She walked through the door and threw her keys on the table. Hearing the TV, she walked in the living room and saw Monica watching Law and Order.
�I thought you didn�t like that show.�
Monica shrugged, �They finally got me. Besides, it comes on eight damn times a day. You can only hide from it so much.�
�How was work today?�
�Same old thing.� The week had gone by far too slow. The only thing that broke the monotony of it all was Derek�s visit the other day. �Another week, another commission check. Ca-ching.�
Monica laughed, �How many clothes did you talk men into buying that they didn�t need.�
�A repulsive amount.�
�It�s a good thing you don�t use those manipulative skills of yours for evil.�
She made a funny face at Monica before standing up, �I�ve been on my feet all day. I�m going to take a shower.�
She grabbed her purse and headed to her room.
Her cell phone rang as she was busy adjusting the temperature for her shower.
She didn�t recognize the number; or the 786 area code.
�Hello?�
�Maleeyah?�
�Who is this?�
�Its your dad.�
Her stomach dropped. She felt like the world had crumbled. Her breathing had rapidly become shallow and quick.
�What do you want?�
�I miss you Maleeyah.�
�You have a lot of nerve. How did you get my phone number?�
�I finally wore your mother down.�
Her mother? She was betrayed by her own mother. She knew Maleeyah didn�t want anything to do with him. How could she do that to her?
�So, you�re in Orlando? I never thought to check out the house. I had been assuming you were still in Atlanta.�
�Where are you?�
�I live in Miami now.�
�786 is Miami?�
�Yeah, second area code.�
She sat on the bed, her dizziness finally getting the better of her.
�So how have you been?�
�How have I been? You have a lot of fucking nerve. You don�t get to ask me that. After all this time.�
�Maleeyah, I made a mistake-�
A mistake? He called leaving a little girl without a father a mistake?
�No Bradley.� She sneered. �Missing your exit is a mistake. Pushing the wrong button is a mistake, dialing the wrong number is a mistake. You were a coward.�
�Do not don�t talk to me like that Maleeyah. I am your father.�
�Oh, what do you want? Some respect? I hope you don�t expect me to call you dad. Don�t call me again.�
She hung up the phone and quickly turned it off. She would deal with her mother later. She changed her clothes, turned off the water, grabbed her iPod and headed out.
�I�m going out for a run.�
�Its drizzling.�
�I don�t care.�
�You just ran this morning.�
�I know.�
Before she closed the door she heard Monica call out, �I never heard of anyone addicted to running.�
**
How could her mother do that to her? And on top of it all she didn�t even warn Maleeyah. Her mother didn�t care about how it would make her feel she was just concerned about herself.
Her father coming back into her life was something she never thought she would have to deal with. After her grandmother�s funeral she never thought her father would reach out to her so she began to tell people he was dead.
At the funeral he didn�t even acknowledge her. It was the first time he had seen her since he walked out on them when she was eight years old; eleven years later and he never even said hello to her. At the age of twenty, she was over the endless pining for daddy. And that day, his actions made her hate him more than she thought she could hate anyone.
She didn�t bother to tell her mother that she saw him. How could she? One could only imagine the pain and humiliation of having to admit your father didn�t love you. She was in constant tears, excruciating pain over the loss of her last living grandparent and he didn�t try to comfort her once.
After her grandmother was buried and the will was read at her grandmother�s house, her father left but not before saying goodbye and giving hugs to what seemed like everyone in the house but her.
She was jolted back to reality when bright lights blinded her. All she could do was try to shield herself from the blow of the car. Luckily, the car was able to swerve in enough time and avoid her.
�All you alright?� The man called out, �Watch where you�re going?�
Thought of her father already had her in tears but the fear of what almost happened sent her into hysterics. The car drove off and she saw a woman running near her,
�Are you ok?�
She nodded her head but she couldn�t talk, she was crying too hard.
�Honey, you just got a scare. Come on in the house. You�re soaked.� The rain had gotten worse throughout her run but it didn�t bother her.
She smiled at Nan and followed her inside. Once they were in the door Nan pulled her into a hug,
�There, there sweetie. Its ok, its ok. Its just a scare.�
She was hesitant at first but she wrapped her arms around Nan and cried.
**
Nan had given her a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants to change into. She walked towards the kitchen and stood there waiting on instructions from Nan.
�I made you some hot tea.�
�Thanks.� She mumbled.
�Here, have a seat.� She sat at the table and held the warm mug between her hands. She glanced up at Nan to see her smiling at her.
�You have a nice home.� She had never been inside of Nan�s house and it wasn�t at all what she thought it would be. She didn�t really know what she expected but she didn�t expect it to look quite so�homey. There were pictures of the kids around, a schedule of soccer games and plays from the kid�s schools. Who knew Nan was so domestic.
�Thank you.�
She held her head back down and stared into her tea. She didn�t really want to talk and she hoped Nan didn�t ask her. More than anything she just wanted to get out there. She was more than a little uncomfortable.
038 | No Ordinary Girl