by Ancelli
“It’s going to happen, Tiffany, because I prayed with my grandma and grandpa. They said if you pray hard enough, your prayers will be answered.” Mia giggled again.
“With my mommy or Mia’s mommy?” Tiffany lay next to him and stared at him. He wouldn’t break his daughter’s little heart, so he kept his answer to himself, but leave it to Mia.
“Duh, my mommy,” Mia corrected Tiffany. “Daddy loves my mommy; your mom is just a friend.”
“Oh, okay,” Tiffany laid her head on his chest. “I love your mommy, too.”
He heard some rumbles on the other side of the phone line. “Mommy, Daddy said he wants a baby.”
“That’s nice,” he heard Alicia say.
“With you, silly,” Mia said.
“Mia, your father is a married man.” Alicia’s tone wasn’t friendly.
“So?”
“Wrap it up with your sister. We’re leaving in a few minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mia said before changing the conversation with Tiffany.
Perry listened to his daughters go on and on about nothing, and he wondered why was his life so hard? Why had God forsaken him? And then he just stared at his little girl. God didn’t make mistakes. Perry had made his own choices in this life, and now he had to do something about it. A little boy wouldn’t be that bad, he thought, or another tiny Mia. He smiled, thinking of Alicia. She’d always said she wouldn’t mind having another baby. As soon as his divorce was final, he wasn’t going to waste any time. Alicia would become Mrs. Ortiz, the way it should’ve been in the first place.
Chapter Six
His lawyer called him, letting him know that the divorce papers were ready and would be sent out that day. Perry placed his cell phone in his pocket and fixed his dress shirt before entering the principal’s office. They’d called him in because they couldn’t reach Alicia. He called again, leaving her a message on her voicemail. Except to say that their daughter was safe, the school wouldn’t mention what had happened over the phone. He had to cut his meeting short, not that he was complaining. It had been boring, to say the least.
“Good morning.” Perry stopped at the secretary’s desk.
The lady just stared at him. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see the principal.” He placed his hands on the counter.
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, tapping on the keys on her computer.
“No I don’t,” he said a little harshly. “Something happened with my daughter, Mia Ortiz.”
“You’re her dad?” The secretary had the audacity to ask.
“Yes!” He raised his voice.
“Your name?” She typed on the keyboard.
He tapped his fingers on the counter. Being in the principal’s office brought back memories from when his aunt had been called in because of something he’d done. “Mr. Perry Ortiz.” He twisted to the side and saw Mia sitting down, with her hands covering her face. Perry rushed over to his little girl. “What’s wrong, baby?” He bent down in front of her. She wouldn’t take her hands down. “Mia, look at me.” He gently took her little hands in his. “What happened to your hand?” Perry inspected her knuckles; her right hand was slightly swollen.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” Her eyes were puffy from crying. “I didn’t start it. She called me names.”
“Who called you names?” Perry wiped her tears with his fingers.
“Sunnie.” She pointed at the blond girl sitting on the other side of the room with her parents. “She called me a mutt. I’m not a dog, Daddy!” Mia raised her voice, as she stared at the girl. “She said she was better than me. I asked her why? And she said because I’m black—”
“Don’t cry.” He wrapped his arms around her. Perry hated seeing either of his daughters crying. “What have I told you, that words can’t harm you,” he whispered.
“That’s not what Mommy says.” Mia hugged him back, hiccupping between shallow breaths. “She said watch your words because once they leave your mouth, you can’t take them back.”
Perry leaned back, cupping her soft cheeks. “You are beautifully made, Mia. You have the best of both your parents. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you. All that matters, mi muñecita, is what you think of yourself.” Even as he stared lovingly at one of his heartbeats, he could tell from her eyes there was more to the story. “Is that all that happened?” Mia looked away from him. “Mia?”
“She made me angry, and I called her a pussy and punched her in the face.” Fresh tears began rolling down her cheeks because she knew she was in trouble.
Perry rapidly looked over at the other girl’s face, and sure enough the skin around her eye was red.
He turned back around, giving her all his attention. “You don’t physically hurt someone because of what they say. You know better,” Perry scolded her. “Why would you call her that?”
“You let Mrs. Lorie do it to you.” Mia crossed her arms over her chest, with her full lips now thinned. “She calls you that and other really bad stuff all the time, Daddy.” She bowed her head. “Did you tell her it’s wrong to hit you, too?”
Perry felt like shit. Mia was imitating what she saw Lorie doing to him. This was what he’d tried to avoid, but it was also his eye opener, adding to his resolve. There was no question: he was divorcing Lorie. Getting up, he sighed and sat next to her. “I don’t ever want you to repeat that word or any word you heard Lorie say. I’m so sorry you had to witness the things Lorie does, but I promise it will end soon.” Perry watched her closely. He still had to do right as a parent. “You don’t have the right to punch someone because of words.” Perry was grateful he’d come to the school instead of Alicia. She would’ve stormed over to his house and all hell would have broken loose. “You are going to get up out of that seat and apologize to her.”
Mia’s nose flared. “She called me names first.”
“Now, Mia.” He raised his voice, feeling like a fucking hypocrite. He’d allowed his wife to treat him like a fucking fool and now his daughter was mimicking what she’d witnessed at his house. By default, because of his and Alicia’s temperaments, Mia already had the genes of a fighter. She didn’t need any more reinforcement, there.
Mia looked over his shoulder. “Mommy?”
Perry sighed, wondering how long she had been standing there, and when he twisted around, he got his answer. Alicia stood there in her McDonald’s polo shirt, staring at him with sadness in her eyes.
“I warned you,” she said, frowning. That was all she said before going over to the secretary.
“Mia.” Perry stood.
Mia got up out of her seat and walked over to the little girl. “I apologize.” Sunnie turned her face at Mia. He was about to call Mia back, when the mother pinched her own little girl.
“Sunnie, you need to apologize for your part in this,” her mother stated.
The little girl sighed. “I guess you’re not a mutt.” She smirked. “But you hit me.” Sunnie pointed at her eye.
Her father patted the little girl’s back. “You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Perry walked over, pissed off at the nerve of this guy. Mia had come over to apologize, not to be embarrassed by a fucking adult. “Mia was dead wrong for punching your kid, and for even paying attention to someone who has clearly been brought up to be prejudiced.”
The man stood out of his chair, making everyone in the office stop what they were doing. “Your daughter touched my kid.”
“And your kid made some racially motivated statements to my daughter,” Perry said sternly. “I wonder where she learned those words.”
“What are you implying?” The father glared at him.
Perry smirked. “Look in the mirror, buddy.” Step away, he told himself. “Come on, muñecita, you did your part.” He took her hand in his and they walked to their seats.
Mia sat without talking to him. She was stubborn, just like her mother. He could no longer allow Lorie around Mia
, and if he had to, he would fight for custody of Tiffany. “Mommy is so mad,” she said under her breath.
Alicia sat away from them.
Perry stood and walked over to Alicia. “Let’s talk outside.”
Alicia glared at him and then at their daughter. She took a deep breath, got up and marched out the office with him following behind. Keeping an eye on their daughter through the plate-glass window, she pointed her index finger at him. “I told you. Your wife has been a bad influence on our child, and it stops today. She can no longer be around that woman. So if you want to see our daughter, you’ll have to come to my house.”
He gazed at her full lips as she went off on him. Damn, his dick jerked. Alicia was sexy when she was fired up. “It is going to end today.”
“Really?” She tapped her right foot. “You told me over a week ago that you were getting a divorce, but here you are, still living under the same roof.”
Perry cupped her face and leaned in. “Our unorthodox vows many years ago meant more to me than my two-year marriage to Lorie. I tried to be a good husband, even if I was unhappy, but now it’s affecting my kids. I am divorcing her. The legal marriage between Lorie and me has been nonexistent before it even started.” He bent his head and surprised her with a kiss. Perry pressed his lips against hers. “Any punishment you imposed on Mia, I’ll back you up one-hundred percent. I’m ending this today,” he said against her glossy lips, caressed her neck, and stepped away, going down the hallway to the exit. “See you later.”
~~~
Alicia walked back into the school office.
“I’m sorry, Mommy.” Mia gave her the sad-puppy face. “She was nasty to me.”
“Mia, your dad already told you how we feel about you putting your hands on someone.” Alicia sat beside her. “I don’t care what you witnessed at your father’s house, it’s never right to use your fists unless someone touches you first. Then, all bets are off.” She watched her daughter, trying to gauge the effect of her words. “There are consequences to everything we do, Mia, and you’re about to find that out in a few minutes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted her lips. “It’s not fair.” Her eyebrows met. “She called me names first and she’s not getting punished.”
“Watch your tone, little girl.” Alicia pointed at her. “She is not my child; you are.” She raised her voice. “There are ignorant, prejudiced people in this world. Who cares that she called you a mutt? Be proud of your biracial heritage. Not everyone will like you, Mia, but what’s important is what you think of yourself. Do you love yourself?” Alicia needed to make sure her little girl understood her self-worth.
Mia gazed at her through shiny eyes that mirrored her daddy’s and Alicia’s heart melted. “Yes, Mommy. I’m proud of who I am, and I love who my parents are.”
Alicia couldn’t help but smile. That was the answer she’d been looking for. “No TV, video games, dolls, or going outside for a month.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “What will I do?”
“You should’ve thought about that before you let your fist talk instead of your mouth.” Alicia raised her eyebrow.
“Where’s Daddy?” She looked back at the door. “He’s supposed to be here.”
“Your dad had to take care of something at home,” Alicia said, thinking that if he didn’t put that bitch in her place, she would. Then she sighed. She was being a hypocrite, telling her daughter to control her emotions and at the same time, imagining strangling Lorie.
“Mia and Sunnie?” The principal called out for the girls and their parents. They all stood and walked into the office. The principal explained the rules in the school and let them know that violence and racial words weren’t acceptable in that school. At the end of the conference, both girls were suspended from school: Mia for three days and Sunnie for two days because she didn’t hit back. Mia blinked at the little girl and Sunnie suspiciously smiled back. What the hell? Alicia eyes widened. What had Mia done? Her little girl played too many games. Was this all an act to try to get through to her Daddy?
“Mia!” Alicia stared at her.
“Yes, Mommy?” Mia replied.
She decided to leave it alone. If her actions got him to finally open his eyes, then so be it. Lorie was one sick chick; she didn’t put anything past the woman. Perry wasn’t safe under the same roof. “Nothing,” she said. Taking Mia’s hand in hers, she and walked out of the school.
Chapter Seven
After leaving the school, Perry rushed over to his place and tried to grab most of his stuff before Lorie came home. He was racing from room to room when Alicia called. “Did they suspend her?”
“Yes, for three days,” Alicia answered sternly. “And my end of it is that Mia is not allowed to come over to your house. I can’t allow her to be in the midst of your shit.”
“Uh, Mommy, that’s a bad word,” Mia said.
“I understand, Alicia.” Perry went back in to the house to get his last items. “I just packed up my things and I’m headed to my aunt’s. I told you I’m done with Lorie. The only thing we have between us is Tiffany.” He sighed. “She’ll try to keep her away.”
“She can’t do that.” Alicia sounded sympathetic.
“I know, but she’ll try until I get a court order.” He placed his last suitcase in his trunk. “She might even run, but that’s a chance I have to take. I love Tiffany, but I can’t love her from behind bars.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“I know.” Perry knew it wouldn’t come to that, because he was walking away. He saw Lorie’s car coming down the street. “Doll, I have to go. Make sure you tell Byron his time is up.” He swiped his finger against the screen as she pulled in behind him.
She jumped out of her car, obviously noting clear as day what was in the trunk in the seconds before he could close it. “What the fuck are you doing?”
He didn’t answer her. Perry was hoping she wouldn’t come home early from work.
“Is it that black bitch?” Lorie snapped. “Did she finally get to you?” She balled her hand into a fist. “Did you go crying for her forgiveness, like you did two years ago?”
Perry knew the patterns. She would blame someone else for their problems and then she would cry and try to sweet-talk him, followed by insults, and then she would turn physical when she didn’t get what she wanted. But this time, she wasn’t going to stop him. Lorie had never laid a hand on Tiffany, because if she did she would’ve probably been seven feet under, and he would be in jail.
“You can’t leave me!” tears started rolling down her cheeks. “You promised to love me!” Lorie touched her chest. “You said you would help me. You said I could count on you. Were our wedding vows a joke?”
“Yes.” Perry slammed his hand on the trunk, startling her. She obviously hadn’t expected him to be honest. Maybe that was the problem: he’d always tried not to hurt her feelings, but enough was enough. “I can’t continue to live like this. I tried to help you as a husband and then a friend, but you need help that I can’t give you.” He stared at her.
“I love you, Perry.” She went to grab his arm and he moved away.
“You and I both know there’s no fucking love between us.” He looked into her eyes. “This has been a long time coming. We should’ve never been in the first place.”
She chuckled. “Do you think Alicia is going to take you back?”
“I’m not doing this for Alicia. I’m doing this for my sanity and for my kids.” He sighed. “Lorie, we haven’t slept in the same bed for months. What did you think was happening between us? This marriage took place because of Tiffany.”
“The truth shall set you free.” Lorie clapped, then spread her arms wide.
“It has.” He walked over to the driver’s side of the vehicle. “I hope you find what you’re so desperately seeking, but before you do. You need professional help.” He was about to open the door.
“If you leave, don’t bother coming back.” Her no
se flared. “That’s including seeing Tiffany!”
Perry rushed up to her. “I’m tired of your threats. If you do anything to jeopardize my relationship with my daughter, you will regret it.” He pointed at her face. “I’m fucking done being the good guy.”
“Are you threatening me?” Lorie asked. “Are you going to hit me, show me who’s the man in this relationship?” she snapped, taunting him. “Go ahead, hit me. Be a man, for once in your miserable life.”
“I’m fucking tired of your shit.” Perry couldn’t do it any longer. Lorie had problems he no longer could help her with. Two years was long enough: it was time for him to be free and happy again. “I filed for divorce.”
His eyes widened, and then darkened, “No! no!” Lorie pushed him forcefully and pounded his chest with her fist. “You can’t divorce me! I won’t let you. I’ll go after her.”
He grabbed both her wrists. “This stops today.” Perry pushed her away from him. “Go ahead and go after Alicia, but you will suffer the consequences.”
Her neighbors across the street, Bree and her husband Bruce, came out. “Is everything okay?”
Perry walked away from her, opened the car door, and got in. He looked at the guy in the middle of the street. “Everything is peachy.” He smiled. “I’m getting a divorce!” Perry chuckled. It felt liberating. He started the car and pulled off. And something hit the back window, making him slam on the brakes. He glanced through the rearview mirror and saw Lorie being held by the neighbor. She had another brick in her hand and she’d thrown one at his back window, and shattered it. Perry punched the steering wheel a few times until his knuckles started aching. He placed the gear in park and got out of the car. He could feel the vein in his neck throbbing, like it used to before a fight. He opened and closed his fist. “Are you fucking crazy!” he roared.
“Perry!” Tom, another neighbor, ran down his driveway. “Get in your car before you do something you will regret. She’s not thinking right.”
“You’re a pussy!” Lorie yelled, throwing the brick in her hand, but the neighbor intervened. “Come on, you spic!”