“Why won’t you just give that apartment up and come stay with me? You and the baby can share my guest room. We’ll make it work with the space I have, and you can be comfortable without worrying so much about where you'll live. You’ve been through enough, Ariana.”
“Auntie, your apartment has strict visitation rules. I’m not trying to get you put out, and you have nowhere to stay. You know what happened with Aunt Vicky’s apartment. Having someone who is not on your lease staying with you is a direct violation of your lease, and if I get this eviction, they will not approve me to be added to your lease.”
“Ari, you living here would be on the low. Plus, the girl in the office and I are cool. If I tell her what’s going on, she won’t say anything. You won’t cause negative attention anyway. Over here acting a fool and stealing Cadillac convertors from under cars like your cousin Fred did at Aunt Vicky’s place. Just think about it, baby. There is no need to struggle if you are not going to get this baby’s father to help you.”
“I don’t know, Aunt Rea. I have to figure out something else. I can’t invade your space, I just won’t.” I tried to be proud.
“Well, you are down there with Cyn right now. Why not ask her for a loan to get you back on your feet?”
“Ask her for a loan that I can’t pay back? Cyn isn’t the one with money; her husband is.”
“Well, you are helping her right now. If that’s your friend, and Hawk has money like you say he does, it shouldn’t be anything for them to help you out. If it is, then is she really your friend?”
“Asking Cyn for money is my last resort. I’m sure her whole family already does. And I’m not trying to make her think I’m trying to use her along with everyone else. She’s my friend, andI want to keep it that way. We all know what mixing money and friendship can do.”
I said sternly to stop that conversation.
Cyn had good parents, but they often tried to live above their means. They took trips when we were younger that they had to pay for throughout the year and brought Cyn things they couldn’t afford to make their lives look like something it was not. Cyn’s daddy didn’t make much money, and Cyn’s mama didn't either. I know they are in her pockets now, along with her little sister. I've been seeing her riding around in a new BMW that I’m sure Cyn and Hawk had to purchase because her ass didn’t even have a job.
“Ari, at the end of the day, I hope that you realize that you have to drop your pride sometimes and do what’s best when you are a mother. Pride doesn’t keep lights on or food on the table. I have had to drop my pride plenty of times while raising my boys.”
I bit down on my bottom lip because she was right, and I hated that she was right.
The truth was, I didn’t want to move with her for more reasons than one. Having my apartment for me and my daughter was the only thing that felt like mine in a world where I felt like I had lost everything. That little apartment was proof I was still standing.
“Anywho, are you sure Treasure is good now? You know I can come home early if I need to?”
“Yes. She’s fine. After I gave her that medicine, she’s been happy-go-lucky ever since. Ain’t that right, baby?”
I heard her start to do that precious little giggle, and a smile crept across my face.
“Okay. Well, I’ll be back on Tuesday. The flight is taking off at 11:00 am.”
“Okay, but take your time, baby. You know, I’m enjoying this time with my special great-niece because I get bored here alone, and I don’t have my sister to call and keep me entertained anymore. Damn, I miss your mother.
The line grew quiet like it did when my mother came up in conversation.
My mama and my aunt were close whenever she wasn’t having one of her spells. As a matter of fact, most of the time, my aunt was the only person who could bring her out of them. Still to this day, my aunt never addressed anything about my father, and it’s like she blocked what happened to her sister completely out of her head. I tried to do the same with him most of the time, too, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. All I know is that I would drop my pride and ask Cyn for the money before I ever ask him again. I was low last year and, in a panic, and I called his phone. Back then, my best friend wasn’t married to a millionaire, and he was the only rescue I felt I had.
After my aunt and I hung up the phone, I sat there for a minute longer, letting the wind brush against my arms, trying to gather the courage to go back inside and ask Cyn for help.
When I finally stood and grabbed the sliding glass door handle, I heard the front door shut from inside, and when I went into the living area, I saw Tania sprinting through the living room, sandals clicking against the tile.
“Hey, you finally back?”
She turned halfway, shook her head slightly like she didn’t want to talk, and kept moving toward the bathroom.
Something in my chest tightened because, since when did she not have anything to say? This was already giving guilt, and I hadn’t been around her for ten seconds.
I walked further into the living room, barely catching the bathroom door close. I expected to hear the shower turn on or the toilet flush, but at first, there was nothing.
I listened there quietly until I finally heard harsh, violent gagging coming from the other side.
“Tania!” I knocked on the door.
“Are you okay?” I called out.
“Yes, Ari, I’m fine.”
