When It Unfolds

8

"Mammy!"

Mya yelled as she entered through the front door of the house.

"In the kitchen!"

Her mother responded as she entered the living room and found her father and brother behind the television screen, playing against each other in basketball.

"Don't you two ever tire?"

She questioned as she pressed her lips against her father's cheek and gave her brother a quick hug.

"Never."

Jeston answered as she shook her head.

"Where's Ariel?"

"Not feeling well so she slept in. She'd be here in time for lunch though."

Her brother explained as she nodded and found her mother in the kitchen. Her navy blue apron wrapped around her waist as she stood in front of the counter slicing the tomatoes into thinly cut circles.

Mya wrapped her arms around the woman from behind as Jewel placed her head against her daughter.

"Hey babygirl."

Mya loved her mother, she was the epitome of strength for her. She showed Mya constantly what it meant to forgive, have compassion and to love unconditionally.

But Mya also had some questions for her about the young man that would arrive at their home in some hours.

The said young man she had not spoken to since she'd left his hotel room yesterday morning.

He had not reached out and neither had Mya.

She was giving him time to change his mind, especially after his talk with his father, she expected him to show up and not announce to her family that they were dating.

She wondered if Jeston knew who Regius could possibly be. If that was his reason for inviting him over.

"I had my first individual big article with Aunt Kim this week."

She announced as she placed the matching apron over her head.

"How was that?"

Her mother asked.

"It was with Regius Mills."

She noticed her mother falter in her chopping before she resumed normally.

"How was it?"

"Good, but I found it strange that Aunt Kim gave me the piece to write to begin with, seeing that his team was so adamant on keeping everything professional and clean cut."

Jewel hummed.

"She has faith in you."

Mya chopped the pimentos, garlic and onions adding it to her pan of melted butter on the stove.

"Or is using me."

Mya retorted as her mother paused and stared at her.

"My, now you're just talking in circles. If you have something to say or ask. Do so."

"There was chloroform in my system the night of the fire. You told Aunt Kim, Summer told you that?"

She questioned her mother as Jewel turned to face her daughter.

"Correct."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Mya asked, her voice shaking.

"You were eight, you wouldn't have understood."

Mya rolled her eyes as she added milk and cream cheese to her pot and began to stir.