Choose Wisely (6 page)

              “I know you ain’t frontin’ for this nigga? You and Donte both acting like ya done lost ya minds!” He stood about to walk away.

             
“Don’t go I don’t want him thinking you left because he walked up,”

He laughed,
“You have lost mind, haven’t you?” I ain’t worried about that dude!”

             
“I never said you were!”

He was really starting to irritate me with his childish behavior. Tyrone must have felt the tension. Because he quickly asked me if I was alright
once he arrived at the table. I was feeling very uncomfortable because I didn’t know what would come out of Darius’s mouth.

             
“She’s fine,” Darius announced.

I knew this encounter wasn’t going well. Maybe I should have let him leave when he was about too. I thought.

              “Tyrone this is my best friend Darius. Darius this is Tyrone,”

I prayed one of them would extend
their hand for a handshake, instead of giving each other the evil eye.
‘Thank you Lord’
I thought when I saw Tyrone put his hand out in front of Darius.

             
“How you doing man? You want another Corona before you bounce?” Tyrone asked.

             
“Nah man I’m good. Ya enjoy the rest of ya night. I got work to do. He kissed me on the cheek and stood.

             
“I’ll call you later,” Darius smiled.

It was complete silence at our table for at least five minutes. I didn’t know what to say. I was thankful when Tyrone finally broke the silence.

              “So your best friend is a guy huh?”

             
“Yes we’ve been friends since we were kids,”

             
“That’s cool. I don’t have many friends. But I would definitely make an exception for you,” he stated.

             
“Really?” I beamed.

             
“Yeah really I’ve heard we should be friends before we become lovers and trust I’m trying to be both,”

He had me lost for words. He seemed a little possessive early on. But his words
now have officially taken whatever doubts I had away. It was time for me to feel special and I think I’ve finally found the man to do it.

Tonight was crazy. I had to help Dontae with the club. Then watching Melissa with another man was too much. I know we’re just friends. But actually seeing her with her with someone else, made me look at our relationship in a different light. She has been there for me through thick and thin. I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it. It was time to be honest with myself. I loved her and I didn’t want her with anyone else. She was supposed to be with me. I needed to tell her before it was too late.

             
I hurried to the kitchen to make sure the cook was finished cleaning. We were about to close and the kitchen had shut down a half hour ago. The cook was turning off the lights when I entered the room. He said everything was done and he was going home. I turned the lights back on to make sure everything was in order. Once I checked everything I went to find Melissa.

             
The club was clearing out. I didn’t see Melissa I figured she already left. I grabbed my cell phone out my back pocket. I was ready to dial her number when one of the new bouncers stepped to me.

             
“Is everything straight, because I was about to head out,” he stated.

I looked at my cell phone to check the time. It was a li
ttle after two in the morning. I was about to tell him to hold up. I realized he was the bouncer that had the confrontation with Sandy and her friends. Before I could speak my cell phone rang. I told the bouncer he could go. The call was coming from Trina’s house. I knew something was wrong if I was getting a call this late.

             
“Hello, Trina?”

I could hear a child crying. But it was hard to make out what the child was saying.

              “Jade is that you? Calm down so daddy can understand you,”

             
“It’s not Jade Mr. Darius its Jazzy. Jade and I were playing and she fell off the top bunk. She hit her head and it won’t stop bleeding!” She cried.

             
“Ok baby don’t cry. Where is your mother?”

             
“I don’t know! When we woke up she wasn’t here,”

             
“Don’t worry I’m on my way. Let me talk to Jade,”

While I waited for Jade to pick up the phone
I made sure everyone had vacated the premises. I quickly checked to make sure all the doors and windows were locked. I then snatched my keys from behind the bar and headed to my car.

             
“Daddy?” She questioned.

             
“Yeah baby it’s your daddy. Are you ok?” I asked.

             
“I’m bleeding!” She gasped.

             
“I know I’m on my way. I need you to be a big girl. Can you be a big girl for daddy?”

             
“Yes,” she sniffled. 

I stayed on the phone with her until I pulled in front of Trina’
s row. She lived in the same projects I grew up in. Our projects were different from what some people were used to. The houses were connected and set up in rows. I was furious. I stomped up to the medal door and knocked.

             
Jazzy opened the door. I saw my baby girl crying holding a towel up to her forehead. I picked her up and removed the towel. She had a big gash I knew she was going to need snitches. I asked Jazzy to find their coats so we could go to the emergency room. I scanned the living room. It was way too quiet in the house.

             
“Where’s your brothers?” I asked Jade.

             
“They’re at mom-mom’s house,” Jazzy chimed in.

             
“Was your mother here when ya went to bed?”

Jade shook her head yes.
I figured she must’ve put them to sleep and left. Who leaves a six and eight year old home alone? I thought. I put on Jade’s shoes and told the girls everything was going to be alright. I held her in one arm and her sister in the other. I sighed as I walked to my car. I hated hospitals. But I would do anything for my baby girl. I was starting to think Trina knew that and was using it to her advantage.

             
Once we left the hospital I called Trina’s phone. Of course there was no answer. I was so proud of Jade. She got her stitches and never shed a tear. She was fearless just like her old man. I decided to take the girls back to my house. I couldn’t reach their mother and I knew they were tired. I was so frustrated. The system was built to protect the mother of the child. But what about the men like me? I did what I was supposed to do. I didn’t expect a medal. But give me credit where credit was due.

             
When we arrived at my house it was almost five in the morning. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t her from Trina yet. I picked up both the girls and put them in Jade’s room. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard from their mother yet. I was starting to get worried. I decided to call Trina’s mother after the fourth ring I left her a message that I had the girls. This entire situation was pissing me off. I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer. I sat and stared at the wall.
‘Where was this dumb ass girl?’
I thought.

             
I opened my eyes when I heard footsteps. I turned to see Jade standing in front of me.

             
“Hey baby girl you alright?”

She rubbed her
eyes and ran to me. I opened my arms and held her tight. I wanted her to always feel safe, especially when she was with me.

             
“Where’s mommy?” She asked waiting for me to assure her that everything was fine.

I sat her on my lap and rocked her back and forth
. What do you say to child when you don’t have the answers?

             
“Baby girl I got you. Daddy just needs you to go to sleep. Everything will be fine once you wake up,”

She closed her eyes as I caressed
her hair. I loved this little girl. She was supposed to be dreaming of princess’s and fairies instead she was worried about her crazy ass mother. I gently rocked her until she fell asleep.

             
Once Jade was sound asleep I carried her back upstairs and placed her in the bed next to her sister. I looked at Jazzy she wasn’t mine but I loved her just the same. I kissed them both on the cheek and quietly shut the bedroom door. I was exhausted but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to sleep until I knew what was up with Trina. I felt lost. I decided to do something Melissa said I should always do. I got on my knees and began to pray. If I couldn’t get the answers I needed maybe he could help me.

             
“How you doing God, it’s me Darius. I know you haven’t heard from me in a minute and I
apologize about that. So much has been going on and I really need you. I don’t know where to begin. I’m trying to change my life around but it seems like people won’t let me. I need to be here for Jade. I don’t know what’s going on with her mother. I pray that she’s alright. God please help me because things are getting out of control. Thank you God and Amen.

             
I stood and made my way back downstairs. I shut off the lights and was about to go to bed when I heard my doorbell ring. I prayed it wasn’t someone with bad news. When I pulled open the door there stood Trina. She quickly threw her arms around my neck.

             
“Oh thank God your home! I can’t find the girls!” She exclaimed.

I told her to come in and have a seat. I knew Trina better than she knew herself. I figured once she realized the girl’s won
’t home she come directly here. Once her mother finds out she left them alone, she’d better pray she didn’t call children and youth. I would have to talk with her later to make sure that didn’t happen. But right now, I had no intentions on telling her the girls were upstairs safe and sound until I found out why she left them in the first place.

             
I sat down next to her, as she pulled out a pack of Newport’s from her purse. Her hands were shaking as she lit her cigarette. I couldn’t believe she didn’t notice how calm I was. If she would have told me this news a few hours earlier, I probably would have killed her. I honestly didn’t understand how she could be so selfish.

             
“Did you check with your mother? Maybe she came and got the girl’s,” I suggested.

             
“She doesn’t have them. She would have called me if she came and got them.”

             
“Ok why don’t we call the police?”

I knew she wasn’t trying to call the police. She didn’t want the world to know she was a
n unfit mother. By asking these types of questions, it would only be a matter of time before I broke her. I wanted to ring her neck. But I had to play it cool to get the answers I needed.

             
“Trina did you hear me? Why don’t we call the police?” I repeated.

She gave me a look like I was crazy for asking such a question.

              “The police, we don’t need no police all up in our business! I came here so you could help me find them!” She barked.

This woman was unbelievable! She would do anything to save herself. She had no idea the girls were with me. They could
’ve been dead in a ditch for all she knew. But I guess she would do anything to keep the heat off her. I was disgusted. At that moment I wished I never met her.

             
I was done listening to her. I just wanted her out my house. I stood and walked to my door.

             
“What are you doing?” She questioned.

             
“I’m wondering how I ever got involved with you. You don’t care about nobody but yourself! The girls are fine! I picked them up when Jazzy called my phone. Jade needed to go to hospital and they had no idea where you were so they called me,”

             
She jumped up and put her finger in my face.

             
“What the hell do you mean their upstairs? You had me here worried about my girls and their right upstairs!”

I pushed her hand away. I was heated.

              “You weren’t worried about shit! If you were that concerned you would have never left them in the house alone! Anything could have happened to them!”

             
“Don’t you dare tell me how to raise my children! When ya ass was in jail, I was the one holding them down not you!”

             
“How the hell were you holding them down? Your mother is the one who’s been raising them. They would still be with her if she wouldn’t have gotten sick. Just admit you’re a sorry excuse for a mother!”