22. My Mamas
My Mamas
My girl hurting and not letting me in was hurting me in more ways than one.
She didn’t have that glow she always had. Any time she laughed or smiled, it looked forced, and when she asked me for space, I almost took it personally, reminding myself that she was hurting.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what she needed.
I just knew she needed to feel better, and whatever I needed to do to make that happen, I was going to do.
Since she wanted some space, after taking Amir to school, I went into the office and worked on payroll and some other shit, realizing I needed to take a trip outta town to see my diamond guy for a few pieces, including what Amir needed for his mother’s services that were coming up.
I was in the middle of looking up flights when Keith walked in with his music loud, humming along to the music.
“Good morning, nigga,” he said, walking into my office, what are you on today?”
“Getting some work done,” I said, looking back at all the shit I had out on my desk. “I have been letting a lot of shit slip. I didn’t know it was that bad.”
Keith shook his head. “You haven’t been letting shit slip. Money has been coming in, everybody is getting paid, we are good.”
“Yeah, but I am short on diamonds and shit. I need to put in an order.”
“You going to get it?” Keith asked. “You know how long Danny takes to ship shit when you are not there.”
“I know, that’s why I am looking at flights now.”
“How is Islah?” Keith asked, changing the subject.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. S ome days she’s okay, other days she looks like she’s still in Cali. I don’t know.”
“Have you tried to talk to her?”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “You know I have… She is not ready to talk. She asked for space.”
“That’s fuckin’ with you, ain’t it?”
I nodded. “Man, that shit is driving me crazy. I am just trying to be there for her. I love Islah—I have never been in love before. I better not lose her after all this.”
“I feel you. How about this? Let me keep Amir, and y’all slide out and pick up the diamonds, see if that will help her open up.”
“I don’t know, man. Maybe I just need to give her some space.”
“Or maybe you need to remind her that you are not going anywhere,” Keith said before walking out of my office.
While he got the store ready to open, I sat back in my office, thinking about what he said. That nigga might have been right, and I damn sure didn’t have an issue fighting for what I wanted.
I made the call to Danny, my diamond dealer in Miami, and told him to expect me after that. I booked a flight for Islah and myself.
For the rest of the day, the city must have gotten word I was in the store because everybody wanted a custom piece. I wasn’t mad, though. It gave me another place to focus my mind instead of on Islah.
By the time I had to leave to get Amir from school, I had ten new custom jewelry orders.
I was getting my things together to leave when Keith came back into my office.
“So, what are you going to do?”
I exhaled. “I’ma take you up on your offer. Come through tonight and take Amir to school for me, and we will be back in time for me to pick him up.”
Keith nodded. “Will do. I will see you in a little bit.”
After getting Amir, we went home with some flowers to see Islah lying on the couch.
Amir walked over and gave her a hug while I sat across from her.
“How do you feel about going on an overnight trip with me?”
She leaned back on the couch. “To where?”
“Miami. I need to pick up some diamonds from my diamond dealer for the store and for Amir’s piece so I can have it done in time for the funeral.”
Islah stared at me for a second. “Yeah, sure.”
Her mouth said yeah, but her face said otherwise.
“Go pack then. We are leaving in a few hours.”
Islah got up and went upstairs while I sat there taking deep breaths. I hoped that maybe some time in a city with just us would help her open up. If not, I didn’t know what else to do.
After I got my thoughts together, I went upstairs to see that Islah had two overnight bags pulled out for us.
I watched her fold clothes and put them in one of the bags. I wanted to ask her if she was okay, but I held back.
“I am happy we can do this. Then we can start talking about the wedding again.”
I watched her tense up, and I raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah…we can try to,” she said softly.
I pulled out some things for myself, and she folded them for me and placed them into the other bag while ordering us a car.
“Amir,” I yelled out.
A few seconds later, I heard his bedroom door open and him running down the hall.
“Yes, Dad?”
“We are going to Miami overnight. I have to pick up some diamonds for work. Keith is going to come stay with you and take you to school in the morning. I will pick you up.”
“Cool, I can dust him in the game a few times,” he expressed.
I laughed. “Break that nigga’s pockets.”
When Keith got to the house, I told him what time I got Amir up for school and what time he needed to get there. While we talked, Islah stood near the door, not sayin’ a word.
I hugged Amir and told him to be good, and he went over to Islah, hugging her as well.
“I hope you feel better soon,” he said softly.
I shook my head. I hated that he saw the change in her, too.
The whole ride to the airport, Islah didn’t say anything. She just stared out the window while twisting her ring back and forth.
I reached over and placed my hand on her thigh, and she looked at me with a half smile.
“I am okay,” she said softly.
“I didn’t ask,” I responded.
“I know, but you were thinking it.”
I nodded. “I was, but I wanted to give you…space.”
She rolled her eyes and looked back out the window.
Through the airport and on the plane, I kind of got the same treatment. Islah was not saying anything, and I was leading everything. I was getting irritated, but tried not to show it when we landed.
“Iight, mamas, we are in a new city for the night. I think we should live it up and have a good time.”
“I’ma try, baby, I’ma try.”
I nodded. “That’s all I need from you. I will do the rest.”
We got a car from the airport, took it to the hotel, and got checked into a suite that was so big and beautiful that Islah couldn’t help but smile when she walked through the door.
“We are only here for one night,” she said.
“So,” I responded. “We could be here for two hours, and I would still do the same.”
Islah walked over to the window and looked at the bird’s-eye view of the city as I walked up on her and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“I just want you to be okay, Islah, and if you are not, tell me so I can do my best to fix it.”
I felt Islah exhale.
“When I figure it out, I will let you know.”
I nodded my head against her. “And I will be here waiting.”
We stood there for a minute in silence, watching the world move until my phone dinged and took us out of whatever lil’ trance we were in.
“Go get dressed, I want to take you out to eat.”
She looked around, and I looked at her, shocked.
“You came outta town and don’t have anything to wear for dinner, Islah?”
She laughed. “No, that’s not it. I did, I just thought you might want to stay in and watch TV.”
I shook my head. “We’ve been doing that a lot lately, and I like to show you off.”
Islah went over to her bag and pulled out a dress.
“Give me a few minutes.”
“Take all the time you need, mamas.”
While she did that, I hit my man Danny and had him make reservations at one of the hottest restaurants in the city for me.
He hit me back just as I was pulling my clothes out, telling me it was done, then I hit a driver telling them where to pull up for me.
Time was passing along, and Islah was still in the bathroom, leaving me to get dressed in the room. I was about to knock on the door and check on her when she finally opened it.
She was wearing tight, in all the right places, burnt-orange dress.
I stared her down while she was standing by the door, trying to look shy.
“You look amazing, mamas,” I said low.
She smirked. “Thank you, baby. You sure it’s not too much?”
I tilted my head about to answer, then remembered it was her first time going out since everything happened.
I walked over to her and pulled her into my arms.
“It’s never too much. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded. “I guess so.”
I grabbed her hand. “Come on, luv.”
We walked outta our room, through the lobby, and out to our car. I sent the driver the address of the restaurant and sat back, and to my surprise, Islah snuggled herself into my arms.
“Do you have to do trips like this a lot?”
“When we run low and I need it in a rush. Danny be taking his time shipping shit out… Why?”
She shrugged. “No reason really, just thought this was a good idea for date nights.”
I smiled. “It is, baby, it is.”
We got to the restaurant, and the music was coming out of the doors. Ladies were dancing, men were choosing. Everybody around was in a good mood, and that’s what I needed for Islah.
We finally made it inside and were led to our table.
We had a good view of the whole inside and outside from our seats, and before doing anything else, we took it all in.
“This is a whole vibe,” Islah expressed.
I agreed. “It is, it’s even better because I am out with you.”
Islah smiled, leaned over, and kissed me.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” I responded back.
After a while, the server came back around with our drink menu. I got a Henny and Coke while Islah got a mocktail and some appetizers for us.
I watched Islah sway side to side in her chair while she looked around.
She looked happy for the most part. I caught a few smiles here and there.
I thought to myself, I might have been overthinking.
My girl went through something traumatic while pregnant.
The whole time I’m thinking she’s upset about Gio, she could be mad that she’s hungry.
That shit put my mind at ease.
Once we got our food, Islah smashed it. She ate hers, mine, and she even asked for more fries on the side. She finally was done and sat back, drinking her mocktail.
“Can we dance?” she asked.