by Demettrea
“I got some things I have to take care of so why don’t you go ahead and I’ll call you later.”
“That’s cool. Go ahead and handle baby mama. You know where to find me.” She walked away. That's what I’m talking about. No drama from her and she knew her place. I headed over to where Mia was standing. She was talking to Kita and Tez.
“Well you know we miss you lil’ sis,” Tez told Mia.
“I know. But aye Kita you ready cause I need to pick up Harley from my mom's house.”
“Yeah let’s be out,” Kita told her.
“Aye Mia wait up,” I called after her. She turned around and looked at me. “What do you want Harlem,” she asked irritated. Tez and Kita walked away.
“Can I talk to you for a minute,” I asked her. “Yeah sure. Wait where did ya lil girlfriend go cause I don’t need the drama,” she replied.
“She’s just a friend.”
“Oh so do you fuck all ya friends?”
“Come on Ma. I fucked up and I can admit it. I wasn’t thinking with the right head. I love you Ma. I don’t wanna be without you.”
“Yet you’re at the game with the bitch you cheated on me with. You ain’t shit. There is no more us. Now when you’re ready to spend some time with ya daughter my number is the same.” She walked away from me with nothing else to say.
Mia
I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to say he was sorry and loved me but had his bitch at the game. I tell you niggas ain’t shit. I sat quietly as Kita drove me to my car.
“You ok Chica?”
“I’m good. I’m excited about my new place and my new job.”
“Are you gonna tell Harlem you’re moving to Atlanta?”
“When the time is right. I don’t need him trying to talk me out of it.”
“Well you got to do what’s best for you. I got ya back no matter what.”
“Thanks Diva.”
After I picked up Harley up, we went to Mama Roses’ so that she could spend time with Harley before we left. My flight was leaving the next morning and I would be starting over. I was leaving all this bullshit in Detroit behind.
“Hey Ma. What you cooking,” I asked. It smelled good. I was going to miss her cooking.
“Baked chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese and greens with cornbread.”
“Smells good.”
“Have you talked to Harlem yet about your move?”
“Nope. Every time we talk he wants to talk about us being together and that’s not going to happen. I called myself going to the game today to tell him but he had that bitch there!”
“Look Mia. You know I’m not one to get involved in your guys relationship, but there is a baby involved. He has a right to know that you’re moving his daughter out of state.”
“You’re right. I’ll call him tonight. I just don’t want any bull from him. I know that when I tell him all hell is gonna break loose.”
“Yeah honey, you right, but it’s the right thing to do.”
I went upstairs to call Harlem and get it over with. I was nervous but it had to be done before we left.
Mia
“What’s up Ma,” he answered the phone. God I loved his ass so much that it was killing me to leave; but I knew it was something I had to do for myself.
“We need to talk.”
“That’s what’s up. I can come by tomorrow if you want.”
“Naw, you need to come by tonight.”
“I can’t. I’m busy.”
“You know what I tried. Fuck it.” I hung up. What the hell was so important that he couldn’t come by tonight? Ugh! I was tired of the drama with him. I put Harley down for bed and went to shower. I would be glad to leave tomorrow because being in the same state with Harlem wasn’t gonna work. I loved him too much.
When I got out of the shower, Harlem was laid across the bed. “Ugh, could you get out so I can get dressed?”
“Man gone somewhere with that shit. What did you want to talk about,” he asked.
“Oh now you’re interested in a conversation. I thought you were too busy to come over and talk.”
“See that’s what I be talking about. Yo ass plays too many games.” He now had me pinned up against the wall.
“Why do you act like that Mia? Huh?”
“Look I just wanted to talk about the arrangements for Harley”
“What you mean? I’m gonna keep getting her every other weekend like I’ve been doing.”
“Well that’s going to be hard being that I’ll be in Atlanta.” I waited for him to explode..
“So you just taking my shorty away without even discussing it with me,” he asked getting agitated.
“It’s not like that. I got a job offer and since we weren’t together, I took it. I had to do what was right for me. I have a baby to take care of.”
“Really MiMi?” I knew he was hurt. He had called me MiMi which he rarely did anymore. He was trying to make me feel bad but I knew what I had to do.
“Don’t I take care of you even though we not together? You have a job here already and I take care of you. So tell me what was so right about making this decision?” I was at a loss for words confronted by his hurt expression.
“You know what Ma, do you. You hate a nigga that bad that you gotta leave the state? It’s cool, I’ll figure out a way to see my seed. Have a nice life.
Harlem
I couldn’t believe this shit. I walked over to Harley’s bed and picked her up. I held her tight because I didn’t know when I’d see her again. This was my only child and her mother was taking her away from me. I kissed her forehead and told her I loved her before putting her back in her crib.
I looked at Mia one last time before I walked out of the door and her life .
Chapter 17
All Wounds Heal Over Time
Mia
It had been three months since I left Detroit and all its drama behind. Harley was now nine months old and trying to walk. Every night before bed I sat her in front of the computer and she Skyped her dad. He also made monthly trips down here to see her.
My job at the hospital was going good. I was the Director of Nursing at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. I was also dating again. Yes, ya girl decided to step back out there. I was seeing this guy named Eric. He played for the Atlanta Hawks and was such a cool person to be around.
It was almost Harley’s bedtime so we pulled out the laptop so that she could talk to her dad. She always got excited when I brought out the laptop because she knew who Harlem was.
We sat in front of the laptop and waited for Harlem. He came about five minutes later. “Look Harley. Daddy.” I pointed to the screen and she went crazy. I feel bad sometimes because I know they miss each other. Hell I’m not going to lie. I miss his ass something terrible but the past is the past.
“Hey daddy’s baby. I miss you.” She smiled and hit the screen. “Hey MiMi. How you been Ma,” he said to me.
“I’ve been good. How about yourself?” I was glad that we were able to be cordial towards each other.
“I’m good. Getting ready for my trip to see Harley and then you know Yvette throwing Tez a birthday bash at the club. You should come. I know he’d like that.”
“I don’t know. I’d have to check my schedule, but I’ll let you know.”
“That’s what’s up. So I was thinking I’d come down there to see her this weekend is that cool?”
“That’s fine. How long are you gonna be down here?”
“I was thinking the whole week so do me a favor and find me a hotel room. I’ll give you my credit card number so you can book it.”
“Ok. I’ll do in the morning.”
“That’s cool. Well let me go cause it’s that time. She’s rubbing her eyes. Daddy loves you baby.” Even though he was talking to Harley I could have sworn he looked at me when he said that.
“Aight Ma, go ahead and put lil lady in bed and you have a good night too.” He logged off and I headed to Harley’s room. She was already half asleep s
o I laid her in her crib and turned on the nightlight.
I showered and then got ready for bed. I tossed and turned most of the night. Thoughts of Harlem invaded my mind. It had been months since we broke up and I still wasn’t over him. Something had to give. It was getting harder and harder to do these visits.
Harlem
I couldn’t believe what I had just found out. That nigga Rico had a twin. Apparently Mia had tortured his twin thinking it was him. Which meant dude was looking for revenge. I placed a call to Ava because she was down in Atlanta visiting Harley.
“What’s up lil bro,” she answered.
“That nigga Rico is alive and kicking. It turns out that he had a twin and that’s who Mia tortured. So you know what’s got to be done right?”
“On it as we speak bro. Don’t worry. I’ll be down here until you fly in so Mia and Harley are good.”
“Good looking out Sis.”
I had to find this nigga and murk him before he got wind of where Mia was. I’d be damn if I let somebody hurt her.
“So can I go with you to see Harley this time,” Ashley asked me. “Naw. I got some business to handle.” She smacked her lips and said,
“If I didn’t know any better I would think you were obsessed with ya ex. You always talking about her and going to visit her.”
“Check this out ma. Me and you, we are not a couple. What I do is my business so don’t question me. Matter of fact you go ahead and go cause I’ve got moves to make.” She looked at me like I was crazy but I didn’t give a fuck.
Mia
“Was that ya crazy ass brother,” I asked Ava. “Yes ma’am. I don’t know why y’all won’t get ya shit together. Anybody with eyes can see you two love each other.”
“Yeah but it’s not that simple Ava. I wish it was.”
“Yes it is Mia, damn. He fucked up but we're all human. My brother loves the hell out ya ass. He makes sure that you and Harley want for nothing. He also makes sure that you’re well protected. I bet you didn’t know that you have ya own secret security.” I looked at her like she was crazy because I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Exactly. That man goes above and beyond for you even though y’all aren’t together.” She walked away leaving me speechless.
I loved Harlem but I didn’t know if I could get past the cheating. They say that all wounds heal over time but I was still hurting. I couldn’t even lie and say I wasn’t happy about him coming down this weekend though. I would never tell him but I was ecstatic.
“Where you going all dressed up chic,” Ava asked me. “Out with my boo.” I hadn’t seen Eric in a while because of his away games. Tonight we were going out and I was excited. That was until he called and canceled. Something about his daughter getting sick. I was pissed because I was dressed with nowhere to go.
“Hey Harlem just called. He wants to know if you can pick him up from the airport. The car he was supposed to rent isn’t available,” Ava asked.
“Ugh, why can’t you pick him up?”
“Cause I don’t feel like it. I’m on vacation chic.”
“Whatever Ava. Yo ass not slick. Tell him I’m on the way.” I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out the door.
Harlem
I was tired of playing games with Mia. I had given her more than enough time to get over her issues with me. After this situation with Rico was handled, I was coming down here for good to be with her and my lil mama. I knew she still loved me. She still did shit for me like we was a couple.
I was waiting by the baggage claim for Mia to pick me up. When I saw her walk up I was breathless. My baby was looking good. “Hey you ready,” she asked. I didn’t say anything. I just pulled her towards me and kissed her. At first she protested, but then she accepted it. “What the hell is your problem Harlem,” she asked as if she was mad.
“Man cut it out and let’s go. I’m ready to see my lil mama. Why you didn’t bring her with you anyway?”
“She was sleeping,” Mia told me. I grabbed her hand and we walked out of the airport.
“Did you book my room close to the house?”
“Well I kind of figured it would save some money if you stayed at the house. Plus it’ll give you more time with Harley.” See what I’m saying, she was playing games. Her ass didn’t book my room cause she wanted me at the house. She knew damn well money was not an issue. That proved that she missed me just as much as I missed her.
It took us about thirty-minutes to get to Mia’s house. When I walked in and saw my baby girl trying to walk my heart melted. It seemed like yesterday that she was in Mia’s stomach.
“Hey bro,” Ava greeted me.
“What’s good Ava,” I replied and then I noticed Mia had left out. I went to find her so we could talk. I was ready to move on with things.. I felt she had punished a nigga long enough. She was upstairs in her room sitting on the bed when I walked in.
“What’s good Ma?” I asked as I sat down next to her.
“I am sexually frustrated, tired from being up with Harley because she’s teething, and I miss you.” Boom! She finally admitted it.
I got up and closed her door. “Come here Ma?” She walked over to me and I pulled her into my arms. “I love you Ma. Don’t ever forget it. You and Harley are my life.” She cried in my arms and I felt like shit. I had promised her that I would never be the cause of her hurt but I had been.
Mia
It felt good being in Harlem’s arms once again. It still didn’t change the fact that he cheated on me. I could forgive him but there would always be that memory of him with someone else. It would be different if I hadn’t walked in and actually seen it.
As I lay in his arms, I cried. I wanted to be with him but I had doubts that he could be faithful. Not to mention I was seeing someone. “I can’t do this,” I said. I got up and walked out the room with Harlem following behind me.
“What’s the deal Ma? One minute you telling me you miss me and the next you pushing me away.”
“Harlem I’m seeing somebody.”
“And? You need to call that nigga and dead that shit quick.”
“Are you fucking serious? You laid up with that bitch Ashley playing house and you got the nerve to tell me what to do?” I walked away from his ass because he had pissed me off. I bet he didn’t think I knew about him and Ashley still fucking around. Well the bitch made it a point to let me know. I needed some air so I went for a drive.
I ended up at Piedmont Park. I parked my car and got out. I needed to clear my head before heading back home. “So you like torturing people huh,” a voice broke my thoughts. Before I could turn around, I felt someone’s hands over my mouth and then I passed out.
Harlem
Mia had been gone well over four hours. I was getting worried because she wasn’t answering her phone.
“Yo Ava,” I called downstairs.
“What?”
“Have you talked to Mia since she’s been gone,” I asked as I was walking downstairs.
“No. Why what’s wrong,” she asked as she jumped up from the couch.
“She’s been gone for a few hours and she’s not answering her phone. She’s never gone this long without checking on Harley.”
“Let me make some phone calls.”
I was beyond pissed. Ava found out that the security wasn’t with her because somehow she managed to leave without them knowing. If something happened to her it was going to be murking season for everybody.
While Ava was on the phone my cell rung. It was Mia. “Mia where the hell are you? You got us all worried and shit.”
“This ain’t Mia bitch. I just wanna know if you have any last words before I off this bitch.”
“Who the fuck is this,” I asked.
“Your worst fucking nightmare.” I couldn’t believe this shit was happening. The next thing I heard was the sound of a gun going off. TAT! TAT! TAT! My heart dropped. I didn’t know if Mia was dead or not but niggas had just started a war.