Coming Home for Love

Chapter 5

“You want to tell me what that was about?” LaShay asked as she stormed into the kitchen.

I could tell she was pissed by the tone of her voice.

My hands were on the sink as I leaned forward to level out my breathing. I was close to hyperventilating, and I needed to get my shit together before I was out of a job.

What I did was highly unprofessional, and I wouldn’t be surprised if LaShay told me not to come back.

“Wynter.” LaShay moved closer. “Honey, are you okay?”

I took a couple of deep breaths and stood up straight. I had to tell her the truth and prayed she would understand and maybe have some sympathy for me.

I glanced around the kitchen, and everyone else was still working as if the world wasn’t going to crumble, but for them, it wasn’t.

“Is he still here?” I whispered like he would magically appear if I said his name.

I couldn’t believe Osiris was here in the restaurant I worked at, looking fine as ever. His beard had grown, and I wanted to soak it with my juices. The time had done him well.

“He is, but I apologized for your actions and told him you had to leave. What’s going on?”

I looked around the kitchen again to make sure no one was listening. Leaning in closer, I said, “Osiris Gray is Little O’s father.”

LaShay’s eyes widened. “What?” I nodded. She was silent for a moment, just staring at me. “I remember asking you where you got that name from, and you said it was a member of Wu-Tang.”

“It’s what Ol’ Dirty Bastard called himself sometimes.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the confused expression on her face.

There weren’t too many Osirises in the world that I knew of, so when she asked me why I chose that name, I told her a small lie. Wu-Tang was my favorite rap group, and I really did like the name.

“Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, little O looks just like his father. I don’t know how I never paid it any mind, and why would you hide it?”

“Because he doesn’t know.”

“Wynter.” She dragged the end of my name. “Why doesn’t he know?”

I gave her the cliff notes version of what happened between us since we were in the middle of the kitchen.

“I would have never imagined. I get it, though, so I’m not going to fire your ass.” She smirked. “But I will say you need to tell him and soon, because I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back. And this town is so damn small, you are bound to run into him again. How have you not run into his parents or his sister?” I shrugged. “He seemed concerned about you, too, when he asked if you were okay.”

My heart fluttered. He asked about me, but why? He left without a trace, so I didn’t think his concern was real. I just hoped whatever the reason he asked wasn’t held against the restaurant.

“I will tell him somehow. I just don’t know how or when.”

She pulled me into her arms. “Go home and figure it out. We have everything under control here. It’s almost closing time anyway.”

“Thank you,” I said as I stepped back. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Go.”

I turned to walk out of the kitchen.

“Wynter,” LaShay called behind me. I turned to face her. “He liked the food, by the way.” She winked.

I smiled and left to gather my things.

It was a good thing the workers’ parking lot was in the back because I would hate to have run into Osiris. I knew we needed to talk, and soon, but today wasn’t that day. I needed to get my mind together to have a much-needed conversation with him.

I drove to my parents’ house in silence, too deep in my thoughts. I wondered where Osiris had been all this time and what made him show up now. What happened to his sister that she couldn’t come? All types of thoughts ran through my head, but the main one that was constant was how I was going to tell him about our child. What if I didn’t see him again? Maybe he was just here to do the review, and he would go back to wherever he was for the last three years.

“Ugh.” I ran my hands down my face as I pulled into my parents’ driveway.

I took a few cleansing breaths before getting out of the car.

“Hello,” I called out when I walked into the house.

“Mommy.” Little O came running toward me.

I bent down and picked him up. “Hey, baby.” I kissed all over his cheeks.

We walked further into the house. My father must have been at work because he wasn’t sitting in his favorite recliner. My mother more than likely was in the kitchen, so that was where I headed.

I placed Osiris down, then walked over to my mom at the stove.

“Hey, Mommy.” I kissed her cheek.

“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

She stirred whatever was in the pot and turned toward me.

I sat down at the kitchen table and laid my head on my arms. My baby came over and laid his head on my lap. I smiled at him and rubbed his curly hair. I didn’t think he was ready for a haircut yet, so I let it grow out.

My mom came over and sat across from me. I looked up when she reached over and rubbed my arm. “Tell me what’s wrong. I felt your energy when you came.”

I peeked at Osiris, and he was all in my mouth with his nosy self.

“Go play with your tablet until it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay.” He didn’t waste any time running out of the kitchen.

I needed him occupied while I talked to my mom.

“So, you know Olivia was supposed to come today?” She nodded. “It wasn’t her that came.”

My mother sat up in her seat. She looked anxious to hear what I had to say next.

“I’m sure I know where this is going.”

“Yup. The father.” I paused for dramatic effect. “I saw him and hauled ass in the other direction.” I sank my body into the couch. “And Mommy, Little O looks just like him except the elder has waves.”

She laughed, but I didn’t find it funny at all.

After my mom composed herself, she reached across the table and grabbed my hand.

“Wynter, it’s time. I don’t know if or how you’ll see him again, but you have to tell him. He has every right to know, and Osiris needs to meet his father, not just see him in pictures. The only thing you can do is tell the truth and take it from there.”

“You’re right, and I promise you I will.”

She squeezed my hand, then got up to finish cooking. She knew if there was anything left for me to say, I would when I got ready to.

A few days later, little O and I were out doing some shopping at the outlet mall.

I was off from work, so I stayed home for a couple of days, afraid to go outside in case I ran into Osiris, but I was tired of hiding.

He and our son deserved the truth. I just hoped he wouldn’t be too upset and not want to be in little O’s life, but my baby would be okay regardless.

“Mommy, can we get ice cream?”

“Yes, as soon as”

“Hand over the bags, and your purse.”

I couldn’t see the person’s face, and his voice was muffled as if he wore a mask over his mouth.

My heart dropped to my feet, and the only thing I was concerned about was getting my baby and myself home unscathed.

Sweetwater Hills was typically a safe town, so the fact that I was getting robbed in the middle of the day had me terrified, but I couldn’t show it.

“Bitch, I said” He raised his voice and pressed something against my back. The seriousness of his tone made my pulse race. One false move and that could be the end of me and my son’s life. I tasted the saltiness of my tears as they streamed down my face. My stomach bubbled, and I prayed I didn’t have an accident, because I tended to get the nervous shits.

His sentence was cut off when someone punched him.

I wasn’t sure who it was because my back was turned as I tried to block Osiris’s view of what was happening behind me.

“Bitch ass out here trying to rob people. You fucked up trying to mess with this one.”

I froze at the sound of Osiris’s voice. Where did he even come from because I hadn’t seen him when we got to my truck.

“Mommy.” Osiris cried.

“Shh, it’s okay.” I hugged him close to my chest so he couldn’t see what was happening behind me. He was worried about the commotion he heard. My baby was scared, and it pissed me off. If I could have, I would have snuck a couple of punches in, but I didn’t want little O to see what was going on.

“Call nine-one-one,” Osiris yelled from behind me.

I hadn’t turned around, but I could tell by Osiris’s grunts that he and the guy were fighting.

I pulled out my phone and called for help. I peeked behind me to see what was going on, and Osiris was beating the crap out of the dude. Homeboy was struggling, trying to land a punch on Osiris. He removed his mask, but his face didn’t look familiar. More than likely, he didn’t live in town.

My heart rate sped up when Osiris pulled a gun out from somewhere.

“Please, don’t shoot him,” I pleaded. I didn’t care about the guy, but I didn’t want Osiris to get locked up, especially not right now.

“You lucky she saved you from getting ya dumb ass shot.” Osiris hit him with the butt of his gun, and the dude fell to the ground.

Osiris stood up with his nostrils flaring and breathing hard as hell. Sweat covered his forehead.

His brows furrowed, but his face softened when his gaze landed on me.

He tucked his gun away before he grabbed my face. “Wynter, are you okay?” He wiped my tears away as he stared at me.

“Um, yeah. Thank you so much.” I glanced down at the guy on the ground, and reality hit me. My baby and I could have really been hurt.

I threw myself at Osiris, and he caught me. “Thank you so much for saving our lives.”

He held me around the waist, and his cologne smelled so damn good.

I could feel his heart slowing down as he held me against his chest. A few seconds or so went by when he released me.

He stepped back. “Our?”

Shit. It was now or never.

My eyes were focused on a rock on the ground because I couldn’t look at Osiris. “Yeah, our,” I whispered.

He peered around me, and I heard the sharp intake of his breath when it hit him.

Our eyes met when I finally looked up. Osiris’s eyes looked between little O and me. Before he could say anything, little O recognized him.

“Daddy!” Little O squealed. He tried to get out of his seat, but I stopped him. I didn’t want Osiris to get overwhelmed.

Osiris blinked slowly. “What the fuck!” he whispered, but I heard him. “He’s my son?” The strain in his voice made my heart ache.

A lump formed in my throat. I wouldn’t lie to him, but my mouth felt like my lips were glued shut.