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“Thanks.” Kiki offered a hesitant smile.
She definitely wasn’t an easy sell. She didn’t trust very easily, but when she did, she gave her whole heart. I guess she was a lot like me that way.
The three of us moved back into the dining room and sat down at the table.
I’d made some fresh lemonade and brought the pitcher out. I’d bought some beer in case Troy wanted one, but when I offered it, he opted for lemonade instead.
Kiki served herself a slice of pizza and blew on it while she waited for it to cool. She watched Troy intently as he poured hot red pepper flakes onto his own slice. I opened my sushi, which looked so fresh and vibrant, an array of bright pink and coral colors.
“That stuff makes my tongue want to fall out,” my niece announced as she stared over at Troy’s pizza. “I accidentally ate some once.”
“They’re not for everyone.” He winked. “But I can take the heat.”
Pouring Tamari sauce into a small, glass dish, I said, “Thank you for making an extra trip to get the sushi. That was really thoughtful.”
Troy smiled. “It was no problem at all.”
We dug into our food.
“So, what do you like to do for fun, Kiki…besides water gun attacks?”
She momentarily stopped chewing. “Play video games, I guess.”
He wiped his mouth. “What do you play?”
“Super Mario.”
“I used to play that when I was a kid, too.”
“Mario was around back then?” she said.
Troy looked over at me and laughed. “Yeah, in the Stone Ages when I was a kid, they had that game. It’s a classic.”
“You went to school with my aunt in the Stone Ages?”
“Yup. Hopefully, she didn’t tell you too much about those days, though.”
“I didn’t say a word,” I assured him.
“Phew.” He pretended to wipe sweat off his forehead.
“Did you know my mom?” Kiki asked.
Troy paused. “No.” He looked over at me for guidance.
“Your mom was a few years older than us,” I told her. “And she went to a different high school.”
“Oh,” she said.
“I didn’t know her, but I wish I did,” Troy added.
“I never knew her, either.” Kiki frowned. “At least I don’t remember her. I was only six months old when she died.”
The mood suddenly turned somber.
“I’m sorry,” he said, setting his slice of pizza down. He was silent for a while. “I know how it feels not to have a mom around growing up.”
“You do?” Kiki asked with a mouth full of pizza.
“Yeah…” he whispered. “I do.”
My heart clenched.
“Your mom died when you were little?” she asked.
He was quiet for the longest time before he finally answered, “No...”
My eyes widened. Jasmine had told me Troy’s mother passed away when he was a baby.
“What happened?” my niece asked.
Troy wiped the corner of his mouth. “There are different ways to lose parents. The worst way, of course, is if your parent dies. Nothing is worse than that. But my mom…she left when I was a baby because she didn’t want to be a mother.”
What?
Kiki tilted her head. “You never saw her when you were a kid?”
“She left when I was too young to remember. But…she’s since passed away.”
“Wow,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He nodded. “Thank you.” He looked back over at Kiki. “Anyway, I’m telling you this because I know how it is to feel like you’re different from all the other kids because they have a mom and you don’t. I totally get it, Kiki. But you know, your mom never wanted to leave you. She’d be here with you if she could. And I’m sure she’s with you in spirit every day.”
My niece nodded. “Yeah. My dad, too. They died together. They watch over me and Auntie Aspyn. And Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Yup.” He smiled.
I had never spoken to Troy about the accident. I’d have some explaining to do later. My heart felt heavy as we continued to eat in silence for a few minutes. Everything I thought I knew about Troy’s situation had gone out the window.
Kiki suddenly got up from the table. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay,” I said as she ran down the hall.
I hoped she was alright. I couldn’t tell if she actually had to go or was just feeling emotional.
After she was out of earshot, Troy turned to me and whispered, “Well, that was a heavier conversation than I was expecting to have over pizza.”
“Things escalate fast in this house sometimes.” I cleared my throat. “I didn’t know that about your mother. Jasmine told me she died when you were little. Did you never tell her what actually happened?”
He shook his head. “Back then, I was really bitter. Whenever anyone asked me where my mother was, I told them she died when I was a baby. Because she was dead to me, you know? In retrospect, that was dumb. I should’ve never lied about something like that. But I didn’t give a fuck back then. Didn’t know better. I didn’t realize the extent of that mistake until she actually died, and I knew I’d never have a relationship with her.”
