“Mama, where’s Daddy Alonzo?” Heir picked at the pepperoni on his slice.
“He’s gone, Heir. We are going to Southwick for a while.”
“Where is that? And how long?” Harlee chimed in, folding her pizza like a taco and taking a big bite.
Her daughter was a true foodie, just like her.
“It’s where I grew up. Kind of.” Giselle took a bite of her pizza. “It’s about four hours from here.”
“How come we gotta leave?” Heir stopped playing with his cars and looked up at her.
“Because we have to start over, baby. Mama has a few messes to clean up.”
The two of them demolished two slices of pizza each, and Heir resumed playing with his toy cars, which he was obsessed with. Harlee curled up in her mama’s lap, and the two of them enjoyedThe Lion King. Eventually, they drifted off, and Giselle was left staring at their peaceful little sleeping faces. She couldn’t run or make any excuses this time. She needed all the help she could get. An alarm was set, allowing her to sleep a couple of hours before she got up and prepped for the road. She’d never had to travel with them alone for this length of time,so it was bound to be an experience. She wanted to be prepared for any and everything.
Dawn arrived in no time. The car was loaded and parked out front. Any piece of their life that was worth keeping was tucked away in the nooks and crannies of her SUV. The twins were strapped sleepily into their seats, and she took one last glance at the house in her rearview when she adjusted the mirror. Hair pulled back in a ponytail, eyes tired, but determined, Giselle checked her GPS.
It was about a four-hour drive to Southwick, so she stopped to grab a large iced coffee before hitting the road. Outside the city limits, the highway opened wide and empty. Heir and Harlee dozed back off, heads tilted together. With one hand on the wheel and the other caressing the simple gold ankh charm on her necklace, apprehension kicked in. Although this was probably one of the hardest things she’d ever have to do in life, for the first time in years, she felt like she could breathe again.
The drive into Southwick felt like crossing a border. The roads narrowed, the air thickened with humidity, and the smell of diesel from the mechanic shops that lined the block wafted through her cracked window as she cruised through town. The twins pressed their faces to the window, pointing at different signs and corner stores like tourists. Giselle’s stomach tightened when she turned down Remi’s block, the same street she wasn’t sure she’d ever set foot on again. Suddenly, it all seemed smaller. Different houses had paint peeling, fences leaning, but they still hummed with life. Music drifted from an open window nearby, and somewhere a dog barked as children laughed.
“Is this where we live?” Harlee turned to her with wide eyes when Giselle parked in front of Remi’s house and sighed before shutting the car off.
“This is where Auntie Remi lives. Come on, let’s get out and go say hi,” Giselle urged, pushing her car door open, so she could help them out from the sidewalk.
She grabbed a big tote bag with some of their favorite things and her purse before turning to the house, holding the hand of each twin. The two of them curiously took in the block, noticing the kids nearby, laughing and chasing one another in a yard. Once they reached the porch, she raised her hand to knock, but the screen door was pushed open. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and baked apples hit her nose. Home. Or as close to it that she’d had in a long time.
“Mama, it smells good!” Harlee announced in her cute little high-pitched tone.
“Mama? Lord, Giselle, you have babies!” Maisie squealed, bursting through the screen door.
She stood in awe of Heir and Harlee, tears stinging her eyes and immediate love filling her chest. She scanned each of their adorable little faces before lifting to their mother.
“This is Heir.” She pointed to her son. “And Harlee.” She fingered some of her daughter’s wild curls in her ponytail.
“Oh, my God, they’re gorgeous!” Maisie knelt to look at them closer. “Hi there. I’m your Auntie Maisie. Your mama is real lucky y’all standing here right now.”
“Why?” Heir, the ever so inquisitive one cocked his head to the side. Something he did when he was genuinely curious about something that drove Giselle crazy. It was like second nature; some shit he didn’t even recognize he did.
“Because she’s wrong as hell, and I want to fight her,” Maisie expressed, keeping a smile on her face but daggers in her eyes for Giselle.
“You said a bad word. You put one dollar in the swear jar,” Harlee chastised.
“Come on in. You gon’ make some money around here if that’s the case.” Maisie ushered the twins inside, and Giselle practically tiptoed in behind her.
Nothing had changed in Remi’s house. The same folded quilt was draped over the back of the couch, the same framed photos lined the mantel, including one of Giselle with her parents when she was about thirteen. The sight nearly undid her as she set her bag on the matching powder blue and white plaid chair facing the sofa and coffee table.
“Well, at least you still know the way,” Remi’s warm, buttery voice said from the doorway.
She dried her hands on a dish towel before tossing it over her shoulder. Heir and Harlee had taken a seat on the edge of the couch, taking in the old school living room. The two of them were accustomed to a certain way of living, but Remi’s house gave rustic, country vibes.
“Look.” Maisie waved to the twins. “How perfect are they?”
“I wouldn’t go there.” Giselle cackled and sighed.
“I should whup your ass right now.” Remi’s tone was low, filled with hurt and anger. “You had these babies and kept them from us? Why, Giselle? You wanted to punish the rest of us that bad? Your father would…” Remi’s voice cracked.
While she was a vibrant and emotional woman, she didn’t do all that crying shit. She always felt it was a waste of time unless you did it in private. She collected herself, lifting her eyes to the ceiling and taking in a breath.
