HARD WORK

HARD WORK _83

ASHES TO ASHES / DUST TO SIDE CHICKS.....

' Cousin Jade he's still seated outside.'

' Neo let him. I didn't ask him to sit in my front porch. If you recall I asked him to leave. If he wants to spend another day in the cold then so be it.'

Jade said ignoring her cousin's pleading looks. Her phone rang just as she finished getting dressed for work and she sighed when she realized that it was her mother in-law calling.

' Since you feel bad for him. Take this to him. I don't know why he's mother is calling me.'

She threw her phone into her cousin's hands. Thirty minutes later Neo walked in with a darker than usual Maliq. He looked exhausted with big bags under his eyes. It hurt to see him so thin and stressed but she was not going to show it.

' Neo go home!'

' Jade I'm sorry bu-'

' I said go home!'

Maliq tried to apologise on Neo's behalf.

' Neo please go home before things get worse for you.'

' You didn't have to be so harsh -'

' Maliq what do you want?'

He hesitated

' Here's your phone. Mom actually wanted to talk to you....'

Jade did a dramatic turn of her head. She was not in good terms with him and has never been on any terms with his mother, why would she be calling her.

' She wanted to invite you guys to a family even tomorrow at my grandmother's house.'

' When you see her today. Tell her I already have plans and cannot make it.'

' You know her mother hasn't met my first born child and she thought it fitting to introduce them tomorrow.'

Jade chuckled

' Whose fault that?! You and your mother can no longer expect me to get involved with your family when it suits the both of you. I made plans and cannot be there. If I'm not there my son, ain't going nowhere near your mother.'

' Fine I won't force you but can you think about it?'

' Which part of I've got plans don't you understand. I meant it when I said I don't want your mother around my children. As for your grandmother I'll go see her own my own when the rest of your fake family is not around.'

Maliq nodded his head

' Fine. I would like to talk to you about us and our marriage too.'

' You know that there is no us and our marriage is hanging by a thread as we speak. Fine talk!'

Jade continued doing her makeup and did not acknowledge if she heard him or not.

' Jade are you going to forgive me for the stupid shit I've done. Not that I am demanding your forgiveness but I miss you and our son. I need you to allow me to come back home. Even if I get to sleep in the guest bedrooms or couch. I just need another chance to prove that I can be the man you need.'

' You're standing in my bedroom trying to convince me to play nice with your mom and in the same breath you're trying to be the man I need. You cannot do both. It's either us or your mother.'

' She's my mother Jade.'

Jade left him in the bedroom and walked into the adjacent bathroom. Upon her return she took her handbag and pulled out the house keys with something else and slapped them into his hand.

' Our children need their father and Lamin needs a sitter right now. Get yourself together.'

She said walking out. When he realised what was in his hand he almost screamed for joy. It was a positive pregnancy test.