Torn (19 page)

That's one good lookin' Latino man
, Mo thought to herself.

Quan was out handling business as usual. He would most definitely kill her if he knew she was at home eating ice cream but she figured what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Mo tried to eat healthy but junk food kept on calling her name. The junk fiend queen had a secret stash and everything.

In some of her oversized Gucci bags she kept potato chips and candy bars. The number to Imo's Pizza stayed on speed dial in her cell phone.

The past month had been nice. She and Quan were back on track once again and they had started decorating the baby's room. She enjoyed going through catalogs and shopping online for baby clothes and furniture. Mo wanted this baby more than she had wanted anything in her entire life. For the first time, all of her dreams were coming true.

Hearing the phone ring, she placed her spoon into the container and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Bring yo' big ass down here and open the door," Mina joked.

"You know I can't get up. Use your key."

"A'ight, we're on our way up."

"Who wit you?"

"Who else?"

"Oh, okay, come on up."

A minute later, Mina and Delicious entered Mo's bedroom.

"Ahhhh ... Quan gon' get you." Mina covered her mouth and pointed her finger toward Mo like a little kid.

"Girl, please, and you bet not tell him."

"Now Mo, you know you ain't supposed to be eatin' that," Delicious said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Huuuuh, will you let me eat my ice cream in peace?"

"Whateva, what you doing with all these catalogs?" Mina questioned, picking one up.

"Looking for baby stuff."

"Have you told your father yet?" Delicious questioned.

"Yeah, I told him," Mo answered gloomily.

"Why you say it like that? What? He was mad?"

"You know how my daddy is. He's happy about the baby and all but he just hates who I'm having it with. You know my daddy can't stand Quan."

"Damn, he still don't like that nigga?"

"No, and he probably never will."

"But Mo, can you blame him?" Mina reasoned.

"Look, I know that Quan has done some fucked up stuff in the past--"

"You got that right," Delicious interrupted.

"An-y-way, yes, he has hurt me but ... I love him and he loves me. There ain't nothing nobody can say that's gon' change that. I mean, we're gettin' married after the baby is born. He's not going anywhere and neither am I for that matter, so my daddy gonna have to either accept him or lose me."

"Damn! You would actually give your daddy that kind of ultimatum?"

"What other choice do I have, Mina? Me and Quan have been together for damn near ten years. He's not even allowed over my father's house. Every time my daddy see him, he makes him feel like he ain't shit--"

"Well," Delicious commented, cutting her off again.

"You better shut up," Mo warned. "Like I was saying, half the time on holidays I either go over there by myself or I don't go at all. And the only reason I have put up with my father's attitude all this time is because Quan wasn't my fiance or my husband, he was just my man. But now that we're gettin' married and about to have a child together, he can't continue to treat him like that. Quan has really been trying to make our relationship work and as long as he continues to try, I'm gon' stick by his side."

"Mo, baby, you know you my girl ... you're like a sister to me and I love you to death ... but you know how I feel about the situation. I like Quan ... sometimes. He's a cool dude ...

but he has not treated you the way you should have been treated all these years and you know that. I mean, let's keep it real. Keep it funky. Quan has cheated on you how many times?

And how many times has he lied to you?" Mo knew her friend was making a valid point so she didn't reply.

"Oh and let's not forget all the times he's hit you, so personally I don't blame ya' daddy. A leopard can't change its spots. But hey ... it's your life and you're the one that has to live it, so what I think or what your father thinks doesn't real- ly matter, does it?"

"Look, I hear what you're saying, but try putting yourself in my shoes for a change. You tell me how easy it would be for you to leave a muthafucka you done been wit for nine years?

Honestly, Mina, if some foul shit went down between you and Victor tomorrow, would you be able to leave him just like that? Think about it. Hell, at least I know I'm stupid. Least I ain't tryin' act like shit is all gravy when it's not. Hell, I know Quan ain't shit. I know he got some fucked up-ass ways but when it all boils down, I know underneath all that bullshit he loves me. He ain't gon' never let me go and I know no matter what goes down, he ain't going nowhere."

"I guess ... as long as you're happy then hey ... what can I say."

"Nothing. Just let me live my life."

"Well personally, I think you're stupid," Delicious complied, not giving a fuck.

"What?!"

"I'm just playin' wit you
gurl
!" he laughed wholehearted-ly.

"I was gettin' ready to say..."

"You wasn't gettin' ready to say nothing."

"Boy, fuck you." She flicked him off.

"I know you wish you could, but sorry boo, I don't like fish." Delicious winked his eye and popped his lips.

"Don't make me slap you," Mo said while laughing.

"Ay, whatever happened to that one dude you was talkin' to?" Mina asked.

"Who, Boss?"

"Yeah, him."

"Girl, I've been cut him loose."

"I'll fuck wit his ass, give me his number." Delicious grabbed Mo's phone and began scrolling through it.

"Nigga, you better fall back. That's my backup meat."

"He got any friends?"

"Yes he does, but they're all straight."

"
Gurl
please," he waved her off. "What's they names? I'll tell you if they some homo thugs."

"Umm ... Grizz, S. Dot and BK."

"S. Dot?" Mina questioned. "One of Dem Boyz?"

"Yeah."

"Short, dark skinned wit waves, big ole head and drive a Denali?"

"Yeah."

"I know him. That muthafucka think he the shit. Wit his no good cheatin' ass. I swear he mess wit half the chicks at my shop."

"Hell naw," Mo replied, shaking her head, when the house phone began to ring. It was Quan.

"Hello?"

"How my girls doing?"

"Fine, my back has been hurting a little bit but other than that I've been okay. Where you at?"

"On my way home. You need anything?"

"Nope, just you."

"Has my mother been over there today?"

"Yeah, she came by and fixed me lunch. She also did the laundry for us."

"A'ight, I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay."

"One."

"I guess that's our cue to leave," Mina said, grabbing her purse.

"Yeah, bitches, my man is on his way home. Will you throw this away for me on your way out?"

"Sure, but don't let me catch you eating this shit again," Mina warned.

"I promise you won't," Mo lied.

"See you later
gurl.
" Delicious air-kissed her goodbye.

"Bye, boy."

Once Mina and Delicious were gone, Mo got up and brushed her teeth. She couldn't risk the chance of Quan smelling chocolate on her breath. Ten minutes later, he was home and coming up the steps. Mo didn't even say anything when he came into the room. He looked so handsome. He was dressed simply in a colorful Bathing Ape jacket, white tee and jeans. On his feet Quan wore a pair of Ice Cream tennis shoes.

Mo watched him undress with admiration written on her face. In her eyes, he was perfection. Things between them hadn't been picture-perfect over the years, but honestly, she knew deep down inside her heart that with him was where she was supposed to be. Mo wouldn't trade the love she and Quan had for the world. Their love felt so good that sometimes it felt forbidden. Mo couldn't get enough of him. She couldn't leave him alone even if she tried.

"What up, big head?" he asked, plopping down onto the bed.

"Nothing."

"Yo' back still hurting?"

"No, not no more."

"I think yo' ass be makin' that shit up."

"No I don't. Hey, I was thinking instead of having a great big ole wedding, why don't we just go down to city hall and get married."

"What's with the rush?"

"It ain't no rush. I would just feel better bringing the baby in the world as husband and wife and not girlfriend and boyfriend."

"You really would get married at city hall?" Quan sat up on his elbows and questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah," Mo answered.

"Man, please. Get outta here. Yo' bougie ass ain't steppin' foot up in city hall to get married."

"Yes I would. Look, my mother is dead and it's not like my father is gonna walk me down the aisle, so we might as well have a lil' quickie wedding."

"Mo, this is me. You can't fool me. I pay your credit card bills. Gettin' married at city hall ain't even your style. We ain't doing that. You been waiting to get married all this time, you might as well wait five more months and do it right. And who knows, maybe once the baby is born your father will change his mind about me."

"I guess. We'll see," she sighed, disappointed.

"You miss me?" He kissed her lips, then her stomach.

"Of course I did. Did you miss me?"

"You know I did. Mama said she fixed you baked chicken and broccoli. Did you eat it?"

"Yep, every bite," Mo lied. She really had Chinese takeout.

"I was surfing the net today and I was tryin' to figure out what kind of stroller we should get the baby. The one I really want is $560. Gwyneth Paltrow has one. But then they have another one that's $300. It's has more storage room but it's not as cute. Which one do you think we should get?"

"I don't know about all that shit, but I do know we gotta put a changing table in there, a baby monitor and one of them diaper genie things."

"Hold up, how you know so much about baby stuff?" Mo asked, surprised.

"Man, you know Diggy gal just had they baby." Quan played it off, praying that Mo couldn't tell he was lying.

"Oh yeah, that is right, so what you think we should name her?"

"Now that I don't know. I was planning on leaving that up to you."

"Umm ... how about ... Heaven."

"Heaven ... yeah that's cool. I like that," he answered, rubbing her stomach. The baby was moving all around.

"Me too." Mo smiled brightly. "What about the middle name?"

"I always liked Nariah."

"So bet Heaven Nariah Mitchell it is."

9

Fuck Fair

Christmas morning arrived and Mo opened her eyes to
find a huge white box with a red bow wrapped around it.

Surprised, she sat up and lifted the top. Inside she found the hard-to-buy due to being on a waiting-list silver Louis Vuitton Speedy Miroir purse she had been begging for. It was exactly what she'd wanted.

"Now this is what I'm talkin' about!" Mo beamed, running her hands over it.

Wanting to thank Quan for the gift, she called out for him.

After getting no reply, she realized that he was gone. She didn't know where he could be. It was seven o'clock in the morning and there weren't any stores open, so curious to his whereabouts, she picked up the phone and called his cell. He answered on the first ring.

"What up, babygirl?"

"Where you at?" she whispered, due to her voice still being hoarse from just waking up.

"Over my people's house," Quan replied, half telling the truth.

He was at Sherry's house. It was Lil' Quan's first Christmas. There was no way he was gonna miss opening up presents with his son.

"Thanks for the purse."

"You like it?"

"Yes. It's so cute. I'm going to carry it with me when I go into labor," Mo gushed.

"Oh my God." Quan laughed.

"When you coming home?"

"I'll be there in a minute."

"I hate when you say that," Mo replied as she situated herself on the bed. As soon as she moved, she felt a slight dis-comfort in her lower back.

"Oww."

"What's wrong?" Quan quickly asked, concerned.

"My back's hurting again."

"Well look, give me an hour and I'll be home."

"Don't be too long, Quan. I don't like being here by myself when I'm feeling like this." Mo rubbed her belly.