“Fine,” she smiled. “Since you’re begging me and all, I’ll put our things away.”
“Thank you,” I returned the smile. “And we can go to the stores and get whatever the two of you don’t have while we’re out tomorrow.”
Her smile faded. “Kiyan, no. Us being here is enough.”
“No, it’s not.” I frowned. “You have twosmallsuitcases and a child’s duffle bag.”
“Right, but I grabbed all of our essentials,” she argued. “I can get laundry detergent tomorrow to wash the things we have, and we’ll be fine.”
“You’ll be fine if we get you some more things too,” I chuckled. “Besides, it’s Christmas and neither of you have anything under the tree.”
“Christmas is in three weeks, and hopefully we’re not in your way that long.”
“Leila,” I walked over and took her hand, “I thought we agreed on no hoping.”
“I know, but?—”
I gently placed my index finger to her lips to silence her.
“No buts and no hopes, love. Only plans.” I smiled. “So the first plan of action is shopping, aight?”
“Aight,” she mumbled, mocking me.
“Come on,” I eased my pointer finger under her chin to lift her head so that she was looking at me then smiled again. “I thought women loved to shop.”
“I know, and I’m no different, it’s just,” she stared at me for a second before turning away and moving my hand. “My husband—he cut all of my cards off.”
My smile faded as my eyes danced around hers, trying to find a hint that she was kidding, but I got nothing and that pissed me off. The man made them leave and took away her means to survive. I prayed that I never crossed paths with him becausethere was no telling what I’d do to him. I wasn’t confrontational by a longshot, but there was no way I could bare to even breathe the same air as a coward like him.
“So, what the hell did he expect you to do when he made you leave with his child?” I pointed toward Ava.
“I don’t know, and he doesn’t care,” she shrugged. “It sucks and it hurts that I can’t buy my baby anything for Christmas, but I’d rather us have a place to stay. And before you say it, I know you’re offering, but I’m not a charity case.”
“I don’t think you’re a charity case, Leila,” I captured her hands again, “I think you’re a trying mother going through a hard time.”
“It’s not fair to you.”
“And what he did isn’t fair to you,” I countered. “Let me make sure you and Ava enjoy Christmas. Whether you’re here or at your own spot; let me take that burden off of your shoulders and you focus on figuring the other stuff out.”
Her eyes glossed over. “What if I don’t?”
“Hey,” I cupped her chin again to make her look at me. “You’re going to figure it out, aight? I got you.”
“Okay.” She sniffled then I pulled her into a hug because she seemed like she needed it.
“And let this be the last time you cry about this,” I said when I pulled back. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“I’ll try,” she smiled. “Thank you for everything, Kiyan.”
“It’s nothing,” I winked. “Get you some sleep. I’ll see you two in the morning.”
I left the room, closing the door behind me. When I made it to my room, I got right in the shower. I was still fuming after learning that Leila’s husband had basically taken everything from her and said fuck them. I couldn’t imagine ever treating my wife, the mother of my child, and my daughter like that.
Just looking into Ava’s big brown eyes had me willing to do whatever for her, then her mother—it was hard to describe the way she made me feel. From the first encounter, I felt this pull and inclined to help her. After she told me she was fine and only awaiting help, I walked away but every step felt heavy.
Something in my gut told me not to leave them there, but the ring on her finger had me ignoring that small voice and going inside anyway. I didn’t want to pry or overstep, but I did watch them until they pulled off, and I also watched when I was notified that they were back.
I heard my phone ringing while I was in the shower, so I quickly finished up then got out. I went ahead and brushed and flossed my teeth while I was in the bathroom so that I didn’t have to go back. When I got back in my bedroom, I moisturized my body, threw on some boxer-briefs and basketball shorts, then I went to find my phone on my bed. I saw that my mother had called via FaceTime like she did every night. It had been like that since my cousin showed her how to do it.
