Page 47 of Cause When You Love Someone
Although I didn’t know how she would take it, I had been thinking about ending the contract since the night she fell asleep with her soft ass cheeks in my hands. I didn’t have a plan set in stone, but I had been thinking about cutting off my business relationship with Clarke after her Vegas appearance.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Shiloh asked.
“For the first time in years, not really,” I confessed. “After everything you’ve done for me, I don’t like letting you down.”
“My brother is finding his own path. Ain’t shit about that a letdown. I’m proud of you, nigga. Do you have a plan?”
“Nothing solid, but I’m working on it. You know I won’t make a move until I have everything mapped out on paper.”
Shiloh issued more advice before the conversation switched to Durk and his plan to open a second tattoo shop. We sat and talked for about an hour before a call from my tailor gave me a reason to head out. Even though the cousins swore they were busy, anytime we got together, they talked shit and chilled for hours unless their wives were available.
“Yo! Ishmael, come here,” Deuce, one of the warehouse guards, hollered before I could get through the exit.
“For what? I’m on my way out the door.”
“Your mama is at thebackdoor!”
My heart jerked against its tethers. When I was in high school, my mom didn’t show up to one school event, and now, she popped up every chance she got.
My legs devoured the space between me and the rear exit. Deuce’s burly frame blocked the doorway, and still, my mom’s raspy threats slithered past him.
“Deuce, let her in.”
“Yeah, you heard my son. Get your big ass out my way!”
The guard’s sight traveled back to me before he walked off, shaking his head.
“Mariah, why would you come to my job causing a ruckus? How did you even know where I worked?”
“You ain’t the only one who knows how to use a computer.” She gripped her hips. “I’ve been calling you, and you haven’t picked up. Your family is in a bind, boy!”
With no sympathy, I remained quiet as she ranted and raved about her hardships. Her hyped demeanor made me think she had gotten her hands on something stronger than pills.
“This isn’t the way to get my attention. We can speak in my office.”
“I’m not going nowhere.” She swiped wrinkles from her dingy white sundress. “You’ve always tried to keep me locked in a fucking room. You’re embarrassed by me, Ishmael? I’m your family!”
“Act like it! Ever since I was little, you’ve acted like I’m your brother or your man. I’m your son!”
“A son I didn’t ask for! I was only twenty when I had you. I was too young to be somebody’s mama!”
I grimaced. “You were only fifteen when you became a pill head, but you don’t have a problem with that! Take some responsibility for the way your life turned out!”
Our back and forth triggered a small crowd to form on the second floor of the warehouse.
“You know what? Fuck you, Ishmael. Don’t forget, the bible says?—”
“If you finish that scripture, you’re going to hell, Mariah. Your rent is paid. Had you checked your mail, you would’ve saw I put the receipt in there days ago.”
“Well, I would say thank you, but I know you didn’t do it for me.”
“It doesn’t matterwhyI paid the rent. Just thank God it’s handled.”
Frown lines creased the corners of her mouth. “Smart ass. I hate a goody two-shoes ass nigga, and that’s exactly what you are.”
“Your kids are the reason you came up in life. Section 8, the food stamps, and every other thing you have is because of me and Izzy. You used to play me, and I still prayed for you. My prayers help keep you alive, but you hate me. Get the fuck out of here, lady.”
Though I was on my way out the door before Mariah showed up, I went to my office and flopped down onto the loveseat.
