Page 77 of I Love to Hate You
“Don't thankme, baby,” she replies. “Thank yourself for staying the course and seeing it through. You’ve been through so much, Kendrick. Your father, my cancer, being a product of Strawberry Mansion, Simon, and just the overall trauma of being a young Black man born into an area like this in the world we live in—it’s a lot to deal with and most people don’t make it. Most people can’t survive it. But you were always meant to be different. I know that you’ve struggled. No one is perfect, but your good outweighs your bad, and that’s all anybody can ask for in this life. You did a fantastic job, and I see you mentioned Maya again. That’s the second time you’ve let her name slip in front of me. She got hired, too, huh?”
I’ve never been one to blush, but whatever my equivalent is, it happens when she mentions Maya’s name, and I have to clear my throat. “Umm, yeah she did. She was the one who brought the whole pitch together, and it wouldn't have been right if only I got hired. The fact that it was the two of us makes it even better.”
Mom smirks as she listens to me, and I can tell that a thousand thoughts are running wild behind those eyes, but all she does is nod.
“I’m happy for you, baby. I truly am,” she says. She takes a few steps back and leans against the wood railing of the porch. “I think it’s safe to say that things are better now than they’ve probably ever been around here. You’ve graduated from college, gotten a job in marketing just like you wanted, you're clearly into a woman, and my cancer is gone. The future sure does look bright.”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s crazy how it’s all coming toge—wait, what did you just say?” I blurt out. My eyes grow to twice their size as I look up at my mom smiling like the Cheshire Cat, her eyes filling with tears.
“I’m in complete remission,” she says. “As far as they can tell, all signs of the cancer are gone. I’m healed.”
It takes a moment for my brain to process the words, and while it does, my eyes mist over and the tears quickly become too much to contain. They spill down my cheeks just as I jump up from my seat and slam into my mom, nearly knocking her over with a hug.
“Oh, my god,” I say, crying tears of absolute joy. “I’m so proud of you. You didn't give up. You fought, Ma, and you won. I can’t believe it. This is the happiest day of my entire life.”
Mom squeezes me tightly as she cries into my chest, both of us overcome with emotion. “Mine, too, baby. Mine, too. I’m so glad you're my son.”
“And there isn't a better mother in the entire world,” I reply with trembling lips. “I love you, Ma.”
Mom’s voice quivers as she sobs and replies, “I love you, too.”
Forty-Five
~ KENDRICK~
The blood coursing through my veins feels like it's moving faster today. I haven't had any coffee yet, but I’m energized like I’ve already downed two cups by the time I pull into the BLM parking lot and make my way inside. I know what this day is all about, and while I don't look forward to the initial part where Maya and I complete our onboarding paperwork, I’m beyond thrilled to get started. Today is our first day as employees of Bell Liberty, and we’ll begin our initial assignment of running the marketing campaign for Nasir Booker’s upcoming novel. Today is the beginning of the rest of my life.
On the elevator, I run my hands down my red and white button-up, trying to force out the wrinkles caused by my seatbelt to no avail. It’s no big deal, though. I spent a little more time on my outfit today, making sure I look good on day one, because the first impression is the one that lasts the longest, and I don't expect these people to give me a pass just because my assignment pitch became a big deal. The real work starts now, and I know I’ll have to be impressive more than once in order to be successful here. My mother made sure to remind me of that after we went in the house yesterday and continued the conversation we were having on her porch. As soon as the words came out of her mouth, I knew they were true, and I won’t make the mistake of thinking that hitting a homerun on my first at-bat will keep me from getting dropped if I do nothing but strike out the rest of my career. I’m focused and ready.
“Looking sharp,” Samantha says as I walk past the conference room I used to wait in with the other interns. She and Erica are entering the room but stop to inspect my outfit before they go in.
“Thank you very much,” I reply with a wide, proud smile.
“And you’ve even turned into a morning person,” Erica says, giggling.
“I know, right?” I reply.
Samantha scoffs and shakes her head. “Wow, you really have changed already. Mr. Corporate.”
“It’s true,” I say. “All it took was being a full-time employee for a total of forty-two seconds for me to realize that somebody as important as me shouldn't even be communicating with the interns. Therefore, this conversation is over, peasants.”
I do a little spin, faking as if I’m walking away before facing them again. The three of us share a laugh as Derek and Chad approach from the back and stand in the doorway.
“How does it feel, bro? You nervous?” Derek asks.
“A little,” I admit. “We’re supposed to get with HR and then Mr. Conner to start onboarding first thing this morning. I’d feel better if it was Denver.”
“Yeah, I bet. Hopefully Mr. Conner is cool,” Derek says. “How’s Maya feeling about today?”
“Umm, I’m not sure, actually,” I admit, looking over my shoulder to see if she’s coming. The elevator dings and opens, but the person stepping off isn’t her and I furrow my brow. “Is she not here already?”
“I haven't seen her,” Samantha answers. “What time is it?”
I look at the clock on my phone and notice both the time and the fact that Maya hasn’t texted or called. “Eight-fifty-eight.”
“Damn, she’s cutting it close on day one?” Samantha says. “Maybe you should call her, Kendrick.”
I nod my head and pull up Maya’s contact in my phone, quickly pressing her name and hearing the ring. After four, it goes to voicemail.
