“But not with me. I’ve never left them like this.”
“It’s understandable. You and the girls have been through…are dealing with a lot,” she says and my eyes immediately question her.
Are my babies having issues in school?
Reading the concern on my face and in my eyes, she quickly adds, “But they are doing great. Romi is my star student this week.”
“Yeah, Mommie. I was gon’ tell you,” Romi exclaims while holding the star medal around her neck. “I’m her helper this week.”
“Aw, look at that. I’m proud of you,” I gush.
“Thank you. Can we get a cupcake?” she asks and I smile. I left them today. They are definitely getting cupcakes.
“We sure can,” I tell her and she rushes over to her sister. “Thank you again. I can actually send cupcakes for the class and you tomorrow.”
With a grin, Miss Brown says, “You don’t have to do that.”
“Trust me, I do and I insist.”
“Then okay, but not tomorrow. Maybe Friday. A classroom full of pre-k students hopped up on sugar would make my day too interesting.”
“I understand. Friday it is. What’s your favorite? I’m going to Seasonal Sweets.”
“Anything chocolate.”
“Got it. You have a good day.”
“You too,” she says, then calls out to my babies. “Girls, thanks for helping clean my boards.”
“You welcome,” they sing in unison.
She turns to walk back into the school and I head to my ride. I unlock the door, grab their backpacks, and they climb inside. Averi sits behind me and buckles her seatbelt and Romi climbs into her booster seat. She tries to buckle it but I assist her. Then I climb in and drive straight to the bakery. They pick their favorite cupcakes and I get a white chocolate latte and cronut.
My best friend Kandi’s grandmother, Miss Mattie or MeeMee, owns Seasonal Sweets and my girls love her desserts. My mother and Kandi’s mom Celeste were best friends, so naturally Kandi and I were close. Her mom is my godmother and she’s been with me through all of this. I need to update Kandi on the insurance policy. She just had her first child, Jazzmyn, fivemonths ago, and that didn’t stop her from helping me plan the funeral, being there for me and my babies, and even helping us move.
“Mommie, is Auntie Kandi coming?” Romi asks when we sit down.
“No, baby. I didn’t tell her we were coming.”
“Oh,” is all she says. Her focus is now on her banana pudding cupcake.
“Did you have to work late?” Averi asks as she scoops the strawberry icing off her cupcake with her finger.
“Yes, baby,” I lie.
Dr. Morris is a great boss and he believes in work-life balance. It’s rare that I ever have to stay late in the dental office. The truth is too much for me to stomach. I definitely will not share my true whereabouts with my baby. She doesn’t need to know that people have the audacity to believe her nana caused the accident and took her own life. That shit is heart wrenching enough for me and I can’t handle seeing my babies cry.
“We were okay though,” she says.
“Yeah. Miss Brown is nice,” Romi adds.
“She really is. We are going to take cupcakes for her and your class Friday.”
“What about my class?” Averi asks with a slight pout.
If I do for one, I have to do for the other. The only day that the equality rules don’t apply is on their birthdays, but even then, I cave and usually get the other one a little something to.
“I’ll ask Mrs. Waters, and if she says yes, we’ll get some for your class too,” I tell Averi and a huge smile spreads across her face.
