Page 34 of The Hellcat Barbies: Zora
I kept driving, but her question didn’t just slide past me. “Aight,” I said. “Tell me something. What do you think love is?”
She went quiet for a second before responding. “It means… you don’t leave somebody when they need you. You help them. You talk to them nice. You care if they’re sad or hungry or tired. And you want them around because they make things better.”
I nodded. “That’s your own definition?”
“Yes,” she said. “So… do you?”
I didn’t give her a rushed answer. I knew exactly what she was asking, and she deserved something real. “If I did,” I said, “would that be okay with you?”
“Yes,” she countered. “Because I like Miss Zora. She’s nice, and she does my hair good. And Kaia is my best friend now, so Miss Zora can’t go away or that messes everything up.”
That last part made me shake my head with a small laugh. “Oh, so you and Kaia plotting?”
“No,” she said, “but best friends stay best friends, and that means parents stay too.”
She said it with so much certainty that arguing wasn’t even an option. My baby had decided how this family was supposed to run.
The rest of the ride stayed quiet, and I used the time to sort the thought she’d pulled out of me. I’d been carrying it anyway… she just dragged it to the surface.
When we got to Mama’s house, I parked and helped Samerah out. She walked ahead of me up the steps like she lived there, and before we could knock, Mama opened the door.
“There go my baby,” she said, pulling Samerah in for a hug. Then she shifted her eyes to me, and I could already hear the comment coming. “You look nice,” she complimented.
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Come here a minute,” she ordered, walking further into the house.
She led me into the living room while Samerah ran off to her room. Mama sat down, and her entire face softened.
“What’s going on with you?” she asked.
I sat across from her and let the words come out without hesitation. “I’m serious about her. She’s steady. She’s good to me. She’s good to my daughter. I’m not dealing with anything unsure or temporary. She’s someone I want in my life, not just in my bed,” I answered honestly.
Mama nodded once, urging me to keep going.
“I don’t want to mishandle her,” I said. “I’ve done that in the past with people who didn’t matter. But she does. She’s real, and it’s easy with her in a way I haven’t had.”
Mama’s expression softened more. “And you’re ready for that?”
“Yeah,” I said. It wasn’t hesitant. “I am.”
She leaned forward slightly. “Then lead with intention. Show her she’s not second guessing what you have with her. Show her your intentions and be consistent with your actions.”
I took that in because Mama didn’t talk just to talk. When she advice, it came from a good place.
“I’m proud of you,” she added. “You’re choosing something healthy this time. I love that for you.”
I stood and kissed her cheek. “I appreciate that, Ma.”
“Now, go on,” she said. “Don’t keep my daughter-in-law waiting.” She smirked.
When I stepped back outside, I didn’t have any of the old hesitation sitting on me. Everything was clear…everything was set, and I was heading straight to Zora.
***
Zora opened the door looking damn near perfect without trying—black dress hugging her right, hair laid, lips glossed, and eyes bright.
“You look good,” I told her. “Damn good.”
