Chapter 2
I sighed heavily as I pulled into my driveway.
Today had been the longest fucking day. I didn’t think moving for a new job opportunity would be so exhausting right away, but I was wrong. Then again, I worked in a behavioral health facility, so work was anything but peaceful.
It wasn’t what I wanted to do long term, however.
I had dreams of opening a youth health and wellness center.
Since college, I’d been planning and plotting on getting the funds to make that dream a reality.
Then life happened, and it got put on the back burner but never forgotten.
Too many kids fell through the cracks with issues that were never addressed.
I wanted to be the solution to that. Too bad it was just a dream right now.
Maybe one day it would become a reality.
I loved my job in the meantime, though.
The Harmonious Haven Wellness Institute was one of the largest mental health facilities in the state. When my old job had to downsize, and I was told I was being let go, my supervisor said she had a place that was perfect for me, but it required moving.
At first, I said fuck that.
That was until she laid out the position, the benefits, and the compensation. The new company was offering twice my pay with better benefits, and a relocation stipend. While it sounded like a good idea, I had to think long and hard about it.
This job meant I had to move away from everyone I knew and loved.
I had to buy a new house and pack up my old one.
I wouldn’t be able to drive down the street to visit my parents, have dinner with them, or celebrate holidays.
It meant pulling Nayelli out of school and tearing her away from all her friends.
We would be alone in a new city where we didn’t know anyone. The thought of that made me nervous. Anything could happen to one of us, and, worst-case scenario, no one would get here in time. Thank God for my sister, Dinah. She told me that if I moved, she would move with us.
At first, I was against it. I didn’t want her interrupting her life for my career change. She told me that she was the big sister, and it was her job to make sure I was taken care of. Since she worked remotely as a coding auditor for a major insurance company, it was easy for her to move around.
She insisted on coming, stating that somebody had to help with ten-year-old Nayelli. Dinah was the fun auntie, so having her with us would ease some of the stress of starting over in a new place.
I did a video interview for the job and was hired on the spot.
Two weeks later, we were making a trip to look at houses.
With mine and Dinah’s income, we were able to find a beautiful five-bedroom home in a very nice neighborhood.
It was enough room for both of us to have our own space.
Nayelli had her own room, Dinah had her office, and there was a guest room for when our parents visited.
So far, I liked the city, but I walked around with the fear of seeing the one person I knew was from here, .
. . the one person I dreaded seeing again.
It had been so many years, yet he was a daily thought.
He was the reason I was hesitant in taking this job.
If he still resided here, there was only a matter of time before I saw him.
Once I did, I’d never be able to unsee him again.
Still, I accepted the offer because I had a child to provide for. Nayelli was my life. For her, I’d swallow my pride every time.
Sighing again, I got out of my car and headed into my home.
Loud music played from the speaker in the living room while Dinah and my baby girl danced in front of the television.
I smiled, loving the bond these two shared.
Dinah was the fun, hip auntie. The one that Nayelli would call in her teenaged years when she was in trouble and didn’t want to face me just yet.
“Are y’all deaf!” I yelled over the music.
Dinah turned to me with a grin. Grabbing the remote, she paused the song.
“Hey, boo.”
“Hey, Mommy.”
Nayelli came over to greet me with a hug. I squeezed her tightly as I smothered her face with kisses.
“Hey, beautiful. I missed you.”
“You say that every day, Mom.”
“So I can’t miss you every day? You’re mine, and I’ll forever miss you when you aren’t right up under me.”
She playfully rolled her eyes and smiled. “I missed you too.”
“How was school?”
Her smile dropped. “I don’t wanna talk about school.”
“Nayelli.”
“Mom, please.”
“Tell me what happened.”
She sighed. “Those same girls pulled my hair at recess. One of them said she was going to cut my braids off.”
I frowned. I was sick and tired of these little girls.
Ever since Nayelli started that school, it’d been this one group of girls targeting her.
I’d been to the school several times. The principal called meetings with the parents, and they brushed it off as kids being kids.
Fuck that. My baby was being bullied, and I’d be damned if she took her life because somebody’s brat had a one-sided beef with her.
“I’m coming up there tomorrow.”
“Mommy, no! They’ll pick on me worse if you come—”
“Nayelli, this has to stop. I’m not standing for you being bullied. If I have to pull you out of that school, I will.”
“I wish we’d stayed home!” she yelled. “I hate it here, and I hate you! You could have left me with Grandma and Grandpa!”
“You aren’t your grandparents’ responsibility.”
“You moved me away from my friends because you lost your job. This is all your fault!”
She ran off upstairs, and a few seconds later, I heard her bedroom door slam shut. I palmed my face, fighting back tears. She was right; it wasn’t fair, but life wasn’t fair. We all had to play the hand we were dealt and deal with the consequences of our actions.
“You want me to talk to her, Neha?” Dinah asked.
I shook my head. “No. Let her cool off.”
“I’ve told you about this gentle parenting shit. She tries that with you because you’re soft on her.”
“Dinah, not today, okay? I need some wine, a hot bubble bath, and—”
“Some dick.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s not go there.”
She waved me off. “So we’re going to this school?”
“No, not we. Me.”
“Neha.”
“No, Dinah. One thing for certain and two things for sure—you’re gonna show your ass, and I’m not trying to have to bail you out of jail for putting your hands on somebody.”
“I’ll act right until they say some shit I don’t like. When it comes to Nayelli, all bets are off. But I’ll let you handle it.” She was quiet for a moment. “You ever thought about her taking self-defense classes?”
“You know I don’t want her fighting.”
“Look, sis, there’s gonna come a time when it happens.
She’s angry, Neha. She’s away from her family and friends.
She’s dealing with these kids and trying and failing to make new friends.
Of course she’s angry. It’s going to spill over at some point, and I won’t be surprised if she takes it out on one of those little girls.
Prepare for that or pull her out of that school if they aren’t going to handle this. ”
I sighed. I knew she was right. I considered how moving would impact Nayelli, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. I had to get a handle on things and soon.
Standing from the couch, I went upstairs to my daughter’s room. As I approached the door, I could hear her talking on the phone.
“I miss you, Grandpa. I hate it here.”
Of course she would call my father. He was the only close father figure she had, and they’d been inseparable since she was born. My daddy loved his grandbaby. He spoiled her, much to my dismay. There was nothing she could ask for that he wouldn’t provide.
Knowing that he could calm her down, I turned and went into my bedroom to take my shower.
Thirty minutes later, I was dressed in some comfortable loungewear and slipping my feet into a pair of fuzzy socks.
I could smell whatever Dinah was cooking, and it reminded me that I hadn’t eaten lunch today.
Just as I got the socks on, there was a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I said softly.
The door opened, and there stood Nayelli. For a moment, she stared at the floor, twiddling her thumbs.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I don’t hate you.”
“I know, baby. Come here.”
She ran over to me and threw her arms around my neck.
“I love you,” she said, sniffing.
“I love you too.” Holding her away from me, I looked her in those pretty brown eyes.
“I know you’re angry. I understand that.
But let’s make one thing clear. You don’t ever speak to me like that again.
I give you grace, but I’m not one of those parents, Nayelli.
You show me the same respect I show you; you got that? ”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Now let’s go see what your auntie is burning up in that kitchen.”
She smiled and linked her fingers through mine before we left the room.
The Next Morning
“I hope you have a good day, baby,” I said, kissing Nayelli’s temple.
“I’ll try.”
She waved as she headed down the hall toward her homeroom.
I watched until she made it into the room before going into the front office.
I had to channel my inner Dinah today, because I was beyond tired of this shit.
When I walked in, I bypassed the receptionist and headed straight to the principal’s office.
“Ma’am, you can’t go back there!” the receptionist called.
“Watch me!”
Grabbing the doorknob, I twisted it and pushed the door open. Principal Joe was on the phone and jumped as I entered.
“Ms. Malone, I—”
Reaching over, I ended his call.
“Principal Joe, how many times do I have to come up here about these little girls continuing to bully Nayelli? Just yesterday, she told me one of them pulled her hair at recess.”
“Ms. Malone—”