Chapter Thirteen The Choice
“I need you to tell me what you need, Kane.”
The air in the Tahoe was thick with everything they weren’t saying.
Natty was knocked out in the third row, clutching a melted piece of cake. Bunny and Dexter argued softly about who got more bubbles in their party bag. Prince was quiet, earbuds in, staring out the window.
But in the front seat?
Sunni sat frozen, hands gripping the steering wheel like it was keeping her together.
Kane hadn’t said a word since those kids ran back across the street. Since those eyes—their eyes—looked right into hers and didn’t even know what they were seeing.
Sunni let the engine hum for a minute before shifting into drive.
Halfway down Larkspur Lane, she pulled over.
Put it in park.
Turned down the music.
Then she turned to Kane.
“You saw it.”
Kane nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
Sunni exhaled, her voice low but sharp.
“I need you to tell me what you need, Kane.”
Kane blinked. “What?”
“You’re the oldest, and I know you see more than I wish you had to. But you are still my child. It is not your job to hold this family together when I’m hurting.”
“…yeah.”
“I’m not putting this decision on you. I’m your mama, and keeping y’all safe is my job. But before I decide what comes next, I need to know whether you need answers from him.”
Kane looked over, eyes heavy with confusion, nerves swirling behind them.
Sunni didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We have two choices. We can leave and protect the peace we built, or I can take you and Prince back there and ask him for the truth. Either way, the choice—and the responsibility—is mine. I just need you to be honest about what your heart needs.”
Kane’s eyes widened.
Sunni leaned in a little closer, her voice shaking—but it wasn’t fear. It was truth.
“I’m tired, baby. Tired of carrying this like a secret sin. You wanna keep the peace? Cool. We roll out and never look back. But if you need answers—if you need it, not me—then say so.”
The silence cracked around them.
Even the younger kids quieted, sensing the shift in the air.
Kane stared ahead, her chest rising and falling fast. She wasn’t a child anymore, and this moment made sure of it.
“Mama…”
“I’m listening.”
“…I think I need to know why.”
Sunni nodded once.
“You sure?”
Kane didn’t hesitate this time.
“Yeah. I need to see his face when he tries to lie to mine.”
Sunni sat back, put the Tahoe in drive, and whispered under her breath:
“Then it’s time.”