Page 67 of Mr. Calloway

Time: 2:00 pm

My Sweet Z,

I know everyone is out enjoying my front fucking yard like it’s a Zoo Fair, but I decided to take some time to come to the greenhouse and get an entry done. Baby, there isn’t a day that I don’t want to write to you. So much has happened since you and I have been together, and I want to account for each moment, good or bad, so that you have memories.

Time is ticking for me, Z, and the smoke hasn’t yet cleared, although Clark is no more. He is just a piece of the puzzle, but I will say that the finish is near. I know when you finally do get to these, you’re probably going to curse me out and ask why I didn’t just go to our special place and tell you. You think you would have understood. That’s the thing. You wouldn’t, and I know that. Sometimes things that are left unsaid are for the best, and you will later understand why.

I know you’re looking for me, searching high and low, and those moments will come more than often. Times like this are when we go to our special place. I didn’t understand the concept of it at first. I didn’t know if you and I were like superhuman or something because being able to hear each other’s thoughts is truly some scary shit. However, God knew exactly what he was doing. He created a space that only you and I could be in. A place where we can silence the outside noise and focus on us. Those times we will have and remember that is the only way I want you to communicate with me. Fix your face. Trust me.

Zaria, something is happening, some?—

Kids ranthrough my front lawn like little wild cubs while Love whined because she wanted someone to pick her up. The front of my house looked like a mess, and now I understood why June was reluctant to even have the party here. He and Yana argued until the first guest arrived; now he was nowhere to be found, leaving me with the distress of what had taken place.

My eyes scanned the lawn looking for him when I spotted Samara holding Savior while getting cotton candy, and Foe holding Peace while playing one of the shooting carnival games.

“Foe!” I shouted.

His head spun my way. “If June sees you,” I said.

He waved me off while he played the game, and Peace was watching him. Harvey was doing the face painting while Preach worked on popcorn. Sasha and Zeus played games with Sy’ann, enjoying their moment of parenting, while Lakia stood back staring at her brother. Yana tried calming a crying Love whileDio sat in the water bin, and the other guys threw balls to drop him in, while the younger girls admired Symphony’s belly. I spotted everyone but my man.

Leaving them all to enjoy the party, I headed into the house. “June!” I called out, but I heard nothing. “Where the hell is he?”

I moved through each room in our home, and still no June. I walked back outside to see that Diamond had come out in a full clown costume, trying to get Love to see that it was him, but she wasn’t having it. When I saw Bishop, Indigo, and Lulu, I hurried over to them.

“Hey, have you guys seen June?”

I could tell by the look on Bishop’s face that the answer was no. Indigo rubbed my arm.

“I’m sure his crazy ass is around here. He sent a text earlier to remind us not to forget dinner.”

I briefly closed my eyes.

June!

I waited for a second, then nothing. My heart began racing, and panic set in. My mouth started to feel dry, and everything around me started spinning. I began making my way back to the house when Samara stopped me.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I… I’m fine. Just need a little water,” I lied.

I hurried up the steps, and as I opened the door, he was standing right there.

“Shit!” I shouted. “Where were you? I was looking everywhere for you.”

His voice was low, his eyes glassy, and his jaw clenched. “I was here. Always will be,” he mumbled.

My head flew back. “I went to every room in this house, June. You?—”

“Z, relax. I’m here now.”

Ever since the shit with Clark, something had been off, and if he thought I was dumb, he was going to find out soon.

June

“Do you think the boys are going to be okay?” I asked Z.

She stopped setting the table as she looked at me. “They are with their sister, and besides, Zeus’ house is right next door. You wanted this dinner, remember? I think it’s a great start to a fresh relationship with your sisters.”