Ashanti Renèe Robinson, NY📍

"Bae come on or we gon be late!" Jay said from downstairs. I was trying to zip up my coat over my bump. I heard his footsteps walking in the room and then his laugh.

"Ma, what are you doing?" He said taking the coat off of me. "Just wear your trench coat I bought you." He went in the closet and got it for me and I put it on. "Now hurry, I miss my momma."

—

We pulled up to Panchero's and parked the car. It was 5:15. We got out and walked into the restaurant. I wasn't sure who I was looking for because I didn't know a face I just knew a name.

"There she is bae." Jay said pointing across the room. We made our way in that direction and she smiled at me.

I smiled back but harder. She's so pretty. And she looks so young. I can see where Jay gets his smile from though. She rose from her seat and came up to us.

"Hi, My names Ashanti, it's nice to finally meet you." I said going to shake her hand. She moved my hand out the way and pulled me into a hug. It was one of those warm hugs that would heal your heart.

"Hi, Ashanti! You can call me Aaliyah you don't have to call me Mrs. Lawson." She said pulling away.

"Jay Jay!" She pulled him down to hug her properly. "I missed you baby boy."

"I missed you to." He said to her. But he looked kind of irritated. I gave him a look and he shook his head. He helped me in the seat and we looked over the menu.

"So, Ashanti, where are you from?"

"I'm from New York. I moved her a while back."

"How was it there?"

"It was...something."

"Girl, I know that's right. They be wild over there. I used to go up there with my homegirls all the time before I had Jay."

I looked over at him and he was looking down at the menu. I got irritated because like why aren't you engaging in the conversation.

"Good Evening, welcome to Panchero's what drinks could I get you guys." The waitress said as she took out her notepad.

"Can I get a iced tea," Jay said to her. "Whatchu want bae?"

"Same."

"Can I get two Iced teas and whatever she wants." He said gesturing to Aaliyah. I smacked his arm cause that's mad rude.

"I'll have a lemonade thank you. And can you direct me to where the restrooms are."

"Just down that hall and to the right." The waitress said before they both walked off.

I turned to Jay and he was scrolling through his phone. I took it out his hands and he looked up at me.

"What was that all about? I thought you would be happy to see your mom."

"I am. But I know it's not going to last."

"Why would you say that? Be positive Jay. She seems like she's happy to se-"

"She's still wearing her wedding ring Ashanti." He said cutting me off. I can see the pain in his eyes when he said that. Jay has told me about the shit that used to happen in his house. It hurts him. That's why I avoid speaking on it.

"I'm sorry baby. You tried. You can't help someone that don't want to be helped." I over to kiss his check.

Aaliyah was making her way back to our table when Jay sat up straight. I felt the tension once she sat down and locked eyes with him.

"You still wear it?" He said gesturing to her ring. She looked down and started playing with it.

"He apologized. He's a good man now. I promise. You need to see him again. He mis-."

"I'm good off that." He said cutting her off.

I mean you can't really blame him. One thing about Jay is that he loves different. So when someone he gave that love to hurts him it's a different type of pain. I reached for his hand and held it as they talked.

"Jay Jay. He's your father." He shook his head.

"That's jus a dude you just so happen to have a kid by. He ain't never been a father to me. He don't deserve that title."

I saw tears start to form in his eyes when he said that. Aaliyah got up from her seat and walked over to our side of the booth and hugged Jay. Of course he hugged her back. I backed up a little to let them have this moment. A mom and son healing. It's beautiful and sad at the same time. She wiped his eyes before she went and sat back down.

"Alright, Ashanti. When's the baby shower?"

"You comin?" I asked. Her and Jay laughed.

"Of course I'm coming." She said with a smile.

"Oh okay it's Friday! I can't wait!"

"Friday?! That's two days away! Jay Jay! Ion have an outfit or a gift yet!" We laughed cause she sounded just like me!

"It's all cool ma. There ain't gon be that many people there. Jus you, me, Ashanti of course, Demarcus and Jo'nae."

"Oh, Jo'nae. How is she doing? Is she getting better?"

Better?!

Jay have his mom a look and kind of shook his head. She changed the subject quick.

There's something I don't know.

"Oh- Uh. What are you wishing for?"

"A boy." Jay said grabbing my hand.

"Of course! What you grew up around females to much?!" She said with a funny face.

I laughed. Jay told me he would always hang around his mom and her friends since everything with his pops was going on.

We sat and talked as our food was brought to us. I ordered a nacho lookin platter. I don't know. We didn't have these kind of restaurants in new york. So I jus be sayin shit.

"Jay used to always have me cut up his chicken in little squares so he can put them together like a puzzle. Awe. Jay i miss when you were a itty bitty baby." She said making it look like she was holding a baby.

"I bet he was a bad one." I said sipping my tea.

"Girl. Bad ain't even the word. He drove me crazy but I couldn't ask for it any other way."

Jay was sittin here cheesin all big. He knew we both loved and appreciated him so much. And he jus eatin it up.

The night came to a end and we started to stack up our dishes for the waitress. Aaliyah tried to pay but Jay slapped her wallet down and put $200 on the table. We walked out the restaurant and to our cars.

"It was nice meeting you Ashanti. I can't wait to go to the baby shower." She hugged me tightly before turning to Jay.

"It was good to see you too Jay Jay. I love you so much." She said hugging him.

"I love you to ma." She turned and got in her car.

"Be safe." He said to her before she drove off.

"What'd you think about her?" He asked me as we got in the car.

"She's a lot like you. A lotttttt."

He laughed and pulled off. We got home faster than I thought we would but once we got there we made our way upstairs cause even tho it's only 9 at night I'm tired.

"You goin to sleep?" He asked me as I walked out the bathroom from taking a shower.

"Yea. Baby, when the furniture gettin here I'm tired of sleeping on the pallet."

"Girl don't say that to loud. Makin us sound broke!" This nigga funny asl. "Anyways it's coming tomorrow, I checked the tracker. We gon have to rough it out for one mo night boo." He said hovering over me for a kiss.

"You get a kiss when I get my furniture."

"Wow, you really gon do me like that?"

He laid on the pallet and pulled me on him. "Yep."

"You petty asl."

I kissed all over his face before laying back down. "Goodnight big ass baby."

"Goodnight fucker." He said laughing.