Page 76 of Church Girl
“You should know I’m going after Aaliyah. If I have my way, she’ll be a fixture in my and Gia’s life. You probably need to know that before you talk about dropping the filings.”
Sheree’s threats, the stranglehold she had on me, ended today. Even if after hearing my intentions, she decides to let the modifications ride, I’m not changing my mind. She’s not going to dictate my moves any longer.
I am through letting my past control me.
Pain spasms across her face as does anger. But finally, she dips her head. “I hear you. And I’m still withdrawing them. For Gia.”
This time, I don’t contradict her or remind her how fucked up her actions have been. Maybe even a small part of me is proud of her for finally owning her grown-woman shit.
“Aight. I gotta get back in the house. I’ll have Gia call you later before bedtime.”
“Okay. And, Von?” I stop mid-turn and glance over my shoulder at her. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me, too, shawty. I’m sorry for anything I did in the past to hurt you. All that’s in the rearview now. See you.”
Heading back for the house, I don’t wait around for her to drive off. I meant it when I said it was behind me. And except for her being Gia’s mother, so was she.
My main focus now is Aaliyah.
Seeing her. Talking to her.
Getting her back here. Because at some point during my conversation with Sheree, I had to be honest with myself. I...I’ve fallen in love with Aaliyah. Even if she’s engaged and ol’ boy is really her fiancé, there has to be some reason she didn’t tell me. Now I’m willing to listen, like I should’ve that night. IknowAaliyah. And she isn’t Sheree. If she kept it from me, it wasn’t on no snake shit. I trust her. I love her. And the house, my life—my and Gia’s lives—aren’t the same without her here.
Ironic as hell it took talking to my ex-wife to get that revelation. Or to allow it in. Because deep down, I knew it all along. Fear kept me from accepting it.
But like I just told Sheree, all that’s behind me.
Ahead of me is Aaliyah.
Besides, if I don’t do something, Gia might take drastic measures. I’m not saying she’d run away to go find Aaliyah. But Iamsaying baby girl’s book bag been a little heavier these past couple of weeks.
I better go get our Aaliyah and bring her back where she belongs.
With us.
Thirteen
“Well, if you’re going to play the love card...”
Aaliyah
Another class down, and one more to go before I’m done for the day. Can’t say I’m happy about that. For the past few months, I had Gia to look forward to after I finished. But now, without her, I just go back home—yep, I now call Tamara’s apartment “home”—and clean, do homework, try out new recipes (that’s been an epic fail), binge Amazon Prime...everything but think on how much I’m missing her.
And her father.
Nope. Nopenopenope.
Not going there.
“Hey, Aaliyah, hold up.”
At the sound of my name, I draw to a halt and look over my shoulder. Amari, a guy from my Readings in World Literature class jogs up to me, smiling. I return it, waiting on him to reach me. He’s a nice guy, and we’ve shared notes once or twice.
“You headed to the caf?” he asks, shifting his book bag higher on his shoulder.
I shake my head. “No, I don’t have a meal plan. I’ll probably grab something from McDonald’s.”
“Gotchu. Want some company? My next class isn’t for another couple of hours.”
