Sloan hollered.
“Girl, they not worried about us.”
“How long have you guys been friends?” Lola asked as she loaded the dishwasher.
“Since these bitches tried to beat me up in middle school,” Ellie snapped.
“You love bringing up old shit,” Sloan dismissed, shaking her head.
Courtney smiled as she looked around her house.
“I really appreciate this, y’all. You have no idea. Shit has just been hard. I just don’t feel like myself, and things have just been bad between James and me,” Courtney admitted.
“How bad?” Sloanasked.“Cass felt like the nigga was kind of aggressive when he came to the door last night.”
Courtney’s lip quivered as she remembered the slap. She was lucky he hadn’t left a bruise behind, but the side of her face was still sore.“Usually, we just argue, but last night was the worst it’s gotten. Losing a kid changed him. It changed us both,” Courtney admitted.
“Do you need a safe place to go? You don’t have to stay here,” Shy interjected. Courtney shook her head.
“I just feel like we can get back on track. I just can’t pull myself together enough to try. I’m tired all the time. I’m disinterested in everything, and he thinks it’s because of another nigga, so it makes him jealous and crazy, but I don’t know what it is. I just don’t feel like myself,” Courtney cried.
“That sounds like depression, Courtney. Probably postpartum, and you both sound like you have some PTSD from Dev’s death. You need help and so does he, but if he’s flying off the handle and being possessive and insecure and jealous, then you need to get help separately until you’re both well enough to come together,” Sloan said softly, using a tone she typically reserved for her patients.“It’s okay to reach for your own oxygen mask first, friend. All you got to do is say the word. Nod your head, and we’llpack a bag and get you up out of here.”
Courtney felt herself breaking down, and she stifled her sobs because her nieces and Lola were in the room. She simply wiped the tears from her face and nodded her head.
Sloan looked to Shy, and Shy knew what to do without instruction.
“I’ma get your shit,” Shy stated.
Suddenly, Brooklyn jumped up.
“Daddy’s here,” she announced. Ellie’s heart sank as she stood from the table.
“I’ve got her,” Sloan said.“Go handle your business.”
Ellie felt her chest constrict. She could no longer avoid the inevitable.
“Give me a second, Brook. I need to speak with your dad,” Ellie stated.
“You got this?” Shy asked.“Cuz we can jump his ass like we jumped you back in the day.”
Ellie appreciated her girl, lightening the mood. Everyone laughed, even Courtney. Shy really was the friend who you couldn’t live without.
Ellie pushed out a deep breath.
“Listen out for thehootie hoo, bitch. If you hear that, come running, because this man be testing my patience.”
She walked out onto the porch and folded her arms to try to keep out the bitter wind as Cairo approached.
“Have you come to your senses or you still acting crazy?” Ellie asked.
“She’s not my daughter, Ellie,”Cairo sighed.
“If you break my little girl’s heart like this, I’ma make your life hell, Cairo. This easy, little, quiet separation that I’ve given you is going to become a messy and complicated divorce. I don’t want conflict, but I won’t let you get away with mistreating my child. I can’t stop you from taking Brooklyn, but if you do this, I promise you I’m coming for everything you owe me plus tax. Including child support. Including spousal support. Including that nice little house you got that trifling-ass girlfriend living in. Half of your savings, half of your investments, half of your retirement. Or you can do the right thing, and I’llwalk away from it all empty-handed.”
“That’s tough talk, but I know you better than that. You’re not tough,” Cairo said.
“When it came to protecting myself, maybe not. When it comes to protecting my kids, I’m not the same bitch,” Ellie warned.
