I wanted the same for her now. So if divorcing my dad for the bullshit and hurt he caused her was the move, I had no other choice but to accept and support her.
Sunday dinners and family meetings were never going to be the same. This was a new adjustment that I had no choice but to accept.
Chapter 14
Jatavia
The mall felt like Christmas exploded inside of it. Lights wrapped around every railing I passed when I got here. There were giant ornaments hanging from the ceiling, red and silver spheres spun slowly above my head. Fake snow dusted the tops of storefront displays, and every store blasted a different holiday song. Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas’ dominated most places that I window shopped in.
Normally, I didn’t do big crowds, but I felt the need to do something with my free time today since I had it. I still had to adapt to not clocking in at the call center which felt good as hell for the time being. I sat at a small round table in the food court. A hot pretzel sat untouched in front of me, along with a cup of lemonade that had my phone propped up against it as I talked to my cousin Tammy.
The smell of cinnamon, fried food, and baked cookies made me indecisive of what else I wanted to eat beside the pretzel I purchased.
“So this your third day in Cali and you really sitting there glowing.” Tammy’s voice cut through my scattered thoughts.
I smiled at her; my eyes landed on a little girl with pretty pigtails. She tugged her mom towards a toy store. The lookon her momma’s face made me smile. Judging by all the bags she held, her mom was ready to go. One day, I wanted that overwhelming feeling of being a mother. Shopping with my kids ready to go home and rest. First, I needed to get myself together mentally for that. It looked good to a person like me looking in from the outside.
“I actually feel good,” I admitted. “I needed the change of scenery for a couple of days.” I focused back on Tammy.
“Look at God!” She clapped her hands. “Seasonal depression my ass!” she smiled into the camera before focusing back on curling her hair.
“Don’t jinx it.” I laughed lightly.
“Girl please, it looks like you and Big D ran through red lights. I guess a period ain’t stop shit.” She winked.
I leaned back in my chair; my eyes drifted upward toward a giant Christmas tree planted right in the center of the mall. It towered three stories tall, decorated with ribbons and lights.
“Unn unn, don’t try to act like you daydreaming so I don’t see you blushing. Y’all nasty as hell.” She giggled.
“It was in the shower Tammy. We haven’t done anything else; I went to see my parents yesterday. I didn’t get back to Dreu’s house until midnight. We ate brunch together before he left me with some money and told me to go shopping for some of the things I wanted while I was out here.” I spoke above the noise.
“How much he give you?” She raised a brow.
“Ten thousand cash and his card.” I blushed hard looking away.
I started to tell Dreu that the ten thousand along with his card was too much. I did the smart thing and bit my tongue thinking it in my head instead of saying it. Dreu was not going to see it that way. His goal was to spoil me, and if I planned on being back in his life whether or not we were together or friends.I had to accept the kind of man Dreu was. He was a real man. Not the kind to know a woman was struggling and not help like Devin’s weird ass.
“Bittttchhhhhh! I know that’s the fuck right!” Tammy dropped her flat iron and started to dance.
“Doesn’t it feel like Christmas!” She sang.
I put my elbows on the table and laughed.
“This feels crazy, Tam.” I sighed.
“I know it do because you stubborn as hell.” She picked up her flat irons and started to curl her hair again. “The way y’all left off and picked right back up is smooth to me. Him coming all the way to Vegas to bring you back to Cali after you told him to prove to you, he missed you says a lot.” She added.
I nodded my head in agreement instead of speaking. Tammy knew me well; I was stubborn and didn’t believe in second chances with men that did women wrong. With Dreu it was deeper than that. Beyond our intimacy, we were good friends. We vibed so well together and understood each other without it feeling forced. He saw the raw me, good, bad, and ugly. Back when we first met, it took time for me to get comfortable and confident having him even in the same space.
“How do you really feel, Tav? Besides you glowing, I can tell there’s something else bothering you.”
“Dreu is going through something.” I blurted the words out.
It had been nagging me since we departed from each other after brunch.
“What is it?” she frowned.
“His parents are divorcing; the dynamics of his tightly knitted family has changed.” I placed my hand on the side of my head. “Last night I could tell he was down about it. He expressed himself, even shed a couple of tears. I did my best to console him but?—”
