Zaire looked up at her.
Ray sipped his sweet tea, oblivious to the tension. “You always talkin’ ‘bout wantin’ to go to Emerald City. Why don’t you?”
Meadow forced a smile. “Daddy, I can’t leave you and Mama by y’all self.”
“We ain’t helpless.”
“I didn’t say that.” She chewed not making eye contact.
“You don’t have to,” Ray waved a dismissive hand. “Just go. Bring your friend some support.”
Meadow’s voice thinned. “Who’s gonna watch Mama?”
“I’ll watch her.”
“Daddy… you need a break too.”
“I’m fine.” Ray wasn’t trying to hear it.
Meadow rolled her eyes. “You’re tired.”
“You tired, too,” Ray countered, “and young. You need to live too.”
Meadow looked away, choking down the lump in her throat. Zaire watched her fingers tremble around her fork. People loved to rave about legacy, especially Black legacy, but nobody talked about the weight of it. They never mentioned how being the golden child could drain you dry. How trying to carry the torch for your family could leave you worn down and empty because you never learned how to carry yourself.
Ray kept going, clueless to the water almost being cut off, oblivious to the bills piling up.
“Just pay Rena to come in for the weekend.”
Meadow swallowed hard. “She only comes during the week.”
“So pay her extra.” He said it so smooth like he’d solved the world’s hardest math problem.
Meadow’s chest tightened. “We can’t-” She caught herself. “Dad…I’ll see.”
Ray shrugged, wiping his mouth. “If you gon’ see her, make a plan. Ain’t no reason you shouldn’t get a break.”
Meadow nodded, but her eyes were glassy.
Zaire watched the whole thing…every flicker of Meadow’s face, every swallowed truth, every little disappointment she didn’t want Ray to see. He wanted to reach over the table and take her hand, but he didn’t want to make her emotional in front of her parents.
Magnolia looked up suddenly, like she’d been dropped into the world for a second. “You should go see your friend, baby. You always here.”
Meadow’s eyes softened. “Mama…”
“Go, I’ll be good.”
Ray nodded like that solved everything. “See? Even your Mama agrees.”
Meadow pushed a piece of chicken around her plate, unable to speak.
Zaire’s jaw flexed because they didn’t understand just how impossible going to see her friend truly felt to Meadow. He didn’t want to get out of line, so he kept his comments to himself.
Ray cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah, Meadow, Zaire has a tournament lined up in a month…our boy is getting back out there.”
Zaire lifted his head and just smiled.
Meadow blinked at him. “A month?”
