I nodded as if she could see me. “Facts.”
It was facts. I could trust my ma with my life. I just... what the fuck else was I supposed to think?
I let out a deep sigh and said, “We’re getting a divorce.”
My ma was quiet for a minute before she asked, “She hit you with papers?”
“Nah. Not yet.”
“Y’all ain’t getting no damn divorce. She ain’t goin nowhere,” she confidently said, as if she knew my wife better than I knew her myself.
I sucked my teeth and shook my head. “Nah, it’s happening for real. We told the kids. She don’t play about them kids. She wouldn’t have told them if there was a chance, ma.”
“Damn,” was all she said before the line went eerily quiet.
“Still though, Duke, you never know,” she said, trying to give hope to the hopeless. “It’s not real until you get them papers. You hear me? You hold your head, son. Don’t you be over there beating yourself up. Come over. I cooked and?—“
“I fucked the car up. Got into an accident about a week ago?—“
“And you didn’t think to call and tell me!? Why she aint call and tell me shit? See this that funny acting shit I be talking about. You alright?”
“Yeah ma. She probably didn’t call because she thought I would. I broke my arm and a couple ribs. I’m smooth. Recovering good. Truck just fucked up though.”
I didn’t know why Mahogany didn’t call her. It wasn’t important. I didn’t give a fuck about much. Just my family. Didn’t feel like explaining to her why I didn’t call her until now either. I had too much shit on my mind, and that probably was the case with Mahogany, too. Too much shit was happening. Too much shit had happened. Moms was probably the last thing on her mind.
“Yeah…. Okay. Anyway… I’ll come to you. I miss my grandkids anyway and?—“
“You don’t have to come all the way out here,” I said, shaking my head. “I was just calling to apologize for real and to tell you about the divorce.”
I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, hesitating to tell her why Ireallycalled. She’d have something to say. She’d say I only called because I needed her help. Which would only be half the truth. I didn’t just need her help—I needed her. Shit was lonely. Suffering through this shit alone. I needed my ma.
“Look ma,”
“Aw shit.”
“I did call to apologize, right.”
“But...”
“I need to borrow your car and to bring Diary over there. Ms. Rochelle in the hospital and?—
“You know that lady got a problem with me, Ducati,” she interrupted.
“None of that matter, ma. Shit, she in the hospital and I need a little help. Plus... she’s your grandchild too.”
I didn’t know how Ms. Rochelle would feel about moms getting Diary. And at the same time, I didn’t give a fuck. Diary was mine—it was up to me to make decisions about who could see her and who couldn’t.
She took a deep breath. “Okay... I got you.”
“Aight peep.I don’t know how long moms will be in the hospital, but for the time being, we can switch off every two days. My baby momma gon’ help me. I know you ain’t fucking with Jay?—
“Hell naw I’m not fuckin’ with that nigga. It’s a wrap on all that other shit. He lost his privileges. Diary young—she’ll forget about him.”
Aaron drew back with raised brows. “Damn. Well aight, shit, ain’t my business. Like I said earlier, I’m willing to work with you and shit.” He paused and ran his hand over his head. “My bad about the shit he pulled too. Only reason he had the addy was because of me?—
“What?” I asked, ready to go in his shit.
He held his hands up. “Respectfully... My niece would have never went with you if I didn’t do my due diligences nigga. I had to look into you. Didn’t think that nigga would use it on some foul shit. I just needed it for information. Just in case.”
