Page 23 of Cove City, Volume II

I closed another letter, and things were beginning to make sense. James Avery and Clark Mercier were not enemies, yet partners. They had just taken the corruption to another level. Best was digging in their asses. I started reading the letters for information, but it turned into a lovers’ quarrel. The crazy part is they really loved each other but Best, she allowed her job to get in the way of her happiness and Naheem fell into the Devil’s den and couldn’t pull himself out. I almost wanted to share the letters with my mother, but her asking me who this is and what that is would irritate me too much.

I knew I needed to get out of bed and figure out a way to get my life in order. The smart thing to do would be to call my father and tell him I need help, but to hear him patronize me in the process wasn’t worth it. I heard some chatter going on beyond my door. I didn’t understand why my mother had company when we didn’t have any fucking lights. I slid my house shoes on and swung my bedroom door open. Something startled me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was the laugh. Best? When I came around the corner, there she was sitting on my couch in my house with a smile on her face.

She glanced up at me, “Tuesday!”

“Best,.

“I paused.

“What are you doing here and how did you get my address?”

My mother wheeled around and came toward me.

“Tuesday, this lady says she works with you at that place that does the newspapers.”

I closed my eyes tightly. I knew Pierre would do anything to get me to come back, and he stooped so low that he sent his mom. Best pushed her glasses up on her face.

“Did you read the letters?”

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Yes, I read them. Tell me why you never went back. He begged you.”

Best stood and walked toward me.

“The same reason you don’t want to go back. I let my pride decide my fate and that season of love I missed out on. I don’t want you to have the same story I did. I don’t want my son to turn into a Naheem. Tuesday, whatever it is, Pierre is going to handle it, but you have to trust him. If you love my son, trust him.”

I swallowed deeply. She knew how I felt about becoming a season, and I knew that’s where I was headed, being away from Pierre like I had been. Did I want to hear what he had to say? No. Would I allow him to explain? Yes. I was afraid of the truth, but I knew I needed to face it.

“I will call him,.

“I mumbled.

There was that smile again.

“No, you're going to him now, let’s go.”

Wrinkles formed in my forehead.

“Best I’m not leaving with you.”

She gently tugged on her cardigan as she crept closer to me.

“Yes, you are. Let me tell you why. First, if you want to be with my child, you cannot be afraid to take on the world. If you want to be with my child, you mean what you say and say what you mean. If,.

“she paused.

“You want to be with my son, you will not treat him like he doesn’t fucking matter when he has done nothing but pour into you as I taught him. You're sitting around in this apartment that you’re only days away from being put out of. Your lights are off, and you have a mother over there who has a medical disability. You, my dear, are at a point of no return. Grab what you need and let’s go.”

Best read me my rights, so nice and nasty, I had absolutely no rebuttal. I was trying to figure out how she knew about my living situation, but when my eyes landed on my mother, I knew she had told her everything. Best began grabbing the bags my mother had packed over a week ago and took them outside. My mother wheeled over toward me.

“I like her. So, you are in love with a man,.

“my mother said.

“Why did you tell her our business?”

“We needed the help.”

I shook my head and walked away. A part of me was nervous to go back to Toussaint, but the larger part of me couldn’t wait to see Pierre.