Carl Weber - Baby Momma Drama

“Hey, Stephanie. I’m gonna go get us a couple of sodas. You wanna come?”

“No. I’m gonna wait here in case they let my sister out a little earlier.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll be back in a sec.” I watched Dylan walk out and had to smile. He was all right. Jasmine should’ve held on to him when she had the chance, even if he did have a little baby momma drama. Hell, these days it seemed like everybody had some type of drama. Especially me. But shit, who was I to criticize anyone after all the mistakes I made with Travis? I’d lost a damn near perfect man, and there was no one to blame but myself. In the two weeks since Travis had ordered me out of the house, we only spoke two times, and that was because he wanted to know when I was moving out. Malek had called with his crap a few times since then, but I let him know there wasn’t shit happening. As far as his demand for on-call booty, he hadn’t been pushing the issue. Rumor was that LaKeisha Nixon was nursing him back to health since the night he got jumped. I guess she was making him feel good enough that he didn’t need me anymore. And if he wanted to go to the police? Well, that was his prerogative. But he knew better, ’cause even if he did get me or Derrick locked up, Derrick had plenty of boys out there who’d be more than happy to finish the job for him.

So I stayed home with my kids most nights, wondering why I’d let my life become such a mess. How could I have been willing to risk everything just to mess around with Malek? I knew his ass was no good. I knew he hadn’t changed. Maybe I just got too comfortable with Travis. I got too used to being treated like the world was mine.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that a girl deserves to be treated like shit to keep her in line. I’m saying that Travis was almost too good to me. He just gave and gave and gave. He was the most generous man I’d ever known, with his money and his heart, and he hardly ever asked for anything in return. I got so comfortable with receiving things from him, I forgot to think about giving back. Not that I had a lot of money to be buying him things, but I should’ve given him my total devotion. Instead, I just coasted along, taking his gifts and figuring he was satisfied as long as I kept him well fed and well sexed. I had a lot to learn about truly being in love, and I was sorry for all I had to lose before I could start learning.

And my poor kids. Maleka had lost the only daddy she’d ever known, and T. J. would grow up never knowing what it was like to have a father living under the same roof. Sure, they’d be able to spend plenty of time with him after we finalized a custody agreement. I wasn’t about to fight over that. But it wouldn’t be the same. If I had used better judgment, they would have had both of us, together, all the time.

Thank God for my family. Big Momma offered to let us stay with her once I told her Travis wanted us out of the house. Of course, I had to listen to her rant and rave about how stupid I’d been, what a good man I’d lost. But what could I say? She was right, and we both knew it. So after she ranted for a while, Big Momma opened her heart and her home to us. I was packing a little bit each night after work, and we would be out of the house before the month was up.

Jasmine had also been really supportive through the whole ordeal. I never once heard her say “I told you so,” which is exactly what I would’ve expected from her. Well, maybe that’s what I would’ve expected in the past. But ever since she’d busted me at the motel with Malek, our relationship had been changing. She’d actually spent hours on the phone with me since Travis ended things, listening to me cry or scream or whatever I felt I needed to do. Maybe both of us were starting to realize that our lives were more similar than either of us had ever thought. After years of competing with each other for Big Momma’s approval, we finally realized it was pointless. We’d both made mistakes through the years, and Big Momma still loved us both, no matter what. We were her family, and we’d finally learned to start acting like family. It felt so good to have a sister now. That’s why I was so anxious for Jasmine to be released from the jail so we could get her home.

I walked over to the deputy behind the desk and asked the same question for the tenth time. “How long did you say it was gonna take before they release my sister?”

“Actually, ma’am, your sister’s being released right now.” He pointed toward a metal door. I looked up and saw Jasmine coming through the door with her lawyer.

“Jasmine!” I ran up and embraced her. We twisted and turned and cried for a full minute.

“Thank you, Steph. Thank you so much for getting me outta here.” She held me tight.

“Come on, Jazz. That’s what sisters are for. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to get through my thick skull?” I stepped out of our embrace and looked in her eyes. “But it wasn’t just me.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured that.” She inhaled and braced herself for what she thought was coming. “Where’s Momma and Big Momma? I know I’m gonna hear it from them.”

“They’re at home. I didn’t tell them you got arrested.”

“Really?” She looked surprised but relieved.

“Please, you got enough stress right now. You don’t need Big Momma making it worse. I love that old girl to death, but trust me-she don’t know how to let shit die.”

“I know that’s right,” Jasmine smirked. “But if Big Momma didn’t bail me out, where’d you get the money? And who paid for my lawyer?”

“Dylan.”

“Dylan,” she repeated. “Dylan Taylor? Are you serious? He paid for my lawyer?”

“And your bail, too. He put up his house.” I smiled.

She shook her head in amazement.

“That man never ceases to amaze me. What made you call him, anyway?”

“I figured, why not? I couldn’t let you sit in jail. And he was the only one I could think of other than family who might be able to come up with the money. Besides I told you I saw him and he asked about you.”

“Yeah, you did, didn’t you. But just because he asked didn’t mean he would go out on a limb like this. I still can’t believe he did.”

“Look, Jasmine, whether you believe it or not, Dylan still cares about you. He wouldn’t have come here today and sat in that courtroom if he didn’t.”

Jasmine’s eyes darted around the lobby. “He’s here? Where is he?”

“I’m right here, Jasmine. You okay?” Dylan had come up behind us while we were talking. I don’t know how much he’d heard, but I don’t think it mattered. His eyes were glued on Jasmine like she was the only thing that did matter to him.

“Dylan, I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you did this after everything that happened.” She was so choked up.

“I’m your friend, Jasmine. When your sister called and said you were in trouble, I knew I had to help. I couldn’t bear the thought of you sitting up in here for something you didn’t do, while Derrick’s roaming the streets.”

“But what about Monica? I’m surprised she let you out her sight.” Poor Jasmine. I know she didn’t really wanna hear about his baby’s momma right now. But then again, as fucked up as things had become for everyone involved, they might as well be up-front about the whole situation.

“I’m not with Monica,” Dylan said.

“You’re not?”

“I never was. That’s what I wanted to tell you.”

“But, what about the baby?”

“Just because she was having my baby doesn’t mean I wanna be with her. Besides, she disappeared with the baby. I don’t know where they are.”

“Oh, Dylan. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. She’s a crackhead. Sooner or later she’s gonna need money to get high, and when she does, I’ll find her. I just hope she takes good care of my baby until then.”