“Tell me about her.”
“Her name was Ethel, and she was a gentle soul. Most girls are daddy’s girls, but the bond I had with my mother was never compared to what I received from my father. We were like kindred spirits, even though she was my mother. She absolutely loved music, but not more than she loved being a mother.”
Kai nodded his head while continuing to create. He paused and smiled. “Every time I hear you speak about your mama, I wish I could’ve met her.”
I looked down at my wedding ring. “Me too, but maybe I never would’ve met you if she were still here.”
He leaned a little closer to me and stopped moving. “If we were supposed to meet, we would’ve, even if your parents were still here. I believe that destiny isn’t afraid to transform into a new story when needed.”
All I could do was smile. Kai could be so sweet that it made nothing about this marriage feel fake.
“What do you think about this?”
I hadn’t even realized he had finished creating. The sound that spilled from the speakers seeped into the quiet places in the house. It was soft, melodic, and nostalgic.
I smiled, turning to look at him. “It sounds like heaven.” There was a slow piano crescendo that sent chills down my spine. “Wow, you’re really talented.”
Kai winked, then stood up and offered a hand to me. As usual, I wasted no time putting mine into his. I was pulled into his arms as we danced around the room to the beat he’d made. I couldn’t look away from his eyes. I’d grown used to their intensity, but now there was something lighter about them and more open and willing to let me in.
“Thank you for this, Legacy.”
“I love when you call me that,” I admitted.
“I know. The blood of your ancestors pumps through you, and you carry their sacrifices well. It couldn’t have been easy building something so sacred, but it was done, and you’re maintaining it.”
I tucked my lips for a second, trying not to be an emotional mess. One day, he was going to tire of my up and down moods, but the littlest things could send me into a spiral. “Thanks to you.”
He shook his head. “No, thanks to you. I’m new to this, but you’ve been holding shit down and together.”
Instead of responding, I allowed my head to rest on Kai’s shoulder. Of course, he let me, even tightening his grip around my waist. I melted into him as we continued to float around the room on a bed of clouds and uncertainty.
I was sittingin the living room with my notebook sprawled across my lap. I was working on my song for Nuri, but I only had a few jumbled lyrics right now. Like things I wanted to say, but I was missing everything else. I tapped my pen against the pages, mimicking the beat I could feel in my bones. In the midst of my mumbling, my vibrating phone stole my attention.
Bones:
Incoming!
I hopped up and walked toward the front door, ready for whatever. I ripped it open to find my father’s black sedan racing down the driveway. When it came to a screeching stop, my babysister, Azani, hopped out. I would never get used to seeing her with a bulging belly.
She waddled toward me with a scowl on her face. I stepped back to allow her inside. The second her foot crossed the threshold, she went off on me.
“Why is there a rumor going around that you’re married?” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
I could tell she was pissed by the bulging vein running down the side of her neck. “I swear, ever since I told you I was pregnant, you’ve been acting funny with me. I never see you anymore. You barely talk to me! I know I fucked up, but it doesn’t mean I don’t need my big brother!”
Azani was saying so much at once that it took me a minute to process. My face broke when I realized she thought my distance was because I was upset with her. “Aww, Pooh Bear. Come here. It’s not like that. I promise.”
I pulled her into my arms, and she broke down. I cradled her to my chest, feeling as if I was failing her. Did I have mixed feelings about my sister being sixteen and pregnant? Yes, I did, but was I distancing myself because of the situation she found herself in? Never.
“Hi,” Nuri’s soft voice sliced through the tension in the room. “I’m Nuri.”
Azani stepped away quickly, using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. “Hey, I’m Kai’s baby sister, Azani,” she finally replied, looking between Nuri and me. “Is this her?”
I simply nodded. She already knew about the marriage, so there was no point in continuing to hide it from her.
Before my sister could say anything else, Nuri stepped forward. Her eyes were trained on my sister’s ankles. “Oh no, let me get your feet elevated. They’re way too swollen.”
Azani placed a protective hand over her belly. “Um, okay.”
