Latrice's Story

Chapter 5

Later on that day, as Jamie and Latrice were waking up, Latrice's phone started ringing again, but this time it wasn't Nelson. Latrice got up and looked at her phone. It was the Pastor. Latrice remembered that she had told him she would call him in a few days and promised him they would get together. Latrice let the phone ring. He called again. Latrice grabbed the phone. Not wanting Jamie to hear her conversation went into the bathroom. "Hello?" said Latrice. "Hey babe, I thought you were coming to see me." the pastor said. Latrice, still emotionally out of place after what Nelson did, really didn't want sex but she did want to connect with the pastor. He was the first man in her life that made her feel valuable. Even though he was manipulating her, he always said things that were reassuring to her. He made her feel safe. "When can I see you?" Latrice asked. "Do you have money?" he asked. "Yes, I have some money." Latrice answers. "I will be at our place in a few hours at around three. Meet me there." the pastor said. "OK" said Latrice.

"How do you feel?" Jamie asked as Latrice walked out of the bathroom. "I'm good. I'm good." Latrice said trying to pull herself together. "Let's go to the Mall." Latrice said. Latrice was looking for anything she could find to get her mind right. She loved going to the mall. Especially when she had money, and she knew she could get some more money when she saw the pastor. As Latrice was getting ready to go to the mall, Nelson called again. Latrice decided to answer the phone, "What do you want Nelson?" "Latrice, where are you?" Nelson asked. "None of yo damn business!" said Latrice. "Baby I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. I don't know what came over me. I know I was high. I guess I didn't know how messed up I was." Nelson tried to explain. Latrice just held the phone and said nothing. "Latrice, are you there?" Asked Nelson. "Yes, I'm here." replied Latrice. "I need you here...I need you here with me." Nelson said. "I'll talk to you later." said Latrice before she hung up the phone.

Nelson was mad as hell and feeling like he had lost Latrice. He didn't know what to do. He started going to every place where he thought that people would know Latrice. He ended up on the other side of town. He would hear Latrice talking about her family, but he never had any interest in meeting them. Now, he wished he knew them. He thought that Latrice might be with her mother.

Latrice and Jamie were heading towards the mall but stopped to get gas. As Jamie was paying for the gas, Latrice looked out of the window to see a man pumping his gas. When the man turned around, she realises it is her father. Latrice instinctively gets excited about seeing her dad and raises her hand, opens her mouth and begins to say "Daddy!". Latrice couldn't get it out. She remembers how he put her out of his house when she needed him the most. Right now, she really needed a daddy...her daddy.. But even with him being just steps away, she knew that she didn't really have one.