“No one is throwing you out, Mom. You live here with us, and we are happy to have you.”

  Vivian harrumphed at that as she headed back upstairs.

  As she watched her mom slowly walk back up the stairs, her heart sank at the thought that Vivian would spend the rest of her days in this house feeling unwanted. Michael would have to fix this. There was no way she was going to allow her mother to feel unwanted—not anymore.

  Chapter 22

  “Are you ever going to look at that college catalog your mother gave you? Classes begin in six weeks.” Marquita picked the catalog off his floor so she could vacuum.

  Sitting in his wheelchair, Jon-Jon was holding Marcus. “College was a lot of fun. I was halfway through my second year before the accident.”

  “I’ve always wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t focused my last two years of high school and just barely had a C average when I finished. So, it’s not like I would get a scholarship to go anywhere.”

  He pointed toward the college catalog Marquita set on his end table. “Community colleges cost a lot less than universities. Maybe you should be looking through that catalog yourself.”

  “The difference between ten dollars and a dollar don’t make much difference to me because I don’t have either.” Marquita turned on the vacuum and pushed it around Jon-Jon’s room until the baby started crying.

  “Hey, you’re disturbing Moochie.” Jon-Jon put his hands over the baby’s ears.

  Marquita stuck out her tongue at both of them and turned off the vacuum. “I don’t know how Moochie thinks I’m going to take care of our board and keep if he wants to cry every time I’m doing housework.”

  “My baby boy don’t cry all the time. You scared him with that vacuum.”

  Marquita gave Jon-Jon the evil eye. “We weren’t even talking about your crybaby son. I want to know why you haven’t filled out that college entrance form yet. Kids aren’t cheap, you know. We need to figure out how to make some real money.”

  “I hear you,” Jon-Jon said, more serious now. “Believe me, I had a good example growing up. My dad was always there for me, so I’m going to take care of my son. I just think it’s better if I concentrate on my physical therapy before I go back to school.”

  When Marquita was with Jon-Jon last summer, she truly thought they had this forever kind of connection. She couldn’t believe that she had found somebody to love and that he loved her back. But when he went back to school and didn’t call and didn’t text, she realized that nothing in her life had changed.

  Now he was talking about how he was going to take care of his son. She wished she didn’t want him to include her in that scenario, but like a fool in love, she did. She wished she could stop feeling love for Jon-Jon, but every day she was around him, her feelings kept growing stronger. She’d never tell him how she felt, because she wasn’t about to be rejected by the same man twice.

  The garage door opened, and Trish entered the kitchen. Marquita peeked out of Jon-Jon’s room. “How was service?”

  “Oh, it was wonderful. I really needed that tonight. Thank you so much for hanging out with Jon-Jon so I could attend Bible study.”

  “I heard that,” Jon-Jon called from inside his room. “I don’t need a babysitter, Ma. I’m getting around in my wheelchair now. I even fixed my own sandwich.”

  Marquita smirked at Jon-Jon’s words. “Since he’s doing so good on his own, I’m sure Jon-Jon won’t mind that I have a job interview later this week.” She wrapped the cord around the vacuum and then took Marcus from Jon-Jon. “I need to change his diaper.”

  Trish joined them in Jon-Jon’s room.

  Jon-Jon said, “Mama, tell Marquita that she’s wasting her time with these penny-ante jobs when she could sign up for classes at the community college.”

  “One of us has to buy diapers,” Marquita shot back.

  Trish asked Marquita, “Do you want to go to college?”

  Hesitant to answer at first, she bounced Marcus on her hip, wishing she could think of a joke to take the pressure off. She didn’t need anyone laughing behind her back, or worse yet, making her believe something that was never ever going to happen. “I do, but it’s probably best for me to just find a job.”

  “Why? You haven’t been fired from enough jobs yet?” Jon-Jon laughed as if he had said something cute.

  Trish and Marquita said simultaneously. “Shut up, Jon-Jon.”

  “Oh, it’s like that?” Jon-Jon wheeled his chair on the other side of his bed, picked up his ten-pound weights. “Since no one needs my helpful advice, I’ll just work out and build my upper body strength so I can throw that football to my son when he’s old enough.”

  Trish’s eyes lit up, but she didn’t say anything else to Jon-Jon. She backed out of the room while signaling Marquita to join her in the kitchen.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Marquita asked when she joined Trish.

  “Marquita, you have got to stop asking that. Trust and believe, I will let you know if you do something wrong.” Trish opened the fridge and took out an apple. “I work with kids who don’t see a future for themselves, so I just want you to know that being a single mother does not mean you have to stop dreaming, okay?”

  Marquita didn’t respond. What could she say to something like that? Growing up the way she did taught her not to dream. She went into her bedroom with Marcus, laid her baby on the bed, and picked up her journal.

  She didn’t dream much, but she did write about all the stuff she could never, would never, dream about, like becoming a writer. When she was a kid, she gave her mother a poem for her birthday. Her mother actually had the poem framed. It used to sit in their living room, but her mother lost the poem after refusing to move from a house she had been evicted from. The police came and put her stuff on the sidewalk. That was the last time Marquita saw that poem.

  Maybe one day she could write a book of poems like some of the greats, or maybe she would write a novel. No, no, no. She was letting Trish get to her. Trish and Dwayne were able to move to the suburbs after working their way out of the low-income side of town, but that was the only side of life Marquita had ever known. She couldn’t even manage to hold on to a low-income apartment. Dreaming—got to stop dreaming.

  Her cell phone rang. It was her mother. “Hey, Ma, how are you doing?”

  “Doing good. They just found a house that I can move into, so I’m excited about that.”

  “How’s Mark and Kee Kee doing?”

  Gloria sucked her teeth. “If you cared about your brother and sister, you would have come to see about them.”

  “That’s not fair, Mama. I’ve had my own issues.”

  “Marquita, you act like you’re the only one who’s ever been evicted. Life goes on. And I don’t know why you didn’t come to this women’s shelter, because these are some good people. They helped me find a place.”

  The last women’s shelter her mother stayed at threw her out after she cursed them out for getting in her business. “The Robinsons said I can stay here for a little while.”

  “Whatever, girl. Just don’t come running to me for a place to stay when they throw you out.”

  Why did her mother have to act like this? Why couldn’t she understand that Marquita wanted something better for herself and for Moochie? She couldn’t win with this woman. “What did you call for, Mama?”

  “Oh, now I can’t call my own daughter unless I need something. Don’t get cute with me just because you finally found your baby’s daddy.”

  Marquita wanted to scream. Just open her mouth and let one scream after another fly. This is why she had not called her mother. There was no letting up with Gloria Lewis. She did feel bad about not reaching out to her siblings though. She knew firsthand what they were suffering through and wished she could help them.

  Maybe she should try to find a way to go to college. If she could get a degree and a good paying job, she would then be able to help Mark and Kee Kee do the same. They deserved a better life. Kee Kee was so smart. That girl could teach classes right now and probably do a better job than some teachers.

  “I need to go to the store and put some food in the house, but you know my car isn’t working.”

  Her mother’s car had been in the shop for two months. The mechanic fixed it, but she didn’t want to pay so she and the mechanic were still fighting. “When do you want me to take you?”

  “Tomorrow. Can you pull yourself away from Moochie’s daddy long enough to help your family get some food?”

  Why did everything have to be a battle with this woman? “Yes, I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

  It was a terrible thing, but hanging up with her mother brought Marquita’s anxiety level down. She hated that she felt that way about dealing with her own mother, but them were her feelings. Pushing that conversation from her mind, Marquita bathed Moochie and put his onesie on. The two of them then lay down and went to sleep.

  * * *

  The next morning as she was in the kitchen fixing bottles, Jon-Jon called her into his room. “What you want, man? I’m busy fixing these bottles for your greedy son.”

  “I want to go to my physical therapy session this morning, but I don’t want to bother my mom.” He looked at her with so much hope in his eyes. “Would you take me?”

  Trish told her that Jon-Jon had declined physical therapy because he didn’t think it was doing any good. If Jon-Jon was now asking to go, she was going to help him get there because Moochie needed his father to be in the game. “If you got the gas money, I’ve got the car.”

  “I got to put gas in your car for a ride to the hospital?”

  “If I had a job, I wouldn’t ask. But I don’t have a job yet, and the gas I have now is enough to get me to my interview on Thursday.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll get twenty from my dad.”

  She felt bad for asking so she whispered to Jon-Jon, “Don’t tell them that I asked. They just purchased diapers and formula for Moochie.”

  “Look, my parents aren’t like that. They don’t mind helping. And anyway, I go to arbitration next week. We won’t have to ask them for money after that. I should have enough to take care of us.”

  “Us?” she questioned.

  Grinning, Jon-Jon repeated, “Us.”

  Jon-Jon was going to help her and do right by Moochie. From the moment she met him, Marquita had thought Jon-Jon was a good guy. With every passing day, she was more and more thankful that Moochie was a Robinson. She might not have done much right in her young life, but she picked a good father for her baby.

  After Dwayne helped Jon-Jon get ready for his appointment, she, Jon-Jon, and Moochie set off for the hospital. It wasn’t until they reached the hospital that her cell phone rang. “Oh, I forgot my mother!”

  “Is that her calling?”

  “Yes.”

  “Answer it.”

  Marquita shook her head. “I can’t just answer the phone if I’m not on my way to pick her up. She will go ballistic.”

  “It’s not that deep, Marquita.”

  Marquita got out of the car, opened the trunk, and took out Jon-Jon’s wheelchair. She opened his door as her phone rang again.

  “Marquita, just answer the phone and tell her you are on your way.”

  “I can’t just leave you here.”

  “Yes, you can. Go pick her up, and I’ll call my mom.”

  Marquita wouldn’t hear of it. “Your mom has been too good to me. She deserves some time to herself.” The phone kept ringing, so she answered it. “Hey, Mom, I’m on my way, so just sit tight, okay?”

  Marquita hung the phone up, then told Jon-Jon, “I’ll go grab my mom and then come right back here to get you. I’ll be back before your session ends, so you don’t need to call Trish. Okay?”

  “That works.”

  Marquita took Moochie out of his baby seat and walked into the hospital while Jon-Jon pushed his wheelchair. “I just want to see where you’re going to be before I leave.”

  “Physical therapy is on the second floor. I’ll show you.”

  Marquita went to the rehabilitation area with Jon-Jon. She helped him get settled, then left the hospital and drove to the other side of town, about thirty-five minutes away, to pick up her mother. When Gloria got in the car, Marquita said, “I’m so, so sorry that I’m late. I forgot that I was supposed to pick you up this morning.”

  “How’d you forget when I called and asked you about this last night?”

  Her mother’s lip poked out like a petulant child. Marquita didn’t want to tick her off further because Gloria could go from one to fifty in a matter of seconds, but there was no way she was going to leave Jon-Jon at that hospital while she spent hours with her mother. “I dropped Jon-Jon off at the hospital. I need to pick him up to take him back home, and then you and I can spend as much time as you want at the store.”

  Gloria let out a long-suffering sigh. “So those people mean more to you than your family, huh?”

  Rolling her eyes, Marquita said, “I never said that, Mama. I’m just trying to do what’s right. Jon-Jon and his family have been good to me.”

  “They aren’t your family!” Gloria yelled at Marquita. “And if you roll your eyes at me again, I’m going to pop you in the back of your neck.”

  Marquita sped down I-485, trying to get back to the hospital as fast as possible. “Mom, calm down. You don’t have anything else to do today but go to the grocery store. I promise I will get you there.”

  Gloria folded her arms around her chest and turned her face to the window.

  Marquita was rarely graced with peace and quiet when in her mother’s company, but Gloria didn’t say another word to her all the way to the hospital. She looked at the time on the dashboard as she pulled into the hospital parking lot. She had been gone for an hour and twenty minutes. So, as soon as she parked, Marquita jumped out of the car. She opened the back door and unlatched Moochie from his car seat. “I’ll be right back, Mama.”

  Gloria didn’t respond. She just kept looking out the window as if she spotted something she couldn’t take her eyes off of.

  Marquita hurried to the second floor. Jon-Jon was at the receptionist desk scheduling his next appointment.

  “How did it go?” Marquita asked as she stood next to him.

  Jon-Jon put hands on his legs and rubbed them. “I’m sore. This was some hard work.”

  “Maybe you should take a pain pill before your next appointment.”

  “I’m going to need something because this was a lot.” Then Jon-Jon looked at Marcus. “But if it means I’ll be able to do the things I want to do with him, then it’s worth it.”

  Putting a hand on his shoulder, Marquita’s eyes brightened. “Moochie has a good dad.” They held eye contact for a minute before they headed for the door.

  “John, wait a minute.” A man in a white lab coat approached them.

  “Hey, Dr. Phillips. It’s good to see you.” Jon-Jon shook the doctor’s hand.

  “It’s good to see you. Your therapist told me that you had a really good session today.”

  “I’m trying, Doc.” Jon-Jon then turned to Marquita. “Let me introduce you to my girl, Marquita, and my baby, Marcus.”

  Dr. Phillips shook Marquita’s hand and smiled at Marcus. “So, am I looking at the reason for your newfound inspiration?”

  “You better believe it, Doc. I’m going to do everything I can to make my son proud. I’m not giving up on these legs just yet.”

  As they made their way to the elevator, Marquita said, “So I’m your girl, huh?”

  Sheepishly ducking his head while rolling the wheelchair inside the elevator, he said, “I didn’t want to call you my baby’s mama. Sorry if I overstepped.”

  “Boy, bye. You can call me your girl anytime. And you’re right, it does sound a lot better than just being your baby’s mama.” She just wished she was truly his girl.

  As the hospital doors opened and they headed toward the car, Marquita heard her mom yelling out of the window. “Ain’t nobody paying you to watch me, so stop staring over here before I come over there and poke your eyes out.”

  Her mom got out of the car and stalked over to a car that was a few feet away. The driver backed out of the parking spot and sped off. “I thought so,” Gloria said, then turned around and started walking back to Marquita’s car.

  “Mama! What are you doing?” Marquita rushed to the car.

  “You told me you would be right back. How long am I supposed to wait out here with people gawking at me?”

  “Were you talking to yourself again?” Her mother did that when she got really angry.

  “No, I wasn’t talking to myself,” Gloria mimicked her daughter, then kicked her car. “I was stuck in this pile of junk, waiting on you, and people were staring at me.”

  “Mom, don’t kick my car. This is the only transportation I have.”

  Jon-Jon rolled up to the car. “Is this your mom, Marquita?”

  Marquita wanted to be like the Incredible Shrinking Woman and become so small that no one saw her. She always wanted to disappear when Gloria had one of her fits.

  “Yeah, I’m her mama and that should mean something. I shouldn’t be treated like secondhand trash for the likes of you.”

  People in the parking lot were staring because Gloria was causing a scene. Marquita had been through this a thousand times, but she didn’t want Jon-Jon seeing this, not when he had just called her his girl and not when she was just starting to feel like she and Moochie might have a chance at a normal life. “Let’s just get in the car and go.”

  Marquita put the baby back in his car seat and strapped him in. She opened the front door for Jon-Jon, then wondered what she did that for.

  “I’m your mama. If anything, I should be getting in the front.” Gloria started railing against all the injustices of the world again.

  “Just help me get in the back. I’ll sit next to Moochie,” Jon-Jon told Marquita.

  “But your mom said that you need to be able to stretch your legs out.”

  “I’ll just walk!” Gloria yelled.

  “Mama, please stop.”

  “Hi, John, is everything okay? Do you need help getting in the car?”