They both gleamed like it was Christmas and it warmed my heart. I took pictures of them with their new toys and we snuggled to watch movies. It was the perfect night. The kids of course were out like lights before the second movie credits couldeven complete. They’d had a long day visiting my aunt Sheema, and she was known for putting kids to work around her house so I knew their fatigue was legit. I decided to text Ledge, since I was now up watchingMoanaby my damn self at this point, making myself fat with all these zoo zoos and wam wams as my granny would have called them.
Me: Got the flowers. That’s not like you.
Headache: Trying to step outside the box.
Me: The kids say thank you for their gifts.
Headache: And what does mama say?
Me: Nice try, dirtbag.
Headache: Love you too.
Ugh!!How was it this fool still managed to get under me? I tossed my phone to the side and decided that was it for the evening. I wasn’t about to entertain him. I was tired any damn way. Dozing off with Laiyah leaned against me on one side and Landyn on the other, I got comfortable. It was after eleven pm when the house phone trilled loud enough to wake me. Me and the kids were still stretched out, and the home screen for the Roku TV was displayed. I sat up, reaching for the phone and not even bothering with the caller ID.
“Hello.” I snapped, wondering who the fuck was calling me this late to begin with.
All I got was heavy breathing on the other end.
“Who the fuck is this!” I brought the phone from my face and glanced at the display.
I didn’t recognize the unknown number. Before I had the change to hang up, the line clicked. I tried not to give it a secondthought. I took the kids up to their beds and then went to shower and get comfy myself. Shit felt off. Ledge not being around and knowing he was going through some shit was also leaving me paranoid. I checked all the damn locks in the house before retiring to bed, alone. I kept a .45 in the night table beside me, and I knew how to use that shit, so I managed to sleep a little lighter.
The next day…
It was Sunday,and I began my day like any other. I was up before the kids and my granny was calling on my way downstairs to whip up breakfast. My kids didn’t do that cereal shit. That was a snack to them for breakfast, so I always had to end up making something warm for them to even eat anything.
“Good morning, baby doll,” My grandmother greeted me as I went to brew some coffee on my Keurig.
“Hey, Granny,” I greeted her.
“How are you and ’dem babies doing?” Granny asked, voice as sweet as honey like always.
“Oh, we are good. They still sleeping.”
“Mmm, okay and how are you doing?” Granny pressed.
She knew that Ledge and I were toxic and had been since day one. She called it and had been hanging on to that shit.
“I’m okay.” I lied, still feeling some kind of way about the phone call I got last night.
I tried to let that shit go, but my nerves were too bad for this shit.
“You know it’s okay not to be sometimes, baby. This task is not easy or light. Being a woman is one thing, but a black woman bears a different kind of burden. The battles we face are heavy compared to anybody but a black man.” She reminded me.
“I know, Granny.” I sighed and stuck my coffee in the Keurig so it could brew.
Pushing my back to the counter, I shook my head as thoughts of Ledge filled my mind.
“Speaking of, how is that shiesty ass baby daddy of yours?” She queried, making me fall over laughing.
“Ledge is preoccupied with work, Granny.”
“Hmm, I’m sure he is.” She muttered.
She never cared much for my baby daddy. From the day she met Knowledge she told me that he was damaged and in need of healing. She didn’t think he was necessarily a bad man, just not the best for me at the time. My Granny was always able to see through anybody. She was part creole and growing up in the south she claimed she was a visionary and could see things that other people couldn’t. It was eerie sometimes how right she was.
“I was just calling to check on you. I had a funny feeling and wanted to make sure you and them babies were safe.” Granny conveyed.
