4 days later
Mariah

"Sweetie you gotta' eat something." Joyce approached me with a plate of food

"I ate earlier." I said

Rio pursed his lips "Mariah"

"Rio" I mocked his tone

"That lil' pancake don't count." Kendra said, putting Hunter down for his nap "Eat."

I sucked my teeth and picked up my fork.

Everyone came and stayed with me and Skylar since Dorian's been gone. I appreciate them so much but I honestly want to be alone.

"Look mama." Skylar came and showed me her picture she colored

"What's that Skybear?" I picked her up

"You, me, Dada." She pointed out the stick figures on the paper

I felt my heart drop in my stomach as I sighed. "It's beautiful baby."

She smiled and kissed my cheek before climbing off my lap. I turned around and forked at my rice, feeling tears threatening to escape. I've been crying all week but I don't want to cry in front of Skylar. I have to stay strong for my baby.

I sat the fork down and quickly got up from the table. I rushed into the hall bathroom and locked the door, bursting into silent tears.

It's been a whole week now and there's still no sign of Dorian. The video footage Tim got had been tampered with, all the safe houses were empty, Smitty's connects couldn't find him, just no luck anywhere.

Maybe he doesn't want to be found...or maybe he's dead, or maybe-

"Mariah?" Kendra knocked on the door, snapping me out of my thoughts

I wiped my face "Just a second." Once I was cleaned up, I opened the door

"Come here." She embraced me tightly

"I feel so lost." I cried into her shoulder

"I know the feeling Ry." She said as she comforted me "We here for you."

"I just wish I could at least get some closure. I feel so empty." I talked through my tears

"Toughen up." I heard Joyce say

"Excuse you?" I turned to her

"You knew what you signed up for when you got with Dorian. Stop being all weak, you got a kid to raise." She leaned against the doorframe

Kendra's eyes got wide with disbelief "Uhm Ms. Joyce I don't think-"

Joyce interrupted her "He's my child and you don't see me crying. I lost his dad and I didn't cry because I knew what came with dating a dealer."

"Well I'm not you and you're not me." I said, walking closer to her

She scoffed "Clearly."

I took a deep breath to calm myself "Alright look, you gone have to get out my house. You doing entirely too much."

She rolled her eyes "And you not doing enough."

I sent a hard slap to her face "Bitch!"

Kendra got between us. "Rioo!" She called for backup because she's seen me fight before and knew she couldn't hold me by herself

"Woah, what's going on here?" Rio came around the corner with Skylar

"Yo' mama need to get out before she get her ass whooped." I was trying my hardest to contain myself in front of Skylar

"It's not my fault you're weak." She shrugged

I reached around Kendra, about to grab Joyce by her shirt but Rio quickly pulled his mama out the bathroom.

"Ok, ok. Mama listen you need to stop. Come on let's go." He walked her down the hall

"Give me my baby. I don't want Sky around that bitch!" I pushed pass Kendra

She grabbed my wrist "I'll get her. Please stay right here and calm down." She looked at me for reassurance

I rolled my eyes before nodding and agreeing to stay put.
I can't believe Joyce old ass would even try to come at me like that. Especially at a time like this.

"Here." Kendra returned with Skylar

I held Skylar and we walked out of the bathroom and back down the hall to the living room. I was greeted by Joyce, who had tears in her eyes.

"Mariah."

I sucked my teeth "Why you still here?"

"I wanna' apologize."

"Not accepted. Please leave my house." I sat on the couch with my baby

"I'm just so scared."

"I'm scared too. You don't see me picking fights." I picked up the remote, trying to find Skylar's favorite show

She sat beside me "Please"

I stopped and listened to her.

"Dorian's my child and I don't know how to cope with this. My emotions are everywhere  and I snapped...I swear I didn't mean it, I'm so  sorry" tears filled her eyes

I stayed quiet, mugging her. She should've just said that in the first place, instead of trying to start shit.

"Y'all need to stick together more than anything right now." Rio said "We all do."

"I guess that slap knocked some sense into you" I smirked, pulling her in for a hug "I forgive you. Just don't go acting crazy again."

She chuckled "I love you"

"I love you too."

"Awww. So sweet." Kendra smiled

We pulled away "Ok now I've worked up an appetite. I think I'll eat something." I said

We all headed back into the kitchen after that dramatic ass encounter, and Joyce warmed my food up.

"Mama, I thought Mariah was finna' send you to yo' maker." Rio poured himself a shot

"Shit, me too." She chuckled

As we all laughed, I got an alert on my ring camera so I checked it and Tim was at the front door. I used my phone to unlock it and he came in.

"Any word?" I immediately asked

"Yeah. Smitty got Dorian." He breathlessly said "But I don't know exactly where."

Bout time.

Y'all think they gone make it in time?

-Carlisha ❤️