I think harder on our last few calls, wondering if I missed something in her voice. Was she feeling unwell then? Lately, when we talked, I’ve been feeling like she’s been trying to tell me something.
Then she and my mom called to tell me to get my ass home before Zah ended up married to Gilbert. I’ve been so focused on that, I haven’t thought about much else. I guess she didn’t want to come out and tell me up front about Zah and Gilbert, but have I been missing something else?
Could she have been sick, and I missed being able to say or do something? Mrs. Nickels has been a big part of my growing up and working on myself.
While I did the work, she’s been in my ear every Sunday. No matter where in the world Zah has been, her mother has been a constant in my ear. I don’t miss a call with her.
If I know I’m going to have a late game, she’s the first call I make when I wake. She’s always there and ready to talk. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her too.
I pull a hand down my face as my thoughts go to Zahirah. I’ll be a better man for her this time. Losing her mother would be devastating.
I’m mature enough this time to see her through this, I know I am. That’s why I’m not moving until I know Zah and Mrs. Nickels are okay.
“Oh shit,” Erica mumbles, pulling me from my musing.
She stands quickly, looking like a bandit on the run. She heads for the nurses’ station, leaving me sitting here confused. I’ve been so deep in thought, I don’t know what I missed.
“Auntie E,” a little voice squeals.
I turn toward the voice and find Garret with a little boy in his arms. The boy has little black and white low-top Chucks on his feet and khaki shorts, with a yellow T-shirt. From here, I can see his shiny-looking, little toffee-colored brown legs and his head full of thick brown ringlets.
I get to my feet with my brows knit. When I lock eyes with the kid as he turns toward me, my stomach tightens. He gives me a huge smile, showing off his tiny teeth.
“Uncle …” He knits his brows as if not sure how to finish. Then he turns to look up at Garret, who’s smiling back at him. The little guy points back at me behind him. “Uncle?”
“Not Uncle, sweety. That’s Dada,” my mother coos as she stops beside the two and begins to rub the boy’s back.
He whips his head back in my direction. “Dada,” he squeals and holds his arms out.
I stand there in shock for a moment, not knowing what to say or do. His eyes are so big and bright, not quite the same hazel as mine, but a really light brown. I move forward and take him from my brother’s hold.
He wraps his arms around me and places his head on my shoulder with a sigh. As if this is where he belongs, or as if he’s been waiting to find me. Feeling his weight against my chest makes this all so real.
“You knew about this?” I growl at Garret as I squeeze my son in my embrace.
“Not until I arrived at the house, while you guys went to the stadium. Bro, I had no idea.”
“She has tried to deny it, but I’ve known from the day he was born. He has your nose and your little smile,” Mom chokes out.
“I think we should take a pause and allow Zah to—” Erica cuts off as I spin on her and glare.
I have so many emotions as she looks back at me. A million thoughts and questions are running through my mind. I land on complete devastation.
I always knew Erica and Zahirah were tight, but I never thought my sister would choose her over me. Especially not to keep something like this from me.
“You knew the entire time. You lied to me. When I asked you repeatedly if you knew where she was or if she was with you, you lied. She was standing right next to you every time, wasn’t she?”
“No. She was in Spain with me, but never around when I took your calls or called. I always left the flat to avoid the risk of you seeing or hearing her in the background.”
“Why, Erica? You’re my little sister.”
“She’s my best friend. She needed space.”
“I have a son,” I bark, my voice breaking with emotion.
“You told her to get the fudge out,” she bites out, making air quotes as she says the word fudge and looks pointedly at my son, “and to go take a Plan B. So excuse me if I sided with my best friend when my big brother was being a butthole,” Erica hisses.
“He did what?” my mother gasps.
