Undercover

PART 25

#Undercover 25

“How long have you been staring at me?” I say waking to Saddiq looking me right in the eyes. I had plenty of sleepless nights in jail. Just been laying here admiring you, that’s all” he responds smiling at me. I give him a smile back. “Well, I wish I could lay here with you all day but work calls” I say hopping up to get ready for work. “I’m going to meet up with my father today to look over possible jobs. I might be in a little late but not too late” Saddiq says sitting up in bed. “Cool. I’ll have dinner ready when you make. Might I had, I’m glad to see you getting on the roll so fast. I’m so proud of you. I’m so thankful for the man you are. I love you” I say as I close the bedroom door behind me.

I head into the living room to wake Nelle and take her where she needs to go before I got to work but and she’s gone.

She’s left a note:
“Thank you for your understanding through all of this. Not sure what I’m going to do but I will eventually sort this mess out. I will be in touch.” – Nelle

I fold the note, place it in my purse and head out.
“Thanks so much for coming in today. I know you don’t normally do Sunday’s but having you here has really helped” my boss, Rachel, says. “No problem. I’m happy to help. Taking on the extra hours gets me the experience that I need for my degree path. I really don’t mind. Plus, I thoroughly enjoy what I do here. Thank you for this” I tell Rachel. “You’ll be a star in the communication world…just watch! I’ll see your name in lights someday. I just know it. You have a good evening” Rachel says patting me on the back as we head out.
After I’m done dropping something off on campus for the student newspaper, I head back to the car. “Maybe I could make some spaghetti…Madea style” I mumble as I walk quickly back to the car. I’m so glad that Saddiq is back home. I’m about halfway from the car when I hear my name. “Monica” someone calls out. I turn around but don’t see anyone that I recognize. Maybe they were calling someone else? I turn back around and continue to walk to my car. “Monica” someone calls out again. I turn around and stop completely. “Stephanie?” I say under my breath. What in the hell does she want now!? OMG! “God, you walk fast! Or either I’m out of shape. Do you have a second? She asks catching up to me. “That depends. Are you coming to me with bullshit? If so, save it” I say giving her a stern look. “This is your copy. You’re welcome” she says handing me a couple pieces of paper. She walks away and so do I.

I head straight for the car. I get in and slam the door. I throw the papers into the passenger seat and just stare at them. I drive as fast as I can to the house, forgetting to stop at the grocery store. I unlock the door and slam it behind me as I walk in. “Hey! What’s all the noise? You good?” Saddiq hollers out as he comes into the living area from the bedroom. “No, I’m not ok. I didn’t expect you to be here. Glad you are though. I just ran into Stephanie on campus. She handed me this” I say handing Saddiq the papers that Stephanie gave to me. He looks down at then and immediately back up to me. “Damn” he says under his breath. “So you know what they are, Saddiq?” I ask trying to mask my anger. “Yeah, it’s the DNA test results for Malaki. He’s mine, Mo. I’m sorry I hadn’t said anything before now. It just….I’ve been enjoying you. I honestly didn’t think to tell you. Please forgive me” he says grabbing my hands. I snatch away and walk straight for the bedroom. I lock myself in.

“I’ve been sitting here at this door for hours now. I have your dinner, Monica. Please come eat and talk to me” Saddiq says through the door. I am hungry as hell but I won’t tell him that. I will literally climb out of the window of this apartment to keep from confronting him right now. I look over at the door. The knob is rattling again. For the millionth time, Saddiq is attempting to get into the room. “Give it up!” I yell. The door pops open and Saddiq walks in. “Look, I know you’re upset and all but locking yourself in here isn’t going to take away from the fact that I have a child now. I know this isn’t an ideal situation but please work with me” Saddiq says approaching me slowly. “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the situation, I’m freakin 19 years old for God’s sake. I don’t know if I’m ready to be a stepmom. In a sense, I’m still a child myself. I just….I don’t know” I say as tears roll down my face and onto my tshirt.

Saddiq wraps his arms around me tightly but we’re interrupted by a knock at the door. He leaves the bedroom and heads for the door. “What the hell” I hear him say. I walk to the front door to see who he’s talking to.

Along with a box and a diaper bag, baby Malaki is sitting in a car seat at the front door of our apartment. Stephanie is nowhere in sight.