Running Away

Chapter 18

It was Sunday evening, Sera sat on the ground next to the fireplace. She was doing reach on opening up the online shop that she was planning. June was drinking tea and watching an online church service.

"What time is Emi back tonight?"

Sera turned on her lock screen which showed no missed calls or texts, but the clock was right at 7:45. "That's weird...I'll give him a call."

Sera dialed Elias's number and got up to go into the other room. A few seconds went by before the call was answered over Elias's car speaker. "What's up, Si."

"Where are you?"

"I'm pulling in the driveway."

Sera pulled the phone away from her face and gave it the stank-face. "Why are you running so late?"

"I had a friend over, lost track of time. I'm outside."

"Which friend?!"

"Sera, I'm hanging up." He acted true to his word and hung up.

Sera set her phone on the bed and walked to the front door, unlocking it she saw Elias carefully carrying Emilia out the back seat. Sera crossed her arms. "Which friend did you have around our daughter?"

"Come on now, Si. Not today."

" You just said that you had Leah over, I don't think it's okay to introduce Emi to your flings, it's just going to confuse her.

"When did I say that?" He smirked, "And what makes you think that she's just a fling?"

"Oh so you're finally admitting that she's your girlfriend?" Sera asked with an attitude. She went into the house, and as soon as Elias got in, she took Emilia from his arms.

"I had a friend over."

"Which friend?"

"More importantly, are you fussing with me today?"

"It was Leah wasn't it?"

He let out a breath, "No."

"You're lying."

"When have I lied to you?"

"There's a first time for everything. You're lying, you had Leah around. I can sense it."

"Alright, I see it's going to be one of those days with you." Elias leaned against the door frame. "Maybe instead of fighting me you should go and eat, cause I've seen this before.

"One of those days? What do you mean one of those days?"

"One of the days where Sera wakes up and decides to be crazy."

"I'm not crazy."

"You're acting crazy, you're hard tripping."

"How could you say that to me?"

Elias shook his head and walked past Sera. He went into the kitchen so he could greet his mother before heading back home. Sera stormed past the kitchen to go lay Emilia down in the bedroom

June held Elias's face and pulled him way down so she could kiss his cheeks. "Hi honey, how have you been? Did you have a good weekend with your daughter?"

"I'm alright, ma. You good?" He asked as he gave her a hug.

"Oh, I couldn't complain, I'm so blessed." She looked over her son's face. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Why do you seem so troubled?"

He shook his head no. "I'm alright."

"Is it you and Sera again?"

"What did she tell you?"

"Nothing, but I've been your mom for aloooot of years now, I've sort of been her mom too! If y'all don't tell me what's going on, God always tells me." June smiled victoriously, while packing some food in a tupperware for Elias to take home. "I know exactly why you and Sera are always marching around in a pout."

"Lay it on me."

She smiled brightly and lowered her voice, "You both are still in love with each other."

"That is the big revelation? Of course we still love each other, we have a kid together."

"Nope, you have to let me finish, sweetie." She playfully wagged a finger at him. "Not only do you two love each other BUT you both want to be together. She's jealous and her jealousy blinds her, and you're just plain old' scared of getting your heart broken a second time, you're also mean."

"Correction, it would be the third time." He recalled, "Keeping Emilia a secret from me was the second heart break, which by the way, we still gotta talk about how you joined her in her nonsense, I'm your son."

"Focus, honey. Do you admit it's true that you two want to get back together?"

"It is what it is between us. My main focus right now is raising Emi in a way that makes sense, you know? I'm able to put my feelings to the side for Emi's sake."

"Well Sera is having a harder time, Elias. Try and be a bit more gentle with her, she has always been a sensitive one, you know that."

"Given all that she has done, I think I am gentle as f-"

"Language!" She interjected.

"Sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "What I was trying to say is, I treat her very kindly given our past."

"Us women need tenderness, Elias, alot of tenderness. You have a beautiful heart and you clearly love her. But sometimes I think I may have let you spend a liiiittle too much time with your father. You can be so cutting with people. Give her some more love and affection, I promise you will see how she changes towards you. You and I know that girl loves you, and you know her childhood was rough."

Elias took in what his mother was saying, he leaned against the counter, "Has she been dating lately?"

"Elias." June's tone was more stern. "When that girl isn't taking care of her baby, she's working, when she's not working she's sitting around waiting for you to show up. The question is, are YOU dating?"

"No. I mean...Not really. It doesn't count."

"Baby, whatever it is, put an end to it. Those two girls need you."

With that, June walked out the room, leaving Elias alone with his thoughts. He stayed still for a few moments, considering all that his mom told him. He heavily considered going into Sera's room and talking to her. Ultimately, he grabbed his to-go container and went on his way home.