“It doesn’t really work like that, baby,” Iskyiah said. She didn’t know how to explain to a ten-year-old that men were terrible. She also didn’t want to ruin her baby’s understandingof fairytales. She deserved to live in those dreams for as long as possible, but Iskyiah knew that when Brooke experienced her first heartbreak, she would be there to help her through it. She had enough experience in that department to be a damn life coach.
“Maybe Uncle has some friends he can introduce you to,” Brooke suggested hopefully.
Iskyiah snorted. “We know all of your uncle’s friends. Not a chance, Brooke.”
Brooke thought about it before she nodded slowly. “I guess you’re right, but Mommy?”
“Yes, my love?” Iskyiah said as she caressed Brooke’s cheek.
“Try for me, okay? I think having a daddy would be pretty cool.”
Iskyiah couldn’t do anything but nod, though she knew there would be no trying. She stood and held her hand out for Brooke while she grabbed her overnight bag.
Together, they walked into the apartment building entryway and buzzed in. Brooke let go of her mother’s hand, suddenly excited to see her uncle. Iskyiah chuckled as she shook her head. Just like that, Brooke was happy again.
To be a kid again. Not a worry in the world, Iskyiah mused.
Brooke didn’t even knock on the door. She just twisted the doorknob and let herself in. “Uncle, I’m here!”
“Girl, ya mama ain’t teach you no home training? You can’t just walk into people’s houses,” Hassan said as he rounded the corner.
Brooke stopped as she looked up at him. “I don’t walk into people’s houses. I walk into your house and god mom’s house.”
Hassan shook his head with a playful smile. He ruffled her head, and Brooke swatted him away before she turned and gave Iskyiah a hug. “Love you, Mama. Fly safe.”
Iskyiah hugged her tightly. “I’ll let you know when I land.”
Brooke took off running, and Iskyiah gave her attention to Hassan, who had on some gym shorts and a black T-shirt. His afro was lopsided as if he had just woken up. She gently punched him on his muscled arm. “Late night?”
Hassan grinned. “With the biggest booty girl I ever met?—”
“Okay, on that note, I gotta go. Sophie is going to take Brooke for a few hours tonight when she gets off work.”
She turned to leave, but Hassan caught her by the arm. “You good?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, but he didn’t seem convinced.
He pulled her in for a hug, and she sank into him. Hassan had always been a safe space for her, no matter how bad he got on her nerves. She wished she could hang out with him and Brooke today. It was beyond her how this day went from excitement for her new job to depression over things she couldn’t control.
When he pulled away, Hassan looked down at her in concern. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
Iskyiah tried to blink back her tears. She knew she probably looked crazy, but there was no way she would cry right now.
“Brooke asked about her daddy and informed me that she wants a daddy. She wants me to find her one.”
“First of all, fuck Charles. Fuck ass nigga?—”
“Hassan,” Iskyiah hissed. She didn’t want Brooke to hear him, though his words were true.
“—And second of all, she ain’t wrong. You should date,” he said as if she hadn’t even interrupted him.
Her eyes widened. “Okay, I really have to go before I miss this flight and fuck up this opportunity. I’ll let you know when I land. Love you.”
She quickly walked back out the door and closed it before Hassan could say anything. As she walked down the hall, Hassanpoked his head out the door and shouted, “Love yo’ stubborn ass too!”
She shook her head with a smile on her face as she kept walking. Her heart felt heavy as she got back into her car. She allowed herself five seconds to lean her head on the steering wheel and shake the rough start to the day.
After a couple of deep breaths, she started her car and used her GPS to navigate her toward the airstrip. Her mind wandered as she thought about her life. She provided beautifully for Brooke, but she couldn’t lie and say it was easy. The only family she had left was Hassan. Their grandmother had died a few years ago, and that had hurt Iskyiah to her core. Grandma Wanda may have been a hard ass, but she loved the hell out of her grandkids. After her parents died, her grandmother had given her and Hassan everything they needed, including love.
