Mikah gulped and nodded her head. Though he died before she was born Tina and Tasha always told her the truth about him.

"He used to say that after he hit me, or after I caught him with other women, or after he forced me to have sex with him," Tina cried, "he would say I’m sorry I was high or I’m sorry I was drunk."

Mikah lifted her gaze in anger, "that’s not excuse for what he did to you!"

Tasha touched her arm gently, "that’s why we want you to stay away from that stuff Mikah."

"He didn’t overdose on purpose Mikah," Tina added, "he was so addicted to Meth that his normal dose wasn’t enough."

"Maybe that was for the better," Mikah scoffed.

"No Mikah, your father was a good man, it was the drugs that turned him into a monster," Tasha said.

"When I left him and started dating women he upped his Meth dosage," Tina said, "I blamed myself for his death until I found out I was pregnant with you."

"Then you stopped blaming yourself?" Mikah said.

"My life ceased to have importance when I found out about you Mikah," Tina said cupping Mikah’s chin gently, "all my worries went away and I stopped dating just to give you the love you deserved."

Mikah put her hand over Tina’s as it caressed her cheek, "mom I don’t want you to stop living because of me. I’m 16 years old, old enough to be more independent."

"How can you say that when your Aunt Tasha had to drag you out of a 21 and older club where you were drinking and smoking weed!" Tina cried tears filling her eyes.

"I’m sorry," Mikah said wiping her tears gently, "please mommy I’m sorry, I swear I will never do it again."

Tina sighed and kissed Mikah’s forehead, "I believe you but you broke my trust today, and you’re gonna have to earn it back."

Mikah nodded, "I’ll do anything."

"You’re grounded for a month and you are not to hang out with Samantha and Tanika anymore," Tina said.

Mikah nodded feverishly, "they weren’t my real friends anyways. But mom, will you start dating again?"

Tina sighed and sat back in her seat, "I don’t know Mikah."

"Mom," Mikah said grabbing Tina’s hand, "if I would have known that you weren’t dating women because of me I would have told you to do it sooner. I know you never brought anyone home but I always thought you met them when I was at school."

"I haven’t been with a woman in 16 years Mikah, I don’t know what to do anymore," Tina said.

"Well you know my wife will be happy to help you," Tasha said.

Mikah chuckled, "yeah Auntie Alice loves hooking people up."

"Yeah and remember the last girl she set Shane up with?" Tina said.

Tasha shuddered, "I was thinking she can take you to a gay bar not set you up."

Tina sighed, "I don’t know."

"Mom please," Mikah said, "I’m going off to college in 2 years and I want to make sure you’ll be happy and taken care of."

Tasha nodded encouragingly. Tina sighed deeply and said, "fine."

TBC??