Page 60 of Mia

She blushed, something I hadn’t seen her do in a long time. “His name is Bronx. I’ve been seeing him for about six months now.”

“Six months! Mommy! You’ve been holding out on me!”

She giggled. “I had to make sure he was right for me.”

“Is he?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Is he part of this life?”

She shook her head. “No. Very far removed from it. But he knows what I do and he’s supportive. He’s a chef. Something safe.”

“You really want something safe?”

“I need something safe. When I’m done with this life, I want to come home to a man that I don’t have to worry about not coming home to me. It’s a plus that he’s fine as hell and so damn sweet to me. I feel good with him, Mia. When he looks at me, it’s like I’m the only woman he sees. I haven’t felt that in a long ass time.”

I smiled. “I love that for you, Ma. You deserve it. You know Booker is going to be heartbroken.”

She kissed her teeth. “If that boy doesn’t go get some pussy his own age. . . silly ass.”

I giggled. “So… you’re really done with my daddy? No more back and forth?”

“Respectfully… fuck your daddy. I gave too much time to that man, and he played in my face. That’s on me for knowing what I know and still staying around. Senior isn’t a bad person, but he just isn’t the man for me. I see that clearly now. I don’t wish him any harm because he’s a good ass father. He just could never be my man again.”

“I get that. Seems like he’s just meant to be a baby daddy.”

“I wouldn’t even say that. He’ll get it right for the right woman. It’s just the right woman for him has another man.”

I didn’t need details to read between the lines and know that she was talking about Mama Stephanie. I got the feeling that there was so much more to the story judging by the disdain in her voice as she spoke indirectly about her.

“Well,” I said, taking a sip of my ginger ale. “Maybe we’ll both end up with the happiness we deserve.”

“Things with you and Titan okay?”

“They are calm… Ma?”

“Yes?”

“You think he and I will make it? I mean, if we put in the work.”

She smiled. “If you put in the work, you can have the marriage you want.”

“That’s just it. I don’t know what type of marriage I want.”

“Then you and Titan need to have that conversation. Otherwise, you’ll forever have problems. Set boundaries and expectations. Talk about your future. Loving a nigga and wanting to be with them ain’t enough. You gotta know what you want and put in the work to get and maintain it, Mia. This is why you don’t get married on a whim in Vegas.”

“I know, I know. I’m in it now and he’s already said ain’t no divorce. I guess we have to work it out.”

“Do you want to work it out is the question.”

I nodded. “I do. I love him, Ma. We’ve been through some crazy shit. Done some crazy shit, said some crazy shit. But I love him. I just want things to be the way they are when we’re on good terms. I want to know that we can always get back to that because despite all the madness, that man doesn’t play about me. I know he would go to the ends of the earth for me, just like you, Daddy, and my brothers. He doesn’t expect me to be anything other than Mia.”

“I know he loves you. And I know you love him. I have faith that you two will get it right. Take full advantage of this therapy Kerrion has you going to.”

“You know about that?”

“I told you, my son-in-law keeps me updated. I’m proud of both of you for going. Shit, in this life, we probably all need therapy. We deal with a lot of shit that we don’t process, baby. Talking about it with family is one thing, but a therapist can help you in ways family can’t. Do the work. You’ll see the benefits.”