“Go get your sister,” I tell her and she slides off my bed.
“Averi! Sissy!” she yells as she runs out of my room. Seconds later, they walk back in. “I got her,” Romi announces.
Without opening my eyes, I say, “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Good morning, Mommie,” Averi replies.
“Your sister is hungry. Can you help her get breakfast for me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you. The bowls of cereal are in the bottom of the pantry. Y’all pick the one you want and grab one of the small cartons of milk on the refrigerator door.”
“Can I have chocolate?” Averi asks. Normally, chocolate milk with cereal is a no but I’m too tired this morning.
“I don’t care,” I say and they actually cheer. “Get a banana too.”
“You gon’ cut it?” Romi asks.
“Not this morning. Mommie is too tired. Okay?”
“Okay,” she says.
“Grab a towel from the closet in my bathroom and spread it out on the floor. You can eat your cereal in here and watch TV,” I say and they cheer again. I’m relaxing all rules this morning. Anything to earn at least another hour or two of sleep. “Alright. Go get it. Wash your hands first.”
They dart out of my room and I stretch out then roll over. I hear them when they return, but after that, I’m thankfully able to doze off again. I don’t open my eyes again until ten-thirty. When I do, both girls are back in bed with me, eating fruit snacks while watching television.I guess they’re breaking all the rules today.
I don’t argue or fuss. Instead, I turn to face them and smile. After kissing both of their foreheads, I climb out of bed, amble to my bathroom and do my normal. I’m actually a little hungry myself, so after I slip on one of my T-shirt dresses, I journey to the kitchen and grab a cereal bowl. Since neither of them likes raisins, I grab Raisin Bran and milk, then join them back in bed to eat.
Our morning is chill and peaceful. We are still in my bed by late afternoon and I have no plans to get out. However, my plan is threatened when I hear my doorbell chime.It better not be Xai. I don’t have an answer for him. Not yet.
Averi grabs my cell phone to hand it to me but I tell her to check. Because it’s just me and the girls, I don’t lock my phone with Face ID or a passcode. I need my phone accessible for them in case there’s ever a moment I can’t get to it.
“It’s Auntie,” she says beaming. “And she has Jazzmyn.”
“What is she doing here?” I utter to myself because we don’t have plans today. “You can go let her in,” I tell Averi and they both slide off the bed and rush out of my room. A few minutes later, Kandi walks into my room solo. “Where’s my godbaby?” I ask her.
“In her carrier, asleep.”
“And the girls?”
“Propped up on the floor, watching her. I told them not to wake her.”
“Grab my phone so you can see them,” I tell her because I have an indoor camera in the living room.
“They are fine.” She brushes me off before sitting on my bed. “You just tell me why I haven’t heard from my bestie or seen her face in almost two weeks,” she scoffs.
“Life has been lifing a little.”
“Is that why you look like you’re on a crazy diet?”
“Crazy diet?”
“Yeah. You’ve lost weight. I can see it all up top.”
“Well, it damn sho’ ain’t at the bottom. These thighs are still here,” I counter ,then uncover my legs.
“Adora, this is me. What’s up with you? We don’t go days without talking or seeing each other and I’m not talking about texts. I haven’t seen you since you picked up the girls the day of Xai’s grand opening. If you’re thinking about Mama or goingthrough, I get it, but don’t go through that alone,” she says with so much love and sincerity. Before I can stop them, tears fall from my eyes. “Oh, bestie. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said Mama. Come here.” Her arm drapes around me and she pulls me in for a side hug.
