Rushing into the restaurant, Ava saw Malaaka sitting at a table and several men watching her. Once she started dancing locally she acquired many fans. Her standoffish persona and reputation as a church chick made her very appealing, not to mention her tall, strong and curvy ebony body.
Glancing up, she smiled at her mom. Ava kissed her before plopping down in the chair.
“Mom breathe… and your shirt is inside out.”
Ava looked down and was horrified to discover her shirt was indeed on the wrong side. Leaping from the chair she rushed to the bathroom to change. Malaaka’s laughter trickled behind her. When she returned, Malaaka wagged her brows and Ava had to laugh.
“Don’t be cute. I’m sorry I’m a bit late.” Malaaka winked and they ordered food. For several minutes they talked about general things until Ava asked if she were okay.
“I am good mom. Something happened at the party that freed me.” Ava glanced up at her daughter.
“I confessed that I had an abortion.” Ava felt as if someone had dunked her head in a deep well full of water and was holding it there. After several moments she blinked and tears gushed forth. Malaaka swallowed down her own tears.
“How could you Malaaka?”
“How could I what mom, confess or have an abortion?”
“Either, it never occurred to me to kill you. I was nineteen and broke and alone. You are years older and earning more than I could ever imagine and you have me.”
The word kill ran a shiver of pain through Malaaka but it passed, painfully.
“I’m grateful mom but I wasn’t ready to be a mom or a wife. I made a bad and impulsive decision and God has forgiven me. I am not asking for forgiveness from you because it isn’t yours to forgive but I thought you should know. I asked God’s forgiveness and I know I am forgiven. I was wrong, as wrong as I have ever been or ever hope to be again.”
Sweat broke out on Ava’s forehead and she took several gulps of cold water. She felt an intense desire to grab Malaaka and whip her about the head, before kicking her to the floor. She couldn’t remember ever feeling such cold rage.
Closing her eyes she prayed that away. Malaaka watched her mom.
“I didn’t even know you were having sex…” Ava murmured.
“I wasn’t until recently but I am twenty five and I got pregnant. I made a decision.”
“A horrible one. I need some time.”
“It was horrible. I grant you that but is my sin greater?”
Pushing her chair back, Ava made her way from the table and stormed out the restaurant. A whoosh of air escaped Malaaka’s lungs. Closing her eyes, she said a small prayer of her own to center herself. As horrible as that was, she knew she needed to say it. Opening her eyes she saw a young man standing at her table.
“Ms. Malaaka, are you okay?”
He appeared to be about twenty and was very tall and handsome with milk chocolate skin and amazingly white teeth.
“How do you know me?” A startled laugh escaped his throat.
“Seriously? Your face is all over the town!” A small smile played around her lips.
“Oh yea, that. Who are you?”
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