Chapter 15
Calista Glee
Iwasn’t the party girl. No. God, no. That was Blayke’s thing.
I was the college girl. I’d worked my butt off to graduate high school early, so I could get early admittance into Blake University.
And I did just that. I was awarded a scholarship that allowed me to complete the summer program, which meant I could move on campus early.
Last year, around this time, I was preparing to go to Cove City, Georgia.
I had taken my finals, gone to prom, and graduated with honors, so by the time the summer’s first month arrived, my mom and sister barely had time to breathe while getting me ready for college.
Once June came, we were sore, up to our eyeballs in boxes and shopping bags that almost blocked my mom’s entryway, and I was eager to get onto campus.
Still, my sister and mom took me to get my hair pressed, my nails and toes done, dressed me in a cute two-piece set, and Glow did my makeup.
Then, we went to one of our favorite seafood restaurants.
Blayke had even joined. It was the best nineteenth birthday I could ask for.
Three hundred and sixty-five days later, there was no two-piece set, even though my slightly pigmented, protruding belly wouldn’t allow it anyhow.
My nails hadn’t been done in ages. The shellac on my toes had grown out near the tips.
My hair wasn’t as bad as it should have been, thanks to my mother constantly brushing and oiling it.
The beat face I’d sported last year had been replaced by a beat-up one with purple welts, a dark ring under my left eye, and a lip held together by ugly stitching.
My face wouldn’t be the same for some time, if ever.
But I’d walked away with my life, and for that, I was grateful.
Movement in my arms made my eyes pop open.
It took a minute for my vision to adjust, but when it did, I couldn’t stop the smile on my face.
I couldn’t spread it wider because I didn’t want to bust my stitches.
My back was sweaty from the number of pillows stuffed behind me as I sat propped in the brand-new La-Z-Boy chair that had been moved next to my bed.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
My baby girl’s lip perked as she opened her eyes, staring right at me.
In the week I’d been out, she seemed to have gotten bigger.
My hand was still swollen and bruised from the IVs, but that didn’t stop me from running my hand down her silk head of hair.
I’d never seen a baby with as much hair as her in my life.
My “new mom” online research led me to videos of other moms saying heartburn during pregnancy equaled a head full of hair.
“Yet, I didn’t have any at all,” I said softly, voice not yet catching up with the morning.
There was no need to check her diaper. She’d been in the same one for three hours since I asked my mom to let her sleep in my arms during her six a.m. feeding.
Reaching onto the nightstand, which had been scooted away from the bed but was next to the chair, I grabbed the caddy my mommy had set up.
I wasn’t sure where she got it, but there was a cooling compartment where a bottle sat, keeping it from spoiling, and on the other side were wipes, diapers, a nose cleaner, nail clippers, an extra outfit, and a face cloth.
Placing her on my left leg, I lifted the gown she was wearing.
“Yep, you’re wet, stinky boots.”
“Glee, I could have done that.” My mommy yawned and stretched her arm above her head as she sat up in bed.
She had a room set up here, but she insisted on sleeping near me, especially since I wanted my baby right next to me. I trusted my mother and sister with my life, but after nearly losing my own, I wanted my daughter's eyes and her in close proximity at all times.
“It’s fine, mommy. You were with her earlier.”
And all through the night and yesterday and the day before that…
I was grateful for my mommy and knowing that she was taking to Baby Leader made this whole situation a tad bit lighter.
But in the few days I’d dealt with Baby Leader alone, our bond had grown stronger.
Just thinking about being taken away from her had my chest swelling, and a tear dropped from my face and onto my daughter’s little leg.
“Oh, baby…”
My mom scooted until her legs were able to hang on the side of the bed.
She was sleep-deprived, and I could see crinkles at the crease of her eyes that I’d never seen before.
My mother took good care of herself—always had.
Even when she and my dad were going through their marital issues, she was a looker.
She stood, removed Baby Leader from my lap, and pulled her little gown down. With one hand, she wrapped the diaper and placed it on the bed behind her. My mom was in a pale pink nightgown, and so was Baby Leader. If I’d had to guess, I’d say my mom purchased it as a set.
“God had another plan for you, Glee. These scars will heal, and so will your bones. My grandbaby will have the best mother. It wasn’t your time.
” She leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of my head.
“I’m so proud of you, baby girl. No matter what’s occurred.
Happy birthday, Calista. I’m going to go start breakfast.”
I reached for Baby Leader, but she playfully swatted my hand and then left the room. As soon as my mom walked out, Glow walked in.
“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Gleeeeee! Happy birthday to you,” she sang as she held obnoxiously big birthday balloons and a money bouquet.
Multiple gift bags, stacked onto each other, followed behind her in both hands of her husband.
My smile stretched further than it should’ve, causing me to wince. Glow dropped her grin, let the balloons float to the ceiling, and placed the money bouquet on my lap.
“Ugh, I forgot about your stitches. Sorry, sis.”
She sat on the side of the wide La-Z-Boy and lifted my face to inspect my lip. Concern etched her pretty face.
“It’s okay… I’m okay, Glow.”
That didn’t stop my big sister’s inspection.
“I gotta dip.” Tunan placed the gift bags on the bed so that they were within arm's reach. “Happy birthday, Glee.”
Glow turned, finally dropping my face. “You leaving?”
He rubbed his hand down the top of his head. “Yeah. I got some moves to make, my baby.” He sighed.
Glow shifted, and her body stilled against mine. “Umm.”
I pursed my lips, watching the tension. Poor Tunan. I loved my sister with all my heart, but she was possessive—had been her whole life. It took months of Blayke coming around for her to finally share me, and she still called her “the preacher’s kid” after all these years.
The way he was rubbing his head made me hold back a smirk. He already knew how crazy my sister was. He knew his wife was going to give him hell every chance she could.
“Thank y’all so much for the gifts, flowers, and balloons. Y’all didn’t have to.”
“It’s nothing,” he replied. His eyes were still on my sister, and hers were still on him.
“Where are you going all dressed up, though?”
I looked from my sister’s slanted eyes to my new brother-in-law. Tunan wasn’t nearly as dressed up as I’ve seen him before. Today, he was dressed nicely in a Nike set with a graphic T-shirt and matching shorts with some type of Nike running shoes.
“Want me to stay?” he asked, almost challenging my sister.
“Nah… You good.” Glow recoiled. She then turned her attention back to me, a smile back in place.
My sister was something else.
“Make sure you eat breakfast, Glow. I’ll bring lunch back.”
“You straight. Be safe.” She dismissed him.
Tunan chuckled and stared at her back for a beat before saying, “You heard what I said, Charisma,” and then made his exit.
I held onto my giggles until I heard the faint sound of the front door shutting. “Why are you so mean to him, sister?”
Glow reached around me and fluffed the pillows supporting my back. “And why you so nice to him?”
“Ehh, because I’m a nice human being.”
“Nah.” Glow punched the pillow. “Being nice is what got your ass with swollen, leaky breasts. You gotta be hard on these niggas.”
We both laughed, which had me clutching my stomach. I’d bruised my ribs in the crash. Thankfully, they weren’t broken, but they were still sore.
“Let me stop making you laugh. When Mama done cooking, you gotta take your meds.”
I wasn’t opposed. I didn't like the way they made me feel, but I liked how they took the pain away. The Lortab I’d been prescribed worked wonders, but the pills made me high out of my mind.
Now that I was home, I had to follow the instructions to a T so that Baby Leader wasn’t exposed to the medicine through my breast milk.
“But no, I don’t really know any other way to be with him. I don't know what we're doing.” Glow shrugged. “Enough about me. It's your day! Big two-oh! I can’t believe my sister is twenty.”
“I wrecked your car. You shouldn't have gotten me gifts,” I replied, not caring about my birthday. I felt so burdensome, especially after hearing about my sister’s condition being worse than I thought.
“Girl! Fuck that car. That’s what insurance is for.”
“No, it’s still messed up, Glow. And now, Mommy and I are about to be staying with you. Save your money, sister. I’m grateful, but”—I lifted the flowers—“Money flowers? They are wrapped in one-hundred-dollar bills. How many are there in this bouquet?”
“Fifty…” Glow quipped and grinned. “I counted. But the blue roses aren’t from me, boo. Tunan brought them in this morning.”
“Your husband?” I frowned.
“You and Mama with this husband word. But yes. And no, I don’t mind. You my sister. Any nigga that calls himself fooling with me better be willing to do for my two girls. Well, three, since I’m a TeeTee now.” Glow stood. “Speaking of TeeTee, let me go get my baby.”
“Glow… Thank you. Seriously.”
“No more tears, boo. We done cried enough. Time to get you healed so we can scratch off this summer list shit.”
“Even with a broken leg?”