If I have to (bwwm)

chapter 38

The car has stopped. My tears have dried. Yet I don't get out. My back is still pressed against the car's back seat. 

The driver hasn't moved either.  It's completely quiet. Even our breathing is done in sync.  I haven't opened my eyes. I'm not sure what to expect.

"Aren't you gonna ask me"? The voice broke the silence and said.

"I'm not sure I want to. " I replied truthfully.

If by some chance it isn't her then I have finally gone crazy. If it is her I just might have wish I did.

" Just open your eyes. Right now we don't have time to take this slow. " She said.

" seriously don't tell me what to do," I said raising my voice. My eyes are still closed.

"We don't have time for this, now open your eyes." She retorted

"No!" I said

"Morgan open your damn eyes!"

"No, I won't. " I refuse.

"Fuck it, give me your hand. "

Before I can protest she has my thumb press against something.  I hear the notification that my phone makes when it has been unlocked.  I nearly open my eyes just to grab my phone back.

"Now open them or I call your boyfriend. I can tell him about the Morgan you were before you started living a lie."

"What why you...Please don't " even with her harsh threat my eyes remain closed.

A moment goes by and she tries again.
"Morgan, please just look at me, please." She pleaded.

Slowly I open my eyes. I gasped and tears start to flow again.  "Emerson?"

"That's the name that my biological mother gave me.  My mama renamed me Masia." She said proudly.

"It.....it was you that day in the bakery. You asked me all those questions."

"Yes, it was."

"But Chloe and Miami and..."

"That will all be explained," she said.

"No, explain now. I want to know it all. Where you've been, what do you want with Chloe?" I demanded.

"Chloe is my girlfriend and business partner. She knows everything about me.  Everything." she said confidently.

"What happened to you that day?
You weren't there. Do you know what I had to do ?"  I asked

"I know and I'm sorry. When you left I didn't know what to do. I went home and buried mama. I rebuilt everything from the underground. It took a long time to get back our family legacy. Can we finish this in your place?"

"Um...Yeah. " I said as I try to control my anxiety.

Looking at Masia is mind-blowing.  It's been years since I saw her yet it doesn't feel like that. I've been staring at her ever since we've come into my house. "I've made us some tea" I announced.

"So why did you send those letters?"
I asked.

"I've written you letters ever since you left, it helped me cope. I recently decided to send you a few," she said innocently.

Masia and I talked for hours. We cried some more.  Retold stories. We both apologized for hurting each other. Over five years have gone by without her. Now suddenly she's back and has something in store.

"Listen, Morgan, I know that you and James are close but it won't work,"  Masia said calmly.

"Sia it's not even like that. Me and him are just friends" I lied.

"Well, I'm sure he definitely thinks of you as more than a friend." She said knowingly

"I know you, Morgan. I may not have been here but I know more than you can even imagine. Baby, he is not gonna be able to be with you. His family will never let you and I damn sure forbid it. He is why I'm here" Masia said.

"But, I love him" I admit. Letting my tears fall freely.

"I know you do honey, but it's best this way. Morgan in order for this to go smoothly I need you to understand.  James Gallo is the enemy. He can't be trusted.!" She said sternly.

"I TRUST HIM! He is not who you think he is." I defended.

"Little girl don't you raise your voice at me. I know exactly who he is. The things he's done. It's you that needs to be reminded of who you are."

"I know who I am!"  I responded

"No, you don't. You've spent the last five years living in a bubble. Those girls you thought were your friends kept you close for a reason.
To watch you,  it's better to watch the lioness while she sleeps than for her to wake up hungry and catch you as prey. "

"What if I don't?  What if I just ignore that you're back. Pretend like you are Emerson."

"You couldn't even if you tried. Loyalty is something you take pride in. No words you spit out of anger can change that." She said in a nonchalant tone.

I'm not used to arguing with someone who knows everything about me. So when Masia calls my bluff I become mute.

"You better suit up because your days of disowning our family legacy are over. I'm not like those little girls that You called your sister. I'm your family. "

"You need to go  grocery shopping ."
She said as she searched my kitchen.

Masia was honest in her letters she was coming back for me. And like a storm, she's gonna wreck everything in her path if she has to.