Page 33 of Enigma
I had a relatively light day at the hospital, with no surgeries scheduled, just following up with patients and making my rounds. I even spent some time helping out in the ER as they were short-staffed today. Throughout my entire shift, I thought about Caleb. We hadn’t done more than FaceTime and talk on the phone since the last time we were together, due to our schedules. Ahmir and I were coming back from New York, while Cal and Dana were heading to Napa Valley to get away. I was finishing up my rounds and heading to Cal’s to start dinner and get pretty for him. I missed my baby and couldn’t wait to be all in his space, I’d hop in his skin if I could. He had also mentioned talking to his parents, so I was anxious to know how that had gone. As I was packing up my work bag to head out, a FaceTime came through, thinking it might be Cal, I grabbed it, but I smiled harder when I saw it was my baby girl calling.
“If it isn’t the most beautiful songbird I know,” I said upon answering.
“Mommyyyyy,” my baby girl gushed.
“How are you, Lili?” calling her by her childhood nickname.
“I’m really good, I’ve been working on new music and think I’m ready to put out a single and see what buzz it can generate. Rio wants to take a vacation before the season starts, and so we’re getting ready for that, but he’s a bit upset that I’m not ready to go public with our relationship. But Ma, everywhere he goes and everything he does, the paparazzi are always there with a camera in his damn face.”
I knew my baby girl had to be frustrated because she didn’t curse much, especially around me, and it’s not that she couldn’t, it’s that she just didn’t. Liah was very mild-mannered and gentle in spirit, so it took a lot to get her wound up and fussing.
“That’s a valid concern, but if you’re talking about releasing music and going aftera career in R&B, you have to know that with more success comes more paparazzi, so letting them dictate you being loved out loud is pointless. If anything, use their intrusiveness to your advantage, an incredibly beautiful and talented black singer and songwriter who is classically trained in opera pivoting into R&B, dating one of the most eligible bachelors in pro sports? That buzz will be epic. I would even consider shooting a music video and making Rio the leading man. Remember what Daddy always said, “Turn what vexes you into a victory.” The cards can be in your hands, and you can show Rio that you can compromise and meet in the middle.”
“You’re right, Mommy. I guess I’m just protective of a love so good. The media has a way of ruining things.”
“Honestly, baby, people in relationships are the ones who ruin it; the media just shines a light on it. As long as you and Rio are open, honest, and transparent with each other, nothing and no one can come between what y’all are building,” her face softened and cheeks flushed, letting me know the thoughts of Mario had crossed her mind in that moment. It made my heart smile to see my kids happy; they endured a lot, losing their dad and even Maria. They deserved joy.
“OH! Speaking of the media, mom some sleezy tea blog is reporting that Uncle Cal was cheating on Aunt Maria while she was sick, and I know that shit is a lie, I’ll text you the link so you can show Uncle Cal and he can see if it’s anything he needs to get his team on,” my phone dinging letting me know Liah had sent the link, not thinking much of it.
“Thank you, pretty girl, we’ll look into it. What are you doing for the rest of the day? I’m leaving the hospital and running to the store to grab some things for dinner.”
“Callie and I are about to go do some shopping, grab dinner, and do some clubbing all on Uncle Cal and Rio’s dime. It’s still so funny that you and Uncle Cal are a thing, it’s super cute though, I love seeing you happy, Mom.” My eyes watered because I was so scared the kids would be mad at me for moving on after their dad.
“I love you, songbird, send me pics of you and Callie tonight and be safe.”
“Love you too, Mom, and I will! Talk to you tomorrow.”
I made it home from the store to shower and change into a peach colored maxi dress, seeing as it was Caleb’s favorite color on me. I let my curly hair loose from its usual bun and started dinner, preparing fontina and spinach-stuffed pork chops, brown sugar-glazed pecan mashed sweet potatoes, and roasted asparagus.
“Damn it smells good in here,” his deep voice sounded, making me feel giddy, “Baby, where you at?”
“In the kitchen!” How fast had he been walking? Because before I could finish saying kitchen, Caleb was towering over me as he wrapped me up in his arms, leaning down to kiss my neck softly.
“Yanna, just give me 10 minutes,” his erection poking me as he started trying to pull my dress over my hips and ass.
Giggling, I turned to face him, “Cal, you haven’t been in the door 10 whole ass minutes and you trying to fuck me next to pork chops.”
“Shittt I can go from dessert straight to dinner with no issues,” causing me to laugh as he leaned in to kiss me.
“Where’s Dana? I thought she’d be joining us tonight,” the disappointment in my voice evident because I’d missed her as well.
“She headed home. She has a big presentation tomorrow for the hospital board meeting, so she wanted to finish preparing. She said she’d call you when she got settled in, but if she was in the same house as you, she wouldn’t give a damn about that presentation,” causing us both to chuckle.
“Fair enough, I’ll take her some left overs tomorrow,” just as I said that, Cal’s doorbell sounded leaving us both curious because Dana was home, Ahmir was in the thick of his 12 hour shift at the hospital, Ajaih’s plane had landed in Dubai hours ago, and the kids were nowhere near Winston Hills.
“I’ll get it,” I mumbled as I kissed his lips, heading to the door. Opening the door, my body froze as I stared into the face of Caleb’s mother.
“Mrs. Black, hi?”
“Hello Layanna, it’s good to see you. Is Caleb home?” Her voice is pleasant and genuine.
“Who is it, babe?” Caleb inquired as I heard his footsteps near.
Stepping to the side so he could see, I responded, “Your mother,” as he stopped in his tracks.
I didn’t have to see his face to register the shock on it; I knew this was the last person he expected to see.
“Mother, is everything ok?”
