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“That’s very fatherly of you already, doing what’s best for your child. I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me too, because it took everything inside of me not to handle this a different way.”
Though Lei laughed, Londen was dead serious. He was seconds away from blowing up Felicia’s whole world. If Lei wasn’t there to help him calm himself down, things would have gone a hell of a lot different.
fifty-one
6:00p.m.
Felicia was beautiful,that Lei wouldn’t deny. Her skin was light with a red undertone. Curly hair rested at the top of her head in a pineapple updo. She had round eyes and lips, and a medium-sized curvy shape.
“Are you sure you want me here?” Lei asked as they headed toward the set of chairs by Felicia. “I can wait for you at the bar.”
“I don’t want you drinking until we know if you’re pregnant or not, and I need you close to keep me calm.”
Not bothering to respond, Lei stepped a little closer to his side. When Felicia spotted them, she swallowed hard and stood. Cupping her hands, she twiddled her thumbs.
“Hey,” she spoke.
Londen’s head bobbed as he helped Lei take her seat, then sat in the seat next to her that was across from Felicia.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Felicia chuckled nervously as she sat back down. “You’d been sentenced to twenty-five years. You told me you didn’t want me to do that time with you. I figured it would be best for my son if he didn’t know you.”
“Did you not want him to know me because I was in prison, or because I broke up with you?”
“Honestly, both. In the beginning, it was spite I can’t lie. If you didn’t want me, you didn’t want my child. With time, I realized that wasn’t the image I wanted him to have. As soon as I knew I was having a boy, my perspective changed. It wasn’t about you or me; it was about him. I wanted him to grow up in a healthy, loving environment with good influences…”
“Not a father who was in prison.” Felicia didn’t confirm or deny. “So who was the nigga that was with y’all earlier, because he knew me even if my son doesn’t.”
“That was Da’Mir.” She smiled just at the mention of his name. “My husband. I met him right after I had Landon.”
“Landon?” Londen repeated with a scoff as his leg began to shake. Lei placed her hand on it, and it immediately stopped shaking.
“Yes, Landon.” Felicia cleared her throat. “We were in the grocery store, and I was about to have a meltdown. I felt so alone. I wasn’t getting any sleep or help from my family because they didn’t agree with me not telling you. They are in my son’s life now, but the beginning was rocky. Anyway, I was on the baby aisle and both me and Landon were crying.” Her eyes watered at the memory. “Before I knew it… Da’Mir appeared out of nowhere like an angel. He took Landon out of his car seat and soothed him, giving me time to see to myself. Once I was composed, he held Landon while I grabbed everything I needed. We exchanged numbers and started a friendship. I didn’t tell him about my situation until I felt I could trust him, and he stepped up and helped me. By the time Landon could talk, we had decided Da’Mir was the only father figure he would have, so Landon started calling him Daddy. We were married about a year after that and… the rest is history.”
Londen’s head bobbed once as he looked away. “He’s happy?”
“Very. And very healthy. Like I said, my family is in his life now and, of course, Da’Mir’s family is too. I apologize for not telling you, but I did what I thought was the right thing to do.”
He released a quick chuckle. “For everyone except me.”
“Londen,” she called softly, reaching forward to grab his hand, but he quickly pulled it away. “I’m truly sorry. And I know this is a big ask, but I was wondering if you could just… stay away.”
Londen’s head jerked in her direction. “What did you just say to me?”
“I don’t want to confuse him. Da’Mir is his father.”
“Except he’s not.”
“He… legally is. Da’Mir adopted him.”
Londen released a bark of laughter before almost yelling, “How is that even fucking possible, Felicia? Wouldn’t I have to sign over my rights for you to do that shit?”
Her head hung. “Well, yes, but there are special circumstances where the court will suspend rights in order for the adoption to go through.”
“And what picture did you paint of me for that to happen? Or was finding out I was in prison all it took for them to help you take my son from me?”
