“I told you that young girl was going to run circles around you,” Marilyn snickered. “Little Morgan Atkins.” She shook her head. “Who do the panties belong to?”

“Just some girl I see from time to time, Ma. Don’t make it a big deal,” Ahmeek answered.

“Oh, I know it isn’t a big deal. I know you better than you know yourself. You’re moping around here because Morgan done hurt your feelings, and you trying to be tough, act like you the man and you can just replace her. You can deal with ten women after her, and it won’t make you want her less, Ahmeek. I’ve seen you with her. She brings out my little boy. Not the man you became too fast. You laugh with her. You smile with her. You’re better for her. Don’t run around tangling yourself up in temporary flings thinking it’s going to replace somebody that made you think about forever.”

“Mo ain’t forever, Ma. She won’t let it be that. What I’m supposed to do? Sit back and wait?” Ahmeek asked.

“She’s a baby, Ahmeek. She’s not where you are mentally,” Marilyn said.

“She’s engaged,” Ahmeek answered.

“And she’s not ready for whoever she’s engaged to or to be what you’re ready for her to be,” Marilyn said. “She hasn’t lived. If you love her, you have to let her learn to use her wings. You might have to watch her love another. Might have to watch her lose another. Maybe she’ll contact you every now and then, maybe she won’t. You got to give that baby time to grow. If what I felt between the two of you is as potent as it seemed, she’ll come back to you one day. You can’t rush her transformation, son. Every man who has ever tried to do that to any woman has been left disappointed.”

Ahmeek was silent as he processed his mother’s words. Maybe it wasn’t their time. Perhaps time had to pass for them to catch each other at the exact moment when serendipity would cut them a break. That was hard on a man like Ahmeek, who was used to having what he wanted, when he wanted. He couldn’t guarantee he would wait. In fact, he was sure he wouldn’t. His pride wouldn’t let him, but his heart wouldn’t soon forget little Morgan. Loving her would be a nostalgia he craved for a while. Some women were simply irreplaceable.

14