Chapter 6 #2
Symie never thought Sienna and Monae would have the luxury of coming to New York, much less having them at her home.
But, she was the epitome of the power of a praying mother.
It had hurt her to her core when she watched how her daughter was forced into behind loving a man whose mother couldn’t handle him loving another woman.
As much power as Macie had on the streets, Symie was sickened by the lengths Macie went through to control her grown sons’ life.
Despite how much she detested the moves Macie had made, there was nothing she could do to make matters more favorable for Sienna and her granddaughter.
Symie was an upscale caterer and owned a restaurant called Symie’s Kitchen.
Not only did she rank in the top five best soul food restaurants, but she also specialized in Creole Cuisine.
She had recipes passed down through generations in her family, and she had put them all into good use.
Her food was so good it softened the stoniest hearts, comforted the broken, and made everyone’s soul smile.
Her food was like that, and everyone loved it.
But still, she was powerless when it came to saving her daughter, and her heart ached every day because of that fact.
It was nobody but God who brought her babies back home, and though she didn’t know for how long, she knew that it was some bullshit attached to it if Macie had anything to do with it.
“Let me fix y’all something to eat,” Symie said more than asked.
“Yes!” Sienna and Monae exclaimed in unison.
“Can you make me some red beans and rice with chicken and avocado, please?” Monae requested sweetly, remembering the last meal she had made when she came to visit them in Morocco.
Symie and Sienna cracked up laughing.
“Now who she get that from?” Symie spoke through her laughter.
“Like mama, like daughter.” Sienna shrugged. “She is me.”
“Yes, she is,” Symie agreed. “Coming right up, my baby,” she said, needing to stabilize her nerves. “How long will you two be staying in New York?”
“Mom! You and Dad look so happy together,” Monae interrupted, looking at the picture of her parents hanging on the wall.
“We’ll talk later,” Sienna said, turning to go see what picture Monae was talking about.
Symie laughed, turning the other way to the kitchen to get those pots jumping. “Yes, we will.”
By the time Sienna found Monae in the living room, she held a huge photo album in her hand, and stood in front of the picture she and Monroe had taken for their Senior Prom.
Their color scheme was deep burgundy and black, and they were a vibe.
Just the thought of that day sent chills down Sienna’s spine.
“Where were y’all at this day?” Monae asked, taking in every detail of the image.
Sienna smiled, wrapping her arm around Monae, and reaching forward to smooth her hand lightly over the image. “Senior prom,” she answered simply. “This was a good day.”
“What made it so good?” Monae refused to let Sienna skimp on the details.
“Come sit down so I can tell you the whole story,” Sienna kissed the top of Monae’s head, then walked to the couch, her mind instantly sailing back in time.
Monae got comfortable, took off her shoes, grabbed the throw blanket from the back of the couch, and listened attentively like she always did when Sienna shared her love story.
“Your dad was every girl's dream when we were in high school. He was attentive, protective, and genuine. He did things that most guys weren’t doing that were our age. He was making the type of money that most two-parent households weren't touching.”
Monae’s eyes widened as she processed her mother’s words, but she didn’t interrupt.
“But, I didn’t care about any of that,” Sienna continued.
“He knew it and spent more on me because of it,” Sienna explained.
“I never got a chance to have a relationship with my father, so mom was all I had growing up. She didn’t have the extra money to spare to buy all the things I needed for prom, so Monroe spared no expense.
I picked the color scheme, everything else from head to toe that we wore, and he made it happen.
Got my dress and his tux tailored to our bodies, and when we stepped out…
You would have thought we were the royal family. ”
“I can’t wait to go to prom. I’m going, right?” Monae asked.
Sienna giggled softly.
“We’ll see,” Sienna replied.
“Continue,” Monae insisted, leaning in, knowing there was more to the story.
“Our prom was amazing, Monae… but it was the things that he did that had nothing to do with prom that made it so special.”
“What did he do?” Monae pressed.
Sienna paused, wanting to make sure she conveyed the love that dripped from every step Monroe took.
“See, it's one thing for a man to put money in your hand, and send you on your way,” Sienna began. “Monroe gave me time, affection, and he never denied me of his presence. When a man puts his life and everything he has going on to cater to you,” she paused, and smiled, at the way he made her feel. “When he chooses to spend quality time with you while you get pampered and pretty for him for no other reason than making you feel secure and loved. That’s something you don’t take lightly.
Your father did this for me consistently.
He didn’t wait for a special occasion to love on me.
I was always the occasion.” Sienna told her daughter, purposely left out their love-making sessions because she wasn’t ready for that conversation yet.
Time swept by fast as Sienna continued to reminisce with Monae, sharing some of the best times she had when New York was her home. The meal Symie was fixing in the kitchen pleasantly wafted through the house, causing their stomachs to growl. There was nothing like a real home-cooked meal with love.
“Sienna! You and Muffin come on and get your food while it’s hot,” Symie yelled from the kitchen while fixing their plates.
“Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg,” Monae said, racing her mom to the kitchen.
“Cheater!” Sienna shouted, laughing simultaneously.
Symie’s smile came easy the moment they sat at the table, her heart settling in a way it hadn’t in years. My babies are finally home where they belong. The thought sat heavy in her chest, but she was relieved.
“Go ahead and sit down, ma,” Sienna insisted. “You cooked. Let me finish fixing the plates, and I’ll clean the kitchen,” she offered, jumping in like she had never left.
“Okay, but this plate is already made,” Symie replied, giving it to Monae.
“This food tastes better than the first time you made it. Can you give Mom the recipe?” Monae asked while chewing.
Symie beamed, her heart instantly warmed by Monae’s pleasure in her food. “I sure will.”
Sienna sat her mother’s plate in front of her, then doubled back to grab her own. “Thanks for cooking, ma.”
“Anything for my favorite girls,” Symie replied, taking a sip of the wine she’d already poured. “You two can stay in the spare room for as long as you want,” she offered.
“Mama Macie got us a house already. She showed me pictures on the plane,” Monae revealed. “She said I’ll get to meet my dad soon too.”
Symie’s eyes shot to Sienna, her eyes searching her face for answers she hadn’t been given yet. She needed to understand why the sudden change of heart, because while being reunited was an answered prayer, something felt terribly off.
“That’s wonderful news, Muffin. I love that for you,” Symie replied, then quickly took a bit of chicken because she didn’t want the wrong thing to come out of her mouth. She knew how sensitive the subject was for Monae.
“I can’t wait to meet him. I picked out the perfect outfit, and Mom said she’d flat iron my hair,” Monae said, taking a sip of her juice.
“I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this day, Muffin. I pray everything works out perfectly,” Symie said honestly.
“Me too,” Monae agreed, lifting her crossed fingers in the air.
“If you want to go in the living room and watch TV you can,” Sienna told Monae, then took a sip of the wine her mother had sat out for her as well.
“Ok,” Monae said, before getting up to put her plate in the sink.
As soon as her granddaughter was out of earshot, then Symie’s eyes snapped back up at Sienna as she waited for answers.
Sienna shook her head and downed the rest of her wine. “Monroe has moved on with another woman, and now Macie wants me to show up out of nowhere and make him mine again,” Sienna revealed dryly. “Now she suddenly cares about Monae meeting her father.”
“This isn’t going to end well,” Symie read through the smoke screen immediately. “How…What are you going to do?” She questioned, floored by Macie’s request.
Symie lost her appetite trying to wrap her mind around how Macie was moving. She wasn’t surprised or disappointed, but this was a new low for her.
“I have to do what she says, or she is going to kill us,” Sienna revealed.
“I love Monroe and Monae so much it hurts. I’ve given up everything for them.
For love. But, I have to come real when I see him again.
I’m gonna risk it all, and tell him the truth about everything…
even his evil ass mother,” she said with tears streaming down her face.
“I just pray he believes me. Pray he chooses us.”
Symie sighed.
“I need your help,” Sienna told her mom seriously, taking another sip from her wine flute. “Do you still have his number?”
Symie nodded. “I do,” she answered, still processing the whole situation.
“Good… What time does your restaurant close tonight?” Sienna asked, getting up to reheat her food in the microwave.
“Ten o’clock the restaurant is usually cleared, cleaned, and prepped for the next day,” Symie confirmed.
“I need you to call him,” Sienna said, taking her plate out of the microwave. “Ask him to meet you at the restaurant at 10:30 tonight. I can’t wait any longer, ma. I need to see him. I need him to know I’m alive.”