Chapter 27 #2
“Judge Bitch,” Giselle says, then raises her glass of celebratory champagne. I agreed to only one glass because I’m picking Niya up from school this afternoon. Quintus and Shuga have a scheduled meeting with Asali and his lawyer at four. “To the Honorable Mireya Coleman.”
“Coleman-Bako,” Kyrah adds before we toast.
“Thank you,” I gush.
Giselle catches the eye of our server and she nods. When she walks off the main floor, I take one final bite of my delicious steak and shrimp scampi. If I eat anymore, I’ll need a nap. Alex finishes her steak while Kyrah and Giselle focus on their champagne.
Our delightful server arrives at our table with a beautifully decorated cake, small plates, forks, and a helper. The male server is holding a gift bag. After placing the cake on the table and the bag in the empty chair beside me, they gather our food to box it up to go.
“One check,” Alex tries to discreetly tell our server before she walks off but we all hear her. When she realizes we heard her, she says sternly. “No objections from anyone. This is all me.”
There’s no objection because we all do the same thing. We always have each other in everything. So we don’t say a word when she slides the server her card. I definitely don’t because my eyes are admiring the vanilla cake with the scales of justice on the front side and a gavel on top.
“Seriously,” I gush with a simper. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”
“It’s just a small token to let you know how proud we are of you,” Giselle says. “And so is this. We all agreed on it.”
Giselle grabs the gift bag and places it on the table. I remove the beautiful box inside then open it. Tears of pure appreciation and joy fill my eyes as I stare at the diamond and amethyst four-leaf clover brooch. It’s whimsical, elegant, and just breathtaking.
“For good luck and four more successful years on the bench,” Kyrah says.
“And for kicking Richardson’s slimy ass,” Alex adds.
“All of that,” Giselle says and I smile.
“Thank y’all so much, not just for this, but everything. Always being here for me, supporting me in every endeavor, and just loving me,” I tell them.
“We love you forever,” Giselle says.
Our server returns with our to-go bags, Alex’s card, and the bill.
Since we are all full, I ask the server if she can cut the cake and box a piece up for each of them and the rest for me.
She agrees, and when she returns with the boxes of cake, we all embrace and walk out to valet for our respective rides.
Since it’s already after one, I drive to Niya’s school in Diamond Falls.
I’m a little early, so I park and walk to the front desk to check her out.
We can beat the traffic from the car rider pickup line starting to form.
Because I have already been added to her approved list, the process is fairly easy.
I present my ID and wait. To my surprise, Niya isn’t accompanied by an aide.
Her actual teacher, Miss Malessa, escorts Niya to the waiting area.
I immediately notice Niya’s droopy eyes and frown. She never has either.
“What’s wrong?” flies from my lips at the sight of her.
“We had a little incident today during afternoon snack,” Miss Malessa says. “Another student said something inappropriate.”
“What other student?” I inquire.
“Mrs. Bako, I can’t divulge that but just know I’ve handled the issue.”
Niya’s face is lacking any proof that the situation is handled at all. Her normal infectious sparkle is missing. She looks devastated and that is breaking my heart and causing my damn blood to boil.
“Unfortunately, Miss Malessa, I’m going to need more of an explanation than that.
Niya never looks like this and it’s very concerning,” I say as calmly as my blooming anger allows.
When Niya breaks free from her teacher’s hand and grabs mine, my need to know what’s wrong with my baby amplifies.
“So what exactly was the incident and how exactly was it handled? You can keep the name to yourself because I’ll find that out from her but I’m not leaving here until I have every single detail. ”
“Okay,” she utters, then steps closer. Whispering so only I can hear, she begins.
“Well, each month we have a kinder mom host Muffins with Mom. A different mother volunteers and brings muffins for kindergarten and pre-k. It’s the first Friday of each month, so today.
At snack time, one of the kids was insensitive and told Niya she didn’t have a mom. ”
Shit.
“Miss Sharon overheard and pulled them apart.”
My hand caresses Niya’s back as she speaks and my heart breaks for her. Children can be so damn cruel, I swear.
“When is the next one?” I ask.
“We have a volunteer for December but no one on the calendar for January,” she says.
“I’ll do January,” I tell her.
“Oh, okay. It’ll be the fifteenth due to winter break,” she says.
“That’s fine,” I say because that’s after my swearing in ceremony. “Do I just need to bring muffins? And what time?”
“We do it at ten that Friday. Some moms bring milk but you don’t have to.”
“I’ll definitely bring milk. How many?” I ask.
“Four teachers, thirty-eight students,” she says and I immediately think, minus one.
The little heathen who hurt my Niya’s feelings isn’t getting a muffin from me.
“And you, of course. So, forty-three. It’s a huge undertaking, which is why we take volunteers.”
“It’s worth it for her. January fifteenth at ten,” I confirm.
“Yes. Thank you so much,” she says, then she leans down to Niya. “Remember what I said. Don’t let this take your little happiness. Have a great weekend, recharge your battery pack, and come back Monday with a smile.” Niya merely nods.
As soon as Miss Malessa walks away, I look down at Niya. She blinks her doe-shaped eyes and the biggest teardrops fall. My heart skips several beats and I lean in closer and wipe her tears.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I say as I embrace her. She wraps her arms around my neck and my whole heart melts. After removing her book bag and tossing it over my shoulder, I lift her and gingerly caress her back. “You don’t have to cry. Mommie’s got you,” I tell her and her little hold gets tighter.
I carry her out to my Range and she doesn’t want to let me go.
As I continue to hold and comfort her, my thoughts run wild.
I promise, that little child who caused this really isn’t getting a damn muffin and don’t let me run into that momma either.
I’ll call in a favor and have her ass picked up for raising an insensitive child.
When she sniffles and lifts her head, I rub her back and ask, “Are you a little better?” She nods. “Good because I love you and you are my little angel. Don’t worry about what that little girl said.”
“He a boy, Jordan,” she utters.
“Then don’t worry about Jordan. He’s just being mean for no reason.
I love you and you are my little girl. God put me, you, and your daddy together and he gave me you,” I say and she nods.
“I told you I am your bonus mom and I meant that. You are my daughter and after Christmas, I’m bringing the biggest muffins I can find for Muffins with Mom and Jordan isn’t getting one,” I say and she blesses me with the biggest smile. “Okay?”
“Okay,” she says, still smiling. She wraps her arms around my neck again and we embrace.
Then I ease her onto the pavement to open the door.
Once she’s inside and comfortable in her travel seat, I place her book bag next to her then get in.
When I glance back at her, she’s still smiling and my heart warms. I did not give birth to her but she is mine in every way and I will fiercely protect her pure heart.
“Let’s pick up dinner and surprise your daddy. What do you want? You can pick,” I say and her face lights up. Because I already know her answer, I back out of the parking space and head to the Seafood Spot before she even answers.
“Legs. A lot of legs and some shrimps,” she says with a titter.