Page 161 of One Good Reason

“Val!” she squeaked. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Ummhmm. I bet you weren’t.”

“Have a seat, Adele.” I stepped in and reclaimed my spot beside my mother. Propping my elbows up on my knees, I folded my hands. “Adele, you were out of line and out of respect for our friendship I’m going to give you the opportunity to explain yourself.”

“She hurt you, Harvey. I told her to fix it.”

“That wasn’t your place” I bellowed. “Talitha is mine to deal with. Not yours. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that my friend was hurt, and I needed to step in.”

“I didn’t ask you for that.”

“You came to me Lawton. Not the other way around. You called me in the middle of the night upset because she’d kept the pregnancy a secret. You offered information that I would have been clueless about. What was I supposed to do?”

“Be my fucking friend, Adele. Listen to me vent, offer advice. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“You know I don’t operate that way.” She rubbed her thin lips together before pursing them. “I was trying to help. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

“Yeah you did. Overstepped big time. Adele, you can’t cross lines like that. Especially not when it comes to my family.”

“She’s family?” she queried.

“She’s the mother of my unborn child and my lover. Of course she’s family.”

“And I guess I’m not.”

“I never said that. You’re my friend and have been for years. But when it comes to my family, they take precedence over you sweetheart.”

“Is that what it’s come to?”

“That’s how it’s gotta be. Wasn’t it you that taught me to protect the ones I love?”

“That’s not what I meant, Harvey and know it.”

“Regardless Adele, Talitha is my family. Her and my child comes first. That move you pulled could have fucked things up for me. I can’t have you speaking out of turn like that.”

“Then don’t come to me with your problems.”

“Noted. You never have to worry about me doing that shit again. And I mean never. I can be your friend but if you can’tcheck your feelings and respect my boundaries, we can’t be anything more than associates. And if that puts you at an odd predicament, I’m willing to severe those ties as well.”

“Wow. All for her.”

“You muthafucking right.”

“You’ve got it, Harvey. Business associates and nothing more.”

Adele felt threatened by Talitha and she was setting her boundaries. Had this been any other time I probably would have felt some type of way. However, I meant what I said. Talitha was my family, and she came first. I wouldn’t allow anyone in my life to disrupt her happiness.

Accepting things for what they were I shrugged. “Associates it is.”

“I guess he brought you hear to confront me,” Adele turned to my mother.

“Actually, I’ve been staying here with him. We’re working on our relationship. You know Adele originally I wanted to whoop that ass. But the more I sit here and look at you… I feel sorry for you. I’m not mad at you, Adele. In fact, I forgive you for what you did. I know Salvador was the worst husband in the world and granted you could have found anyone else to fuck on. I can tell you care about Law and a part of me can respect it.

You were there and present at a time when I wasn’t. I wished it would’ve been as an aunt instead of a lover but that was my fault. Had I been a mother to him, he wouldn’t have had to run to you. Adele, I genuinely hope you get the love that you’re seeking. I pray it finds you before you leave this Earth.” My mother wiped the tears from her eyes. “Law, can you help me to my room?”

“Adele, you know your way out. If you need to reach out to me regarding business, my phone is always on. You be careful out there.”

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