Page 46 of Quiet as Kept
Again, she started up with the fake, forced tears. Mercifully, a text came through from Dawn.
“Listen, I honestly can’t handle your baggage and my own. Your flight’s leaving out of Hartsfield in the morning?—”
She cut me off. “Atlanta?”
“Yeah, and you know you need to be there hella early because Atlanta’s airport is crazy. You’re flying direct to London. When you get there, you need to reach out to Dawn. She can make arrangements for your belongings to be shipped to the spot in Miami.”
“Thank you, Kept. Thank you.” Her expression turned contemplative, and I already knew what she was thinking.
“Yeah, I’ll have Dawn wire a couple of stacks to your bank account.”
She basically vibrated with happiness, which made me feel some type of way. But at the end of the day, I wanted her gone. If money would do that, then I was glad I had it to spare.
“One deposit,” I told her. “I’m paying for the plane ticket. I’m letting you stay at the spot in Miami rent free, and I’m making one deposit into your account. This is a one-shot deal. There won’t be any repeat performances. The next bind you end up in, you’re gonna have to figure a way to get your own self out of it.”
About an hour later, I watched Jayla pull away from my house and relief settled over me. I walked into the kitchen to fix myself something to eat because breakfast was a distant memory. Through the windows of the enclosed back porch, I could see Yahirah, Nehemiah, Trinity, Ayden, and Cecily on the back deck with Aunt Reese.
Nehemiah peeked his head into the kitchen. “Yo, grab Xari and meet us on the deck right quick. My mother has something to tell us before me and Cecily head back to Nashville and Yahirah and Ayden head back to the A-T-L.”
“Cool,” I agreed.
A few moments later, Xarielle and I joined the others at the dining table on the back deck.
“I wanted to keep this information to myself, but I knew that wouldn’t be fair,” she began.
“Oh no. What’s wrong, Mama?” Tears were already forming in Yahirah’s eyes.
Nehemiah stiffened. Xarielle sat forward in her chair. I actually sat back.
“My doctor has recommended that I have surgery to remove a large fibroid. It’s causing a lot of issues for me, and it would be best to get it out.”
Yahirah immediately burst into tears. She grabbed her daughter’s hand and squeezed.
“It’s okay, Hi,” she assured her. “It’s giving me so much pain, baby. I wouldn’t risk an operation if it wasn’t. Once they get it out, I’ll have my life back.”
“When is the surgery, Mama?” Xarielle seemed to be the only one who could find her voice because the rest of us stayed uncharacteristically quiet.
“Next month?—”
“Who is this doctor? I’mma need to talk to him before I agree to any surgery.”
“You need to talk to him?” Nehemiah scoffed.
“I’m a health care professional, Nee, in case you forgot. And I need to speak to this doctor before I’ll allow him to go cutting on my mama. I need to make sure he’s not a quack!”
“He’s not a quack.” Aunt Reese gave a chuckle. “He’s been my gynecologist for years. I trust him. But, if it’ll make you feel more comfortable and more at peace with the idea of me having surgery, I’ll give you his name and number.”
“Thank you,” Yahirah said, rolling her eyes at Nehemiah.
“Of course, baby.”
“We’ll be there for the surgery,” Yahirah added. “I mean, I can’t speak for Ayden, but I’ll be there, Mama. I’ll fly into Londynville and be with you.”
“Me too.” Nehemiah croaked before clearing his throat. “Just make sure I have the info—the time, the date. I’ll definitely fly in.”
“We’ll be there too,” I assured her. “Xari and I are definitely coming.”
“I’ll fly in to watch the girls,” Trinity said. “Like Nee said, just give us the particulars.”