Just Be Patient (Urban Story)

Chapter 110: Look In The Mirror

Flashback......
I slowly snuck out the bed trying not to wake up Harley. She slept in bed with us last night and I didn't want her to know I was leaving her side.
"You better move faster then that cause if she move and don't see you. It's a wrap" Jason said scooting closer to her in bed. Harley always loved cuddling with me super close anytime we were in bed. If I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night she lost her mind until I made it back to her sight.
"I'm trying baby. It's kinda hard if you haven't noticed" I said laughing referring to my big belly.
"Oh I see. Believe me" he said smiling in just his boxers.
"Hahaha. Don't make me smack you J" I said getting up throwing some sweatpants and fitted shirt. I had to get some small things for breakfast and I wanted to be in and out. Jason rubbed Harley's little back as she held on to him tight. She had on a pull up and her favorite pink princess socks. Just like her father, she hated sleeping with a shirt on.
"I'll be right back babe. Do you need anything from the store while I'm out J" I said walking out the bathroom patting my low ponytail down.
"Yeah you know those cookies I like" he said as I laughed. Jason loved 2 things. Red velvet cake and these molasses ginger honey cookies. They were disgusting to me. His grandfather use to love them and Jason grew up having them so he was addicted cause of him.
"Yes handsome I will get your cookies." I grabbed my keys walking over to the bed. "Muah muah muah muah. I love you" I said pecking his lips giving him kiss after kiss.
"Don't be long beautiful. I love you" he returned my kisses rubbing my stomach.
"I won't baby. I'll miss you too much" I said laughing winking at him.
"You better miss me" he said watching me turn around "You and my baby be careful" he smacked my ass letting me leave. I was half way down the stairs when I heard Harley call my name whining.
"Ma ma. Da da me want ma ma" I could've kept walking but whenever I heard her cry my heart couldn't take it.
"Mommy be back princess. Shhhh go back to sleep" I heard him say as her cries got louder.
"No ma ma! Ma ma!" She screamed as I threw my jacket off tossing my keys on the front table.
"Mommy's right here baby." I said climbing the stairs as quickly as I could. By time I reached the top she was already standing there reaching out for me to pick her up as I saw tears run down her chubby cheeks.
"Awwww my angel. Don't cry. Mommy goin cry too" I said picking her up. I grabbed a wet wipe cleaning her face. Soon as I walked back into our bedroom Jason looked at me shaking his head.
"Don't even say it" I smiling lowering my pregnant body on the bed.
"What I ain't say shit" he said laying back against his pillows.
"Angel mommy needs to go to the store to get you breakfast. I know my baby hungry" I said stroking her soft curly hair that was in a loose ponytail.
"Mmmhmm" she said putting her tiny hand on my belly.
"So can mommy go to the store really quickly. I promise I won't be long angel" I asked so in love with my baby.
"Des. Pancakes ma ma" she said as me and Jason laughed.
"Just like your mother man" he said looking at her as she covered her face giggling.
"Daddy need to leave us alone. He know his girls are greedy." I said kissing her lips. Her smile and laugh always made my day.
"Okay go to daddy baby" I said handing her to Jason. She crawled on his lap interlocking their fingers.
"Mommy's gonna make you chocolate chip pancakes and bacon." I said as her face lit up. I always made her fun shape flavored pancakes which she loved.
"I got her beautiful. Go head" he said as I quickly kissed her again. "I love you angel. Mommy will call you when I get to the store okay baby" I said making her attachment worse. The store was 5 minutes away and I wasn't going to be long but I just had to her a little voice just to make sure my baby was okay. Jason was an amazing father but I was mommy. Mommy's had super powers and could do things that couldn't be explained. We were each other's heart and that fact was never going to change. No matter what.
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"Omg" I said jumping out my sleep. It was thunderstorming terribly outside. Ever since I was a little girl thunderstorms truly wrecked my nerves. I never got over that.
"J....babyyyy" I said feeling be hide me. He usually held me whenever the weather got like this without me asking because he knew how scared I was. I didn't feel him around me and when I sat up I was in bed alone. The lightening flashed bright freaking me out.
"Jason" I said getting out of bed. I had on one of his shirts setting into my black plush slippers. I wanted Jason.
"Come on! What the fuck is yall doing?!" I heard from downstairs yelling at the television screen. When Jason got like that I knew the game was on. I headed downstairs and sure enough his basketball game was on.
"What you doing up? I ain't wake you up did I sexy" he said facing me on the sofa.
"No but baby it's thundering bad and I'm scared" I said standing in front of him. He grabbed my hand pulling me in his lap.
"I'm sorry I wasn't in bed wit you baby. The game longer than I thought" he said caressing my waist.
"Oh so that's more important than me now" I said smiling at him. Jason had to be on his toes when it came to everyone under this roof. The kids weren't the only ones who needed to be comforted by daddy. I needed him just as much.
"Nah beautiful I just been waiting to see this for a minute. I bet 5-" he said stopping himself as I folded my hands eyeballing him.
"Oh go on cause if you say 500 Jason Vince Thomas Imma choke your ass" I said as he avoided my stare. He always made these crazy bets and he won 99% of the time but I was always nervous cause they got higher and higher. Men and there sports. Smh. They took it so serious.
"Damn you look sexy tonight" he said kissing on my neck. I busted out laughing as he thought he was distracting me.
"Uh uh. Get off me. You not slick" I said smiling.
"I don't know why you trip anyway cause I always split my winnings wit you" he said as I gasped.
"Oh don't drag me into your mess. I just take the money. It's a don't ask don't tell policy" I said as we laughed. He laid me on his bare chest as I watched along with him. I wrapped my arms around him asking a million questions while the game went on and hour later I was 500 dollars richer. I mean Jason was.
"See I know what I'm doing" he said carrying me upstairs. I could finally go to sleep peacefully. We walked halfway upstairs and every baby monitor was lit up and had crying come from the speakers.
"Oh gosh." I said realizing all 3 of the kids were up and petrified of the storm.
"I'll get the girls" Jason said putting me down as I ran off to get Jae.
"Baby baby baby stop crying" I said picking him as he bit on his fist. Jae was so adorable it made me sick. Ughhh I loved my baby so much.
"There's Mommy's big boy" I said cradling him on my chest. We walked into the bedroom and it was one big slumber party.
"Baby!!!" Haley and Harley said as I let Jae crawl to them. They loved each other so much.
"Yall be careful" Jason said getting in bed laying his watch down on the nightstand. Haley and Harley tool turns kissing Jae as he just giggled and kicked his feet laying in the middle of them. He was getting big but they wanted him to do things they did. I yawned getting on the other side of them so they wouldn't be on the edge.
"Now yall wide awake huh" I said laying against my pillow watching them.
"Rain scary ma ma" Haley said holding onto Jae's hand.
"Me scared too. It loud" Harley said after.
"Mommy was scared too. She ran downstairs crying for daddy like a baby" Jason said teasing me as they giggled.
"Ma ma cry" they said laughing at me.
"How yall goin laugh at mommy. That's not nice" I pretended to cry covering my face as they just laughed and laughed with Jason. I was at my best when they were happy.  My nights were complete when I had all my babies with me and Jason in bed.
"We sorry beautiful. We sorry. Right princess" Jason said as Haley laid on top of him playing with his beard.
"No you started J. I'm not your best friend no more" I said as Haley covered her little mouth.
"Me still your friend ma ma" she said pulling on my hands trying to get to look at her.
"Oh yes. Mommy will always be your best friend. Always baby. Gimme kiss pretty girl" I said holding her round face in my hands. I kissed her lips as she got happy. 
"Me ma ma. I'm your friend too" Harley said laying up under me.
"Of course I promise" she kissed me as Jae started to run his eyes and whine. Somebody was getting restless.
"Aye man what you crying for. Men don't cry" Jason said looking down at Jae. I went to pick him up when Jason stopped me. "Nah he good. Here" Jason hated when I babied his son. He said he didn't want him to get soft and cry for me every 5 minutes. He gave Jae his pacifier as he quickly sucked on while holding on to his blanket I brought in bed with us. Jae love that thing. It was Jason's when he was a baby and his mother gave it to Jae so he could have it.
"See he don't need you to pick him up every time he cry. He aight" Jason said kissing his forehead. He was gonna make Jae a man just like him. But me on the other hand didn't see anything wrong with kissing and codling my baby cause he was mines. I was obsessed with him. I carried and birth him so we would always have that special bond. A kiss or 10 a day won't hurt.
"Tell daddy you wanna cuddle with mommy. He sleepy baby" I said as he dosed in and out. Jason was always right because sure enough Jae fell asleep on his own. He was a strong little boy but I wanted him to always be my baby.
"It's just you and me" Jason said as one by one they all floated right back to sleep. We laid them in the middle next to each. Staring at them was like seeing real life angels to me.
"Mmmhmm" I said running my hands through Haley's loose curls.
"You tryin give me a good night kiss" Jason said causing me to blush.
"Tell me something I wanna hear first and I will" I said as we scooted closer together.
"You're so beautiful and its nobody in the world who could give me this but Hue" he spoke with so much sincerity my heart beater faster.
"That was really sweet baby. Thank you. Now what's the 3 magic words" I said as our faces touched each other's.
"I" he kissed my lips sweetly. "Love" he gave me another sweet kiss making me blush even harder. "You" he gave yet another kiss as I kissed him back. We pecked each other's lips saying I love you back and forth.
"Good night handsome" I said intertwining our hands. 
"Good night. Get you some sleep." I laid facing him as he faced me stretching his arms around all of us. Family didn't get no better than this.
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"So here's her pictures" we were at Harley's pre school and just wanted to check in her progress so far. She seemed to really enjoy it.
"Their beautiful baby look" I said as Jason inspected the classroom throughly. He made sure we didn't let not even a week go by that we didn't know what was going on.
"But of all Harley is a really smart girl and is such a pleasure to have in the class. She is very obedient and super helpful. I just wanna commend you for doing such a good job at home. She came here at a very good level. She knows all her shapes and colors and numbers. I can tell her home life is good." Her teacher said politely. I couldn't be more proud to hear that. But Jason was sucking it all in. Just as I knew he would.
"Yeah cause when my wife busy I still make sure she knows everything she needs to. She love counting with me." I shook my head smiling. Jason was always there for them so I couldn't complain one bit.
"I can tell Mr. Thomas. And one thing I love about you and your wife is that you always make it a point to come and see what your child is doing. Honestly I haven't seen some of the parents a day in my life" she said as we both shook our heads. Your children should be your number on priority. We wrapped up our little meeting and got Harley.
"Okay now Harley tomorrow is the bake sale so make sure you bring some goodies okay sweetie" her teacher said as we walked out. We got to the front door as I saw a little girl just sitting on the step.
"Melissa why are you still here honey" the teacher said kneeling down.
"My mommy no here" she said as Harley's teacher looked away rolling her eyes.
"Is everything okay" I said seeing her calm and gentle demeanor swift.
"Mrs. Thomas in sorry but" she moved to the side out of the little girls eat way. Me and Harley's teacher Mrs. Hall had became very well acquainted in the months she was in school. Every Friday I brought snacks for the kids and I enjoyed being there whenever I had some free time.
"That little girls mother is always super late picking her up or she doesn't show at all." I said as my eyes widened
"What? Who picks her up and drops her off" I said so concerned. I had a soft spot for kids.
"The school shuttle picks her up but if her mother is a no show. I take her home. It's getting ridiculous. I try talking to her but nothing changes. I hate that she has to wait so long and I have no problem taking her but I can't do it today. My mother in law is throwing my husband a surprise birthday party and I sore I wouldn't be late." She said as I took it all in. Harley got out at 12 every other day and it was no excuse for someone to not get their child who comes to school just 3 times a week for 4and half hours. No excuse.
"I could take her if that's okay. It's already been too long that she been outside" I offered as she let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Do you mind" she said as I nodded.
"Not at all. You have my number and I can shoot you a text letting you know when we get there. She'll be fine" I knew it was hat letting another parent take responsibility for a student but the little girl was the one suffering.
"Oh okay. Thank you so much Mrs. Thomas. You and your husband are angels" she said as I laughed. We walked back over to the girls as Jason brought the car closer.
"Melissa. Harley's mommy is gonna take you home okay. Your mother didn't come today sweetie" the little girl just nodded as I couldn't stop looking at her. Harley grabbed her hand as they jumped in the car. Jason strapped them in as we got in. I gave him the address as he drove off with no hesitation.
"Ma ma ice cream ice cream" Harley said as I zoned out. I was looking at Melissa through my mirror the whole time. It was just something about her.
"I'm sorry my angel. We can go get ice cream after we take your friend home." I said as Jason looked at me.
"You aight" he said
"Yeah I'm fine babe" my mind was fixated on her.
"I want some ice cream too" Melissa said as I looked at Jason.
"J I don't want her mother to worry about her" I said thinking if we didn't get her home that her mother might get scared and think someone kidnap her baby.
"I mean she ain't care enough to be there in time so she good" he said making a u turn. We got to the ice cream parlor as we took them out the car. Jason took them inside as I waited in the car. They could just eat it on the way. I was in a daze when my car door clicked opened.
"You scared me baby. Where are they" I said as he came alone.
"They right here playing. I can see them. But something going on wit you" he said standing me on my feet.
"J it's something about that little girl that sticks out so much to me" I said wrapping my around him.
"Don't start trying to read her. I know you" he said making me smile. Maybe I was imagining this.
"I won't. You know my mind wonders J" I said smiling at him.
"How about you use that wondering mind on me tonight" he said kissing on me.
"Mmmmm you got yourself a deal" I said easing my mind. Maybe her mother was extremely busy and couldn't come. I shouldn't jump to conclusions about her situation.
"Da da all done" Harley said running to us. Jason picked up Harley putting her on her side of the car.
"I guess I get the pleasure of helping you" I said picking up Melissa. Soon as I picked her up her clothes had a odd smell.
"Thank you" she said to me as that same feeling came washing over my body. It was like I was glued to her.
"You're so welcome gorgeous. Did you like your ice cream" I asked getting her seat belt on.
"Yes" she said with the biggest smile on her face. She was a precious little thing.
"Good. I'm happy you like it. Now let's get you home okay" she smiled at me as I smiled back. Before I shut the door I leaned down and kissed her little cheek. She just seemed so happy in this moment. I got in as we headed to her house.
"Are you sure this the right place" Jason said as drove into a rough neighborhood. I wouldn't question it but Harley's school wasn't cheap so how could she afford sending going there and living here. Something didn't add up.
"That's the address she gave me Jason" I said looking around. It was like a mirror image of my old house.
"Melissa is this your house baby" I said as he pointed.
"Okay. I'll take her" Jason said unbuckling his seatbelt.
"No baby. I'll go. I don't want her mother to think some strange man dropped her little girl off. I'll go" I said getting out. I got her book bag and took her hand. It was men all over the neighborhood just "hanging out". I held her hand tighter as we approached the porch.
"You goin give me my mother fuckin money bitch" I saw a woman yell on the phone. I opened the grass filled gate and walked up.
"Excuse me" I said standing there.
"What!" She said like I was bothering her.
"I'm bringing your daughter home. She goes to school with my baby and she was outside waiting so I just brought her." She looked at me like I was crazy.
"I mean thanks." She said as I chuckled on the inside. I didn't need anything for doing it.
"Melissa get your ass in the damn house and leave that lady alone. You don't know her" she said as Melissa's little joy just faded.
"Can I have a hug precious" I said as she nodded excitedly. I got down hugging her tight. "Your so special baby" I said shutting my eyes holding on to her. Idk why but I needed that moment. I let her go as she ran off. Her mother lit a cigarette as I didn't leave.
"Miss you dropped her off now you can go." She said being rude. Her attitude was terrible!
"I'm not the one with the issue so drop the attitude sweetheart" I said looking her in the eye.
"Who you think you talking to? I said you can go" she said as I took a deep breath
"You know what. Learn how to pick your child up on time okay. That's what you need to be worrying about. Good bye" I said walking away. She had some nerve.  I got in the car with mixed emotions. I knew why I was so drown to that little girl.
"She good?" Jason said as I turned and faced him.
"Baby I knew it." I said not answering him.
"Knew what?" He said back
"That little girl is me" I said extremely sure. That was me to a t. All the signs were there. No doubt in my mind..........