“I guess,” Moonie shrugged as she let Von’s words sink in.
She could never deny that Mitch was the best man that she’d ever had. He went above and beyond for her and her children. He didn’t just love the two kids that they had together. He loved them all. That only made Moonie love him even more.
“But I don’t like to see you crying and hurting. When you hurt, then my daughter-in-law hurts. When she hurts, that hurts my son, and I can’t have that. So with that being said, tell me who this ex-girlfriend is. You know, name, address and shit like that. I might be able to talk some sense into her,” Von said.
Moonie didn’t ask any questions as she gave Von everything that he requested. If he could get Melissa to back off without her having to put a bullet in her ass, she would be thankful. Von had surpassed the age for drama, so she knew that he wouldn’t go at her with any bullshit, not that she would care if he did.
“Don’t think I missed what you just said either. You’re daughter-in-law huh?” Moonie laughed.
“Yeah, I’m still trying to get used to saying that shit myself,” Von laughed with her as they got out of the car and headed inside of the building.
Moonie felt better after talking to Von just like she always did. When she and Lamar were together years ago, Von was always the voice of reason, and it seems as if nothing had changed.
Chapter 17
Moonie and Von stayed at the facility for another thirty minutes before they went their separate ways. Von paid the balance for the hall and gave Moonie a check for twenty-five hundred dollars for her to get the rest of the decorations. After paying for someone to do the balloon arches and centerpieces, Moonie was tired and ready to go home and relax. Mitch was picking the kids up from school, and she knew that they were probably home by now. She was happy that she’d already cooked dinner, but she still had to go to the grocery store to replenish a few things that they needed at the house. After getting milk, bread, and a few other things, Moonie picked up some snacks for Mitch and the kids and left the store. It wasn’t until she was almost home that she remembered that they needed more soap and tissue for both bathrooms. Moonie pulled up to the local dollar store and was relieved to see that the parking lot was almost empty. There was usually a line stretched down the aisle with only one cashier on duty. It only took her ten minutes to stock up on soap, tissue, toothpaste, and some more washing liquid. She headed back to her ride that was parked on the side of the building and almost pissed in her pants when she saw Dalvin leaned up against her truck. Moonie was kicking herself for parking so far away, but she always did that to avoid getting her truck scratched up by other cars. Although the parking lot was empty people were known to come and go all throughout the day. As nervous as she was she tried to play it cool and not let him see her sweat. Moonie had never officially broken it off with Dalvin, but that was only because he was on the run for so long. A few people told her that they’d been seeing him around, but she didn’t know what to believe.
“So, me hearing that you’re back with Mitch is a lie right?” Dalvin asked getting right to the point.
Moonie wasn’t expecting him to ask that, and she was deathly afraid to answer the question. She didn’t see anyone around, so she was basically on her own if anything happened to her. She knew how Dalvin could be when he was upset. Paige had been on the receiving end of his wrath, and Moonie didn’t want that to be her.
“Answer my fucking question!” Dalvin shouted causing Moonie to tremble in fear.
“No Dalvin, Mitch just comes over for his kids. It’s not like that with us,” she lied nervously.
“Lying to me is the quickest way for your kids to be without a mother,” he threatened.
“I’m not lying,” Moonie replied as she looked down towards the ground.
She’d talked to Dalvin’s mother a few times since he went into hiding, but she never told her anything of importance. Dalvin’s mother Anna really liked Moonie, and she would always keep in touch with her. Her phone calls came a little more often ever since Moonie had the miscarriage, but it wasn’t out of the ordinary.
“Well, why has he been at your house for the past few months? Don’t try to play me for a fool. Just because you don’t see me don’t mean that I ain’t around. I got eyes and ears all around The Court and everywhere else. As soon as you think I’m down you move your other nigga in like the hoe that everybody said you are. You didn’t give a fuck if I was dead or alive. I’m starting to wonder if that was even my baby that you miscarried,” Dalvin yelled.
“Of course it was your baby. I wasn’t with anyone else,” Moonie replied hoping that he believed her.
“Bitch, you must think I’m stupid. You told my mama that Mia was taking care of you after you lost the baby when it was that nigga Mitch there the whole time. You kept me away and made me feel like shit because it was my ex who caused you to miscarry. That was some bullshit from the start. That was just your way of leaving me alone and getting back with that nigga.”
“I am not back with Mitch. You were too busy hiding from everybody to be concerned with what was going on with me,” Moonie cried in hopes of gaining some sympathy from him.
Dalvin always did hate to see Moonie cry. He did everything within his power to ensure that she never had to shed a tear. Her happiness was all that mattered to him which was why he went broke trying to keep a smile on her face. Moonie was the baddest female he’d ever been with, and he didn’t want to lose her to anybody else. Men damn near drooled at the mouth when she stepped on the scene, and he felt privileged to be the one to actually have her. Of course, he heard all the rumors about her being a money hungry hoe, but he didn’t see that when they were together. A part of him always felt like she was still in love with Mitch, but she would always assure him that he was the one who held her heart.
“Look, I’m sorry okay?” Dalvin said as he walked up closer to her.
Moonie was shaking like a leaf on a tree, but she allowed him to pull her in for a hug anyway. She was still holding on to her bags, so that was her excuse not to hug him back. She would say or do anything in order to get away from him. Mitch kept telling her that she needed to get certified to carry a gun, and she was starting to understand why. Between Dalvin and Melissa, she would probably have a body on her hands in no time.
“I have to go Dalvin. The kids are probably on their way home from school.”
“Man, I really do miss y’all. I’m not trying to be seen in The Court right now, but we need spend some time together. Maybe we can get a room this weekend and chill. I’ll pay Mia to keep the kids,” he suggested.
Moonie moved around him and placed her bags in the back seat of her truck. She didn’t reply right away, but there was no way in hell that she was going anywhere with Dalvin. She and Mitch were doing well, and she wasn’t messing that up for anybody.
“I don’t know Dalvin. I’ll call you and let you know,” Moonie promised.
“How are you going to call me? I changed my number months ago. You would have known that if you would have answered your phone the million times that I tried to call you.”
“Okay, well call my phone and I’ll save it. I have to go Dalvin. I need to be home when my kids get off of the school bus.”
“Okay, but can I at least get a hug or something. I missed you so much, baby. You know I still love you right?” He asked as he pulled her into a tight hug.
When Moonie’s phone started ringing, Dalvin pulled away from her and looked at her with fire in his eyes. He wasn’t upset about the phone ringing. It was the “Cater to you” ringtone that had him heated. Moonie looked scared out of her mind which only made him wonder who the caller was.
“Who the fuck is that calling you?” Dalvin fumed while snatching her purse from her shoulder.
Moonie grabbed the bag from him, but not before Dalvin got ahold of her phone. When he saw a picture of Mitch’s smiling face with the caption “My Future” underneath it, he was livid. Moonie was a master at manipulat
ing a situation, especially when it came down to Dalvin. Usually, he fell for her lies and games just like he’d done a few minutes ago. That was all before the proof was staring him right in the face.
“Your future, huh?” Dalvin asked angrily. “Answer the phone for that nigga.”
“Dalvin no, just give me my phone so I can leave.”
“Bitch answer the phone like I just told you too. You keep playing with me, and you won’t even make it home to your kids,” he threatened while lifting up his shirt for her to view the gun that he was carrying.
Moonie cried silent tears as she tried to swallow the huge lump that was in her throat. She knew that if he answered the phone for Mitch all of her lies would be exposed. Either way it went she probably wouldn’t make it out of the situation alive. She couldn’t imagine leaving her six kids behind all because of the stupid decisions that she made throughout her life. At that very moment, she realized that none of it was even worth it. She’d finally started taking steps in the right direction, and it was probably all in vain. Just when Moonie decided to answer her phone, it stopped ringing. She released the breath that she’d been holding only to have the phone start singing once again. Moonie was tired of the cat and mouse game, so she accepted the call with Dalvin standing right there listening.
“Hello,” Moonie said with a shaky voice.
“Yeah baby, where are you?” Mitch asked.
“I’m, um, I’m just about to leave the store,” she stammered.
“Okay, well I already got the kids from school. They ate, and they’re doing their homework now. I know you did a lot of ripping and running today, and I want you to relax for the rest of the night. We’ll be at home waiting for you,” Mitch replied.
“Okay,” Moonie said as her heart dropped.
The volume on her phone was extremely loud, and she knew that Dalvin had heard the entire conversation. The deranged look on his face spoke volumes. Moonie was scared, and there was no need to deny that.
“The next time that nigga and your kids see you gon’ be in your coffin,” Dalvin said as he pulled out the chrome plated gun.
“Dalvin please don’t do this. Help me! Somebody help me!” Moonie screamed to the top of her lungs.
“Just remember that I loved you more than I’ve ever loved anyone else,” Dalvin said sadly.
He pulled her short hair roughly and placed the gun to her temple. Moonie’s heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. Her eyes were shut tight, waiting for the bullet to enter her skull and take her to another world. She said a silent prayer for God to protect her kids and her first grandchild that she would never get a chance to meet. People often said that your life flashed before your eyes before you died, but that was bullshit. Moonie saw nothing, but regrets and lots of them.
“Oh my God! He’s got a gun to her head! Please hurry,” Moonie heard someone yell.
She looked over and saw an older white woman with a phone up to her ear talking. As soon as Dalvin turned his head to see who was watching, Moonie used that as an opportunity to get away from him. She pushed Dalvin as hard as she could and ran back towards the store. Thankfully he lost his balance and fell to the ground before he had a chance to start shooting. The lady who saw what was happening ran back to the store with her while continuing to talk to the police from her cell phone. The cashier must have known that something was wrong because she locked the door as soon as Moonie and the other woman ran in. They all watched as a motorcycle that Moonie assumed Dalvin to be on, sped out of the parking lot, almost getting hit by another car. With shaky hands, Moonie called Mitch to let him know what was going on. He wanted to come to where she was, but she assured him that the police were on their way. She didn’t want him to leave the kids at home alone because she really didn’t trust Dalvin.
About twenty minutes later, Moonie was done talking to the police. She filled out a report, and they suggested that she take out a restraining order against Dalvin. Even though it was only a piece of paper, Moonie knew that it carried a lot of weight. It wouldn’t stop Dalvin from coming close to her, but it would protect her if she defended herself against him. Mitch wouldn’t have to beg her anymore. She was getting certified to carry a gun as soon as she could. Dalvin caught her slipping this time, but it would never happen again if she could help it.
Chapter 18
Melissa woke up later than she intended to, but she still had a lot to do for the day. After weeks of searching, she’d finally found an apartment that she could afford. It wasn’t as nice and upscale as Calypso Bay, but she couldn’t afford to stay there even if she worked two jobs and downsized to a one bedroom. She loved her two bedroom, two bath condo that she and Mitch shared, but thanks to his baby mama she was packed up and ready to go. Melissa couldn’t believe that Mitch went and took his name off of the lease and left her stuck with paying that high ass rent by herself. She’d already used up some of the money in her savings account just to stay there longer until she was able to move somewhere else. She knew that it was Moonie who got in Mitch’s ear, but if they thought that she was just going to go away quietly they had better think again. Calling CPS was nothing compared to what she wanted to do. Mitch had been blowing her up non-stop ever since they got a visit from child protective services. She couldn’t pay him to return her calls before, but now he was calling all day every day. Melissa already knew what he wanted, so she didn’t bother answering for him. That didn’t stop him from leaving as many as three voicemails a day telling her how pathetic she was for stooping so low. Melissa knew that she really didn’t have a valid claim. Moonie had a nice apartment and her kids were well taken care. Pissing her off was Melissa’s main objective and she’d successfully accomplished that. Moonie didn’t play about her bad ass kids and Melissa knew it. She found that out the hard way when they stayed the night at her and Mitch’s apartment once before. Melissa hated when Mitch’s kids stayed the night with them, but it made her livid when he would get the other two that weren’t even his. He claimed that he had a bond with all of Moonie’s kids and he didn’t build bridges with them. Melissa didn’t want to hear it and she went off on him about it. She didn’t know which one of Moonie’s kids had called her, but she showed up at their apartment a short time later. Melissa expected an argument to take place between the two of them. What she didn’t expect was Moonie dragging her down the steps of her apartment and beating her down in front of her neighbors. She wanted to call the police and have her arrested, but Mitch had begged her not to. She was so in love with his ass back then that she allowed him to talk her out of it. Needless to say she kept her comments about Moonie’s kids to herself after that unless she and Mitch were alone.
“Can I get some large boxes please?” Melissa asked the woman at the moving and packaging company.
She had her sister and her two best friends coming over later that night to help her box up some of her items and drive them over to her new apartment. She had to open up a post office box because she didn’t trust her mail going to the new complex that she would be residing in. They had a million kids hanging out front and some of the mailboxes were opened without a key being inserted. She hated Mitch for taking her out of her comfort zone and he was going to pay for it. The three years they’d spent together obviously meant more to her than it did to him. That was the only way to explain how he just up and moved back in with Moonie like she never even mattered. Melissa had no one else to blame for that, but herself. Mitch never denied his love for Moonie, but it never was an issue before. Moonie was so busy being a hoe that she never even gave Mitch a second glance. Apparently all of that changed at some point and Melissa’s insecurities started to kick in. Before, Mitch would pick up his kids and be back within thirty minutes or less. Melissa started to notice that he started staying over at Moonie’s longer and longer and sometimes he would come back home without the kids. He would be gone for hours at a time in the mornings and he never had an explanation for where he’d been. Melissa never asked him any questions, but s
he got her answer when she drove past Moonie’s apartment one day. Mitch had been gone all day and he wouldn’t answer his phone when she called. He worked overnight and came home that morning and left right back out with no explanation. After waiting until almost three that afternoon with no word, Melissa got in her car and went to the first place that she thought he might be. She was livid when she saw that Mitch’s truck was parked out front right next to Moonie’s. She tried telling herself that he was there for the kids, but that theory was quickly squashed. When she saw a school bus pull up, Moonie’s kids got off of it and ran straight upstairs to the apartment. Melissa pulled off and headed back home with tears in her eyes and a broken heart. Crazy thing is, when Mitch came home, she confronted him and he never tried to deny it. He told her how he felt from the beginning, but she just couldn’t accept it. Women like Moonie didn’t deserve good men like Mitch, but they always came out on top.
“Hello,” Melissa said answering the phone for her sister Aria once she got back to her car.
“What time do you want us to come over?” Her sister asked her.
“I’m out running errands right now, but I’ll call you when I’m on my way back home.”
“Okay. Have you heard from Anthony’s sad ass again?” Aria asked referring to Mitch by his real name.
“Not yet, but when I’m done with his ass he’ll be calling me non-stop,” Melissa said laughing.
“That’s good for his ass. I don’t even blame you. Niggas always trying to turn hoes into housewives,” Aria fumed.
“It’s all good though. That nigga is about to pay in more ways than one. I can’t wait until I get settled in my new apartment. He’s gon’ buy me some new decorations and he don’t even know it,” Melissa laughed.
Mitch didn’t know it yet, but Melissa was about to turn his entire world upside down. He was a smart man, but he should have been more careful with his social security number and other personal information. She’d done some spying while they were still together and she was happy that she didn’t get rid of the information that she managed to get her hands on. When she got done with him he wouldn’t even be able to get a bubble gum on credit. She was about to redecorate her entire apartment at his expense. Then she planned to update her wardrobe on his dime as well. Moonie wasn’t going to be the only bitch with a badass apartment and designer gear.
Creepin' 3: A New Orleans Love Story Page 13