Page 6 of Ride
We all chuckled at his hopeful eyes. “When you get older, honey, you can work.” I kissed his forehead, then removed my coat and shoes.
“Are you two hungry?” Mom placed him on the floor, while Dad sat watching him.
I dug my phone from my purse to check the time. “We are. My car broke down on the highway. I need to get a tow truck.”
“Give me your information and I can have my friend bring it to the shop.” Dad picked up his phone to make some calls.
“Thanks, Dad.” I gave him my insurance and license, then walked with my mother to the kitchen.
“Does Brett know you’re here?”
I took a banana from the fruit bowl to hand to Kayne. “I texted him before our flight.”
My mom removed plates from the cabinet. Picking up the glasses and pitcher of water from the fridge, I helped gather everything to eat.
“We have a lot to catch up on, Amena. I’m grateful you made it home safely with my grandbaby.” The sad yet stern tone let me know we would be having a long conversation soon. I was a problem child—even though it stemmed from being put in a perfect little box and trying to be what she wanted me to be, instead of making my own choices.
I sighed, nodding my head in anticipation of the judgment coming from her voice. Dad went along with her on some things, but he’d get on me if I stepped out of line and got disrespectful.
“I know.”
She wiped her hand on the towel. “He’s beautiful.”
“Kayne’s my entire world.” I took the utensils out of the drawer.
“I feel the same about you and Brett.” Our eyes locked and I understood her fears, love, and devotion to us when we were younger. Raising my son with his father put things into perspective about living in an unsafe environment in a two-parent household or being a single parent and showing your child that love doesn’t need to be defined in one way.
My mom smiled. “Laikin’s still cute.”
“Mom…” A flashback of his long eye lashes, thick lips, and smooth skin captured that same flicker in my soul.
“I’m not dead. He’s sexy and I’m guessing you're single.”
I grumbled, taking the plate from the microwave. “Here you go.”
A few seconds later, Kayne and my father strolled into the kitchen, and we all sat, holding hands as my father said a prayer. I listened to my parents talk to Kayne about what he wanted to do first in Los Angeles. The excitement in Kayne’s voice about flying on the airplane, and meeting a new friend named Laikin put a smile on my face. Maybe I made the right choice to come back home.
* * *
After Kayne played with his grandparents after dinner, I gave him a bath and put him to bed in Brett’s old room. The both of us had a long day and needed rest before things would get busy. My mom followed me to the room and wanted to know what was going on with Virgil, and I changed the subject. Talking bad about Kayne’s dad only annoyed me more and I was exhausted. from the long day. I set my alarm to get up early tomorrow, then laughed at the message from Winter that popped up on my screen.
Winter: Took you long enough to reply.
Me: Sorry, bestie, I got caught up.
Winter: Just remember you have a best friend waiting to catch up.
Me: Calling you now.
Winter: Good.
Right when I went to click on her number, Virgil called. Again, I ignored him and swiped to Winter’s name.
“Finally, you decide to call me,” Winter sassed.
“Sorry, friend.”
“Where is my little baby?”