“Mommy, Mommy”. Crashing against my legs I swung her up and into my arms. Burying my head in her neck I inhaled deeply. God, I missed my baby.
“The fuck is he?”. My dad grumbled a cigarette hanging from his lips.
“Dad” I hissed my eyes falling into slits. Him and his bloody mouth.
“Awk she’s used to it now. Is he here yet?”. I’m assuming he was talking about Duke.
“Through the back”. Turning my attention back to Everleigh I ran my fingers through her hair. “Did you have fun at papa and nanas?”.
“Yes, mommy can I go play?”. She was already kicking her legs to get down.
“Sure baby”.
“How you doing honey?”. My mom was as flawless as ever. Hair and makeup perfect just like it always was.
“I’m good you want coffee?”. Making my way into the kitchen I turned the kettle on grabbing two mugs. “You know you didn’t have to take her last night”.
“I didn’t have to Ava, but I wanted too. How many times do I have to tell you me and your dad don’t mind taking her”.
“I know mom it’s just-…”
“Guilt?”.
“Yeah”. I sighed.
“You have no reason to feel guilty everyone needs a little time to recharge. I wish I had someone when I had you”.
I could hear the sadness in her voice. My mom never spoke about my grandparents much. All I know is she moved into the clubhouse at 16 pregnant with me.
“Did they know you were pregnant?”.
“The minute they found out about your dad I was finished. I hated your dad”. She laughed pouring the water into our cups. I smiled. My mom had never really opened up about her past or how she met my dad.
“Believe it or not but I was a good kid. I got good grades and I rarely got into trouble. Your dad on the other hand”. Snorting she passed me my cup and we both took a seat at the table. “He was the king pin, the popular boy that everyone wanted to be friends with. All the girls wanted him to notice them, but your idiot dad only had eyes for one”. Smiling she sipped on her coffee.
“You?”. I asked already knowing the answer.
“I didn’t give him the time of day. Franko Mendez was bad news and a good girl like me couldn’t be seen with a bad boy like him. It wasn’t until my friend at the time talked me into going to a party one night. Sneaking out of the house and drinking alcohol wasn’t my thing but for once I wanted to see what it was like”.
“He hold your hair back while you spewed, and the rest is history?” I grinned.
“Let’s just say a boy tried it on and your dad didn’t like that. I wasn’t too keen on the boy, but I was a teenager that had never been kissed. I drank some cheap beer, and it went straight to my head. Little did I know your dad had been watching me all night so when that guy got to hands on, he ended up with a broken nose”.
“Yeah, that sounds like dad alright. What happened after that?”. This was exciting for me especially since my mom wasn’t up for talking about her past with my dad.
“I was sick all down his cut”.
“Wait dad was already patched in back then?”.
“No baby at 17 he was still a prospect, but my god did he love that cut and I spewed all over it. I insisted that I was fine, but he wouldn’t leave me alone and when he did Tommy was there. He got me some water put food in my belly and we spent the whole night talking”.
“That’s cute”.
“Turns out he wasn’t who I thought he was, and I judged him before I knew him. We clicked straight away, and the rest is history”. She smiled getting up and putting her cup in the sink.
“You can’t stop there I want to know more”.
“More about what?” My dad asked as he walked into the kitchen. Watching him he dipped his head and placed a kiss on my mom’s lips “You good babe?”.
“Always I was just telling Ava about how we became us”.
“Tell her about you being sick all over my cut?”. He laughed.
“And that she hated you”. I smirked.
“She didn’t hate me darling she just thought she did”. Winking at me he pulled my mom closer. “I chased this beauty for ages, and she wouldn’t give me the time of day”.
“Well, you obviously done something right. I’m going to check on Everleigh and give Blaze a call”. After all the shit that had went on, I finally realised that they were meant to be together. I could see it; everyone could see it. I was still gunning for more of the past. I wanted to know everything.
Walking into the bar area I clocked her sitting in a booth in her own little world playing with wait what was she playing with? As I got closer a sigh fell from my lips.
An iPad.
“Baby where’d you get that?”.
“Daddy”. She giggled her eyes never leaving the screen.
“Of course, it was daddy”. Rolling my eyes, I took my phone out and dialled his number. Daddy was going to feel my foot in his ass.
“A everything okay?”
“An iPad Blaze really?”.
“Can’t tell me your pissed because of an iPad babe?”.
“I’m not pissed but she seems glued to it”. I didn’t mind her having it I’ve heard nowadays they’re good for learning and development. I just didn’t want her to be on it all the time. I wanted her to be a kid that still liked to play outside.
“It’s just a tablet Ava, it’s not hurting her and besides every kid has one. I didn’t want her to feel left out”.
Was he kidding? She’s 3.
“She’s 3 Blaze but I’m not arguing with you over a tablet. What are you doing? Any closer to coming home?”.
“Baby I’ve only been gone a few hours. A few more days and I’ll be back with you. Now I’m just about to crash call me later yeah?”.
“You know I hate when you’re away. I always have that dreaded feeling in my stomach”. I couldn’t help it. We’ve had so much bad luck I can’t help but think the worst when he’s not here.
” Everything’s good A now call me later okay”.
“Okay”.
Hearing the double beep meaning he ended the call I held my phone tight. I couldn’t keep doing this. I trusted that he would come back to me. I needed to stop thinking the worst.
“Why the long face princess?”.
“I’m fine”.
“You don’t look it” Handing me a lit cigarette he leaned against the bar. “Missing him already?”. He smirked.
“Weren’t you going for a sleep?”. I asked not in the mood for his smart-ass comments.
“Coming for a bottle to knock me out”.
“Well if you go pick up the antibiotics, I prescribed you wouldn’t be in pain and you wouldn’t need that”. I said nodding towards the vodka in his hand.
“Self-meditation”. He grinned causing me to roll my eyes. Stubbing out my cigarette I glanced towards Everleigh who was still engrossed in her tablet.
“Don’t come crying to me when it gets infected”. Ignoring his reply, I walked to the booth she was sitting in.
“You want to come with mommy to visit auntie Ally?”.
Tablet forgotten about she bounced out the booth and into my arms. “Yay mommy auntie Ally gives me sweeties and lets me have chocolate”.
Yes, they all spoiled her rotten.
“Let’s go then”. Placing her on her feet I took hold of her hand. Going by the hospital meant I could officially give them a start date to come back.
Everleigh started preschool in 2 weeks, and I was nowhere near ready to let her go. It was only for 4 days a week, but it was going to be weird not having her around.
“Where you off to?”. My mom asked leaning against the door to the kitchen.
“Going to visit Ally at the hospital. I’ve got stuff I need to sort out for going back”.
“Everleigh, you want to go for ice cream with nana?”.
“Mom” I sighed
“What? I’m taking Leighton and I just thought I’d ask. It’s no big deal, Ava and besides, she likes spending time with nana don’t you princess”.
“Yes, can I go mommy I be good”. She grinned.
“Yes, baby you can go but go see papa before you leave”. I didn’t want her in earshot when I spoke to my mom.
“Don’t even say it, Ava. Blaze isn’t here and you’ve got stuff to sort out. Have you told him you’re officially going back or that she has a start date?”.
“Me going back to work has nothing to do with Blaze and I didn’t get the chance to tell him about preschool because he got arrested”. I snapped instantly regretting it. “I’ll tell him when he gets back”. I wasn’t feeling great. I was sweating and my head was pounding.
“You feeling okay?”. She asked coming closer she placed her hand against my forehead.
“Mom what are you doing?”. Swatting her hand away she glared at me.
“You’re sick”.
“I’m fine mom trust me”.
“No baby you’re sick. Your temperature is through the roof. Bath and bed I’ll bring you something to get your temperature down and something hot to eat”.
“No, I have too much to do I’ll be-…”
“Ava Mendez”. Cutting me off her eyes fell into slits “Bath and bed you’re going nowhere until you’re better”.
Turns out she was right.
I was bedridden. I had no energy and all I was doing was sleeping.