"I'll tell her exactly what you said." We both stood up and embraced each other one last time and then he smiled as he walked away.
It didn't matter how much time passed my father was still crazy about my mother. They married when they were young and ended up having four children but somehow throughout the years they'd grown apart. Although I knew something had gone down between them I really didn't know the specifics of what drew them away from each other. My dad still seemed to be madly in love and although my mother tried to play hard to get I knew there still remained a part of her that loved him too.
I used my key and let myself in my mother's condo in Austintown. She was sitting in her living room watching her favorite channel on TV … HGTV.
"How did I know it was you? I swear you come in my house the same exact way. How are you baby?" My mother stood up and held me in her arms.
"I'm good Ma. Just wanted to come and check on you. I just left from seeing Dad. He told me to tell you hello. Dad still cares about you."
"That's nice."
"Ma." I shot her a look for her sarcasm.
"What? What do you want me to say Kwame? You want me to jump up and down and scream for joy because your father mentioned me? Well I'm not going to. I'm sorry."
The intensity in my mother's eyes and the passion laced behind her voice told a story all its own. There was no doubt in my mind that she still had feelings for our dad. Her body language suggested that a fire still burned for him even after all these years and even though she tried to convince me that she could care less I could see straight through her.
My parents were still very much in love. Somehow looking at their love made me want that type of love with someone one day and the reality of it all was I wouldn't have it staying with Charmaine. I knew I had some hard decisions to make.
Kyhanna
Chapter 7
It had been almost four days since I had heard anything from my mother. No phone call, no text message, no nothing. I had been calling her since she left that note for me and while I was getting her voicemail now it appeared that her number had been disconnected. Thank God I had been able to stay at Tameeka's house with her otherwise I wouldn't have anywhere to go.
When Tremaine called me that was the last thing I wanted to do was tell him about what was going on but I hated keeping things from my brother. We usually told each other everything and even though what I was about to say was going to make him feel some type of way I still had to tell him anyway. I hated keeping things from him and even though I'd contemplated dodging his phone calls I knew my brother would call me non-stop until he actually reached me.
Hello, you have a collect call from …
Tremaine
I pressed the button on my phone to accept his call and then I heard the familiar noise in the background being loud and I knew my brother was on the phone.
"Hey bro, what's up?"
"Nothing much. Same shit, different day sis. I haven't heard from you so I figured I would call and check you out. What's going on?"
"A whole lot since the last time we talked Tremaine."
"What's up? Hit me with it."
I took a long, deep breath and then just came out with it.
"So the other day Marquis had his party and it was so much fun and everybody was there and when I got home mommy and Tahj were gone."
"What do you mean mommy and Tahj are gone?"
"I came home and the house was empty. She wrote me a note saying she took Tahj and they left town. She said something about going to Chicago but we don't have anyone we know in Chicago."
"What she leave town for?"
"She said she owes Zeke some money or something like that. She's been dodging him for a while now. He even stopped by the house looking for her."
"Shit … are you still staying there? Please tell me you're not."
"Naw. I left the night mommy and Tahj left."
"Well where are you staying? Sis, you good?"
"I'm staying with Tameeka. I guess I'm good as good can be."
"See that's why I hate being in here man … if it was out then you would be with me. I'm worried about you sis."
"I know but I don't want you to worry about me. I'll be cool Tremaine." I reassured my brother even though I felt the complete opposite. My brother had tried to say something else but the recording let me know that we had less than a minute left in our conversation.
"Well look I gotta go but I want you to try and visit me this weekend. I need to physically lay my eyes on you so I can make sure you're cool."
"I love you." I said in between tears.
"I love you too sis."
Click.
Our phone conversation ended abruptly and without any other warning. I put my phone back in my jean pocket. Tears slid down my face and I felt like I was on the verge of a complete emotional breakdown. I hated being in this predicament and I hated that my mother even put me in this position to begin with.
I was so glad school was out for the day otherwise I would've had to make up some excuse to leave early.
"Sis, what's up? Are you cool?" Tameeka asked as she walked up on me while I was standing outside waiting for our bus to pull up.
"I'm straight. I just got off the phone with Tremaine."
"Aww. So you told him what happened?"
"Yeah. I didn't want him to find out from anyone else. I really appreciate you and your mom for letting me stay ‘cuz otherwise I would be out the street."
"It's nothing sis. I know you'd do the same for me."
"Kyhanna! Kyhanna!" I heard someone calling my name from behind me. I turned around to see Kwame standing outside his BMW. I looked back over at Tameeka who couldn't contain her smile.
"Hmmm … it look like your man trying to get in touch with you."
"Tameeka."
"What? What I say that was wrong?" She asked with her arms held out. When I turned back around Kwame was still standing in the same spot he'd been standing in wearing the same expression he'd had when he first called my name. I started walking over to him just as my bus finally pulled up. He could tell by the expression on my face that I was torn between coming to see what he wanted and catching my bus.
"Hey don't even worry about that. I'll take you wherever you have to go." Kwame offered.
"You ain't trying to kidnap me are you? I ain't trying to be on nobody's milk carton."
"Come on Kyhanna. It ain't even like that."
"What's up Kwame?" I asked as I walked up to him.
"I can't get no hug?" He asked. I reached my arms out and he took me in for a quick hug.
"That's better." He smiled.
"So what did you want?" I asked still trying to figure out why he called me over in the first place.
"Get in." He stated getting straight to the point.
"Where are we going?" I inquired.
"Oh wouldn't you like to know. You have to come with me to find out." Kwame said. He walked with me around to the passenger's side and opened the door.
"You coming or what?" He asked again and instead of answering him I got in his car. Kwame looked at me through the window with the biggest smile on his face and then he got in.
"See how smooth things go when you cooperate."
"Whatever." I replied shaking my head at him.
"You look nice." Kwame commented.
I looked over at him with a look like was he serious.
"Boy please these are my uniform clothes. I look just like everyone else at East."
"No you don't. You may have to wear a school uniform but you definitely don't look like them other chicks at East High. You're way finer than them."
"Kwame whatever. Is this the game that you feed to all your women ‘cuz I'm not falling for it."
"It's not game. I was being serious. But anyways where you been? I've been trying to get at you since Quis party and you haven't returned any of my calls. You mad at me or something?"
"Naw, I'm not mad at you at all it's the crazy baby mother of yours who I got problems with. She rolled up on me like we together or something. She's nuts."
"Tell me about it. That's why we not together anymore. I only have to keep in contact with her because of my son other than that it's a wrap between us. Charmaine always tryin' to pop off somewhere and I hate that. I do apologize for that ‘cuz it was uncalled for."
"So you forgive me Kyhanna?" He looked over at me and asked. He probably thought I was upset with him but little did he know I had way more problems than just dealing with his crazy ex.