CHAPTER 68
Monique
Monday morning I checked out of the hotel and went straight to the airport. My phone was still ringing. I was happy my nightmare weekend was over. I had on sunglasses for two reasons. One, to cover my eyes and the other, to hide my identity. Not that anyone really knew who I was, but just in case. I cringed every time I saw a picture of me tonguing Dele down. My phone rang again. This time it was Carl and I answered.
“Yeah, Carl.”
“Monique, I don’t care about what you doing or who you are doing with. But you need to be concerned about what you are doing to Kadir. You wanted to chase away everyone and say how everyone’s out to get him. And look who is the one who is actually hurting him and ruining his career. He is where he’s wanted to be his whole life but he can’t enjoy it, because he has to fight to defend his mother.”
“Kadir was in a fight?”
“Yes, you know how he feels about you. Somebody said something about you and he went off. How come he had to hear about it on the radio and gossip columns?”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine, but he’s so angry. I’ve never seen him this upset.”
“You’re right. I’m going to talk to him. I’ll sit him down and we will work it out. I’m going to call him now.”
My flight was boarding and I decided it would be best to just go to the house and talk to him. As soon as I landed, I pushed my way off of the plane and drove straight to the house.
Kadir’s car was already there. I took a deep breath. I was going to go in the house and reason with Kadir. I turned the lock and realized my key no longer worked. All I could do was laugh. I was locked out of my own house.
I rang the doorbell and Abigail answered; not only was she there, but so was her son.
“Kadir is mad at you. He told me not to let you in, but because you are his momma I’m going to let you in.”
“Young lady, I’m really trying to be nice to you, but you need to get out of my sight ASAP and mind your business.”
“Kadir is my business.” She looked at me. I walked past her and saw all my belongings by the door, already in boxes.
“Kadir, your mom is down here,” Abigail yelled out.
“Kadir Latif Hall!” I screamed as I stomped up the steps. “Did you lock me out of my own house?”
Kadir appeared at the top of the steps. “Yeah, I locked you out of my house. I pay the bills.”
“You better watch your tone.”
“Why should I? Mom, you on some other ish. You left my dad and now you out here thinking you young.”
“I don’t think anything.”
“Well, whatever you want to call it. I guess you’re a cougar or something. You were dealing with Dele like it is cool. I’m in the locker room and the guys are talking shit about you. How could you do this to me? He is almost my age. He’s only seven years older than me. You got people coming at me on Instagram and you were a trending topic on Twitter.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Well, it did and I hope you told Dele I’m going to knock him out. That’s a promise.”
“You can’t fight anybody else. Let’s have an adult conversation. Don’t I deserve to be happy, Kadir? He treats me well. And I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, you got to leave. Go be with your boyfriend. You chose him over me anyway. All the people in the world and you picked him.” He walked back to his room and closed his door. I knocked on the door and he told me to go away.
“Kadir, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Mom, get out of my house.”
I felt like kicking the door and arguing with him, but I was wrong and I knew I needed to give him his space.