Page 22 of A Don & His Doll

“When will I get to meet my father? I’m tired of only being able to see him in pictures. Can you get me a phone so we can talk or at least text? Maybe he can come see me for my birthday,” Monae said sadly.

She would be turning eleven in two weeks, and not once had she been blessed with the chance to physically stand in front of her father. Not once had she been able to search the eyes her mother and Macie both claimed mirrored her own. Monae had spent years yearning for that moment. Wondering if his voice would calm the silent ache she had carried for as long as she could remember. She wondered if his embrace would feel safe, or if he’d recognize pieces of himself inside of her the same way she recognized pieces of him inside herself just through analyzing the pictures she’d received over the years. Monae wanted to tell him about her day, the things she enjoyed, the little accomplishments that made her proud. She wanted to hear him say her name. She wanted to know what it felt like to be seen by the man whose absence had shaped so much of her understanding of love. She didn’t know how she’d act, what she’d say first, or how she’d feel when she saw her father… but she prayed for the day God would answer her prayers anyway.

“I just may be able to make that happen for you,” Macie told her.

Sienna shifted her weight against the wall, her expression tightening almost instantly as her protective instincts surfaced. She had heard many promises before. Words that sounded comforting in the moment, but often left her responsible for repairing damage no child should have to endure.

“Don’t do that to my baby,” Sienna defensively snapped. “Don’t build her hopes up, and have her looking forward to seeing her father. Only for plans to change, and all of a sudden he can’t come,” Sienna tested her limits, but had to speak up for her daughter. “I’m the only one gonna be left trying to mend her heart back together. Not you.”

Macie had done that shit one too many times, and Sienna had enough of her bullshit.

Broken promises disguised as protection.

Decisions made without explanation.

Silence offered where honesty should have lived.

Macie had already taken everything away from Sienna, but Monae was innocent and didn’t deserve any of this.

“Can you give me and your mother a moment, sweetie?” Macie said gently, pressing a kiss to Monae’s forehead as if the tension in the room did not exist.

“Yes, ma’am. I love you,” Monae replied softly, then disappeared up the stairs with her bags, eager to see what was inside.

Macie’s eyes iced over the moment Monae’s bedroom door clicked shut upstairs. The softness she had shown her granddaughter dissolved completely, replaced with the cold, calculating woman Sienna knew all too well. Without warning, Macie casually reached into her purse and pulled out her gun.

“Bitch,” she said lowly, her voice sharp enough to cut skin. “If you ever fix your mouth to talk to me like that again, I’ll-”

“You’ll do what? Kill me,” Sienna challenged as tears slid helplessly down her face. “I’m already fucking dead, remember?”

Macie laughed, then put her gun away. “You’re always so fucking dramatic. If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead, but it seems there’s still a little use for you.”

Sienna didn’t respond, just listened.

“Calm your ass down, and come talk to me. I got something to tell you,” Macie instructed Sienna, as she walked further into the house, taking a seat on the couch.

Her heart pounded as she sat across from the woman who had altered the trajectory of her entire life. Sienna reluctantly followed, surprised that Macie hadn’t at least slapped her for the outburst she’d made. She knew she was toting a line when it came to Macie, but she loved her daughter more than life. Motherhood had strengthened parts of her that Macie could never fully break. Loving Monae meant fighting for her even when fear threatened to silence her voice. She didn’t know what was coming… but she knew nothing involving Macie ever came without cost.

“Do you still love my son?” Macie quizzed.

“What kind of question is that?” Sienna returned with a scrunched expression. “Yes, I love him. I’ve never stopped.”

“Good,” Macie said, digging into her purse. “Look at this,” she said, handing Sienna a sleek black folder.

Sienna’s breath caught painfully in her chest as soon as she opened the folder. Her heart dropped at the sight of Monroe and Promise together. She wasn’t shocked that Monroe had moved on. Twelve years was a lifetime when measured in loneliness. What had shattered something fragile inside her soul was the way Monroe looked at the woman he held in his arms. It was the love, softness, transparency she saw in his eyes when he looked at this woman. It was so potent, not only did she recognize it, she felt it through the image. That was the same way he used to look at her when they were together.

“Why are you showing me this? Haven’t you tortured me enough? Do you enjoy killing my spirit time and time again?” Sienna whispered, her voice trembling as she closed the folder slowly.

Macie’s eyes softened, knowing she had started a fire. Watching everybody’s heart, including Monroe’s burn, would be the challenge. “Do you want him back? I don’t have it in me to stand in the way of his love life anymore. I figured if he’s going to be with anyone, it may as well be with you and Monae. He needs to know his daughter,” Macie said seriously.

“Wait a minute,” Sienna dragged her hands down her face in complete disbelief. “Why now? Why am I suddenly good enough to be with Monroe?” Her heart refused to trust anything that sounded too close to hope.

“Stop asking me all these fucking questions. Do you wanna get your man back or not? This is the only time I’m extending this offer to you. If you don’t take it, you gone die here alone,” Macie said with finality.

Alone? The thought echoed loud in Sienna’s mind, then suddenly understanding clicked like lightning. Macie was offering freedom wrapped in a viscous ultimatum. If Sienna didn’t oblige, Macie was going to take Monae away from her if she didn’t go back to New York. Sienna couldn’t allow that to happen, Monae was her only reason for breathing.

“Ok,” Sienna agreed. “I’ll go… I’ll go back. He’s going to hate me though,” Sienna shook her head and said.

“You better make him love you,” Macie leaned forward slightly, her gaze piercing straight through her. “Or I’ll kill your ass for real this time,” she threatened, then stood to her feet. “I’ll be back to get you tomorrow. Pack up whatever you wanna take with you.”