“She just a stay fi a while,” she insists. “A nuh like she a move in.”
“No. Mi nah allow it.”
“Member a fi me house enuh. Even though she have har ways and unuh have history, mi willing fi help the likkle girl,” she says again, still stuck on this foolishness.
Mi temper a boil now.
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“Nickiesha, nuh mek mi cuss bad word.”
She blinks.
“Nickoi, why yuh stay so? Why yuh so paranoid? Yuh paranoid ‘bout the wrong things, man,” she hisses.
“Fi protect mi mother from a potential enemy mi paranoid bout the wrong things?” I laugh once, then go silent.
She lets out a long sigh.
“Lorie hate me enuh, and she nuh like none a we either. She a never fi we. She set up Janel and just because she silent inna the hospital don’t mean she with we. Mi cyaa trust she.”
She goes quiet.
“Mi nuh know wah fi do enuh. Wah yuh suggest mi do, since yuh nuh want har near?” she finally asks.
“Give har the link so she can deal with the house. Other than that, yuh done.”
After that, we talk it through more calmly until she ready fi leave. I check on the babies, still asleep.
Then I head downstairs and spend the whole evening smoking. Three spliffs after before I hear the door, Zara walks in, I give her a look.
“Mi did deh a workshop,” she says quickly.
I nod.
I don’t say a word. I just inhale, then exhale slow.
ZARA
This man is not in a good mood. Instead of bothering him, I tossmy bag onto the sofa and stride to the island. I pour some orange juice into a cup and take a swig.
No questions.
When he’s ready to talk, he’ll talk.
I shower, eat dinner, and stay in my room for a while. It’s not until he finally pushes the door open that I look up slightly, he’s probably ready to sleep. I purposely glue my eyes to the screen.
I don’t want to seem like I’m dying to know what’s bothering him… even though I am.
“Nah sleep?” he asks. I smile, shaking my head.
“Mi a watch Riverdale, so mi nah go wah sleep yet.” He nods at that, silent for a few seconds.
“Sorry ‘bout mi silence earlier… Mi never inna the best mood, yuh zimi? But mi rate how yuh give me space,” he says, making me smile.Me too. Gyal a learn.“You wah know wah gwaan?” he asks, watching me closely. I hesitate, then nod.
“Yes… tell me.”
He starts filling me in on the whole Lorie drama. I listen carefully. I get it, his mom just wants to help someone she feels sorry for, but I also understand why he’s not having it. Lorie’s not to be trusted. Especially not around his family.
