Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
He’s so good with Kaylee, and she really likes him. One day, I’d like to have another baby, but Legend doesn’t want any children of his own. He made that clear from day one. She felt a bit sad about it, but knew if she wanted to be with him, she’d have to accept his wishes. She’d let go of one wish, to take hold of another.
He took her hand, and she forced a smile this time, trying to escape her sudden despondency. Bringing her hand to his mouth, he kissed it.
“I love you, baby.” He winked at her.
“I love you too. More than you’ll ever know.”
Chapter Eighteen
If you stay ready, you ain’t got to get ready. Church.
Legend flicked his cigarette as he studied his mother, who stood at his front door, looking up at him. Her hair was down, tucked behind her ears, and she wore a long-sleeved white shirt and jeans. She removed her blue reading glasses from her purse, slid them on, and opened an envelope. He was suddenly interested in the bottle of Crown Royale he had sitting on his dining room table.
“You ain’t comin’ in,” he stated as he lit another cigarette with a match, cocking his head to the side to catch the flame just so, block it from the wind. He tossed the matchbook on the mail table he had near the front door, hearing his dogs playing and barking in the back.
“That’s fine. I wanna read you this letter, Legend.” She cleared her throat.
“What is it? Another bill you want me to pay?” He laughed. “Go ask your man of the month for the money.”
“Dear Legend, I—”
He laughed mirthlessly. “Why ain’t you just mail it? Like a normal person?”
She continued, ignoring him. “I have—”
“That’s the fuckin’ narcissist in you. I just learned what that was, too. Me and Caspian was on the phone last night, and he hipped me to it. You like to boohoo, cry ’nd shit. It’s just acting. A performance. You know I fuckin’ hate it when people cry, ’specially you, because you use them tears to manipulate folks. Tears don’t do shit but get folks wet ’nd sleepy. I ain’t got time for tears no mo’e, Mama. Get up off my doorstep. I gotta get ready to go to work and get this money.”
“Please let me finish! I’ll be gone after this!” Her voice rattled with the strength of her yelling.
He looked down at her. So pathetic. His anger burned, just like on the day she’d slapped him for telling the truth. Her hands shook as she held the letter. He leaned against the doorframe, crossed his legs, and looked at anything and everything but her. His bare feet felt cold with the breeze drifting in from outside.
“I have come to tell you that I love you. That you and Melanie mean everything to me.”
“Damn!” He chuckled. “You start off lyin’ right out the gate. Ain’t even ease into it. Treatin’ me like a cheap hoe from tha jump!”
She shook her head. “I know I’m not perfect, but I tried hard to raise you and your sister. Sometimes we didn’t see eye to eye. What you saw as me being more in love with men than my own children was not true.”
“This must be a comedy show. You Kevin Hart, huh? The White, female version? Okay, you know what? I’mma stop giving my commentary, Mama. I give you the floor.” He took a dramatic bow. “No more interruptions. The show must go on, right?”
She blinked a few times, then looked back at the paper and proceeded.
“I was using them, as much as they were using me. I was trying to keep a roof over your and Melanie’s head.” She took a deep breath. “I had lost several jobs when you were a baby, because Tarik was often sick, and you were getting suspended. Someone had to stay home with you.” Oh, this is my fault, huh? “I had never heard of a first grader getting suspended from school, until it happened to you. When your father left, things got ten times worse. Yes, I wanted company, and to be in love, but not at the expense of my children. I was trying to survive. I am sorry… I am sorry that we have not gotten along, Legend.”
She closed her eyes tight, and cried quietly. He felt as if he were looking at a blank piece of paper gently blowing in the wind.
“I am proud of who you are trying to be now. I don’t have no ill will towards Axel. I just know how much you like your independence, and resent people when they hold somethin’ over your head. I know it sometimes sounds like I’m not supportive, but I just don’t want you to get hurt, or put all of your eggs in one basket. You were my most difficult child to raise because you were always so opinionated, on the warpath, and stubborn. I never understood why you were so angry with the whole world. We were poor, but we had each other. You never missed a meal. One day, when you have children, maybe you will understand how hard it is to raise them. I’m your mama. I will always be here for you. No matter what.