My Mama's Drama

by La Jill Hunt

  “Why do you think you have to choose?” Aunt Celia asked.

  “Because I have to take care of them while Mama’s away,” I told her.

  “No, you don’t. I’m going to take care of them. It’s time for you to go and enjoy life. The only reason I thought it was a good idea for Avery to come back here instead of my house was because I wanted her to see the community rally around her and welcome her back. I wanted her to see that although Diane wasn’t here for her, she still has people that will celebrate her victories. But your sisters will be coming to live with me. I’m seeking custody of them.” Aunt Celia walked over and put her arm around me.

  “You don’t have to do that. I can take care of them,” I said.

  “I know I don’t have to. I want to. The same way I’ve always wanted to take care of you, but Diane wouldn’t let me. You girls are the most important people in the world to me. And you need your freedom.”

  “But what about you and Unc—I mean Darnell?”

  “I don’t think there will be a me and Darnell anymore. It’s time to put that thing to rest, too,” she said. “I deserve to be happy the same way you do, and being with him no longer makes me happy.”

  “Wow,” was the only thing I could say. My aunt and uncle had been together for a long time. They were the only example of a marriage that I had in my life. But my aunt definitely deserved better than him. I was glad she had made her decision to leave him.

  “So, Aunt Celia, let me ask you a question,” Sierra said.

  “What’s that?”

  “You think that fine-ass Detective Sean might be able to make you happy?” Sierra winked.

  Aunt Celia blushed and said, “I could definitely see him putting a smile on my face.”

  It was almost ten o’clock when everyone finally left, including the media that had been camped outside most of the day. After taking a shower and getting dressed for bed, I opened the door to my mother’s room and peeked inside. Ashley was curled up in the bed right next to Avery, and they both were fast asleep. I walked over and kissed them both on the forehead and made sure Avery’s arm was elevated the way Nikki had instructed, then I softly closed the door behind me. I went into the kitchen, looking in the fridge for something sweet to nibble on.

  I heard someone knocking on the front door. I went to see who it was, thinking maybe another reporter had come by trying to get an interview. My heart jumped when I peeked out and saw Bilal standing under the porch light.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping back so he could come in.

  He smelled as good as he looked in jeans, white Nikes, and a denim jacket. His hair was shorter than the last time I saw him, and I wondered if he had just gotten it cut.

  “Sorry it’s so late, but I wanted to check on you guys,” he said. “I knew Avery was coming home today, and I wanted to make sure you were good.”

  “You could’ve called and done that,” I told him.

  “You wouldn’t have answered.”

  “How do you know?” I said, locking the door behind him.

  “You haven’t been answering my calls.”

  “I’ve had a lot going on.” I shrugged.

  “Well, I’m glad you let me in. You look good.” He smiled.

  I looked down at my oversized shirt and leggings, then put my hand on the well-worn silk scarf that was tied around my head. “You’re a liar, and a funny one,” I said with a smirk.

  “No, I’m not. I’m telling the truth, and I’m serious. You do look good.”

  I couldn’t help smiling back at him. “Thanks, I guess.”

  “So, how did today go? Avery okay? I can’t believe those news people stayed out there so long. They just left like fifteen minutes ago. I saw your aunt and Nikki leave, and your friend, Sierra.” He sat on the sofa and leaned forward.

  Instead of sitting beside him, I opted to sit on the love seat across the room. I didn’t want to be tempted to touch him, because I really wanted to.

  “How do you know when they left? How long have you been outside?” I asked.

  “A minute. Well, maybe more than a minute. A couple of hours, really,” he admitted.

  “Bilal, why didn’t you just come—”

  “Because I didn’t know how you were going to react, and I knew how important this day was for Avery. I didn’t wanna chance having you be upset and cussing me out. And I guess I kind of felt like I was partly to blame because of my uncle. . . .”

  “I wouldn’t have done that. And I can’t hold you responsible for your uncle’s actions any more than you can blame me for my mother’s. They’re both grown-ass people who made the decision to do something stupid. This wasn’t your fault. Honestly, I mean, you were really there for me when this all happened. You deserved to be here to celebrate her homecoming, and I’m mad that me being selfish didn’t allow that. I’m sorry.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “This has all been a lot, and my mind and emotions have been all over the place.”

  “You don’t have to apologize, Kendra. It has been a lot, and that’s why I’ve tried to give you your space. But I’ve been worried, and I miss you.”

  I glanced over at him and said, “I miss you too.”

  He walked over and sat beside me. I tried to wipe my tears before he saw them, but it was too late. He brushed them away from my cheek and said, “Kendra, you know your mother lied, right?”

  “I do.” I nodded.

  “I would never do anything like that. I would never hurt you, ever,” he said. “I love you.”

  He loved me. After everything, he still loved me. My heart pounded, and I felt the fear begin to enter my chest. I remembered what my aunt and best friend said, and instead of pushing Bilal away, I inhaled deeply and said, “I love you too.”

  He covered my mouth with his, and I savored the taste that I’d been missing. I put my arms around his neck, and he pulled me tighter to him. The fear that was in my chest moments earlier was now replaced with joy. The heat between us increased, and when his mouth went to my neck and I found myself reaching under his shirt, I stopped and pulled back.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, confused.

  By this time, I was panting, and so was he. There was no doubt in my mind that these weeks without seeing one another had left both of us just as frustrated sexually as it had emotionally.

  “We can’t . . . do this,” I said between breaths. I pointed to the hallway. “Girls . . . asleep.”

  Bilal smiled at me and nodded. “Oh, okay.” Then, with a naughty grin, he reached for me and said, “We can be real quiet.”

  “Stop.” I giggled and tried to get away from him, but I was too slow, and his grip around my waist was too tight.

  Soon, we were kissing again, and I was so aroused that I was just about to pull him into my bedroom. Then, I thought about my mother and the different men she’d brought into our home that my sisters had already seen. Although they knew Bilal and they liked him, I didn’t want them to think that he was just another man. I wanted to show them something different.

  I stopped Bilal again and pulled away. “We can’t do this.”

  He nodded his head and said, “I get it. It’s cool.”

  “Thanks for coming by to check on us, though. I appreciate you. I really do,” I said, then added, “Let me walk you out.”

  He stood and readjusted himself. I looked down at the bulge in his pants and laughed.

  “Oh, that’s funny, huh?” he said.

  “I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” I told him, grabbing his hand.

  “Well, I know Avery just got home and you’re still getting settled, but do you think you’ll be free sometime, so I can take you to dinner?”

  I smiled. “I would like that, and I think I can make myself available.”

  Bilal was a good man, and I deserved to be happy. I realized that I could be the role model for the twins and show them what a right relationship with the right person looked like. Despite the drama my mother had caused, I wa
s determined to go after every good thing I wanted and have it all.

  Two Months Later

  Diane

  “How are you feeling?” Marty Goldstein, my attorney, asked me. He was a short Jewish man that had been appointed by the court. He didn’t seem too thrilled to be representing me, mainly because I wasn’t a very cooperative client, but I didn’t care.

  Hell, there wasn’t much I cared about these days except getting the fuck out of jail. I was miserable. Surprisingly, I missed my girls and wanted to get home to them. The day Avery was released from the hospital, I watched her homecoming on the news and cried. I was so glad that she had gotten better. Unfortunately, the story of her homecoming was immediately followed by the updates of my pending trial, which included talk of whack-ass Patrick making a plea deal with the district attorney. Now, I had finally come up with a plan of my own.

  “Is he here?” I said, leaning back in the chair and glaring at him.

  “He should be here in a few minutes. I talked to him earlier, and he stated he would be here.” He glanced down at his watch.

  “He’d better show,” I said.

  “Look, Diane, I think we need to discuss—”

  “I don’t want to fucking discuss anything right now. I don’t even wanna talk to you. I asked you to do one thing, and that was call and get his ass here. Now, that’s all we need to discuss,” I snapped at him so loud that the guard posted outside the door of the small conference room peeked in. I flipped the bird at him, and he frowned and turned back around.

  Marty’s cell began to beep, and he looked down at it, then back at me. “He’s here.”

  I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I had been planning this meeting for days, and now that he was here, I was suddenly anxious. I told myself to calm down and get it together. I needed to be confident and assertive if this was going to work.

  A few seconds later, the door opened, and Darnell walked in, looking fine in a suit and tie. He also looked nervous as hell. I found it quite amusing.

  “Well, hello there.” I smiled.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “You can have a seat.” I motioned to the chair across from me; then I said, “Marty, leave us alone for a few.”

  “That can’t happen. This is a legal visit, so as your attorney, I can’t leave the room.” Marty sighed. “I already explained that.”

  “Well, damn it, go over there in the corner and wait while my brother-in-law and I have a nice chat, please.” I sighed.

  Marty gave me a frustrated look as he stood and picked up his chair, carrying it to the far corner of the tiny room.

  “What’s going on, Diane? Celia and the girls have been trying to reach you and come and see you for months, but you won’t let them. Now your lawyer is calling me and telling me you’re refusing to eat?”

  “I don’t want to see them, and I can’t tolerate the shit in here that they claim is food. It’s not edible,” I told him. “I gotta get out of here, Darnell. I need your help.”

  “Di, you’re facing some serious drug charges, not to mention the fraud and money wiring stuff you got going on behind that GoFundMe. I mean, I can put some money on your books, but I ain’t got money for no high-ass bail.”

  “I ain’t talking about no money, Darnell,” I told him. “I need you to do something else.”

  “Something else like what?” He frowned.

  “Since you’re still in here, you tell him, Marty,” I said and sat back.

  “Well, Mr. Caldwell,” Marty said from where he sat. “Ms. Hughes has decided to explain to the DA handling the case about her previous addiction to narcotics and agree to enter a supervised drug rehabilitation program.”

  “What? Diane, what the hell is he talking about? The only drugs you’ve ever done was smoke weed and pop an X every now and then. Get the hell out of here with that bullshit.” Darnell shook his head.

  “Look, Darnell, the DA will allow me to be placed under house arrest and attend the rehab program, but like Marty here said, it’s gotta be supervised. I need for you and Celia to sign off on this,” I said. “And let me come live at the crib with y’all.”

  “Now you’ve really lost your damn mind. You know good and damn well that shit ain’t happening. Hell, I don’t even live there anymore,” Darnell said.

  “What?” I said, surprised by his announcement.

  “Cele and I separated, Diane. After she found out about you and me, we were done. We’ve filed for divorce. I can’t help you.” He went to stand up.

  “You can, and you will,” I told him. “You call Celia, and you tell her y’all are getting the fuck back together so I can get out of here.”

  “I’m not doing that,” Darnell said.

  “Yes, you are.” I turned to Marty and said, “If he leaves, I’m not eating.”

  “Mr. Caldwell, please . . .” Marty pleaded.

  “I don’t give a shit if she doesn’t eat. Let her ass starve,” Darnell told him.

  “She has to eat, Mr. Caldwell—”

  “Look, I’m not staying here and dealing with another one of Diane’s tantrums just so she can get her way. She don’t wanna eat? That’s on her,” Darnell said.

  “If she continues starving herself, then the baby will die,” Marty said.

  Suddenly, the room became eerily quiet. Darnell slowly turned around, and I stood up. For the first time since he had entered the room, he really looked at me. His eyes went from my face to my fuller breasts, then landed on the slight pouch of my stomach.

  “Di, what is he talking about?”

  “Congrats. You’re going to be a father,” I said, my voice void of emotion. I had found out I was pregnant right after I was arrested. For the first few weeks, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe I was having a baby, especially by my sister’s husband. After the twins were born, I got my tubes tied. Plus, I’d always used condoms—except with Darnell.

  “Shit.” Darnell plopped back down in his seat.

  “Touché,” I said. “Now you see why you have to get me the fuck up out of here?”

  “How do I know it’s my baby?” He stared at me.

  “Don’t do that, Darnell. It’s your baby, and you know it. I can tell you the exact day it was conceived. We were at the Westin, and not only did we fuck in the king-sized bed, but we also fucked on the balcony, in the shower, and on the counter in the bathroom. It was a very eventful day, remember?” I glanced over at Marty, who looked quite uncomfortable.

  “What am I supposed to do? Celia isn’t gonna go for this. Just tell them to release you into my custody,” Darnell said.

  “I’m afraid they might not go for that, especially considering that you and your wife just separated and you moved out. The home has to be a stable environment, under the circumstances,” Marty told him.

  “She’s not—”

  “She will,” I said. “You go to Celia, and you tell her straight up that this is the chance for the two of you to have the one thing you wanted your entire life: a baby. Darnell, if you help me get out of here, I’ll stay with you all until I have the baby and this court thing is over, and I will give custody to you and Cele. I promise. Marty has already talked to the DA, and as long as I stay out of trouble, they will give me time served and extended probation and parole.”

  “And what if I don’t? I can just sue and get my baby myself.” Darnell raised an eyebrow at me.

  “No, you won’t. Because if you don’t help me get out of here within the next fifteen days, I will starve myself and your unborn child, and if I don’t miscarry, I will still be just within the window to terminate this pregnancy.”

  The look of horror on Darnell’s face was the same one Marty had worn when I told him about my plan. I knew how much Darnell and Celia wanted a baby. It was going to work.

  “Diane . . .”

  “Look, Darnell, I’m doing you a favor. I’m giving you the chance to get your wife back by giving her the one thing she’s always wanted and couldn’t have. You want her ba
ck, right?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Darnell nodded.

  “Then go talk to her and give her this gift that I happen to be carrying for y’all.” I rubbed my stomach.

  Darnell remained quiet for a few moments, then turned and said to Marty, “Talk to the DA and see what we need to do. I’ll call you tomorrow and set up a meeting with me and my wife.”

  “Yes, sir.” Marty nodded.

  Darnell knocked on the door, and the guard opened it. He left without even saying goodbye.

  I sat back in my seat and smiled with satisfaction. “Great meeting, Marty. Suddenly, I’m famished and ready to eat.”