“Ooooo. Thank you so much.”
I chuckled and walked away, feeling like I was on autopilot. My mind was on everything but what I was doing. I was so glad I had the next couple of days off. I would need them. My mama and I needed to talk ASAP. I had a feeling my dad didn’t know she was in contact with that woman. Back then, she was always doing shit behind his back. Since that wasn’t important, he probably still didn’t know about it.
When I got back to Noelle, I spread the blanket over her and watched her shiver dramatically. I chuckled and slowly shook my head. Before I could leave, she called my name. I turned back to her, and she said, “God is in control. Always remember that.”
I frowned slightly and tilted my head, trying to figure out why she said that. Just as I was about to ask why, she continued.
“I can see that something heavy is on your mind. God gave me a gift, and I try to use it to glorify Him as often as He allows me to. Your demeanor has changed from when I first saw you. Your pain is etched on your face from your scrunched eyebrows to your downturned lips. Your shoulders look tense and rigid and your steps look unsure.”
I swallowed hard. “Thank you, Noelle. You indeed have a gift. Send one up for me.”
“Absolutely. Have faith that He will perfect that which concerns you.”
I nodded and gave her a tight smile, then made my way to the front to see what another passenger needed. As I walked by SOLA’s cabin, I glanced at them and could see she was still holding Kimaji, gently caressing her back. For some reason, my heart felt heavy. I was never a nigga that gave a fuck about people’s feelings, especially people I didn’t really know. However, here I was, feeling like I should go back in there and hug her.
I fought against that shit though. I needed to talk to my parents first. My mom could see hidden agendas and logic, and my dad could see the heart. They both knew what it meant to connect to family they had no knowledge of as adults. My dad had found out about two sisters and two brothers as a grown man, and my mama had found out about Aunt Serita and Aunt Sonya as a grown woman. I needed to know how their initial introductions went. I knew my mama and Aunt Sonya used to bump heads, but I didn’t know about my dad’s side of the family.
After assisting one of my passengers, I sat for a minute. We had an hour left on our flight, and I couldn’t wait to land. If I chose to talk to Kimaji, I knew how to find her. As far as Arlie was concerned, I supposed she meant what she said about no attachments. She was treating me like I was a stranger, but I supposed I was treating her the same way. That was probablybest, because if she looked at me a little too hard, I would probably get fired for doing exactly what I’d denied Gabriella of.
That woman was gonna be hard to get out of my system. My phone buzzed, and the number wasn’t saved in my phone. When I opened it, I realized it was from Arlie. I’d forgotten I deleted her contact info.
Please consider getting to know her. She won’t tell her mom she’s in contact with you.
I huffed and slid my phone back in my pocket. I would leave the message there so I could message her back after talking to my people. I closed my eyes for a moment, hoping that Noelle’s prayers made it to God’s ears. I needed every ounce of them.
“In the backof my mind, I knew he would respond this way. I don’t know why I’m so hurt.”
We were on our way back to my house. Kimaji was taking this so hard. Honestly, I knew he wouldn’t be too accepting of this information either. I especially knew it by the way he treated me. He wouldn’t stare at me like he did when he first saw me. He treated me like a stranger, like he hadn’t stroked me into euphoria less than forty-eight hours ago.
I couldn’t even focus on that shit, because my girl needed me. She grabbed her phone and called her mama. I slightly rolled my eyes. That was why he wanted nothing to do with her. It had nothing to do with her, but everything to do with his mother. She gave him up as a baby. I didn’t know if that happened immediately after birth or not. The more I thought about it, though, it had to happen close to immediately after. It wouldhave been a lot harder to give him up after taking care of him for an extended amount of time.
When we got to my place and had gotten settled, I asked, “What did your mom say?”
“She said she knew he wouldn’t be receptive. His parents had too much going right. They’d provided an amazing childhood for him. He got whatever he wanted, and that he was now a millionaire.”
My eyebrows lifted slightly. I knew he was well-connected, but that didn’t meanhehad that much money. His parents were rich. That didn’t necessarily apply to him. What reason would he have to work as a flight attendant if he was a millionaire? That didn’t make sense to me. Then again, that was how the rich stayed rich, I supposed.
“Maj, why did she give him up? Has she gone into detail with you about it since she knows you met him?”
“No. She gave him up after a month, without telling his father. She said the Taylors didn’t adopt him until he was four months old. So he was in CPS custody all that time. Then, get this. His dad tried to get him but couldn’t afford the attorney. That’s crazy as fuck.”
I frowned. “His dad didn’t sign away his rights?”
“There’s paperwork that says he did. I guess he changed his mind. I guess his dumb ass thought they would just hand him over without a fight. They’d had him a month or two when he tried that foolishness. That’s long enough to get attached to a baby . . . or anything that you desire.”
I frowned. “How did your mom give him up after a month? That shit sound crazy to me.”
“Arlie, I don’t have the slightest idea. She should have been attached to him and wanted to do whatever it took to raise him. I just . . . I don’t understand her. She may not ever tell me the whole story, but I feel like it’s going to come out sooner ratherthan later. I feel like Graham is definitely going to talk to his parents about it.”
“I’m sure he will,” I said as I stared at my phone.
He never responded to my text. Nigga left me on read. It was like he wanted me to know he saw it and that he didn’t give a fuck. I knew I said I didn’t want any attachments, but like his bio dad, I wanted to renege on that shit. His dick had rocked me, and I didn’t want to do without it. I grabbed my phone from the coffee table and sent him a text.
Can I see you again?
I didn’t even know if he was still in Houston or if he had to fly out somewhere else. This nigga had me feenin’ for him. That was what I got for fucking around with an older nigga. He wore my pussy out, had it singing his praises, and left my ass without a look back.Ugh!
My leg was bouncing uncontrollably for a moment. It felt like I was coming down from a high and craving another one. It wasn’t that I had been on drugs before, but shit! It had to be like the aftershocks of his dick game.Jesus.I dropped my phone back to the table and just stared at it.
