Page 81 of Just Like Summer

“A few things. I’m from 50th and Husten, ain’t a gimmick in my blood. Two, favor ain’t fair and you shouldn’t question the favor you got. Three, the cost is that you never clean another house that’s not yours again because it’s distracting you from where you should be,” Haddon shared.

Kamilla pushed her hair out of her face and huffed. “I don’t think a paid internship is going to cover taking care of him. Thanks but-”

“You intern under me for a year, this time next year, you’re moved to my artist and production team. From there, you advance into an office with a view, enough money in your account that you don’t worry about how you’re feeding your son. The position is literally yours. I’ve been trying to pick someone and none of them have what you have,” Haddon tapped his ear.

Kamilla tossed the idea back and forth in her head. “You said y’all have childcare?”

“Free to interns and employees, you can thank Day for that. My brother can’t stop having kids,” Haddon said with a chuckle.

“No bullshit?”

“None at all. I don’t play that shit, Kamilla. I don’t shit where I eat. I don’t sell dreams. I don’t have malicious intent. You got magic and you should be being fuckin’ magical, not scrubbing toilets,” he stated. “Tell you what, I know you want to finish the job you were booked for so I’m going let you do that. I’ll get my answer when you’re done.”

Haddon left Kamilla to finish her work, sensing she wasn’t the type to leave a job unfinished or a commitment abandoned. Kamilla finished the living spaces and then moved to the spacious bedrooms and entertainment rooms. In the office, Haddon’s awards for producer of the year, Grammys from Lucci’s albums and magazine interviews were placed on the walls. The blue carpet under her feet telling her and anyone else that stepped foot into this space that Haddon survived the streets of Husten alongside his brother. She was sure he had his own story to tell. As she dusted them, tears pricked her eyes.

“I need you to steal the muhfuckin’ moon,” Cairo’s voice sounded off as if she was in a tunnel.

Kamilla quickly swiped them away and huffed. If Cairo was home, he’d be on her about not returning to school after having their son. The trauma of that summer overshadowed the beauty of it and Kamilla stopped dreaming while being present for everyone else’s dreams to flourish. Dania was in her salon doing hair. Nate was shooting music videos and content for artists. She was so proud of them – so happy. Her cleaning business had taken off as a small business and could really maintain without her but Haddon was right. She was using this as a distraction. An excuse not to swim.

“Fuck,” she blew lowly. She shook her head at herself and finished her clean. When she came back to the foyer, Haddon had Kairo placed on the cleaned counter, joking with him as he fed him a chopped banana. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear him.”

Haddon looked over his shoulder and shrugged. “Figured you had a lot to think about. Plus, young bull is a silent assassin. Ten minutes after you left, he was creeping into the studio. He must have his granddaddy’s gift too.”

“His dad’s too,” Kamilla muttered before speaking up. “He keeps me running behind him. Thanks.”

“Nah, don’t thank me. I got hella nieces and nephews, at this point, I’m a pro,” Haddon stated. “So you’ll be at HQ by ten on Tuesday? The childcare center opens at nine. You might need that hour. I don’t sense you two have been apart more than a few hours.”

“We haven’t.”

Haddon laughed. “Yeah, I can tell. Don’t worry about that trash, I’ll handle it. That’s for you.”

Kamilla’s eyes trailed to the stack of the cash on the other end of the counter. “That’s too much.”

“Nah, it’s your worth plus tax. It’s also enough to make sure you don’t back out and go back to cleaning houses while you steal your moon.”

“I can’t take that.”

“You can. Not just because you’re the OG’s daughter, but you know how we move – we take care of our own,” he spoke, wiping Kairo’s face off and tossing the paper bowl. “I’m looking forward to working with you, Kamilla.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank me by proving me right, aight?”

“Okay.”

After Haddon helped load the Camaro, he chuckled to himself putting the dots together but leaving her business with her. Kamilla left the massive house and drove straight to the local thrift store, picked up some new clothes for Kairo and a few suits and business attire for herself. The beauty about living in the valley and the net worth of people who lived here, she could always find something of quality at the thrift store. Most of the furniture in her house was courtesy of this place and everything else was Fredo. There wasn’t a point for her to have a baby shower – one, she didn’t know anyone outside the people she migrated with – and Fredo bought everything. Even paid the hospital bill.

When Tuesday came and she dropped Kairo off at the childcare center, she stood at the window. A bitter laugh left her body.

“I’m crying and he ran away from me like I don’t exist,” she muttered to herself but another voice answered.

“All of my kids are here and do the same thing to me, too. You must be, Kamilla.”

Kamilla turned to her left, finding Daysha Gallalucci. Truly, the photos of this woman were all understated. A beauty with a spirit that radiated around her. Kamilla froze in awe before pinching herself.

“Y-yeah,” she stammered. “That’s me.”

Daysha smiled warmly at her. “I’ve heard good things about you. You ready to get to work?”