“Can I help you?” I stopped about two feet in front of him, flexing my arms. I wanted to be sure he got the message from the start. He was not welcome.
“I’m lookin’ for my baby’s mom. Stephanie. She live here?” He spoke with that street thug cockiness. I guess he was trying to intimidate me.
I stepped in a little closer, put a little more bass in my voice, and gave him the same attitude right back, army-style.
“Yeah, she lives here. What you want her for?”
“That ain’t none of yo’ business unless your name’s Stephanie. And I can’t remember fuckin’ anyone as ugly as you.” He leaned to the side, checking out the house.
“I’m gonna ask you one more time, man. What you want with Stephanie?” I moved closer to block his view of the front porch.
He stepped back, eyeing me from head to toe with a devilish grin. “Oh, I get it. You must be her new man.”
“No, I’ve been around for quite a while. Playin’ daddy to your daughter,” I smirked, hoping to piss him off, but he had a few comebacks of his own.
“Well you can stop playin’ now, dawg, ’cause her real daddy’s here. And I’m not planning on leaving anytime soon.”
“Her real daddy, huh? Why don’t you ask her who her real daddy is?” I scoffed. Malek clenched his fists like he was about to take a swing at me, and believe me I was ready for whatever he was about to bring. But Big Momma’s interruption put us both in our place.
“Malek Robinson! What are you doin’ here?” Big Momma huffed angrily, glaring from Malek to me and back to him. She was out of breath after running from the porch. “Both of you! Put them damn hands down, now!”
I don’t know if Big Momma was worried about what I would do or not, but she must have known Malek well enough to know she might have to break somethin’ up. ’Cause it wasn’t every day you saw Big Momma moving her large frame so fast. A few more seconds and we would have come to blows, but Malek’s hands dropped instantly when he heard her voice. It always amazed me how easily she could command respect, even from a punk like Malek. His hard-ass tone became choirboy-gentle when he spoke to her.
“It’s Christmas, Mrs. Washington. I just came by to see my daughter. I’m not here for no trouble. I swear. I just wanna see my daughter.” He lifted the shopping bag he’d been carrying. I could tell Big Momma was not impressed.
“What daughter? You ain’t got no daughter around here.” She nudged me to the side and pointed her finger right in Malek’s face. “It takes a man to raise a child, not some fool who ain’t been around in four years. So don’t be comin’ ‘round here talkin’ ’bout your daughter, ‘cause you gave up that privilege when you walked out on her years ago. Now get your sorry ass outta here ’fore I call the police.” Malek’s expression changed. I guess not even Big Momma was allowed to disrespect him like that, ’cause he lost his passive stance and started demanding.
“I ain’t leavin’ here till I see my daughter, Mrs. Washington. So you might as well point me to her or call the police.” Malek turned toward the children playing on the swing set.
“What you mean point you to her? You don’t even know which one she is, do you?” Damn! From the embarrassment on Malek’s face, it was obvious Big Momma was right. She just threw her hands in the air. “Lawwwd, the boy done come over here talkin’ ’bout his daughter and don’t even know which child she is!”
Big Momma started in on him with a litany of insults about what kind of sorry excuse for a father he was. What surprised me was that he actually stood there and took it for a few seconds, which I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing. Just when he looked like he was ready to interrupt her, Stephanie pulled the van into the driveway. I turned in her direction, anxious to see how she was going to handle this. From everything Stephanie had ever told me about her ex, I was sure they wouldn’t be exchanging pleasant holiday greetings. And if he wanted to act stupid I’d be right there by my girl’s side to act stupid with him.
9
“Oh, God! Momma? Is that who I think it is? Is that Malek?” I almost drove into the mailbox when I saw him standing in the walkway. Big Momma was huffin’and puffin’ next to him, her arms waving all up in his face. I had no idea what Malek was doing there or how he even found my new house, but one thing was for sure: his presence meant trouble. Big trouble.
“Cirl, it sure looks like that fool. What’s he doin’ here? You tryin’ to mess things up with Travis?” My mother’s tone was accusatory, like I had something to do with all this shit. God, I could feel a migraine coming on with a vengeance. Not only was my mother already jumping in my shit about him, but Travis would no doubt have plenty to say about it, too. He was already glaring at me with his arms crossed. Made me wanna put the van in reverse and back out of the driveway.
“Stephanie, I think you better get out there and do something,” my mother urged as if she’d read my mind and knew I was close to fleeing.
“I ain’t goin’ out there, Momma. Big Momma looks like she’s got everything under control.” I tried to sound like it was a joke, but I would have driven away in a hot second if she had even smiled at me in response.
“She looks like she’s about to slap that boy silly.” Momma shook her head. “Now get out there and get rid of that fool before he ruins what’s left of the holiday. We ain’t even opened the presents yet.”
“How am I supposed to do that? You know Malek ain’t got good sense.” I just wanted to crawl under the dashboard.
“You the one who had a baby with him, so don’t be complainin’ now.” She gave me a light shove. “Now get out there and handle your business.”
I sighed in protest but knew she was right. Malek wasn’t going anywhere until I talked to him. If there was one thing that boy had always been, it was persistent. He could stand there and face Big Momma’s berating all day if he set his mind to it. And from the look on his face, he was ready to do just that. I reluctantly opened my door and stepped out, gathering my strength as I marched toward the group.
“Malek! What the hell are you doing here?” I pushed my way past Travis and Big Momma and got right in his face.
“What’s up, Shorty? You lookin’ mighty fine.” I swear it took everything I had not to smack the shit outta him when he eyed me from head to toe with that arrogant grin.
“Don’t ‘what’s up?’ me, Malek. And my name is Stephanie. Not Shorty.” I glared at him. “What the hell are you doing here? And how did you find out where I live?” I added that last part for Travis’s benefit, who had yet to speak, though he was standing by, watching every move I made. I wanted to make it completely clear I had nothing to do with Malek’s arrival. Unfortunately, Malek also decided it was time to invite Travis into our little discussion.
“Yep, that’s my Shorty. She sure got a lot of spunk, don’t she?” he smirked at Travis. “You know, that’s why I started messing with her in the first place, because she had a lot of spunk. That and a phat ass.” He grabbed my arm and spun me, his eyes traveling down my backside. “Mmm-mmm, she always did have a nice ass.”
“You better back the fuck up ’fore I put my foot in your ass!” Travis roared, taking a step toward Malek. He looked like he was about to hit him.
“Oh, my God. Travis, no!” I grabbed tight onto his arm to keep him by my side.
“Come on and bring it, big boy. You don’t know who you fucking with. I will fuck your big ass up!”
“That supposed to be a threat, punk?” Travis lifted his fists, grinning. “C’mon, let’s see what you got.”
“Travis! Please don’t! Malek’s sorry ass ain’t worth it. He’s still trying to prove he’s a man.”