Page 21 of Mahogany 2
Sparkle was a sight for sore eyes. The ride back to the house after the funeral home was a blur. Most of it was spent thinking about Erika. Seeing her in that casket fucked with me like a muthafucka. The last time I saw her she was alive and… well, she wasn’t well. Alive and fucked up because I was breaking things off with her. I hated that shit had ended like that for us. I didn’t like for that to be the last memory I had with her. Breaking her heart.
“Nothing,” she lifted her hands to show me them. “Painting.”
I lifted her from my side a little to get a look at my clothes and yep… paint all over them. Washable paint so I was good. Didn’t fuss about it.
“You gon’ show me what you did when I get settled?” I asked.
“Can I show you now daddy? Please! I want to show you now!” She yelled, before jumping down from my waist.
I ran my hands over the top of my head, laughed and told her for sure. Today was a day but my kids always put a smile on my face. Mahogany did too… if we were in a good place. We were straight. But coming home to dryness after going through what I just went through… nah. I’d much rather be greeted by my babies.
“Wassup dad,” Gabe spoke with a head nod, once Spark and I made it to the top of the stairs.
Things were still a little rocky with the lil’ nigga but we were good. Ain’t have any other choice but to be. I caught him watching me and Mahogany anytime we had an interaction, but he stayed on mute. I got it. I would’ve been on the same type of time if my ma and pops had stayed together and had a little conflict I knew about.
“What up doe? You cleaned that room?” I asked, with raised brows.
He showed me the garbage bag he had. “Cleaning it now.”
“Aight bet. Aubry! Honesty! Come here!”
Since Mahogany had been picking up more hours at the office, I had been pulling my weight more often, making sure shit was good before she came home. She might’ve been out with her sister, but still…I had to check in with the kids to make sure they ate and cleaned up after themselves too.
“Hey daddy,” Aubry spoke.
“Hey dad. What’s wrong?” Honesty asked with furrowed brows. “Mama on her way back yet?”
“Nah not yet, but she should be back before bedtime,” I reassured her, before pulling her over to kiss her on the top of her head. “Did y’all eat?”
“Yeah. I wish we could’ve had Jet’s tho’. Low key tired of chicken,” Gabe said, swinging that bag around.
Kids couldn’t stay still for shit.
I laughed, “Man, at least you’re fed.”
“I know,” he said with a laugh.
“Yes, I ate daddy,” said Spark.
“I ate. I want some more. Can I get more?” Honesty said.
“Yeah. Clean up after yourself when you done. Who on the kitchen today?” I asked.
Aubry sucked her teeth. “I am. But Honesty was yesterday, and she did not wash the dishes so I feel like she should have to do them tonight.”
“What? You sound crazy. I’m not washing the dishes!” Honesty complained.
“You need to! It’s still some in the sink from?—”
“Listen,” I interrupted with a sigh. “Bry, you act like you gotta wash them for real. Just rinse them and put them in the dishwasher.”
“I’m saying though,” she continued to complain. “It’s still a load in there from yesterday and I’ll have to?—”
“Aight look. Honesty, unload the dishes. Aubry, load it when she’s done. And Honesty… whatever you dirty up with your second plate, clean. Aight?”
She pouted but said okay anyway.
“And I didn’t eat. I’m getting Chick-Fil-A,” Aubry said with a smile, showing me the DoorDash app on her phone.
