by Kortni Renea
“Maybe I should talk to them alone first.” Felicia told Harrison as they sat at the table watching Dana and Elena play video games. Harrison reached his hands across the table and grasped hers that were clasped together forming tightly balled fists. He pulled them apart holding one in each of his. Gently rubbed the tops of hers with his thumbs.
“I get that you’re nervous and even scared. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous also. Dana is a tough cookie. And even though Elena seems to love me,” he paused grinning ear to ear, making Felicia roll her eyes in response. “She may feel differently when I’m presented as the man that loves her mother.” Felicia drew in a sharp intake of air. Harrison continued on as if he hadn’t just told her he loved her for the first time.
“You’re used to handling everything alone because you’ve had no choice but to in the past. But that’s no longer the case. I’m here. We are in this together. I’m not in this to play around or play house. I’m in this for keeps. I hope you are too.”
Harrison sat back in the booth continuing to hold her hands across the table. If it wasn’t for the fact she hadn’t told the girls yet, she would be flinging herself into Harrison’s lap right about now.
“You’re right, I am used to making decisions and handling everything on my own. But I’m also worried about not only how Dana will take the news, but also what she’ll say.” Harrison laughed, loudly. Hell he didn’t know what Dana would say either.
“Dana is just a very blunt, tell it like it is child. She says what’s on her mind. I have a few nieces that fall into that category. But that’s a great trait to have. Regardless of what she says, I’ll always know where I stand with her.”
“That’s true…”
When the pizza arrived at the table the girls returned to the table rubbing in the hand sanitizer the establishment provided. After saying grace, Elena and Harrison dug in. Felicia and Dana picked at their slices. Felicia was in her own thoughts trying to figure out to broach the subject, when Dana beat her to it.
“So are you two boyfriend and girlfriend or something?” She asked looking both of them directly in the eye.
“I would go with or something just because I think I’m a little too old to have a girlfriend. But I guess that’s the easiest way for you guys to understand it. Yes your mom and I are together. How do you two feel about that?”
Dana was looking intensely at Felicia. “I guess its okay. Mom’s been real happy lately.”
“And you?” Harrison asked turning his attention to Elena. A huge grin spread across her face.
“Are you going to marry our mom? If you guys get married I want to be the flower girl!”
“I do want to marry your mom. And when the time comes, I don’t see why you can’t be our flower girl.” Felicia’s gaze was locked on Harrison’s as Elena started to plan how her dress should be and that Dana could be one of the kids that get to be dressed like the other ladies.
“They’re called a junior bridesmaid Elena. You are such a baby sometimes…”
Harrison held her gaze as he partially stayed tune to the discussion to make sure it didn’t turn too heated. He mouthed I love you to Felicia. Eyes glistening with unshed tears she mouthed words, I love you too back in return.
****
The day went much better than Felicia could have ever prayed for. After Dana and Elena let the news settle, everything was back to normal. After they left the pizza parlor, they walked around looking at the window displays. Eventually headed over to Harrison’s parents’ house.
Felicia wasn’t nervous per se…she just didn’t know what she was exactly walking into. What all did they know about why her and Emma stopped hanging so tight? Harrison had never once alluded to what was the final straw between the two. Yes Emma and David didn’t get along, but she wanted to murder him after the night that changed everything.
David was in a foul mood, something had happened at work and he was being investigated by internal affairs. He’d been off with pay for a week by that time and when Felicia got home she was planning to cook a great meal and just spend some quality time. Well David had other plans. After arguing and yelling that she didn’t know how to do shit, he went off into a tirade as only he can and argued with himself for ten hours straight. Eight of those Emma had been on the phone with her, while Felicia was locked in her bedroom.
Incidentally that was also the night David put a hole in the wall beside her bedroom door. To this day that hole was still there. He’d asked her to fix it many times, but she left it there as a reminder to him of how close he comes to losing control. Because if you asked him, he was a master at keeping his cool…
To Felicia’s great relief the Kincaid clan welcomed her back into their fold with open arms. It was as if she’d never left. Felicia almost felt shorted as the girls’ received most of the attention. Emma and Felicia had a chance to talk for a few minutes. Kaitlyn, Emma’s oldest was the spitting image of her mother. Felicia was so happy to see Kaitlyn and Dana hit it off. Dana had missed her auntie Em and was ecstatic to see her. Both Emma and Felicia were surprised that Dana remembered Emma as much as she did. Felicia stopped herself from wondering what else Dana remembered from her early years.
Felicia only found herself cornered once. That was only because Harrison stuck to her like glue. Despite the ribbing and teasing he got from his siblings as a result. She was in the kitchen with Carolyn helping her put the leftover food up. The Kincaid’s had a huge family. The amount of food cooked was ridiculous! They had the kind of servings you were only used to seeing at family reunions only it was just their immediate family.
“You know dear I am so happy to have you back in our lives. Emma wasn’t the only one who missed you while you were going through things. I always wondered if you knew my doors were always open to you. That I was just a phone call away if needed.”
Wiping the tear from the corner of her eye, Felicia smiled gratefully at Carolyn. “Thank you CK, I always knew. I was just too embarrassed to admit to the kind of treatment I was putting up with. I always thought I was stronger than that or had at least been raised around better examples. Surely that would stop me from accepting garbage. But I guess when it came down to it, I was in love with being in love. I thought David loved me just as much as I loved him. But that was never the case. I accepted it for what it was about five years ago.”
“And yet he’s still around?”
“Yes and no. Not to split hairs, yes he still lives at my house. Although if asked he’d say no. But he’s there Monday through Thursday every week. And generally Friday through Sunday he’s with his girlfriend.”
“And you’re okay with this arrangement?” CK asked with an incredulous look on her face.
“Not at all. I’ve tried to get him to move out numerous times. He always comes up with excuse after excuse.”
“I see…Okay, so I have a suggestion that may work. I hope it will work, because I know my son. And he won’t be able to put up with any man disrespecting what he sees as his. And sweetie whether you know it or not, he sees you and the girls as his. You get what I’m saying? I’m not worried for Harrison, but for those sweet little girls’ father.
“David has lived with you too long for you to simply kick him out. You’re going to have to go down to the courthouse and file an eviction notice. Once that’s filed, he’ll have sixty days to get out”
“Are you serious? He doesn’t pay anything. I have to evict him in order to get him to leave, then allow him sixty days to do so?”
“I’m afraid so sweetie. But look at it like this, sixty days is nothing in comparison to the years you’ve been waiting for freedom.”
****
Felicia had a lot on her mind after her talk with CK. They left Harrison’s parents’ house much later than planned. The girls were exhausted from running, eating and playing with Harrisons’ nieces and nephews. They were knocked out in his backseat, using each other as a pillow. Felicia snapped a pic of them looking like the perfect
angels they were not.
They pulled up to his place and Harrison shut off the pickups engine. “You know I’d be more than glad to take you guy’s home or follow you home to help get them inside.” Felicia reached out and palmed his cheek, stroking his face with her thumb.
“I know, but it’s probably better if I go home as normal. I will talk to David first thing tomorrow. I’m going to let him know that I’m involved in a serious relationship. Hopefully that’ll prompt him to move out. But if not, I’ll go down to the courthouse and file a notice of eviction.”
Harrison grabbed her hand that was on his face, pulling her closer to him until his lips met hers. Not wanting to wake the girls, but unable to keep the kiss chaste either, Harrison stroked the inside of Felicia’s mouth as if he was stroking her. With a stiff hard tongue. Felicia pulled away smiling and shaking her head.
“You’d think that between last night and this morning I would’ve had enough. But clearly I haven’t.”
Laughing, Harrison unbuckled them both. “I tried to get you guys to sleepover…”
When Felicia pulled up to her house it was pitch black except for the kitchen light. Getting her game plan together she decided the best way to get them and all their junk in the house. Felicia woke Dana up.
“We’re home sweetie. Wake up. Elena sweetie, it’s time to wake up so you can go in and lay down.”
Dana got up with no problems, Elena on the other hand was not trying to wake up and walk anywhere. Giving up two minutes later, Felicia unlocked the front door and carried Elena from the car and put her to bed.
“I’ll help you get the bags out the car Mommy.” Dana offered.
“Thanks sweetie. This should be quick then.” Ten minutes later all bags were in the house and everything was locked up. Felicia did her last check on her little ones and they were in their pajamas. Elena still knocked out, Dana was reading a book via her book light.
“Ten minutes Dana, Dane. Then its lights out.”
“Okay. Goodnight Mom.”
“Goodnight sweetie.”
“Mom?” Dana called as Felicia was shutting her door.
“Yes.”
“I’m glad you’re happy and that Harrison makes you happy. He’s really nice to us.”
“Thank you Dana. You know no one can ever take your daddy’s place. David will always be your dad.”
“I know mom…goodnight.”
****
Felicia woke up with a start. She didn’t know what it was that made her wake from the dead of sleep. She was trying to steady her heart rate and go back when she heard a shuffling sound in her room. She was reaching for the light when David fell into her bed announcing, “It’s just me.”
“David I’m tired, get out of my room please.” David acted as if Felicia hadn’t uttered a word and began rubbing her on her ass. Taking his hand, she flung it off of her behind.
“Come on Felicia, you know you want me to give you a nice all over body massage.” He persisted as he reached for her breast. Rolling quickly to get out of his reach, Felicia fell onto the floor. Getting up, she turned on her bedside lamp. The sight that greeted her made her want throw up. David in his birthday suit. Belly distended to the point that it looked painful and a semi hard dick. Barely visible due to the flap the fat from his stomach caused.
“David please don’t make me tell you again, get out.” The fact that she was declining his sexual advances yet again clicked and his horniness quickly turned to anger.
“What the fuck do you mean don’t make me tell you to get out again. Who do you think you are talking to bitch? Hunh?” He asked as he got up from her bed and started toward where she stood off to the side. There was nowhere Felicia could go to escape him.
“Ever since you got that little temporary position you’ve been smelling yourself and thinking you’re the shit and too good for me. But I got news for you, you’re beneath me bitch. I can’t believe I actually cancelled my plans this weekend to service your ass. You had the nerve to not come home yesterday. Where were you Felicia? You should be on your knees begging and thanking me for even giving you my presence. The best thing you have going for you are my seeds and I gave them to you. Everything you have of value in your life I’ve given you. You’re a worthless piece of shit with no purpose without me.”
Something inside of Felicia broke. Snapped, exploded, she didn’t know which one. She just knew that she lost it. “What don’t you get about the fact that I don’t want your fat, greasy nasty ass! I haven’t slept with you in over three years. Does it not say something to you when a woman would rather go without than to fuck you? And as for where I was last night, I was with my man. Never could you be of more value than me. I understand why you’d think you were. That’s easy to do when you’re living off of me and not paying shit to exist. Who couldn’t make it living the way you do? If anyone is worthless around here, it’s you. I do everything. I’m Dana and Elena’s mother and father. You? You’re their donor.”
Next thing she knew, Felicia was looking up at David from the floor. She didn’t know how she got there, she was standing one minute and down the next. Then the throbbing sting on the right side of her face began to pulsate under her hand that was covering it. He had hit her? David had actually hit her? His face was contorted by his anger, he was yelling and motioning towards her.
“Get out. Get out of my house!” Felicia yelled, interrupting his tangent. David just laughed at her.
“I’m not going anywhere bitch. This is my residence. You can’t make me go anywhere. Learn the laws bitch.” David turned and walked his naked, flabby ass out of her room. Felicia had to fight the nausea that welled up inside of her.
She really wanted to call Harrison or her father, but she couldn’t bring herself to involve them. This was all her fault. If she wasn’t such a spineless individual, David would’ve been out of her life long ago. To bring in outsiders who had nothing to do with the choices she had made was unacceptable. Potentially putting them in danger, Felicia just couldn’t bring herself to do that.
She waited twenty minutes or so before she crept out of her room and checked on Dana and Elena.
Both girls’ heads popped up when she opened the door. Quickly stepping inside so David wouldn’t overhear them, she went to Elena who was the most visibly shaken and pulled her into her arms motioning for Dana to join them on the bed.
“Are you okay mommy?” Elena asked looking up at Felicia.
“Mommy’s fine.” Felicia didn’t know how much they’d believe that as she was crying as she said it. Dana was scrutinizing her closely.
“Why is your eye swollen?”
Feigning surprise, “Is it?” Felicia asked. “I don’t know, must be from my allergies. I just wanted to make sure you both were ok and that you weren’t shaken from daddy and me arguing. Now go back to bed. Gotta get up early in the morning for school.”
Felicia tucked them both back in and locked their bedroom that night along with hers.
Chapter Twenty Five
The next morning David was in his usual spot, laid out, loudly snoring on her couch. Felicia and the girls tip toed and whispered around him that morning. When she stepped outside to walk to her car she spotted Harrison’s truck parked across the street from her house with him leaning against it. To say he was the last person she expected to see first thing this morning, would be putting it mildly.
Felicia stopped, bending down she gave them each a hug and a kiss, instructing them to go on and walk to the bus stop without her. She watched them as they waved to Harrison. Crossing the street, she made her way to where Harrison was posted up. Felicia had her arms crossed, that was the first thing he noticed. She was in a defensive stance. Not carefree and open as she’d just been less than ten hours ago.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked when she reached him. Harrison didn’t immediately reply, instead he looked at her face as if he could read what happened last night.
“So this is how we’re going
to play it?” He asked after he could see she wasn’t going to divulge any information voluntarily. “And good morning to you too by the way.”
Felicia kicked herself. She could’ve at least sounded happier and surprised to see him instead of being accusatory.
“I’m sorry good morning.” She stopped talking as the bus came to a stop at the corner, collecting the kids. Harrison knew she’d be distracted until she saw Dana and Elena safely inside the bus. So he waited patiently until the bus pulled away from the corner.
Felicia turned back to him but was staring down at his shoes. Tilting her chin up Harrison raised her head and silently gazed at her before quietly asking, “What happened last night?”
Felicia found herself wanting to play dumb and ask him what he was talking about. That’s how she’d handled friends and family in the past. But could now see where protecting David had gotten her.
“I woke up around one this morning to find David in my room. I told him to get out and he got angry and we started arguing.”
Harrison tilted his head to the side, signaling he was waiting for her to continue. He knew being with Felicia wouldn’t be easy, but sometimes the woman could frustrate the hell out of him with her evasiveness.
“And he slapped me.” Having confirmed what he already knew, Harrison pulled her into his tight embrace. Dropping a kiss to her temple.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here baby. But you don’t have to worry about it happening again.” Harrison took the keys from Felicia’s hand, took off her car keys and handed them back to her. “Go on to work. I’ll see you later at the gym.”
Felicia immediately caught what he didn’t say. He expected to still be unavailable in four to five hours. When they usually met for lunch.