Let me run to the bathroom.
“Pops, that’s Erin. I’m running to the bathroom, and we are out. I’ll call Mom later and explain,” I said.
We hugged, and he walked back to the grill while I made my way to the house. I pulled back the sliding door and exhaled hard. All of this home cooking won’t get to touch my tastebuds. I opened the guest bathroom door and jumped back. Toni and Caleb were tonguing each other down. They both jumped back with widened eyes. Toni wouldn’t look me in the face. I shut the door and headed upfront.
“Marquise, slow down,” Caleb called after me, but I kept walking. I didn’t want any parts of what was happening between them.
“Marquise, wait before you take things the wrong way,” Caleb said and I paused.
He rounded me, and I stared. “Toni and I. . . we’ve been...”
“Wrong twin, I don’t care. Toni doesn’t mean shit to me. I tried to warn you at the party not to get tangled with her, but you’re hardheaded,” I said.
Caleb’s head jerked backward at my comment. “Marquise, do you realize what you said? Toni isn’t a bad person and we’re dating,” he said.
“Hey, it’s your pockets,” I said and walked away, leaving him behind. Entering the living room, Erin and I latched eyes, and she unwrapped her apron.
“Ladies, it’s been fun, but Marquise and I are leaving,” she said, and Mom’s eyes found me, loaded with confusion. She exited the kitchen, closing the space between us.
“Why are you leaving?” Mom asked, cupping my face between her soft, comforting hands. I secured and kissed them leaving behind a half smirk.
“Love you,” I said as a reply, hoping we could leave things surface level. I should have pulled her to the side earlier, but I didn’t want to interrupt the energy.
“Caleb, let it go,” Toni said as they entered the living space behind her new victim.
“Marquise’s comments were out of line, Toni,” Caleb said, and the attention turned in his direction. Malcolm stood, which triggered my peripheral vision.
“It’s okay,” Toni said as she pulled on his arm, but he turned and caressed her upper arms.
“It’s not okay the way he treats you,” Caleb said. I looked at Pops, reading his eyes. From the steadiness of his posture and glare, he was asking me not to engage. I honored his request as I turned to secure my woman.
“Erin baby, let’s go,” I said, and she latched hands with me.
“Everybody stop!” Mom yelled and silence gripped the room. “What the hell is going on?”
No one said anything as our eyes danced around to each other. Malcolm stood with arms folded and Pops rubbed his beard. I’m unaware of what Jhae knew, but Mom was in the dark.
“Something happened and we can’t fix it with tight lips,” Mom said as she migrated to the living room.
“Fine. Marquise constantly disrespects Toni, and it’s swept under the rug. After catching Toni and I kissing, he called her a gold digger,” Caleb said, and Mom turned to me.
“Kissing? Didn’t I tell you to stay away from Toni,” Malcolm said as he unfolded his arms. Jhae moved across the room, planting her hands in his chest.
“Malcolm! You cannot control who Toni dates and Marquise, I know she is your moth?—”
My skin boiled at the mention of my actual mother giving her credit. The emotions resting at the pit of my stomach boiled over, not allowing me to stop myself.
“Toni ain’t shit to me. You are my mother. In fact, I’m sick of looking at her at every family event. Damn, can we have one event where she stays at home? Why can’t she go to her people’s functions? I’ve been trying to protect y’all but y’all keep inviting the snake in the room. What else do y’all need, a damn picture book?” I screamed at Mom, and she blinked at a rapid pace.
The room focused on me as I tried to regulate myself. My heart rumbled against my chest as I glared at Toni. Erin hooked her arms into mine to draw my attention.
“Marquise, I invited Toni because I consider her family,” Mom said as she wiped a tear from her right cheek.
“Mom, I’m sorry for making you cry but she isn’t my family. Either invite me or Toni but not both. I couldn’t enjoy my Mother’s Day gift to you because she hijacked it. The day alone should’ve made her hide her face. Mother’s Day?” I said with hard sarcasm.
“Marquise, what is happening here? I thought you two were in a better place,” Mom inquired as she reached for me.
“It’s okay, Anissa. Marquise needs me to be the villain in his story because I’m here and Winston isn’t,” Toni said, and I went blind with rage.
