Your Man Chose Me (18 page)

CHAPTER FORTY
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SEVEN

It'd been three months since the girls moved in with us. Some days were better than others. I tried my best to let them handle things pertaining to them. I made sure they were well taken care of when Micah was around. Baby Micah loved having his sisters around and they were happy they had a younger brother around.

“Hey, ma, you good? You look tired,” Micah said as he walked into the room.

“Yes, just have a migraine that's all.”

“You need to make an appointment! I don't like how these headaches be having you. This started happening after the shooting. Them motherfuckers need to do another MRI on you,” he said in a concerned tone.

“I know, right? I don't know. I keep taking that Elavil that they prescribed. I was hoping it would do better. A girl at school says I should try drinking coffee, because it helps with migraines.”

“Well, you need to get on that ASAP. I hate to see my baby hurting like that.” He gave me a kiss on my cheek.

“So, husband, when are you gonna start back at school? I mean you keep on putting it off, but I think you need to get back in there.”

He rubbed his head and breathed out loud. I could tell he wasn't feeling my questioning. But I didn't give a fuck. See lately I'd noticed that he was leaving early and coming in late and I'd also noticed that he had been spending a little more than usual. See I ain't no dumb bitch; his behavior was screaming to me that he was back out there in those streets.

“Damn, ma, ease up already! I told you I will. I just got a lot on my mind right now and I am not ready to jump back into school already.”

“Really? I don't see what's stopping you. The shop is doing good. The kids are in school. So please explain to me what the problem is.”

“Damn, T, you need to know when to chill the fuck out. What if school ain't for me? What if I don't want to go back? What's gonna happen then?” he asked angrily.

“Well, say that then. Stop sitting up in here lying and shit. I ain't no damn fool, so I suggest you stop acting like I am.”

“You know what, B, sometimes you just need to shut the fuck up. Ain't nobody taking you for no fucking fool. Yo, I'm out.”

I started to respond, but my head was pounding and I really didn't feel like reading him his rights. I done told his ass I wasn't interested in being no jail nigga's wife. Me or my child wasn't gonna be taking no trip to the penitentiary. And trust and believe, I meant that shit.

I was kind of suspicious that he might be fucking somebody else. I didn't have any proof, but the way he'd been behaving lately I wouldn't put nothing past him.
I swear, he better keep that shit away from me, 'cause if I ever catch him cheating it's gonna be over for good,
I thought as I dozed off.

* * *

I jumped up, looked around, and realized I was still on the couch downstairs. I was sweating and I had tears in my eyes. I'd just had the worst dream. It was very strange, because I dreamt that I was getting married. Matter of fact, I had on the most beautiful wedding dress. I was in the dressing room, then out of nowhere Ayana appeared. She had a devilish look on her face, and she had a gun pointed at me. In my dream, I was talking to her; then she shot me. I didn't remember anything after that.

I sat there scared for minute, even though I was awake. I still felt terrified. I wondered why I had that dream. I mean, I knew Ayana and I were not talking now, but what did this dream mean? I finally pulled myself together. I got up, and walked in the kitchen to get a glass of water. I felt drained, like the dream drained all my energy. I leaned on the counter, trying to regain a little bit of energy. That's when flashes of me getting shot flashed in my mind. I was terrified when Ayana aimed the gun at me and fired the gun.

The glass fell out of my hand and splattered all over the ceramic tiles, spreading splinters everywhere. I didn't care that I didn't have any shoes on my feet. I ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs. “Micah! Micah!” I yelled as I busted in the room.

To my surprise, the room was empty and the bed was still made. I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 2:00 a.m., and my husband wasn't at home in our bed. I sat down on the bed, feeling disappointed. This was the first time since we got married he stayed out this late. This heightened my suspicions about him.

I walked back downstairs to search for my cell phone. I called his phone, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried again, but the same thing happened. I turned the lights off, and walked back up the stairs. I lay across the bed. The dream and the flashback I had had me feeling some kind of way. Ayana? Could it be true that Ayana shot me? Was I making up things because I was angry with her or because her children were here with me?

I needed answers. I needed to know if this bitch really crossed the line by trying to kill me. I thought about calling the detective who was on my case, but I quickly dismissed that idea. I needed to find out on my own, because I ain't no wicked bitch but if this bitch tried to kill me, I promised I was gonna end her life.

I waited for another hour. Then I tried Micah's number again, but there was still no response. I threw the phone beside me, grabbed a pillow, and put my head on it.

* * *

I was up bright and early. I walked downstairs to check if this nigga made it home. There he was, asleep on my couch. I walked over shaking his legs.

“Yo, what's good?”

“What's good? You didn't come home last night, and you asking me what's good? Nah, honey, I should be asking you what the hell is going on?”

“Ain't nothing going on! You was on your bullshit, so I left to go hang with the niggas and we got to drinking and smoking.”

“Do you see how that sounds? You're a married man. Hanging out smoking weed and coming into the house all times of the night isn't acceptable. I already know what kind of bitches you are used to. But you already know I'm not one of them. If you feel the need to be single, you need to get a fucking divorce. Because I will not, and I repeat, will not be doing this with you. I'm a grown-ass woman and there's no way I'm gonna hang around playing childish games.”

“Damn, you wake me up with all this? It's too damn early for this.” He closed his eyes.

“You heard me, Anthony Micah Brown. This is not a game.”

I walked out of the living room before I could go off on this nigga. In a way, I was relieved to see that he was fine. God knows these Georgia streets were cruel.

At 7:00 a.m., I woke the kids up so I could get them ready for school. This morning I was in my feelings though. I didn't make these damn children, but I had to be up with them. Their mama was off somewhere being a ho and their daddy was lying on my couch pretending like he was so damn tired.

“Auntie, are you okay? You look sad,” Diamond asked.

I faked a quick smile. “Yes, sugar, Auntie doing just fine,” I lied.

“Oh, okay. I love you.”

“Love you too, baby girl. Now get your things and your sister's. Let's go,” I yelled as I walked up the stairs. I had to finish dressing Baby Micah.

I got them into the car; then I pulled off. Even as I could hear them talking and singing in the back seat, my mind was far away. I wasn't tripping off Micah's ass. Even though I loved him, I could easily get a divorce. My mind was more on Ayana and my dream.

I dropped the kids off, then headed back home. I didn't have school until the afternoon, so I had time to wash some clothes and clean up the house a little. First I stopped by Dunkin' Donuts to grab a cup of coffee, trying to see if I could get this migraine down a little.

I parked and walked into the house. I went upstairs and turned the television on. I loved watching the news early in the morning so I could kind of catch up on what was going on in the city.

CHAPTER FORTY
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EIGHT

I ended up moving out of the hotel and into Miss Judith's house. She lived alone in a two-bedroom house. It wasn't located in the best neighborhood, but it would do just fine. It was really sad how she treated me better than my own damn mother.

I ended up telling her about the situation between her daughter and me. I wasn't too shocked that she believed everything that I was saying. I didn't know what the hell Tiana did to her, but whatever it was, it made her angry even after all these years.

“Here go some bacon and eggs,” she said as I entered the kitchen.

“Thank you. I was starving, too.” I sat down at the table where she was sitting.

“Lemme ask you a question.”

“Whassup?”

“Are you gonna just lie down and let this bitch play mommy to your kids?”

“No, I'm not. But I need to make some money first so I can go after him and get my kids.”

“Lemme tell you something, child. You better put on your big girl panties and fight for your man and your damn children. That daughter of mine is trifling; she should've never crossed that line. But that's why the old code is you never tell your girlfriends about the man you screwing.”

“Yes, I learned the hard way. There's no way I could've known that Tiana would do me like this. I mean, you know how close we were.”

“Well, fuck all that now! That little bitch isn't loyal to anyone; you see how she do me, and I'm her damn mama. She didn't even invite me to her damn wedding. I was hurt, because I gave her life and did e'erything for her. Hmm, enough about me, the thing is what are you gonna do about it? I mean, if you're cool with letting her take your kids and your man, then that's cool. But if you're not, I say you need to get your shit together and show her who the real head bitch is.”

Finally, I had someone on my side who understood me and where I was coming from. I bit a piece of my bacon as I let what she said sink into my head. She had no idea how much of a boost she gave me just now! I wished my own mama would be this supportive. Instead, her ass was too busy drinking.

“Now that we're talking, I've always want to know what the hell happened at your house between Tiana and your boyfriend. She told me her side, but you already know she can't be trusted,” I said.

“Child, that little bitch was a liar. Ain't no damn way Aubrey wanted to have sex with her. Her little ass was fast, and would try to throw her little ass on him. I blame myself because I knew she was hot in the pants, so I should've made sure she wasn't listening to us at night when we were having sex. I figured she wanted to feel what I was feeling and, when he turned down her advances, she turned around and accused him, thinking I was goin' to get rid of him, but see I wasn't no fool. I know her kind and even though I pushed her out of me, I still didn't trust her little ass.”

“Oh, I see. I've always wanted to know what really happened. I should've known, because you are her mama and she did that shit to you. I wish I never brought that bitch in my life. She even have my mama fooled.”

“Aubrey never fully got over her spreading these lies about him, so after years of trying to work it out he left and married some woman from Clayton County. I almost lost my sanity behind him leaving. I could never forget what that little bitch did to me. I moved and I sank into depression. I guess you can say I hit rock bottom. It was two years ago. I tried to commit suicide, and it was like God intervened, because it was my wake-up call to stop drinking and using drugs. So I checked myself into rehab and, thank God, I've been a year clean. That little bitch screwed my life up.”

We ended up talking some more. I even started crying my eyes out. I ain't goin' to lie, it felt good when she got up, walked over to me, and rubbed my back. “Baby, it's gonna be all right. I'm here now. Trust me, you'll never need anyone else.”

I looked at her and smiled. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“No thanks needed! That's what real women do; we uplift each other. Now dry them damn tears. We need to figure out how to get your man and your kids back.”

I just nodded in agreement. I didn't know what her motives were for going after her daughter, but I didn't give a damn! I was just happy that I had an ally and someplace to lay my head.

* * *

Social services came to visit the other day at Miss Judith's house, but they didn't think the living conditions were suitable for the girls. Bullshit, this lady's house was clean. I swear these motherfuckers were not worried about giving my kids back. The bitch told me I also needed a job to take care of them. Even though I didn't want to go back to stripping, I had no choice; plus, I missed being in the spotlight and being able to spend money the way I wanted to. I remember being one of the baddest bitches to dance in the clubs so, minus the few pounds I put on, I still was one of the best to do it.

I drove over to Pin-Up. I knew the manager; he used to beg me to dance at his club. So I already knew he wouldn't say no to me.

I was happy that he gave me the job. Now I just had to get all my stuff and it was on and popping.

My first night back was better than I thought. It'd been years since I swung on a pole, but it felt like I'd never left. I slowly wound, twerked, and grabbed the crowd's attention. At the end of the night, I counted my money. I realized I made over two grand on a Thursday night. I was amped up, because the weekend was coming up and I knew the club was going to be packed. I got dressed, gave the club their cut, and left. My body was tired, and my bed was calling my name. I need some energy drinks if I wanted to stay dancing.

I walked into the house feeling drained. I quickly snatched off my clothes, and got into my bed. I cut the phone off and threw it on the chair. I smiled to myself; here I was worried about making money. I must've forgotten that I was a beast when it came to grinding.

Even though I enjoyed staying here, my next move was to find my own shit. I couldn't wait to get my children back, and far away from that nigga. I was too tired to focus on his bitch ass right now. So I closed my eyes, trying to catch some sleep, because tonight I would be back at it again.