Page 13 of Until the Ink Dries

I shook my head and glanced at her again before looking back at Duke.

“Nah, it’s about time for me to head out. This is more than enough of a sign for me to grab my child and head home.”

Duke nodded and walked me outside to my motorcycle.

“You gone be at the next ride? I know you’ve been busy with Charlie.”

I got onto my motorcycle and lifted my helmet but paused before putting it on to glance back in his direction.

“I’m sure as hell gone try, but I will definitely be there the next time we go out to serve the homeless. Charlie needs to see and do more shit like that, just as much as I do.” I told him.

“Aight, well, get home safe and you take care of my niece. Lord knows, you’re all she got.”

I nodded, then put on my helmet. I hated how true his statement was because it wasn’t always like that with Tierra. We didn’t have the most immaculate love story, but I had love for her. She was a cool person before, but after Charlie got here, shit went downhill. I guess I shouldn’t have expected much from a sneaky link type of situation.

I rode back to my place and then swapped it for my truck since it was late. It was too late to allow Charlie to ride on the back of the bike. Once I made sure my bike was secure. I hopped in my truck, then backed out of the garage to head for my parents’ place. I turned on the radio and allowed the music to play on low; I needed something to cloud my mind and drown out my troubles from the day.

I parked in front of my childhood home and waited in the car for a moment. Sometimes, I think this place would be better for Charlie. I lived an amazing life here; the neighbors stayed in my damn business, but that was the way it was back in the day. I can still remember all the times I used to run up and down this street with my boys. Man, I used to be in all types of shit.

I hopped out of the truck, then jogged up the front porch steps. I didn’t need to ring the doorbell since I had a key to my parents’ place, but I did. I always gave them the courtesy of knowing I was here because they liked to pretend as if they were still young and shit. Then, I would use my key.

Once I was inside, I stopped at the bottom of the steps.

“Ma, you cook?” I yelled up the stairs.

I waited a moment before she walked around the corner, wrapping her robe around herself. My mother wore her age well. She had salt and pepper naturally curly hair, and high cheekbones with light freckles peppered across her nose. She had the brightest smile and was always the type to make sure folks were taken care of.

She gripped her hips and smiled.

“Boy, what did I tell you about yelling in my house this late?” she asked.

Even with the day I had today, she always made me smile.

“My bad. I didn’t want to go searching for you and then see something that would scar me for life. You know, you and your husband think y’all grown.”

She waved me off, then started for the kitchen, so I followed. I needed something to soak up more of this liquor before I drove my daughter home. I leaned against the kitchen counter while she pulled out Tupperware bowls from the fridge.

“How was Charlie today? It was pretty tough on her.”

My mother pulled a plate out of the cabinet, then placed it on the counter before giving me her undivided attention.

“Kids are resilient. I’m worried about you. It’s time to leave this alone, son. You need to stop taking it so easy on Tierra. You have done an amazing job with Charlie, but you have to take hold of this situation. Either Tierra needs to get help to be the mom that Charlie deserves, or you need to get an order to keep her ass away from her.”

I heard everything my mother was saying, but she didn’t understand the part I played in all of this. I had to give her a chance to change.

6YEARS EARLIER…

“Aye, Tierra, where you at?” I yelled as I walked through her front door.

She had given me a key to her place so I could help since Charlie was an infant. We weren’t actually together when she got pregnant. We just used to get our shit off together, and it’s easier to fuck with someone you’ve already slept with before.

The TV was loud as hell, but the high-pitched screams of my baby made me drop the food onto the counter and rush toward her voice. Once I made it into the room, I noticed Charlie was in her bassinet, crying bad as hell, but I still hadn’t seen Tierra anywhere. I rushed into the bathroom to wash my hands and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Tierra leaning against the shower wall with her face deep in her phone.

I shook my head and then went back into the room to grab Charlie. The moment I picked her up, I rocked her a little and her cries subsided. I went back into the bathroom after feeding her and changing her diaper. Tierra hadn’t made a move out of the shower. Now she was laughing at whatever video she was watching.

I turned up my lip as I glanced down at her in disgust. I knew Tierra was selfish, but I never expected her to be selfish with her own child. The thought alone was pissing me off even more.

“What the hell are you doing? So, you just gone sit there and let her cry?” I rattled off question after question.

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