“Hey, Eli.”

“Hey, mom… Dad said you were about to be wheels up and I wanted to tell you to have a safe flight.”

He paused as he looked at me through the camera. “What’s the matter, baby?”

“You going to come back for me?”

I smiled. “Do you get gas after you eat rice?”

He started laughing and snorting. “Yes!”

“Then that means me and your sister will always come back for you. Just like your father always comes back for us… right?”

“Right.”

“Love you more than you know, Elijah Inferno. The world needs smart Black boys… and I needed you. Okay?”

“Okay, mom. I love you more than you know.”

I smiled. “Gams get there yet?”

“Yes. Her and Nana Augusta are making me peel potatoes,” he groaned.

I could hear Gams laugh in the background. “Less talking… more peeling.”

“Love you, baby… call you when I land.”

He stared at me before I moved the camera to my stomach. “Safe flight, Zayah.”

“Love you. Where’s your father?”

“He played the game with me and told me that he has to take a trip too… now he’s home sitting in the dark?”

“How do you know he’s in the dark?”

“Cause he scared me half to death… I walked over to grab some breadcrumbs out your pantry, and he was in the dark withPyro on his lap.” Gams got on the phone and I laughed. “He didn’t have much to say, so I know what that means… Papa the same way.”

“These your boys, Gams… you know they crazy.”

She chuckled. “But these are you girls’ husbands… whatever that is going on between you two, I am praying.”

“Thanks, Gams.”

“Love you, Angel pie.”

“Love you, too, Gams.”

Elijah rushed off the phone because Gams promised him some bucks for a game, and he was determined to peel the rest of the potatoes to get them.

“I love our family so bad… the way… way… you pour into him.” Capri sobbed with her extra emotional ass.

No sooner than she started, I started crying, too. “I miss him already… love th…that little boy so much.”

“This was your idea, right?” Kobe pointed to Zoya who was laughing while recording us crying.

It was worse for Capri because she had chip crumbs all on the side of her mouth. “Then I have to wo…worry about Meer.”

“Why?”