Whenever she saw me out in public, she would treat me like a kid, which caught me off guard. In my young mind, I couldn’t understand how she was running from the dick one minute andthen telling her friends I was gonna be a problem when I got older. I fucked a handful of other bitches in the neighborhood, but when they started to become possessive, I cut it off. After a while, I started to feel dirty, and I didn’t want to do it anymore.
One night, I broke down and told Truth what was going on, and he gave me a position on his crew. He only gave me small jobs at first, but I was determined to prove myself. After the first year, I worked my way up through the ranks and became an enforcer. Once he decided to step away from arms dealing, he turned it all over to me. With his permission, I made the decision to expand into drugs because the money was faster, and I knew we could see a larger profit. If it hadn’t been for Truth and Justice, who knows where I would have ended up.
“You can’t blame your age on being a shitty ass parent. The only reason I’ve kept my mouth shut was that I ain’t no fucking victim and you had enough sense not to try that shit with my siblings. You and I both know Pops would have taken your head off if he were still alive. The only reason you get a pass is that my siblings love you. Don’t get it twisted, though. I don’t fuck with you, and now that I know I’m not your son, it’s all the more reason to cut you off for good. “
“Dreaux, please. I’m sorry. I made a lot of fucked up mistakes, but I swear I never meant to hurt you. We might not share blood, but you’re still my son.”
“Speaking of blood. Who is my real mother, and how did you end up adopting me? Your name is on my birth certificate, so where is the original?”
She sighed, then sat up in her bed. “All I know is her name was Dira or something like that. Your father and I occasionally fucked women together. I guess it was my way of trying to compromise because he wouldn’t stop cheating.” Another coughing fit ensued, so I waited for her to calm down and finish the story.
“We hooked up with this girl, but I realized they were fucking when I wasn’t around. He left her alone, and then we found out she was pregnant. She took care of you for the first six months, but then she got strung out on drugs. Your daddy brought you home, and I told him that I wasn’t gonna raise you unless you were officially mine. Since Dira was unfit, it didn’t take much for him to get her to sign over her rights, and then you were mine.”
“Look, you can hate me all you want, but I raised you as best as I could. I never beat you or mistreated you like some of those other bitches out there. If Rita hadn’t opened her big ass mouth, you would have never known. I’m not perfect, but I’m still your momma.”
“Bitch, you ain’t shit to me, and if it wasn’t for my sisters, I would pay one of these nurses to inject some shit into your IV to take you out for good. Let this be the last time you or your punk ass son reach out to me. I meant what I said earlier. The only call I want is when you cross over. I’ll make sure they put you in the ground like the real bitch you always wanted to be.”
“Dreaux! Dreaux! Come back, please!”
I walked out before things got anymore out of control than they already were. My mind was fucked up, so I took the long way because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone. As much as I wanted to keep her illness from my sisters, I knew Drayden would end up telling them what happened because he needed someone on his side. The moment I pulled into the driveway, I retrieved one of my pre-rolled blunts from my middle console.
I limited where I smoked in the house since Promise had been spending so much time there. Plus, I enjoyed the peace of being able to smoke and decompress in peace. After half an hour, I finally made it inside. I heard the sound of cartoons in the distance, and a smile spread across my face. I couldn’t explain my attachment to Promise, but I loved her as if she weremine. Her presence in our lives had brought so much laughter and joy in such a short time.
“Doe!” She squealed as she ran into my arms at full speed. Her little arms wrapped around my neck as she rested her head on my shoulder. I was glad I put on body spray before I came inside because she loved to sniff me for some reason.
“What’s up, princess. Did you have a good day?”
“Yes. I play games wiff Nique and Nae. NaNa made pancakes and berries.”
I listened to her talk about her day as I made my way farther into the house. It had been a few weeks since she had her infection, and she was back to her normal self. I know Peace was happy, because I spent more time at her house than my own until she got better.
As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I noticed my sisters standing around the kitchen island. A mixture of sadness and anger was plastered on their faces, so I knew Drayden had told them what happened. It was a battle I wasn’t in the mood for, but I was prepared for nonetheless.
“Come on, pretty. I’m gonna turn your movie on upstairs.” Dana took Promise from my arms before taking her upstairs. The lack of greeting from my sisters confirmed they were upset with me. I had been dealing with their emotions for a long time, so it didn’t faze me. Instead of retreating to my room, I took a seat on one of the stools and waited for Dana to come back down.
“Why would you treat momma like that?” Dominique pressed me the moment Dana walked back into the kitchen.
“I didn’t do anything to her,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders as they all glared at me.
“You are a piece of work. Our momma is sick, and she could die if she isn’t able to get the transplant she needs. How can you be so heartless to the woman who gave birth to you? Iunderstand you being upset, but this is low even for you.” Dana ranted. I allowed each of them to speak their peace because they were entitled to their feelings. I had no intentions of telling them the truth, so I would let them think what they wanted.
“I’m really disappointed in you, Dreaux. Momma wasn’t perfect, but she tried her best.”
“Her best?” I chuckled at the absurdity of it all. It was almost as if they were all living in a different version of the real world. One where delusions were somehow reality. They were about to blow my high, so I needed to get out of there as soon as possible.
“See, I tried to let y’all have your little moment, but you’re talking nonsense, and I can’t sit here and listen to this shit. Y’all want to make excuses for her, and I refuse to buy into that bullshit. I don’t care about how you feel when it comes to the way I treat that lady.”
“She’s our mother, Dreaux.” Dominique huffed.
“And what does that mean exactly? Huh? Everybody wants to throw around that title as if it’s supposed to hold some weight. I don’t give a fuck about her being my mother. I said what I said, and if you feel some type of way about it, oh well. Y’all are older now, and I don’t have to coddle your feelings and pretend the sky is green because you refuse to accept reality. Is there anything else you want to talk about before I head to my room?”
“I’m going to stay with Amayah and her people for a couple of days. I don’t want to be around you right now.” Dominique grumbled as she got up from her seat.
“You can be upset all day, but you’ll be doing that shit right here in this house. You aren’t grown, and you’re not spending the night at anyone’s house without my permission.”
“That’s your problem, now. You think you’re our parent, but you aren’t. You don’t have the authority to tell us what to do. We listen to you out of respect, but you aren’t ourfather.” Dominique’s words strung, and I sat there stunned for a moment.
I chuckled even though there wasn’t anything funny about the situation.
