Maverick shook his head no to the statement.
“He ended up on probation for it, and when he couldn’t pay his fines, he was back in jail. Soon he got on that cocaine crack thing, and he started doing crime and going back and forth to jail. It’s a cycle. It’s like a big wheel crushing and turning over the poor and ignorant. So, yep the police are part of it.” Henry looked up at Maverick. “But it ain't just white cops like you. That’s the part they don’t mention on the television. Black men get the job and the badge, and they join the tribe. Do the same shit to their own people. So the police are no relief, or at least they weren’t in the seventies, eighties nineties. Hell, I don’t know what they are now. Too old and tired for the shenanigans.”
Maverick sighed. “Chokehold. It’s the procedure. I’ve done it.”
“You have?” Henry gasped.
Maverick nodded. “And other things I’m not proud of. I’ve been struggling with it. I never did it because of race. Or at least I didn’t think it was because of race. I had black cops, Latin cops, Asian cops, all in my squad doing the same thing. It was us versus them thing.”
“You talk to Delilah about this? How you feeling?”
He glanced up. “Who says I’m feeling any kind of way?”
“You feeling it because you have to come to terms with it. And you and I know why. Want me to spell it out for you?”
Maverick shrugged.
“You got a son. A black son. That skin color of his makes him a little different. And a little different is enough. Ain’t it? That us versus them mentality, some cops got it, and some cops don’t. You want to trust your kid to the chances black and brown kids take out there?”
Maverick shook his head no.
“It’s tougher with women, but with us men, we know how much tougher it can be. You carrying something huge around your neck. That’s why you here at six in the morning instead of back at the house. And that damn TV blasts so much crazy stuff about what’s happening in the world. You feel it. You are drawn to it like a moth the flame.” Henry pointed his fork at him. “Learn from me and my wife’s mistakes. If you want to raise a black child with his black woman, you need to open up about your feelings over what’s happening now and what happened in your past. Get it out. Be honest. Or it’ll do nothing but eat you up inside.”
“I agree,” Maverick said. His appetite was gone.
“Another thing. You need to get a job.”
Maverick chuckled. “I do?”
“If you staying, you need to get a job. That’s what real men do.” Henry got up from the table and went back into the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty-Six
TWO DAYS LATER
“I’m home,” Delilah announced.
Delilah nodded to the driver to bring in the rest of her luggage. Queen was out in the cottage with Goodiva taking care of her. Delilah couldn’t help but hurry home. She missed her boys terribly.
“Dee, welcome back baby,” her father said. He must have come from the kitchen.
“Hi,” she said and went up the stairs as fast as he could. She heard her father call her name but she had to ignore him. She needed her son in her arms and Maverick holding her. It was all she thought about since their last conversation.
Smiling she went straight to her son’s bedroom. His laughter was the best welcome. He was happy. He’d been happy since she brought his father back into his life.
“Surprise!” Delilah said as she opened the door.
Noah froze. He stood there with a toy in his hand and eyes stretched. Her mother was on the floor with him. She looked up and smiled for him. Noah dropped the toy and burst into tears. He ran straight for his mother.
“Awww, hi baby! I missed you too.” She picked up her wailing son and kissed him again. He hugged her neck tightly. “Mommy missed you so much. She’s back now. Aww, Noah, don’t cry sweetie.”
“Two days was too long for him,” her mother said. “Welcome back Dee.”
“Thank you,” Delilah said. She turned to leave to go to Maverick and her mother grabbed her arm. Delilah paused.
“Dee, sweetie, we should talk?”
“Later ma, I had a long flight.” Delilah snatched away. She carried her son to her room. Maverick must have been taking a nap. Otherwise she should have found him downstairs. He knew what time her flight was landing.
“Dee, wait!” her mother followed her into the hall.
Delilah went to her room ignoring her mothers pleas. She was ready to shut her and the rest of the world out if necessary. Noah had stopped crying. His head rested on her shoulder. When she opened the door smiling she was greeted by nothing. Her bed was made and the room was immaculate.
“Where’s Maverick?” Delilah mumbled.
Noah lifted his head and looked to the empty bed.
“Sweetie,” her mother said.
She turned and Delores stood there with a letter in her hand. “He left this morning. He left this for you.”
“Who left?” Delilah asked.
“He said he’d call you, soon.” Delores said.
“Left?” Delilah looked back to the bed and then her mother. The shock and horror of the statement was a double punch into her gut. She put Noah down. He immediately started crying again. Delilah heard and felt nothing. Everything became suspended. She accepted the letter and walked over to the bed. She sat on it and stared at it. Noah ran over and started wailing for her to put him on her lap. Her mother picked him up.
“Leave him alone mama. Leave us alone,” Delilah said. She tossed the letter to the bed. “Give him to me.”
“But... you want time alone to read the letter don’t you?” Her mother reasoned.
“How about mama makes us an afternoon snack. Zucchini chips in the air fryer?” Delilah said and tickled Noah. He nodded that he would love it. Delilah laughed. She walked out of the room with her mother left in silence.
“HEY?”
Delilah looked up from the text messages on her phone to see Queen. She looked as tired as Delilah felt. “How is she?”
“Resting,” Queen said.
“Should I go see her now?” Delilah asked.
“No. Let her sleep. She’s been through so much. I think some time alone will help her.” Queen said.
“Oh? Okay,” Delilah said and went back to reading her phone.
“So? How was it? You and Maverick shaking the rooftop? Where is he? With Noah?”
“Gone,” Delilah said.
“Where? What’s open, this time of night?” Queen asked.
Delilah picked up her glass and sipped her wine. “How late is it?”
Queen checked her watch. “Eleven-twenty.”
“Not sure what’s open in New York at eleven-twenty,” Delilah mumbled.
“New... huh? New York?”
Delilah glanced over to the envelope she brought downstairs. She picked it up and handed it to Queen. It only said her name on the front of it. Nothing else. The man she loved had walked out of her life. Abandoned her son. He had left and not even bothered to call.
“What is going on?”
“I told you. He’s gone.” Delilah got up. The wine made her head swim. She walked over to the cabinet. She needed another bottle of Malbec. She returned to find Queen staring at her. She brought another merlot glass for her friend and placed it on the table.