This Thing We Call 'Love' |Slumptacion

85

Okay the song while you're reading!

Omniscient

Jahseh looked at Cleo with no amount of respect or love in his eyes. Though deep in him he did love his mother and he wanted to a relationship with her, the trauma was too much to look past.

Jahseh and Stokeley made eye contact. Stokeley knew he shouldn't allow this woman to walk back into their lives. He hated her. Really hated her.

But who was he to step in between them.

Faith and Charlotte were disgusted by the sight of this woman in front of them. What kind of woman was she to put her child through all the pain jahseh went through.

The only reason Charlotte didn't hurt her then and there was because of Jahseh. She loved her son. She wouldn't try to hurt him in any way.

"So I know I fucked up. I been fucking up since you were two. That's when I met War." Cleo explained to Jahseh.

She didn't feel she owed anyone an explanation but him. She knew she was wrong and she was determined to finally own up to her mistakes and make things right.

Jahseh didn't know what to say. The name made his heart stop. He hated war more then anything in this world. And he'd be damned if that man ever came near him again.

"And it's not his fault, it's no one but mines but he was a really bad Influence on me. I should have left when he touched you the first time." She was crying now. She felt stupid now that she was explaining it.

Charlotte but the inside of her cheek, "how many times did you let this man touch him?"

"He touched him every night from when he was two. And I'm not too sure when it stopped," Cleo frowned because she knew she was stupid for it. She knew she was a bad mother.

"What?" Jahseh sat up to pay attention more. He wanted to know what she had to say.

"He used to watch you while I went to work, you remember when I worked at the candy store. I used to bring you those rainbow strips that you used to love. You'd always cry for them." Cleo said. She was hoping to win him over with good memories. She wants to do better now.

"I remember the candy. I don't remember you leaving me with him though," he sighed. He really was trying to remember now. How could he not remember this?

"Well he threatened you and my mom and my sister," she said. "He would kill you all if I said anything. He would kill us all if I left. He had something on me." She said.

"And that something was more important that your kids?" Jahseh asked as he felt himself becoming angry with Cleo. All he ever wanted was to know why but he'd never say so. And now he's getting that and he doesn't know how to feel. He doesn't know how to channel all his anger towards her. It was just building up and up.

"That something was something that would keep me from my kids." Cleo said lowly.

"How bad could that be?" Stokeley asked. He felt like she was full of shit. He wanted her to leave. He could see she was messing with Jahseh's emotions and it was making him angry.

Faith and Charlotte exchanged looks that said yeah right but still said nothing. This needed to happened whether they liked it or not.

"I Uh- we were in Jamaica a little after you were born. And while we were there, I uh killed three men." She said calmly. She told herself that if she was calm, she could get through this.

But nothing about what she said was calm nor normal. She was out of her mind.

"You what?" Jahseh shot up in his seat. He wasn't scared though. He just was shocked. He didn't expect that at all. He was actually happy. Now he knows where he got his crazy from.

"Yeah and one of the men was him. Only he didn't die. He came here and I didn't know that until a year after we were together. He framed someone else and got me in the clear. He was there and he saved me." She felt tears coming again. She quickly wiped them away and looked at Jahseh. Her beautiful son.

Jahseh looked back her with disgust in his eyes but his face held a blank emotion.

"Wait so why did you stay with him," Jahseh rolled his eyes. "You knew what he was doing and you still stayed?" He felt himself getting sad.

"I feel like this is bullshit," faith said. She genuinely hates Cleo for what she put Jahseh and Aiden through.

"I understand." Cleo nodded her head. "But the things he would do, you could never imagine. But a few years later. I had got pregnant by him. But he was in jail so I decided to get rid of the baby because I didn't want to bring another baby into the world for him to ruin. But it was too late. I was too far along. I was lucky he got a year because I had my daughter and left her at the hospital and when he came home it was like it never happened," she explained.

"That daughter was Naomi right?" Jahseh asked. He wanted to make sure he was getting every thing so he could know if she was being honest.

"I know I don't deserve to have you in my life, but I want you to know that I'm getting help now. War, he's dead now. He got killed in a drive by so I'm free.  I'm in Rehab and I'm in therapy. I'm staying with my mom and I will get help. I'm really trying to get it together. I just would love if I could have a chance to try again with you?" She asked Jahseh knowing he would likely say no. But it was worth the try.

"Cleo, I'm sorry you had to go through that. I mean we went through it together. And it hurt to see you like that. The best thing you did for us was give us up." Jahseh said honestly. "But I'm gay and that'll never change. And you don't seem to like that at all. And I've found my forever family. I just can't see where you fit in that puzzle."

"Jahseh I love you no matter what. When you came out, I saw that as my chance to get you out. I knew war wouldn't like it so I put you out before he could kill you or worse. And Aiden was supposed to go with you. They lied to me," Cleo was crying. "All these other things I had to do. If he found out I was being nice he would kill you. I had to become this person I hate so much to protect you. That's why I'm trying to mend it. Or at least build a stronger foundation."

"I understand. I just wish you would have told me sooner. I could have helped." Jahseh was crying now. He genuinely cared and believed her. And she was glad because for once in her life, she was telling the truth.

Jahseh stood up and hugged her. "I love you for being strong enough to leave us. You did a good thing. That got me my mom and dad." Cleo's heart aches at him calling someone else mom but seeing him happy overwhelmed that feeling of jealousy.

"Come." Jahseh pulls her to the chair where he was sitting. "We have a big ass wedding to plan and we need all the help we can get."