2. Blessing #2
I admired myself in the mirror and even snapped a few pictures.
I looked good as hell. I grabbed my keys and purse before locking up my house and setting the alarm.
After Seven was killed, I put the house up for sale and moved into a 4-bedroom, 3.
5-bedroom home. The community is gated; you have to be buzzed in to enter.
Seven’s murder still hasn’t been solved.
My brother was doing everything to find the person responsible, but it’s like he disappeared without a trace.
With him still roaming, I had to move. Regardless of the cheating and lies, he still deserved justice.
Rather, it’s by the hands of my brother or the law.
My neighbor Ariana was getting out of her car as I was getting in mine.
I sent her a quick wave and smiled before pulling off.
The ride to Sage’s daycare didn’t take long.
I walked into the building and greeted the secretary, Miss Kari.
I signed my name on the check-out sheet and waited for Sage to be brought out.
My baby would turn 10 months old in a few days, and I was thrilled.
She’d started crawling a few months ago, and now, she was working on taking her first few steps.
I looked towards the door of her classroom when I heard her tiny voice squeal.
She was trying her hardest to jump out of Miss Kari’s arms. I laughed, taking her.
My arms wrapped around her small frame as I embraced her.
I’d missed my baby all day. I smothered her face in kisses before saying goodbye to the staff.
After securing Sage in her car seat, I made my way to Journey’s school.
Journey is seventeen. When our parents were killed, Messiah got full custody of both of us because my grandma was too old to take care of us.
My parents passed away during my senior year of high school from a drunk driver.
Messiah was only twenty-two and still managed to make sure we stayed on the right path.
The rest of our family never tried to step in and take us.
She’d lived with him until a few months ago.
Messiah figured it would be safer for her to live with me until she went off to college after graduation.
Journey is a great teenager. She had her moments, like most kids her age, but she wasn’t a problem most of the time.
Her grades were good, she was respectful, and responsible.
She didn’t know it yet, but Messiah and I had purchased her a car for Christmas.
It was hidden in the garage at his house.
The line at Journey’s school was wrapped around the block by the time I arrived.
I sighed and settled into my seat, knowing school wouldn’t end for another fifteen minutes, so I’d be here a while.
I pulled out my phone and opened Instagram, scrolling through my camera roll to review pictures I’d taken earlier.
After choosing the ones I wanted to post, I uploaded them, and it didn’t take long for the likes to start coming in.
I noticed Saint had posted a story. He was sitting on a gym bench, dressed the same as before I left, with the word ‘blessed’ at the bottom.
My cheeks flushed immediately. I liked the story and then exited out, but I couldn’t help scrolling through his pictures, admiring how good he looked.
I saw a photo of him and Mariah, clicked on her tag, and went to her page, only to gasp and realize I was blocked.
“Bitch.” I mumbled, exiting the app. Cars had started to move, indicating the kids were coming out.
“Hi, Sissy!” Journey greeted as she climbed into the passenger seat, setting her backpack on the floor in between her legs.
“Hey girl! How was school?” I asked, pulling out of the parking lot, heading to the grocery store.
“It was good. I passed that biology test I’ve been studying for. Soooo.. I know you had a long week at work, and I know you need a break, so I’ll watch Sage for you tonight if you want to go out or something.”
I stopped at a red light and turned my head, squinting at her. “Girl, just ask me for whatever you want, you ain’t gotta butter me up.” I laughed, turning to face the road again.
“Can my friend Serenity spend the night, please? She’s a sweetheart. You know her family, too, Bless. Pleeeease?” She pleaded.
“Who’s her family?”
“Her brother is Saint, the football player you’re working with right now.”
“Fine Journey. Don’t leave a mess, no boys, and no sneaky shit. I’ll text her mom and let her know. You can watch Sage while I go to Chanel’s to get my hair done tonight.”
“Yay! Thank you so much, sissy. You’re the best. Messiah would’ve never let me have company.”
“Don’t make me regret it either, Journey.”
After going grocery shopping, stopping at the beauty supply store, and getting an oil change, I was finally home.
Miss Jackie planned on dropping Serenity off within the next two hours.
That gave me enough time to cook dinner and put together a few snacks for the girls.
Sage was in her playpen, watching her favorite show, Little Einsteins.
Journey requested lemon pepper wings and curly fries for dinner.
For snacks, I decided to bake some cookies, pop some popcorn, and make a charcuterie board.
I was setting the food in serving dishes when I received a call alerting me that Miss Jackie and Serenity were at the gate.
I let them through and met them at the front door.
Serenity looked just like her big brother.
She had a head full of wild, curly hair and the same deep brown eyes as her mom and brother.
I greeted them before stepping aside to let them in.
“Hey, Blessing. Your home is beautiful!” Miss Jackie gushed, hugging me.
“Thank you, Miss Jackie. Hi Serenity!”
She smiled, showing her braces. “Hey! Thanks for letting me stay over. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
I laughed, taking her bag from her and setting it on the couch. “You’re welcome. I made dinner and some snacks for you two to enjoy while I’m at my hair appointment. Make yourself at home.”
“And who is this little, cute baby?” Miss Jackie asked, peeking at Sage in her playpen.
“Say hiiii, Sage,” I said, picking her up. She smiled shyly, waving her little chunky hand.
“Well, hello, Sage. Aren’t you a cutie pie?”
Miss Jackie stayed for a while and joined us for dinner before leaving. She’d be back to pick Serenity up on Sunday after leaving church. I bathed Sage and gave her a bottle before putting her to sleep. Most nights, she slept until the next morning.
“Alright, girls, I’m leaving. Journey, you know the rules. I’ll be back in a few hours. Sage has a bottle in the warmer if she wakes up before I get home. Clean up after yourselves and respect my house.”
“The baddest bitch has arrived!” I announced, entering Chanel’s house.
“Girl, please,” Chanel laughed, locking the door behind me.
She led me to her second bedroom. She’d transformed it into her in-home salon.
Chanel was the only person I allowed to do my hair.
We’ve been friends since elementary school, and she started doing my hair when we were teenagers.
I’d had this sew-in in for almost a month, and I needed a touch-up.
I sat in the salon chair and pulled my phone out to show her how I wanted my hair styled.
“Okay, boo, I can do that. Barrel curls or beach waves?” She asked, grabbing her scissors, cutting the thread from the wefts of my weave.
“Barrel curls. Side part, please. Bitch guess what?”