Mom

Famke was back at work and was struggling to look Cesar in the eye. When she’d gotten back from the airport the day before, she’d arrived at her apartment just as Cesar was leaving the building. He’d either not seen her or pretended not to see her. However, it was Bram’s state which made her unable to look at her old friend. Bram appeared as if he’d spent the night the way she’d spent hers with Royal and it was unnerving.

Then, if the situation with Cesar wasn’t uncomfortable enough, the one with Keshaun was equally as odd. Jubi messaged her last night to say she and the man hooked up at the New Years party. They both drank too much. Keshaun apparently said he was full of regrets which made Jubi angry. He’d given her an apology saying if he hadn’t been drinking to excess it wouldn’t have happened and he felt he’d used her to drown his sorrows. Jubi, according to her messages to Famke, questioned whether Keshaun was accusing her of taking advantage of his drunken state. He denied this of course but it wasn’t sitting well with Jubi who wanted his head, and his balls, on a platter.

Keshaun’s guilt about boning his best friend’s little sister caused him to avoid Royal. When Royal dropped her off to work this morning, her boss ducked into his office and was yet to reappear. Considering how he usually was there to set the shop up for the morning rush, it was weird he hadn’t reemerged.

The one person she didn’t hear from was Nyx, despite her texting her to let her know she was back. This too was strange. Overall, it felt very much like everyone in her life was in a weird state of relationships and she was confused and admittedly, feeling lonely.

She flipped the sign on the front door to open and then walked back to the counter to finish setting up the display. She looked up in surprise as the doors chimed letting her know a customer was there and then she lifted her eyebrows at the woman who entered. It was only six in the morning and yet Imani was entering, dressed to the nines, make-up flawlessly done, and hair perfectly styled.

“Good morning,” she tried to remain professional.

“Where is he?”

“Who?”

“Don’t be a daft bitch. Royal.”

“Imani, I don’t know what I’ve done to you which would cause you to be calling me names, but you need to stop.” She felt heartsick at the antagonistic tone of the woman. “A couple of weeks ago, we sat in Precious’s room, and I thought we came to an agreement.”

“You stole my family.”

“I did no such thing.”

“Royal got back last night and called me and told me I was not allowed to have unsupervised visits with my granddaughter like I’m a felon! I know you put it in his head.”

“Imani, she’s in extensive therapy and you’re giving her mixed messages. I support whatever decisions Royal makes if it’s in her best interests.”

“Where is he staying? I want to talk to him.” She glared at Famke, “without you present.”

“I don’t know. He dropped me off an hour ago.”

“Where was the baby?”

“Precious was sleeping.”

“Who was watching her?”

“Bram. He was up getting ready for school.”

“At the new house?”

“No. At my apartment. Precious wanted to have a sleepover at my house last night.”

“Where did she sleep?”

“In my bed with me.”

“Where did Royal sleep?”

“At the hotel, actually. He said there was a ton of work to do since we were away all week.” Famke was getting tired of the interrogation she was undergoing. “Look Imani, I don’t want to fight with you. I didn’t ask for any of this. Royal came to me. Royal sought me out. He put me in Precious’s path and while I am infinitely grateful and thankful for everything he’s done, I didn’t initiate any of this. I only want what is best for her.”

“You aren’t what is best for her. You can’t replace her mother. I know she’s calling you mommy.”

“I don’t want to replace Mindy. Mindy was a sick woman who put her daughter in a box when she misbehaved, Imani. The last thing I ever want is to remind Precious of her. I’m happy to be a completely different and new option for her.”

“You’ve poisoned my son against me.”

“You’ve done it yourself, Imani.” Famke wasn’t backing down. “The more you refuse to understand there is a little girl who is hurting, lost and in desperate need of healing, the more you’re driving him away.”

“I,” Imani started to speak but Famke cut her off.

“That, right there, is the problem Imani. The “I” you keep bringing up. It’s not about you! It was never about you. It will never be about you. You need to take your narcissism and check it. None of this is about you. It is about a small child and doing everything possible to help her heal from the abuse and trauma she has gone through. It’s not about you losing anything. It’s about her gaining everything, including her health.”

“I want what is best for her.”

“No. You want what is best for you. The difference between you and me, Imani, is I would walk away if I thought it was what was best for her. I did it. Christmas Day when she fell apart because she was terrified of me, I left because I knew it was what was best for her. I want her to be strong and resilient and to grow up with the understanding of what love and respect is. I will always respect the boundaries she sets.”

“You’re taking the last part of Prince away from me,” Imani’s lower lip trembled.

“Imani, she’s not a relic.” Famke’s soft-spoken words appeared to shock the older woman. “She isn’t a trophy or souvenir of Prince’s life. She is a living, breathing child with a mind and heart of her own. She isn’t a piece of Prince. She is an entity all of her own. You don’t get to stake a claim on her, and she doesn’t owe you her any part of her simply because of the man with whom she shares DNA.”

“But” Imani tried to argue.

“There is no but here Imani. She isn’t a way for you to cling to your son. He’s dead. He isn’t coming back. What lives on is the trauma and pain his and his wife’s behavior put on the child they shared and instead of acknowledging it and helping her, you’re acting like a spoiled woman who has been told she can no longer play with her favorite toy in the manner she chooses.”

Imani took a deep breath and exhaled, “I really want to hate your guts.”

“Go for it,” Famke shrugged. “I can add your name to the ever-growing list of people who do. Ambrosia and Kara top it right now, but you can round out the top three.”

Imani chuckled and rubbed her head, “I want to, but I can’t. I can’t help but respect how strong you are.”

She grinned at the woman’s words despite herself, “Imani, does Cliff know you’re here?”

“No. He heard Royal telling me off last night about my conversation with Precious from the other night. He didn’t know. He’s angry. He was hurt Royal accused Prince of drugging Mindy but last night he told me he believes Royal. He said we’ve always turned a blind eye to the transgressions of our kids. Royal can be a cold bastard. Prince manipulative. Jubi spoiled.” She sighed, “or at least it’s what he said last night. I went to sleep at my sister’s house after fighting with him.”

“You did?”

“Yes, and ten minutes with her and I was realizing why it was your friend Nyx told her off. I drove all the way here and took a hotel room. Nothing like someone holding a mirror up to you and showing you all the shitty parts of yourself. I hate driving and the more I drove last night the angrier I got. It’s not fair, Famke.”

“What isn’t fair is you showing up at her place of work and harassing her,” Royal’s voice spoke from behind the women.

Famke turned to face him, “what are you doing here? Where’d you come from?”

“Well, I came to confront my best friend who is avoiding me, so I came in the back door but heard mom’s voice. What are you doing here?”

“I want to see Precious.”

“Not alone,” he shook his head and moved to stand behind Famke, his hands resting on her shoulders. “You called her mother a bitch and then offered to let the child live with you if she didn’t want to move here. You undermined us as parents, you disregarded the suggestions of her therapists and you thought only of what you wanted instead of what was best for her. You put confusing suggestions in her head, and you’re so wrapped up in your own grief and loss, you’re not clear. Get counselling and we’ll talk again.” He looked past her, “where’s Dad?”

“Home,” Imani appeared chastised as she rocked on her foot. “I’m sorry Royal. You’re right. I’m thinking about what I want. When I look at Precious, she reminds me of Prince. Her freckles, her laugh and those eyes, all remind me of him. I feel I have a piece of him with me when she’s near.”

“She’s not him and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure she never turns out like him.”

“He wasn’t all bad, Royal,” Imani protested.

“I’m struggling to find any of the good right now. I’m angry with him, Mom. Furious. You will never convince me he wasn’t aware of the abuse his daughter was undergoing if Jubi was able to pick it up within a single visit.”

“He loved her, Royal. You saw how much he loved her.”

“I think his actions were driven out of guilt. He loved her but he knew what was happening while he avoided his wife like the plague. He did all the exciting, fun, silly things with and for Precious because he felt guilt for leaving her with a woman who was unbalanced and screwed up.”

Famke watched as the words sunk in and Imani shook her head whispering no.

“Yes, Mom. Think about it. The times he pushed Mindy too hard, and she snapped, he knew he’d gone too far, and he’d bring Precious to your house. Why? Because he knew, he knew if he kept her there, she’d hurt their child when he was at work.”

“Is she okay?” Imani asked quietly. “I haven’t spoken to her since I saw you at the plane.”

“You mean when you traumatized her, made her think the plane was going to crash and tried to talk us out of moving away with her in the car?” At Royal’s blunt question, Imani had the grace to look chagrined, “Mom, your behavior was inappropriate. Do you understand why I don’t want you near her? She’s broken and you’re stomping all over her and undoing the work we’re putting in,” he waved between him and Famke. “Your visits for the next little while, until I’m comfortable you aren’t going to cause her more harm than good with your selfish behavior, will be supervised.”

Imani nodded, “I understand.” She bit the inside of her cheek. She looked to Famke, “I’m sorry for calling you a bitch. I know you’re doing what is best for her. I’ll do better. I’ll call the therapist you recommended Royal. I’ll do everything she says to fix this. I’ll make sure your dad comes too.”

“Good,” he stepped past Famke, kissed his mother’s cheek, and stared down at her. “I love you, Mom. I don’t want to raise her without you, but I will.”

“I know.” She cupped his cheek lovingly. “I’ll head back to New York.”

Famke nudged Royal’s shoulder and shot him a glare.

“No, don’t go back yet. You can spend the day with me and Precious, Mom but not alone. She’s with Cesar out back in the kitchen. I asked him to make sure she stayed there with him until I came for her. Take a seat and I’ll bring her out.”

Famke prayed they weren’t making a mistake.