“Naw, momma, she needs to tell him the truth in front of me, so I know he heard it. MJ, get your shoes on,” I said firmly.
“Am I in trouble, Daddy?” He asked timidly.
“Naw, lil’ man, you ain’t in trouble, it’s just a little misunderstanding, and we're gonna just go clear it up. Go put on your shoes,” I said a little gentler. He went to the closet, and my mom came and touched my shoulder.
“Just make sure you are calm about everything. She is just trying to get under your skin. Keep your head, baby, and call me when you make it home,” she placed a kiss on my cheek, and MJ and I were out the door. I was trying to do everything in my power to calm myself down, but that shit wasn’t working. I was tearing up the highway, I was so fucking mad. The only thing that made me slow down was looking in my rearview mirror and seeing my son. The nerve of some nigga to come in and say some shit like that to him. What kind of bitches were these niggas out here? Who goes up to somebody seed and says that?
I got to her house and picked up MJ. There was a blue Viper parked in the driveway that I walked past. That was probably that nigga that said that fuck shit, and in my mind, that was perfect. It was time to settle this shit.
Chapter 20
Dyami
Today was so lovely spending time with Marcos and his son. I was nervous that it would be awkward, but honestly, it wasn’t. I felt like I fell right in step, being at his mom’s house with them all. I didn’t think I could do the stepmother thing at first, but maybe it wouldn’t be as complicated as I thought. I wanted kids, so this could help me with what was to come, I’m sure. I was just happy for once in my life. Genuinely. I didn’t feel like the person I was with was hiding something from me. He made me a part of everything in his life.
I was so worked up that I went to visit Chante after Marcos dropped me off. The way I was feeling inside a FaceTime call wouldn’t do it. I was going to be lonely and missing him if I stayed home by myself, so I decided to have an impromptu girls’ night.
“Bitch why are you over there grinning?” Chante said from across the counter, where we were sitting.
“Not too much on me. I’m just thinking about my man.”
“Girl, I ain’t even mad at you, cuz my boo coming over as soon as you leave,” she chuckled.
“That’s what’s up. I see y’all getting serious. What's the status?”
“We're taking everything slow. He is trying to apply some pressure, but I love the dating stage. We just met a few weeks ago. I really want to get to know him before I make that type of commitment. But I will say this, he has his shit together and that dick is EVERYTHING!”
“I thought they said chubby niggas got the small dicks.”
“No chile. He is packing, and he knows how to swing it. He be having me climbing the walls!”
We both laughed and slapped high fives. I was glad it was happening for both of us. We were career women, but at the end of the day, no matter how independent a woman is, she wants a good man she can depend on. I was glad I didn’t have to take on life by myself anymore and deal with everything for my mom and sister with no help. I would wake up in the morning to find Marcos had left me money. At first, I would oppose it, but after a while, I understood that he did it simply because he could, and he was there to help me make my life easier. I could do the same for him. I was letting my guard down, and it felt like this could turn into a forever kind of thing. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.
“I think I may be falling for him, Chante.”
“Think? Girl, yo’ ass den fell already, got back up and fell again. Ain’t nothing wrong with it though. You know we gotta keep our eyes open just in case,” she said, taking a sip of her Merlot.
My phone started to ring, and it was an unknown number. I let it go to voicemail. It rang again, and even though I didn’t answer calls, I didn’t know something deep inside made me to do it anyway.
“Hello.”
“Yes, is this Dyami Taylor?”
“Yes, this is me,” I said, feeling a different kind of unease in the pit of my stomach.
“Your mother was found unresponsive, and we believe it is a possible overdose. Can you please come to Hurley Hospital as soon as possible?”
The phone dropped from my hands and hit the floor. I felt numb. I knew one day a call like this might come, but nothing compared to hearing those words I just heard. Was she dead? I hadn’t seen her since the day she tried to snatch my purse and steal money from me. The guilt from the things I said to her hit me like a ton of bricks. Lord, please don’t let that be my last words to my mother. I didn’t want that on my conscience.
“Dyami!”
“Dyami, please talk to me, you are scaring me, girl, what’s going on?” Chante said, rocking me. I looked at her in a fog, but I was somehow able to respond.
“It’s Momma, she overdosed. I got to go,” I said, heading towards the door.
“OH MY GOD! Dyami, I’m going with you. I’m not letting you drive like this,” she said, scurrying around the house and grabbing her things. She passed me by. She was moving so quickly. We got into her car, and we prayed so hard on the way to the hospital. I knew my mom’s addiction was getting worse. I really didn’t know how to help her. I know there were times when I could have tried harder. I was just overwhelmed with my own life. How the hell could I explain this to Trina? This would break her. She shouldn’t have to deal with this right now. Oh my God, what was I going to do if I lost my mother?
“Girl, go in. I’m gonna park, but it’s gonna be okay. I’m coming right behind you,” Chante said, pulling me to the front of the hospital.
