I let out a sigh after reading Marshall’s text. I wasn’t sure what to say back. I was unsure how, if I did say yes it would go over, just because Marshalls so famous. I still didn’t know who he was… I mean, I know one song… “Mockingbird” … but I felt that Marshall was hiding something from me.
I decided to read up on him. Turns out he’s had a wife named Kim, they’re divorced now. Apparently, they didn’t get along, and he was gone too much to ‘satisfy’ her. She also cheated on him, and Marshall pistol wiped the guy… and Marshall got probation for two years. He also has a drug problem… but as of right now he’s trying to get help… and he’s thinking about taking a break from rap I also looked up his lyrics… they are very vulgar and violent, it scared me a bit. I laid my head in my arms on the desk.
“Mommy?” Jayme’s voice made me jump. I sat up and looked at him.
“Mmm,” I mumbled.
“Were you sleeping at your desk?” Jayme asked. I glanced at the clock it was almost midnight.
“I guess,” I yawned. “What are you doing up?” I asked him. He stared at me a moment.
“I had a bad dream,” he said softly. “And I couldn’t find you in your room, I got scared,” he said almost in tears. I quickly pulled him into a hug.
“Its ok,” I said picking him up. He rested his head on my shoulder. I carried him to his room, laying him on his bed and reading him a story. After he fell asleep I left the room and went to check on Taylor. I opened the door quietly. She was a sleep, her TV was still on. I shut it off then went to my room…
~~~
“Mom!” I woke up to hear Taylor’s voice yelling.
“Mom’s not here!” I yelled back pulling the covers over my head.
“If you were ‘not here’ then you wouldn’t have been talking to me,” she said as she opened the door. I sighed and stared at her. She smiled. “Someone’s at the door,” she claimed.
“Well go see who it is,” I mumbled.
“Fine,” she said leaving the room.
~~~
Marshall stood in my doorway. “What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“I got bored…” he said as if he was guessing.
“Right,” I doubted him.
“Are you ok?” he asked sounding concerned.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Taylor… let me talk to him alone,” I said. Taylor was standing right behind Marshall. Taylor nodded and left. “Come in, Marshall,” I said. “Close the door,” I told him. He did as told.
“Mind if I sit?” he asked walking up to the bed. I moved over keeping my body covered. I was in pj’s and I didn’t want Marshall staring.
“Sure,” I said. He sat down. “Now why are you really here?” I questioned him.
“I was a bit worried… you never texted me back last night,” he said. I sighed. That’s cause I don’t think I really wanna be with him. He, truthfully, scares me…
“I…I … fell asleep,” I stuttered.
“Oh…” he said sadly. He, in person, seems nice… but, from what I read, I’m not sure.
“Look, Marshall… you seem like a nice guy… but I read some things…” I said. Marshall shook his head.
“Do you really believe it?” he asked. “I’m not how I portray myself in songs. I would NEVER hit a woman. I would never neglect my child, yeah, I may have a problem with drugs, but I’m seeking help,” he explained. I didn’t really know what to say.
“I read…that…that you struggle with relationships,” I mumbled.
“That’s because Kim and I never really got along in the first place. Yeah, I loved her, but she could never accept who I wanted to be, and she cheated on me… I’m not sure how many times,” he said sadly.
“Oh, I just… I don’t know Marshall,” I said in mono tone. Marshall just let out a sigh. “I just am afraid to trust a man after James left me… for some whore. I till this day, I will never understand why he left, I never did anything wrong. I thought the relationship was going great. Then one day he told me that he didn’t love me anymore, he wanted a divorce, and that he fell in-love with someone else and he was moving to China,” I told him. He looked at me, and his blue eyes said he was sorry.
“Oh, I’m really sorry Michelle, I had no idea,” he said.
“And I had to take care of the kids I never really had the chance to cry…I didn’t have time. I had my children to feed,” I said with tears in my eyes.
“You really loved him didn’t you?” he asked.
“I did… now I hate him for leaving my kids, I’ve tried to find him to get him to at least send child support but, I don’t know…”I said.
“You don’t need him in your life,” Marshall said softly. I sighed a crying sigh. “Please don’t cry,” he said pulling me into a hug. I buried my face in his chest, and cried. It was a bit odd for me so after about a minute I pulled away. “Sorry,” Marshall apologized.
“Its ok,” I said.
~~~
A few days had passed and Taylor was supposed to spend the weekend at Marshall’s. I had her all ready and packed to go. Marshall should be here soon. I didn’t really talk to Marshall after our talk in my room.
“He’s here!” Taylor shouted as Marshalls Mercedes pulled up next to my shitty ass car. Taylor began to run out the house.
“Hey!” I shouted. She ran up to me and gave me a hug. “Be good,” I said.
“I will,” she smiled before opening the door. Marshall stood by the door, he smiled a half smile.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi,” I said softly.
“How have you been?” he asked as Taylor got in the car.
“Ok,” I said. He smiled.
“Me too,” he said. “I was thinking about our talk the other night…umm do you wanna talk sometime?” he asked. I thought about it for a minute… Maybe I should talk to him.
“Sure,” I said. Marshall got a huge smile across his face. I shook my head and smiled.
“Can I pick you up later?” he asked.
“Yeah, but who will watch the kids.. and I still have Jayme,” I said.
“Jayme can come to my house. My friend DeShaun can watch them,” Marshall said.
“Ok,” I said. “Jayme!” I yelled. He came running to the door. “Would you like to go with Taylor?” I asked.
“Yeah!” Jayme yelled. He ran back and got his things…. Soon after Marshall left, reminding me he’d be picking me up around 7 and we’d be going to dinner…
