Page 66 of Desire

My stomach sank as I listened through the speaker.

“You don’t have a daughter, remember? You signed over your rights.”

“I want to see my daughter!” she shouted.

“Iris, you have no rights to Azaria. You need to leave now before we call the police.”

“What’s all the commotion?” I heard Desire ask.

When I turned around, the whole family was behind me.

Fuck!

I felt like shit. Desire planned a beautiful day for our families, and it ended horribly. We ended up having to call the police. Although I didn’t press charges, I wanted Iris off my property, and she wouldn’t leave otherwise.

Once things calmed down, the mood shifted. Desire knew some of the history between me and Iris, but her family, mainly her parents, weren’t in the know. My mother gave them a biased earful, and I didn't stop her because I was still processing what had occurred.

Not long after the police took Iris away, a tow truck picked up her car, and everyone headed home except for my parents, who were spending the night. They volunteered to get Azaria ready for bed while Desire and I cleaned up. We did so silently for about ten minutes before I spoke.

“Thank you for today, baby. I’m sorry it was ruined.”

She’d been sweeping the floor, and I took the broom and leaned it against the counter before taking her in my arms.

“It wasn’t ruined, it’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I still want to apologize. If it counts for anything, everyone enjoyed the food and took plates home.”

“It does count. We were having such a great time before everything went south. Why do you think she wants to see Ria after all this time?”

“I have no idea, but it won’t happen on my watch.”

“But she’s her mother.”

“No, as far as me and Ria are concerned, you’re her mother, and don’t you ever let those words roll off your tongue again. Ria knows nothing about Iris, and I’ve never been more thankful for her innocence than I was today.”

“Why don’t you talk to her and find out what’s going on? Maybe she’s having some regrets about signing her rights away.”

“That’s her problem, not mine.”

“What was her mental state after she had the baby? Maybe she was experiencing postpartum depression.”

“It wasn’t that. Listen, baby. Iris isn’t my problem, but if she brings her ass around here again, I’ll be her biggest one.”

“How can you be so—so—I don’t know, but I don’t like it. I could barely see her, but I could tell something wasn’t right. I’m your wife, but I’m a woman first, and she’s crying out for help.”

“You saw all of that from fifty feet away? Seriously, baby. I know Iris, and she wasn’t here because she has regrets about Ria. There’s an ulterior motive, and I want no parts of it.”

“I don’t think you’re being fair.”

She moved away from me, grabbed the broom, and continued sweeping, which rubbed me the wrong way. I leaned against the counter and folded my arms across my chest.

“What you think about this situation doesn’t matter. If?—”

“Excuse me?”

“Desire, you can’t comment or feel a way about something you know nothing about. Iris no longer exists in my world and will never exist in Ria’s. If you disagree, that’s your problem, but I said what I said. I won’t discuss this with you again.”

Her eyes widened as she angled her head back and to the side. I knew that look because I’d seen it many times from the women in my life. She was pissed, and I was prepared for her to go off, but she didn’t. Instead, she shoved the broom into my chest and walked away.

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