Everything For Naomi

10. Back to Basics

The apartment door cracked open with Damien and Naomi walking in. Janice had her legs crossed on the couch, rubbing her belly as Nova kicked. Damien sat over to the dinning room table and Naomi threw her backpack down, kneeled over next to Janice and put her lips up to her belly.

"Hi baby. Daddy says you are coming soon. What is it going to be baby?" She whispered.

Janice laughed and kissed her forehead, "Did daddy tell you that mommy was having a baby or did grandma?"

"And I'm big sister, right?" She jumped around in little circles then fell to her knees again.

"Yes you are Chubbs." Janice stood up and walked over to Damien, "Naomi can you go to your room, turn on the TV and shut the door please?"

"Yes mommy." Naomi ran off and did as she was told.

Janice looked Damien in the face and her fist pounded his chest, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU LEAVE ME? THEN YOU THINK PICKING UP NAOMI MAKES UP FOR YOUR BULLSHIT?"

"BITCH HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DENY MY CHILD BEING ABLE TO HAVE MY LAST NAME?" His voice shook the walls.

"The same way you denied Naomi your love and attention for five years." The palm of her hand went across his cheek, "And I told you that we'd talk to Naomi TOGETHER about the baby. You went to Greensboro to pick her up? Stop acting like you been doing this shit for years Damien."

Damien ran his tongue across his cheek, "Janice, get the fuck outta my face before I-"

She cut him off, "Before you what? Before you hit me? Hit me if you want to fuck boy and I'll make sure that you see neither one of your daughters."

The house fell silent.

"That's what I thought." Janice walked into the kitchen.

Damien swung the chair into the wall, "Forreal Janice, fuck you. Don't ask for shit from me unless it has to do with Naomi or the baby."

Janice continued to pour herself a cup of Minute Maid lemonade, ignoring Damien's hissy fit.

She took a sip, "Are you done?"

"Man, I'm done trying to make you happy. Nothing is ever good enough for you Jay. I'm just going to start doing my own shit." He snapped.

"You never made me happy.  You leave me to do shit on my own when you ought to be around the most, but you never think about me and my feelings. Go do whatever you want to because frankly, I don't care, just don't bring it around my daughters." Janice rolled her eyes and made her way to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Damien departed the opposite way out the house with his car keys and cellphone in hand, dialing.

"Ayo. Where you at? I'm trying link up real quick."

As night fell, Naomi and Janice cuddled in the bed, watching Frozen.

Naomi tapped Janice, "Mommy?"

"Yes beautiful?" Janice sat up and faced Naomi.

"Where's daddy at?" She asked

Janice chewed on her bottom lip and played in Naomi's curls, "Sometimes mommy and daddy don't get along, so daddy left."

"Is he coming back?" She whispered.

"Sweetie, I'm not sure. But we'll be fine, you know that right?" She ran the back of her hand across her cheek.

Naomi shook her head up and down, "Is the baby a sister?"

Janice laughed and cuddled Naomi back up, "Yes the baby is a sister."