Page 22 of No Right To Love You
“What kind of question is that January? Of course, I love you. I just want the best for you.”
“Dad, I’m 32, I know what's best for me. You need to know that. If you truly loved me like you said you did, you wouldn't have made me feel like I have to work so hard to get what I deserved in the first place. I remember you being there when Aisha and I were growing up. There wasn’t a birthday you missed or a holiday, so why would you do that to me? Why would you be part of the reason I miss events when it comes to my children? I missed something no mother should ever miss in Jasmine's life and my heart broke into pieces thinking that she’d deem me a bad mother, but do you know what she thought, dad?She thought I didn’t love her. She thought that me, the woman who gave birth to her and cried with her when her little wails filled the room, didn’t love her. When I first held Jasmine in my arms, I cried because I was blessed with two babies at the same time. You know how hard it was for me watching her growing stronger in the NICU, you were there.” I tilt my head at my dad and try to make him see what I saw. What I felt.
Dad took a step toward me, but I stopped him, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry.” My dad says to me.
I look at him.
“I need you to understand something, dad. Ocean is my husband and has been for the past thirteen years and I don’t plan on ever leaving him. He belongs to me just as much as I belong to him. He is my everything, dad. What he did for me, no man can ever do that for me. I know that Bernard seems perfect in your eyes, but he isn’t. There’s nothing that he has ever done that can equate to what Ocean has done for me. Plus, have you seen my man?” I chuckle as I wipe my tears, my heart felt like it was exploding with my love for Ocean.
There were dark times that both of us faced with other things in our lives, but we never had dark times with each other.
“I know you love him, January.” Dad says with his hands in his pockets.
“Then act like it or else you’re going to lose me, dad. I love you but I will walk away from you, and you won’t get to see me again. I love you too much to want to do that so please, dad, I don’t want that to be something we do.”
My dad doesn’t say much but he pinches the bridge of his nose. He nods. “I will do my best. January, I love you, there has never been a time where I have never loved you or your sister. I push too hard and sometimes, I get lost in the old ways but don’t be afraid to tell me, straight up. If your mother ever found outI almost cost her seeing her grandkids, she would kill me. She would put me in an early grave, burying me alive.” He chuckles, shaking his head.
This time, he doesn't wait for me, he pulls me into a hug. The hug that he always gives as a father. The one that made me feel comfort in his arms.
“We’re going to work hard on this and do better right, dad?” I ask him as my voice is muffled in his arms.
“Yes.”
“Okay good. First order, my last name isn’t Evans anymore. I’m Mrs. Mahoe and I’ve been that for thirteen years. Please respect that and my husband. The same way he respects you.”
“Not like I’ve got a choice; I can tell he’s glaring at me through those tinted windows.”
I laugh and get out of his arms but then my laughter dies when I see Bernard nursing his cheek. I move away from my dad and charge at Bernard.
“What did you say to him?”
“I’m pressing charges.”
“And you will lose. What did you say to my man?”
“Your man, huh?” He smirks. “The same man that you didn’t go home to all those nights we worked late at night together. Those nights. I merely suggested that you have found better and that’s why soon enough I will represent you in court when you leave him for me.”
“Are you fucking daft? Why would you say that to him? I never even looked your way.”
“Is that what you think? The way you would bend that tight ass over to pick something up. Or when you removed your suit jacket walking in those high heels looking like all business, but I knew how freaky you could b–.”
Bernard didn’t get to finish his sentence as dad came out of nowhere and knocked him out cold.
“Nobody talks about my daughter in that disgusting manner.” He says and pulls out a handkerchief to wipe his hands as if he had dirt there when he didn’t.
“Dad…We need to do something or you’[re going to be in shit for doing this.”
Dad smirks as he looks at me. “What is he going to do, sue me?” He chuckles as he kisses my temple and turns me around to face Ocean who is already behind me. “You’re welcome.” He says to Ocean who rolls his eyes but smirks when he looks at Bernard.
“Better you than me.”
“Better.” Dad says and walks away but then stops and looks at us. “Sunday, dinner, my house. We’ll discuss new things and the possibility of things changing at work. Maybe I’ll finally share a cigar with my son-in-law.” He walks off before either of us can confirm or refuse.
“Let’s go.” Ocean says and he ushered me into the car.
“I’m sorry he said that to you. I didn’t do any of those things.” I apologize.
