“Hey,” Gem whispered, focusing on the twins studying her.
“Heir, Harlee, this is my little sister. Meet your Auntie Gem,” she introduced them.
“Hi!” The twins waved together.
Gem was a grown woman, inked with fresh tattoos on her wrist and upper arms. With box braids half up in a ponytail andpink glossed lips, she was gorgeous. Solo approved as well. He seemed like he was in a trance, looking at her.
“You’ve been avoiding my calls,” Giselle spoke up.
“I’ve been busy with school. We’re on spring break now, though.”
“Yeah, Mama, that’s why we here.” Lou picked up a cornbread muffin. “We came to bother you for the whole week. Now, I think we need to set up a trip to Victory Park this weekend for the kids.”
“What’s Victory Park?” Solo chimed in, still eating like he lived there and was part of the family.
“It’s Southwick’s version of Six Flags,” Lou told him. “I haven’t been in years. Remember we used to go there every summer with Daddy?” Lou questioned Maisie.
“Mmm hmm.” Mais nodded and sipped from her glass of Kool-Aid.
“Shit, I’m down. When we going?” Solo asked.
“Nigga, she ain’t invite you.” Oz slapped his chest.
“I’m cool with it.” Lou shrugged. “We could all go as a group.”
“Y’all on ya own. Won’t catch me walking around that maze of a place,” Remi griped. “I’m going to run some errands and grab a few things for the house.” She untied her apron. “What do you babies like to eat?”
“Ice cream!” Heir squealed.
“Cookies!” Harlee joined in.
“Brownies!” Solo piped up, catching eyes from all the adults. “Aw, shit, I thought she was talking to me too.”
Heir and Harlee giggled cutely.
“Hurry up and eat, so we can go look at this house.” Giselle checked her watch. “I passed the background check, so if it’s up to par, we can move in immediately. I don’t have a lot of furniture, but I did arrange for a truck to deliver what I could salvage from our house. It’s supposed to be here tomorrow.”
“Wow, look at you, all prepared and shit. Let me find out you grew up out here,” Maisie teased.
“You can always stay here tonight if it doesn’t work out,” Remi assured her. “I’m heading out. Somebody do the dishes and put the food away.”
The afternoon sun filtered through the lace curtains of the average size living room. Toys the twins brought with them were scattered across the hardwood floors of the small house on Danner Street that Petal showed Giselle. Her kids were full of noise and motion, exploring nearly every corner of the three-bedroom home. A plastic truck banged against a baseboard as Giselle laughed with Petal. Harlee raced past, swinging her little black baby doll around as her feet thudded against the hardwood floors.
“Lord, these babies got more energy than a lightning storm!” Petal chuckled.
“Aside from daycare, they didn’t get out much in the city. Sorry about the noise.”
“It’s been so long, I almost forgot what it was like to have a house filled with that kind of noise. No apologies necessary.” Petal guided her down the hall to the kitchen and pulled out a chair from the small circle table.
Giselle joined her, clasping her hands in front of her nervously. Viggo had stopped by because he had heating and cooling skills, so he’d been in the basement checking the hot water tank and furnace to make sure everything was good. When Giselle walked in, he was like a tiger on a prey. Leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, he simpered as Heir crawled past him, pushing his hot wheels along and making car sounds.
“I swear they’re good kids.” Giselle sighed, trying to hide how exhausted she really was.
Having her own place meant something to her. She didn’t care what it cost. She already had a few job interviews lined up as well. At that point, she’d never been more determined to start fresh.
“Just a handful.”
“Well, the house is yours if you want it. I need $800 for the deposit, and first month’s rent is $1,100. Viggo or my other grandson can cut the grass for you if you want. They do it for all the other properties. If you need any repairs, they can handle that too,” Petal voiced.
