Chapter 20
Mona
“Dadaaaa! Auggie!” Azaria called loudly as a few knocks sounded at the door.
Tossing my reading book and notebook on the bed, I looked at the beige rectangular object. Only a handful of people knew where I was, and that handful knew I didn’t want to be disturbed.
Harshly, I said, “What?”
“Momma, it’s me. August Junior,” the sad young man said lowly as if his mouth was damned near one inch from the door.
Surprised at who was at the door, my heart skipped a few beats as I slid off the edge of the bed. Unsure what he would ask or what my response would be, I swallowed hard.
“Momma, will you please open the door?” he asked on the verge of crying, causing me to feel like shit for not answering his calls or text messages.
“I’m coming. Your presence caught me by surprise,” I replied, nearing the door.
“Dadaaaaa! Auggie!” Azaria called out animatedly as my cell phone rang.
Unlocking the door, I held my breath and thought, look him in the eyes and smile. Kids shouldn’t be put in grown folks’ business.
Upon opening the door, I couldn’t analyze the sunset or the vehicles in the small parking lot.
My son was a handsome mess. His face was longer; he was sad.
His eyes were red. He’d been crying, an action he rarely did.
The deep, long quiver of his lips caused my eyelids to flutter as my stomach caved in.
“He hurt you. Eventually, he told me what he knew. I’m not here to reconcile y’all’s relationship.
I know it’s over, and so does he. I’m here because I can’t afford you to leave me, taking Azaria and the twins.
You adopted me before marrying him. You can’t undo adopting me.
I mean, you can, but I hope you don’t. I love having a mom.
So, will you still be my mom?” he asked, genuinely, as tears tumbled down his face.
Hurriedly, I snatched him to me. Planting a ton of kisses on his temple, I soothed the crying boy who was at the best part of his young life and having to deal with his parents’ issues.
Rubbing his back, I admitted, “I wasn’t going to leave you.
Adopting you wasn’t something I took lightly.
I weighed the pros and cons. I told you then that I will always be your mom, and I’m telling you again, August Junior.
I’m here to stay, regardless of the divorce, and I’m living in my own place.
So, wipe your tears and come inside. Your sister is having a singing marathon with y’all’s dad and your name. She’ll be happy to see you.”
“I heard her from the door. I miss her.” He chuckled lightly as I stepped out of the way.
As he walked inside, Azaria became overly happy. Hopping from the princess chair, she squealed her brother’s name while clapping.
My heart beats, I thought, seeing three black-on-black Tahoe trucks with black bars on the grills enter the parking lot.
Exhaling sharply, I closed the door. I didn’t give a damn about seeing the tricked-out Chevrolet Caprice or the last three men tailing her. When X stepped toward me days ago and today, I was very sure she understood my pretending not to know her meant to leave me the fuck alone.
While my children sat on the sofa, Azaria talked her brother’s head off. As he kicked off his shoes, I asked, “Are you hungry?”
“No ma’am,” he answered, giving me his undivided attention.
Walking toward them, I asked, “Have you eaten a proper meal within the past few days?”
“Only fruit and oatmeal. George Junior and Germoney made me eat it,” he offered, pointing at the bed.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I asked, “Why would I sit over there instead of next to y’all?”
Smiling, he said, “Because I see what’s on that bed. You are studying. Get back to it. I got her covered. I’m not leaving this room. I’ll crash on the floor. I ran by the house and grabbed my covers and blow-up mattress.”
Feeling disappointed, I shook my head and said, “You have a home with a bed, August Junior. You must study in peace. You will return home and rest before you return to school. I’m giving you three days to be in this city.
My issues with your dad have nothing to do with you and Azaria.
Life goes on. Yours just started, and I’ll be damned if my troubles fuck up yours. Do I make myself clear?”
Slowly nodding, he exhaled. “You are clear on going back to school within three days. Leaving you and Azaria in this hotel isn’t clear. We can debate that for hours until you and she go to sleep. I have time.”
Loving his persistence and knowing he was telling the truth, I patted my legs and said, “You won that one. I have another hour on my hands before I call it quits with studying. We’ll grab something to eat.”
“Okay,” he voiced as six knocks sounded at the door.
My nails curled into my palm as I growled, “What?”
“Mona, things were done because of something that happened years ago. I’m not making any excuses.
I’m taking full responsibility. I shouldn’t have broken into y’all’s hotel room.
I overstepped big time, even though I came in good faith for the Henry children.
A mistake was made many years ago. I destroyed y’all’s marriage, and I feel horrible about that.
I haven’t slept since word spread around town about the shooting and you not being near him.
I can tell you this … there’s a high possibility August Senior didn’t see you, but someone else.
Can you please open the door so I can see how to best help you with living arrangements and anything else you will need?
” X begged pathetically. I wished I could slap my hands around her neck and choke her ass out, just as I was done.
Deeply, I exhaled and sashayed toward the door. While my phone tweeted, informing me that a text had come through from Kingsley, X continued pleading her case to be heard. For her to be the boss bitch, she truly was a fucking whiny bitch.
Upon opening the door aggressively, I stared at the red-eyed woman holding three boxes of pizza, a pasta and cheese stick container, three drinks, and a bag of ice.
Rushing to extend them to me, she stuttered, “Mona, I’m a woman at the end of the day.
No matter how bad I am … I have feelings too.
Most of the shit I do is wrong. I know that.
But much of the shit that I did ... I don’t give a fuck about.
But … but what I told August Senior 18 years ago was motherfucking wrong.
So, wrong that the shit was out of pocket.
Every single day, I regretted what I told him.
The fucked-up part about all of it is … he had no idea those words were even spoken to him.
He had zero clue what really happened after I spoke those words.
He does now, and he’s beyond fucked up behind it.
I know for sure that I destroyed y’all’s marriage.
I’m petrified to find out whether I destroyed the bond he has with King, Kingdon, and Kingsley.
He kicked everybody out of his hospital room after I spoke with them in the hallway.
He’s hurt times a million because of me.
You are aching and altered because of me.
Yes, he did and said things to you, but when it all boils down to things …
I’m the reason. I’m not here to reconcile y’all.
I’m here to ask you to forgive me for not making sure you were okay in his hands.
I’m here to ask you to forgive me for intruding on y’all’s private time.
I should’ve read the environment instead of on my big bad bitch mission to settle things for the night, so I could tutor one of my godchildren.
I failed you because I failed him. I take pride in looking after someone who I put in people’s path to always watch over and protect.
I have a house in Homewood if you would like to live there.
I’ll pay the bills and make sure food is plentiful.
If you want to find a job, tell me what you want to do, and I’ll make that shit happen.
If you need a weekly stipend, name the amount and I’ll unass on whatever day you want.
A hotel does not have enough room for a growing princess and her pregnant mother. ”
I didn’t care to know what she had done eighteen years ago to make a man I loved to pieces trip out on me the way he had.
Retrieving the food from her, I studied her pleading eyes and the slight tremble in her hands.
Either my eyesight was fucking up, or she was rocking back and forth as if her soul ached.
“Thank you for acknowledging your fuck up and offering help. It’s not needed. Is there anything else you need to say? I have to get back to studying and spending time with my kids,” I offered as my phone played a jazz song.
Uncle Silas. I wondered whether he had heard the news. He and Auntie Clara returned to Tokyo for a few days on business, I thought while X shook her head.
“Good. Again, I don’t know you, so please don’t approach me,” I spoke, stepping away from the door.
“If you just so happen to know of me and need me, contact one of The Quad Ts,” she offered as a lone tear slid down her face. For one second and one second only, I felt remorseful for the woman who was trying her best to make up for the disaster she created.
Closing the door, I said, “August Junior, will you answer my phone, please?”
“Of course.” He nodded, lifting Azaria into the air.
She giggled, causing me to smile. My sweet-sour patch had finally gotten one of the two men she had been calling since we walked out of our home.
“Yes, sir. It’s me. How are you?” August Junior asked kindly as I set the food and beverages on the scratched-up caramel-hued dresser.
“That’s good. How’s Auntie Clara?” he questioned as the amazing aroma from the meaty pizza and hot wings crept into my nose. My mouth watered as I didn’t waste time grabbing a few paper plates to fix our food.
Stepping next to me, August Junior kissed my cheek and handed me the phone. As I accepted it, he ordered, “Go study. I’ll bring your food to you.”