Page 30 of Beacon Grove Chronicles 1: Hassan & Sylvia

“So you’re gonna be a deadbeat all because I’m not sitting around miserable?” I needed clarity so I didn’t feel bad about amending our custody agreement.

“You have far more shit to do with your time. Single mothers out here failing their kids because they’re more worried about chasing dick.”

My laugh echoed in the bathroom because he couldn’t be fucking serious.

“Single mothers aren’t failing, they’re unsupported and having to carry the burden of two people because fathers are absent. Don’t try that shit with me, Dave, because you’re not going to make me feel anything but anger. Which you deserve. But that’s okay. The kids already don’t think that much of you. You’re simply solidifying their bad opinion of you.”

“It ain’t like you not doing it already. Shit, I bet you got that nigga trying to play daddy to my fucking kids.” He was damn near yelling by the time he got done talking and it was clear he didn’t understand how fucking stupid he sounded.

“I would never try to replace you but you’re damn sure allowing someone to come in a fill the role you refuse to occupy. You’re mad but giving someone else a chance to make them forget all about you.”

“That nigga been wanting to be me since high school.” He chuckled like he had Hassan pegged and I was so irritated at how stupid he sounded.

“Will you shut the fuck up? You truly think that someone is holding a petty grudge against you for twenty years? Your brain is stunted and I don’t have any way to combat that. Fine, you’re not coming. That’s cool. I’m going to go and let our children know you’re not coming because I’m sure you’re too much of a bitch to face the consequences of your actions.” I was disgusted with myself for ever thinking this man was worth my time. I felt like shit because I’d done my kids a disservice when it came to give them a good dad.

“They’ll get over it.”

I huffed and bit back tears trying not to let him get to me. He was so flippant about disappointing our kids and I didn’t understand it. Dave had never been a great person but he’d never been blatantly cruel. At least not to our kids. This person he was turning into made me fine with them not spending time with him.

I wiped the tear that escaped and nodded because I knew I had to be there for them no matter what. “You’re right, they will. Because I’ll love them through any bullshit you pull. The point is, bitch nigga, that they shouldn’t have to.”

I hung the phone up because there was nothing else I could say after that short of calling him every name in the book I could think of.

“Now what the fuck am I supposed to do?”

I looked at myself in the mirror trying not to curse my past mistake of getting with this nigga. It was clear the only good thing he’d ever done in his life is give me my kids and he wasn’t going to be useful for anything past that.

I picked the phone up and hit the number of the man I was going to have to disappoint for one who’d chronically let me down. It was a shame that in a few short weeks, Hassan had managed to ingratiate himself into my life and support me in ways I never had been in almost twenty years of being with Dave.

“What’s good, beautiful? Your fine ass can’t wait to see me you had to call?” He sounded so jovial but I hated that I was going to have to bring down his joy.

“Hey, Hassan.”

“Oh hell nah. What’s that tone for?” His voice switched up quick as shit and I could tell he was ready to snap.

I looked in the mirror at my half curled hair and thought about braiding it back up. “There’s gonna have to be a change of plans.”

“What’s good?”

“It’s the kids—”

“Somebody hurt? You need me to handle something?” I could hear him moving around on his end ready to spring into action for whatever I needed. I felt moisture of unexpected tears at the way he was stepping behind someone else’s flesh and blood.

“Their dad has decided that he’s not going to come and get them this weekend.”

“And why not?” I could hear the anger in his voice and I hated that Hassan was more concerned about my babies than their sperm donor.

“He said that I have too much time on my hands if I’m gonna be out hoin’. I should spend it with my children instead.”

“That fuck nigga can go lay up with the side bitch but you gotta deprive yourself of something real? Sisi it’s gettin’ hard baby. Especially with the way he’s disrespecting you.” His breathing had changed and I didn’t know what that meant but I was sure it wasn’t anything good.

“What is?”

“Me trying to battle the urge to take that nigga’s head off his shoulders with a machete. I was keeping shit low because I thought the one redeeming quality he had was his children. Now I see he’s trying to fuck up his only saving grace.”

I giggled thankful that he wasn’t serious. “It’s not that deep.”

“It is that deep. A nigga who don’t take care of his kids on some get back shit ain’t worthy to breathe air in my book. Our people made their shit work and I know my parents had some rough times. Hell, you’d have to battle them to give us space once they know we’re official and shit. Might be the reason they move back to the Grove cause my Black ass wasn’t enough. Him being petty is expected but I’d hoped that nigga had better sense than that.”