Chapter 26
Mimi
When I saw the sign that said WELCOME TO GEORGIA, I knew that things were indeed about to get real. There was no turning back now. I was going to get my kids back one way or another, but first we had to make a small detour. We were on our way to drop Kailay and Kayla off by Margie’s house. Jayden thought that it would be a good idea for the girls to get out of Louisiana, in case anything were to happen. They’d be safe with her. No one would ever think to look for them there, because they didn’t know her like that. Only I did.
“Call Margie and tell her that we’re almost there,” Troy said. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize where we were.
“Okay,” I replied softly. I reached for my phone that was plugged on the charger, and then dialed her number, placing the phone to my ear, as I nervously waited for her to reply.
“Hello,” she said, answering the phone on the third ring.
“Hey, Margie. How are you?” I asked.
“I’m great, what about you? How are you doing?” she replied, sounding like her normal, happy self.
“I’m doing okay considering everything that’s been going on,” I answered, blowing out air in frustration.
“Chile, we’ve had this conversation already. So, don’t you go getting all sad on me, because things are going to get better real soon. Now cheer up why don’tcha,” she replied. “Now, where are the girls? I can’t wait to meet them.”
“Actually, that’s why I was calling you. We’re about to pull up in front of your house in a minute,” I said, sitting up trying to see exactly where we were.
“Aww. Okay. I’m going to meet you guys outside,” she said, and I had to laugh. Margie was a crazy little lady, but I was happy to know her, because she’d give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.
“Okay, well I’ll see you in a minute,” I said, hanging up the phone. A few minutes later, we were pulling up in the front of Margie’s house. Like she said, she was waiting for us outside.
“Come, girls,” I said to Kailay and Kayla. “Pop the trunk for me, Jayden.”
“Hey, Mimi,” Margie said to me.
“Hey, Marg,” I said, hugging her. I then turned to the girls, who were looking on shyly as they stood behind me. “Come here, y’all. Kailay, Kayla, this is Margie, a friend of Mommy’s. Margie, this is Kailay and Kayla,” I said, introducing them. They hesitated, but then walked over.
“Hey, y’all. I’m Margie,” she said, stooping down to them. “I’m a friend of your mother’s.”
“Come here, y’all,” I said to them. “Mommy’s going away for a few days to get your brothers. While I’m gone, you all will be staying here with Margie.”
“No, Mommy, don’t leave us,” Kailay said, hugging me tightly, followed by Kayla. I knew that they would probably act this way, but I needed them to understand that they needed to stay here.
“Come here,” I said, hugging them. I then pulled back and looked them straight in their eyes. “Mommy really needs y’all to stay here with Margie, so that I can get Kayson and Kaylon back safely. That way, we can be a family again. There are some bad people out there who are trying to hurt Mommy, and they would do anything to get back at me, which includes hurting the both of you. I’m trying to keep y’all safe, but I can’t do that if I take y’all with me. Margie will keep y’all safe until I get back. So please do this for Mommy and stay here with her.”
I knew they were only eight years old, and it was hard for them to hear it, but I had to tell them the truth. I needed them to be safe, and Margie was the only way that they’d be safe and out of harm’s way.
“But what if you don’t come back this time, Mommy?” Kayla asked me.
“Mommy will be fine, Kayla. I promise you that I’ll be okay. Uncle Mark and Uncle Jay will protect Mommy. Margie will protect y’all while I’m gone. I’ll be back to get y’all in a couple of days,” I answered her. My heart broke when I saw a few tears escape their eyes.
“You promise that you’ll be back?” she asked.
“I pinky promise,” I said, reaching out my pinky to interlock with hers. It took her a few minutes, but she locked her pinky with mine. I then did the same thing with Kailay.
“I’ll be back in a few days, be good for Margie now,” I told them. “I love y’all.”
“We love you too, Mommy,” they said, hugging me again. They then let go and went to stand by Margie.
I went to the truck and removed their suitcases. “Thank you, Margie. I owe you big time for this.”
“Chile, you don’t owe me anything,” she said, taking the suitcases out of my hand. I then reached into my purse and pulled out an envelope filled with cash and tried giving it to her. “Don’t do this again. I’m not taking your money. Besides, I still have a lot left over from the last time.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Positive. Now go on and get those babies and be safe,” she said, giving me a hug.
“I will,” I said, hugging her back.
“I’ll make sure to send up a special prayer, just for you tonight,” she whispered in my ear when I pulled back.
“Thanks. I got a feeling that I’m going to need it,” I replied. I took one last look at my girls before I headed back to the car.
“I love y’all,” I said one last time before I got in the car and Jayden pulled off.
“Are you okay?” he asked after we pulled off.
“No, I’m not okay, but I will be the minute all of this is over and I get my boys back,” I said wiping the tears from my eyes.
We were headed back to New Orleans to finish what was started. It was time for me to put all my of my emotions to the side and get ready to make a few bitches bleed. To me, it was wartime, and I was battling an ongoing war. I didn’t start it, but I was damn sure about to finish it. There was no way that I was going to let Stacy, Kaylin, or Julius breathe another day, even if I had to die with them.