Chapter Seven- Dior #3
“Taking care of Chanel is expensive. Her school is expensive, and I need time to get myself together. I’m not fully out of debt because of your mother. Do you know that?” he asked, putting his hand on his hip like the sassy queen he was acting like.
“You don’t love anybody but yourself,” I said softly, once the realization hit me. I had nothing more to say to this man, so I walked by him. Making my way to Chanel’s room, I grabbed a backpack and started packing some of her belongings into it.
“What are you doing?” Lewis asked, coming next to me as I rummaged through Chanel’s dresser.
I ignored his presence because there was nothing more that needed to be said.
I would pay Aunt Debbie to take care of Chanel.
I would set up payments to her school for her tuition.
I needed to start working. I remember Buddha saying he didn’t like running the pizzeria he owned, so maybe I could convince him to allow me to run it.
Then I would be able to see about my sister and eventually take her to live with me.
Shit, I hadn't yet spoken to Buddha about that. He’s mad as a mothafucka with me right about now, so I had to wait until we were cool again.
All these thoughts were racing in my head as I packed my sister’s stuff.
Meanwhile, Lewis was there like a mosquito in my ear, repeatedly asking what I was doing.
When he snatched the backpack from me, it was that moment I finally gave him my attention.
“Give that back,” I told him calmly, stretching my hand out so he could give the bag back to me.
“I asked you a question. Why are you trying to go with Chanel’s clothing and stuff?” I should punch this man straight in his deceitful face. The longer I looked at him, the more I couldn’t stand him. Then a thought hit me.
“This house belonged to my mother, and I want you out of it. Be sure to take ghetto Martha Stewart with you and bounce,” I told him, looking directly in his eyes. Snatching the backpack from his hand because I was done playing with this fool. I continued with what I was doing.
“You think you can make me leave this house? I’m still legally married to your mother; this house is rightfully mine,” Lewis began laughing as though he’d won. This mothafucka done forgot the family I was married into.
“Oh, you think this is funny? How about this? You have one month to pack all of your shit and get the fuck out. Unlike you, I’m not gonna throw you to the wolves as you did me. Only because you’re Chanel’s father, I’m not asking your ass to leave right now.”
“Now, look here, if you don’t comply and leave in a month’s time.
You see that crazy man that I was forced to marry, all because of you and what you did.
I’ll let him pay your ass a visit, and, Lewis, you don’t want my husband coming looking for you.
I guarantee you will not like it, he got some pigs that will be so happy to meet you.
” I could tell from the look on his face that he knew I wasn’t joking.
There was nothing left for me to say. I gathered all of Chanel’s belongings I could and walked out of the room toward the front door.
Lewis's little girlfriend was standing in the middle of the living room, looking at me as I walked by. I said and did what I came to do and then some. Now I needed to go over to Aunt Debbie’s and talk with her.
I had officially washed my hands of Lewis Marcano; he could go to hell.
For the remainder of the day, I sat with Chanel at Aunt Debbie’s house.
I bought a shitload of groceries to last two months.
I handed over more than $1,000 to Aunt Debbie.
I explained that Lewis was going through a lot and begged my aunt to look after Chanel until I could come get her.
Thank goodness, Aunt Debbie didn’t have any issues and told me Chanel was welcome to stay as long as needed.
I tried my best to explain to my sister that she would be staying with our aunt from now on.
I reassured her that Lewis loved her and so did I, and when things settled down with me, that she was more than welcome to come live with me.
Chanel seemed happy to hear that Aunt Debbie was where she would be from now on.
“You’re a good big sister,” Chanel told me as I hugged her goodbye at the end of the day. My eyes welled up when she said that because I’ve been feeling like I have been failing her in that department. So hearing her say I was a good sister to her meant the world to me.
“I’m so happy you feel that way. Always remember how much I love you and that I’m only a phone call away,” I told her, raining kisses all over her face until she laughed uncontrollably.
I drove back to where I guess I had to call home from now on. All I wanted was to crawl into Buddha’s arms and tell him about my day. Shit, I would swallow my pride and apologize to him for what I’d done. I just wanted him near me. We’ll argue about Catalina in the morning.
That night, however, Sofia was right. Buddha never came home, and when I called his phone, it took my ass straight to voicemail. Lotus kept me company. For the first time since I’d married Buddha, I slept alone.