Chapter 6 #2
Something in my gut told me not to leave them there, but the ring on her finger had me ignoring that small voice and going inside anyway. I didn’t want to pry or overstep, but I did watch them until they pulled off, and I also watched when I was notified that they were back.
I heard my phone ringing while I was in the shower, so I quickly finished up then got out.
I went ahead and brushed and flossed my teeth while I was in the bathroom so that I didn’t have to go back.
When I got back in my bedroom, I moisturized my body, threw on some boxer-briefs and basketball shorts, then I went to find my phone on my bed.
I saw that my mother had called via FaceTime like she did every night.
It had been like that since my cousin showed her how to do it.
“Hey, Ki,” she smiled as soon as her pretty face appeared in the camera when I called her back. She appeared to be in bed as well with her hair full of rollers.
“What’s up, Mama? You went to the salon today?”
“Yep, and I’ve had these rollers in all day. Your father is not pleased.”
I laughed because I knew he was talking junk to her about that.
He hated when she kept it pinned up after she left the salon because nine times out of ten, they had somewhere to go afterward, but she’d always stay in the car because she wouldn’t be caught dead going in public with rollers in her head.
“I bet he’s not. Where is he anyway?”
“I’m right here, son.” I heard his voice before my mom turned the phone so that I could see him. “What are you up to?”
“About to turn it in when I finish talking to y’all.”
“This early?” my mom quizzed. “You’re normally a night owl on the weekends.”
“I know, but I have an early morning.”
“On a Saturday?” she questioned.
“Yeah. That’s actually why I was calling…”
“Oh, Lord, what’s wrong?”
“Let the boy finish talking, baby,” my father fussed.
“Well, he’s not talking fast enough.”
“Give him a chance, love,” he chuckled pulling her into him and kissing the side of her head then turning his focus back to me. “What’s up, son?”
“I’m going to grab a tree tomorrow.”
My mother immediately started going off. “What? A tree? Kiyan, you know we—”
“Trina, relax and let him finish,” my father cut in, “what’s going on, Ki? Why the change of plans.”
“I met this woman—”
“Oh, my God, yes!” my mother exclaimed. “Who is she? Does she live there? Where did you meet?” She fired off question after question.
“Trina,” my father laughed, “if you say something else.”
“Oh, Keith, please.” She elbowed him. “We both have been praying that he met someone.”
“It’s not like that, Ma,” I chuckled. “She’s married.”
“She’s what?!” she snapped. “Kiyan Ward!”
“Mama, it’s not like that,” I repeated. “She was stranded outside of my house.”
“Your house?!”
“Okay, Trina, give me the phone,” my father reached for it. She tried moving, but his arms were longer, so he was able to successfully get it from her before appearing in the camera. “Okay, son, tell me what’s going on.”
“Janet hit me while I was at work a couple of days ago and told me that there was a car parked at the bottom of my driveway. I watched it for a little while and figured they were probably pulled over to do something, but it was still there when I got home, and when I approached there was a woman and child inside.”
My mother gasped. “Like living inside?”
“Had I not asked them to come inside, then potentially.”
“That’s awful. What in the world… in this weather?”
“Yeah,” I sighed heavily. “Her husband threw them out and cut all of her cards off. They only have three small bags with their things in them.” I shook my head.
My mom’s hand flew over her mouth. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. “Unfortunately, I am.”
“Wow.” My father shook his head. “That’s pathetic.”
“He’s a piece of shit!” my mother snapped. “I can’t even imagine what she’s going through. How old is the baby?”
“Around six or seven,” I answered.
“Wow,” she said again. “I am completely blown away by this. I truly couldn’t imagine.”
“Right, but yeah, that’s why I offered to take them to help me find a tree—to get them out of the house and take them shopping. I just don’t know where to go.”
“She’s going to be with you, Kiyan, so I’m sure she’ll let you know,” my mother said.
“I know, but she’s fought me on everything, so although she agreed to accept my help, I don’t know if she really will.”
“Well, if she doesn’t, don’t take it personal,” my father replied.
“Look what she just came out of… the man she vowed to spend her life with ripped it apart completely in a matter of hours. Her home, her security, her dignity—all gone just like that,” he snapped his fingers.
“The pain from that doesn’t disappear because someone kinder shows up.
It does the total opposite and makes you side eye anyone else because if you didn’t know the true intentions of the man you laid next to every night, then you damn sure don’t know the ones of the stranger who found you outside of his house. ”
“So what? Do I just fall back?”
“Naw, son, that’s now what I’m telling you,” he answered.
“I’m just saying meet her where she’s at.
Be patient. Don’t rush her into trusting you and don’t force comfort.
Just be easy and consistent. Show her that she’s safe, not by just saying it, but by continuing what you’ve been doing—offering her help with no pressure and no strings attached.
Let her see the difference at her own pace. ”
I nodded. “Aight, pop, I got you.”
“Still take that baby shopping tomorrow,” my mother chimed in. “I don’t like this at all, them being there with suitcases. Does she have toys? Did you make sure they have soaps and other things that women and girls need.”
“Naw, ma, that’s why I called you,” I admitted. “Mel brought her a doll and some other small things, and she has her own iPad.”
“Mm-mm,” she shook her head. “Nope, mm-mm. Give me my computer, Keith.”
“Mama…” I sighed. Without her even saying it, I already knew what she was doing.
“I’m coming, Kiyan.”
“You don’t have to do that, Ma.”
“I know I don’t have to, but you need me so I’m coming.”
That was the thing that I loved and admired most about my mother; she always knew when one of us needed her without us having to say a word.
“I don’t want to overwhelm them,” I admitted. “Her daughter is special needs, and she said it takes time for her to adjust to new settings.”
“Oh, bless her little heart,” my mom gushed. “Even more of a reason for me to come down. All of you need some extra loving this holiday season.”
“Trina, wait,” my dad tried slowing her down, but she wasn’t having it.
“Are you flying in early with me or will you just come down with Kayla and Khalil?”
He sighed. “You know I’m not letting you fly alone. Kayla has Irving and the kids,” he said referring to my brother-in-law and their two sons. “Khalil can come when they do.”
“Alright but tell him not to sneak that hussy on the plane with him,” she pointed. “She needs to spend the holidays with her own dern family.”
“Okay, I’ll let him know.” I joined my father when he laughed.
She was constantly on us about finding a good woman, settling down and getting married, but she never liked the women that my brother brought home.
“I’ll cover your flights. Just let me know how much everything is.”
“You don’t have to do that, son.”
“I know, pop,” I chuckled. “Y’all are coming down early to help me out, so it’s the least that I can do for real.”
I talked to them for a few more minutes, making plans to pick them up early from the airport before I let them go.
I felt a lot better knowing that my mom was going to come in town because I felt that she may be able to reason with Leila better, and considering what my father had just said, maybe she’d trust her more too.