I cut my eyes at her. “Be quiet and let me talk.”
Gabe took a deep breath and ran his hand over the top of his head. He was the only one out of the bunch that knew I cheated.
“I wasn’t the best husband to your mother,” I said before chewing on my bottom lip.
Honesty frowned. “What you mean, daddy?”
“I mean, I wasn’t the best husband. I made a lot of mistakes and?—
“Dad just tell them,” Gabe interrupted with a deep breath.
“I wish y’all would shut up and let me talk,” I said through a sigh, as my nerves started to build more. I could hear a car door close, letting me know ma had gotten out of the car. I looked over at the windows and shook my head.Fuck. I should have told her I would text when I was ready for her to come in.
Glancing over at my phone, I said, “Honesty, hand me my?—
The doorbell ringing cut me off guard.
“Fuck it,” I mumbled. “Look... I made a lot of mistakes growing up. I mean, not growing up. I?—
“Dad cheated,” Gabe interrupted, blurting it out like he was crazy.
Aubry frowned. “What?”
“You cheated on mom?” Honesty yelled, stunned.
I tossed my head back with annoyance and stared over at Gabe like he’d lost his mind. “Why you just do that?”
He shrugged. “I was helping.”
“That didn't?—
“You cheated on my mama?What?” Aubry asked in disbelief. “Why would you cheat on my mama? What's wrong with you?What is wrong with men? I can’t—what! You cheated!? I’ve been mad at her and you... Oh my God.”
“Cheated?” Sparkle said. “Ohhhh. Ms. Taylor said cheating isbaaaad. You cheated daddy.” she giggled. “I’m telling Ms. Taylor.”
The doorbell rang again and my phone started to go off. I was instantly overstimulated. Had four kids in my ear about cheating on their mother, my momma trying to get in, and whoever calling my phone. I didn’t know what to do. So instead of doing anything, I just stood there, letting it all happen. Aubry kept going on and on about me cheating on her mother. She mentioned never trusting men and how they all were dogs. Said she couldn’t believe her daddy was ‘one of them’. Eventually she got up from the barstool with her phone in her hand, saying she was calling her mother. Honesty cried. Sat there in silence crying, looking over at me with the saddest expression ever on her face. Gabe was stoic. Arms crossed over his chest, glowering at me, shaking his head. Sparkle didn’t know what was going on. She didn’t understand the severity of ‘daddy cheating on momma’ so she was in her own little world.
The phone stopped ringing and moms started to bang on the door.
“Aubry! Sit down! And get off the phone!”
She sucked her teeth. “Man what? I’m callin’ my momma?—“
“No the fuck you ain’t! Call her later! I’m not done talkin to y’all.”
“Who is that at the door?” Gabe asked, turning around.
Moms stopped banging and my phone started to ring again. It was her. Had to be her. I needed to get some order in this muthafucka before I opened up for her. I didn’t want to just spring Diary on them without telling them first.
“Hey ma. Why you ain’t tell?—“
Before she could say another word, I put Sparkle down and was on her, snatching her phone from her. I put it to my ear and told Mahogany that Aubry would call her back in a minute. After hanging up, I stuffed the phone in my pocket and pointed towards the island at one of the barstools, telling Aubry to sit down. She huffed, rolled her eyes, and pouted but she sat her ass down.
Once she was seated, I placed my hands flat on the island and took a deep breath. “What I did happened years ago,” I started. “Ain't like I cheated on your momma a couple days or weeks ago.”
It was a lie but fuck it. They were already getting enough.
“I cheated a minute ago and...” I swallowed and shook my head. “I just found out I have another daughter.”
