Inevitable

The Meeting

After Ahmad and I made up I decided to go ahead and ask Donovan to meet tomorrow.

Ava- we need to have a conversation about Casey
Donnie- What's wrong she good?
Ava- she's great ....can you just meet me tomorrow at noon so we can talk?.....I'll send you the location
Donnie- bet

I admit I was nervous about meeting with Donovan. In the beginning of our affair he did have a hold on me but all that disappeared once he didn't attempt to have a relationship with our daughter. The most important thing to me in my life is Casey. To say her having a her father in her life is important to me is an understatement. My father wasn't in my life but it wasn't by choice. My father died when I was an infant due to a motorcycle accident. I never got to know him and it disgusts me to know that Donovan is alive and well and won't put effort into getting to know his daughter.

Ahmad drove me to the diner so I could talk with Donovan as planned. He and Casey were going to go to a park not too far from the diner. Casey a little confused thought I was coming with them but I assured her I wouldn't be long and to have fun with Bubba. She seemed satisfied with my answer and went back to playing with her toys in the back seat.

Donovan was already at the diner when we pulled up. He was in a booth already looking out the window. He looked between Ahmad and I. A grim look formed on his face Ahmad was looking right back at him. I could tell this wouldn't be a smooth meeting. Regardless of how he feels this meeting is about Casey and my daughter deserves everything including love from her father.

"You good?" Bubba asked. I looked him in his eyes and took his hand and kissed it his palm.
"Yes Bub."
"Remember don't let him take control. You doing this for Casey."
"I promise I got it.... I don't plan on being too long I'll text you." I said and kissed him.
"Ok Case I'll see you in a little bit have fun with Bub!" I said blowing her kisses.
"Ok ma."
I walked into the diner and sat in the booth across from Donovan. The waiter came right over and I ordered a water with lemon. He ordered steak and eggs taking advantage of their all day breakfast menu with a coke to drink. After the waiter left he was just staring at me like he had been doing since I walked in.

"Is it something you wanna say?" I asked getting tired of him staring.
"You look nice." I wasn't wearing anything special. Light jeans, white t-shirt, grey cardigan and uggs.
"I appreciate it" I stated dryly. As our drinks came.
"So that's your dude?"
"My boyfriend yea"
"So you been miles away playing family with this nigga?!"

See selfish and childish. He got me fucked up though. This shouldn't be the topic at hand. Why is he worried about who I'm with. I left him three years ago. Don't tell me I had it like that , you can't be this sprung. Not after a three month affair.

"Listen don't disrespect him he knows your child better than you do!"
"Did you leave me for him?"
"No I left you because I should have never been with you to begin with."
"I was falling for you Ava."
"Donovan we knew each other for three months! We didn't really get to know each other so let it go!"
His food arrived he started eating right away.
"Look I wanted to meet to talk about you having a relationship with Casey. You need to wake up and realize she is your daughter too and yes you provide for her financially but she doesn't know you."
"You right I provide for her and you got another nigga playing daddy ain't that some shit?"
"Well whose fault is that I updated you on everything with Casey! Asked you plenty of times when you wanna see her and instead I got three years of rescheduling cause you're so fucking busy."
"I am Ava I got businesses too run!"
"But you can meet with me to check in on me and get in my business? Mhm right. You could have easily asked to see her today but you don't care!"
"I do care about you."
"DONOVAN FORGET ABOUT ME! This is about CASEY your daughter!" I said now crying.

How could he be so delusional. I just don't want Casey to go through life like me not being able to know her dad. Why is that so hard to achieve? I wish he would take me out of the equation and just focus on Casey.

"I'm sorry ...you left and then Imani left not long after that. I just been feeling alone and my emotions been off the last couple of years." He said.
"Well I don't mean to be harsh but get your shit together before it's too late."

I glanced out the window and saw Bubba parked outside. I grabbed a napkin and wiped my eyes and left. When I got in the car Casey was waving at Donovan looking out the window. He saw her smiled and waved back.

When we got home Bubba went to put Casey down for her nap. I went to change into some paint wear and went into my work room. My room used just for me to work on my art. Bubba came in and sat by me while I was using white acrylic paint to paint my base.

"Any orders?"
"Yea I got four that need to ship tomorrow."
My website I used to sell my abstract paintings was doing well. Getting back into my art was really satisfying and to be profiting off of it was even better.
"So how you feeling after meeting with ole boy?" Bubba said as I smiled weakly.
"I feel like I got him to hear me but we still got a long way to go." I didn't say anything about how Donovan tried to make the meeting about us. I didn't want him worrying again.
"Bug don't stress it. Case is gonna be good." He said while caressing my leg. I put my paint brush down wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Unt unh you gonna get paint all over me."he said smiling.
"It wouldn't be the first time" I said swiping some paint on his nose.
"True....the things I go through being in love with an artist." He sighed wrapping his arms around my waist. I put my head in the crook of his neck and started planting butterfly kisses. I straddled his lap and he started shaking his head smiling.
"What?" I said looking at him.
"You really tryna seduce me on this little ass chair." I bust out laughing.
"Aye you gotta get it where you can you know the little one will be up any minute."
"You right." He said putting me against the wall kissing me roughly biting my bottom lip. He took off his shirt and started kissing my neck until we heard little knocks on the door. Ahmad put his head on my shoulder and sighed.
"C'mon Case!" He whispered as I giggled I went to the door.
"Hey there little one! Gotta to the bathroom?" I asked. She shook her head yes and I went to turn on the light in the bathroom for her. I went to the kitchen to get a snack for Casey. Ahmad was in the living room looking through paperwork for work tomorrow. He side eyed me.
"You gonna finish what you started later. AND CASEY IM MAD AT YOU!"
She came running from the bathroom and jumped in his lap and grabbed his face.
"You mad Bubba......why?" He laughed.
"I'm just playing Case."