“Let me see if I understand what you’re saying. You want to move to Miami although you don’t have any money? This doesn’t make sense. It’s expensive to live there.”
“Look. If I stay here, I can’t afford to take care of the kids. Christian is eating enough food for four people in one meal. Our boy must have a tapeworm or something.” Malcolm shook his head and chuckled. He glanced at Olivia as if expecting her to laugh. She didn’t offer any signs of amusement.
Malcolm cleared his throat again before continuing. “When it comes to Simone, I can’t keep her out of a mirror. She spends too much time obsessing with herself. The way she burns through money to buy clothes, I believe she thinks her parents are Beyoncé and Jay-Z.”
Malcolm kept talking despite Olivia’s lack of response. “The cost of their therapy sessions is outrageous. I don’t think it’s helping anyway. Christian is still having nightmares about the fire and sometimes wets the bed. If the counseling worked, a nine-year-old wouldn’t be having these issues. Have you noticed Simone’s weight? She’s getting fat and she stays angry all the time. We’re throwing dollars at a therapist who can’t get the job done.”
Olivia stuck her finger in front of Malcolm’s face. “Don’t you dare call Simone fat. Do you hear me? I better not ever hear you say it again.”
“I’m only saying she’s been overeating since everything happened. She sits in front of the computer and eats junk food. You must admit she’s getting thick.”
“I’m not going to allow you to insult our daughter as my mother did with me. There is not an ounce of fat on Simone.”
“Well, I call it as I see it. Having blinders on doesn’t make it not real. Don’t be sensitive about the truth.”
“I think it’s time for you to move on with your next point. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
“I’m trying to finish telling you. Stop cutting me off,” Malcolm huffed before continuing. “If I move to Miami, I’ll find a place for us to live for less money.”
“Wait a minute. You said ‘us’. Are you talking about taking the kids with you?” Olivia’s heart pounded in her chest with the realization of what Malcolm planned to do. Fury began to mount inside of her.
“Yes. They will be moving with me.”
Olivia leaned in and fixated her eyes on his without blinking. “No. I’m not allowing you to relocate the kids out of Texas. You’ve lost your mind with your stupid idea.”
“You don’t have a say in this decision. I have custody of them.”
“You can’t move my kids. What gives you the right? I’m their mother. I need to be close to my children.”
“Yes, I can. They’re mine, too. I’ve already talked to the judge. I have every right to do it,” Malcolm responded in defiance.
The waitress stopped by again with the coffee pot. “Need a refill, honey?”
“No,” Olivia responded without dropping her glare from Malcolm’s face. He shook his head at the waitress. She shrugged her shoulders and glided to the next table.
“Olivia. You need to listen. Did you forget we lost everything in the fire? No one told you to burn our house down.”
“Don’t you even go there again, Malcolm.” Olivia pounded her fist causing him to flinch.
A woman sitting at another table widened her eyes with a stare of recognition. Olivia overheard her telling the other ladies sitting with her, “That’s Dr. Olivia Maxwell, the psychologist who burned their house down.”
Olivia glared at them and snapped, “Mind your damn business.” One of the women turned beet red and they all diverted their attention away.
Olivia returned to the conversation with Malcolm. “If you hadn’t cheated on me, I never would’ve done what I did. You being a man-whore, is what caused me to snap.”
Malcolm dropped his voice and pleaded an apology with his eyes. “Olivia, I’m not here to fight with you. I know I messed up. Okay. Let’s move past what you did. I forgive you.”
“Well. I don’t absolve you and I never will. What makes you think I care if you forgive me? We both know your intention for getting me out of jail is you realized your inability to handle the kids on your own.” Olivia tapped her foot.
“That’s not true. I can handle them. You can come to visit the kids in Miami after you complete your required counseling sessions.” Malcolm waited for Olivia’s response.
“What part of no, don’t you understand?”
“Okay, here’s the deal. Simone and Christian are having a rough time with other kids making fun of them. They’ve been struggling with keeping friends since the fire. For their safety and well-being, they need to be in a different environment.”
“No.”
Malcolm leaned back. “You know what? I need to go to the bathroom. Hold that thought and I’ll be right back.” He left the table heading to the rear of the café.
“He has lost his mind if he thinks I’m going to wait on him for more of this bull.” Olivia grabbed money from her wallet and tossed it on the table. She snatched her coat and purse from the seat, pivoted on the heel of her sneaker, and stormed toward the front of the restaurant.
The tinkle of a bell made Olivia glance at the entrance as the door to the café opened. A woman, dressed in a too-tight, too-short, candy-cane striped dress, entered wobbling in high-heeled shoes. The matted, rabbit fur jacket she wore remained open with an inability to stretch across her belly to fasten. She didn’t offer a smile to Olivia, rolled her eyes upward, and snorted, “Humph.”
Olivia burrowed her brow in confusion about who this unkempt woman could be who blocked her pathway to the exit.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” She squeezed past the woman who appeared ready to give birth any day.
The lady rolled her eyes at
