Chapter 8 #2
“You good, baby girl. You gon’ eat now or you ready to ride?”
His words weren’t harsh, but he was kind of cold.
I felt bad as fuck, but I wasn’t going to press him or the issue.
I let him know that I’d just take the food with me because I needed to get back to the hospital.
He nodded, taking my bag from me and leading me down the hall to my living room where his mother was waiting and on the phone.
He let her know that we were ready, so she ended her call and we all left after I locked up.
When we made it to the hospital, Makhai pulled right up to the door.
I knew then he had no plans on getting out.
I didn’t dwell on it; I just got out with all of my things.
His mom got out to hug me, and I thanked her for everything.
I even thanked Makhai who was too busy on his phone to bother looking back.
He just nodded and mumbled “you’re welcome.
” His coldness stung because I knew I was wrong and said some things that I shouldn’t have.
Still, I didn’t press, I just thanked them once more before I went inside.
When I got upstairs, Andrea was there talking with the social worker that I met days prior. I’d already taken the drug test, and they initiated a background check which all came back clear.
“Hey, I was just asking where you were, Diamond.” Sheree, the social worker, said.
“Hey, I’m sorry, I left for a few hours to get her room together.”
“No, it’s fine,” she smiled. “I just wanted to go over some specifics with you for when you guys get discharged. Sit?” she took a seat and pointed to the chair next to her.
Andrea excused herself so that she could give us some privacy.
“Okay, after getting the results for your drug test and background check back, we’re going to grant you temporary custody of baby Keona.
I know you said you went to get her room together, so we’ll send a case worker out in the next couple of days to check everything out.
You will need to make sure you attend all of her scheduled appointments as well as cooperate with the case workers when they come out.
After the initial visit, someone will come out once a month. ”
I pulled my phone out and started to take notes just so I could make sure I knew everything that I needed to.
“Also, we’re trying to locate your sister. If we’re unable to, we’ll have something put in the newspaper in case she or someone else reads it and knows where she is. In the meantime, she cannot visit the baby unsupervised.”
“Okay.” I replied softly.
“Also, Diamond, you cannot transfer custody of Keona to anyone else. If you decide that you no longer want the responsibility, it’s imperative that you let us know. We’ll have to send someone out to get her.”
I nodded and let her know that I understood. I was doing my best to fight back my tears. I would never let her go into the state’s custody, but I was still in total disbelief that my sister had done this.
“Do you have any questions?”
I shook my head. “I think I understand everything.”
She nodded and stood. “If that changes, you can call me. I’m here to help you in any way that I can.”
“Thank you so much.”
“No problem. Thank you for showing up for her.” She smiled warmly, nodding toward my sleeping niece. “She needs you.”
She collected her things after that and left us alone. I got up and walked to Keona’s crib, grabbing her tiny hand as I watched her sleep. I had no clue what our future looked like, but I knew that she would always have me, no matter what.
“Whew shit, who knew that being a parent would be this hard?” Kabria said before she fell down onto the couch next to me.
I chuckled, tucking my feet under me so that she’d have more space. “Thank you for staying with us for a few nights.”
I ended up taking the whole week off work, and she took off Thursday to Sunday so she could help me with Keona when we got home.
It had truly been an adjustment having a baby in my house, but she was a sweet baby.
We did have some rough times since meeting because though my sister seemed to stop using for the most part while she was carrying her, she still had some drugs in her system and experienced withdrawal.
I’d totally scared myself after researching baby’s that dealt with withdrawal.
Some of those poor babies really were going through it in the videos that I’d watched, but we were on the lower end of that spectrum.
She cried, a lot sometimes, but all she needed was some extra loving during those times and we were good.
I was a little concerned about how that would work out for us when she actually had to go into daycare though.
Even though it was my job, and I’d just be on the other side of the building, I didn’t want to worry about anyone getting aggravated with her.
“Girl, you know you don’t have to thank me,” Kabria smiled. “She’s ours now. Little girl has already stolen my heart.”
“Mine too,” I glanced down at my nails, noting it was time for a fill in.
“When are you going to go find Gwen?”
“I don’t even know.” I sighed. “I don’t think I’m ready to face her because I’m afraid of how I’ll react after seeing her, and if she starts her shit, I’d really go off.”
“I get that,” she nodded. “Part of me still can’t believe her. She has done some crazy shit, but this is on another level.”
“Tell me about it.” I shook my head. “I think I’m going to wait until Keona is settled here and in daycare before I confront her. I still need time to cool down.”
“Well, when you’re ready, I’m going with you,” she said, taking my hand.
“I know how much she upsets you, so I’ll need to be there to drive you back or to jump in just in case she wants to get froggy,” she joked and smiled.
I appreciated her because she’d really been trying to keep my spirits high during this time.
“But now that the baby is down, let’s have us a damn drink.
” She got up and pulled me with her. “We need it.”
In the kitchen she pulled out my blender and filled it with ice, fresh fruit, and plenty of tequila to make frozen margaritas. I didn’t really want to get drunk while I had the baby, but I took it because I did need one badly.
“So, have you talked to Loco since he showed up and out with all of baby girl’s stuff?”
I shook my head. I hadn’t told her what I said to him the day he and his mom took me shopping.
“I don’t think I’ll be hearing from him anymore?”
“Well, that’s a lie.” Kabria chuckled. “That man didn’t go through whatever lengths he has to get your information just to not talk to you anymore.”
“Yeah, but I was sort of a bitch.”
“What’s new?” she asked then laughed when I nudged her. “What hoe? You’re mean as a rattle snake sometimes.”
“I am not.” I chuckled while shaking my head. “I just don’t deal with shit that I don’t have to. Hell, I have enough on my plate dealing with Gwen.”
“True, but still,” she shrugged. “You say you’re going to give someone else a chance one day, but you never actually do. I think you’re more hurt by what Tristan did than you actually admit to be.”
“Of course I was hurt, Kabria, I was with him for years,” I replied then sighed. “And maybe that’s the issue. I don’t want to keep dating and keep potentially wasting my time. I wish God would just somehow show me the man that I’m meant to be with so I can avoid all of the bullshit.”
“Well, if a man getting your contact information from thin air, going to the hospital with you to find out about your niece, flying his mom out to fully furnish a nursery, and getting you whatever you needed isn’t God’s way of showing you something, then I don’t know what is.”
“Kabria, shut up,” I laughed. “God did not intend for me to be with a man that I may end up in jail for murdering one day. I know better than that.”
“Why would that happen with you and Loco, Diamond?”
“Because Makhai is a hoe, we both know that.” I rolled my eyes.
“Sure, what he did was super sweet, and I really appreciate it, but I also will not act like I haven’t seen the way he carries on.
Whenever he’s in the media, it’s because he’s been caught acting a fool somewhere, or because of a new woman crying that he broke their heart. I don’t want any parts of that.”
“True, but Loco is young, single and a bad boy superstar. He’s totally on brand with all the things you listed. You can’t really blame the man for enjoying those things.”
“Right, but I can definitely save myself the heartbreak and pain,” I replied and we laughed.
He was a walking bad decision, but I had to admit he was irresistible.
It was just something about the way he looked at me, the way he smiled and his brutal honesty that did something to me.
It was hard to deny him and not jump his damn bones, but I couldn’t deal with the things that I knew would come with dealing with him.
I knew there would be women coming out of the wood works, danger and more, dealing with a man like Makhai, but damn did he make it all very tempting.
“Besides, I have Keona now, so that’s where my focus has to be.”
“Girl don’t even try that.” Kabria laughed after drinking some of her margarita. “There are plenty of women that date while raising children.”
“And I will too. Just with someone more… safe than Makhai.”
“If you say so.” She sang like she knew something I didn’t then turned her focus to her phone.
I just sat there eyeing her for a few seconds before I shook my head and brushed her words off.
I just wanted to enjoy drinks and conversation that didn’t consist of anything that made me think too much.
I needed a mental break, so I pushed all of the BS to the back of my mind and enjoyed my best friend’s company—as well as the bomb ass margaritas she made for us.