Zaria- Chapter Eight
When June told me Dio hadn’t heard from Samara, I wanted to scream I knew it.
That gut feeling was right. Even though I was worried about Samara, I was also concerned about Savior.
I was starting to feel like I was spread too thin, and the bit of sanity I had left was depleting. The truth was, I wasn’t okay.
Being a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, and a woman who was held in high regard wasn’t easy.
The word tired meant nothing to no one, not even myself, because despite what I was going through, I had kids who were depending on me to be strong.
There was no room for I can’t because if June wasn’t going to think rationally, I had to.
I stood at Savior’s bedside as he slept. My baby hadn’t even had the chance to flourish before something like cancer was trying to take him away. Savior hadn’t even turned one, and God wanted him to Himself just as He wanted his daddy.
When June came back into the room, he was holding Peace in his arms. I smiled at them weakly. June was so worn down that it was all in his face. The life that was handed to him, many thought, he handled with grace, but it was tearing him apart, and now this.
He stepped closer to me. “They’re all in the lobby. I told the nurse that Peace was here so they could run tests. How are you feeling?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m as good as I’m going to be. I need you to find Samara, June. I know that bitch has something to do with it. What if—”
He placed his finger to my lips, and Peace followed behind him. “She’s going to be okay. I can promise you that.”
His eyes said he hoped, but I knew he was going to do whatever he needed to make sure of it.
June was a strong man, not just physically but mentally, and for that, I loved him with my soul.
The only thing was that he sacrificed so much, I was afraid it would take him to his grave.
I didn’t want to bring it up, but seeing that my baby was lying in this bed, it was time to have the conversation we had been avoiding.
“You need to go see your grandmother. I saw the paper, the one you tried hiding in the Caprice.”
I had been expecting him to either show me or discuss it, but he hadn’t, and now we were at this point. Secrets weren’t an option when it involved our children, so I couldn’t understand why he’d try to hide it from me.
“She came to see me today. She’s waiting for you, and I believe this is the best moment to learn about your family’s history, June,” I told him.
I could see him swallow deeply. His lack of desire to have anything to do with them, I understood, but now those genes he carried from a family he knew nothing about were possibly affecting our child.
We couldn’t change what was to come if it were being passed down, but knowing we could at least get ahead of it for our son’s sake could help.
The Zaria he knew was gone. I was now in lioness mode, and saving my family was my only priority.
***
June didn’t leave the room after they poked at Peace’s arm to draw blood.
He waited impatiently alongside me as the time ticked for the results to come back.
Every other minute, he would pull his phone out and text Dio.
I knew they were planning something to find Samara, and as bad as I wanted to tell him to get the fuck gone, I knew he wouldn’t until he knew Savior would be fine.
The sound of tiny grunts, followed by his sweet whimper, signaled that Savior had awakened. June hopped up from the chair, rushing over to him.
“My silent killer, Daddy’s right here,” he said to him as he kissed his forehead. “I know you don’t understand me, but I need you to pull through. You’re strong like me,” he continued.
When my phone vibrated on the table, I picked it up to see an alert from my Ring camera. The moment I clicked on it, my blood boiled. “This bitch,” I muttered.
Samara’s mother was standing at my door. I quickly hit the mic. “What the fuck do you want?”
I could see that my voice startled her. “I’m here to speak with Zaria.”
“Where is Samara?” I asked.
I could see June slowly turn to look at me. Eyes back on my phone. She leaned in. “I was coming to ask you the same thing. I-I tried talking to her, but the last time I tried, she wouldn’t talk to me, so I figured—”
“Lady, get off my fucking porch!” I snapped. “You want to see me? Fine. 3231 Black Trail Way. Give me an hour.”
I closed out the app and looked at June, who wore a smirk.
“That was Samara’s mother. I’m going to meet with her. I don’t trust her, so whatever you and Dio are conjuring up needs to be done.”
He ran his hand over his head. “You know I like it when your ass steps into boss bitch mode.”
“That’s because you’re fucking crazy.”
He laughed. Oh, his laugh, his dimple, his smile. It was one that made me melt every time he did it. “You might be right. Am I wrong for it? That vegan puss—”
Dr. Carter stepped into the room just as we found a little calm. “Hello. Is that Peace?” she asked.
“Yes,” I smiled.
“He’s awake,” June jumped in while pointing at Savior. “He whined a little, but he seems okay.”
She flipped through her file. “Let me start off with the good news. Peace and Savior are cancer-free—” she paused, “—for now, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, especially if either of you has it in your history or—” she looked at June, “—was affected by it. I’m going to ask that you two continue to have them checked.
Now, as for Savior, he has an infection, and it’s taking a toll on him.
I want to keep him here for a few more days, give him the proper care so when you take him home, it will be all smiles and no worries. ”
June started to approach her. “What if I got my family’s history? Can you tell me if he or Peace would get it?”
She closed the folder. “None of us can be certain if it will happen, but what I can do is my best to take what you give me and prepare you both so we can get ahead of it. Cancer is sneaky; it’s just like life.
It comes at you so suddenly, but how you handle it when it arrives is what matters.
Mr. and Mrs. Calloway, get some rest. It’s something I often have to tell my husband because he’s much like you,” she said to June before walking out of the room.
Hearing her reassuring words gave me a sense of relief, and I was sure it took just a tad bit of weight off June’s shoulders.
All I knew was that cancer was bigger than some fucked up cells in the body.
It also came in human form, because people came in to destroy things like a wrecking ball, but against the Calloways they didn’t stand a chance.
It would always and forever be fuck cancer.