“I will because what else is there?”
“Ryland, sweetheart, your sister is deaf. It’s not just about finding time. She’s going to need things, resources, for school, for home. You…” my mother said carefully before I cut her off.
“I’ll figure it out,” I stated, looking at my mother first then my father because he would make her back down. “Where is she?”
My mother sighed. “With her teacher.”
“Why the hell is she with her teacher?” All I could think about was somebody taking pity on my sister because they assumed she didn’t have anyone who loved and cared about her.
“Somee is deaf and works at Harrington.” I frowned and my mother added, “It’s the school Rylee attends. The school is for the Deaf and hearing impaired. Somee is really good with Rylee. Leaving your sister with Somee was the best option until we were able to discuss this with you.”
I nodded. “Aight. I can get her tomorrow.”
“Can we just take a minute to think about all this?” my father asked calmly before his eyes shifted toward my mother. I studiedhis face before I searched hers. Now I understood. My mother thought she would be the one to keep my sister. Although I knew if that was how this played out, Rylee would be loved. Miranda and Orlando were the absolute best parents anyone could dream of. They would do anything in their power to make sure my sister had a happy life, but this wasn’t on them.
“We can talk about it but I’m not changing my mind. I know why you want me to and I appreciate that y’all want to step up but I gotta do this. She has to be with me. For six years, I’ve had a sister I didn’t know anything about. All she had was Felicia. I need to make things right. You may not understand…”
My mother placed her hand against my face and smiled. “We understand.”
She lifted from the stool and kissed my cheek. “While she’s at school tomorrow, you can work on getting temporary custody. Maybe Van can help. I’ll get in touch with Somee and let her know we’ll be there when school lets out.”
“Aight, I’ll call Van in the morning.”
“I’m gonna head up. You need anything?”
“Nah, I’m good. I love you,” I said, pulling her into a hug. After my mother left, my father brushed a hand over his head and sighed, leaning against the counter. Another reminder that he was my father. The only one I would ever claim. I mirrored his actions more often than I realized, simple from watching him.
Brushing a hand over my head was my go to move when I needed a minute to process my thoughts, same as he had just done.
“You sure you want to do this.”
I snorted. “What I’m sure of is that I shouldn’t have to…”
“You don’t. Your mother and I will take her.”
“I know you will and me not wanting you to doesn’t have shit to do with me not believing you will be the best option, because trust me, I know I’m not but I need this.”
He nodded. “Then we’ll figure out how to make it work.”
“Thank you, Pops.”
He crossed the kitchen, placed a hand on my shoulder, and squeezed. “Get some sleep, son. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
My father left me in the kitchen and I removed my phone to get this process started. I was seconds from dialing Vanessa, who was going to have a fucking field day with this one, when I felt a presence enter the kitchen. I glanced over my shoulder and caught the tense expression on my mother’s face as she neared me.
“What’s wrong?”
Her eyes softened as she extended an envelope toward me. My brows slammed in when I realized it was an electric bill with Felicia’s name on it. The address was the same as it had been years ago when I was in her care. A two bedroom apartment on the south side that was decent at best back then, so I could barely imagine the state the complex was in now.
“The back,” she stated quietly, sensing my confusion.
I accepted the envelope and flipped it over, scanning the words scribbled in blue ink.
Miranda,
With you paying the tuition and all, I’m sure you’ll be the first call they make. That fancy school doesn’t even know my name. You might consider me a bad parent and honestly you’d be right but I’m also self-aware enough toknow that as horrible as my decision is, this is the best decision I can make for Rylee. I can’t do this and I know you can. I know you want to, so she’s yours. You were good for Ryland, so maybe you can be that for Rylee too.
My chest tightened from the anger pushing through my veins. She really fucking left her without a second thought. I closed my eyes and massaged my temple, feeling the stiffness in the back of my neck. My eyes already felt the sensitivity from the bright lights in the kitchen, so I inhaled a few cleansing breaths. I felt pressure building behind my eyes, which she didn’t miss.
