Trailer Park Princess

by Steele, Delia

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Three days after Ashley’s story I get my chance. Zac comes in alone sits down in a booth. I take his order but I hold all niceness in. When I deliver the food he blurts out “Talked to Toby, he doesn’t care about that little shit of yours.” I go stiff did he just call Saige a little shit? OH HELL NO “Watch your mouth Zac, this may be my job but so help me I will put your ass out of here in a heartbeat.” I slam the silverware down on the table. “You know I meant what I told you the other night, I want to do for you what I do for Ashley. She loves me you know. I bet I could get her to agree to doing it together, she likes to make me happy and I know you two are friends now.” I roll my eyes at him “Don’t talk about her either, you’re walking on thin ice here.” He smiles. “Can I get some hot sauce for my fries?” I go get it and when I make my way back he has this evil smirk on the corner of his lips, he looks like a shark. “Your next night shift, I’m going to fuck you like your little punk ass man can’t” he whispers at me. “Piss me off and refuse me what I want and I will take it from someone you love most.” That’s it, I lose it. I snatch the fork off the table and slam it down hard between his legs. He jumps just in time for me to miss and catch nothing but jeans “You crazy bitch!” I go after him over the booth with wild terror in my eyes. “If you ever make another comment about fucking me or Ashley I will beat your brains out of you mother fucker, but if you ever say anything, about raping my child. I will end your sorry ass.” I scream with all the power in my body. I have every intention on killing him right now. But I don’t get the chance. Rome walked in and heard the last part of my rant. No one dares walk between them. Rome grabs Zac by the neck and drags him out the door. I hear the ding and smile. I think that’s when the Raiz’s called the cops because Rome gets about 2 good minutes before they pull up. I seen him slam Zac down and his head cracked when it hit the ground. I saw Rome power drive his fist into Zac’s face over and over before the cops drug them apart. Both were placed in a car but after the story was told and everyone heard him say the crap about Saige they let Rome out, as far as the cops knew Saige was his and he was protecting his daughter. They drove off with a pissed off Zac cuffed in the back. “That was interesting” Rome says as he walks up to me and drops a kiss to the top of my head. “I think you need to get home. Let Ashley know what happened.” I head toward the back to cash out and head home.

  I replay the whole story to Ashley and then call Mando to fill her in. “Hey girl I just wanted to tell you what happened today at work before your rents call you.” I hear her huff out like I am wasting her time “Are you too busy to hear what I have to say?” I snap. “No sorry I just thought you would tell me Clay was talking about me or something.” I grit my teeth and roll my eyes. “Mando can you be serious please this is serious, Zac went to jail. I attacked him and Rome beat his eyes into his head.” She gasp and I hear her choke “Holy cow Rory, I’m so sorry I was like that at first, let me grab a towel to clean up this soda, I have to learn to not drink when you’re on the phone.” She blurts out in a run on sentence. “Ok spill” so I fill her in and tell her everything I told Ashley omitting info on Ashley story, it’s not mine to tell. ‘SHITBALLZ RORY I FEEL LIKE SUCH A SCAB NOW.” I laugh and tell her to not worry about it “Seriously Mando the whole time I was watching them I was thinking about freaking mouse sperm.” “WHAT!” she squeals “you know when I get nervous how I am, well all I kept thinking it how weird it is that mouse sperm is longer than elephant sperm, weird I know but I can’t help where my mind goes.” We all three burst out laughing, Ashley throwing in “You left that part out in my story.” The door opens and we expect Rome but Clays walks in smiling “Oh Mando, Captain Man Meat just walked in.” Clay rolls his eyes and smiles “She told you about that?” I move my head up and down and burst out laughing. “Yea she told me your” nodding downward “bout poked her eyes out.” We all start laughing and Rome walks in. We fill him in and say good bye’s to Mando. “Call me later, Captain Monster meat.” She hollers over the phone. “I thought it was man meat?” she laughs “Nah it’s bigger than any mans I’ve ever seen it’s more like a MONSTER RAWR” she growls and hangs up leaving us all doubled over laughing. “I miss her.” I tell them and Clay gives a sad smile “Me too.”

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Spring is in full bloom, the air is fresh and the burst of color everywhere is wonderful. It lifts your spirits, its nature’s euphoric caress and it devours me. My body craves it after a long cold winter. It’s perfect, almost. No matter how hard I try to ignore gossip sometimes it’s impossible. Today a group of girls at a table were carrying on and on about the big shot quarter back coming home after all these years. I knew instantly who they were talking about and it affected me in a way I couldn’t understand. Why would Toby come back after all these years? I haven’t talked to him not once since that night. He has not called me to see or ask about Saige. I know his family is here but come on it’s been four years, why now? And more so why am I freaking out? I set their plates down and retreated to the employee bathroom in the back. A cold sweat covered my entire body, a deep haze settled on my mind and I could not shake the dread I felt. I knew he was planning to come back for the summer, before heading off to his hot shot career, it was big news around here he was picked up by Atlanta. It’s all anyone had talked about for months now. I doubt he comes in but you never know. The Diner is the biggest hang out spot in town for people our age. I get myself in check and finish out my shift. Luckily it was without anymore Toby gossip.

  “I don’t want to go to a check out, momma.” Saige could whine like a professional, I blame it fully on Rome for giving into her every wish. “Tough toodles little noodle.” I say making sure her shirt was on straight. “I just need to grab my check and take you to your CHECK UP not CHECK OUT. Besides there are no shots, this time baby girl, it’s just for results and records. It will be fine.” I assure her as we make our way out to the truck. Schools out for the coming summer, so I leave the boys with Thax , and head out. “Can I have a milkshake momma?” I smile at my child with all the love in my soul because she is the sweetest child ever “Sure baby, but we have to hurry.” It only takes a second for us to be pulling into the parking lot, pulling up beside the light pole I normally park besides and we run in. I hear the ding above the door and smile making my way to the back to grab my check. I don’t look around at the tables for my regulars. I don’t have time to be social today. Making my way into the back office I chat with Mr. Raiz for a second and Saige takes off towards the kitchen to get her a shake, it’s not a big deal she’s grown up here and everyone treats her as if it’s her diner. I finish my conversation and head towards the front, cramming my check in my purse without looking up as I pass the shake station I tell Saige “I’ll be at the counter, soon as your done come on we need to hurry.” Pushing through the swinging door that takes me into the lobby I stop dead in my tracks. My breathe catches and my hand flies up over my mouth to muffle the gasp, my eyes bulge out of their sockets, and I stand cemented to the ground. Toby is right in my face. God I forgot how handsome he was. The years apart have changed him and for the better no doubt. It’s taken the boy I use to know and made a man out of him. College workouts must be killer because he looks to be made of stone. He still doesn’t have anything on Rome, where Toby is lean and athletic Rome has always been built. I mean the man lifts car motors for a living not throwing a ball around. Blinking “what…why..how…” I feel like an idiot, 4 years will do that to you “What are you doing here?” I finally push out still frozen and staring. He turns towards the table and points I look over and see Clay and Ashley sitting there “I missed the milkshakes; they said it was safe it was your off day.” He sounds almost accusing; does he think this was planned? “It is I had to get my check.” Blinking again and finding my common sense I snap out of my funk. I wave over at my friends and Clay stands up. “Hey Rory” I smile at the ever sweet Clay “Hi Clay, lunch?” I ask, he shakes his head up and down
“Yep thought I would catch up.” He says pointing at Toby, giving me a look I interrupt as him conveying to me he was playing body guard which I assume was for Ashley’s sake. That girl is a glutton for punishment. The swinging door behind me pushes open and I here “umph, Momma I can’t get out.” OH MY GOD I forgot Saige was here, I look at Clay really fast and he sees the fear in my eyes. “It’s ok Rory, y’all get going.” He tries to pull Toby back “Just leave her alone dude, she’s going. We are all grown and no reason to rehash a break up over 4 years old.” Toby turns and I step to the side so Saige can come out. “Thank You momma, this thing is cold.” She grits her teeth making a fake freezing face, I giggle at that and Toby’s head snaps around. He jerks his arm out of Clay’s and walks back towards me “I miss that lau…” his head drops to where I am looking and he sees her. She turns slowly smiling at him, wraps both hands around her cup “HI” his eyes shoot back up me “Is she yours?” I nod my head once, he bends down to see her face and sticks out his hand “Hi little one, I’m Toby.” squinting his eyes he is checking her out in detail. “She has your eyes.” He isn’t talking to me just thinking out loud. I stand in place just waiting for my world to flip flop. Why is he talking to her, he has never once showed an interest, then again he has to put on a show and the diner is full of people. “My name is Saige.” His eyes snap up at me after that. He stands up and leans in close “You named her Saige? How could you, why would you do that?” his eyes moisten and I hold my position, afraid to snap the tension in the room. It’s humming with emotion. He looks back down at her “That’s beautiful name. And you are a very pretty little girl.” He is still being nice to her. All the while my mind is at def con 10, I am about to be in full blown freak out mode. “Thank You, my momma says I look just like my dad.” He rolls his eyes as he starts to look back down at her. “I don’t really see it kiddo, your daddy is a good bit different from I remember.” He gives her a smile but it’s smothered in sadness. “No my daddy is brown kind of like Aunt Mando, but momma says my dad is like me. She says we are two peas in a silly little pod. I don’t live in a pod, so she could be telling a story.” I have to laugh because she has never understood the saying and always correct me. Toby bends down again “I’m sure your mommy can tell great stories, she was good at that when I knew her.” He runs his hand through her pony tail and looks right in my eyes. ‘How old is she?” I blink “She will be 4 in a January.” I see the wheels clicking together. He leans in close so she can’t hear him “So there were others between me and Rome? I would have never pegged you for that kind of girl.” I stepped back with a gasp. Clays going around his arms again “That’s enough Toby. Don’t.” he shoots Clay a fuck you look. I may take some crap but I made myself a promise it would never been from Toby again. “Clay can you watch Saige? I need to talk to him” and I jab Toby in the chest hard, it isn’t lost on me he isn’t a bird chest boy now days. “Saige sit with Ashley and Clay and finish your milkshake, I will be right back.” She smiles completely clueless to her surroundings. I reach out and push him towards the door “Move your feet now.” I wasn’t asking. Obviously even though he had grown into his body he hadn’t grown a brain because as soon as I got nasty he obeyed. We can thank his crappy parents for that. He would likely never shake the submissive role when being screamed at. I didn’t care at this point; he had offended me and my child. The door shut behind us and we walked on the other side of my car so Saige couldn’t see. “You can act however you want to, but don’t you ever call me names and definitely not in front of her.” I throw my arm towards the building. “I loved that child enough for me and her dad since he couldn’t. I’ve never done wrong by anyone and I am not about to start. I never asked you for anything and I won’t, don’t worry about this altercation, things will remain the same.” My temper got the best of me and I shoved him hard “Why would you ask me for anything? I don’t owe you shit Aurora.” My whole name caught me off guard, he was never big on using it, hating when it was done to him. “You’re right you don’t owe me shit, but you owe her more than that. She is a smart and beautiful child, she’s amazing and you have missed it all this time.” I wipe the tears from my eyes. “How could you never even call me and ask how she was?” wiping the snot from my face I look up at him and he looks like he had sucked on a lemon “Why would I ask you how your kid is? If you think you meant that much, I am sorry you’re wrong. Do you even remember what you done to me?” I took a step back “My…my child? You mean ours” I point my fingers between our chests “I couldn’t make her on my own Toby, but I had her and loved her just fine.” I turn to leave throwing the last statement over my shoulder. “And for the record it, doesn’t matter now, I never cheated on you not once.” I open my truck door and wipe my face with a dirty work shirt lying in the floor board. I turn to go get Saige and go but Toby has tears pouring down his face “She’s not mine, she can’t be.” I roll my eyes “Yea she can and she is. Always has been. She was a good bit older before I moved on Toby, I know for a fact she is yours. Just look at her. She looks just like her dad.” I repeat back to him what she had said. I see his eyes dart to the window where she sat smiling at him through the glass. When she caught us looking she waved. That was his breaking point. He started sobbing uncontrollably. “How could you not tell me? Why wouldn’t you want me to be here with her? I could’ve loved.. No I can love her Rory I can love her so much. I do love her.” He was shaking and I of course look like a dang idiot again just staring at him. He turned away and then back and screamed at me at the top of his lungs making me jump “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME!” it stunned me but as he moved towards me with his hands in fist, I started talking and fast “I tried Toby you changed your number, I went to your house when I found out and told your mom. She wouldn’t give me your number. She said she would inform you. I assumed you never cared. My number is still the same.” Now he is wiping his eyes on the bottom of his t-shirt “My parents know?” I sigh “Yes they know, they even send her checks each month, but I always return them. I don’t need them; Rome makes sure we are taking care of.” I notice the twitch he gets when he hears Rome’s name but I don’t care he deserves his recognition. “What’s her whole name? Her birthday you said is January?” I smile because he actually wants to know. “Yes she will be 4 in January and her name is Tobi-Saige West. Tobi with an I.” with rapid blinks a few more fat tears slide down his face. “She has my last name? How could I not know that?” I turn to my truck and turn the key, motion for Clay to bring her out. “I want to talk but she has an appointment so we need to go, we are already late. Call me tonight, same number. Do you still have it? We can talk some more and I will fill you in, it’s obvious you never knew.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, we here the door ding and both look over “Yes I still have it, I could never delete it. I think I drunk dialed you a few times.” He laughed a little “Can I say bye to her?” I smile and nod “Of course, just don’t say anything yet. I want to explain it to her first.” He agreed and bent down. “Hi again!” they both smiled and my heart melted “I think I may see you again, it was very nice to meet you Saige.” He reached out and hugged her and she went willingly, she knew it was ok. I buckled her in and closed the door. “I will call you tonight Rory” he turned to walk off and I heard something that sounded like “I’m going to kill them.” He stood at the door of The Diner until I turned at the block and couldn’t see him anymore. How could they never tell him? Why would anyone ever do that, guilt and fear both set in. The life we all know is about to change forever. I can’t help but worry how Rome will react and if Toby tries to take her from me. It would’ve have been easier to have dealt with this years ago.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  (Toby )

  I walk back into The Diner and all but fall into the vinyl booth. I rub my hands up and down my face trying to comprehend what just happened. I woke up as one man and now I have an almost 4 year old daughter. WTF! I look through my hands at the faces staring back at me. They both have sad smiles on t
heir faces and their brows are pulled tight, like they are sitting through the calm before the storm. They don’t even realize I don’t have it in me right now. “Did you both know?” I asked them and by the instant reaction of them both dropping their heads I know they did. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? I mean I get it Clay we weren’t THAT close but Ashley? Seriously as much as we talked not once you thought to tell me?” I beg her to tell me as I watch her, a single tear falls down her cheek. “Toby our conversations were never like that and you can’t fault me for” she dips her head low and whispers “for not stopping mid pant to tell you about a kid, besides it wasn’t my secret to tell.” Before I had a chance to say anything else Clay piped in “That’s not really fair either Ashley, We all know Saige wasn’t a secret. Rory never lied to anyone she simply refused to talk about it. It was best for Saige because we know how his” he points towards me in a pissed kind of motion “parents would have reacted thinking his name was being dragged through the mud when he wasn’t here to defend himself. She did it for that child and for you, man. She never once did it for herself.” Slouching back in to seat I stared blankly straight ahead. I cannot believe my mother would do this, how could she? I know they try to protect me but a kid COME ON! “Toby don’t be mad..” I cut Ashley off by putting my hand up for her to stop. “Don’t Ashley just leave it alone, I need to time to think about this. I feel so I don’t know confused, maybe. I had a girl I don’t think I was ever really in love with her but I needed her, I loved her in my own way if that makes sense. And then the guy who ripped her from me is taking care of my daughter. How do I deal with that?” I asked but not really talking to either of them. “Man, I know Rome and he is a good man. They never messed around while she was with you. I am sure Rory will tell you all of this when y’all talk. But I want you to know we spend a lot of time with them. They are good people and those kids are taken care of. Saige wants for nothing and is surrounded by love.” I look over at Clay, roll my eyes “I don’t want my daughter in a fucking trailer park Clay, I am about to be a pro football player, I can’t have my child slumming it.” I sigh and push up grabbing my cup. “I have to go. I have to go deal with my parents. I can’t believe they would do this” as I turn barely audible Ashley says “Believe it, it’s not the first time.” She drops her head back down but not before I see the pain in her eyes. I can see something is hurting her so bad, it pulled at my soul to comfort her but I can’t sit here, I have to deal with my idiot parents.