Instead of searching for her shitty ass husband, I found an empty section and set our plates down. Once the boys were settled in their seats, I took their drink requests and headed to the drink station. They had a variety of juices, but I decided tostick to orange juice. I filled our three cups and then headed back to the table. By the time I made it back, China was switching her way into the dining area. My cousin was gorgeous, and she could have easily been a plus-sized model if she wanted to. Her curves were out of this world, and she carried herself like the bad bitch she was.
“Good morning, Cousin!” She greeted me with a bright smile. At first glance, I could tell why she had been so late as she was fully dressed in a multicolored maxi dress with cut-outs in the stomach area and her face was beat to the gawds.
“It’s about time you showed up. I almost thought I wouldn’t see you until after breakfast because I know how you operate.” I placed the boy’s cups in front of them, and I could feel the heat from China’s gaze.
“Umm, whose palm-colored chirren are these, and why are you serving them like a house nig?—”
“Don’t you say it.” I hissed lowly. I already knew how reckless her mouth could be, and I didn’t want her to say the wrong thing in front of them. They weren’t my children after all.
“There was a young lady in front of me who was struggling to fix plates for her kids, so I stepped in to help.”
“Umm, okay, and where is Becky now?”
“China.” I gave her a knowing look.
“My bad, but the question remains. I see two pale babies and no momma in sight.”
I glanced over at the line for the omelets and shook my head. After she set her plate down, she got in line to get that raggedy man of hers some food. He would have been hungry, much like Kalvin’s ass.
“She’s over there.” I nodded to the right.
“Interesting. She looks like she barely has any toner herself. Yeah, let me go and fix my plate. I’m gonna see if they have any champagne in the back for mimosas, or maybe they canmake me one at the bar. I need something a little stronger this morning.”
China walked away, and a few minutes after I took my seat, the boys’ mother finally made it back to the table.
“I couldn’t find my husband anywhere, so I guess he’ll get his food whenever.”
I could tell she wanted to say more but was cautious because of her sons. Kids were nosy and messy as hell.
“You need to worry about feeding yourself. He’s a grown man. I’m sure he’ll manage,” I replied with my brow raised. I wanted to say fuck him and his omelet, but he wasn’t my man, and I also didn’t want to negatively influence someone else. If nothing else, I was certain this wasn’t his first time treating her with no regard.
“Thank you so much. You didn’t have to do what you did. Lord knows I was ready to say fuck it and just come back later. Where are my manners? You helped me, and I never even got your name.” She held her hand out across the table.
“It’s Laikyn.”
“Well, Laikyn, aka my cruise ship angel, I’m Roxanne. And before you say it, I know I look too young to have a name like Roxanne, but my mother was obsessed with the show and running low on names,” Roxanne joked.
“There’s no judgment here. My mother named me after a male character in a movie she loved. She decided to put her own little spin on it, and here we are.”
“You’re really beautiful. Please forgive my randomness, but you have a glow to you. Meanwhile, I’m over here looking like I crawled out of a dark alley. I didn’t have time to get myself together after making sure they all looked presentable.”
Her boys all looked neat and clean. Well, they weren’t clean now with their faces covered in syrup, but it was obvious they were well taken care of. They were quiet as they devoured theirfood. China came back in record time with a plate of food and a mimosa flute in hand.
“It’s okay. It’s early, so there’s no need to dress up. Besides, as someone who judges random strangers in public, I would much rather see a mother looking rough and her kids well-groomed than a mother dressed up and her kids looking like she picked them up from a nearby shelter. I’m not a mother, but from what I’ve heard, it’s ghetto as hell.”
We both giggled, and I could see her relaxing more and more.
“Being a mother is my greatest blessing, but I won’t pretend there aren’t moments where I want to lock myself in the bathroom for hours and scream. I’ve been asking my husband for a nanny, but he doesn’t think it’s appropriate because I’m a stay-at-home mother. I try to explain to him that being a momma 24/7 is a job too, but he doesn’t agree.”
“Girl, tell him to go to hell. If I were you, I would hire a part-time nanny so she’s gone before he gets home. You’ll at least be able to get a few hours of peace or at least be able to fix yourself up. I’m sure you’re a pretty lady under the messy hair and spit up all over you,” China stated boldly.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry about that. I sat down and added my two cents without even introducing myself. I’m China, Laikyn’s cousin.”
“I’m Roxanne.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna call you Roxy. Roxanne sounds like an overweight lady who wears those loose booty pants but still manages to have a permanent wedgie.”
I covered my mouth as I giggled. The sad part was that I knew exactly what kind of pants she was referring to.
