Page 178 of Rather: The Therapist

“We’re bigger than that. We’re better than that. It is fucked up. Yes, in every fucking way. But, when it’s quiet and I really think about it… I wasn’t ready for you. I doubt I would’ve ever been ready for you because I never chose you. There would always be some borderline resentment because I didn’t have the privilege of choosing the woman I was to spend the rest of my life with. You chose Priest and that nigga chose you.

“He was willing to choose you over his position and his family. If that doesn’t tell a motherfucker y’all meant to be together then I don’t know what the fuck will. Because, I can look at you straight in the face and tell you right now–I’d never love you enough to choose you over my people.”

“So, what’s with the hostility?”

“He fucked up my pictures,” Kofi admitted with a straight face. “Now, I look like mush face in all the family wedding photos. I’ll never forgive that nigga for that shit. Him or that photographer. He won’t be taking nobody else’s pictures though.”

“Kofi– What have you done?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out, sis.”

He stood on his feet and stretched his limbs. He was preparing to leave, but I wasn’t quite ready for him to go. The weeks had been long and sometimes melancholy. I yearned for laughter and he could provide plenty of it.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah. I’ve got shit to do. People waiting on me.”

“This is the most sane I’ve seen you since we met,” I admitted. “It’s almost bittersweet.”

“Your presence served its purpose, Rather. It was my wakeup call. It gave me a chance to sit my ass down for an entire week and begin planning for something I never saw myself part of.”

“What’s that?”

“The future. So, in a sense, everyone got what they wanted.”

Hearing Kofi confess what his family had known all along was disheartening. He was living life on the edge because he didn’t imagine making it into the future they were planning for him. He wasn’t rebellious. Kofi was afraid.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I suppose so.”

“Thanks for the book and the coffee. I look forward to seeing you more Mondays at ten o’clock.”

He tipped his head in my direction.

“Be careful, Kofi. The roads are slippery.”

“I’d never fuck up a pussy appointment by wrecking the whip,” he sniggered. “That’s not player.”

I yelled toward him, just as he took off in the other direction. “How is Hailey?”

“Hailey is good. Go see her at the bar. She’s waiting to gift you a martini.”

I’m waiting, too. See her soon.

With a smile, I sat back in my chair. A pleasant sigh escaped my lips as I dug into my purse to retrieve a pen. There was one more person I needed to see, but until she was ready, my written words had to suffice. On the small sheet of paper, I began the note to Kleigh that I would be stuffing inside her book and sending through the postal service.

Dear Kleigh,

I’m writing this note because I don’t want to bore you with too many of my words on paper. I’d much rather see your face, hug your body, and tell you that I am sorry for what I’ve done to push you away. I understand your frustration and the fact you might never want to talk to me again, but the truth of the matter is I won’t leave you a choice.

I value sisterhood. It’s made me who I am. The last thing I want to do is completely tarnish the relationship we were beginning to build. Despite everything that has happened, the fact of the matter is I love Priest and he loves you. My spirit won’t rest until you’re in my world, again. I miss you.

This is a fair warning. You have seven days to call me, send a date night invitation to my calendar, or show up at my house in new PJs. Otherwise, you’ll leave me no choice but to come find you, sit you down in my chair, and treat you like a client you don’t want to be until you promise all is forgiven.

I love you.

Rather Childers-Valentine.

I stared at the note on the table hoping it conveyed my truest emotions and feelings toward Kleigh’s absence. Just in case I needed to ball it up and trash it, I pulled out my cell and snapped a picture.

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