Page 78 of The Cost of Love

“What?” Imani asks, already in the know about how we are affording this.

“Once again, are you selling drugs?” Jamal pulls at his fro before catching my eyes and patting it back down.

“No, um, Alex from the hospital, that guy, well, we are dating, and he offered to pay for our place.”

Gabby claps, and Jamal looks more concerned than he did when he thought I was a trap queen.

“That a good idea?” he asks.

“We didn’t have many other choices,” Imani says.

“I had figured it out. This was just the better option. This way I can work only one job, and be around more. Also, we can finally have some savings. Enough that if he doesn’t renew the lease, we will have money to move somewhere else.”

He releases a breath at that and stops picking at his hair.

“She can also be a chef now,” Imani says, sounding so proud.

“Will you make the people your cheesy shepherd’s pie?” Gabby asks, reminding me of one of my better budget meals.

“Maybe. But tonight I’ll cook something good to show you what I can do with fresh ingredients.”

This gets them all excited and motivated to start moving. With the money I saved for rent, I was able to thrift enough bed frames and mattresses for the three of them to have full-sized ones, and I took on the single from Jamal’s room for now. That with our dressers and reliable, if not run-down, couch, we have enough to get by for a while. Alex’s housewarming gift, because apparently the place itself wasn’t enough, is a new sixty-inch TV with subscriptions included, which gets a louder applause than the beds did.

It also causes them to stop unpacking once the deliverer sets it up. I let them indulge and create profiles while I get the food started. Just as I get the beef tenderloin in the oven, Jamal walks into the kitchen. Still nervous around the stove, he stands back near the door.

“You okay, love?” I ask.

“I want to meet this guy. I don’t trust him.” He crosses his arms and lifts his chin, going into full-blown brother mode.

“That’s fair, but you trust me, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Just know I wouldn’t do anything to put you guys at risk. There is no way for him to sabotage this.”

So used to our mum’s choice in men, I get him having his concerns. On more than one occasion, they screwed us over once our mother wasn’t satisfying them anymore. One of the many reasons I also didn’t trust this at first.

“It’s not just that. This is the first time you are dating someone. Well, that we know of. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He comes and wraps his arms around my middle, squeezing me tight, reminding me once again that they care about me as much as I care about them. When he lets go, he grabs my hand. “I just want to make sure he is good to you. Paying for things is cool and all, but other stuff matters too.”

So proud of him for knowing that, I have to stop myself from crying at the display of how well they are turning out. Despite all odds, these kids are going to be equipped for this world.

“Don’t worry, I know that, and I made sure he was able to do the other stuff before I let him pay for anything big. But I still think it’s good for you guys to check him out.”

He lifts his chest and somehow makes himself look a little taller. In a few years, he’ll be a teenager, and someone will need to help whatever little boys like Gabby.

I give him another hug for good measure and then join them in the living room. When Gabby tastes the food, she proclaims this is her new favorite, making us all laugh.

We push all the mattresses in front of the TV and sprawl out all together. Despite all the space we now have, we still don’t want to be too far from each other. Through the good times and the bad, our bond is solidified. Even if our mother tries to come between us, I will make sure it stays strong.

I guess I’m not the only one thinking about that because after the second movie, Jamal sighs.

“What are you going to do with this place when they send us back?” he asks.

“If,” Imani says instantly.

He rolls his eyes.

“She’s right, it’s an “if”. I got us a solicitor, and she says we have a good case.”