Chapter 14 #2
I stood here, looking at Jersey, trying to see if that was my little sister talking or Iyanla trying to fix my life.
“Jersey, how old are you?” Bri asked her.
“I’m thirteen but don’t let the age fool you, I heard I have an old soul. Oh, and if you are looking for Mama, she’s upstairs. She’s been out here all morning making sure everything was set up for her baby boy. She got sleepy a little while ago, so Daddy helped her back upstairs.”
“Aight, I’ll go speak to everyone then head up to see her.”
“It was nice meeting you, Bri Bronx,” Jersey told Bri, making her laugh.
“It was nice meeting you too, love.”
Instead of Bri coming with me, she went to find her friends. It didn’t take long for me to speak, before I was heading in the house to find my mama.
brIANNA
I watched as Brooklyn headed inside the house to find his mama. Although it would have been nice to meet her and be there for him when he talked to her, I wanted him to do this right here, on his own. I’d have plenty of time... maybe... to meet her and anyone else in the backyard.
“What’s wrong, boo?” Mimi walked over to be with her plate piled high with food.
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“You sure, Bri? Just because we are here, doesn’t mean we can’t still talk. This backyard is big as hell. We can walk and talk if you wanted to.”
“Positive, boo. I promise I am.”
“You heard from Teddy?”
“Now you really ‘bout to make me walk off.”
“Damn, it’s that bad, huh?” Nodding my head, I confirmed that it was that bad.
“I’ve been dealing with these games, and you’ve been in mommy mode, so we really haven’t had time to just sit down and have girl time lately. Teddy is being Teddy. After the last incident where he came to my house, I don’t think I’ll have to worry about him again.”
“What chu’ mean, incident? What did he do?”
“It’s nothing. Brooklyn and Zoo handled him, which is why I'm sure he’ll stay away from me.”
“So, they knew but you didn’t tell me? What type of shit is that, Bri?”
“The type where I just said you’ve been in mommy mode.
I wasn’t trying to bother you with shit that was going on with me during that time.
Why add more stress to you if I said he just popped up at my crib?
Luckily, Brooklyn was already on his way over before anything else happened.
You know I’ve never kept anything from you, but this wasn’t something that I even want to talk about again.
It happened, they handled it, and it’s over. End of story, boo.”
The look she gave me was one of her still not being ok with my answer, but she’d accept it for now. Teddy was the last person I wanted to think of or talk about today, shit, and to be honest, tomorrow too. He was in the past, and I was moving right along without his ass.
“We will get together tomorrow, ok?”
“Absolutely. Now that the championship is over and we won that shit, we can officially have our girl time back. I’ve made Brooklyn my girl since y’all been booed up.”
“As long as you don’t make him yo’ bitch, we good.” Turning around, I laughed then frowned up at Zoo.
“Bruh, you are the king of being in someone else’s conversation,” I let out, making Mimi laugh out loud.
A laugh broke from Zoo’s chest. “Of course, Bri Bronx. Especially when it comes down to my cousin. He gets on my last nerves but I ain’t ‘bout to let him be nobody’s bitch.”
“If you weren’t listening so hard, you’ll know that I was saying that he replaced Naomi and PJ since they are always boo’ed up with you and Sin. He’s became my good girlfriend, or boy for a friend. Whatever you want to call it.”
“What y’all over here talkin’ ‘bout?” Brooklyn walked up on us with who I’m assuming is his mom holding onto his arm tightly. She was so beautiful but looked so fragile. Knowing her story, or some of it, I wanted to hug her.
“You!” Zoo spoke up first. “Ya girl over here saying she made you hear do boy.”
“She did not say that, Brooklyn,” Mimi corrected. “PJ come and get Zoo. He’s over here starting stuff.”
“Baby that ain’t nothing new. Zeus has been causing hell since he came into this world, I love him though. Just like he’s my own son,” Mrs. Smith told us.
“I love you, too. Just like you are my own auntie.”
“Zeus, shut up. You just runs out.”
“Auntie, why you gotta do me like that?”
Instead of replying, she fanned him off. “Introduce me to these pretty women, Brooke. I’m tired of standing here.”
“Pen!” Zoo yelled out. “Come over here. My auntie wanna meet someone pretty.”
Mimi and I hit his ass at the same time.
“Ay, what I do?”
“Ma, this is my girlfriend, Bronx.”
If I knew how to make that Scooby Doo grrr sound when he’s highly confused, I would have right now.
“Girlfriend? When did my baby get a girlfriend? I was just tucking you in bed and changing wet sheets and now you have a beautiful girlfriend.”
Everyone laughed but me. I just looked at Brooklyn and gave him a half-smile.
“Ma don’t start acting like yo’ nephew. Bronx don’t want to hear all of that.”
“You never answered me. When did this happen?” She pointed between Brooklyn and me.
“We started dating the day he rescued me from my ex.” I was trying to get her off Brooklyn’s back, so I said the first thing I could think of.
“That means we started dating too then because didn’t I come in to save you that night, too?”
“Zoo, now I know yo’ mama told you that it’s better to be seen and not heard sometimes. Let my son be the hero in this story. Please bring the lady you just yelled out for over here so I can make sure she’s mentally ok to be with you. Yo’ ass gon’ run somebody crazy.”
“Auntie that woman loves everything about me. In fact, that’s probably what she loves the most.”
Mrs. Smith shook her head, along with all the rest of us. Brooklyn pushed Zoo out of the way, then stepped beside me, slinging his arm around my shoulders.
“You’ll meet her again when it’s less people around. This is one right here”—he nodded towards Mimi—“is Sin’s girl, Naomi, and of course you already heard Zoo yell to the other side of the yard for PJ who’s walking up now, she’s Naomi’s sister. They are all best friends.”
“Now isn’t that cute. I’ve always wanted to attend a triple wedding.”
“Who knows. I’m definitely not against it if we all made it to the stage together. I love, love so I’m all for sharing that day with my sisters,” I replied, making a smile grow wider until it reached her eyes. Brooklyn’s grin was similar to his mother's.
“I’m glad you feel that way. I won’t be around here long so make that day come before my day come.”
When those words left her lips, we all fell silent, and Brooklyn walked away. I wanted to go after him, but Zoo beat me to it.
“I’m sorry, ladies. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.
I believe in being honest and not beating around the bush and what I stated is all facts.
I’ll let him have his moment, but he will have to face me and the truth, whether he likes it or not.
I know like hell I don’t, but I know I’ll be in good hands, and I’ll be leaving my baby boy in good hands too. ”
“You seem like a fine young lady, and I can tell by the look in your eyes that you care for my baby. When he walked off hurt, I saw your heart skip a beat trying to catch up with him. You’ve glanced at him a dozen times since he walked away, wanting badly to make sure he’s ok.
That’s the type of woman I need my son to be with.
One that will never allow him to stay upset.
If he’s down, pick him up because there’s no doubt in my mind that he won’t do the same for you. ”
“Brooklyn is hard on the outside, but on the inside, he’s fragile when it comes to his family.
At sixteen, he was talking about the qualities he would look for in a wife.
Surprisingly, he described me. My son loves me beyond death, and I know whatever happens with me, he’ll be crushed, so I need all of you to be there for him.
It won’t be easy. He may even push you away, but don’t give up on my baby. ”
At this point, Mimi, PJ, and I were standing there in tears. Brooklyn kept looking over at me and I tried so hard to stop the tears from flowing but the more she talked the more I cried. You could hear in her voice—she was tired. That’s what made this conversation so hard to listen to.
“You know, cancer has a mean way of taking you out of here when you least expect it. Like a car accident. You try so desperately to stop it from happening because you see the cars getting ready to collide but some things you just have no control over. I’ve fought hard and Lord knows I’m tired, y’all.
But I keep fighting for my kids, and my husband.
Life ain’t always fair and you have to live with whatever story that was written for you.
Ain’t no rewrites. So, whatever you guys have going on in your life, from your career to your love life, give it all you got.
If you feel a certain way, express it. If you want more from them, tell them.
And if at some point it’s not enough, know when to let go. ”
“Sometimes we can picture ourselves with people but then we see that they aren’t equally yoked, and that’s ok.
Life is too short to waste it. Don’t stay for the history, don’t stay for a child, don’t stay for anything other than you know you in heart that this person is your person.
That God took his time and designed this man specifically for you.
You’ll know. You will never have to question what’s meant for you.
If you are dealing with the Smith men, you have to be strong women.
They aren’t the type to cheat, so you’ll never have to worry about that.
Once they are all in, they are all in. Ain’t nothing or no one coming between them and their women, and I can vouch for all of them.
You’ll meet them one day. And lawd they all fine too,” Mrs. Smith joked, making them laugh and my goofy ass snort.
“Oh, you snort when you laugh.” She gave me a look that I couldn’t quite read. “Yea, my son is going to love you. He loves a woman that can match his energy. When he’s not worried about me, he’s really fun to be around.”
“He really is,” I agreed.
Mrs. Smith started to yawn. “I love y’all, and I know I don’t know you ladies but my Grandma Ida would say she loves you regardless of who you are. Now say it back so I can go sit down. I’ve run my mouth long enough and ran my son off in the process.”
“We love you back, Mrs. Smith,” we said in unison, wiping the rest of our tears away.