Page 15 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)

Isley

“Ouch,” I groaned as she ran over my ankle in the motorized shopping cart. I looked down to assess the damage. It was just a small scrape.

“Oh baby, I’m so sorry. My perception is still off a little bit,” Aunt Fee admitted.

I giggled. “It’s okay. I’m not bleeding.”

We were out getting a few groceries for the house.

Typically, I did the shopping alone, but she asked to tag along.

I was happy she felt good enough to accompany me to the store and I didn’t mind having company.

After her amputation, she suffered from severe depression.

Not being able to move around like she once had really taken a toll on her.

Her self-esteem took a tremendous hit. She was no longer the outgoing Aunt Fee she used to be.

It didn’t help that her raggedy ass son was never around to spend time with her.

I would give anything to have my mother back, but my cousin Scrap couldn’t be bothered to spend any time with his.

He only came around when it was time to beg for money.

“How’s Marshall been doing? I haven’t seen him around in a while.”

I sighed as I reached for a bottle of olive oil. “We broke up.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that,” she replied as she carefully turned the corner toward the produce section.

“It’s okay.” I shrugged. “I don’t think we were meant to be.”

“I understand that. I’m proud of you for making the decision to walk away. So many women stay in relationships that they know aren’t headed anywhere just to say they have a man.”

“Yeah. I definitely understand that. I just need to focus on me.”

Aunt Fee abruptly stopped her chair. “You really should focus on you, Isley. You’re such a kind hearted, giving person. I feel guilty because I know I’ve played a part in holding you back.”

“No, don’t say that, Auntie.”

I didn’t want to admit it. Guilt plagued me every single time the thoughts crossed my mind.

My aunt didn’t hesitate to take me in when my mom and brother passed away.

She came to Arkansas and packed me up and brought me to live with her and her young son.

Aunt Fee loved on me and treated me like I was her own.

“You’ll never admit it because you are such a loving person. But when my health started to decline, you put my needs above yours. I just wish Steven would come around more to relieve you. You need a life outside of me.”

“I don’t mind helping you, Auntie. The only thing I’m concerned with is saving money right now. Everything else will fall in place when the time comes.”

When we made it home, Aunt Fee requested broccoli and cheese casserole for dinner.

I didn’t mind. I preferred a quick and easy meal seeing that my energy was almost nonexistent.

The doctor’s office told me to start taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid.

They also scheduled me for an appointment at nine weeks.

I still hadn’t decided if I was actually going to go through with the pregnancy.

I had given myself one more week to make a final decision.

I was removing the casserole from the oven when I heard the doorknob turn. My mood instantly soured like milk that had been sitting out in the summer heat.

“Hello baby, you finally came around to see your mama?” Aunt Fee’s face brightened when Scrap entered the apartment.

“Hey, Mama.” He plopped down on the sofa beside her. “What you cooking, Isley?”

I blew out a breath. I didn’t even want to speak to that sorry nigga.

“She cooking my favorite, broccoli casserole,” Aunt Fee answered. “You staying for dinner?”

“I don’t eat broccoli. I hate vegetables, you know that.”

Grown ass nigga admitting that he didn’t like vegetables should be against the law.

As wide as he was around the waist, all he needed was some vegetables.

Auntie and I both knew why the nigga was even here.

He didn’t show up to see how his mama was doing or to spend any time with her.

Scrap didn’t even pretend to do all of that.

He was always clear with his intentions and motives.

“I know, baby… but you have to start taking your health seriously. You know sugar runs in the family. I don’t want you to end up missing a leg like me.”

“I don’t want to hear all of that… you got a hundred dollars that I can have?”

My blood boiled. I literally had to bite my lip to keep from going off.

“Now Steven, I don’t get paid until the fifteenth. You know that,” she replied.

“Can’t you just get it from Isley?”

“Excuse me?” I finally spoke.

“No, Steven. Isley does enough as it is. It’s not fair to keep asking her for money. What you need it for anyway?”

“I need some gas and to buy some food.”

“Why do you need gas? It’s not like you have a job. It’s not like you to take your mama to any of her appointments.” I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. I was fed up.

“Stay out of this, Isley,” Scrap warned.

“You literally brought my name up,” I replied. “Would it hurt you to come home and sit with your mama without having your hand out?”

“Fuck you!”

Aunt Fee’s eyes widened with surprise. “Steven! Watch your mouth. You know you’re wrong!”

“Man, fuck this!” He jumped up from the couch. “I don’t have to listen to this bullshit. If you ain’t got no money for me then ain’t no sense of me being around. I’ll make something shake on my own.”

He glared at me as he headed to the door. I stood with my arms crossed and lips pursed.

“Steven, don’t do nothing crazy. I don’t have no money to bail you out of jail.”

“Don’t worry about me,” he spat before storming out of the door and slamming it shut behind him.

“I just don’t understand him sometimes.” Aunt Fee’s voice broke.

“Oh Auntie, don’t cry.” I walked over and took a seat beside her. She laid her head on my shoulder as I wrapped my arm around her gently. “You did the best that you could. Scrap just has some more growing up to do. That frontal lobe still developing.”

She sniffled. “I know. I just pray that he straightens up soon. I worry so much about him.”

“That’s understandable. He’s your son. No matter how old he gets, he’ll always be your baby. You have to show him tough love sometimes though. Otherwise, he’ll never change.”

“Yeah. Laura Mae told me that I coddle him too much. I was so mad when she said it, but maybe she was right.”

I didn’t bother confirming. But I agreed with our neighbor Ms. Laura Mae. I was just glad that Aunt Fee was opening her eyes to Scrap’s bullshit. I only hoped that he would get himself together while his mom was still here.