Maybe it’s for the best to leave him wherever he went, Mickey.
But I couldn’t. I at least needed to know why?
“Not yet. I… we wanted to wait until I made it to my second trimester to drop the news.” Another lie that flowed like water off my tongue. This wasn’t like me to lie to Mackie. There was never a need. This was the same man I sold weed remedies to. Lying about a man wasn’t part of our relationship. Sometimes, I told Mackie things before I even told my girls, and damn sure my parents. I knew my deepest, darkest secrets were safest with him.
“Hmph, and how long away is that?” I put my hand on my stomach and smiled.
“A couple of weeks or so,” I answered, then quickly snapped my fingers and changed the subject. “Oh, and before I forget, after this last batch is done, I won’t be able to make any more herbal remedies. But don’t worry, I made enough to carry you for the next couple of weeks at least. I’ll figure something out.” Ididn’t want to give him a solid timeline just in case I had to drag this out a little bit longer to find Harlan’s ass.
“You just focus on that baby. You still need to tell your folks and make sure that baby daddy is ready to meet them. Shit, the way yo’ father is, he won’t be living for long after he finds out. Your father gon’ kill that young man on the spot. It’s gon’ be a quick hi-bye type of introduction I’m sure. You’ve got a few weeks to make sure everything is in order for his funeral.” It was like a light bulb came on when Mackie said that.
When he put the TV back on, my mind got busy trying to think of a way I could run into Harlan. I just needed him to meet my parents once, that was it.
A few days went by,and here I was, parked back outside of Harlan’s house. Well, the abandoned one, hoping for the best. I was sure I looked like a stalker to the neighbors. I didn’t care though. I was chasing down a memory of my baby daddy at this point. Hoping and praying I caught up to him and would be able to convince him to just meet my parents.
“Mickey, what the hell are you even doing here? It’s obvious his ass ain’t here and ain’t been.” I glanced at the dashboard and noticed I had been posted up for the last three hours and my stomach growling let me know I was out of time on my fake stake out.
I rubbed my belly.
“I know, baby, give Mommy a few more minutes then we can go eat. I’m trying to catch Daddy,” I said to the little being, as if he or she could truly hear me.
I picked up my phone and scrolled through my call log until I came to his number.
This time when I called, the operator actually had the nerve to tell me the number was no longer in service.
I frowned at the screen. “What the fuck!” I groaned as I dropped the phone before I fell into my steering wheel, completely breaking down.
“Now what, Mickey?”
I had no idea. This wasn’t the plan I had for my life. I’d done everything right. How the hell did I end up pregnant by a man who seemed to no longer exist?
I sat up and took one final look at the house before I put my car in drive and pulled off.
Chapter
Five
Burkeley
“Will this be for here or to go?” the cashier asked as I pulled out my wallet to pay for my food. I was at BJ’s after being out in the field for the majority of my day, currently following a wife whose husband believed she was stepping out on him. I had been on this one for the last week and a half now and hadn’t caught his wife doing shit but spending his money everyday.
I looked around the dining area of BJ’s and caught a glimpse of a familiar face that had me saying, “here.”
Not even two minutes later, I was walking my tray over, taking a seat in the same area of baby girl from the parking deck. As I got closer, I saw that this time, her red glossy eyes were indeed from crying. She was on the phone, trying to talk lowly but I had a good ear.
“No, Hollis. I tried that too. The number is no longer in service. It’s like he never existed at this point.” She got quiet before she spoke again.
“Hell fucking no,” she said in a harsh hushed tone.
“I am not telling Nas anything. She’s my lawyer, not my private investigator. There’s other ways to find a missing person.”
Hearing those words now had my full attention. This was my in.
BK, you can’t just offer up your services. She’s going to know you’ve been listening to her conversation. It’s that or nothing. This will at least put me in the position to get to know her.
I sat there patiently waiting for her to end the call before I made my move. She sniffled again, fumbling over her tray looking for a napkin. I smiled as I stretched a couple of mine over to her. I could tell I’d scared her as she jumped slightly but offered a weak smile in return.
“Look, I’m out in public crying over a deadbeat ass nigga. Let me call you back when I get home.” She ended the call then put her attention back on me.
