Page 26 of Pieces of Us

Morgan

O ne Week Later…

I sat across from Justin and his lawyer as we waited for the judge to return.

I had been stressing all week. Shanise was able to get all the proper paperwork so that Justin couldn’t use me not having a job to support Mariah against me.

Even though I had over twenty thousand in my account, I still needed to show that I could support her when our divorce was final.

The asshole had removed the money from our joint account, not knowing that I had access to all of the accounts. I didn’t take it back like I wanted, because at the end of all of this, I knew I would be getting half if not all of it.

“Stop fidgeting, girl. Don’t let this man see you sweat,” Shanise whispered to me.

“I’m not. I’m just aggravated with all of this.”

“It’ll be over today. Trust me. This judge handles all my cases. She’s tough, but I know her personally, and she owes me a favor. So, like I said, you got this in the bag.”

I sighed and nodded. Judge Collins returned from her chambers and took a seat.

“After reviewing this case, I am granting Ms. Prescott’s divorce decree.

Mr. Coleman will sign off on the documents immediately following dismissal.

As far as assets, Ms. Prescott will receive 80 percent of what’s inside the joint account, her car, and the home you all reside in.

As it goes for the custody of Mariah Coleman, you both will split custody, but the child will remain in the home with the mother during the week, and with the father on weekends.

Mr. Coleman, you have thirty days to remove yourself from the home and relinquish all monies within those thirty days.

Court is adjourned.” She banged her gavel as Justin shot up from his seat.

“That’s bullshit!”

“Mr. Rose, control your client, or he will be held in contempt.”

“My apologies, Your Honor.” His lawyer whispered something to Justin as he lowered his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Honor, but this is unfair to me. She just recently started working…if she’s working at all!” Justin stated.

My head reared back. This nigga had to be smoking crack to say something like that.

“Considering there are photos confirming your infidelity, I’d say the divorce is more than fair.

As far as the money goes, there was no prenuptial agreement in place.

Since the child will be living in the home with the mother, she will obtain the majority of the joint account.

Life isn’t fair, Mr. Coleman, and since it’s clear that you make more money than Ms. Prescott, I’d say I’m being very fair. Court is dismissed.”

She banged her gavel once more as Shanise and I stood to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief as we headed out of the doors into the hall.

“You’re a piece of work, Morgan. You know I’m just now starting to get my clientele back up, and you want to take my money and my daughter away from me? Just so you can go be with that bum!”

“Don’t respond, Morgan. Just keep walking,” Shanise advised.

“I deserve an answer, Mo. The least you can do is give me that.”

“I don’t owe you anything, Justin. You caused this. I was faithful to you and did everything you asked of me, only for you to turn around and do this to me. Just leave me alone. Don’t make this worse than it already is.”

“What? You’re going to sic your thug ass baby daddy on me?”

I shook my head as we continued out of the courthouse and into the parking lot. I bid Shanise a good day and thanked her. I got inside of my car and sat there for a moment.

I didn’t want this for my life. Justin used to be a great substitute that mended my broken heart. I may have been wrong for using him in the beginning, but I actually did fall in love with him. I gave his ass a baby when I was dead set on never giving him children.

Tears flowed from my eyes for my baby. All she’d ever known was Justin, and I didn’t want to take their bond away from them.

I didn’t want to break up what she was used to.

I had spent so much time living by the rules that I lost myself within those years.

I had to get back to the young, vibrant woman I used to be.

However, Mariah was young. I prayed that she would eventually get over the fact that her father wasn’t in the home with us anymore and that she’d be seeing Nehemiah a lot more than usual.

I wouldn’t move in with him right away, but eventually, I knew we would be living together.

Now that I was free from my marriage, it was time we started to live the life we always dreamed of.

I wiped my tears just as a call came through from Nehemiah.

“Hey.” I answered on second ring.

“Hey, my love. How’d it go?”

“It went good…I just…I hate how life turned out for us. You marrying Diana and me marrying Justin and having a baby with him…it wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

“Morgan…”

“Yes?”

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say we’re going to stop dwelling on the past? We got each other now, and no one is going to tear us apart this time.”

“I know…I’m just upset that my baby’s life has to be altered because of this.”

“Altered in a good way. She’s young, so this won’t affect her as bad as you think it will. She will adjust.”

“What if she doesn’t take to you like we think she will?”

“Pshh, girl, me and Ri locked in. That’s my mini bestie. What you talking about?”

I giggled. He was right, Mariah clung to him at Megan’s birthday party after all the shenanigans died down.

They played in the pool, and he fed her all the ice cream and cake her little heart desired.

I didn’t doubt that Mariah would adjust to Nehemiah.

I just didn’t want the bond with her father to be forgotten.

Nehemiah had this air about him that people just loved him, and if he loved them back, it was up and stuck from that point on.

“You’re right. I love you, Booby.”

“I love you forever and always, baby. I’ma eat that pussy later.”

I smiled and bit my lip.

“Promise?”

“On my mama.”

I laughed as we said our goodbyes, and I pulled out of the parking lot.

I loved that man so much. It had to be God’s plan to place us back in each other’s path.

Our love for one another never wavered when we got separated, and although life dealt us a shitty hand, the cards reshuffled, and now, we were playing to win.

“Wait a minute. Repeat that again!” Drue exclaimed after listening to Shanise’s story of her and Loon.

We were at Flood’s Bar & Grill in Downtown Detroit having drinks.

The ladies wanted to take me out to celebrate my divorce.

I didn’t realize how dull my life had been since leaving home for college.

It seemed as if I’d been a shell of myself since leaving home and marrying Justin.

Being here with Chelsea, Drue, Shanise, and Shelby made me realize I had been living a boring life.

“Listen. I’m only telling y’all this because I need some advice. Hemi is probably going to kick Loon’s ass, but…I do like him a lot.”

“So, what happened again?” Drue asked.

Shanise rolled her eyes. “You just want me to repeat how dumb I am for letting him eat me alive.”

We all laughed.

“You weren’t dumb, Shani. I been telling you that you been wanting to sit on the man’s face and lap since we were younger. You just wanted to play hard,” Shelby said, waving her off.

“Whatever. Anyway, how are you and Hemi working out, Boogie?” she asked, taking the heat off of her.

“Everything is how it should have been. It feels surreal at times but feels good no less. He hates when I bring up the past, but it’s what defines these moments we have together. I regret a lot of things, and I’m working on letting it go.”

“Girl, y’all daddy was a mess back then, and he’s a mess now. I’ve never known someone who hates someone so much, that he would keep a child away from their father,” Chelsea countered, shaking her head.

I sipped my margarita as I watched the partygoers dance. “He never used to act like this. It wasn’t until Hemi and I got together did he change. And now I know why.”

“I still can’t believe Mommy cheated on him with your baby daddy’s daddy. That is some mess for your ass.” Drue laughed.

“I can’t believe it either. I’m just glad that situation didn’t go any further. However, it did create problems for me and Nehemiah.”

“When Uncle Cole found out you two were dating, he said they both agreed to not go any further. That would have been bad business for y’all,” Shanise spoke.

“Tell me about it,” I replied.

“How’s Meg? Like how does she feel now that you and Justin aren’t together and finding out she has a completely different father?” Chelsea asked.

“She loves it. Nehemiah is like her best friend, and their bond has been beautiful to witness. She still talks to Justin, but with everything that’s been going on, I don’t want her going anywhere with him.”

“Yeah, I say let this situation calm down first. I don’t think Justin would do anything to Megan, but he may say some shit that will have the Newson men turning up on his ass,” Drue said.

“Right, and that’s something I don’t need. I want to live peacefully with my babies and my man.” I beamed.

“We’re so happy to have you back, Boogie. Now, we can hang like we used to, and since you’re not as reserved as you used to be, we’re about to cut the fuck up!” Chelsea exclaimed and I laughed.

“I missed y’all so much. Let’s take some shots to celebrate!”

“Oh, hell nah. The last time you got drunk, you was dropping ass all over the place. Don’t have Reggie and Ussef calling your man to come get you!” Drue said, looking over at Chelsea and Shelby’s security.

Their eyes and head were on a swivel, while their faces held the meanest mug. I just knew they could kill someone with their bare hands.

“Trust me. He won’t mind when I’m dropping it on him.”

“TMI, bitch!” Drue exclaimed, covering her ears.

We all laughed and continued to enjoy the night. By the time midnight rolled around, I was feeling nice and ready to go.