The Love Triangle(67)

“Mr. Greenleaf is all yours.” She looked back at him once, not put together. “I quit.”



The drive home was uneventful, all of her fears came to pass. She should have left things alone, should have dealt with things and taken the high road. She was out a week’s pay, knowing he wouldn’t pay her. Nothing was working out but she needed to find a way to make it all work. Antoine was more moody than ever, recently withdrawn and angry.



He had joined every club imaginable and she was struggling to keep up. She pulled into the apartment and made her way to Miss Withers’ where Antoine was staying. She knocked on the door and woke Antoine up to take him home. As they made their way into the apartment, he stomped off to his room and she was once again reminded that things were very off with him lately. She decided to go tuck him in.



“Antoine, hey are you okay?” She watched him climb into bed.



“Yes, I'm okay, Momma.” He turned over in his bed and gave her his back.



“You sure nothing is bothering you, baby? You seem so distant and quiet lately.” She gently touched his back.



“I’m not a baby anymore, Momma. I’m just sleepy.” He ignored her and she stood and walked out of the room.



It seemed like only yesterday he had been a sweet little baby; he was growing so quickly she felt like she was missing so much of his life. Working at the club and the café, her days were so full there wasn’t much left for him. She made her way to her room to reflect on her night. It would take time to erase what Greenleaf had done to her. She was back at square one. Something would come through. She had to believe that or she had nothing left.



***



The next morning came and the memory of the night before flooded her mind. She sighed, thinking about the day ahead. It was Sunday, she had so much to catch up on at home it would likely keep her busy most of the day. First thing she needed to do was sort out her money issues. She made her way to the kitchen with a sigh, remembering she couldn’t even afford coffee anymore. She still had her laptop, which she used for her online classes. She was down to two classes a semester, timing was everything. If she sold it, she would have to quit school and she wasn’t ready or willing to give that up just yet.



Finishing school was her only ticket to a better job in the future. She would wait, at least a little longer.



An hour later she sighed. With what she had left, she could pay rent and utilities for another month and that would be the end of it. On the other hand, she could take the money she had and rent a room at a local hotel and it would stretch almost another month. The idea of living in one room was a struggle, but at least she could make that work a little longer than her current situation. She would tell Antoine, he deserved to know they would have to move. She called for him to come eat breakfast and told him the news.



“I don’t want to move, Momma, it isn’t fair.” He scrunched up his face and crossed his arms over his chest.



“I don’t either, baby, but we have to do what we can.”



“It’s not fair!” He yelled back at her. “I never get anything I want, none of this is fair!” He stomped off to his room and Ciara was once again reminded that something was off with him, he would never yell at her like that. She should go down the hall and tell him just that, but she didn’t have the heart or the energy to. He needed time to adjust. Not only to his grandfather dying, but to the idea of moving. Everything was going to be different for him and it was hard. She held her head in her hands. He was right about one thing, it wasn’t fair at all.



She stayed that way for ten minutes or so when she heard a knock on the door. It was probably Miss Withers. She swung open the door and Derek stood there in her way. He was beautiful, different somehow but still beautiful. At the moment, she wanted nothing more than to walk into his arms and let him hold her. He always comforted her. But, they weren’t there anymore and she knew it wasn’t possible. Instead she gave him her best smile.



“Derek, I’m sorry I forgot you were coming by. Things are a mess right now, it’s not really a good day.” She folded her arms over her chest.



“Ciara, I’m here, I want to talk. Please.” She heard him stress the please, so she reluctantly opened the door and let him in.



“Derek!” Antoine called his name. He ran over and Derek gave him a hug and a high five.



“Hey, little man, how are you?” He smiled down at him.



Tony glanced at his mom and back. Ciara shook her head no to him, hoping he wouldn’t say anything. Unfortunately she wasn’t that lucky.



“Bad… Mom says we have to move to a hotel.” Derek glanced up at her with a frown.



“I see.” He clipped the words.



“Momma, can I go play with Rodney? He’s only here until tonight.” He waited and she gave him a nod and a smile.



“Be home by 5:30 please.”



“Okay, Momma.”



She watched him cross the hall to Rodney’s and closed the door behind him.



She spun around to face Derek.



“Before you even ask, it’s not that we are moving to move. It’s just how things are right now.” She moved to get a glass of water.



“I see,” he repeated.



She moved to the table and he followed her. He looked lost in thought for a moment and she waited. Finally he said something.



“I’m sorry, Ciara, about last night.”



“It’s not entirely your fault, Derek. We have discussed your need to be a hero. Besides, you weren’t blameless in the situation, I kissed you back.” She gave him a smile.



“I’m not sorry for that, Ciara, I’m sorry I was demanding things of you. I stand by what I said, you shouldn’t be there, shouldn’t be working in a place like that. The owner… he isn’t a good guy.” He paused and looked at her. “I’ll never be sorry for kissing you, Ciara, you should know that.”



She blushed and focused on the table in front of her. “You can’t tell me what to do, Derek, but I know your intentions were good.” She wanted to tell him she had quit but she couldn’t without telling him he was right. Part of her didn’t want to let go of that.



“It’s going to get complicated, but I think I have a solution. I can’t help but worry about you, so I’ll just have to be there on the nights you’re singing.”



She looked up at him, surprised. “Derek, you can’t be serious.”



“Oh I am, I don’t trust that guy and if I’m there, I can watch out for you.”



“It’s not your place, Derek. I can take care of myself.” She stood up to make her point but he followed her.



“I care about you, Ciara, I can’t just stop.” He was louder now.



“What about her, the other woman, what does she say about this?” She was angry now and hated herself for asking the moment the words left her mouth. He seemed confused.



“What other woman, Ciara, for some reason, no matter how much I try, I can’t be with any other women since I met you. You did something to me and now I can’t move past it.” He spouted the words out to her and she eyed him warily.



“I doubt that.” She spun around to walk towards the front door. She wouldn’t be lied to, he could go for that matter.



He grabbed her arm and she whimpered loud enough to make him let her go. She pulled her arm to her chest.



“Ciara, what’s wrong?” He looked concerned and moved to touch her arm. She recoiled.



“Nothing is wrong, I just hurt my arm at work.” It wasn’t a lie, not really.



“Let me see, Ciara.” He held his hand out and she knew he wouldn’t let it go. Reluctantly she gave him her arm and he turned it over to reveal two new bruises both purple, but it was apparent they would get worse. “What in the world happened, Ciara? Don’t give me some made up story about it either. In case you’re forgetting, I am a doctor.”



He held her there so she was forced to face him. “It was nothing really, just a misunderstanding.” She swallowed hard and met his eyes.



She could see him getting angry. “Who? Ciara, who did this to you?”



“Greenleaf, he wanted more than I was willing to give.” She barely got the words out when Derek swore loudly. “That son of a bitch, you just wait.” He grabbed his jacket and started to leave.



“Derek wait, don’t… just let it go. I handled it already.”



He stopped for a moment. “What do you mean?”



“I quit.”



She settled back into her chair and he followed suit but not before asking, “Did he do anything to you? Hurt you or touch you?”



“No, he kissed me and tried but I was able to get away before it went too far. He groped me but nothing else.” She watched his hands turn white, he was clenching onto the chair so hard. “I’m fine, Derek, really.”



“Well that’s good. So is that why you’re moving?” He leaned forward.



“Yes.” She didn’t want to say anything more, she didn’t want his pity or his help.



“Ciara, why don’t you ever ask for my help?” He waited.