"Come on. You know that isn't even a comparison. I want to see my son."
"Well I want my family and I can't have that so I guess we can't always have what we want."
"Charmaine this shit is ridiculous and it needs to stop."
"Have you ever stopped to think how I feel about this whole situation? I'm the mother of your child and we actually had a family and you broke that up for some random chick. And all you can complain about is the fact that you can't see your son? Why should I even let you see him? Do you want him to learn that it's okay for him to dog women like you've dogged me?"
"Are you kidding me right now? I've always been there for my son and now all because stuff between me and you is different you gonna try to keep him from me? Well I'm sorry but my son is not your little pawn in some chess game. Don't make me take you to court."
"So you threatening me Kwame? Let's not forget you've never paid a lick of child support. I could have your ass locked up asap."
"Fuck outta here Charmaine. Do whatever the fuck you want to do. I better see my son."
"Whatever nigga. I hope you ready to pay up. Get the hell off my phone."
I hung up my phone and threw it across the room. Kwame always knew what to say to press my buttons and this conversation wasn't any different. If he wanted to take me to court to see his son then he better be prepared to pay me all the money he owes me for the entire time our son has been alive. I've never taken him for child support when I could have all because I felt he was a great father but now since he got him a new girlfriend it seemed as though his priorities were completely screwed up. Hell, I felt that I should receive compensation for being a mother period. It didn't matter because I was getting ready to take his ass for everything and then some. I walked over and got my phone pulling up Tariq's number. I hit dial and the call immediately went to voicemail like it had been doing for the past few days. That was so unlike him to go this long without at least calling or texting me to say where he was. I tried not to panic when he went missing at first because we weren't technically together but when his brother called to ask had I seen or heard from him I started to get a little nervous. With each day that passed there had been an uneasiness that formed in the pit of my stomach and it had been that same underlying anxiety that I hadn't been able to shake.
I scrolled through my call log and pulled out Romell's number and decided to call him again. I hadn't known him for that long but every time I spoke to him he always made sure he answered my calls no matter when I called him. It seemed as though Tariq and Romell had been there for me more than Kwame had ever been and that was a damn shame because if it wasn't for Tariq stepping up and having my back when I left Kwame I wouldn't have had anywhere to go. I mean I could've always went to my mother's but it was so nasty over there I didn't want to expose my son to how his grandma was living. The phone rang three times and then Romell picked up.
"Hey Charmaine you still haven't heard from my brother?" He asked.
"So I take it you haven't heard from him either."
"Naw, I was hoping you was calling me to tell me you did. I'm still waiting on the police. They're still looking for him. They found his car the other day abandoned. Someone stole it and just left it."
"Wow."
"Well when they call me I'll make sure I hit you up."
"And if he walk through the door, I'll call you."
"A'ight cool."
I hung up the phone with the same feeling in my stomach that I previously had. If his own brother who usually knew everything didn't have the slightest clue as to where his brother was then I had to wonder where the hell Tariq was too.
"Mommy, where Reek?" My son asked as he suddenly interrupted my thoughts. Reek is the name my son started calling Tariq from the minute we moved in and I thought it was cute that he couldn't pronounce his entire name.
"I don't know where he is baby. Come on and let's get ready to go to the mall." I stated and then put on my son's jacket so we could go. I had promised my cousin Patrice that I would walk around Southern Park Mall and even though I wasn't exactly in the mood I felt like getting out of the house was better than staying and being cooped up all day inside wondering where Tariq was.
Thank God Patrice was ready to go when I came to pick her up otherwise I would've left her with the way I was feeling. Hopefully she got the memo and realized I wasn't the one today. Sometimes Patrice tried my nerves. As soon as she stepped foot in my car she looked as though she had something to say.
"Char, I got some straight tea for you man … "
"What's up?" I asked anxiously awaiting for my cousin to tell me whatever it was she had to say.
"Girl, so why was in Walmart in Boardman with my mother a few days ago and guess who I see … Selina … now you know I can't stand her ass. And I was planning to ignore the shit out this bitch but she just had to walk up to me and speak."
"What she say?"
"Girl, it's not even what she said. It's what I saw. This bitch is pregnant!"
"Get the fuck outta here. By who? The city?" I laughed.
"Now you know she couldn't wait to open her big fat mouth and tell me who her baby daddy is and she saying she is pregnant by Kwame."
"You lying."
"Now that's what she said. She also said her and Kwame had a long conversation and they supposedly trying to be together for the baby sake."
"Ha! I see that bitch is still delusional."
"She is but if she is actually knocked up by Kwame then that's gonna be all bad for your situation. She gon' be dippin' into money that Kwame kick you for KJ."
"No it won't."
"And how you figure that?"
"Cuz I'm taking his ass to child support so he can give me what's mine."
"Girl, I'm glad. You should've been took his ass down there. Niggas think they can kick you a few dollars here and there and everything is okay but that still don't stop them from doing stupid shit like trying to leave you high and dry while they run after the next bitch. You definitely doing the right thing."
If I didn't have confirmation about taking Kwame to child support then I most definitely had it now. Since he wanted to be slick and go out of his way and make other babies then he was getting ready to open them pockets wide. I pulled my car in the parking lot of the mall and parked in the food court section.
"Char get ready to be seen cuz you know how the mall is. You know we gon' see people here we don't like." Patrice warned before we got out the car. Although I hated to admit it she was telling the truth. Southern Park Mall had been the place that everyone who is anyone came to hang out and shop. It was also known to be the place where all the haters came and some were only there to wait for things to pop off. So I had to mentally prepare my mind to take a stroll through the mall.
Like I figured, the food court was completely packed full pf people. We managed to walk straight through and beat the crowds of people who stood around and did nothing. I looked down at my phone and still didn't see any sign of Tariq. I sent him a quick text.
Hey babe. Where are you? I'm really worried about you. Hit me back.
Patrice looked over at me and must've been able to read my thoughts.
"Have you heard from Tariq yet?"
"No. It's been an entire week. No one has seen or heard from him. Before he left me that last day, he handed me a few stacks and then left and that was the last time I heard from him.
"Do you think that something bad has happened to him?"
"I dunno. I hope not. I mean with each day that goes by there's a possibility but I try not to think about it. Maybe he's locked up and can't use the phone. I'm sure he'll turn up soon. I may even hear from him today." I hoped.
"Yeah, I'm sure you'll hear something." Patrice replied and then I turned my attention to my son who started wiggling uncontrollably which served as his universal sign that he had to go to the bathroom.
"Mommy, I gotta pee.'
I went to grab his hand and take him to the restroom but Patrice took his hand instead.
"Don't worry I'll take him for you." KJ grabbed Patrice by the hand and they were off toward the bathroom. I found a nearby seat and sat so I could wait for them. I had been busy scrolling through my iPhone when someone approached me. I wasn't really paying attention and I assumed it had been Patrice with my son but I rolled my eyes when I looked up and saw Selina's round telly-tubby ass standing there with all of the confidence in the world like she was Jennifer Lopez.