Page 10 of Royce (Atkins Family Saga #1)

Six

Klarity

“ C J, baby, we have to go. Please go get your bookbag. Auntie Symphony is waiting for us.” Bedrest was what Dr. Bloom ordered, and I just couldn’t stay put.

Besides always making sure CJ was at daycare on time, I still had to figure out what the hell I was going to do about a job.

Turning down Pledis Bank was one of the hardest things I had to do, especially when they were so damn understanding.

However, I didn’t want to hold up the line for them finding someone else who had the time.

I also knew working would’ve sent me into premature labor and I wanted my daughter to bake as long as she could. I owed her that much.

“Mommy, I ready,” CJ said coming around the corner full speed. He had his book bag in tow and an applesauce packet in the other.

“I see that. Come on sweetheart.” I grabbed him by the hand and walked us out the door.

After locking up, we piled in the car with me strapping him up in his seat before getting comfortable in the driver’s.

I turned on some music from Gracie’s Corner and let it play as he sang along.

CJ was an active child who always ran to his destination or crawled.

He kept a smile on his face, sometimes being the cause of one showing on mine.

I loved how content he was and how enjoying life was all the responsibility he had.

He made being his mommy something to brag about.

I backed out of the driveway and hit the main road. My aunt’s daycare was semi across town but he went for free so I couldn’t complain too much. She made sure my son was well taken care of and around others developing social skills. I was more than grateful for her looking out the way she did.

Serinity got her attitude and gentle spirit from her.

Aunt Symphony never questioned me about my mother or if my mother talked about her crazy.

All she saw was me and Seri being click tight and adjusted to it.

Whatever beef she had with my mama, she didn’t let it affect how she loved me.

She had no idea how much that made me look at her as a grown, unbothered, and content woman instead of a bitter, angry one all the time. My mama was the latter no doubt.

I cruised through traffic with CJ singing along to the music. I couldn’t help but be happy with how happy he was. His father wasn’t shit and more than likely Seri was right about him not knowing Cojak by the time he came home. My focus was on getting a peaceful life and maintaining it.

By the time we made it to Tiny Treasures, it was a little after seven. He had enough time to eat breakfast with the other kids. Even if he didn’t, his auntie would’ve stopped the day just for him. I really adored the love she showed him.

Climbing out the front seat, I opened CJ’s door and helped him out the truck. We were still borrowing Seri’s car, and I was thankful for it. Without her, I probably would’ve been in a corner somewhere crying about something else I couldn’t handle at the moment.

CJ ran to the door and banged on it calling for my aunt right after. “TT Symmi it’s me!” he shouted.

“CJ please stop doing that. I have the code to let us in.” I punched in the number code and the door unlocked itself. He turned the knob instantly.

Running inside, he dropped his things and ran right into my aunt’s arms. She wrapped him up and swung him around as she kissed his face. I could see his bright self turning red from her affection. He loved that shit and she simply didn’t mind. He was her favorite, and she didn’t hide it one bit.

“ Oouuu , look at my handsome boy. I missed you, punkin’. TT got you something,” she said before walking to her office with him.

I spoke to the other teachers as I passed by and followed them to the back. Once I stepped in her office, she was pulling out a toy truck that hauled sand. I shook my head while smiling. She was going to get him whatever she wanted him to have and there was nothing I could do about it.

“Auntie, why would you buy him that? He has enough toys here and at my house… and yours,” I commented.

“Hey, this my damn money. You don’t tell me what to do with it. He said he wanted a new truck, so I got him one. What’s the problem?”

“He has enough, Auntie. He already doesn’t play with half the toys he has now. All you’re doing is making him believe he can have whatever he wants in life.”

“He can though. If you or his sorry ass daddy can’t afford it, guess who can? I got him, Klarity. Don’t worry your pretty little head off. Now, what are they saying about my other baby?” she voiced, pointing to my protruding stomach.

“They think she’ll be a preemie. I’m only thirty-five weeks and with my mucus plug falling out last week, she could come any day now. I’m praying she cook until I’m at least thirty-nine, but I have a feeling she’s coming before then. I’m just waiting this thing out.”

I opted out on telling her about the fiasco I had the other day at the jailhouse.

Aunt Symphony wasn’t the kind of woman to really let confrontations be, especially if the man raised his hand.

She would’ve had a lawyer calling my phone before I could make it back to the car. She did not play those kind of games.

When Serinity got with her swirl, she had Uncle Quill run a thorough background check on him before she approved their relationship.

He came to dinner and the same cup he drunk from, she had it sent off to labs to make sure it didn’t match to any samples they had on file.

She was from the ghetto, but she married a CIA agent and learned a thing or two. She didn’t put shit past a soul.

“I heard about the job at Pledis Bank. How are you going to handle that job and handle being on bedrest, Klarity? You are about to have this baby any day as you say.”

“I turned it down, Auntie. I didn’t want to waste their time. They were more than understanding but someone else can have it. I’m going to do the bedrest,” I lied.

“You need to learn how to lie better. It’s all in your eyes that you just talking to be talking.

I won’t push though. Serinity is bringing somethings for the baby when she brings CJ home.

A few outfits and this traveling bassinet I seen.

Since you doing the whole bedrest thing, I don’t have to tell you when. Your ass should already be home.”

“I will be. Thank you, Auntie. I’m going to get going. CJ, give Mommy a kiss,” I said cutting the conversation short.

It wasn’t that I didn’t respect my aunt’s lectures, but she just never stopped doing it. She made it her business to tell me about my poor choices when it came to Cojak. I was already filled with regret. Her telling me how sorry he was didn’t help.

“Bye Mommy!” CJ said throwing his little arms around my legs. I couldn’t bend down because it was no telling how I would get back up.

“I love you, baby boy. I’ll see you later.” He nodded wildly and went to tearing the toy out the box. “Thanks, Auntie. I’ll talk to you later.”

I walked out the door feeling a sense of relief. There were times when her words were welcomed but today wasn’t one. I’d already began to emotionally detach myself from Cojak so her reminding me of his ways wasn’t needed.

Getting comfortable in the truck, I headed back to the house. It took me a little over twenty minutes to cross town. The morning rush had somewhat slowed up, but it was still pretty packed. As I pulled into the driveway, I stopped at the mailbox. I already knew what was in it but stopped anyway.

I opened the door flap to the mailbox and grabbed all the envelopes from it. However, there was a thick orange one toward the back. I pulled it out and saw that it was filled with money. Crisp ass hunnid dollar bills filled it. I looked around as if the person that left it was still around.

Standing there, I thought on the past events and got pissed all over again.

It took me witnessing his infidelity and beating his ass for him to finally make a move and help me.

He must’ve known I was leaving his ass. He picked a fine time to be a fuckin’ man.

I hopped back in my car to count the blue faces he sent.

Just because he gave up the bread now didn’t mean shit to me.

I was still detaching myself from him for the sake of my kids.

Two minutes later, I was chuckling at the five bands in my lap. He really was a piece of fuckin’ work.

Throwing the car in reverse, I backed out and headed right to Spring Energy.

There were small office locations around the city where we could go and pay our light bills instead of going to the main office on the north side of town.

The convenience was appreciated. They had no clue how much.

I didn’t stop driving until I was in front of the building.

I grabbed a space right at the front door.

Sliding out the front seat, I snatched up the orange envelope and made my way inside.

Thankfully, there was no line. One other person was inside so I took a place behind her.

I felt like with this bread, I could finally get a hold of things and lift a weight from my shoulders.

I planned on calling the landlord once I left here. I was praying an eviction wasn’t filed.

Stepping up to the counter, I immediately gave her my information. “Klarity Monroe. That’s clarity with a k, not c. My address is 2120 White Road.”

She pecked on her key and said, “I got you pulled up. So, what are we doing today?”

“Paying the bill. I believe it was $396. 24.” I went digging in the envelope for four blue faces.

“I’m sorry ma’am but that balance has already been resolved. You have a zero dollar balance at the moment.”