I loved my mother, but I didn’t like some of her ways. Her need to fit in and push a certain narrative about our family drove me crazy. Anyone could do an internet search and read the history ofSweet, Savory, and Goode. There was no use in pretending we were something we weren’t in order to be accepted by these families whose lineage dated back several generations.
I’d have a conversation with her, but it should be face-to-face, and my father needed to be present. I’d never intentionally disrespect my mother, but sometimes her actions brought me close, and my father’s presence would ensure that I didn’t say something I’d regret later.
Once I’d decided to put the conversation with my mother on hold, I called Malyah. She let me go to voicemail multiple times, so I sent her several texts, which she ignored as well. I didn’t do anything to her to warrant her ignoring me, so naturally, I became concerned with her whereabouts and safety.
When I realized she was fine and there was nothing wrong with her phone, I wanted to snap. Instead, I shared her location to my phone so it wouldn’t be a problem in the future.
“Honestly, there’s nothing I want to tell you about Callie because she’s he last person I want to waste my breath talking about. But since she won’t go away, I should probably give you some insight into our history.”
“Are you in love with her?” she asked with a quiver in her voice.
“Not at all?”
“Have you ever been?”
“Never.”
“She’s clearly in love with you.”
I shook my head. “Nah, she’s not. She may be a little obsessed with having someone she’s been told repeatedly she can’t have, but she’s not in love.”
“Well, she definitely has your mother in her corner.”
“Which means absolutely nothing. Up until a couple of weeks before I met you, me and Callie messed around for a few years. We weren’t in a relationship, and I never stopped dating and sleeping with other women, which she knew, but she thought she was special because whatever we were doing lasted more than a few times.”
“Maybe she is special, and you don’t want to admit it.”
“Nah. My feelings for her are no different than they are for someone I fucked once and sent on her way. She’s persistent and easy. When I didn’t feel like putting in the effort to bag someone else, she was always there, waiting and willing. When I tried to cut her off for good, she popped up a few weeks later with an ultrasound, saying she was pregnant.”
She gasped before saying, “Was she lying?”
“Hell yeah, but before I found out she was lying, I spent more time with her than usual.”
“How long ago was that?”
“About two years ago.”
“But you said you were with her recently, so if her goal in doing all of that was to remain in your life, she did exactly what she set out to do.”
“Maybe, but she’s never been with me the way she wants to be.”
She rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t matter to her. As long as you keep giving her access, she’ll think she’s winning. Now that she has your mother on her side, she probably thinks it’s only a matter of time before she has you the way she wants you.”
“It’ll never happen.”
“What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without seeing her?”
I shrugged because I wasn’t sure. “A month or two.”
“I don’t know what you’ve told her, but your actions prove that she holds a special place in your heart. I guess only time will tell exactly how special.”
“Callie means nothing to me, baby. Please get that out of your head.”
“Is there something else you want to discuss, because you’re playing in my face now?”
“How am I?—”
“Kenzo, I appreciate you being candid about your relationship with Callie, but if I have an inkling of a suspicion that you’re still fucking with that bitch, I’m gon’ fuck you, her, and your mama up.”
