“Nicholas, why would you send me all this money? I’m not with you for your money. I keep telling you that you don’t have to buy me.”
“I’m not trying to buy you, Jameela. I like taking care of you. I take care of the things I care about, but that’s not for you anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“First things first, I had to take care of my obligation. I sent my first monthly payment.”
I shook my head. “I’m not following.”
“That’s my child support payment. Now can I see our daughter, Jameela? I shouldn’t have to go through all this to see my child.”
“Wow! Do you know how crazy you sound right now?”
“Now, call what’s his face and tell him he can keep his little money and go on with his life.”
I scoffed. “Nicholas, be for real right now.”
“Twenty thousand ain’t enough? How much do you need, Jameela?”
“You gave me twenty thousand dollars?” I yelled, almost dropping the phone when I looked back in the envelope.
“How much do you need me to give you for you to make the call? I’m trying to pick up the slack and show you that you never have to beg another man for a dime as long as I’m here. Tell him to kiss your ass if he doesn’t want to be in your baby’s life. You don’t need him anymore.”
His words sounded good and all, but I couldn’t just take them at face value. I would be crazy to give Tremaine what he wanted by letting him off the hook, based on the words from a man I barely knew. He was showing and proving, but how long would this last?
“Nicholas—”
The spicy words on my lips dissipated when the curly-haired little princess popped up on the screen. She was literally dressed like Cinderella in a baby blue ball gown.
“Hi!” she waved.
“Hey, sweetheart. What’s your name?”
“My name is Amira. It means princess. I’m six years old.”
“You’re very pretty, Amira. You must look like your mother.”
“I’m smart too. My daddy said anybody can be pretty, but your brain will make you powerful.”
“Well, isn’t he disheartening?”
“What’s that?”
“It means smart,” I lied.
“My daddy says you have a little girl, just like me, but she’s a baby. Where is she?”
“She’s right here.”
I pulled Bella into my lap, allowing her to take the phone. She loved looking at herself on camera. It was adorable to see Amira’s face light up when she saw Bella.
“I want a little sister. She is so cute. What’s her name?”
“Bella.”
Nicholas picked that moment to plop down on the couch next to Amira. “Hey, Bella. It’s daddy. Can you say daddy?”
“Nicholas, don’t start.”
