I picked up Savior. “Shitting me. Peace will give me peace, that’s why he got his name.”
We pulled gifts from under the tree, showing our clueless sons what we had gotten for them. Samara set her camera up on the fireplace, “Family picture!” she shouted.
Z and I stood as we held the twins. Samara came up beside me, and we all smiled as we took our first family picture in matching pajamas. Once we snapped the picture, the doorbell rang. Samara rushed over to the door, “Merry Zoomas, Mars the Star!” Dio shouted.
He walked in with a Santa hat on, “Merry Zoomas, Chev and Z,” he said to us.
He walked over toward Peace. “My little nigga Peace. Merry Christmas, twin,” he cooed as he faked play-fighting with him.“Savior, twin, you’re always sleeping. It’s cool, the calm before the storm.”
Dio turned to Samara, tapping her chin. He kissed her on the lips, and I snarled at his ass. I could feel Z rubbing my back.
Leave them alone. They’re in love.
Yeah, ok, love.
Samara grabbed a gift from under the tree and handed it to Dio. “Merry Christmas, Dionysus,” she said to him.
He took the gift from her and began to open it. He opened the box and let out a sinister laugh, “Ok, Mars, as long as you know.”
My head lifted to see what was in the box. That’s when Dio pulled out an extended clip. My eyes darted to Samara, then Z. “At least she knows,” Zaria shrugged.
Dio glanced at me and nodded. He handed Samara a fly ass suede orange gift bag, “Merry Christmas, Mars the fucking Star.”
Samara smiled widely as she reached into the bag and pulled out an orange suede box that matched it. When she opened it, her head shot up at Dio. “It’s beautiful.”
“I love you, girl, and I want you to always remember the day Mars the Star saved my life,” he said as he placed the diamond star necklace around her neck.
You told him to buy that shit, didn’t you?
Nah, I just led him to water a year ago, and he finally drank it.
Samara grabbed Peace from Zaria’s arm, and Dio grabbed Savior from me. I grabbed Zaria’s gift from under the tree and handed it to her. Christmas for Zaria and me was bigger than cars, money, and jewelry because we had it all at our fingertips. This gift took me a while to get, but I knew it was perfect.
Zaria slowly opened the box and she didn’t move. Instead, she stared. I watched as tears of happiness fell into the box every time she blinked. I knew that I would never get the closure I wanted about my parents, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t. She pulled out the picture frame and held it in her hands. Zaria glanced at me with teary eyes, and that fucked me up. “How? Where did you get this?” she asked.
I ran my tongue over my bottom lip. “I will move the moon and stars for you, Z. I make shit happen for you and this family. Merry Christmas, baby,” I said to her.
In the picture frame was a picture of her father holding her when she was a baby. Mr. J wore a smile I had only seen once, and that was the day he met me. I knew he was the reason for me and Zaria’s connection, and it was something I would hold onto until death.
Zaria hugged me tightly before she planted a kiss on my lips. She then bent down under the tree and handed me a rectangular box. “Merry Christmas, baby,” she smiled.
I glanced up at Z, “Fuck is this?”
“Just open it.”
I opened the box. “Zaria, what is this?”
She clapped her hands together, “We’re going on vacation, baby!” she squealed.
“I’m not leaving my sons. Z, the answer is no.”
She tossed her hands on her hips. “I’ve already decided. We’ll leave during Samara’s Spring break. She’ll watch the twins. It’s not up for discussion. You’re going. You’ve been through a lot this past year. Baby, you need a break. You have to live outside the crown. As I said, your ass is going.”
I stared at the ticket for a long time. I realized it was time to expand my horizons, and although I had objected, Iwas somewhat excited that only Z and I would be experiencing Calloverse together.
BEANS
I paused as I stood in the open space, observing how the layered snow had covered the acres of souls. When I learned my father ended his life, my feelings were all over the place. I oscillated between hatred, pity, and a sense of liberation. It was obvious he carried a heavy load of guilt and couldn’t bear the years of shame he held inside. I could have done something, but it wasn’t about ending him. I wanted him to live in his truth, and to me, he chose the easy way out.
