Chapter 3 #4
The weight of her sullen stare pierced me.
Her lips parted partially, and she seemed lost for words.
She was dressed down in a three-piece top with pants and a long cardigan draped over it.
Comfortable. She never had to do too much to stand out.
Celine was a beautiful woman, and she was my mother.
Seeing her now cemented that somehow in a way that it hadn’t months ago.
I was angry, and rightfully so. I’d had time to let the anger simmer, but looking at her now did bring about a harsh reality.
“Quency,” she finally said with a shallow breath. “I thought you were the cleaning service. What are you doing here?”
“You got time to talk?”
“For you? Of course.” She stepped to the side, and I moved past her into her domain.
I wasn’t sure what to do. She hovered behind the sectional sofa and I stood in the room and faced her.
“How are you?” I asked, raising my brows.
“I’m okay. Doing a lot of reflecting.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t expect you to just show up here. Is something wrong?”
“Been doing some reflecting myself,” I responded, swiping my mustache.
Glancing over my shoulder at the bar, a nigga felt like some liquid courage right about now. I had murked some of the most-dangerous, sadistic ass men and women in the world, and here I couldn’t relay myself to the woman that birthed me what was on my mind.
“Is it okay if I get a drink?” I asked, and she nodded.
“How is Harbor and Ivy? I miss them… and you,” she declared, rounding the sofa and lowering herself to sit down.
I reached for the brown, knowing it was Hennessy, and poured myself a glass. Taking a sip, I kept my back to her.
“They’re good,” I said, facing her. “Ivy is doing very well in school. Harbor just gave birth… to twins… a few weeks ago actually,” I revealed, flooring her.
“Twins! My goodness!” She gasped and then smiled. “It doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone that long.”
“They are three weeks old. Maze Armon and Misa Halo, a boy and girl.”
Her eyes misted at the mention of their names. My son carried her name as his middle name, and pride beamed in her eyes. I wasn’t completely heartless. Misa carried Halo as a tribute to Harbor’s mother, and she was a feisty little angel. I loved them both so much.
“Wow, twins,” she said with a sigh. “Congratulations.”
I took a few steps toward her and seated myself in a large chair diagonally from her. Gripping the glass, I peered into it for a minute and let my words come to me. Celine waited patiently. She knew I typically thought before I spoke on anything.
“I said a lot of things to you. I was hurt, angry, and… it was disrespectful. I’ve always had nothing but the utmost respect for you.” My emotions betrayed me.
My childhood played out right in front of me. There were so many times when she looked out for me, and I thought she was being a good employee. Lifting my eyes, they connected to hers.
“You have every right to how you feel in this situation. There were so many times I wanted to come out and tell you. But my fear came true that day. The way you reacted, I always knew it would come.” She shook her head.
I could tell she was on the verge of tears again.
“I love you. I always have. In my heart, you have always been my son. I stuck around all these years so that I could be there for you because I knew you needed it. Kutlass and Karrin washed their hands of you long ago. Somebody had to be there. I know you have Knowledge, but let’s be real, that boy got his own issues.
” We laughed together. “And then Ivana came along. It was light and brought out a side of you I don’t even think you were aware of. She gave you Ivy. Then she was taken—”
“Only she wasn’t.” I tossed back the last of my drink and eased myself into the pillows of the chair.
Bewildered, Celine continued to rake her auburn orbs all over me.
“What do you mean?” she questioned.
“Ivana. She’s alive. She’s been alive this entire time.”
“What the hell? How? Are you sure?” Celine questioned, disbelief still dripping from her tone.
“Positive. Seen her with my own two eyes, so has Ivy.”
“Where has she been?”
“She doesn’t talk about it. She was staying at the house for a little bit. She moved out and went to stay with her sister. Ivy’s been visiting her. Everything seems normal.”
“Normal?” Celine asked, shaking her head. “Ain’t nothing normal about this. Does Harbor know?”
“Harbor met her. Ivana isn’t what I remember—”
“How can she be? How can you be after seven years, Quency?” Celine ranted.
A half smile came to my lips. I missed having these conversations with her.
“I mean, what is she expecting?”
“I haven’t talked to her about it. There was some static when she first got here because I found out she was dealing with an enemy of mine. I can’t take her away from Ivy after she’s just getting her back. That’s not right.” I needed to really talk to Ivana and dig a little deeper.
She had a goal; that was for damned sure. I just needed to find out what it was. Unfortunately, that required me spending time with her, and Harbor was sensitive right now, so I didn’t want her getting the wrong idea.
“I can tell you one thing: she sounds like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. You better keep an eye on her.” Celine rose, and I watched her go over to a large window and stare out of it.
“We need you,” I voiced, tone low and somber, forcing her eyes to find mine. “Harbor is dealing with a lot, with Ivy, the babies, and the house. And she misses you too.”
“So what about you?” she asked.
“I’m good,” I answered simply. “I had a chance to cool off. Dealt with my own parental issues, and I’m trying to make the best of my life. Been thinking about retiring, finding something else to do with my time. “
She seemed surprised by that and also cracked a small smile.
“Sounds like a few other things have changed.”
“Come back and see just how much. Meet your grandchildren. I haven’t told Ivy yet, but Harbor is aware.”
“So you and Harbor, that’s—”
“As real as it gets,” I assured her, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees.
“One day soon she’s going to know just how legit this shit is.
She’s going through her hormonal shit right now, and with Ivana back in the picture, I can tell she’s tight about it, even though she isn’t saying anything.
She’s trying to keep the peace, for Ivy more than anyone.
She loves that girl with her whole fucking heart. ”
“Sounds like you love her too,” Celine piped up, grin stretching a mile wild across her face making her eyes crinkle in the corners and sparkle like two stars.
“I love her. I’m fucking in love with her. I think about her and the future and all the shit I want to do with her all the time. Waking up to her just solidifies that there is a God. Gotta be to make something about as perfect as her.”
“I know you love her. There has been something between you two from the moment you laid eyes on her. Harbor is young, but she’s wise, intelligent, and mature.
She has this light, and she can be playful and funny.
Then she’s got this fire that burns inside her.
You definitely don’t want to piss her off because all that sweet shit goes away.
She’s real, and she’s a nurturer. I’m so glad that you have each other.
And twins… my goodness. I can’t wait to see these gorgeous ass babies! ” she gushed.
“So does that mean you will come back?” I brought myself closer to her.
“There’s no place like home,” she whispered with a simper. “Let me get a few things together. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.” Opening my arms, I pulled her into them and held her there.
She rested her head against my chest and embraced me back.
“You were always like a mother to me, but you are my mother. I can understand your position now. And I don’t want to hold a grudge against you.”
“Looks like you’ve learned the art of mercy. I am very proud.” She pulled back and cupped the side of my face, lovingly staring back into my eyes.
She was right. And a little went a long way.
But some didn’t deserve that reserve. What I learned over the years was when a mothafucka was with the shit and direct, they accomplished things.
Being humble was great, but the saying nice guys finished last was the truth.
If you give someone the chance to fuck you over, once should be enough.
I wasn’t the kind of nigga that let you fool me twice.