“She’s good with kids,” I said, leaning into the door frame with my hands in my pockets watching Mel give Ava different accessories for the doll.
“Do you have some of your own?” Leila asked Mel and she scoffed.
“Girl, you almost made me curse in front of your baby.”
Leila laughed and said, “Sorry. Sensitive subject?”
“Chi, more like my mother has sensitive ears,” she shook her head. “She probably heard my name and baby in the same sentence all the way in Chicago.”
“Oh, you’re not from here?”
“No ma’am.” Mel stood all the way up. “We were born and raised in Chicago. The two of us moved down when he accepted the position as Chairman of ACU almost a year ago.”
“Oh, nice,” Leila nodded. “You work there too.”
Mel nodded. “As his executive assistant because his life would be in shambles without me.”
“Says who?” I smirked just as my phone started to ring.
I saw that it was the campus president, so I let the ladies know I was stepping out and left Mel to do her thing. I was glad that she’d come by to talk to Leila because I truly felt that it would be easier for her to talk to a woman, someone she felt would understand her better.
Chapter Five
“You made this?” Mel asked after eating a spoonful of the chicken pot pie. “Wait,” she covered her mouth. “Of course, you did because Kiyan definitely didn’t.”
“Yes, I made it.” I chuckled lowly, clearing me, Kiyan, and Ava’s plates. “Just as a thank you.”
“Oh, I know that came with a speech.” She laughed. “He hates when people do things in return for him.”
“I can tell, but—” I paused briefly to look at her. “He told you right?”
She gave me a sympathetic smile while nodding. “But I want to hear it from you.Ifyou’re comfortable, of course.”
“No, it’s fine.” I glanced at Ava who was still busy and concentrating on combing the dolls hair. She’d added some bows and was laser focused on trying to figure out how to do the clips on the ends. I decided not to interrupt her just yet, instead waiting to see if she could find a way. “I don’t even know how to explain what I’m going through honestly, or where everything fell apart.”
“Just start wherever you can,” she suggested. “Even if it doesn’t make sense yet.”
“He just… I don’t know; woke up and decided that he didn’t want us anymore.” I shrugged, still watching Ava. I found myself staring at her while she slept last night and this morning before I woke her trying to figure out how Aldrick could turn his back on such a blessing. “There was no warning. No conversation. No nothing. Just a laundry list of reasons that we’re a burden for him, a petition for divorce, and his ass to kiss after he got my signature.”
“Wow,” she scoffed. “This man is a piece of shit.”
I nodded and sighed dejectedly. “I’ve been trying my hardest to wrap my head around it and figure out where things went wrong, but I keep ending up in the same spot—him looking at me and our child like we were strangers in his home and telling me he was done. Just like that,” I snapped my fingers. “That easy.”
“But look at you still standing,” Mel replied. “Do you know how strong you are?”
“I don’t feel strong,” I dropped my head. “I don’t have anything or anyone to rely on. I had my child sleeping in a car and we would still be there if it hadn’t been for your cousin.” I reached up to wipe the tears that had fallen. “What kind of woman am I? What kind of mother?”
“One that was strong enough, loved herself and her child enough, to leave somewhere that they were clearly not welcomed,” she answered quickly. “There was no telling what that man could or would have done to either of you had you stayed, so Leila, regardless of how messed up things were when you left, you made the best decision for the both of you.”
“Yeah, but what now?” I chuckled humorlessly. “I’m here for the time being, but what about what’s next?” I looked up at her. “What about the future? My daughter’s future.”
“Leila, you don’t have to have all of the answers today.”
“But I should,” I countered, “I’m her mom,” I continued in an almost pleading tone. “I haven’t worked in years because I’vebeen so busy taking care of her and the home we built. I don’t even know if the accounting degree that I got still counts or if I’m employable.”
“No ma’am. You are not going to talk down on yourself like that,” Mel said shaking her head.
“I’m serious,” I insisted. “I gave everything to being a mom and wife, and the one person that should’ve had our backs… folded.” I buried my face in my hands trying to keep from sobbing in front of this woman that I didn’t know. I’d done a great job keeping it together, but now that we were talking, it was hard to keep my composure. I didn’t have anyone to talk to before because I had no family, and the few friends I had jetted the moment Aldrick and I said I do. When I got myself together, I continued. “Now I feel like I’m at square one with a child that needs more than what I can give.” I shook my head. “I’m just terrified that I’m not enough.”
