Page 84 of Jaeda

She offered me a warm smile, but I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that this was over. She had something, or several things to say, so we might as well have it out now.

“What made you come see me?” I repeated.

She cleared her throat and sat up straight.

“I just . . . I want to understand why you would take on working with Titan. I love that boy, I really do. But I don’t like what he does, Quaid. He has no right to play God.”

I sighed. “A few weeks ago, I had a client. He seemed like a normal guy until I got into his computer. You know what I found, Ma? Child pornography. He was selling it. That made me sick to my stomach. There are people out here hurting literal children for their own sick pleasure. They take women and force them into prostitution. There are so many dark and twisted things going on that we know nothing about, Ma. The dark web is a whole other world.

“I know you don’t like it and don’t understand, no matter the cause, but somebody has to help those that can’t help themselves. I’ve been there. There were so many times growing up where I’ve felt helpless and alone. Titan saved me from a lifetime of being bullied. He taught me not to be weak and let people run all over me.

“I’m not saying I feel like I owe him, but that’s my brother. He puts his life on the line to save people, and if I can help keep him safe in the process, I will.”

She stared at me silently for a moment, her eyes searching mine. I wasn’t sure if she would ever accept or understand this, but it wouldn’t change if she didn’t.

“Okay,” she finally said. “I still don’t like it, but I hear you. Now, . . . this girl. The Dillinger. Tell me about her.”

A smile instantly spread across my face.

“That’s gonna be my wife. She’s one of a kind, Ma. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s smart, caring, and so down to earth. She finds pleasure in simple things, and we have so much in common. From the Lego obsession to cosplay to video games and books. I’ve never met a woman more like me.”

My mother’s face softened. “She sounds like a good match for you.”

“She is. I really want you and Dad to meet her.”

“Have you met her family?”

“I have. It was . . . interesting, but we have a mutual understanding.”

“Mutual understanding?”

“They are very protective of each other, Ma. They just wanted to know that I had good intentions for her.”

She eyed me skeptically, and I prayed she didn’t ask too many questions.

“So they like you?”

“For the most part.”

“Have they disrespected you? ’Cause you know I don’t play about anybody disrespecting my man or my baby. Mama will get in that ass.”

I laughed. “Calm down, woman. Rest assured that disrespect is met with disrespect. Your baby ain’t no punk.”

“Mm-hmm. That’s one thing I can thank that heathen for. I was this close to whupping those kids and their mama’s ass.”

I chuckled. “I know, Ma.”

That was the truth. My mother never played about me. Every time I came home in a way other than she sent me to school, she was on my ass about who did it. Some mornings, she’d take me to school early and wait in the parking lot for me to point out the bully so she could confront their mamas. During conferences, my father had to keep a close eye on her because if the other parents said the wrong thing, she was ready to lay into their asses.

Lunch with Mom was good.

Once we got past the much-needed conversation, things were like they’d always been. Before we parted ways, she told me to invite Jaeda for dinner and that she couldn’t wait to meet her. I couldn’t wait for her and my father to meet her either. As special as she was to me, I knew that once they got to know her, they would see exactly why.

“What’s your ETA?”I asked Titan as I pulled up everything I needed to assist him tonight.

“Ten minutes.”

“Y’all straight over there?”

---