“All I know is I don’t want her hurt anymore.She’s cried enough for loving me.I’m not letting her go.We’re her family: me, her, and this baby; if you don’t want to be a part of it, get the fuck out of the way.”
“You don’t have to say anymore.I hear you.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to call Aunty Allison now.I’ll check on Cat later in case she wants to talk.”
“Bye.”
I decide to go homeearly to see Cat.I can finish working at home.I have one stop to make first.
I ring the doorbell and just the person I came to see opens the door.
“What are you doing here?”
“Believe it or not, I came to see you.”
“What for?We have nothing to say to each other.”
“I have plenty to say.If you don’t want me to say it out here where someone might hear, you should let me in.”
Staring daggers at me, Mrs.Reed moves out of the way and I walk into the living room.She stands in front of me with her hands folded.She wants me gone as fast as possible.She doesn’t need to worry; I don’t want to be here with her either.This is not a social call, so I get straight to the point.
“In all the years I’ve known your family, Mrs.Reed, you were there, but you weren’t present, you were wrapped up in yourself.”
“You don’t know a thing about me.”
“I do.There isn’t much I don’t know about you and your family.You came from nothing and married a hardworking, determined man who could provide the status and money you wanted.You’re not a nice woman, but you pretend to be, and you’re good at it most of the time.”Her face puckers, and her hands drop to her side like she wants to slap me.I guess I know more about her than she wants me to.
“How dare you!”She hisses at me between clenched teeth.
“No, how dare you come into my home, disrespect the love of my life, and tell her she should kill my child.”I stare back at her with as much unbridled hostility.“Did anyone tell you to kill your children when you were whoring around with another man?”Her mouth drops open with shock before she snaps it shut.
“I never said—”
“Shut the hell up, I know what you said and what you meant.Didn’t come here to have a discussion with you about what you meant or didn’t mean.I couldn’t care less.”She snaps her mouth shut, eyes bulging while I give her my brand of honesty.She’s not accustomed to the men around her speaking to her like this.I don’t give a damn.Maybe if one of them would have talked to her like this sooner she wouldn’t be such a bitch.
“I don’t know what either one of my daughters saw in you.”
“Stay the hell away from Cat.It’s not good for her or my child.”
“Yourchild.She’s not your property, she’s my daughter.If I want to speak to her, I have that right.I don’t need your permission with anything concerning my daughter.I’m her mother.”
“Why don’t you act like it?”Instead of being a raging heartless bitch.
“Get the hell out of my house!”She raises her voice.“You’re not good enough for her.”
“Neither are you.”
I turn to leave and see Sophie in the doorway, looking distressed, fidgeting with her apron.I like Sophie; she was always nice to me when I came over.Once, she caught me looking at Cat’s legs when she was wearing a short jeans skirt and bending down in front of me back in high school.She gave me that look: “you better not even think about it.”I take the scowl off my face and manage a smile so she’ll stop looking worried.I know Cat would want to see her.
“It’s nice to see you, Sophie.I wish it could be under better circumstances.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Mr.Nicholas.”
I smile for real at the formal use of my name.“Please, Sophie, we’ve known each other far too long for you to start being so formal.It’s still Nick.”
She nods her head and smiles.
