“Hi, Auntie Harbor!” they each squealed, rushing by me in a blur.
“Hey, babies!” I was happy to see them as I met up with their parents at the island counter.
Chevy set the bags down. There was a table on the porch that was set up for gifts.
“You think it’s too much?” I asked, wringing my hands together anxiously.
“Did I see fucking horses out there?” Ledge pointed to the patio doors.
“Just two.” My hands rested on my hips.
“Yo, Free seen all this shit?” he questioned.
“He is avoiding me. He hasn’t said one word since we got here and he saw everything being set up.”
“Yeah, that nigga in there smoking four blunts at the same time. Let me go check on my dude.” Ledge shook his head and cleared the room.
“Girl, Free will be okay. I have seen the numbers that him and Ledge are crunching just off their legit businesses. He can more than afford this set up.” She reached for an egg roll off a tray that was set up and took a bite. “Mmm, these are good,” she groaned, having a foodgasm, closing her eyes and everything as she devoured the rest of it. “You look cute,” she pointed out, reaching for another one. “How are things with you and Free? I mean, you’re here.”
“I am here… for Ivy.” I corrected her. “She deserves to have a happy birthday, and I am going to make sure that she gets it.”
“Hmm, just like a mother,” Chevy noted, bobbing her head.
“Only you aren’t her mother, are you, Harbor?” the sharp, accusing voice addressed me from the doorway.
Ivana stood there in a black romper that showed off her ample cleavage and thighs, along with a pair of red-bottom pumps that accented her calf muscles. She was a beautiful woman; that couldn’t be denied, but the haughtiness, the downright righteousness that she carried with her was very unattractive. I rolled my eyes toward Chevy, and she pivoted part of her upper body to give Ivana her attention. She carried a big box, wrapped in black and gold paper and a large bow on top.
“Ivana, so nice of you to join us.” I faked enthusiasm along with a large grin that turned up the corners of my mouth.
“Really? Because I didn’t get an invite from you. Ivy had to tell me when and where to be,” Ivana pointed out.
I didn’t care for her attitude right now, and it showed on my face. Chevy scoffed and went over to the cabinet where we kept the liquor.
“I didn’t think you would want to be here.”
“At my own daughter’s party?” Ivana indignantly questioned.
“I thought it might be awkward.” I shrugged, nonchalant about the situation.
I really didn’t care how she felt. Leaving her off the guest list was personal. I didn’t want to be anywhere near her. I had busted my ass planning this, not her. If she wanted to do something for her, she could do it on her own dime and time. She tucked some of her Brazilian weave behind her ear and pouted her lips.
“Funny, because this day isn’t about you.” She aimed one of her colorfully decorated acrylics at me all snooty and shit.
“No, but it is about Ivy and what is best for her,” I clarified.
“Oh, so suddenly you know what’s best for my fucking child?” Her forehead wrinkled and both of her brows furrowed as she turned her displeasure on me.
“Girl, you need to bring that down to a zero, right here and now,” Chevy chimed in, bringing a bottle of D’Ussé to the counter for us to partake in.
She knew I was going to need it going toe to toe with Frequency’s hostile ass baby mama. I was trying to find the good in her, see what he might have seen all those years ago, but all I got was pushback from her. I wasn’t about to kiss her ass. She had the wrong one for that.
“Chevy, right? Ledge’s baby mama?” Ivana implied, simpering self-assuredly. “What does this have to do with you?”
The air that she carried with her was enough to want to beat her ass. Chevy was the one for a good brawl, and I could see itin her eyes that she was ready to leap over the counter on this hoe. She shot a glance my way, both of her brows going up as if to say “is this bitch serious?” She was prepared to take a few steps closer, but I grasped her wrist and gave her a nod. Chevy chuckled to herself, but she wasn’t amused. It was more of a maddening laugh that could lead to blows being swung.
“You know what? I’m not going to go there with a bitch who is barely afactor!” Chevy took the cap off the bottle of drink.
“Oh, I’m definitely one,” Ivana assured her. “It’s why you moved out, right, Harbor? Why you and Frequency are no longer together?” she insinuated, very pleased with herself.
