Chapter 10 #2
I wonder where she’s going tonight. If I wasn’t in such a shitty mood, I might’ve joined her. My momma is fine as hell—she’s probably meeting somebody’s rich-ass daddy.
I’m not surprised.
“Thanks, baby, tell me something I don’t know,” she says, flipping her hair. “Damn, I hate to waste a good damn outfit.”
My momma is a goddamn trip.
“Then don’t waste it. I’ll be here when you get back.”
She studies my face for a moment.
“It’s fine. I will cancel my plans. I want to spend some time with my baby. How come yo ass didn’t call me to tell me you were coming by?”
She folds her arms.
“Because I wanted to surprise you.”
We finally walked into the house. Now this feels like home. It smells like apples and cinnamon. I took a seat on the sofa. My momma sat right next to me. I laid my head on her shoulders, and she ran her hands through my scalp. My hair badly needed a wash.
“Rhyan,” she says. “You know I don’t like surprises.”
“I know,” I say with a grin. “That’s exactly why I did it.”
My momma popped me on my ass.
“Rhyan, I will still whip yo ass. I thought you would have been by here a few days ago. Momma bragged about yo ass coming by to see her with Bianca. I just knew a visit or a phone call would be coming soon.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“I ain’t got shit.”
I sigh quietly.
“Ma…”
“I know you haven’t been so busy that you haven’t at least thought about calling me. I talked to your ass every day while you were in Dallas.”
She leans closer.
“So, what’s been going on?”
Her eyes narrow.
“Your ass is back playing the wifey role again?”
I knew my momma was going to let me have it. I won’t say she doesn’t like Chauncey, but she disagrees with the shit he has going on. She doesn’t like the way he treats me. My momma told me never to come second-hand to any bitch.
“There has been a lot going on.”
“What else is new?” She shrugs. “Despite that, how are you?”
“I’m existing.”
She frowns.
“Why?”
“I just am.”
She sighs.
“The streets have been talking. I have been hearing a few things about you and Chauncey.”
My momma is bougie as hell, but her ears are always to the street.
“I’m not surprised,” I mutter.
“Have you eaten?”
She studies me again.
“Nope, I don’t have an appetite.”
I wanted to eat something good tonight, but Whitley ruined it.
“Why not?”
“I’m dealing with a lot right now,” I say quietly. “Some of it I’m not ready to talk about.” My momma rolls her eyes. I know my momma wants the tea, but I’m not in the mood to drop any tea because I know how she is. My momma is real. She won’t sugarcoat shit for me, no matter how I’m feeling.
“Do me a favor.”
“What do you want me to do, Ma?”
I squint at her.
“I’m going to run you a nice, hot bath.”
“Ma, are you saying I stink?”
“Hey, those are your words, not mine.”
She pats my knee.
“A hot bath always soothes and relaxes me. I’m sure you could use a soak.”
Then she starts examining me as if I’m a project.
“Rhyan, you need to wash your hair because it’s dirty, and you know it. What’s going on with your skin? Your face is oilier than usual.”
I groan.
“Ma, chill.”
“I’m going to give you a facial,” she continues. “What have you been doing this past week?”
My momma is big on self-care, facials, and massages.
She grabs my hands and turns them over. I know I need a fill-in, damn it.
“Rhyan, you need a manicure. Your cuticles are overdue for a trim.”
I try to pull my hands back.
“Ma, chill please.”
“I hope you haven’t been sitting at the hospital looking like a bum.”
“Ma!”
She laughs.
“Listen, you came home. I’m trying to figure out why you brought yo ass here instead of staying in that big-ass mansion of yours.”
“I don’t want to stay in that big-ass mansion. Before I left, I was living here,” I admit.
Before Dallas, this house was my sanctuary.
She nods slowly.
“Hmm, I won’t pry.”
Then she claps her hands.
“Since you’re here, I’m going to do me.”
She points at me.
“I’m going to feed your soul and nurture your body. First, you’re going to eat something, and after that I want yo ass to get to fucking talking.”
“Ma… Can I just relax?”
“You can, but only after we get down to business.”
I sigh.
“Okay.”
“What do you want to eat?” she asks. “Yo’ ass ain’t finna starve over here, stressing over Chauncey.”
“Ma…”
“You heard what I said?”
I smile weakly.
“It doesn’t matter; surprise me.”
“I will.”
Funny how life works.
Everything I said I needed earlier tonight—peace, self-care, a reset—is right here in this house. My momma owns Luxe Diamond, the most luxurious salon and spa in downtown Teflon Hills. Safe to say, she knows exactly what I need.
I head upstairs to my old room.
It has been a minute since I last slept here.
I jumped onto my bed. It feels good to do this after a week of reclining in a hospital chair. I badly need a massage to work out the extra kinks in my body.
Before I moved to Dallas, I stayed here for a few weeks while I figured out my next move. I couldn’t stand being around Chauncey. I’m realizing now how much I missed this place. I usually do this once a week.
I peeked into my bathroom.
My momma already prepared the tub.
Rose petals.
Oatmeal soak.
Vanilla bath salts.
The scent of Dove vanilla body wash blended with eucalyptus bubble bath. I could get used to being treated like a princess again.
“Rhyan,” my momma calls from downstairs. “Your bath should be ready in a few minutes. Once you get settled in, I will come inside to wash your hair.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
I stripped naked, tossing my dirty clothes into the hamper.
I checked myself in the mirror several times to see if I looked like what my momma saw. I will be the first to admit I don’t look like myself. I’m stressed the fuck out and losing it.
I just want this nigga to wake up so I can get my shit together and get back to the old me. Chauncey is sleeping peacefully, and his bitches are willing to catch these hands just to make sure he stays asleep.
I’ve been confined in the hospital for way too long.
The shower in Chauncey’s room is not bad, but it’s not the best. I didn’t think I would be here this long, or I would have packed all my essentials.
I turned on one of my Apple Music playlists and cranked my iPhone all the way up. The only thing missing is a few candles lit, but I will take what I can get.
I’m in the mood for some old-school R it’s Dom Perignon.”
“I am.”
Trust me, she does not have to tell me twice.
“Rhyan, why are you so quiet? Talk to me.”
“No reason, Ma.”
“So, tell me what’s on your mind?”
Lately, I have been keeping a lot of shit to myself, but I have been keeping Bianca in the mix. I cannot wait to talk with my therapist tomorrow. I have so much shit I need to let out.
“What makes you think something is on my mind?”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Your face says it all.”
“Ma, I’m just enjoying the moment.”
She shakes her head slowly.
“Rhyan, I know you. I just cannot believe you decided to come back here and slip back into the old you.”
I’ve changed a lot over the past year. However, coming back home and scrapping with Chauncey’s hoes makes it feel like history is repeating itself. I left Teflon Hills because of this.
“Ma, that’s not why I came back.”
She leans closer.
“So, why did you come back?”
Her voice softens.
“Because I’ve been hearing things.”
I sigh.
“Ma, don’t believe everything you hear.”
“I don’t,” she says calmly. “But I would rather hear it from you.”
She pauses.
“I’m trying to understand how we got to this point again.”
I explained to my momma how I ended up coming back to Teflon Hills to see about Chauncey.
She didn’t even hesitate.
“Rhyan, you shouldn’t have come.”
Her voice was calm, but firm.
“I don’t give a fuck who called you. Lynn can look after her son. Better yet, let those hoes Chauncey is fucking do it.”
She shrugs.
“I’m heartless when it comes to these unfaithful ass niggas. Fuck him.”
I sigh.
“I’m really not a heartless ass bitch.”
“I know,” she says.
Then she pours herself another shot.
“You should start trying it.”
“Ma, chill.”
“If you say so,” she replies. “Rhyan, all I’m saying is I know you have a good heart, but I would have waited to come. I understand why Simmy called you, but he shouldn’t have. Unless Chauncey stopped breathing, he should not have called, disrupting your peace.”
“Ma, I didn’t want to come.”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
I shrug.
Simmy called me. I know it had to be something serious.”
My momma shakes her head. She does not give a fuck who called me; she didn’t want me getting back in the mix with these random-ass bitches.
“I don’t give a fuck who called you, Rhyan; don’t come.”
Her voice softens slightly.
“I mean it. I hate that Chauncey was shot, but I don’t want your peace disturbed.”
“True,” I mutter.
She leans closer. “Don’t ever do something you don’t want to do. You don’t owe anyone any loyalty.”
She pauses.
“Especially not Chauncey until he proves he deserves it.”
She crosses her arms.
“So, does Simmy have any idea who might have done this?”
Her eyes narrow. “The streets aren’t saying much, but they think it’s some niggas from out of town.”
“Simmy has not really told me anything,” I said.
Truthfully, I haven’t even asked. My only concern right now is that Chauncey wakes up so I can get back to Dallas.
My momma nods slowly. “The less you know, the better.”
Then she gives me that look.
The one that signals she’s about to start digging.