Ledge’s arm went around her waist, tugging her away from Harbor while Free stared her down. I couldn’t see his face, but it must have been a menacing stare because it backed her down.
“Harbor, I’m sorry. I should have left her home.” I apologized.
“Always the one trying to make things better for her,” Harmonie mocked angrily while Ledge pulled her toward the door.
“And you’re always the one fucking up!” I barked. “Let’s go.”
She fought and wrestled herself out of Ledge’s hold and mugged him up and down before she cut her eyes toward Free and Harbor. He stood protectively in front of her, blocking Harmonie’s access.
“No! I don’t want to go with you! Go to hell! I want to leave. I’ll call my own ride!” She dug her phone out of her crossbody bag. “I’m sure ya boy Lock would love to know what you’re up to, playing house with a man that allegedly abducted you. He andI have gotten pretty close since you’ve been gone.” Harmonie continued to provoke her sister, trying her best to get some kind of reaction from her.
Harbor snatched up the closest object near her, which just so happened to be one of the glass bowls with Ivy’s picture inside it.
She moved fast, snatching the photo out and hurling it across the patio with the arm of a pitcher. Her aim was a little off, so Harmonie was able to dodge it before it shattered at her feet. Glass nicked her ankles, and screams belted from her.
“Get that bitch out of here!” Harbor barked, aiming a finger toward the door.
Ledge nudged my other daughter along, even though she was yelling obscenities and doing her best to get at Harbor before she left. The crowd was awestruck, as if a movie played out before them. The woman that I assumed was possibly Ivy’s mother seemed pretty satisfied with the turn of events. She sipped from her cup, one arm tucked across her chest as she propped up the other one in front of her. She guzzled her drink and continued to stew in silent bliss at Harbor’s misery. Harbor buried her face in her hands and trembled as Frequency stepped into her personal space.
“Hey.” His voice brought her eyes up.
Both of his hands gripped her wrists, bringing both of her arms to her side. He kept a firm hold on her, and I immediately saw the shift of the energy flowing through her. He whispered something in her ear before his lips graced her forehead. Harbor collected herself before bringing her eyes up into his. She nodded without a word and swiped her hands down her shorts.
“Thank you everyone for coming. What’s a birthday party without a little family dysfunction.” She burst into awkward laughter, and eventually, a few of the guests did too. “Please enjoy yourselves. I am going to check on the smaller children.”
“Iget everything I want cause I attract it…”
Harbor
The sweaton my neck only further infuriated me as I tugged on the collar of my shirt. My legs were like fifty-pound weights as I took slow strides back inside the house. I could feel the eyes all over me. There was enough speculation about me and Frequency, so this was only adding fuel to an already-blazing fire. Once I was inside and realized I was alone, I went for the nearest bottle of alcohol that I could find. Fuck a cup or a shot. I swallowed that shit until my throat burned and I couldn’t breathe.
Gasping for air, I slammed the pint of D’Ussé that Chevy and pulled out down on the counter. The strong but almost-sweetened taste dripped down my chin, and I brought the back of my hand up to wipe it off. I replayed everything that Harmonie and I said to one another back and forth. This was my sister, yet we couldn’t be further apart on the spectrum.
Grabbing the bottle, I made my way to the table where we typically ate breakfast, bottle in hand as I slid helplessly down into a chair that was already pulled out. The bottle rested between my legs, but I brought it to my lips as soon as Ledge stumbled in taking in a few deep breaths.
“Damn, yo’ sister got some bite. Crazy ass.” He dusted his pants off while making his way over to me as I chugged on the cognac in my hand.
“Are you sure she’s gone?” I questioned, eyes lowering to the ground.
“Yeah. I had D make sure she got to the other side of the fence,” he assured me. “So I guess you two aren’t close.” He pulled out the chair across from me and plopped down.
“We were, once upon a time. Before my mama ran off and everything turned upside down. Even then, Harmonie seemed to always have some kind of hidden animosity. She would crack a joke here or there that just took it a little too far. But she was my sister.” I shrugged, and Ledge bobbed his head as if he knew something about it.
“Well, one thing’s for sure, she don’t know shit about you, Free, and everything between y’all. So don’t let that shit get in your head.” I was still surprised most of the time when we had conversations how relatable and knowledgeable he actually was. When we first met, you couldn’t tell me that he wasn’t the devil’s son.
“I don’t need Harmonie for that. Ivana is a walking reminder.” I took the bottle and brought it to my lips once more.
“Shit, don’t let her live in there rent free either. Everything about her being here is a red flag.”
“You weren’t exactly a fan of me when I first got here,” I mocked him, setting the bottle on the table.
“That wasn’t because of you though,” he admitted, one hand resting on the table in front of him.
He was relaxed, but I could tell he was also high.
“Now that I am getting to know you, what I did to you is one thing I will always regret. I took away your choices, your life, and that wasn’t right?—”
“That’s true. I still think I got some kind of psychological trauma stashed somewhere. But…” My chest seemed to lighten, and it was as if my mind had been swept clean. “I can honestly say now, I don’t know where I would be without that experience. It could have been worse, and me making excuses sounds… ridiculous. If people knew that story floating around had some truth to it—” I shook my head. “But it hasn’t been that in a long time. We have children now, and I love him, more than I’ve ever loved anybody in my whole life. But he loves her?—”
