Page 52 of Baby, You're My Weakness
“Yeah,” he answered. “Did mama see it?”
His auntie sat across from where we were, placing a plate of cookies down on the coffee table. I was tempted to reach for one, but I didn’t wanna be rude.
“No, and thank God she didn’t. She’s been sleep for a few hours now.” She shook her head in defeat, her shoulders slumped. “Love, this would give her a heart attack. I don’t know how you gone break this to her.”
Without breaking conversation with her, he picked the plate up and moved it towards me. A warmth I couldn’t describe settled in my chest. It was a small gesture, but it meant everything to me to see him being so attentive. We were in tune with each other and that kinda understanding was worth alot more than intimacy to me. It’s like he knew what I needed without me opening my mouth.
I grabbed one shyly, and bit into it. His eyes cut down to see if I took one before he put it back where it was.
“I want her to find out from me first,” he noted, turning to me. His eyes took me in, and I must’ve had crumbs on my face because he used his thumb to wipe across my cheek.
“I’mma be right back, alright?” he told me.
I nodded, smiling. “Okay.”
As he turned the corner to leave, his auntie moved from her spot and sat where he was. “So, you Love girlfriend?”
I thought for a second. “Huh? Oh, no. We’re just friends.” One of her eyebrows raised like she didn’t believe me.
“It’s complicated, I guess,” I added, taking another bite of the cookie.
She waited patiently until I was finished to reply. “What’s the complication? I can tell he really likes you. Love never brought a girl to my house before.”
Lady, you won’t believe me if I told you.
For the next few minus, we sat there and talked. I told her all about our situation. How I knew him before I got locked up and how we got reconnected years later. It’s crazy if you really thought about it, though. We’d been through so much already in such a short period of time. But just thinking about him had butterflies moving wildly in my stomach. It may sound silly, but I’d go through hell just to come home to Love every day.
32
LOVE
I walked slowlyinside mama’s room, sitting down on the edge of her bed. Her head was relaxed against the pillows as she slept, and I low-key wanted to let her rest. I hated that I had to break the news to her.
“Mama?’ I gently tapped her leg.
When she didn’t move, I tried again. “Aye, mama. Wake up.”
Still nothing. I started hitting her harder than before, but her body laid stiff. She was unresponsive.
“Auntie!” I yelled loudly, checking her neck for a pulse. It was one there, but it was weak. She ran in the room with Baby right behind her.
“What’s wrong, Love?” She glanced at me, her eyes moving towards where my hand laid on Mama’s neck. “Trish?”
“Call 9-1-1!” I shouted frantically at Baby. This day just was getting worse and worse for a nigga.
“The operator wants to know if she’s breathing.” Baby’s voice put me on high alert. Why they need to know all that?
“Yes, barely! Tell them to hurry up!” Auntie shouted, slapping mama’s cheek multiple times. The longer we sat with her like that, the angrier I got.
I leaped up from the bed.
“Why they gotta ask all of them fucking questions right now. My mama dying!” Baby’s eyes grew wide, and this was the first time she heard me raising my voice.
“Love, please,” auntie interrupted me, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Baby hesitated to speak. “She asked does your mom have health issues?”
“Nah, tell her no,” I muttered, my jaw clenched tightly.
