by Lucinda John
“Put your fucking clothes on and let’s go!” I barked.
“I can’t do this.” she cried.
“You better learn because if you think you killing my child you got another thing coming. I don’t give a fuck about what you do after you give birth, but while my baby is living in your womb you better watch what the fuck you do.” I snapped.
With trembling hands, I watched her re-dress. I knew something was off about her today. At one in the morning, she had both the sink and shower running while she threw up. I didn’t know why she was hiding and sneaking around until I get alert from the credit card company from a fucking abortion company. I knew shit was all the way off when I called her and she started acting all weird and shit, but I would have never guest I would walk in this room and see my bitch with her legs propped preparing to end the life of my child. My blood. My flesh.
“Start packing all your stuff, I’ll have Maleek bring you by some boxes.” I said when I pulled into our driveway. “Text me your grandmother’s information too, and Tiny I swear if you leave this house I will find you and hurt your ass!” I snapped before pulling off.
I drove around in circles until the text of Tiny’s grandmother’s information buzzed through my phone. I made my way to this suburban gated community that the house was in. When I pulled into the driveway I spotted a boy that had Tiny’s featured playing basketball in the front yard. I sat back and admired the little boy’s skills as each shot went through the hoop with ease.
“Hey how can I help you?” An older woman asked walking towards my car.
“Good afternoon ma’am, I’m Mayhem Godfrey, Tineah’s boyfriend. Can we sit down and talk?”
“Follow me young man.” she said leading my inside a beautiful house.
“Tineah called me and told me everything. You have to forgive her, she’s very protective when it comes to Elijah.” Tiny’s grandmother said.
“I understand that, but she could have told me. She saw how serious we were becoming and she should have been honest with me. I allowed her into the lives of my children that should have told her something about how serious I was about being with her.” I replied.
“Young man I love you for my granddaughter. Before you came along Tiny was just wasting her knowledge doing whatever she had to do to take care of us. All of this is her funding, she made sure Elijah had a nice house to live , made sure I had a good running car to drive, kept the bills paid, and groceries in the house. There isn’t anything in this world that Tineah wouldn’t do for this child. She just need to stop doubting her ability to be a good mother. I was hoping that now that she was in a straight narrow path that she would consider regaining custody of Elijah.” she said.
“Mrs. Thomas, Tiny is pregnant with my child and I want her and all of my kids under the same roof including Elijah.”
“We’re both on the same page. I watch that little boy’s world light up when Tineah comes around, he knows that his mother and he wants to be with her as much as she wants to be with him, they’re both too stubborn to admit it.” she chuckled.
“I have a family house that I have built, one that I planned on putting my future wife and kids in. I have some arranging to do, but when I finish we’re coming for Elijah.”
“Future wife?” she asked giving me the side eye.
“I love your… I mean Tineah and I….”
“I understand what you mean young man. Don’t be ashamed if you’re in love, love has no time limit. The moment I laid eyes on Tineah’s grandfather I knew I loved him. We actually got married after knowing each other for three months, love is spontaneous like that.” she laughed.
“I know what you mean. Do you mind if I go out and shoot a few hoops with him?”
“Go ahead, he could use a stable father figure.”
“Mayhem.” she asked stopping me in my tracks.
“Yes Mrs. Thomas.”
“Please don’t hurt my granddaughter, she’s been through enough.” she pleaded.
“You have my word.” I assured her.
“That’s a tight jump shot.” I said once I went outside.
Elijah looked nothing like Tiny, he probably resembled his father but he did have her eyes, lips, and skin complexion. He was a tall kid with a jump shot that would put college basketball players to shame. This kid was sick on the court and I was enjoying watching him show out.
“I love basketball! My mom… I mean Tiny said if I do good in school and listen to my mommy then she’ll take me to all the Heat home games.” he beamed.
“Is Tiny your mom?” I asked.
“No. I mean yeah.”
“Why do you call her ‘mom’ then switch and call her Tiny?”
“One day when my grandma came to visit she told me that Tiny wasn’t my mother because she didn’t take care of me like my great grandma did. she told me I should call my great grandma mommy instead.” he replied shooting another jump shot.
“You know that’s not true right? Tiny is you mother and she loves and takes great care of you.”
“I know, she just doesn’t want me living with her.” he sadly replied.
“Would you like to live with her?” I asked.
“Yes!” he beamed.
“How about if I told you we planned on coming to get you so you can stay with us, would you like that?” I asked.
“Are you my father?” he asked.
“Not biologically, but yes you can consider me as your father if you want.”
“Can you play ball?” he asked.
“Man, I’m balling harder than Michael Jordan in his prime.”
“One- on- one?” he asked.
“Iight run it.”
“If I win you have to make sure my mom, Tiny, keeps her promise and come and get me.”
“You don’t have to win for that, I will personally pick you up and bring you home with us.”
*****
“Your honor, my client has given Mrs. Godfrey everything, more than she would have gotten if he decided to fight her in court. I feel as if this is Mrs. Godfrey’s crazy way of trying to stall the divorce.” My lawyer said.
“Is this true?” The judge asked Macy’s lawyer.
“No, we just want to make sure that we’re doing things in the best interest of the children, 50/50 custody is too much for them it interferes with their schooling.” Macy’s lawyer had the nerve to say.
“There are more serious divorce matter and custody cases that I have to handle instead of playing with this one. How about this, Mrs. Godfrey get the kids Monday through Friday, Mr. Godfrey picks the kids up from school on Friday than drops the off to school Monday morning.” The judge said.
“That works for me.” I replied.
“That doesn’t work, I want every other weekend.” Macy spoke up.
“It sounds like you are being very bitter.” The judge snapped. “This man is playing his part and you want to sabotage that. Do you know how many women would pay to be in your shoes because they’re stuck with men that won’t even give their children a call on their birthday. I am sick and tired of this case. This case in closed, finalized divorce letters would be sent in the mail.” The judge said beating her gravel.
“Thanks man.” I said to my lawyer.
I really didn’t have to thank him, the bands I wired to the judge was what really the reason behind her decision. I was sick and tired of fighting Macy in court over stupid shit. Macy and my kids would be straight for life, but that wasn’t good enough for her. She wanted to stay married to me while she popped her pussy for the next nigga. I wasn’t having that; my heart was with Tiny even though I was still hot with her ass.
After court, I headed to Mrs. Thomas’ house to pick up Elijah. Our lawyers were still working with family court to give Tineah all her rights back, but for now he was going to be staying with us throughout the week. Tiny had no idea I was bringing Elijah home, and I made sure her grandmother didn’t tip her off.
My mother worked hard making sure our ne
w house was very accommodating to everyone. There was a room for the twins, which I had a wall tore down to make bigger, a room for Mace, one for Elijah, another for the baby, our master bedroom, and two guest bedrooms. I made sure the kids rooms were decorated with everything they liked, I even had toys stacked up waiting for them to play with.
The whole house was furnished and decorated except for the baby nursery. Since I missed all the births of my children due to me being in jail, I made up my mind to be very active in Tiny’s pregnancy. The baby’s nursery was something we was going to do together. No help from my mother, or any other friends or family just us two sharing a memory we never had the chance to enjoy.
“Hey pops!” Elijah smiled at me.
Since meeting him, I’ve made it my business to come around and spend time with him. Tiny didn’t know, she was cooped up in the house sulking because I had her ass on punishment. She wasn’t allowed to go anywhere except for her classes which I had someone picking her up and dropping her off. She would blow me up, but if it didn’t have anything to do with my baby or her needing something I would hang up. She had to hurt as much as I was hurting at the thought of her killing my child.
“Hey Mrs. Thomas.” I waved at her.
“Hey baby. Hurry up and bring him to my grandbaby so she can stop looking all sad during our FaceTime calls.” she replied.
I was grateful at how cool Mrs. Thomas was with allowing Elijah to stay with us until Tiny rights were resumed. Elijah was the only thing Tiny was missing to fill the void that was in her heart. I was excited about bringing him home to her. I knew she had the capabilities of being a good mother I just wanted her to see that for herself.
“See you this weekend Elijah be good and don’t forget to call me.” Mrs. Thomas said kissing him all over the face.
“Ok mommy see you later.” he waved as we drove off.
“Where is Tiny?” he asked.
“We’re about to go pick her up now.” I replied.
“Cool.” he smiled bopping his head to the music.
Come outside and you better be dressed, fully dressed.
I sent a text to Tiny as I rounded the corner of our old house. This was going to be their first time seeing the new house, and I was nervous as fact. The moment I found out Tiny was carrying my child I immediately wanted nothing but the best for her and my baby. She deserved to be living in a house, not my bachelor pad.
Tiny looked flawless as she stood by the gate waiting for me to pull up. She was dressed in a burnt orange strapless thigh length dressed that matched her glowing skin perfectly. On her feet was a pair of gold sandals that matched the strappy gold bag she wore over her shoulder. Instead of her normal short cut she rocked a shoulder length blunt bob. Pregnancy was doing her body very well, my dick was getting hard staring at her.
She made her way to the car and walked to the front seat unaware of Elijah sitting in the seat behind her.
“Hey Tiny.” Elijah said causing Tiny to look back.
She blinked away her tears as she got out of the car and walked over to Elijah pulling him out of his seat.
“Hey big man, how are you.” she beamed kissing him on the top of his head.
“I’m good, I missed you. Plus, I got an A on my math test.” he ranted.
“I missed you too. Oh good job baby I’m so proud of you.”
“Tiny?”
“Yes baby.”
“Pop said I’m going to be living with you, is that true?” Elijah asked causing Tiny to look up at me. I nodded my head and she looked back down at him.
“Yes, it’s true.” she replied wiping the tears from her eyes.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“Because I’m happy baby.”
“I’m happy too. Oh and Tiny.”
“Yes my love.”
“Can I call you mommy now?” he asked hitting Tiny emotionally.
This moment was one of those Kleenex moments. I had to clear my throat to keep my eyes from getting misty. She held Elijah tightly and kissed him all over the face. Her tears dropped all over his shirt, but he didn’t mind. With his little hands he wiped his hands from his mother eyes and kissed her back.
“Yes you can call me mommy.” she replied.
“Ok mommy.”
“I’m so sorry Elijah.” she sobbed.
“For what?”
“For taking so long to get you back.”
“It’s ok, mommy said you was getting yourself ready for me so I was just waiting.” he replied.
“I love you Elijah.
“I love you too mommy.”
Tiny sat in the back seat cradling Elijah like a newborn baby as we drove to our new house. I stole glances of them and I could see that Tiny’s love for her child was so pure and genuine. I was grateful the Most High sent me to her when he did, not only did I change her life for the better, she changed mine as well.
“Who big house is this?” Elijah asked as we pulled up to two iron fence that a big gold “G” in the center of it.
“It’s our new house.” I replied, entering the gate code.
“Access granted.” The computerized gate said before it was parted open.
I made my way through the huge circular driveway then came to a stop in front of the house. Tiny’s mouth hung open, and she looked at the exterior of the house in amazement.
“You coming in?” I asked.
“Uh huh.” she nodded her head.
Using my key, I opened the door and fell in love with the house all over again. No matter how many times I came here, every time I would walk through those doors I was in awe. This was a house similar to the one we grew up in. I was upset with my mother when she sold the house, but I understood that she wasn’t going to be able to fully get over his death living there.
“This house is huge.” Elijah beamed.
“Your room is the first one upstairs, the one with your name on the door. Go check it out while I have a word with your mom.” I said.
“Ok pops.”
“Pops?” she asked me.
“He wanted something to call me, I told him whatever he chose I was fine with it.”
“Thank you.” she cried.
“Listen I’m still hot with your ass, but we gon’ make this shit work. I love your little ass, but I pissed you kept Elijah from me and tried to kill my child. It’s gonna take some time, but I’ll eventually get over it. Your grandmother, and I are now working on getting you your rights over Elijah back. I saw how you had them set up over there, you are a good mother. Even though you didn’t have custody of your son you took good care of him, and I respect you for that but from now own you’re raising your own kids. Get your shit together Tiny man for real.” I said smacking her on the ass.
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me Mayhem. I wanted him back, but I didn’t have the courage to get him back. Thanks for being my strength and courage, you believed in me when I didn’t believe in my own self. Thank you baby, I love you.” she said tugging the strings of my heart. I wanted to forgive her, but I was still fucked up behind the shit.
“Go lay down and put your feet up.” I replied pecking her on the lips.
“We good?” she asked grabbing my hand to get my attention. The sadness was so vivid in her eyes causing my heart to break. I wanted to stay mad at her, but the way she was looking at a nigga had me fucked up in the head.
“We good.” I replied pulling her in for another kissing, this time a sensual lip-locking kiss.
Macy
“You’re going to make us late for our flight.” I snapped grabbing Mace from Robert to change his diaper.
“I don’t know why you just don’t move out here, your divorce will be final soon.” he replied causing me to suck my teeth.
“How will I accomplish moving to New York when the girls’ dad live in Fort Lauderdale; he has joint custody too!” I yelled. Robert was starting to tap dance on my every nerve making me regret the decision I made coming here.
“Maybe I should file for joint custody of my son.” he shot back at me.
“Robert don’t do this, not today. I came and brought Mace to hang out with you for four days! Four freaking days and you still tripping.”
“Damn right, I’m tripping! I ain’t tryna see my son four days every four months. You tryna make that nigga believe he’s the father of Mace when in fact that’s my child!” he yelled.