“Alright, mek mi know,” she beams.
Gary calls over to me. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I nod with a small smile. “You?”
“Mi deh yah… a gwaan hold it,” he says. “Mi a cut now though… tek care.”
“Alright Gary,” Mommy waves him off and then turns to the cashier. “How much fi the dress?”
As she reaches into her purse, I stop her. “Mommy, Nickoi give me money,” I remind her, handing her what he gave me.
She still gives me a look like she a go pay anyway, but accepts it. I’m still deciding on the necklace. I’m indecisive and I know it. I frustrate everybody I shop with. After another three minutes of staring and comparing, mi settle on a necklace with a heart pendant, it match mi ring. We check out, then stop by Popeyes. We eat in the car on the way home, the smell of fries and chicken heavy in the air, blending with the slow hum of the A/C.
“The more yuh belly grow, yuh affi mek Mama help yuh out,” Mommy says, breaking the silence as she turns onto the main.
“You and Nickoi think ‘bout baby shower yet? It nuh too early fi start plan it, yuh know.”
“I know,” I nod, sipping on my drink.
“When it a keep, mi a go try get time off again. Mi wah deh yah when yuh give birth too.”
I smile. “Mi hope yuh deh here to, mi a go need yuh.”
She nods, quiet for a moment. “Mi cya wait fi meet mi grandbaby.”
“When mi belly a go start show?” I ask, hand resting gently over it.
“When yuh reach three months.”
“Mi already feel like mi a gain baby weight,” I groan. She laughs, turning into the yard. Joe walks over to the car and I wind down the window.
“It’s me and my mom,” I tell him and he nods.
“You nah come in?” I ask her.
“Mi affi head back before night catch mi,” she says. “Mi nuh like drive at night. Tell Nickoi seh mi seh howdy.”
I nod. “I will.” I lean over, hug her tight. Her perfume lingers in the air.
“But mi wah buy some more clothes tomorrow… yuh coming wid mi?” I tease.
She hiss loud. “Mi done shop wid you. Done!” She claps her hands and I burst out laughing.
“Bear wid mi Mommy.”
“Bear wid you?” she echoes, but mi know she nah mek that mistake again.
I grin. “Bye Mommy. Drive safe. Love you.”
She smiles as she drives off, the tail lights fading behind the gate.
16
Bars
After ten minutes of back-and-forth, Nickoi finally hands me my license, his eyes locked on mine with that familiar mix of stubbornness and care. Letting me drive isn’t easy for him, he’s worried like only someone who loved you fiercely could. But today, I see something different in his gaze,trust. Trust that I could handle the wheel, trust that I’d be safe.
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod, feeling the weight of that trust settle heavy on my shoulders. It isn’t just a piece of plastic in my hand, it’s a promise. As I slide behind the wheel, my heart race, adrenaline buzzing from both nerves and excitement. I start the car slowly, stealing one last glance at Nickoi before pulling out onto the road. Every beat of my chest whispers,Don’t mess this up. Don’t mess this up.
