“I’m about to close up shop, pick up your kids from my mother’s house, and then head home.”
Daycare closed at six in the evening, so my mother would pick them up on my long days so I wouldn’t have to bring them to the suite.
“Oh, yeah? Do you think you could bring the kids over? I want to see them before I head to Cali.”
It surprised me that he hadn’t invited us like he normally did. I didn’t recall seeing any events for California on the calendar he sent over to me.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were going to Cali.” I tried to mask the saltiness in my tone, but it was easier said than done.
“Yeah, umm, it was a last-minute appearance. I’m honestly not tryna go, but my team is pushing me to go for press. Anyway,what time are you coming? I want to get some things in order before you get here.”
“I don’t recall telling you I would bring them. How do you know we don’t already have plans?” Yes, I was being difficult, but I couldn’t stand how we were always jumping through hoops whenever he wanted to do something.
“Well, you said you didn’t have plans. I mean, I don’t mind doing what you have planned. I just want to be with my family before I take this flight. Life is short as hell, I could die tomorrow, and I would want my last memories to be with people I love the most.”
I rolled my eyes as guilt settled in. I could tell by his tone, this wasn’t some manipulation tactic. He truly hated being away from them for long periods of time.
“Umm, I’ll call you when I’m on the way.”
I ended the call before he could say anything else. Of course, the kids were excited once I got to my momma’s house and told them they would be spending time with their father. My momma, on the other hand, wasn’t as enthused.
“I swear, it’s like I never see you anymore. Your baby daddy popped back up on the scene, and now you don’t have any use for me.” She grumbled, cleaning off the table where the kids had eaten lunch.
“You’re a little dramatic here. I talk to you multiple times a week. I just sent you money for lunch the other day. I mean, yes, things have been a little hectic with our schedules, but I'm doing the best I can to adjust.”
“Humph, you can tell yourself whatever bullshit you need to, but I can already see what is about to happen here,” she vented.
I gulped, already knowing the conversation wouldn’t end well.
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand why you have such an issue with the twins spending time with their father. They need both of their parents around.”
“Oh, please cut the shit, Naiari. Did you forget that I was the same person who picked you up off the ground when he cut you out of his life and told you to take your ass to the chop shop? Do you know how foolish you look, running from city to city to sit under a nigga who left you for dead?”
“What is your problem? You sound like you’re the one who got their heart broken.”
I rarely got into it with my momma, but she was pissing me off, and my anger was getting the best of me.
“Bitch, I’m the one who was there throughout your whole pregnancy. I put my life on hold to make sure you were straight, while he was probably having jail phone sex with multiple bitches. You cried for that fuck nigga, but he never gave you a second thought. His friends were still free, but he never sent them to look out for you. I told you from the beginning that boy was never interested in you. The only reason he went after you was because you were desperate and easy. I mean, let’s face the facts. He never once tried to reach out to you, and had you not run into him by accident, he wouldn’t have given you or those kids a second thought. You’re so desperate and dick silly, you can’t even realize when you’re nothing more than convenient pussy.”
Her words cut me like a knife to the gut. It wasn’t because she was entirely correct about our situation, but because of how harsh and careless she chose to voice her opinion. This wasn’t a mother showing concern for her daughter’s decisions. There was no love or compassion in her tone whatsoever.
“Wow. Well, thank you for letting me know how you feel. I’m gonna head out.”
“Yeah, I bet you’re about to run after that nigga even though he hasn’t made a single indication that he wants you. I thought I taught you better, but obviously not,” she spat. I tried to holdmy tongue, but between her harsh words and my own emotions, I lost it.
“You’re right. You didn’t teach me better, because you were never around. I had no example of what a woman was supposed to be, so I would say I turned out pretty well, all things considered.”
Her eyes bulged in surprise, but it was too late to turn back now.
“What did you say to me, lil’ girl?”
“I’m not a little girl, momma. I’m a grown woman, and I’m not about to stand around and let you berate me as if you lived some perfect life. You were far from a role model when it came to being a woman. Outside of working, you spent the majority of your time chasing men, trying to get them to love you. There was always a different man coming in and out of the house when you finally decided to make an appearance.
“If you think I’m chasing after a man who doesn’t want me, then I guess I’m following in your footsteps because you chased my no-good daddy for years, and all it got you was a few abortions and a child you barely had time for. I appreciate you for providing for me, but don’t act like you did it by yourself. Hell, if anything, you should be thanking Keynauri, because he provided for me almost as much as you did.
“He helped me with homework, bought me a phone and school clothes, and made sure there were groceries in the house when you were too busy being laid up with your man of the week. So, yeah, maybe I do run when he calls because I know that if I call him right now, he’ll stop whatever he’s doing to make sure I’m okay, whether the kids were with me or not.”
Whack!
