“Mm, mm. It's always ‘nothing’ with you. But it’s something. You back to not answering your phone, ain’t seen my grandbabies in weeks... something is going on.”
“What’s going on has nothing to do with that,” I mumbled.
“Enlighten me. Let me know what’s going on so I can be the judge of that because you been acting funny.”
“I’ve been acting funny because... never mind ma. Just know you don't need to worry about?—”
“Don’t tell me what I need to worry about, Mahogany. You’re my child and I worry about you. Period. Now... one of y’all gone tell me what the hell is going on. Or am I going to have to call my oldest granddaughter?”
Shit.
With the way Aubry felt towards me, she would tell her what was going on. And I didn't want to put her in a position where she’d have to tell someone her father and I were getting a divorce. That wasn't her responsibility.
Sighing, I shook my head again. “I’m getting a divorce.”
Sienna rubbed her forehead and looked away.
My momma’s jaw dropped. “Run that by me again.”
“Ma, you heard what I said,” I told her, as I fondled with the strap on my purse.
“Divorce?” she asked with disgust dripping from her tongue. “No, the hell you ain’t. Divorce for what? To do what? Be single with four kids? In this economy. Divorce. Tuh. Girl you losing it.”
“Ma—”
“Ain’t nobody talking to you, Sienna. How long you knew? How long this been going on? And why am I always the last to know something? I don’t understand. You sitting there quiet, ain’t answered not one of my questions. What is going on? Why are you getting a divorce? Have you even thought about giving it to the Lord? Have you gone to Him at all? Ain’t nothing the good Lord can’t fix!”
She rambled. It sounded like she was in shock. Which to me didn’t make any sense because this was my life and I could make my own decisions. Single with four kids. Yep, that wouldbe me. In this economy. Hell yeah, I could handle it. The money I made at Couture was more than enough to sustain a very comfortable living. She was old school. Thought being divorced with multiple children was shameful. Thought a two parent, two income household were the only way to survive. She thought going to God fixed every little thing. What if this was God’s way of fixing it? What if this was God’s way of giving me the fulfilling, happy life I’d desired my whole life? My momma really got on my muthafucking nerves.
While she rambled, pacing, reciting Bible verses, I sat there quiet, my knee bouncing like crazy.
“Matthew nineteen, verse six! What God has joined together, let no man separate?—
“God didn’t join us together—Aubry did,” I cut in.
With raised brows, Sienna drew back, stifling a laugh.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me loud and clear, ma.Aubryjoined us together. If it weren't for me getting pregnant, Duke and I would have never gotten married. And if it weren’t for you poisoning me with bible verses back in the day, we would have gotten a divorce a long time ago. Would have saved a lot of money, time, tears, and failed effort, that’s for sure.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked, that sound of disgust heavier than before. “You just saying stuff now. Stuff that don’t make any sense. If I wouldn’t have poisoned you with bible verses—girl! Please! I didn’t poison you with nothing. I gave you the good gospel—that's it. And it got you over a few hurdles.”
“It didn’t get me over anything. It... you know what? Never mind ma. Like I said, Duke and I are getting a divorce. Why ain’t none of your business.”
“Whyismy business! It’s your life but it’s my family and Duke is a good man! A flawed man but he’s a good one! You gon throw it all away for what? Because you mad?”
“Come on now, ma,” Sienna interjected.
I laughed and tilted my head to the side, looking over at Sienna. “You hear this goofy shit? This is exactly why?—”
“What?” yelled my momma. “Did you just curse... you know what? I’ll just call my son in law and find out what’s going on. Because clearly his wife don’ lost her mind!”
I jumped up. “Call that nigga! Hopefully he’s man enough to tell you he had a fucking baby on me!”
The room fell silent. She gasped and put her hand over her chest, eyes wide, mouth just the same.
“He did what?” she asked.
