“I don’t think we’ll ever have her back.”
“We will, I promise.”
Mia stood up, the sadness in her face broke Diamond’s heart. Right there in that moment she knew she had to get them out the hood, it was the only way she was going to be able to save her mother. Sixteen with the weight of the world on her shoulder, she could only imagine what seventeen was about to bring in.
As soon as she walked out the room, Diamond joined her father in the living room. She knew that look on his face, he was tired.
“What’s up, old man?” She flopped down next to him as he forced a smile. No matter what, he always smiled.
“Hey, Daughter.”
“Hey, you ok?”
He let out a sigh, “Yeah, just have to move some things around to pay this light bill.”
“How much is it?”
“Why? You gone pay it?” he chuckled and tapped her knee.
“How much?” she asked again, causing him to look at her with relief mixed with confusion.
“A hundred dollars.”
Diamond nodded, walked to her room, and came back with five dirty twenties. For the first time, Richard “Rich” Hayes didn’t know what to say to his baby.
“Um. Where did this come from?” he finally spoke.
Diamond looked down for a second because she couldn’t lie to her father, she never could. It was something about his eyes that made you want to tell the truth but her words were stuck in her throat. Rich was a hustler by heart and knew what drug money looked and smelled like and he was holding drug money.
His eyes weren’t angry, they were hurt and disappointed. For the first time, Diamond felt something, fear. She wasn’t afraid of her father, but she was afraid to sadden him, he thought so highly of his girls.
“You touched the streets, didn’t you? Who gave it to you? Stone?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Rich knew that a hustler didn’t care who sold their product as long as the count was right at the end of the night.
“No one gave me anything.”
“Is that a lie?”
“No.”
“I’m listening.”
“I saw a chance to steal a jab and I took it. A few times. We needed the money.”
Rich didn’t know whether he was mad or proud of his daughter for knowing how to hustle.
“Baby, you don’t have to do that. That life took a lot from me, my sanity, almost my freedom, but most importantly, your mother. I was selling that shit to anyone who would buy it and Ididn’t give a fuck until someone sold it to her. That shit killed me inside.”
“Is that why you haven’t left her yet, you feel guilty?”
“I do, but I love that woman, flaws and all. I know my baby is trapped right now, but I know she’s coming back. I got you, you don’t have to hustle, that’s why I work so much.”
That was the kind of love Diamond wanted in the future; her father was a real solid guy, and she was glad she carried his traits.
Diamond dropped her head, “What if it’s what I want to do?”
Rich knew right then and there, the streets had already smelled her scent. He could tell her a million times not to do it, but he was once her and his parents couldn’t stop him.
