I exhaled, letting my head drop back on my shoulders. “Ma, they’re engaged!” I yelled at the ceiling.
“Well did you talk to him and allow him to explain why he lied?”
I jerked my head back up and looked at her amazed. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you don’t know what’s going on. At least give the man a chance to explain himself.”
“I don’t need him to explain, I got the message loud and clear. I was just too blind to see the signs.”
She looked at me doubtful. “What signs? I’ve been here for a while now and the only sign I saw was of a man that was in love for the very first time.” She paused for just a minute giving me that look that heralded her saying something otherworldly.
“You know I can read people. I’m not saying Jo is innocent. He’s a politician for heavens sake, which means he’s not above doing whatever he has to do to get what he wants, even if it means using trickery. However, he’s not a fool. He will not risk losing you and Ayana for some hilly head floozy his mama probably picked.” She pointed at me.
“Now his mama…” She shook her head. “Snake, reptile…can’t be trusted with a piss filled bucket. But Jo…naw, there were no other signs except that of his love.”
I held up my hand and began to tick them off for my mother, who was obviously team Jo all the way.
“He never invited me back to his place. Did you notice that, old spiritual one? It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. He never invited me because his place is her place too.”
“He never takes me anywhere where cameras or the press will be.”
“He never takes me to any of those fancy restaurants where his peers mingle. You know why, Yoda? His peers know about his fiancée.”
She shook her head at me. “You said all that to say nothing—” her phone rang cutting her off. Looking down at it she smiled when she saw who it was.
“Hey, baby. Mama was just thinking about you.” The smile disappeared off her face. “Boy, calm down, what are you saying?” She stood as she listened.
“Ma, who’s that?” I asked coming to my feet as well. She held up her hand shooshing me.
“Okay baby, I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone and headed towards the stairs. I scooped Ayana out of her high chair and followed.
“That was Rob, he says Rome done gone crazy.”
“What!? Why?”
She shook her head. “That girl done left him.”
Bewildered, I sat on her bed as she began to pack. Ayana slid out of my arms and began jumping on the bed like a bunny rabbit.
“What girl?”
“His babysitter.”
“Ohhh! Why is he going crazy ‘cause she left?” My mother stopped packing to stare at me as if I was the slowest snail in the race.
“Because he loves her Journey, just like you love Jo. Go figure, both of my children are being idiots at the same time. Now I got to go and try to rein this boy in before he does something stupid and end up in jail.”
I stood. “Me and Ayana will go with you.”
She held up her hand stopping me. “No, you stay here and try to clean up your own life. This child need her father. He a good father. What you gon’ do about that? Or are you gon’ be one of those women that deny him a relationship with his daughter ‘cause your feelings hurt?”
My mouth opened, insulted. “That’s not fair. I didn’t ask for any of this!” Tears came to my eyes. “How is this my fault?”
She exhaled sitting on the bed pulling me with her. “I’m not saying this is your fault, or that you asked for this. What I am saying is this is the hand you’ve been dealt whether you asked for it or not. How you choose to play it out is what counts.” She chuckled dryly.
“Hell, I’ve seen some beat the game working with less.”
As she spoke she rubbed my arm, my head dropped to her shoulder on its own accord needing her comfort. Poor mama, her children were a wreck and she was the only one keeping them together.
“You can make it through this, baby. If you ain’t never listened to mama before, listen to me now. I know it may seem as if the ultimate betrayal has happened, but the devil is busy, and he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t blow things up and magnify them in our heads till we feel like we’re drowning.”
I grunted. That was exactly how I felt right now.
Her voice gentled. “That man love you, and if I know Jo like I think I do, he’s going to show you. Just continue to be your amazing self. He’s addicted to that.”
I looked up at her and frowned. “What?”
She smiled. “Yeah, he’s addicted to you. I know an addict when I see one. You silly girl, if you think he’s going to give up, you’re lying to yourself. Men like that…” She shook her head. “They don’t stop till they get what they want. And he wants you. Just don’t give in too easy.” She kissed me on the forehead and continued to pack.
I didn’t bother telling her she didn’t have to worry about me giving in too easy, because I wasn’t giving in at all. It was over between Jo and me. He will never get a chance to hurt me again. But to my mother I just nodded and helped her pack. I didn’t want our last words to be that of a disagreement. She was team Jo because she didn’t know him like I did. If I told her about his alter ego that can kill as easy as normal people spread butter
