After we ate we was watching a movie.

Morgan laid on my chest asleep, Mama was on the recliner chair, and everyone else made a pallet on the floor.

It was gettin late so we all decided just to stay the night.

Half way into the movie the doorbell rung.

"Mama you expecting someone." I asked.

"No baby, could you go and check it for me?"

"Yes ma'am."

I carefully slid from under Morgan and made sure she wasn't laying directly on her stomach.

Now that her stomach is starting to get a little pudge I don't want her sleeping too much on her stomach.

I opened the door and sighed.

(If you don't remember her she's in chapter: The Cookout)

"Man what ya come ova here fa? Ta start some more shit?" I asked.

"Now Auggie-" Leah started but I cut her off.

"It's August."

"Well August. I was passing by on my way home and saw everyone's cars out front so I decided to stop by." She said and smiled as she walked in.

I locked the door and grabbed me and Morgan's shoes.

I wasn't about ta stay here fa this bullshit.

I walked into the living room and cut the lights on.

Everyone groaned at the bright light.

"Uncle Augggg.." The girls said rubbing their eyes.

"Boy have you lost ya damn mind? What you cutting my lights on fa?" My mama asked.

Aunt Leah walked in from behind me and everyone sighed.

"Leah what are you doing here?" My mama asked.

I walked over to Morgan slightly shook her awake.

"I was passing by on my way home and saw everyone's cars out front so I decided to stop by and see what was going on." Leah said.

"So you was being nosey?" Cha said rolling her eyes. "Come on girls let's go to the guest room and go to sleep." Cha said as they picked up their covers and went down the hall.

I got Morgan up and started helping her put on her shoes.

"Leah I already told you from your last visit you aren't welcomed back ta my house." My mama said.

"Well excuse me for trying to have a relationship with my family."

"Leah you got 5 seconds ta get outta my house or I'll help you out." My mama said walking her ta the door.

"What? Is it because August's little hoe is here?"

"Excuse me?" Morgan said snapping her head in Leah's direction.

"Mhmm we all know you're here for August's money. The darkness always comes to the light.. August you might wanna tell your little girlfriend to start getting into the gym she's gaining a little weight I see."

"Aye chill out. I'm not finna let ya sit her and disrespect tha mother of my child." I said with base in my voice.

"Oh wowww." Leah said chuckling. "So you let her trap you? I'm not surprised, hoes are only good for collecting money."

Next thing I saw was my mama hit Leah with a left hook.

"Now I don' told yo ass you had 5 seconds ta leave my house then you disrespected my daughter in law and my grand baby. LEAVE!"

Leah got up off tha floor holding her jaw and ran out ta her car.

Mama slammed the door behind her.

I looked back at Morgan to see her eyes watering.

Ughhh my emotions have been all over the place. It's like every little thing hurts my feelings.

"Baybeh why ya crying love?" August spoke softly as he bent down in front of me.

"I'm sorry... it's just I've noticed I've been gaining weight from the baby.. and when she said that it just hurt my feelings." I said in full tears now.

August sighed and rubbed my back.

"Baybeh ya not fat ok? You are beautiful and pregnancy is a beautiful thang." He said kissing my forehead.

I nodded.

"Thank you too Mama Shelia."

"You don't gotta thank me baby. I been waiting to do that since we was kids."

We all laughed.

"Mama we gon head out. I don't want Morgan sleeping on this hard couch and all the guest rooms are full." August said helping me up.

"Alright baby y'all be safe and call me when y'all make it home." Mama Shelia said hugging us.

"Alright ma."

"I love y'all." She said standing at the front door.

"We love you too."

August grabbed my hand as we walked out to the car. He opened my door for me and jogged around to his side to get in.

Once we got home we went straight to the bedroom.

I showed first so I was just waiting on August so we could go to sleep together.

He walked out the bathroom, cut off the lights, and climbed in behind me.

"Babe you called mama and let her know we made it?" I asked.

"Yea." He said.

"Ok. Goodnight, I love you."

"I love ya too."

"Forever and Always?"

"Forever and Always baybeh."

Next Day

It was about 2 in the afternoon when I got an email from Elizabeth Taylor.

I clicked on the email and it read:

Hello Morgan. I know our last conversation didn't go so well but I want to make things right. I hope that you see it in your heart to forgive me and if it's ok, I want to meet for lunch at 3:30 at the restaurant across from the art museum downtown.

After I thought about it I decided to go. I needed this closure to move on.

I knew it was going to be traffic around this time so I decided to throw something on quickly and get into the car.

I had T open the gates to the driveway and told him where I was going.

August was at sound check for a surprise performance he's putting on tonight. Tickets are first come first serve.

Once I arrived it was 3:25 already so I walked in and asked for Elizabeth.

The waiter took me over to a private corner where I saw my mother.

"Hello Elizabeth."

"Hello Morgan."

"So what did you call me here to talk about?"

"I wanted to start off by saying I'm sorry. For everything. I should've been a better mother. I only let him do those things to you because he said he would kill me if I didn't. It was selfish of me and I should've always put you before me. I hope you forgive me and I've prayed every night that God forgives me as well. I know that you will an amazing mother. Better than I ever was." She said crying.

"Wait. How did you know I was pregnant?"

"Baby you're my daughter. I've known you longer than you've known yourself." She said with a chuckle. "I noticed the glowing skin and shiny hair also."

"Wow. Umm.. mom... I forgive you." I said nervously.

She come around the table and just hugged me as she cried.

"Mama stop crying people are staring." I said giggling.

"Mama's sorry. I'm just so happy." She said wiping her tears.

Throughout the whole lunch we laughed and caught each other up on everything that we missed over the years.

"Morgan before we leave I want to tell you.. umm I want you to get in contact with your real father."

"Ok..... what's his name?"

"Marcus Taylor."

"Wait. I'm confused. You and my real father have the same last names?" I asked.

"As crazy as it sounds, yes. That's how we met. We were in high school and whenever they put us in alphabetical order we were always together. One thing led to another, we dated, and years later we had you."

"So who's last name do I have on my birth certificate?"

"Your fathers. Even though we have the same last name."

We talked a little more then exchanged numbers.

It felt good to have my mother back in my life.

👀😘