Page 29 of Butterfly 6, Phase 1

“Is everything okay? You’re quiet,” Alani noticed.

Ethic breathed a sigh of relief as he hit the button to the gate and pulled inside. “Everything’s fine, baby,” he assured her. Only it wasn’t. Somebody was on his ass. If his family hadn’t been in the car with him, Ethic would have taken straight head shots, but he couldn’t traumatize Bella in that way.

The home sat at the top of a winding road, and Alani stared ahead, marveling at its beauty. She had been in such a rush to flee this place that she hadn’t truly appreciated its magnificence.

“We’re a long way from Susan Street,” she mumbled, as they drove onto the property, passing full-grown trees and rolling over a bridge that sat over a creek.

“Susan Street is better,” Eazy piped up from the backseat.

“Can’t disagree there,” Bella said in a shaky voice.

“Good to know,” Ethic answered, scoffing. He was trying to bring himself back to the present moment, but the notion of any kind of threat put him in a deadly mood. “My spoiled kids like the simpler things in life.” He worked extremely hard to provide a life of leisure and opportunity for his family, but he understood why they preferred the cramped, two-story, 1,800-square-feet, mid-century home.

“Nannie’s house smells like cornbread all the time, and there are always kids outside. And we don’t have to talk to each other through an intercom. And she cooks the best breakfast every morning,” Eazy stated.

Ethic had been the recipient of those infamous grits plenty of times.

“You got a point there, Big Man,” Ethic replied, smiling as he held up a fist for Eazy to pound. “Nannie can burn in the kitchen. Best food I’ve ever tasted.”

“Excuse me?” Alani joked.

“The student never surpasses the teacher, baby,” Ethic schooled, smirking. “You good, but you ain’t that good. Respect your elders. If she had agreed, she would be in this car coming home with us.”

“Ain’t that some shit,” Alani replied, laughing.

Ethic pulled into the six-car garage.

Alani opened her door, and Ethic placed a hand on her elbow. “Wait, you know better. You don’t touch no doors. Eazy, help me with the bags, baby boy,” Ethic said. He retrieved Alani from the passenger side, carefully providing support with one arm as he grabbed True’s car seat from Bella with his free hand.

“You good? Your legs feel strong?” Ethic asked.

“They’re getting there,” she replied as they took slow steps toward the door. Alani was putting on a brave face. She desperately wanted to accelerate the healing process, but the weight of her body made her legs feel like twigs. She was breaking a sweat from just trying to make it up the walkway.

Bella held open the door as her parents walked inside.

Mara greeted them with shock. “Welcome back! I wasn’t expecting you so soon! I wanted to have a beautiful floral arrangement set up for you!”

Ethic frowned. “I texted you and let you know we were en route. You didn’t get it?” he asked.

Alani froze when she saw Mara standing before her. A forced smile was all Alani could offer. Why is he texting this lady? she thought.

Mara retrieved her phone from her scrubs and scoffed. “I see that now,” she said, checking her texts. “I was so busy, I missed it.”

“What is she doing here?” Alani asked under her breath as she turned to Ethic.

“She’s here to help, baby,” Ethic whispered as he delivered a kiss to Alani’s cheek. “She’s been preparing for you for the past 24 hours.”

“She was here with you? Overnight? She’s living here now?” Alani asked, her words hushed and laced in defiance.

Ethic removed Alani’s jacket and hung it on the hooks near the door before facing her. He cupped her face and kissed her lips. Another peck of reassurance. It was a twisted duality to have to appear calm when every alarm inside of his body was blaring. His mind was on the highway, but he was needed here, for the time being. “Just for a little while, baby, until I’m sure you can move around without help. It’ll expedite your healing.”

“Can I help?” Mara asked, reaching for True’s car seat at Ethic’s feet.

Alani watched as Ethic handed their daughter off to Mara.

Eazy came through the door, struggling with the bags, bumping into the walls loudly.

“Here, I’ll help her while you help, Eazy,” Mara offered. With one hand extended for Alani, and one hand wrapped around the handle of the car seat, Mara led them into the kitchen.