Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
KAIZLEIGH
Itold Billion I wasn't going to do too much.
In my defense, I didn't feel like I had.
The groceries were necessary. Nobody wanted to move into a house and have to turn around and go grocery shopping the same day.
The fresh towels were necessary too because I had no idea what Nyrobi had been able to pack before they had to leave.
Having the downstairs bedroom cleaned again was definitely necessary with Ms. Juanita's health.
Now, the flowers on the kitchen table? Maybe I could've left those at the store.
And the new comforter. And the little basket I'd put together in Ms. Juanita's bathroom.
But other than that, I had done exactly what I said I was going to do.
At least that's what I kept telling myself while I stood in the middle of the living room looking around for anything that screamed, Kaizleigh did too fucking much.
The house had already been furnished. Thank God.
Billion and I had bought it a few years ago, had tenants in it for a while, then decided to update everything after they moved out. New floors, fresh paint, updated kitchen, new furniture. We were supposed to decide whether we wanted to rent it again or sell it. Now I guessed we had our answer.
I walked toward the front windows and pulled one of the curtains back. Still nothing yet.
I checked my phone.
10:26.
Four minutes.
Billion had been very clear.
Don't have that girl showing up to a whole new fucking house because you couldn't control yourself.
I hadn't.
My phone rang.
Speak of the damn man.
“Yes?”
“That's how you answer your husband?”
I smiled. “You answer me like that all the time.”
“Where you at?”
“The house.”
“I knew it.”
“Why ask if you knew?”
“Just making sure I was right.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I'm making sure everything is ready.”
“Everything was ready yesterday.”
“No, it wasn't.”
“Yes, it was.”
“There wasn't food.”
“There's grocery stores.”
“Billion.”
“What?”
“Ms. Juanita shouldn't have to go grocery shopping today.”
“She got a daughter.”
“Her daughter just got evicted!”
“And now she got somewhere to live.”
“Why are you arguing with me?”
“Because I know you.”
I looked toward the kitchen.
“I didn't do that much.”
It was silent.
“Kaizleigh.”
“I didn't!”
“How much you spend?”
“That doesn't matter.”
“How much?”
“I don't know.”
“You know exactly how much.”
“I didn't look.”
“That's worse.”
I laughed.
“Are you coming?”
“Later.”
“Why later?”
“Because I got shit to do.”
“They're moving into your house.”
“Our house.”
“Exactly. So come help.”
“I hired movers.”
I stopped.
“You what?”
“Movers.”
“Billion, Nyrobi is going to be pissed.”
“Why?”
“Because you know how she is.”
“Which is why I didn't tell her.”
I closed my eyes.
“You love making my life hard.”
“How?”
“Because I'm the one here when she finds out!”
“She'll be alright.”
“You say that because you won't be here when she starts cussing.”
“She cuss when she's happy.”
I couldn't even argue with that.
A car turned onto the street. I stepped closer to the window. There was no mistaking that car. Even from down the street.
“Oh, they're here.”
“Alright.”
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You really aren't coming?”
“I said later.”
“Okay.”
“Kaizleigh.”
“What?”
“Don't overwhelm her.”
I frowned.
“I know.”
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
“Let her get settled.”
“I will.”
“And stop treating her like she's already pregnant.”
“I don't do that.”
“You do.”
“No, I don't.”
“You asked that girl if she wanted you to order prenatal vitamins before the doctor even prescribed shit.”
“I was being prepared.”
“You're doing too much.”
“Bye, Billion.”
He laughed.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up just as Nyrobi pulled into the driveway.
I covered my mouth. Her car was packed so full I didn't know how she could see out the back window.
Trash bags filled with clothes were shoved against the glass.
A lamp was sticking sideways across the back seat.
Something that looked like a laundry basket was strapped in the passenger seat.
Another car pulled in behind her. And another girl I’m assuming was, Nysheca jumped out first staring at the house. Then looked at me. Then looked back at the house.
“Oh, bitch.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
Nyrobi got out of her car.
“Don't start.”
Nysheca spread her arms.
“Y'all got evicted UP!”
“Nysheca.”
“What? Look at this shit!”
“We didn't get shit. Mama and I are staying here temporarily.”
“Whatever. We came from the trenches to Windermere.”
“You came from wherever the hell you slept last night. You don't live here.”
Nysheca's mouth dropped.
“See how she do me?”
She looked at me.
I raised both hands.
“I'm staying out of it.”
“Smart,” Nyrobi said.
The back door of the car Nysheca was in opened and Ms. Juanita slowly got out.
I immediately walked over.
“Hey, Ms. Juanita.”
Nyrobi looked just like her mama.
“Hey, baby.”
“How you feeling?”
“Fine until everybody keep asking me how I'm feeling.”
I stopped, then smiled. Okay. Now I knew where Nyrobi got it from.
“Fair enough.”
She hugged me.
That surprised me and I hugged her back.
“Thank y'all,” she whispered.
“You don't have to thank us.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No, you really don't.”
She pulled away and looked at me.
“Baby, I know what my daughter doing for you. That don't mean you owe us this.”
“I know.”
“And I know what a house like this cost.”
“Then don't tell Nyrobi.”
Ms. Juanita laughed.
“Too late, I got google,” Nyrobi called from behind us.
I turned around. She was standing beside her car staring at the house with her hands on her hips. I already knew that look.
“What?”
“This is what y'all call one of your properties?”
I looked at the house.
“Yes.”
“This ain't no little rental.”
“I never said it was.”
“Billion made it sound like y'all had some regular little house sitting empty.”
I smiled.
“This is regular.”
Nysheca screamed laughing.
Nyrobi pointed at me.
“See. That's that rich people shit I'm talking about.”
“What?”
“This is not regular!”
“It's four bedrooms.”
“Exactly!”
“Would you rather have two?”
“No, that's not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“I don't know yet.”
I laughed.
“Then come inside.”
She didn't move.
“Nyrobi.”
“I'm looking.”
“At what?”
“All this damn house.”
Nysheca walked past her.
“Shit, you can stand out here. I'm going to pick my room.”
“You don't have a room!”
“I'm family!”
“You don't live here!”
“I might!”
“No, the fuck you won't!”
Ms. Juanita shook her head.
“Lord, please don't let them start.”
I laughed and took her arm.
“Come on.”
Nyrobi caught it immediately.
“Mama good.”
“I know.”
“She can walk.”
“I know that too.”
Ms. Juanita looked between us.
“Both of y'all get off me. I ain't dead.”
I let go and Nyrobi did too.
Then we looked at each other.
“See?”
“I was helping.”
“So was I.”
“I know my mama.”
“And I'm trying to get to know her.”
That shut her up for a second. Then her face softened.
“Aight.”
I smiled.
“Aight.”
Nysheca had already made it inside.
Her voice came from somewhere down the hall.
“OH, THIS BITCH GOT A TUB!”
Nyrobi closed her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
I burst out laughing.
I had been waiting on Nyrobi to notice the groceries.
It took exactly six minutes. She walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and froze. Then slowly turned around.
“Kaizleigh.”
I kept my face innocent.
“What?”
“Why is this refrigerator full?”
“Because refrigerators usually have food in them.”
“Don't do that.”
“Do what?”
“You know what.”
Nysheca walked over and opened the freezer.
“Ooo, y'all got shrimp.”
Nyrobi slammed it shut.
“Move.”
“Damn!”
She looked back at me.
“You bought all this?”
“Some.”
“Some?”
“The refrigerator was empty.”
“Because nobody lived here. Now you do.”
“Temporarily.”
“Okay.”
“And I can buy groceries.”
“I know.”
“So why did you?”
“Because you're moving today.”
“And?”
“And who wants to unpack a whole house and then go to Publix?”
“Walmart exists.”
“Okay, Walmart.”
She stared at me.
I stared back.
Finally she sighed.
“How much I owe you?”
“Nothing.”
“Kaizleigh.”
“Nyrobi.”
“Don't start.”
“I'm not starting anything.”
She opened another cabinet. I watched her. Then she opened another. Her head slowly turned.
“You bought snacks too?”
I smiled.
“You said your mama likes those crackers.”
Her face changed.
“You remembered that?”
I shrugged.
“It wasn't that long ago.”
She looked inside the cabinet again. For once, she didn't have anything smart to say.
“Thank you,” she finally mumbled.
“What?”
“Girl, don't make me repeat it.”
I laughed. It’s like Nyrobi had the slickest mouth but I saw through all of that. Life just wouldn’t allow her to be in her soft girl era.
“I heard you.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I liked it.”
“See, now you ain't getting another one.”
Nysheca walked between us eating something she'd already found.
“I'll thank you. Thank you, rich best friend.”
“She's not your best friend,” Nyrobi said.
Nysheca looked at me.
“You wanna be?”
“Absolutely.”
“Kaizleigh!”
“What?”
I was still laughing when the doorbell rang.
Nyrobi looked toward the front.
“Who is that?”
I suddenly remembered.
Shit.
“Don't get mad.”
Her head whipped toward me.
“Why would you say that before I even know who at the door?”
“Because…”
Nysheca walked to the window.
“Ooo, some men outside.”
Nyrobi looked at me.
“What men?”
“The movers.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“The what?”
“Movers.”
“Kaizleigh.”
“Billion hired them.”
“Oh, so both y'all just don't listen.”
“They're already paid!”
“I didn't ask y'all to pay nobody to move us.”
“You also didn't ask us for a house, and look how that worked out.”
Her mouth opened and I immediately regretted it.
“Nyrobi…”
“Nah. You right.”
“No. That's not how I meant it.”
She turned away.
I grabbed her arm.
“Hold on.”
She looked down at my hand.
I let go.
“I'm sorry.”
“It's cool.”
“No, it's not.”
She wouldn't look at me.
“I wasn't throwing the house in your face.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She finally looked up.
“Yes.”
“Because that's not what this is.”
“I said I know.”
“You don't owe us anything because you're here.”
Her jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“Not money. Not extra shit with the surrogacy. Nothing.”