Baby Momma Drama Page 5

  “Honey, let’s get something straight so we both understand each other. You may be Derrick’s girlfriend, but I have his son. He ain’t got to tell you shit we do. Girlfriends come and go, but baby mommas? We here for life. Now, run along to work. I might need you to bring me a hundred fifty next week”

  With that, she smirked at me and swung the door closed in my face. I stood frozen on the doorstep for a few seconds, trying to decide if I wanted to kill her or Derrick first. Wendy acted exactly the way I expected she would. The girl had absolutely no class. She couldn’t handle the fact that she was no longer Derrick’s woman, so she tried to make it seem like being his baby’s momma made her more important. That was the last time I’d bring that bitch anything, no matter how much Derrick begged.

  5

  Stephanie

  I just ran through two stop signs and planned on running through a third. I had to get home and get home with a quickness, ’cause I had to pee. I had to pee so bad my knees were shaking, and I didn’t think I was gonna make it in the house without peeing on myself. God, I hated being pregnant.

  I don’t know how I made it, but somehow I pulled in front of my apartment without creating a puddle in my seat. I was trying my best to get out from under the steering wheel and into the house when I spotted my sister Jasmine’s car parked out front.

  What the fuck is she doing here? I wondered as I ran up the walkway.

  Call it sibling rivalry, immaturity on my part, or just plain jealousy, but I couldn’t stand my sister. Ever since we were kids, she always seemed to get all the breaks and all the attention. And my mother and grandmother always treated her like she was better than somebody, especially after she graduated college and got that job at the post office. The happiest day of my life was when she came over to Big Momma’s house one Sunday with her tail between her legs after that fine-ass drug dealer she was fuckin’ with was sent to prison. That’s when Miss Perfect stopped being so perfect and everyone started to see her for the phony she really was. And let me tell you, I really drove a knife in her back by inviting Travis over to Thanksgiving dinner that year and introducing him as my boyfriend. It was only a week after her boyfriend’s conviction and it made her look like such a fool. Big Momma was so disappointed in Jasmine that I became her new favorite granddaughter.

  The second I hit the door I headed for the bathroom, and my daughter, Maleka, was right on my heels. “Mommy! Mommy! Guess what Auntie Jazz brought me?”

  “What?” I whined, closing the bathroom door then quickly pulling down my panties so I could relieve myself. Maleka slid into the bathroom as the door shut.

  “Skiing Barbie and her snow lodge!” She shoved a Barbie in my face.

  “Damn,” I mumbled as I relieved my bladder. I’d just put the same Barbie and ski house on layaway at Wal-Mart this morning. It was the only thing that Maleka had asked Santa to bring her for Christmas, other than a swing set, and where the hell was I gonna put a swing set living in the projects? Now, what was I gonna get her for Christmas? I pulled my maternity pants back over my huge belly and waddled into the living room, where Travis was sitting in front of the TV

  “What’s up, baby? I got a surprise for you.” He patted the cushion next to him.

  I ignored his smile. I didn’t give a shit about his surprise. “You know what Jasmine did? She went and bought Maleka the Barbie stuff I was gonna get her for Christmas”

  “So get her something else,” Travis said nonchalantly. He knew how I felt about my sister but he just couldn’t understand why. If I didn’t know better I’d think they were fuckin’, ’cause the two of them acted way too chummy whenever they were together.

  “What do you mean get her something else? The only other thing she asked for was a swing set. Where do you suggest we put a swing?” Travis just shrugged his shoulders, never taking his eyes off the TV. I waved my hand at him in disgust. “Where the hell is my sister, anyway? I saw her car parked out front.” Travis pointed to the ceiling.

  “She’s upstairs in your room.”

  “What the fuck is she doing in my room?” My eyes got wide.

  “Well, when she came over to drop off Maleka’s toy she asked if I knew where her diamond earrings were. Something about she was going to a club in Petersburg. So I told her they were in your jewelry box upstairs.”

  “You told her what?” I became one big attitude. “What’d you do that for?” I headed for the stairs without waiting for his excuse.

  “They were her earrings and she wanted them back. What’s the big deal? She loaned them to you for the NCO ball at the base last month.” I could hear him talking but I didn’t pay him any mind as I walked up the stairs. I loved Travis, but for a sergeant in the army he could be so stupid sometimes. When I reached the second floor I took a deep breath before I peeked into my bedroom. My worst nightmare had come true. There was my sister, with about fifteen outfits laid across my bed. Damn, why’d he let her upstairs?

  “Umm, what are you doing?” I placed my hand on my hip.

  “I was just about to come downstairs and ask you the same thing.” She grabbed a pile of clothes that I had borrowed and never returned. “I thought you said you couldn’t find these.”

  “I couldn’t. Where’d you find them?” I tried to look surprised, but she wasn’t buying it.

  “In your closet” I didn’t say anything. I just stared blankly at her as she picked up three more outfits. “And how the hell did you get these out my house? I never even wore them.”

  “I did. They looked cute on me.” I smiled and Jasmine grabbed the rest of the outfits off the bed.

  “You know what, Steph? If you wasn’t pregnant I’d whup your ass.” She pointed a finger in my face and I laughed.

  “You mean you’d try. You might be a few inches taller than me, Jasmine, but you can’t beat me. You never could.” I took a step closer and she took a step back. Jasmine was a real wimp. She was scared of my big, pregnant self. “What the hell are you doing going through my closet, anyway?”

  “I came over here to get my earrings ’cause me and Becky are going to a club in Petersburg tonight. Not only did I find my earrings but I also found my two gold chains, an ankle bracelet, and another pair of earrings that belong to me. So I decided to see what else you had of mine.”

  “Well, you got your shit. Now get out my apartment.” I turned the attitude up high now, especially since I had a lot more of her stuff in my dresser and wanted her outta my room as quickly as possible.

  “You don’t have to have an attitude, Steph. I know you were just borrowing this stuff. I just wish you’d return them, or at least tell me you got ’em. I mean, it’s just stuff. If you really need it, you can have it. You are my sister, you know.” Would you believe she said that shit with sincerity? She just didn’t get it. She never got it. I couldn’t stand her ass.

  “Just get your shit and get out.” She tried to reason with me but I kept on my bitch face and led her out my room. I followed her down the stairs then straight to the front door, where my daughter ran up to her, hugging her leg.

  “Thanks, Aunt Jasmine. You’re the best auntie ever.”

  “You’re welcome, baby.” Jasmine tried to bend down and kiss her but I grabbed Maleka by her dress and pulled her toward me.

  “Maleka, get in your room,” I told her.

  Jasmine looked at me and tried to smile but I could see she was finally starting to get pissed off, and I was glad. She thought she was all that ’cause that drug dealer of hers left her a little money. Fuck that bitch. At least my man was home to keep me warm at night.

  “And why the hell did you buy Maleka that damn Barbie less than a month before Christmas?”

  “Look, I was in Toys ‘’ Us buying a gift for Derrick’s son. Big Momma said Maleka was asking for it. Don’t you remember that’s what Aunt Lynn used to do when we were kids? She’d just surprise us with new toys whenever she came by. Remember how much we loved her for that? That’s the type of auntie I’m trying
to be.”

  “Ohhh, so you trying to buy my daughter’s love?”

  “No, but I know things are tight with you going to school and all. I mean, come on. You been living in the projects for four years. Maleka’s only got two Barbies. I’m just trying to help out.”

  “Well, we don’t need your help. And you don’t have to worry about me living in the projects no more, ’cause as soon as we’re married Travis is gonna move us on base. Then he’s going to buy us a house.”

  “Well, then you’re a lucky woman, Steph. And Travis is a good man. Just don’t blow it, okay?”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. I love my man. Now don’t be coming by here when I’m not home. You ain’t got no reason to be around him when I’m not here.”

  “Oh, please. You have got to be kidding me. You been with Travis three years and you don’t trust him?” She shook her head and gave me a pitiful look.

  “I didn’t say I don’t trust him. It’s you I don’t trust. Him, I trust completely.” I smirked at her. A look of shock crossed her face.

  “You know what, Steph? I hope Maleka doesn’t grow up to be like you, ’cause you can really be some kinda bitch.” Finally the girl had a reaction other than that nicey-nice shit.

  “Is that so? Well, let’s pray she doesn’t grow up to be like you and fall in love with a drug dealer who pretends to be a lawyer.” I started to laugh as she fumed. I’d really struck a nerve. I was gonna have to remember to use that one again. I watched her get into her Lexus, then looked over at my beat-up ’92 Honda Civic. God, I hated her.

  When I walked back in the living room Travis got up and kissed me. I liked the way he kissed. His kisses had a way of making everything better, and I loved him for that. The funny thing is, when we first met, I was just using him because I didn’t have a car and he seemed like he had a little cash. Don’t get me wrong. I thought he was cute, and the sex was good, but I was into bad boys. Hell, probably the only thing my sister and I have in common is our love for thugs. If it wasn’t for Big Momma, Travis woulda been history a long time ago. Thank God she talked me into staying with him, ’cause I really love the guy now. Although I have to admit I still wish Tupac was my baby’s daddy.

  “What’s up? I saw your sister walk out of here with those dresses. If you need clothes, boo, you know all you gotta do is ask.” He gave me that big smile of his.

  “I know. It’s just that she gave those dresses to me,” I lied. “And now she comes over here taking them back just because I’m pregnant. I hate her, Travis.” He looked at me with a frown.

  “I guess your sister’s not the good soldier I thought she was”

  “She’s not. She’s a real bitch, and I don’t want her in my house when I’m not here.”

  “Okay, but I want you to forget about that for a while. I told you before, I’ve got a surprise for you.” He smiled. I grinned. Last time Travis said he had a surprise for me, he asked me to marry him.

  “What kind of surprise?” I started jumping up and down like a kid, I was so excited.

  “A big surprise. A real big surprise. Now go get Maleka so I can show it to you.”

  When I got back to the living room with Maleka, the front door was open and I could see Travis was standing by his truck, holding my pocketbook.

  “Come on,” he yelled.

  “Where we going?”

  “Don’t worry about that. You’ll see when we get there. Now, get in.” I got into the truck and Travis helped Maleka into her car seat. It took me a while to get my seat belt around my belly, but I managed. When I was all settled in, Travis handed me a black scarf.

  “What’s this for?” I looked at him strangely.

  “It’s a blindfold. I told you this was a surprise.”

  “This had better be good, Travis.” I smiled at him as I tied the scarf over my eyes.

  “Don’t worry, it is. It’s big. Real big.” He checked the scarf to be sure I couldn’t see, then pulled off.

  I knew he wasn’t lying when he said the surprise was big. Whatever he was up to, he was really going all out to keep it a surprise. I felt like a little kid who was waiting for daylight so she could run downstairs and see what Santa Claus had brought her on Christmas Day. We couldn’t have driven more than ten minutes when I felt the truck stop. Travis eased it into park. By now I was going crazy trying to figure out what he was up to.

  “Can I take this thing off now?” I pleaded. Travis had jumped out of the truck and let Maleka out.

  “Not yet.” He opened my door, grabbed my hand, and guided me out of the truck. “Steph, I love you, and what you’re about to see is the first step to showing you how much I really love you and Maleka.”

  “Okay, okay. I love you, too. Can I take this thing off now?” I was going crazy. I couldn’t take it anymore. He was telling me my present was right in front of me.

  “Yeah, you can take it off.” I reached up and ripped the blindfold off, and what I saw left me speechless. I turned to him with my mouth wide open.

  “Is that for me?”

  “It’s for us. Me, you, Maleka, and the baby. Merry Christmas, baby” I couldn’t help it. I started to cry. Travis had done a lot of things for me the past few years. He’d paid for me to go to nursing school, paid for Maleka’s day care, and brought groceries every Friday when he left the base. But this was more than I could have ever asked for.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Do I like it? It’s everything I ever wanted.” I was standing in front of a brand-new white colonial house with burgundy shutters. It wasn’t huge, but it was just what I’d always wanted.

  “I’m serious, Steph. If you don’t like it I can always tell them we don’t want it. I haven’t signed all the papers yet,” Travis chuckled.

  “Don’t you dare! It’s perfect” I turned around and took my man by the waist, planting a giant kiss on his lips. “I can’t believe you bought us a house! I can’t wait to tell Big Momma. When can we move in?”

  “We close in about a week. I figured you’d want to have Christmas dinner with all your family at our house this year.” My face burst into a smile, then a frown.

  “We can’t have Christmas dinner here. We don’t have a dining room set—”

  He cut me off. “We don’t have a lot of things, but I guess that’s why Visa was nice enough to send me this new gold card.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out the card. He looked at Maleka, who was running around to the back of the house. “We’ve got a little more than a quarter acre. Think we have enough room for a swing set?” Travis laughed and I joined in. He made me so happy. I felt like a queen.

  “Travis?” I said softly.

  “Yeah, babe?”

  “I don’t think I can ever repay you for the things you’ve done for Maleka and me.”

  “You already have repaid me. You’re having my child, remember?” He smiled. So did I.

  “I know we’re having a baby together, but I wanna give you more. I wanna—”

  He cut me off. “You really wanna give me something that I’ll always cherish?”

  I nodded.

  “Give me her.” Travis pointed in the backyard at Maleka. “Let me adopt her, Steph. Let me give her my name so she has the same last name as her siblings”

  “You mean that? You really wanna adopt Maleka?”

  “More than anything in the world. Hey, she already tells her friends I’m her dad.” He smiled.

  “You know what? Now I know why I love you. You’re the sweetest man I ever met. I love you, Travis Thomas.”

  “I love you too, Stephanie Johnson.” I reached my arms up and kissed my man. No matter what, I was never gonna let him go.

  6

  Dylan

  I drove into the jam-packed parking lot of the Ramada Inn and decided to park across the street at the Waffle House. It was ladies’ night at The Copper Mine, the small club in the basement of the Ramada, and it looked like everyone in Petersburg was out to have a good time. Everyone bu
t me, that is. I wasn’t in the mood to party. I didn’t even know why I had let Joe talk me into meeting him at the club. But he told me it was time for me to get out of the house, so I finally agreed. I had been bored and lonely since Monica and I split. For five years I had spent my Sunday nights in Chesterfield, having dinner with Monica and her family. Now I had nothing to do but sit and imagine Jordan in my place at their dinner table.

  God, I missed Monica. It had only been ten days since the gun incident, and I was lost without her. All I could think about was getting back with her. I tried leaving messages on her beeper. I even tried calling her folks, but she never responded. The only sign I had that she was even alive was that all her clothes had been taken out of my house one day while I was at work. She didn’t even leave a note. She just left her key on the table by the front door.

  It defied all reason, but I was still deeply in love with that girl. Even after all that went down, if she had walked up to me and asked me to take her back, I would have. I realized she had her faults. Hell, so did I. But she had been a part of my life for too long to just let it go. Once I parked my car, I sat for a few minutes to get myself together before meeting Joe at his usual booth inside the club.

  Joe was a big, six-foot-five, three-hundred-pound, light-skinned man with handsome features and a bald head. He moonlighted as head of security for the club to supplement his income as a dispatcher for Petersburg’s Public Bus Corp. Joe loved his job at the club. He hired members of the Nation of Islam’s FOI, and their mere presence kept the crowd under control. All Joe had to do every night was sit in his booth and watch the dance floor. It left him plenty of time to play mack daddy. It always amazed me how much play he would get, too.

  “My main man, Dylan! What up, brotha?” He smiled, patting my back with his huge arm.

  “I’m doing ah‘ight, Joe. How you doin’?” I forced a smile as I took a seat across from him.

  “I was doin’ okay till you showed up with that sour-ass look on your face. Monica is wrong for doin’ you like this.”