37. Baby
BABY
I woke up to my alarm clock blaring in my ear.
After a few more hours of talking with Love, he dropped me off home before going back up to the hospital.
Now, I had to get ready for my meeting with Lauren.
I wasn’t looking forward to being in the same room with her after she sent that letter, but I didn’t have a choice. Someone pounded on my bedroom door.
“Baby, get up!” My auntie shouted. Just in case I didn’t hear my alarm, I told her to come wake me up, since she usually got out of bed around six thirty.
“I’m up, I'm up.” I moved from under the blanket.
“You want breakfast?”
My eyes zoomed to my phone screen. I still had to hop in the shower, I wouldn’t have time to eat anything. “No, I’mma be late.”
Moving quickly, I made my bed and grabbed clothes from the dresser. I couldn’t stand coming home to a messy room, so I had to make sure I cleaned for a second before going into the bathroom.
I knew I had minutes to get ready. My hands frantically roamed my body as I washed and rinsed off under the sprayer. My hair was still in the style I got for Valentine’s Day. I used my wig brush to comb through all the knots, then chunked it on the dresser.
“Baby, let’s go. You got five minutes to get out the door.”
Cursing under my breath, I slipped on a tank top and my uniform shirt, before sliding into a pair of denim jeans with some black Nike’s. After the meeting, I had to go directly to work and wouldn’t have time to come back here.
My eyes scanned the room to make sure I grabbed everything, including my cell phone plugged up on the side table.
“Baby!”
Running out the room, my auntie narrowed her eyes as soon as I came down the hallway.
“I’m here, come on,” I urged, power walking towards the front door.
Her arm extended, stopping me in my tracks. “Here, at least have some bacon and coffee.”
I smiled, reaching for stainless steel tumbler and aluminum foil she had in her hands.
“You know you my favorite auntie, right?” I teased, walking outside. She was behind me talking shit the entire time.
I ate as we drove, nervous about the mess I was walking into.
It’s a different feeling from the first because I didn’t know who my parole officer was.
This time, I knew who it was, and I knew she was hellbent on ruining my life.
It seemed like the ride went by quicker too because in the blink of an eye, we were pulling into the parking lot.
My phone beeped in my pocket as she turned the car off. Looking at the screen, I smiled widely seeing Love had sent me a text message.
Good morning, Beautiful. I know you probably at the office already, just want to make sure you good. You sure you don’t need me to come pick you up?
Feeling a presence by my face, I cut my eyes to the side to see auntie all in my business. She was leaning over the console looking at my phone.
“Hmm,” she said, a strange note in her voice. I knew she was not his biggest fan, but I didn’t think it was that serious. My mouth formed a straight line.
“Hmm what, Auntie?” Instead of giving me an answer, she shrugged.
“Nothing.”
Giving her the side eye, I typed my reply.
Good morning. I’m going to meet your girlfriend now, I will text you afterwards.
“See you later, Auntie.”
“Okay, boo. Don’t forget I’m going out with Kenny tonight. You got your key, right?”
“Yup, have fun.” I got out, holding my hand above my eyes to block the sun while I walked up to the door.
My hands shook slightly as I turned the knob. No one was sitting at the front desk this time when I went to sign in, so I just put my name on the sheet of paper and went to sit down. I was so anxious; I couldn’t even pick up the magazine to occupy myself.
It was four other people waiting too, so I figured it was gone be a while until my name was called. I knew Love probably texted me back by now but, just as I was reaching for my phone, I heard heels clicking on the tiled floor.
“Baby Wilcox.” Lauren stood in the door of the hallway. She stared at me with a grimace. I knew right then, this wasn’t gone be good for either one of us because the way my temper set up, I was not too good with letting somebody disrespect me so openly.
I stood up from the seat, walking over slowly until we came face to face.
“Remember me?” she questioned with a sly smirk.
I didn’t feel the need to respond because clearly, she knew I did.
“I’m sure you know Mr. Hamilton is no longer employed with us. I’m your new parole officer.”
“Okay,” I said, with a bored tone.
“Follow me.” She turned on her heel to head towards the room.
This nice person act she had going on didn’t fool me. I was sure it’s gone be a totally different thing when we were behind closed doors. And I didn’t miss that jab about me knowing he no longer worked here. Bitch was tryna take shots at me.
She opened the door, walked around the desk and sat down. On my way to the seat, my eyes roamed around the room curiously. This one was much bigger than the one Love was in, probably because she’s the supervisor. Her eyes were glued to my face even after I sat in the chair.
Since we were playing those games while she looked at me, I stared right back. I guess that was her way of tryna intimidate me, but it’s not gone happen. When she realized I wasn’t turning away, she cleared her throat, going under the desk.
“Go pee.” She slammed a cup in front of me.
Huffing out a breath, I stormed out of the room. It’s taking everything in me to remain calm. I couldn’t afford to beat her ass, but that didn’t mean I had to be nice.
I got done handling my business and went back into her office. She was flipping through a folder. Her ugly ass ain’t even let me sit down before asking questions.
“Did you find a job, yet?”
I looked down to the uniform shirt I had on, her eyes followed my gaze.
“Right. How about school?”
I sighed, sick of this conversation already. “I haven’t yet, but I will be soon.”
“Are you staying out of trouble?”
I unlocked my phone and sat it faced down on the table.
“Yup.” At this point, I’d rather her just come out and ask about my relationship with Love, then sitting here pretending she knew nothing about it. It was really starting to irk my nerves.
“Alright.” She put the folder away, folding her arms across her chest.
I waited for her to speak. “Obviously, you know that I know, what’s going on between you and Love.”
“What would that be?” I played dumb, sitting further back in the chair.
“Y’all was fucking around when he was working your case.” She spoke with her hands, rolling her neck with attitude.
“First of all, we ain’t having sex. Second, wasn’t y’all doing the same thing you accusing me of?”
“He’s not on my case.”
“You are his supervisor though, Lauren. The difference is, y’all been having sex for months. Me and Love are just friends.”
“Girl, please. The pictures show otherwise.”
“So, it was you who sent them to my house?” I caught her. “That’s a little cray cray if you ask me, doing this for somebody that you not even in a relationship with. I’m sorry you went through all the trouble, but that blackmail stunt ain’t gone work.”
“Let’s see what Mr. Simmonds would say about it. I don’t see what Love sees in a felon anyway when he has me. I was with him first, how could he trade me for trash?”
Trash? I was not even offended by that. The only shot she had against me was my record.
“Ain’t you pushing forty? What Love gone do with you?” I retorted, tilting my head to the side.
“I’m only twenty-seven.”
That’s even worse, and she wondered why he didn’t want her. “Sorry to hear that, yo’ face look like it’s been through hard times.”
Her cheeks turned beet red as she jumped out the chair so fast, it flew back onto the floor. Pointing her finger towards the door, she spat, “Get out my fucking office hoe before I beat your ass.”
She has a lot of pressure on her chest, I thought.
I remained in my seat, unbothered, as she towered over me. I wasn’t worried about her hitting me, though; she wasn’t that damn stupid.
“If that happens, that’ll be the highlight of my fucking day,” I replied sarcastically. She was red hot at the fact that I was not letting her push me around.
She stormed over to the office phone, picking it up. “Expect the police at your door come tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I pushed the chair out, stood up and headed towards the door. Before my hand could touch the knob, I spun back around.
“Instead of worrying about me and Love, you need to get yo’ face fixed hoe! Walking around here looking like a Pit Bull puppy!”
I stormed out of there so damn fast, you would’ve thought I had smoke behind me. Couldn’t believe I let her ugly ass get me outta character.
Looking down at my screen, I pressed a button and called Jayda. Yesterday, she said she could get off work early to pick me up. However, when I scanned the parking lot, I didn’t see her car.
Honk! Honk! A dark blue BMW rolled in front of me. I smiled seeing a familiar face.
“Need a ride?” Tiffani’s head was across the console as she spoke. I hadn’t seen her since before Valentine’s Day when she did my hair.
“Uh, I’m waiting on—” I started.
“Jayda, I know,” she interrupted me. “She couldn’t leave, and asked if I could come get you. Hop in pretty girl.”
She moved back over to her side. Extending my arms across the console, I gave her a quick hug. “Hey, boo.”
She grinned.
“Hey.” Her eyes moved towards my hair, tugging on a strand with a sour look. “Oh, we gotta do something about this.”
I sucked my teeth, dodging her attempt to touch it again. “Ain’t been in here a minute and you already talking about me.”
“Only because I care,” she commented, driving away from the curb. “You going to work, right?”
“Yup!”
After that little situation with Lauren, I had drained all my energy. Despite how I was feeling though, I genuinely wanna get to know Tiffani better. I saw a different side of her when she hooked me up after I got out. Maybe we could start over, forget everything that happened in high school.
“So, what you been up to since graduation?”
She seemed surprised that I asked but, after the initial shock, she started telling me all about it.
After sending Love a quick text, telling him that I was okay, I listened with a smile.
She relayed everything, including marrying the love of her life in her senior year of college and having a baby shortly after graduation.
Although I was happy for her, I couldn’t help feeling jealous about the stuff I missed out on.
Those thoughts made my hate for Leah grow a little more.