I laid between Richard and Fatima in his King size bed that had royal purple sheets on them. He faired well without Sophia and even though Sharon had to help him tuck his sheets around the edges better, he did well enough. We didn't leave Big Banana right away, we sat and ate in silence while I watched the tv and Fatima watched me. I got Richard's pizza to go and two extra large pizzas for my stress eating that was bound to happen and here I was lying on my back shoving a slice of pizza crust in my mouth.

"She's so stupid." I cussed.

"She is." Richard said.

"She's so dumb." Fatima added.

"She is." Richard said again.

"How could she do that to me? To us?" I said with a mouth full of pizza.

"I am definitely hurt." Richard said.

"Like, the same girl that cursed me. How could you go on a date with someone who doesn't want happiness for you?"

"I mean, she could have her reasons." Fatima said.

"Is there really any reasoning behind going on a date behind my back?" I asked getting irritated.

"Have you spoken to Mr Citronelli?" Richard asked.

He knew about my deal with him, he thought it was dangerous but I assured him I was well looked after. Richard was my confidant and the only information I was yet to share was my main reason for going to Mr Citronelli in the first place.

"I spoke to him. He found out some information on her. Apparently, she took her tuition money to pay for the hit and wants it to be done before the end of November which is next week." I shared the information.

"Wow.." Fatima said.

"Yeah, wow." Richard added.

I sighed as I finished my slice of pizza and stretched for another one. The box rested on Fatima's stomach so it wasn't far.

"Can we go down to the bar?" I asked them.

Richard got up first and then I moved behind him. I was in his white T-shirt that was oversized on me and stopped mid thigh. Fatima came behind us with the untouched box of pizza and the half done one in her hands. We got to the bar and I sat on a stool beside Fatima while Richard went behind to serve us. He handed me my wooden box first and I realized how terrible his parenting skills were by allowing me to smoke and drink. I shrugged it off and took up a backwoods rolling up a joint from weed I had previously ground. I rolled one for Fatima and then took out a blunt White Owl cigar for Richard. He poured wine for himself, a beer for Fatima and Whiskey on the rocks for me. We all ate from the pizza box and drank while smoking.

The main question on deck was, what are we going to do? More specifically, what was I going to do? I wasn't so sure myself.

"You can't kill her." Richard scrunched up his face at Fatima.

"It was only a suggestion." She laughed.

"Oh my God. I don't wanna be around your suggestions anymore, I don't want to be a witness." Richard covered his ears.

"I prefer to be in front of the stand, not behind." I mocked Richard.

"Thank you, Zim." He bowed his head at me.

"Why exactly did we need to plan over a new wedding again?" I asked Richard.

"Because we need it to be believable." He answered.

"The McGlashans and Ekubans sure have money to blow on two expensive weddings not far apart from each other." I pointed out.

"Don't worry, it's the least we can do for our little investments. We shall reap the rewards afterwards." He laughed as he pinched my jaws.

"Oh, Zim. I was meaning to ask, why is there 5K missing from your trust fund?" He looked at me with a serious expression.

"Uhm.. I'm just gonna say it.. I'm not gonna lie." I started. The lie had already formed in my mind, I had planned for this.

"My Jeep needed new parts." I sipped my drink.

"Why didn't you come to me instead?" He leaned against the bar counter.

"Because, I was already there so I just did it. It kept slipping my mind to tell you, my bad dad." I half apologized.

"That's Okay, I guess." He chuckled and I smiled.

"Rich people problems." Fatima said.

"Spoilt children problems." Richard blew smoke from his lips.

"Hey! I'm not spoilt." I pouted.

"But for real though. What are you going to do about Kwashie?" Fatima asked.

"I'm going to tell her mother." I smiled evilly.

"No..." Richard dragged out.

"Oh yes!" I balled up my fist.

"What's her mother going to do? And who is her mother?" Fatima looked lost.

"Remember the crazy African lady who forced you to eat?" I laughed.

"Miss Akua?" She asked frightened.

"Yep! She's her mother and she'll know what to do with her." I smirked.

"How's Mr Ekuban? Haven't heard from him in a while." I asked Richard.

"He's doing well, just really busy trying to finalize the paperwork for the business and as soon as we have your marriage certificate then we can get things in motion. We already have a building and lawyers ready to resign to come work for us." He looked proud.

"I'm glad." I fist bumped him.

"You really are an investment." Fatima laughed.

"I'm okay with that." I hummed.

"Of course you are." Richard rolled his eyes.

Of course I was. Richard was a criminal lawyer, the best in this part of the world and criminal law drew in the big bucks. Mr Ekuban was good, but he wasn't as good as Richard, he has lost a few cases while Richard has lost maybe one or two to making his client plead guilty instead of walking freely because they had too much evidences on them. Richard has had hits on his head, was almost poisoned and not to mention the threats on me and Sophia.

"Richard..." I waited for him to look at me before I continued.

"Can we open a charity?" I asked.

"For what?" He took a sip of his freshly refilled wine.

"For university tuitions." I didn't look at Fatima.

"This could be our way of giving back. We always give to charity but I think we should open one for ourselves, with a specific cause to helping persons who can't afford to send themselves to school. Get them scholarships or help them pay for the tuition or at least half of it with the money others donate." I tried to explain my jumbled thoughts.

"I like it. Draft up your business plan and bring it to my office." He was smiling like I had just graduated or achieved some big award.

"What are you going to name it?" Fatima asked.

"I was thinking somewhere along the lines of The Fatima Jones Foundation?" I was unsure of my answer.

"I don't mind." She also had the same smile Richard wore.

"RICHARD???" I heard a familiar voice yell from the foyer.

"Richard?" I looked at him.

"Is that.." he asked.

"I don't know, man." My eyes were wide.

We heard the clicking of heels and I knew exactly who it was. The in sync foot steps could belong anyone but I knew well enough that they belonged to my mother. Fatima wore her confused and lost expression for the second time this evening as we waited on the familiar body to appear. I spun around on the bar stool to face the entryway and waited with my heart beating loudly in my ears. I haven't seen her since New Year's Eve when I threatened her existence and ran her away.

"Richard?" She called again.

"My one question before she arrives is, HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET IN?" I whisper yelled.

"You know I didn't change the locks and our spare key is hidden the space place it always has." He angrily answered me through gritted teeth.

"Richard..." she finally stood in front of us.

"Sophia." He said with no obvious emotions.

"Zidania.." she acknowledged me.

"Sophia." I smiled.

"Who might this be?" She looked at Fatima.

"I'm Fa-" I cut her off.

"None of your business, woman." I hissed my teeth.

"Still snappy I see." She smirked.

"Why are you here?" Richard asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" She shook the blanket she had cradled in her arms.

The bundle of blankets I ignored when she stepped foot into our bar room. Was that the baby? I looked over at Richard and he was suppressing his anger and I wondered why he was so upset.

"I don't believe that is my child." He said.

The numbers did add up to me but what I wasn't sure of was if they had sex, at all.

"We can do a Paternity Test if you'd like." She sounded tired.

"You came all the way here, because?" I asked her.

"Because, Richard neglected coming to the the delivery room." She hissed.

"Was I supposed to use my telepathy powers and figure out where you were? You never called, you never got in contact with me. You DIVORCED me Sophia!!" His anger took form in each word.

"I had to. I was making you guys unhappy." For once she didn't sound selfish.

"What do you want me to do now?" Richard asked.

"Nothing, I just thought you'd want to see your son. He has your last name after all." She cooed at the baby in her arms.

"What do you want from me?" He asked her.

"As I said, nothing. I have a little job that has kept me alive for the past months and I intend to take care of my child. I could've aborted him when I found out but I didn't." A smile formed at her lips.

"Well, considering your dictatorship parenting skills I think you should have." I said.

"Zim!" Fatima gasped from beside me and I shrugged not caring.

"I'm sorry for everything I did to you, Zim. I'm sorry for how I treated you growing up. I was selfish and self centered and only focused on my pride and lust for material things." She said to me.

"And I'm sorry, Richard. Sorry for using you for my own personal gain but you taught me love with the patience you had for me. I couldn't have asked for anyone better than you. You took my daughter in without question and treated her like your own and is still doing so even after I divorced you." She directed her words to Richard.

"I'm really sorry. I had 10 whole months to sit and reflect on everything. You really start seeing a lot once you aren't shrouded in comfort and available money." She chuckled.

I was stuck between believing her story and passing it off as she just wanting to come back under the comfort of having Richard's available money. I heard Richard's footsteps move from around the bar and walked passed Fatima and I, I knew he still loved her or at least felt something for her. I watched him walk up to her and stood before her, he blocked my view so I didn't know what he was doing.

"Come to my study." He said.

"Zim, I'll be back." He gave me a sad smile before walking out.

"I'm really sorry, Zim. I hope you can find it in you to forgive me." She wiped at the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks.

"If it's in arm's reach." I softly said.

She nodded and walked out following Richard. I stayed quiet not knowing how to react or what to do next. Fatima got up and came close to me hugging me tightly. I didn't want to cry so I just rested my head on her shoulder and accepted the warmth she had to offer.

"Is that your mother?" She asked me.

"Yes." I said into her neck.

"I think you should try to forgive her." She pulled away from the hug and I saw the sadness in her eyes.

"I don't know..." I trailed off.

I knew this would be a touchy subject for her since her mother was dead. I didn't want to talk about it right now. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket so I stood up to get it out and answered it.

"Yes?" My voice was neutral.

"Can you please open the door for me? My keys are at home." Kwashie said on the other line.

"Uh, sure." I disconnected the call.

"Can you go let in Kwashie please?" I asked Fatima.

She hissed her teeth and nodded before walking off. I walked around to the bar and made myself a dry gin martini, making it really dry and really strong. I took small sips waiting for Fatima to come back with Kwashie.

Kwashie appeared first and then Fatima. She walked up to the bar and took a seat where I was sitting before. She saw the big banana pizza boxes and for a second I saw panic on her features before going back to her calm expression.

"How are you?" She asked me.

"I'm good. You?" I was calm.

"I'm alright, really tired." She smiled at me.

Fatima sat down in her same seat and asked me for a beer. Kwashie asked for Scotch and I prepared it for her.

"Did your suit fit well?" I asked.

"It did. Mr Saveti is a magician I tell you." She chuckled.

I smiled at her and Fatima had a scowl on her face. I laughed at that but continued to stare at Kwashie. What was she doing? She was very secretive and even though I thought we had passed that it's like a repetitive scenario with her.

"What?" She raised her eyebrow at me.

"Nothing. Was just wondering what movie Fatima and I are going to watch." I shrugged.

"I came to spend time with you and that's what you're thinking about?" She was getting irritated.

"Fatima this, Fatima that.. everything is Fatima." She cursed.

"You're never around Kwashie!! You don't even stay over anymore. You always have somewhere to be or some fucked up excuse as to why you can't sleep over." I argued.

"Don't turn this around on me." She hissed her teeth.

"What? YOU ARE NEVER FUCKING AROUND, MY GUY!!!" I shouted.

"You don't even sit at lunch with me anymore! You leave the goddamn campus for lunch! What's up with that, huh?" My anger flared.

"I've never questioned you even when you're doing questionable things! So leave Fatima out of this!!!"

"What questionable things?" She asked me.

"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" I calmed down.

"I heard you.."

"It's obvious you didn't."

"If you don't want this anymore and want to keep it strictly professional please, just tell me so. Stop stringing me along. It fucking hurts." My voice cracked.

"Where is all of this coming from?" She looked confused.

"That's your favorite thing to ask isn't it? You behave so blind." I rolled my eyes.

"Zidania, stop fucking with me." She pushed the bar stool back and got up.

"You need to stop fucking with me!!!" I shouted.

"I can't deal with this right now." She said.

"Apparently, you cant deal with it ever." Fatima said.

"Who the fuck are you talking to?" Kwashie asked her.

"Obviously you, dawg." Fatima folded her arms over her chest.

"Kwashie, can you just leave." I shook my head.

"You're telling me to leave?" She looked shocked.

"I see how it is." She looked me up and down and then looked at Fatima.

"Naaaaaaaaaaaah." I dragged out.

"I see how it fucking is boy. Where were you earlier? Where did you go after your fitting?" I asked.

She clenched her jaws and tightened her grip on the jacket she had in her hand. She didn't answer, she just stared at me.

"You think you're all high and mighty but you're not. Don't come back here unless you're ready to explain what the fuck is going on." I stared back at her.

She didn't try to explain or anything, she spun on her heels and left without another word nor look. I slumped my shoulders and looked at Fatima who looked ready to tear some ass up.

"She ain't shit." Fatima said.

"I wholeheartedly agree." I took up my outed joint and relit it taking a drag. I blew the smoke out and it seemed to have made an outline of her where she just stood.

"You still want a relationship?" I asked her.

"Hell yeah!!" She laughed.