Loved By You

Ninety-two

Sorry for the absence school has been taking up most of my time.

Maja

"Mama, why are we leaving?" Sami asked. "Because we don't tolerate disrespect and what do I tell you two to do when someone is making you uncomfortable?" I asked her.

"Tell a teacher!" Dem said. I chuckled. "Yes, and what else?" I asked. "Tell you, daddy, or Gelo," Sami said. I nodded my head. "Or get away from the person." She added. "Exactly," I said lightly rubbing her cheek. "We're going to go see nana Tia and papa Eric," I said. "Is uncle Ben and Marcus going to be there?" Dem asked. "And uncle T." Dem added. "Ooo and aunt Shaunie!" Sami said. Angelo chuckled as grabbed Nicky and Teddy's car seat.

"They are and they told me they can't wait to see you two," Angelo said. "Yay, okay let's go!" Dem said. I grabbed the twins' bag and stood before Sami grabbed my left hand and Dem grabbed my right. Angelo followed me out of the room, and we walked not the living room see my mom and aunts arguing with Paula while my uncles were going at it with Cliff.

The room began to quiet down as my aunts and uncles looked our way. We ignored them and headed out the front door to see Tae, Rod, and Haseem on the porch. "Uncle Tae!" Sami yelled letting my hand go. "Hey, little mama." He said picking her up.

"Mama and Gelo are taking us to nana Tia and papa Eric's house," Sami said. "Really?" He asked as she nodded her head. "Mama, can they come too?" Dem asked. I froze. "Umm—" I paused cause honestly, I wasn't sure. "Of course, they can." Dem let my hand go and walked over to Rod and Haseem. "Do you want to come with us?" He asked looking up at them.

Rod knelt to his level picking him up. "Yeah, you want to ride with us?" He asked Dem. He turned and looked at me and Angelo. "Go ahead," Angelo said. "Me too!" Sami asked. "Go on," I said.

--

Angelo buckled the twins into the car as I talked to my mom and grandmother. "I'm sorry your party got ruined but the way they were talking—the things they were saying was totally unacceptable," I said as Angelo joined us on the sidewalk. "Ms. Jackie, I apologize for disrespecting your home by fighting, but I won't apologize for what I did." He said.

"You don't have to apologize. Cliff should've been put in his place a long time ago." My mom said. "But my uncles are reformed street dudes and uncle Cliff is a cop caller," I said to Angelo. "Which is fucking ironic since he wants to talk about black men in jail when he's the first one to call the cops." My nana said.

"But I doubt he'd call the cops in this instance considering all the witnesses here." My mom said. I rolled my eyes. "How are you scary but you be running your mouth like you got hands?" I questioned. "Scary people tend to be like that, though. I wouldn't have touched him had he not disrespected you." Angelo said. I turned to my mom. "I really wanted to come here have a good time with everybody, but I don't have the energy to put up with people like that," I said.

"Mj and I aren't disrespectful until someone disrespects us," Angelo said. "Aww, you call her MJ." My nana said. I chuckled as I looked over at Angelo seeing him already smiling at me before he grabbed my hand lacing our fingers together. "We've gone through a lot together and I made a promise to her that I plan to keep." He said. "They are too precious." My nana said as my mom smiled.

"Ow! What was that for?" I asked rubbing my leg. "I just remembered that I was mad at you." My nana said. My mouth dropped. "What did I do?" I asked her. "You went off and got married and didn't invite me. I should pop you again." She said causing Angelo to chuckle. "That goes for you too." She said pointing at Angelo who went silent. "Sorry, ma'am." He said.

I jumped back hiding behind Angelo as she raised her hand. "It was just a small wedding," I said. Angelo struggled to stifle his laughter. "My grandbaby goes and gets married and didn't even invite me. I'm hurt." She said. "Nana—" "Don't nana me." She said waving her finger. "Well, if it means anything we're planning a more formal wedding for the extended family," Angelo said.