Page 68 of Widow Mayker

Back home, I found myself hovering underneath my mother. As the days led up to my first obstetrics appointment, I found any reason to take up space with her. Like now, she was out shopping for the boys, and I just had to tag along. Poppa kept the boys busy while Mama concentrated on getting everything they needed. I followed her like a puppy.

She finally noticed that I wasn’t looking for anything and was just content being in her presence.

“What is going on with you, baby girl?” she asked. Although a smile was on her lips, I could tell my clinginess concerned her.

“Nothing, Mama,” I assured her. “I’ve just been thinking about a conversation we had over ten years ago.”

She picked up a pair of jeans, studied them, then sat them back on the display table. “Oh, yeah? What conversation would that be?”

Trailing her around the display table, I said, “The one about you living your life and not allowing Dad to control you from the grave.”

She paused and glanced at me. “Oh.” Her eyes darted around the store, spotted Poppa, and softened. “That was the best advice you ever gave me, sweetheart. That man over there is the best thing that ever happened to me. Besides you, of course.”

I giggled. “Yeah, I know. Since the day you let him in, Poppa has loved you completely. He’s been something to you that Dad never was. I see that now. He has loved and protected me nearly my whole life. He’s the reason why I… Why I think it’s okay for me to fall in love. I mean, it is okay for me to fall in love, right? I don’t have to allow Dad and DJ’s sins to fall on me or hinder me from the best man I’ve ever known. Right?”

I didn’t know that I was crying until I felt Poppa’s fingers wiping away the tears. Mama stared at me with a set of fresh tears in her eyes, too.

Chuckling, I said, “Sorry. I’m carrying on like a baby inside these people’s store.”

Poppa hugged me to his chest. “This right here is why I’ve decided to become a silent partner with the team.”

Mama gasped. “Really?”

He nodded. “I can’t continue to miss out on my family.” He tweaked my chin. “I wouldn’t give a damn if you were sixty years old. As long as I’m livin’, I’m gon’ always wipe ya tears. Aight, baby?”

I hugged Poppa back and replied, “Okay.”

“And for the record, you’re already in love, dear. Own it. You deserve it,” Mama stated.

Poppa grumbled. “I’ma start diggin’ that nigga’s plot just in case he wanna try some shit.”

I burst out laughing, and Mama sweetly chided him.

“I like Kody, Daddy,” Genesis chimed in.

“Me, too,” CJ added. “He told us he would buy us a car when we turn sixteen.”

Genesis nodded emphatically. “Yep! I can’t wait. I want a Rolls Royce that looks just like his.”

“And I want a Charger, custom painted with dope ass rims,” CJ declared.

Poppa grinned, but Mama lost her shit at CJ cursing. “Boy! Watch your mouth!”

“But Daddy said—”

“Oh… Uh, uh, baby. Don’t do that.” Poppa jumped in quick to save himself before CJ told on him.

I died laughing. Ten years ago, no one could’ve told me that this would be my life now, and that my mother would be in the healthiest, happiest, most loving relationship of her life. I loved that for her. Now it was time for me to step into my own season of being loved.

Just two weeks later, I walked out of my OB appointment feeling like I could pick the entire world up and spin it around like a basketball. I was pregnant! Ultrasound in hand, I couldn’t wait to break the news to Kody. It took special care to keep anyone from being the wiser as to where the hell I was. Dex, who I’d been riding with often since being with Kody, even turned a blind eye.

Bummed that Kody was out of town on business, I decided to cheer myself up by preparing him a nice we’re having a baby gift basket.

Dex took me to the mall, where I instantly regretted going inside there. As I walked into the first store, Tina’s ass popped up in my peripheral. She wasted no time confronting me. Just like the last time, Dex was there to intervene. I wasn’t even surprised when Adir’s security appeared in the store.

“They can’t keep saving you, bitch!” Tina shouted.

Her fingers kept popping over Dex’s shoulder, so the next time they popped up, I grabbed and twisted them bitches hard as hell. The maneuver was enough to get a grip and yank her ass from behind Dex. She swung wildly while I uppercut her stupid ass. All her wild ass swings landed on Dex but mine landed on her mouth and nose.