Page 26

Tayla

W hen Brice pulled into Mrs. Rockwell’s driveway, I tried to let the engine rumble soothe my errant thoughts.

I’d let Brice drive my Chevelle SS, and while he was all smiles, my mind was in turmoil.

Somewhere between leaving the house and arriving here, I’d found myself jealous and saddened by the fact that everyone around me had experienced time with a loving mother.

“Damn I see why you love driving this car, I feel like ‘the man’ when I’m pushing it,” he said as he cut the engine and opened the door to climb out. He took notice when I hadn’t attempted to undo my seatbelt. He sat back inside and brought all of his attention to me.

“Tay, Baby, what’s wrong?” He asked, taking my chin to turn my face towards his. Concern was written all over his face.

“I’m embarrassed to say.”

“Tayla, it’s me you’re talking to.”

“I’m jealous of Stephon,” I blurted out .

“Why would you be jealous of Stephon? Is it because he’s with Jourdan? Damn Tay I knew y’all were close but I didn’t realize y’all were tribbing out,” he said and laughed.

“Boy, shut the hell up!” I said and laughed.

“Now that you’re smiling, tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Tell Dr. Washington what’s wrong so I can make it feel better,” My breath hitched, but I quickly caught it.

That damn pelvic sorcery!

“Although me and Stephon shared the same won’t shit father.

He was lucky enough to get a wonderful and caring mother.

When your mom died, I thought I could mend the one I had with Nina.

You see how that turned out. I wish I had a piece of what you all had and what Stephon still has.

It’s also why I cling so hard to Bryson.

I don’t want to mess this up with him.” I said and sighed.

“Baby, you’re not going to mess things up with Bryson, so get that shit out of your head.

Maybe you still can have the mother you always longed for, and she’s right there through the front door.

Family is the people you choose. It doesn’t have shit to do with blood.

You’ll never know if you sit in this car all day.

Let’s go inside and find out,” he said, gently kissing my lips.

I undid my seatbelt, and he walked around to help me out.

As we stood at the door, I took a deep breath before he rang the bell.

Even though I had met her the night before, I was still nervous.

The door popped open, and I was instantly taken aback by how beautiful and youthful she looked.

The women in her crew certainly knew how to take care of themselves.

She pulled me into a hug that brought calmness to my entire body.

I found myself closing my eyes and holding on for longer than I should have before I released her.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Rockwell,” I said.

“Nonsense. And call me Adri until you feel comfortable enough to call me Ma. I told Mija the same,” she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder and smiling before hugging Brice.

“You two, come on in. Stephon and Jourdan are in there, spoiling those babies. You would have thought they hadn’t seen them in a week.

They almost knocked me over as they tried to get to them.

I can’t believe I named that boy Angel,” she laughed.

At the mention of the babies again, I brushed past Brice and headed towards where I could hear Bryson’s little giggles.

“I heard that, Ma,” Stephon called out.

“Hush, you and I both know it was a damn mistake. Now don’t make me find my house shoe,” she said and laughed. Then she headed into the kitchen.

“Oop, I like her. She’s so spicy. Should we go help her out in there?” I said and smiled as we sat on the floor to join Jourdan and Steph. I hadn’t even sat down good before Jourdan was all over me, giving me the third degree.

“No girl, she’ll only kick us out. Now, tell me, did you say anything?”

“No, did you?”

“Girl, what do I look like? I’m The Lioness,” she said with confidence.

“Girl please is that what you said when he put that baby in you and sat your ass down?” I said and laughed. She rolled her eyes and gave me the middle finger. I nudged her shoulder and laughed again.

“He tried, though, all night long, if you can catch my drift,” I said and smiled hard.

“Ayyyyyyeee,” Jourdan said, giving me a high five. I caught the eye of Brice, who sat across from us, having a private conversation. He winked, then focused his attention back on Steph.

“What do you think they are up to?” I leaned into JoJo to ask.

“It’s no telling, and they call us sneaky, hmph. But they are definitely up to something.

“Did Steph tell you about last night. Nina’s ass sent someone after Brice.

Which means they’re coming for us all. I can’t believe I brought y’all into this shit.

This is not why I came here. I was supposed to kill her ass and get my damn family back.

That’s it and that’s all, but now there’s this.

We have to get this handled starting tonight.

Same as we talked about,” I said, and she nodded.

“Sounds like a plan. And stop saying shit like that. Did you forget that Nina knows who Stephon is, too, because of Julius? We can only hope he didn’t tell her about their alters. We’re in this together. Family!”

“Aye, Ma. Do you mind keeping the babies for one more night?” Steph yelled into the kitchen and asked.

“Yes, those are Abuela’s babies, and they can move in here if they want. You all enjoy your kid-free weekend; you can come back and pick them up on Sunday. Or don’t,” she said and snickered.

“Ms. Adri, are you trying to steal my baby?” I asked in mirth.

“Do you want me to lie to you? ”

“You heard that, didn’t you?” JoJo added.

I finally took a minute to look around. Her home felt so homely.

The kid’s toys were thrown here and there, and it was calm in the space.

I continued my perusal around the living room and stopped at the mantel.

On it sat three picture frames. One of Stephon and his father, another with them all together, and the most recent was minus his father but included Jourdan and Angel.

That’s when it hit me again, that somberness that likes to sneak in when I least expect it.

“Are you ready to eat, Mija?” Ms. Adri said as she leaned down, touching my shoulders. That’s when I felt this serenity wash over me. I felt safe, loved, and included. Stephon made me feel the same way whenever he touched me, too.

“Eat? That’s all you had to say,” I said as I stood to wash up. Stephon passed me in the hall, gently pushing me out of the way. He called himself, beating me to the bathroom.

“Jourdan, if you don’t get your baby, Al B. Sure, looking husband away from me,” I said, pushing him back.

“How I feel about you,” I sang all off-key to taunt him further.

“Where’s your jean jacket at?” I continued and laughed.

“Now you know what I go through with Brice,” she yelled. Stephon and I stood at the bathroom sink fighting over the soap until I elbowed him in the stomach. He leaned over, grabbing his stomach, laughing.

“Damn, Okoye, did you drink the heart shaped herb? Strong ass.”

“Oh fuck you Steph. Y’all gonna leave my hair alone.

Now, that’s what you get,” I said, giving him one more push before running out of the bathroom.

When I entered the kitchen, the babies were lying in bouncers, going through two bottles of formula.

Jourdan and Brice sat beside each other, leaving me beside Stephon.

His mother entered the room, bringing two large Puerto Rican Chicken and Rice dishes.

It smelled so good that my mouth began to water.

We each piled our plates high, said grace, and dug in.

“Denise told me that you’re the director at A Child’s Haven. She told me that she’s ready for you to come back,” Ms. Adri said.

“Yes, and I’m ready to go back, I’m just trying to make sure that my body is prepared to chase kids around all day,” I answered.

Another difference between our parents was that Stephon’s mother had no idea who he was outside of the son she raised.

I’d been told not to mention our alternate lifestyles, ever.

We were all raised in the game. Maybe things would have turned out differently for us had we not been.

“In speaking of A Child’s Haven. Ma, when will you finally give up the details on Mr. Declan?” JoJo asked.

“Wait, who is Mr. Declan?”

“Oh, that’s Devin’s fine sexy milk chocolate father-in-law,” Jourdan said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ms. Adri blush. I looked on in confusion because out of all my research, he wasn’t on my radar.

“Watch it, Jourdan,” Stephon said under his breath.

“Or what, Stephon?” Jourdan let out loudly. Stephon gave her one look, and she sank into her chair .

“I’m so sorry, Ma. But I need to know.” Jourdan apologized and continued fishing for information.

“What in the hell do you need to know for JoJo?” Steph said with his face scrunched up. We all heard the chair screech away from the table. Ms. Adri stood and gave us all unyielding looks.

“I am not and will never discuss my love life with any of you because you’re all too immature.”

“Love? What the hell do you mean by love, Ma?” Stephon asked like he had the right to.

“See what I mean, I’m going to get the dessert,” she said as she stood to walk out of the dining room. Stephon stood to get up behind her before Jourdan called out.

“Foo sit your ass down!” I heard him tsk under his breath.

“That part!” I added.

“What’s the deal, Steph? Come on, Baby-Boy: Jody, lil’ Jody. Mama gotta have a life too. You act like that man put you in a headlock and had you calling out for your mama,” Brice said and laughed.

“Yeah nah, y’all LA niggas not about to be hard R, and dead homie me to death tonight. Don’t ever compare me to one of them either. I’m Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn til’ I die,” Stephon said, then smirked.

“Yerr, Ok, Son! Steph, I’m gone hold your hand when I say this, but you’re ‘deadass’ from North Carolina.

Cypress Crest til’ you die!” Brice said, causing us all to burst out laughing.

Stephon’s mom eventually returned with the dessert while we tried to convince Stephon the rest of the night that he needed to let go of New York because he’d technically lived here longer.

I looked around at the people in the room and felt whole for the first time in a long time.

This was my family, and I would kill anyone who dared to take it away from me.