We Take this Man by Candice Dow, Daaimah S. Poole Read Free Book Online

that?”
    “A friend.”
    “You just going to let that girl just sit in the car?”
    “She cool. She know how to wait.”
    “You so wrong, Wade,” I said as I glanced back over at the car. Who was I to fight for the girl’s right, if she was dumb enough to let some man leave her in the car? We went into the house.
    “So what you want, Wade?” I asked. I knew he wanted something.
    “Baby girl, I need a favor. I need to borrow some money.”
    “Wade, I am not a bank. You’re not going to keep borrowing money from me.”
    “Please, I need to pay my car note. I only need six hundred,” he said, stepping in front of me and pleading with his hands together.
    “Six hundred dollars,” I said as I raised my eyebrow.
    “Yeah, I gave them a partial payment last month and I have to pay the rest and this month’s payment. I’m starting a job Monday. I promise I’m going to pay you back,” he begged as he knelt in front of me.
    “Get up, silly. I’m going to give it to you. But you’re going to give me all my money back altogether, not in pieces, Wade.”
    “I promise you can have my first paycheck.” I reluctantly took out my ATM card and gave him my PIN. He went to the ATM to take the money out. The damn bank that financed his car needs to be put out of business. He saw a commercial that said all he needed was one pay stub and a driver’s license and he could get the car. The next week he got fired. Now every month he’s running around to pay the damn car note. I wish he would stop quitting jobs and become a stable grown-ass man.
    After Wade left, I ordered a pizza and prepared to watch another episode of
That’s So Raven
. Both Jordan and Destiny knew every line by heart.
    “Mommy, can we call Daddy?” Jordan asked.
    I dialed his phone and got his voice mail. I said, “Daddy’s working. Let’s eat and then we will call him again later.”
    While they ate dinner and watched television, I was going to try to get some work done and put a load of clothes in the washer. As soon as I sat at my desk and turned on my computer, Jordan walked in and pouted. “I miss Daddy.”
    “Me, too! Can we call him again, Mommy?” Destiny said, running into the room and climbing onto my lap.
    “Bring the phone here and I’ll call him.” I dialed Dwight again. This time Dwight answered and Jordan screamed.
    “Where are you? Daddy, I miss you.”
    “Let me speak to him,” Destiny said, as she snatched the phone out of Jordan’s hands.
    “Daddy, when you come home?” Jordan pushed Destiny for taking the phone from her and made her fall. Destiny got back up and punched Jordan in her arm.
    “Stop it, girls. Give me the phone and go get ready for bed.”
    “What are y’all doing?” Dwight asked.
    “They’re watching television and I was trying to get work done. How are you? How is the job?”
    “Everything is going pretty good. I just wish y’all were here. I’m not used to coming home to an empty house.”
    I could tell in his voice that he was lonely. I pretended I didn’t hear what he said and changed the subject. “Dwight did you get all the pictures I sent you?”
    “Yeah, I got all one hundred sixty-two of them,” he said, laughing.
    “You know I’m dangerous with a digital camera. Well, I’m going to put the girls to bed, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    “You don’t want to talk to me.”
    “I have a lot of work to do. The girls really wanted to talk to you. I love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Before Dwight could say anything else I ended the call. Let him get homesick and bring his ass home.
    After I put the girls to sleep I walked through the house picking up toys and missing my husband. I wanted to call Dwight back. But I couldn’t give in to him. I had to be strong and he will come running home. I know he will. I sat on the sofa and sighed. I looked over at our family photo and smiled. It was of all of us dressed in black against a white background. We had the traditional stance—me