Page 20 of Objection

“Aight, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay, I can’t wait.”

We disconnected the call, and my excitement grew even more when I looked over the schedule he’d made out for me. My nail appointment was in an hour, he had my hair appointment scheduled for an hour and a half after that, and the final thing on the list was getting my makeup done. She was going to come to me and do it after I showered, and I was glad he’d set up a home visit for that.

I felt crazy thinking he was switching up on me, and the whole time, he was putting together something special. My response was triggered because of past relationships. I’m glad I didn’t treat him any differently or take it to him in a negative way. I now had something new to put on my list for the ways I felt loved—being with a man that maintained the same energy from day one. One who kept doing what he did to get me . . . to keep me. My spirit was soaring so high I didn’t want to call my sister and risk her ruining my mood, but since she was on my heart, I decided to call her still.

“Hello?” she answered, and I was so surprised she answered it took me a few seconds to respond.

“Oh, hey, Sis. What you doing?”

“Nothing, on break. I was just watching a TikTok video.”

That explained why she finally answered.

“Are you working at the restaurant or grocery store today?”

“Both, but I’m at the store right now.”

“Ma told me you weren’t going to school.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I um . . . I just don’t really have the time, you know? Ma and Daddy take care of me so I feel obligated to help. I work a morning and evening shift, so I don’t really have time to go to school.”

“Taylor, I want you to hear exactly what I say. Don’t add to it, and don’t take away from it.”

“Okay,” she agreed quietly.

“You are their child. It’s their responsibility to take care of you. You are not required to work for them in exchange—especially all day, every day. I can understand if you wanted to do a part time shift but you can’t let them taking care of you be the reason you end up working like crazy for the rest of your life. You’re not taking full advantage of your youth because you’re spending all your time working.”

“Well who else was going to help them after you left?” she all but screamed. “You left them shorthanded, and I had to step up!”

“I left two years ago, boo. They could have easily found someone else to fill my position.”

“You know they only want family working for them.”

“That’s bull. They only want family working for them because it keeps them from having to pay more than they do. Besides, they have other family members in Jasper Lane than their daughters. Me leaving isn’t a good enough excuse for them to take advantage of you.” She didn’t respond, and I took that as her listening to me, so I continued. “Just tell me this, baby sis. Do you want to go to school . . . or not?”

“Of course I do, but . . . I see the way Daddy completely cut you off and . . . I don’t want that. What if he does me the same way if I decide to go to school?”

The fear in her voice made my eyes water. Our father was loving, but I could admit it sometimes felt conditional. Or like we had to earn hearing the words. I believe that’s why my relationships had been how they were in the past. I would go above and beyond trying to earn a man’s love when it should have been the other way around. A lot of the men in my past didn’t deserve the access I gave them to me. I spent more time trying to prove I was worthy of a man’s love who wasn’t worthy of me. And because they weren’t worthy of me, they could never love me the way I wanted to be loved.

“Daddy is . . . a hard nut to crack, but you can’t let your fear of disappointing him or not having his approval keep you from living the life you want to live. We haven’t spoken in two years, and though I miss Daddy like crazy, I had to accept the fact that, if he wanted to talk to me, he would. If it means more to his stubborn ass to ignore me because his feelings are hurt over me leaving, so be it. He’ll get over it eventually, and if he doesn’t, it’s his loss. I don’t regret leaving. I’m having the time of my life in The Hills.”

“You are?” she asked quietly with hope coating her tone.

“I am, Sis. It’s amazing here. I love my job and I’ll have my own business soon. I have a best friend and a few other ladies I hang with from time to time. And then there’s Kaos. He’s . . . he’s genuinely the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I want you to meet him and come see my life here. Maybe it’ll inspire you to live for yourself too and go to school.”

“Okay, I’ll come visit. Can I stay with you?”

“Of course. Just let me know when you want to come.”

“Okay, yay. I can’t wait. Let me look over the schedule and see what I can do.”

“Alright, baby sis. Call me tomorrow or text me.”

“Will do. I love you, Serenity.”

My eyes watered. That was the first time she’d said that in two years. “I love you too.”

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