Family Lies

Dottie

One Week Later

"So how's school? Catch me up. Have you been makin' time to practice your art?" I asked Treasure as I took a seat on the couch while pouring myself another glass of wine.

"School's alright. I'm finally caught up on all my missed work. And yeah, I've been using the acrylics you got me in the watercolor book. It's actually gettin' kinda easy. I like it." I smiled at her response. "That's good babe, I'm glad. I wish I could see. How's True doin'? He stayin' outta trouble?"

"I'll paint somethin' just for you and put it in the mail, Auntie. And True's fine. He's actually been comin' home with me after school on days Ion't gotta work instead of doin' whatever it is that True does." I chuckled when I heard his voice in the background. "Who you tellin' my business to?" Treasure sucked her teeth. "It's just Aunt Dot. Don't start yo shit bruh." My eyes went wide. "Y'all really don't got no respect for your elders and I'm sick of it," I said while shaking my head. 

"I'm sorry Auntie. True just does that to me," Treasure apologized.

"Shut up. Gimme the phone," True said like he was irritated and the twins got to fussing for a second but when he got the phone he didn't speak. "Hey… son," I said softly and he huffed. "I know Aunt Donna told you she talked to me... but I ain't there yet." I sat up, sitting my glass on the table. "I know, that's fine. Um... how are you?" He paused. "I'm straight. Wassup witchu? You good?" I nodded even though I knew he couldn't see me.

"Yeah. I'm good. I'm happy to hear from you, True. You really don't know how much it means that you wanted to talk."

"I guess I don't. But I just wanted to know somethin'... did you really do all that stuff Aunt Donna said you did?" He asked quietly. 

"What stuff?"

"You let us paint a canvas with our feet? And you used to sing to me until I fell asleep?"

I smiled as tears welled up in my eyes. "I did. And you loved every second of it. That day we made those paintings you got blue paint all over my studio floor. Irving was so mad. But then I made something out of it. I dipped Treasure's feet in her paint and then I did mine and we walked a little path next to yours. I still got it like that. Maybe... maybe you can come see it this summer. With Treasure. She wants to come right after school lets out."

"Ion't know about that. I was thinkin' about workin'."

"Well you could get a summer job here. That's what Treasure wants to do even though I told her she didn't have to. I would love to spend time with you, True. There's nothin' I want more."

I heard him sigh. "Ion't know."

"Well you got time to think about it. We got plenty of room for y'all. Your rooms are still the same."

"I got a baby bed?" He asked like he was in shock and I couldn't help but laugh as my hand flew to my chest.

"Well maybe I shoulda said it better. Your rooms are still yours. I put those beds in the garage a few years ago and got some new furniture. Some of your toys are still in there but... I put a lot of it in the garage. I couldn't give it away and I didn't wanna toss it so... I just packed it up."

"Why didn't you give it to your kids? Tré told me you had another boy," True asked.

"I didn't want to look at them in your stuff. I missed y'all so bad. It woulda been too much for me."