Torn (42 page)

With the jewelry box in her hand and an undeniable broad grin on her face, Mo reentered the shop. All eyes were on her.

"Whaaaaat?" She threw up in her hands in defeat.

"And you say yo' ass ain't in love." Mina smirked. "Girl please, even Stevie Wonder could tell yo' ass is lying."

"Whateva, hoe. Delicious, come on and do my hair. I gotta be somewhere by noon." "Mama! What have I told you about this screen door being unlocked?" Mo scolded Mrs. Mitchell as she walked into her house.

"And how many times have I told you don't nobody want an old woman like me." She greeted Mo with a kiss on the cheek.

"Alright now, you gon' wake up one day and have some strange man lying in your bed."

"That's probably what I need, somebody to lay on top of me."

"Mama, I ain't say nothing about nobody laying on top of you!"

"I know girl, come on in here." She motioned for Mo to come into the kitchen. "I just finished baking a triple chocolate upside down cake."

"Ooh mama, now you know I wanna piece." Mo eagerly took a seat at the island. Mrs. Mitchell made the best home-made cakes.

"So how have you been? You look wonderful."

"I feel wonderful, mama. Life has been really good. I final- ly feel like myself if that doesn't sound too strange."

"No it doesn't. I fully understand. When Quan's father left, at first I was sad and depressed. I didn't know how I was going to survive without him. Danny was my entire life. Everything I did revolved around him, so when he left I was finally forced to look at myself. And you know what?"

"What?" Mo asked, listening intently.

"I realized that I didn't know who the hell I was!" Mrs.

Mitchell doubled over in laughter.

"Mama, you silly."

"I'm for real, chile. It was like I was a five-year-old child who had lost her parents. I didn't know how to be happy. All I knew was fighting and crying. The crazy abusive life I had with Danny had become normal to me. I didn't know how to survive in the real world, but then after awhile I was like, why am I sitting up here mourning a man that treated me like shit? Honey, after that I got myself together. I stopped blaming Danny for everything and took a good look at myself. I wasn't perfect. I had made mistakes, too, so once I took own-ership of my own baggage and corrected the problem, living wasn't so hard anymore. I went back to school. Got a better job and started taking time for myself. Once I got comfortable in my own skin again, life became so much easier."

"Mama, you are so right. I'm not constantly worried anymore. My head doesn't hurt as much. My mind is clear. I'm not crying all the time. And it seems like I've laughed more in the last couple months then I did in the past nine and half years. Life couldn't be better. I have a great job and a beautiful loft which you need to come by and see."

"And I am," Mrs. Mitchell replied, placing two pieces of cake on saucers.

"I'm finally putting me first, you know. I'm living for myself for a change. I mean, it really feels good to have the weight of negativity off my back. "

"And when you say negativity you mean my son?" Mrs.

Mitchell gave Mo a slice of cake with a scoop of ice cream on the side.

"I wouldn't put it like that. When I say negativity, I mean the whole entire situation, ma. Me and Quan just weren't good with each other. All we did was argue and fight only to make up and do it all over again. But I will say once I finally put my fears aside and accepted the fact that he and I weren't meant to be, my whole life began to change for the better."

"It sure did. And yes I will admit ... I am sad that things couldn't work out between you two but to see your beautiful face so at peace and so filled with joy ... that just brightens my heart. 'Cause more than anyone, you deserve to be happy. You deserve every good thing that is coming to you right now."

"Thanks, mama. God is so good. I am truly blessed." Mo took a bite of cake.

"You are, and now that that's out of the way ... who is he?"

"Who is who?" she asked, caught off guard, almost choking.

"The young man that has got you floating on cloud nine."

"He's nobody, we're just friends."

"Umm hmm, friends with benefits." Mrs. Mitchell twisted up her lips and rolled her eyes.

"Mama!"

"Look-a-here, chile, I may be old but I'm not stupid. I know the signs of a good man when I see them. Your face is lit up like the moon. Ever since you walked up in here you've been just a cheesing and smiling."

"Okay! He's kind of special. I guess." Mo cheesed.

"What's his name?"

"Zaire."

"Nice name. Does he treat you right?" "Yes." Mo flashed a broad grin.

"Does he have any kids?"

"No."

"Have you had any problems with other women?"

"Technically, no. There was this one chick but he and I weren't together. We were still just doing the friend thing."

"And whose suggestion was the friend thing?"

"Mine. He wanted to take things further but I kept pushing it off. I just felt like it was too soon to be dating someone so soon after Quan."

"There is no time limit on getting on with your life, Mo.

Now, Quan is my son, but do you honestly think he's put off talkin' to other women just because y'all broke up a couple of months ago?"

"No, you're right," Mo laughed, shaking her head.

"Okay then, so you got to get over that. If you like him, you like him. Now ... how old is he and what does he do?"

"See, that's the big problem, ma."

"What?"

"His age. He's twenty." Mo's face dropped with disappointment.

"Okay, and you act like the boy twelve."

"But that's a big age difference, ma, don't you think?"

"Listen, age has nothing to do with maturity. Does he act childish?"

"No, actually. To be honest, he acts older than me."

"Alright, so he's not immature. What does he do?"

"He owns a carwash and a couple gas stations."

"So he's successful, too. Girl, I could slap you right about now. You better quit blocking your blessings and let that man into your heart."

"I just don't know, ma," Mo pouted, playing with her food.

"Look, you can pout, deny and contemplate your feelings until you're blue in the face, but you cannot hide from love, Mo. If you could, someone would have figured it out by now."

"Are you always right?"

"Pretty much." Mrs. Mitchell cleared their plates.

"Ay, yo, mama! Where you at?" Quan yelled, entering the house.

"And that's my cue to leave." Mo got up and grabbed her purse.

"Girl, sit back down." Mrs. Mitchell pushed her back down.

"But--"

"But nothing, this is my house and you are my company.

I'm back here in the kitchen, baby!" she yelled to Quan.

"Whose truck is that in the driveway?" he asked, entering the kitchen and connecting eyes with Mo. "I guess I already answered my own question. What's up, Mo?" His face glowed with a warm smile.

"Quan." She rolled her eyes.

Normally when Quan walked into a room, Mo's heart would fill with joy, but not anymore. The only thing that filled her heart now was emptiness and bitter memories. She couldn't stand him. Just to be around him turned her stomach.

Quan, on the other hand, couldn't have been happier.

Seeing Mo's face automatically brightened his day. The two week vacation he took to the Caribbean did nothing to cure his longing for her. It seemed to only make him miss her more. The whole time he wished she was there.

"Mama, I really need to be somewhere." Mo tried to leave again.

"Be where?" Quan questioned.

"None of your business." She turned and looked at him crazy.

"Quan, you could've held the door open for me!" Sherry announced as she and the kids walked into the kitchen. As soon as she spotted Mo she paused, rotated her neck and wondered,
What the fuck is this bitch doing here?

"Isn't this cute? The happy family's all together," Mo shot sarcastically. "What's up, Sherry?" Mo wasn't even surprised or hurt that Quan and Sherry were back together. He'd been running back to her for years, so why would he stop now? She actually found it quite funny.

The two of them were so tired and played. Their entire relationship was built on a lie. The shit was sure to fall eventually.

Instead of replying back with a smart comment, Sherry simply rolled her eyes and directed her attention to Quan's mother.

"How you doing, Mrs. Mitchell?" She gave her a hug.

"Fine and you."

"Versacharee, bring Lil' Quan over here so he can give his granny a hug."

Versacharee did as her mother had asked and walked her little brother over to Mrs. Mitchell's awaiting arms.

"Hey, granny's baby." She kissed each of his chubby cheeks.

"Lil Quan been asking for you all day," Sherry continued, intertwining her arm with Quan's.

"Is that right? Well, it seems to me that my grandson and Versacharee need to spend the night with me tonight."

"Can they? That would really help me and Quan out. We need some time alone," Sherry stressed, rubbing her belly and eyeing Mo.

"Umm mama." Mo shot up. "It was nice seeing you, but like I said, I gotta go."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be back over next week though, I promise." She kissed her cheek.

"Okay," Mrs. Mitchell said, really not wanting her to leave.

"Ooh mama, can me and Quan take some of this cake home?" Sherry tried to pull the attention back to her.

"I don't care, Sherry, and please ... do me a favor."

"You know I would do anything for you. What is it?"

"Call me Mrs. Mitchell."

"Oops, cracked yo' face." Mo winced as Sherry stood there looking stupid. "See you later, mama." She walked out with a smirk.

"You know what, I think I left something in the car. I'ma be right back, a'ight." Quan announced out of nowhere.

"Umm hmm, remember where your home is at," Sherry warned.

"Man, calm down. I said I'll be right back." He jogged to catch up with Mo. "Ay Mo, let me holla at you."

"What is it, Quan?" she asked, placing on her YSL shades.

"Damn, what's with the attitude? We can't at least be civil to each other?" He poked his head inside of her truck.

"You don't want me to answer that." Mo's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"What, we ain't friends no more? You could've told me you were gon' trade in the 500?"

"I don't have to tell you anything and why are you in my face? Go in the house and be wit yo' girl and yo' kids."

"I am wit my girl." He smiled deviously.

"Not out here you're not," she snapped. "So please ... step away from the car!"

"What you doing tonight? You know I miss you."

"I can't believe you. You are sooo disrespectful."

"What you talkin' about?"

"Don't even worry about it. Are you done 'cause I gotta go," she spoke, aggravated with his presence.

"So what's up? You gon' let me slide through tonight or what?"

"Aghh, goodbye." Mo rolled up her window and sped off, leaving him standing alone just like he'd done her so many times. Mo stood with one leg propped on her bed, massaging bronze body butter into her skin. Boss had asked for a show and Mo was about to give him one he'd never forget. Faith Evans' "
Catching Feelings
" kept reminding her to take her time and take it slow but she couldn't. The song said it all. Mo had already begun to catch feelings for Boss. Mrs. Mitchell was right. She couldn't possibly hide from the way she felt.

The more she was around Boss, the more her feelings grew. The affection he showed her made her feel like a new woman. He was so compassionate and attentive. He always put her needs before his. Whenever she called upon him for help, he was right there. Boss had her wide open. He was everything she'd always wanted in a man. Sometimes Mo had to pinch herself just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

This feeling she felt had to be unreal. Sometimes it felt like she was in a whirlwind. Being in his presence was dizzying. The spark he set off in her heart filled her up. Mo was drunk with bliss. Boss could possibly be her soul mate. She loved how he controlled her in a positive way. He was most definitely a winner. But how could she feel this way only after a couple months?

Something bad had to happen sooner or later. Boss was just too good to be true.
How could he possibly be everything
I've always wanted?
she wondered, putting on her heels.
This is crazy. He has to be runnin' game. There has to be some kind of hidden agenda here
. But then Mo remembered that the only thing Boss had ever asked for was her heart.