At Last Read Online Free Page B

asked sternly. I knew he was going to bring Justin up.
    “Why?”
    “Cause I asked you.”
    “No.”
    “Where’s the baby?”
    He’d always refer to Taylor as “the baby”. It pissed me off and he knew it. I knew he’d always resent the fact that I had her.
    “Taylor is at my mother’s.”  I responded rolling my eyes at him.
    “Look, I’ma follow you to momma’s house to pick up the baby, then we gone head to my crib.”
    “No.  I’m going to pick up Taylor and then I’m going home. Without an escort.”
    He laughed.  “Quit playing yourself, Keish.”
    “Who’s playing?”
    “Oh, alright. You a big girl out here, huh?”
    “Call it what you want, but I’m going home alone. Peace.”
    And with that I left him standing there.  It felt so damn good.
     
    I walked in my mother’s and she was asleep on the couch.  I bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
    “Hey baby.”  She rubbed her eyes.
    “Hey Momma.” I replied sitting down on the loveseat
    “Where’s Taylor?”
    “In her room sleeping.   You should just leave her so you don’t have to wake her.”
    “I’m just going to take her home.”
    “Do what you want.”  She said standing up and walking into the kitchen before pouring a glass of apple juice.
    “Momma, don’t be like that.”
    “I’m not being like anything.  You went alone tonight?”
    I knew that voice. She was insinuating that should have had a date.  The next statement?               “Get a father for that baby.” It was too late for all of that and besides, Taylor had a father, a crazy one, but a father nonetheless.
    “Yes I went alone.”  I said sitting on one of the barstools around the island in the kitchen.
    “Mmmmmmm.”
    “What’s that all about?”
    “Nothing,” she said looking at the clock on the kitchen wall.
    “Kinda early isn’t it.”
    “Momma it’s 11:30 I was tired.”
    She smiled and sat next to me, “You look pretty.”
    “Thank you.”  I replied smiling.  She kissed me on my forehead.
    “I just want you to have what I didn’t.  I want you to have the big wedding and all the bells and whistles.  You still got a chance baby.  You’re young, successful and beautiful.  You deserve a prince, just like your daddy.”
    Just as those words escaped her lips the doorbell rang.
    “Who could it be at this hour?” My mother asked moving toward the door. She looked through the window.
    “Oh, it’s Durran.”
    I already knew it was him.  Fucking stalker.
    “Come on in baby.”  She invited opening the door.
    “Hey Momma.”   He said hugging and kissing her on the cheek.
    “Where you coming from?”   She asked as he made his way into the house.
    “Oh, I was just in the neighborhood.”  He said winking at me. Jerk.
    “Are you hungry?”  She asked scurrying in the kitchen.
    “Well, maybe a little.” He said smiling.
    “Hey, Miss Morgan.”   He said hitting me on the leg.
    “Hey yourself, Mr. Johnson.”
    He sat down next to me one of the stools. It was like déjà vu.  Memories of our ill-fated relationship came flooding back.  I remained quiet as he and my mother continued their senseless banter.
    “ You looking good Durran.  Where you coming from?”
    He smiled before he answered, “Oh just out.”
    His smile was making me sick. He was so fake .
    “Well you and Mama K should’ve gone out together.”
    “Momma!” I exclaimed.
    “What? It was just a suggestion,” she said looking at me like I was tripping.
    “I’ma bout to go.”   I said standing up and heading for Taylor’s room.
    “Don’t you go and wake her up.  She’s fine just where she is.”  My mother said placing a plate of food in front of Durran.
    “Why not?   I’m getting ready to go home.”  I said becoming agitated.
    “No you not.  You have company and I’m going to bed.”  She said before giving Durran another kiss on the cheek before going to her bedroom.  The last thing I heard from her was her bedroom