Serenity
INVOLVED: Mercedes Jones, Titus Wilkerson, Leanna Mitchell LOCATION: Mercedes Atlanta Home. TIME FRAME: December 29 NOTES: n/a AUTHOR’S NOTE: n/a
There was sound. Noise. Chatter. It was all around her. Mercedes could feel the vibrations of it as she sat absently holding a mug of hot chocolate. She could see it in Titus broad gestures as him and Leanna spoke animatedly in front of her. What she could not do was hear it. Her thoughts were to loud. Her worries to numerous and her fears to heavy. If she focused, she would be able to hear them. Understand their conversation. But at present she was deep in thought, mulling over the terse words, Samuel Dean Evans’ said to her. Were they to much? Was he right? They all played on repeat. However, it was the amplification of his words. The way they harmonized, with others. Sung in at least three-part harmony. He might be, at present taking up the melody, but Titus and Dominic were holding the chords.
“Just these 3 pieces together cost in excess of 8 thousand, adding in the baby bag and the crib. He must have spent a small fortune on the baby.” Leanna said, in hurried, clipped tones. She always spoke as if someone was about to cut her off. Fast, as if she needed to get her statements out before they did.
Mercedes eyes moved to Titus. He wasn’t speaking at the moment. He’d seated himself and now held the Gucci baby bag cradling it to his chest, rocking as if it was a new born baby. “You have no idea.” Mercedes said, lean forward she took the check from the table top and handed it to Titus.
The bald man looked down and his eyes bugged at the amount. He all but snatched it from her fingers. “This can’t be right?” He said forced himself to look at Mercedes only his eyes kept wondering back to the check on their own. “
Mercedes sat back and sipped her coco, eyebrow raised as she stared at the man.
“And you are going to send it all back? Even the check?” Titus folded the paper and slipped it into imagined breast. “Hell No! Over my dead body.”
Leanna came over and sat down beside Mercedes, hand going to her stomach, “You need to think about the baby Mercedes. Most women don’t get a fraction of the help you have. This man must be loaded. What’s his name again.” She said in what seemed like one breath.
“Stop that!” Mercedes sucked her teeth and removed the woman’s hand from her body. “I didn’t tell you his name, Leanna. When I want the whole world to know my business. You’ll be the first one I tell.” Leanna pouted. ‘What kind of grown woman pouts?’ Mercedes thought with a sighed. She sat her drink down on the coffee table. “I am sorry.” She said squeezing the woman’s hand. “But all of this. The baby will still have access to it, when visiting the father. The money is really a trust fund for their college. So, even that’s covered.” She said, holding her hand out to Titus.
Titus sighed and drew the check out looking at it once more before slapping it down into her hand. “You’re not being fair to the child.”
“I am not doing anything to jeopardize the baby. So, if everyone would please cover their shining armor for a moment.” She said voice bitter. Mercedes slipped the check back between the magazines and stood. She rang her hands, pacing. “I had accepted it. Accepted him. But now…” she shook her head. “I can always say I was hormonal, which I wasn’t. But he… I am nothing but a huge incubator for that man. Period. I don’t trust him. All that fake compassion. It’s all about him, what I should say to him, what I shouldn’t feel or expect. And I don’t have the money or means to fight him. By the time he was finished, I felt like an object. Not even a person.” She whispered, standing still.
“Mercedes…” Titus moved to his feet placing his arms around her shoulder. “I read those texts. Nowhere in there did he ever say he’d take your baby. He just said you’re stuck with him until that baby crowns.” Titus said rubbing her tummy.
Leanna looked around the room, confused by half of what was going on. “There are text messages?” She asked hungrily.
Mercedes shook her head. Honey kissed eyes, holding Titus in place. “His threats weren’t even thinly veiled. They were clear and very present. ‘you don’t have full custody of anything…” She laughed bitterly. “A whole white man basically giving me the I have a dream speech. She couldn’t help the tear that came without permission. “All I wanted was a family.” She wrapped her arms around herself and held her mid-section, “I didn’t ask for him or any of this. Now I’m having a child with a man who changes like a gust of wind. Who I don’t know nothing about. I felt so… helpless.” She finished low enough that only Titus could here.
Titus cast an evil eye at Leanna but continued to rub Mercedes shoulders. “Baby girl. I would love to tell you this would be easy, but that would be a whole lie. Now you have been skipping over some crucial evidence that would have let me be of better service to you.” He sighed looking around the room, “If this man is as powerful as you say, then sending any of this back will be pointless. You need to find some of that self-control and common sense you used to use all the time.” He looked to the woman sitting motionless on the couch. “Leanna make yourself useful and go upstairs and get a wet cloth for her.”
Leanna jumped as if goosed and hurried to her feet rushing up the stairs.
Titus watch the woman go, then placed both hands on Mercedes shoulder turning her towards him, “What’s your real problem? I know that couldn’t have been a pleasant experience but that’s not everything.”
Mercedes hesitated, she’d actually liked Samuel. Trusted him after a fashion. She’d exposed herself to a stranger. And it felt like he’d used her confidence to violate her somehow. But maybe that was just the hormones talking. “It seems so stupid. I did all of this alone to avoid another person’s whims. Now I can’t help but wonder why? You’ve said it, Samuel weaponized it and don’t get me started on Dom. I don’t want to apologize for my actions, but you all are making it hard.” If it hadn’t been for her wanting this, Samuel wouldn’t even have the child, he pressed her so hard to parent.
“What’s he got to do with this.” Titus asked as he sat crossing his legs.
“We’ll talk about it later.” Mercedes sat down, beside her friend and took a deep breath. “Here is what I do know. He’s an ass. But considering I already thought most men were. I haven’t really lost anything. Secondly, I don’t have to worry about him for the next few months. We’ll work out a schedule when the baby comes.”
“You still trust him with the baby?” Titus asked.
Mercedes sighed, “He was right about one thing, I don’t really have a choice.” She said with a broken smile. “I’m used to dealing with people like him. In a way he helped me.” She snuggled in close to Titus’ arm, “I think I was getting a little attached to him.” She admitted. Mercedes looked up as Leanne, returned. “Why did you bring her?”
Titus pursed his lips, “Attached? How so.” Mercedes didn’t often use words like attached. She’d actually never used those words. He thought squinting. He cut his eyes looking down at the woman. “I knew she would make you laugh.” He said with a chuckle. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I don’t know…” She confessed, “It bugged me when he disappeared. You know I can go forever without talking to Dom, but him… I thought about it. He is weird like a nerd at times, other times charming. Sweet really. I don’t know. The combination threw me off.” Mercedes said shaking her head against his side. She looked back into the man’s eyes as Leanna placed the warm rag on her forehead. She sighed, smiling at the woman. “No. But I can’t change this. If I’m honest, I trust him with the baby. He is aware of the struggles a mixed child will have. That’s the important part. Right?”
Titus opened out his other arm letting Leanna join the cuddle circle. “Maybe he was just afraid you’d cut him out of the child’s life.”
Mercedes shrugged, “Maybe. But I don’t think so. He knows his power. He knows he holds all the real Trump cards. This was him putting me in my place.” She shook her head, “Whatever…”
“Mhm… I guess.” Titus said rubbing her arm. “You know you aren’t sending any of this shit back right?”
Mercedes snorted, laughing. Despite feeling sad.