Page 29 of Pieces of Us

Morgan

D rue, my mother, Megan, and myself hurriedly moved through the emergency room. My heart was beating fast thinking of what could have possibly gone wrong with my baby.

“Morgan.”

I heard Nehemiah’s voice and rushed in his direction.

“Hemi, what happened to my baby?”

He shook his head and took my hand, leading me down the hall to Mariah’s room.

When I entered, I immediately hurried to my baby’s bedside.

“Honey Bee, mommy’s here.”

She opened her eyes and tossed her little arms around me. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms.

“Mommy, I not feel good.”

“I know, baby. Do you know what made you sick?”

She shook her head as my mom rubbed her back. My eyes went to Josephine as she wiped her tears. Before I could speak, Drue was standing in her face.

“What happened to my niece, Josephine?”

“I don’t know what happened. All I know is that Justin called me, telling me that he needed me to come sit with Mariah. He didn’t tell me much, and Mariah doesn’t know much. All she kept saying was that her stomach, arm, and back hurts.”

I looked down at my baby and lifted the arm of her gown and instantly became irate.

“What the fuck happened to my baby’s arm, Josephine!” I screamed, now lifting the bottom of her gown, seeing bruises on her back.

“Oh, hell fucking no!”

“Morgan, calm down,” my mom said, standing in my way because I was about to catch a case.

“Baby, you gotta keep it down,” Nehemiah said.

“My daughter has bruises on her and saying she’s sick! Jo, you better start talking, or my hands are going to start talking to your fucking face!”

“Why are you saying this to me when I’m just as clueless as you!” she yelled back.

“Somebody get that nigga on the phone right the fuck now. Josephine, I need you to get out, because the way I’m feeling, you’re going to get all this rage I’m feeling right now.”

“He didn’t do this, Morgan,” she tried to say.

“If he didn’t, then he let it happen!”

“Lady, you need to listen to my sister and leave.”

“Hey, you all are going to have to keep it down or you’re going to have to leave,” the nurse said, coming into the room.

“Get Justin’s ass here right now.”

Just as the words left my mouth, a woman walked in with a briefcase as two officers flanked her side. I knew then that this had to be CPS.

“Unh uh. This isn’t on me so you can walk right back out of that door,” I told her.

“Can we have a moment with the parent or guardian and the doctor please?” she asked, looking at everyone in the room.

“Come on, Megan and Drue,” my mom said, leading them out of the room.

Tears streamed down my face as I held on to my baby tightly. Nehemiah stood at my side, rubbing my back to calm me.

“I’m Felisha Durham from Child Protective Services.”

“I’m Officer Langly, and this is Officer Steele,” Officer Langly spoke.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Felisha asked.

“I don’t know what happened. This was her father’s weekend, so she was in his custody. I get a call from my boy—Dr. Newson, telling me that she was here.”

“Do you know where the father is?”

“No, I don’t. His mother said he rushed out of here. The bastard didn’t even call me to tell me anything.”

The officers and Felisha started writing shit on their pads.

“May I speak to the child, please?”

I nodded to her as she walked up to Mariah.

“Hi, pretty girl. Do you know what happened to you?”

“Mrs. Jolie gave me juice and sandwich.”

“Okay. How did you hurt yourself?”

“Me not do that. That boy did.”

“What boy, baby?” I asked.

“Me dunno. That boy at Ms. Jolie house. Him hit me with a string and squeeze my arm.”

“She’s talking about Mrs. Jolie’s son, Seth. That’s the only boy that lives there. We used to go to school together. He’s crazy,” Megan said, standing by the door.

My blood boiled. I needed this shit to be over with so I could stab Justin in his dick.

“Okay. Dr. Newson, I’m going to need to see those lab reports.

Considering the child wasn’t in your care, Ms. Prescott, I’m not going to report this.

However, I will need to visit the home to be sure it’s stable enough for her to reside there.

I can tell by your face and body language that you’re raging.

I need you to allow these officers to do their job.

Also, I’ll need a urine sample from you. ”

“For what?” I asked. My eyes went to Nehemiah as he gave me a nod of assurance.

“Just to make sure there are no drugs in your system.”

“Okay.”

“What’s the father’s name?” Langly asked.

“Justin Coleman,” I replied.

“Address?”

“21980 Prest Street.”

“Do you know this Jolie’s address?”

“No, and her name is Jolie Dupree.”

“Got it. Thank you. We’re going to go by his home to see if he’s there. Thank you for your time, Ms. Prescott.”

“Dr. Newson, can I speak with you for a moment?” Felisha asked.

“Sure.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to my temple. “Relax, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”

I nodded and wiped my tears as they left the room. Drue, my mom, and Megan reentered and gathered around us.

My mother kissed Mariah on her forehead and looked at me. “I don’t know what the hell that man’s problem is, but I hope he gets his ass locked up for letting this happen to my baby.”

“I swear I’m going to kill that asshole when I get my hands on him. And that bitch Jolie is going to see me too about letting her deranged ass son put his hands on my baby.”

“We tag-teaming that ho. My niecey pooh is the sweetest. I don’t see how anyone could harm her.”

“I’m going to kick her son in his family jewels,” Megan spoke. I smirked because I was going to let her do it too.

I swear it was like my life had taken one blow after another since learning of Justin’s infidelity and Nehemiah coming back into my life. I was tired and needed to get away because I was ready to kill someone.

I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer for myself and my baby. Only God was going to be able to save Justin and his raggedy ass side bitch.

An hour later, I had calmed down enough to allow myself to think about what I was going to do to Justin and Jolie’s asses. Mariah was finally able to put something on her stomach as I sang her a song before she went back to sleep.

Nehemiah entered the room fifteen minutes later with a stoic expression on his face. I knew him long enough to know when he was plotting or ready to explode. I saw him take a deep breath before closing the door and looking at me.

“We ran a toxicology report. She had a large amount of alcohol in her system—”

“What!” my mother shouted.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I asked, placing my hands on my head trying to understand what the fuck was happening.

“So what’s about to happen? Are they about to go arrest that bitch?” Drue asked.

“They are…” His voice trailed off as he looked at me. “Step out with me.”

I slid out of the bed with Mariah and followed Hemi out into the hall. He led me down to an empty room and closed the door.

“I found ya mans. Loon is bringing him here, and I’m going to have a little conversation with him before I turn him over to the police.”

“I want to speak to him too,” I told him.

“Nah…”

“Hemi, it’s not a request. That motherfucka left my child with people who were out to harm her.

Alcohol, Nehemiah? To a three year old? Like who the fuck does some wicked shit like that?

Then he’s telling my child not to call him the name she’s been calling him since she learned to talk.

No, I need to talk to that bitch nigga before you handle his ass. ”

The smirk on his face confused me for a moment. I didn’t know what was so humorous about what I said, but I was five seconds from slapping his ass too.

“My Boogie done turned savage. I have never heard you get out of pocket like this. No lie, that shit is turning me on.”

I wanted to smile, but I was too serious about what I said.

“I’m serious, Nehemiah.”

“I know, baby. I’ma let you get your shit off.”

“Thank you.” His cell went off.

“Yo? A’ight. We’re coming down now.”

He hung up and took me by the hand. We traveled down three different halls until we were in the parking garage. He led me through to a part they were reconstructing, and I saw Lawrence leaning on the trunk of a Malibu.

“What’s good, family?” he asked, dapping Nehemiah and hugging me.

“Hey. Where is he?” I asked.

Lawrence popped the trunk and pulled a bound Justin from it. He ripped the tape from his mouth, and Justin started his rant.

“What the fuck is going on, Morgan!” he yelled.

Lawrence slapped the back of his head. “Nigga, stop all that fucking yelling. You know this damn garage echoes. We can hear your slow ass.”

“Why, Justin? She’s your fucking daughter! Why would you allow this to happen under your care?”

“I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know. This was my first time ever leaving her there, and I thought I could trust Jolie to take care of her. I didn’t know her stupid ass son would do anything malicious to her. I wouldn’t do that to our baby, Mo.”

“You would, though.”

“I would never—”

“You did the moment you fucking cheated on me with that fucking bird. You were supposed to protect her!”

My hands had a mind of their own as I began wailing on him. He ducked and tried to cover his face because that was my main target. I wanted to see his nose or mouth bleed or maybe a black eye or something.

“She’s your daughter! How could you?” I cried while continuing my assault. I felt hands grab me.

“That’s enough, baby. Calm down.”

I took my foot and kicked him right in his balls. Justin curled over and dropped to the floor.

“You got CPS investigating me because of your carelessness. I promise to God you will never see my daughter again!” I screamed.

While he writhed on the ground, Lawrence picked him up and pushed him against the car.

“I was going to fuck you up, but my baby handled your pathetic ass just fine,” Nehemiah said.

“Damn, Molifield! I ain’t know you had it in you!” I cut my eyes at Lawrence, and he wiped the smile from his face. “My bad. Bad timing.”