“When you wake up tomorrow it’ll will be your birthday, baby.”
“Yay! I can’t wait for my party. I’ll be four years old!”
“Yeah baby. Me either.”
Taylor finished her food and climbed off the stool, “Can I go play Mommy?”
“Yeah baby for a little while. We got to go run some errands later though.”
“Okay.” She said disappearing down the hallway.
I picked up an Essence Magazine and continued to ignore Durran.
“ You ignoring me now?” He asked. I began to flip pages n onchalantly. He began to laugh, “How was your night?”
“How is your soundboard?” I asked.
He began to laugh again, “Damn. It’s actually pretty fucked up, but I can have that replaced. Anything can be replaced, you feel me?”
I just sat silently reading the magazine. I knew he said that to evoke a reaction. What, were you gonna replace me? I’m sure he wanted to hear that. I wasn’t going to entertain him.
“I see how it is. Well if it means anything, I’m sorry about last night. I get in that zone when I’m working. I told you when y’all first moved in, when I’m in the studio, I can’t be interrupted. Time is money, baby.”
I continued to read. He smacked his teeth and stood up, “So you really not talking to me, huh? Well, I just wanted to let you know a reporter from Essence is coming by tomorrow to do a profile on me”
“Taylor’s party is tomorrow. How do you plan to do that?”
“You see it as a problem; I see it as an opportunity.” He stated.
He had to be kidding me, “ So you gon’ use me and Taylor to create some perfect family image?”
“You making me seem really exploitive. I’m not using anything. I’m just telling you what to expect tomorrow.” He replied leaning on the island, “This is how it’s gonna be sometimes. You wanted this life here with me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I want it with you too, but a price comes along with it. It ain’t all roses.” He explained.
“What exactly are you referring to? Essence or you cheating on me?” I asked angrily.
He stopped leaning and stood up straight before studying me and shaking his head, “Is this about that rubber? Why you goin’ through my pockets anyway? So you found a rubber in my pocket, obviously I didn’t use it. You need to be thankful that if I was gonna creep out on you, I wouldn’t bring you some shit back from them streets.”
I couldn’t believe how arrogant he was being. I couldn’t stand to look at him any longer. This time it wouldn’t be Grey Goose on a sound board if I didn’t get away from him immediately.
“You know what Ava, I’m not really hungry. Don’t waste your time.”
“Are you sure honey?”
“I’m certain. Thanks anyway.” I said before storming off.
I ran upstairs to Durran’s room and went directly into my closet. I pulled out my suitcase and hurled it on top of the bed. I was going back to Detroit. I couldn’t deal with Durran anymore. It had become too much.
I began throwing anything and everything into it at a feverish pace before finally stopping and breaking down. Durran finally entered the room. He looked as calm as ever. It bothered me so much.
“What are you doing, Keisha?” He asked simply before shutting the door behind him.
“I’m leaving you. I’m
“Yay! I can’t wait for my party. I’ll be four years old!”
“Yeah baby. Me either.”
Taylor finished her food and climbed off the stool, “Can I go play Mommy?”
“Yeah baby for a little while. We got to go run some errands later though.”
“Okay.” She said disappearing down the hallway.
I picked up an Essence Magazine and continued to ignore Durran.
“ You ignoring me now?” He asked. I began to flip pages n onchalantly. He began to laugh, “How was your night?”
“How is your soundboard?” I asked.
He began to laugh again, “Damn. It’s actually pretty fucked up, but I can have that replaced. Anything can be replaced, you feel me?”
I just sat silently reading the magazine. I knew he said that to evoke a reaction. What, were you gonna replace me? I’m sure he wanted to hear that. I wasn’t going to entertain him.
“I see how it is. Well if it means anything, I’m sorry about last night. I get in that zone when I’m working. I told you when y’all first moved in, when I’m in the studio, I can’t be interrupted. Time is money, baby.”
I continued to read. He smacked his teeth and stood up, “So you really not talking to me, huh? Well, I just wanted to let you know a reporter from Essence is coming by tomorrow to do a profile on me”
“Taylor’s party is tomorrow. How do you plan to do that?”
“You see it as a problem; I see it as an opportunity.” He stated.
He had to be kidding me, “ So you gon’ use me and Taylor to create some perfect family image?”
“You making me seem really exploitive. I’m not using anything. I’m just telling you what to expect tomorrow.” He replied leaning on the island, “This is how it’s gonna be sometimes. You wanted this life here with me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I want it with you too, but a price comes along with it. It ain’t all roses.” He explained.
“What exactly are you referring to? Essence or you cheating on me?” I asked angrily.
He stopped leaning and stood up straight before studying me and shaking his head, “Is this about that rubber? Why you goin’ through my pockets anyway? So you found a rubber in my pocket, obviously I didn’t use it. You need to be thankful that if I was gonna creep out on you, I wouldn’t bring you some shit back from them streets.”
I couldn’t believe how arrogant he was being. I couldn’t stand to look at him any longer. This time it wouldn’t be Grey Goose on a sound board if I didn’t get away from him immediately.
“You know what Ava, I’m not really hungry. Don’t waste your time.”
“Are you sure honey?”
“I’m certain. Thanks anyway.” I said before storming off.
I ran upstairs to Durran’s room and went directly into my closet. I pulled out my suitcase and hurled it on top of the bed. I was going back to Detroit. I couldn’t deal with Durran anymore. It had become too much.
I began throwing anything and everything into it at a feverish pace before finally stopping and breaking down. Durran finally entered the room. He looked as calm as ever. It bothered me so much.
“What are you doing, Keisha?” He asked simply before shutting the door behind him.
“I’m leaving you. I’m
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