15. The first bloom #2
He nodded thankfully and changed direction. They pulled up to his place twenty minutes later.
Two squad cars were already parked out front, lights off, but presence loud.
Spring’s stomach tightened. They stepped out together.
His mother was on the porch, arms crossed, voice sharp enough to cut glass as she spoke to an officer. “I don’t feel safe in my own house,” she was saying.
Preston stopped in front of them. “Ma.”
She turned, eyes blazing. “There you are.”
The officer glanced between them. “Sir, we got a call about a domestic disturbance.”
“There was no disturbance,” Preston said evenly. “I wasn’t even here, and I’m the only other person that lives here.”
The officer balked, “Sir, we want to check the property to make sure?—”
“Listen, officer, I —”
Talia laughed bitterly. “That’s the problem.” Spring stood just behind Preston, observing everything – the posture, the timing, the performance. Talia continued. “You don’t listen. None of you men listen.”
Preston could smell the tequila coming from her breath.
“This is my son,” his mother continued. “He disappears. Doesn’t answer his phone. Leaves me to manage everything alone.”
Preston clenched his jaw. “Ma.”
“You talk,” she snapped. “You never listen.”
Spring stepped forward slightly. “Officer,” she said calmly, “I was with him all afternoon. There was no incident.”
The officer nodded, already bored. “Ma’am, unless there’s a threat, we can’t?—”
“Fine,” Preston’s mother cut in. “Then get the hell off my property.”
“Ma!” Preston chastened.
He nodded to the officers. The officers exchanged a look and headed back to their cars.
Silence fell heavy as they walked into the house. “You didn’t have to come back,” Talia said coldly.
“Yes, I did,” Preston replied. “You don’t get to weaponize emergencies.”
She glanced at Spring like she’d just noticed her. “And you brought Delilah.”
Spring met her gaze evenly. “Spring.”
Recognition flickered. Brief. Sharp. “Yes,” his mother said. “Hello Nairobi.”
Preston exhaled slowly. “Where is Mack?” he said quietly.
Spring felt it, then – the gravity, the history, the weight he’d been carrying long before fame. She didn’t say anything. She just stayed. And she knew that, for Preston, that meant the world.
They walked into the hallway, Spring noticing him before he announced himself.
Macknificent leaned against the doorframe like the house belonged to him – one ankle crossed over the other, phone in hand, smile already warmed up for whoever was about to walk into it. Gold chain catching the porch light, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to suggest leisure instead of intent.
“P, you take care of them po-pos out there?”
“I did.”
“I can’t believe you’re taking his side in this!” Taila barked at her son in frustration.
Preston looked around at the broken plates and the cuts on Mack’s shirt and pants, while his mother was just as put together as she was before he’d left.
He looked at Mack and asked, “How long did it take for her to jump on you after I left?”
“Man, she was on my ass like white on rice five seconds after you closed the door. I told you not to instigate this morning.”
“You knew you had it coming last night, that’s why you stayed away.” Preston quipped.
“And I’m not done with yo’ ass either.” Talia chimed in as she walked into the kitchen and started pulling out food. She turned to Preston. “You want any eggs?”
“I’m good, Mom, thanks.”
“What about your little friend?” she asked, still refusing to look at Spring.
She cleared her throat. “We just ate, but thank you.”
“Mmm-hmm. Mack?”
“I’ll take mine without poison,” he quipped.
“Keep playing with me, Mack. I got grits in here too.”
“Eggs, damn it. And put some of that turkey bacon on the side,” Mack said as he used the rubbing alcohol to clean the cut on his arm.
He looked up and examined Spring. “Nairobi,” he greeted her as if they were old friends. “Been a long time.”
She nodded once. “Mack.”
“Looks like you done filled out in all the right places. Still breaking hearts and building careers?” he asked, eyes doing a slow, unnecessary sweep.
Preston leaned in. “Mack. You know my mom’s in the kitchen, where all the knives are, right?”
Mack chuckled. “I’m harmless. Just appreciating.”
Spring met his gaze fully now, calm and unblinking. “Appreciation usually doesn’t sound like commentary.”
Something flickered – quick, almost imperceptible – before his smile slid back into place.
“Fair enough,” he said. “My bad.” They stood there a moment too long before Mack pivoted, like he was changing subjects out of generosity instead of strategy.
“So,” he continued, “I heard y’all been going through Cameron’s things. ”
Spring’s spine went straight. She was about to ask when Mack continued, “Ralph told me. This morning, which is why I was late.”
“Go to hell, Mack,” Talia said as she finished an omelet and put it in front of him.
Preston glanced at Spring, who was taking it all in. She finally replied, “Yeah. Just sorting. Figuring out what needs to be handled. But why would my dad tell you?”
Mack nodded knowingly. “Ralph knows I try to look out for good people. Cameron had a lot going on before he dipped but, we were working on some stuff together.”
Spring turned slowly. “You were?”
Mack waved a hand. “Nothing major. Just conversations. You know how it goes.”
Preston frowned. “I didn’t know you two were still in touch like that.”
“Well, that’s because it’s my business, and not yours,” Mack said, shifting his weight. “Truth be told, we were exploring options about his latest album. Kinda why I wanted the two of you in the studio together, Superstar.”
Spring watched his micro-movements now. The way his fingers tightened around his phone, his eyes sliding away from Preston for half a second too long.
Cameron wouldn’t explore options without telling her, especially if Mack was involved.
Preston’s would-be surrogate father never sat well with her, but he had done well by Preston and she’d been talking to Cameron less these days. Another sign she’d been gone too long.
Mack finished eating the food in front of him and said, “Well, I’m gonna go take a shower. Get some of this blood off me. Talia, you want to help?”
His mother threw the fork she was holding and yelled, “Have whatever bitch you was laid up with help, you sorry motherfucker.”
Mack shrugged and got up. “Alright, now. You gone be beggin’ for this thang later,”
“Kiss my ass,” she barked.
Mack turned towards Spring and Preston. “It was good to see you again, Nairobi. Superstar, I’ll see you later on.”
And with that he was gone.
Preston, unbothered, looked at Spring and said, “So, as you can see, nothing’s changed.”