CHAPTER 40
Monique
I missed being in Philly. The people and the hustle and bustle of the city. The stores on every corner, buses riding past, the smell of cheesesteaks and the taste of soft pretzels. It had been months since I had been home. I missed being Monique from Seventeenth and Erie Avenue. The Monique who didn’t receive calls asking for money or game tickets. The Monique who could see her son just by knocking on his bedroom door or going to his practice. She didn’t have to check his schedule or plan a date with him. I was grateful, but still missed my baby boy.
I was back in Philly to visit CeCe and Mom Laura and also to make things right with my mom. Dele had been encouraging me to talk to her. He was so family-oriented. His mother called every morning, and he always FaceTimed with his brothers. They were such a close unit and they were all over the world. He didn’t understand how my mom was in the same country and I didn’t even speak to her. And although I didn’t want to admit it, he was right: no matter what she did, I was her child and it was my duty to take care of her.
I came to her house and banged on her white screen door. “Mom, it’s me.” She looked through the blinds and then opened the door. She let me in and took a seat on her brown love seat. I sat across from her on the gray recliner she had had since I was ten.
“What brings you to walk among the common people?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“Well, I wanted to come and check on you and also tell you that I’m paying off your house and buying you a car. And taking care of any other bills you have.”
“That’s very kind of you, but that’s okay. See, money don’t make me. It might make you. But not me. I don’t need your money.”
“Mom, I just want to help.”
“Then help yourself to the door. My grandson already paid my mortgage off and bought his grandmother a car and set me up a bank account.”
“He did. That’s good, but I still . . . That’s not the only reason I came here. I want to talk to you. Mom, I’m sorry, I haven’t been the easiest to deal with. But ever since I had Kadir, you’ve treated me like I was your biggest disappointment.”
She sighed and then said, “I was disappointed. I wanted so much more for you. I worked two jobs so that you could go to Catholic school and to keep you away from neighborhood boys. But you still managed to get pregnant. So when you had that baby, I just thought, I can’t sugar-coat anything. I have to prepare her for the real world and make her raise that baby on her own. Yeah, I was hard on you, but I thought I was making you strong. And it worked out. Look what happened, you raised a good boy, be proud of yourself. Kadir calls me all the time. He even got me cable so I can watch his games.”
She got up from the sofa and came over to me and gave me a hug. “We got years to make up for. Just be better than me. Don’t be so hard on him.”
“I will.”
I felt so much better that my mom and I were going to be okay. I felt a weight ease off my back. I decided to surprise CeCe at her job. She was an office manager for a doctor’s office. She was on a call when I arrived at her office. I smiled at her and she signaled to me to give her one minute.
“What’s going on? What are you doing here?”
“I came home to help my mom. My friend and I were talking about family and I felt like I had to help her, but Kadir already has been helping her. Plus, I wanted to see you and Mom Laura.”
“That was nice of him.”
“It was, but he is supposed to run everything by me.”
“Hold that thought. Let me get my coat and clock out. I’ll be right out.”
We could go eat and drink anywhere in the city but we still ended up at Copas, a small Philly favorite with finger food and great margaritas. We got a table by the window and ordered two double mango margaritas with sugar rims.
“So what’s going on here?’
“Nothing much. What’s up with you? Are you going to reveal who your mysterious boo is?”
“No.”
“I can’t believe you are going to keep a secret from me! I’ve been your friend for how long?”
“Next conversation.”
“I’ll remember that. Anyway, things are cool. Faheem is doing real good. I’m chilling and working. What’s going on with Kadir?”
“He’s fine, but keeping Kadir focused is a full-time job. His biological father’s people tried to hit him up, and this little girl named Abigail, who has gold digger written all over her, is after him.”
“Yeah, we have to protect our boys.”
CeCe and I had been through everything together, including her marriage and divorce. After another two double margaritas and her begging me to reveal who my boo was, I finally caved and told her.
“Cee, it’s the guy from London.”
She put her hand over her mouth. “Hold up, the African guy that plays on Kadir’s team?”
“Yes, him. I’ve been seeing him ever since we met that night. That night you fell asleep, I met up with him.” I waited to see how she was going to respond to my scandal.
“So you think this is cute. I’m shocked. Have you lost your motherfucking mind?”
“CeCe, I know you are not judging.”
“Yes, I’m judging you. My brother, who has done everything for you, doesn’t matter now because you’re dealing with some young basketball player.”
“Of course he matters. I just want to be happy.”
“Does Kadir know about this?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh, my God. You have got to be the one to tell Kadir. Mo, you know I ride with you. But this isn’t right. Carl has been nothing but loyal to you and Kadir. And you, you are wrong. This is some fucked-up shit.”
“How am I wrong? He’s grown and I’m grown. We are both single, consenting adults.”
“Don’t you know you are just the girl of the moment? What would make you think he would want to be with a woman almost forty, when he could have someone younger?”
“I didn’t start dating Dele until after Carl and I broke up, so that’s one. Two, age doesn’t matter with us. Three, the only person I have to make happy is myself. And four, me and Carl have outgrown each other. He left me. I didn’t leave him. It wasn’t enough anymore.”
“Funny, he was enough all these years, and now that you have money, he’s not.”
“It’s never been enough, I’ve always wanted more. I tried to make it work with him.”
“Sure you did. I can’t believe you.”
“Grandma Cee, I can’t believe you are being this damn judgmental.”
“Yeah, I’m judging, but I know that D is good.” She gave me a half smile.
“Girl, it is! It’s everything, but it’s more than the sex. He is just an all-around good guy.”
“Well, tell Kadir before someone else does.”
Right then my screen lit up and I saw Dele’s number on my phone. “We just spoke him up.”
“Tell him I said hi.”
“Hey, babe, what’s up? Oh, and CeCe says hi.”
“You told her about us?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, and I made up with my mom. How are you?”
“I’m good, but listen, Monique, I’m calling to tell you to have a conversation with Kadir. I’ve been in the league for five years, and I have never seen a player so hated.”
“What did he do?”
“His attitude is disgusting. He’s making demands and being rude. And he’s not talking to people who aren’t wealthy like him. He’s being very flashy and that is not okay. He had a few good games. But he said it’s his team and laughed about one of the guys not having any time on the court and said he would buy him some time and a new car.”
“Oh, did he? I’m going to talk to him. Thanks for telling me, baby. I’ll see you as soon as you get back.” I ended the call and sighed. “My son has lost his mind.”
“What did he say?” CeCe asked.
“He said Kadir is being a cocky asshole. I’m going to call him now and straighten this all out.”
I dialed Kadir on his cell. He answered with the music playing loudly in the background.
“Yo, Ma.”
“Kadir, are you for real? Do you like the life you’re living? Keep the dumb shit up and you will lose it all and be playing overseas or in the D-League somewhere if you don’t get your shit together.”
“What’s wrong? What are you talking about, Mom?”
“I’m talking about don’t get a big head. I better not hear again that the Hornets is your team. There are thirty teams and thirteen spots on each team and you better be thankful, Kadir, that you have one of them, because there are millions of boys that want to be where you’re at.”
“Oh, you’re talking about me arguing with Smith. He was talking trash about me and I said something back. I told him to talk to me when he gets off the bench. How you know about that anyway?”
“Don’t worry about it. Do better.”