“No, he didn’t just show up. We planned it. Nouri and I had been talking and”
“Ooh, Ms. Layla you been getting nasty with your fine ass baby daddy?”
“Lord help me, why did you bring this child with you, ladybug?”
“I didn’t feel like driving.” Troi laughed.
“Hell no, I have not been getting nasty with Nouri’s ass. He flew in from Georgia last week. After I told Onyx and Kas about my cancer, I … I don’t know, I thought he should know. If anything happened to me, I wanted Nouri to know so he could show up for the boys. Lord knows he hasn’t shown up for them in the past 20 something years. Anyway, after that, he would call and check up on me… you know, seeing how my treatments went and everything. He’s always followed Onyx’s career and saw theBack Homeshow when Onyx proposed. I let him know when Kian was born, and he wanted to meet him.”
“He wanted to meet his grandchild, but ain’t seen his sons in over twenty years?” Yanna asked. Layla shot her a warning glare that showed she was tired of her outbursts. “Sorry, but make it make sense.”
“Nouri has been wanting to see the boys for a while. Onyx was always back and forth from here to LA, and the timing never seemed right. Then, we saw Maya in Barbados, and I knew something had to give. I figured now was as good a time as any.”
“Maybe y’all should’ve started with a conversation, a four-page letter or something. I have to be honest with you, Mumma Lay, this wasn’t a good idea,” Troi voiced candidly.
“Damnit, I know. And it was just my luck that Maya had to be there.”
“That wasn’t luck at all… and oh my goodness, Maya looks so much like them and Kian. I didn’t even notice it in Barbados.”
“She does, doesn’t she? Nouri’s ass has some strong genes.”
“Well, it’s late, and I need to be getting back to the house before Onyx wakes up looking for me. Do you want to ride back with us?”
“No, I’m not coming back to the house tonight. I’m just going to go to a hotel.”
“You don’t have to stay in a hotel. You can stay at my house, and I’ll bring you back in the morning. Kas will understand,” Yanna offered.
“No, that’s okay. I’ll be fine in the hotel for the night.”
“Oh, I see, you think you slick.”
“Yanna, please.” Troi couldn’t contain her laughter because it did seem like Layla was trying to duck off with her ex for the night.
“Yea, Yanna, please. No, I don’t want to stay at your house because I’m afraid I might choke the hell out you. Plus, I just need the night to be alone and get my mind together. My boys are upset with me, and I just… this is different, that’s all.”
“I understand. I’ll leave my phone on throughout the night in case you can’t sleep and need to talk.”
“Thanks, ladybug, but I’m not going to bother you and risk waking my grandbaby. I’ll call you when I get home tomorrow.”
“Alright, try not to stress yourself. It’ll all work out.” Troi pulled Layla into a hug and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“I sure hope so. Come here, girl.” Layla instructed Yanna, pulling her into a hug as well.
They said their goodbyes, and the girls hopped back into Yanna’s car, waiting until Layla was inside her car and pulling off before they drove off as well.
Yanna and Troi’s ride back to the house was silent, both of them feeling the residual weight from the turmoil Layla must’ve been going through. Both girls understood it couldn’t have been easy for someone like Layla. She was a person with a huge heart who taught her sons that family was most important above all. Her instilling that value in her boys was the reason she was so forgiving of Nouri and wanted to allow him the opportunity to reenter his sons' lives. On the contrary, it was also the reason Onyx was so unforgiving to the man who’d abandoned them. Neither of them wanted to be in Layla’s shoes because the situation would more than likely get a lot worse before it got any better.
“Aw, shit,” Troi blurted when they pulled up to the houses and noticed Kas and Onyx standing outside.
“Ooh, bitch, he mad.”
“I can see that, Jaiyanna. Who the hell woke him up?”
“My money is on the goofy ass nigga standing next to him.”
“I’mma kick Kas’ ass. Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Troi and Yanna stepped from the car, walking up to her house where Kas and Onyx stood on the front porch.
