Page 54 of The Phyre that Burns

Phy:

I figured you needed more rest, so I gave you the rest of the day off. The chef dropped off our meals this morning, so if you want to eat when you wake up, you don’t have to wait for me.

Me:

I won’t fuss at you because I obviously needed to rest. Thank you for being so sweet.

I went to my text thread with Devyn and saw that she’d arrived home safely. After replying to her, I noticed that my mother had sent a text, asking me to call her. Before returning her call, I took a quick and cool shower to wake myself up.

“Hey, sweetheart. How are you?” my mother answered when our FaceTime call connected.

“Exhausted.”

“I take it you and Devyn had fun.”

“Too much fun. Phyre gave me the day off, and I’ve been in bed since I got back from the airport.”

“How are things with Phyre?”

“You ask me that every time we talk, which is almost every day.”

“Don’t exaggerate, Ginae. I’m asking because I’m your mother and I worry about you.”

“I know, Ma, but I promise you have nothing to worry about.”

“You sound happy, and you look happy, so I want to believe you’re happy, but that man hurt you deeply.”

“He did, Ma, but that wasn’t his intention. He was young and trying to figure out how to handle a tough situation on his own. Didn’t his letter explain the situation well enough?”

“That’s not it. Phyre did a wonderful job of expressing what happened. I’m just a mother who worries about her child, and I never want you to hurt like you did back then.”

“Me either, but I’m following my heart. Did you need to tell me something?”

“Oh, yeah. We’re going to postpone the family trip to the spring when your brother is on spring break. That way, we have a little more time to plan.”

“Okay. That works for me.”

“Good. What else is going on?”

My mother and I talked for about ten more minutes before our call ended. I was starving but wanted to wait until Phyre washome to eat dinner with him. I ate a bowl of mixed fruit to hold me over.

On my way to the family room, the security monitor alerted me that someone was at the door. The chef had already come and gone, and I wasn’t expecting anyone else, so I ignored it and continued to the family room. Before I sat down, the alert sounded again.

“Who the hell is this?” I fussed as I headed toward the security monitor.

I looked at the screen and saw an older Black woman who didn’t look familiar. She stood with her nose in the air and her arms folded across her chest. Although she was dressed simply, I could tell her clothing was expensive.

“Hello. Can I help you?” I asked politely after pressing the button on the monitor.

“Yes. Open the door.”

“May I ask who you are and who you’re here to see?”

“The person who owns this house is my son, and I came to see him.”

“Oh, umm . . .”

I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just leave her out there, but I wasn’t prepared to meet Phyre’s mother. The alert sounded again, and I blew out a deep breath.