wings. She hung by strings that were attached to a large float at the edge of the back lawn.
“Fairy, fairy…” Montana said as she toddled over to Jacob and the woman.
“Bye kids,” I said and waved behind them. I strode from the backyard to the front where my car was parked, looking up flights leaving the city heading to Atlanta with no stops. “There’s no way I can sit through two more events like this. To hell with the rehearsal dinner and wedding. I’ll send a gift,” I grumbled as I located a flight. I was about to click the button to purchase the ticket when Destiny’s name flashed across the front of my screen. “Yeah,” my voice roared loud and curt.
“Montie, why did you leave so soon? We were about to do the daddy-daughter dance.”
“Didn’t look like you guys needed me for anything. Jacob has all the daddy-daughter activities on lock.”
“Really Montie? Are you going to handle it like that?”
“Yeah, really. If this is what it’s going to be like, I’m not here for it. You’re not going to have me sitting around watching while you let my children think that he’s taking my place. No, especially not when I’m sitting right there. I thought we talked about this already. You guaranteed me that this would not happen.”
“I expected you to come to the stage when I announced we were about to cut the cake. Instead, you just sat there drinking your beer like you don’t know what your place is. Jacob stepped in like he should when the father isn’t present, mind or body. For this to work, you’re going to have to meet us halfway, Montie.”
I considered that maybe; just maybe, I was being half jealous and half an asshole when I sat off to the side and watched Jacob step up for me. So, I gave her that point. I could have easily taken my rightful place by Montana’s side. I never had a problem with it before. But my attitude had been a range between understanding to jacked up when it came to the new stepfather role in my family.
“Well, I left because I didn’t want to cause a scene. Even if I give you the point that I should have gotten up, you know I’m here, Destiny. You know the summertime is my time with the kids, so coming to Miami early only happened because I approved of it. For you to act like I’m not there has me feeling some type of way that I don’t care to explain right now.”
“Montie, you feel some type of way because you can’t stand to see Jacob in a good mood and trying to do his best by our kids. You want to be the only one they want or need around, but you have to get out of your feelings and step up to the plate.”
“I’m not in my feelings.” I flat out lied. I felt more for Destiny than I’d ever felt for another woman, and my two kids were my beginning and end.
“Remember, I know you better than most,” Destiny cut into my thoughts. “I know exactly how you feel right now.”
“You should know me. We promised to love each other forever. You were my wife.”
“Yes, that’s why I know today you feel like an outcast.” There was a long pause where the line was silent as we sat there listening to each other breathe. “That’s why I’m calling, Montie. I want you to always know that we’re the original four—me, you, Montie Jr. and Montana. When it comes to taking care of our children, we always need to be good, okay?”
“This is not the way I want us to be good. I thought I could deal with it, but no, not like this. I want my family back,” I poured the contents from my soul. “Every single day I hope I’ll wake up and the past few years will be a nightmare that I finally shook.”
“Montie, we can’t go backwards. This is the way it has to be,” she said.