A Mother Scorned

Chapter One - The Shooting

Zayla's POV

12:26 A.M.

I'm abruptly awaken by my spoiled two year-old crying in her room on the baby monitor. I groaned as I tried to quietly get up and go soothe her. She was standing up in her crib crying her little lungs out.

"Awww what's wrong with mommy baby?" I baby-talked as I picked her up and bounced her up and down, rubbing her back. She stopped crying immediately and as she laid her head down on my shoulder, she slowly dosed back off. After rocking her for awhile in the rocking chair even I dozed off. I don't know how long I was in there before my husband and my baby's father, Six, came and gently took her out of my arms.

"Come back to bed, baby." He said after he put Zoie in her crib. He grabbed my hand and helped me up out of the chair and we snuck out of her room back to ours.

I got back in our bed and he big spooned me until we drifted back off to slumber. We all slept through the night until around 10 a.m. when we had to get ready for our annual cookout. We've been married for three years but we've lived together for five so as soon as we moved in together, we had a cookout the weekend of our anniversary every year because I thought it was important for us to have a tradition.

So, every year his big family and my small family come together and cook a big feast, play games, get drunk, & sometimes argue.

Six got Zoie together while I got myself together to start cooking. I cut some music on and put Zoie in her highchair to eat while Six got dressed because had some business to handle before the cookout started. While my baby ate and danced in her seat, I started on the greens and buttermilk fried chicken. My phone rang and it was Six's mother.

"Hello, Zayla." She said in her uppity, better- than-me voice.

"Hey, Ms Pam. What's up?" I asked her.

"Is that how the young people greet their in-laws now-a-days? What's up?" She said.

"I mean-" I started before I was cut off.

"Anyway, I was calling to let you know I was on my way."

"You don't think it's a little early? The cookout doesn't start until 3." I said, rolling my eyes behind the phone.

"You know I have to get some time in with my Zoie before everybody gets there. And besides, I figured you could use the help. See you all shortly!" She hung up before I could even protest.

"And where exactly you going looking good like that? I thought you said you had some simple errands." I said to Six as he came downstairs looking fine and smelling good.

"Now would you want me if I ain't look like this?" He asked me, coming over and giving me a kiss and a slap on my ass.

"Mhmm, whatever. Your mama on her way so don't take forever." I told him.

"I won't be long bae, I just gotta run to the studio real quick to handle some business and I'll be right back here." He said. He kissed Zoie goodbye a million times, making her laugh before he left out.

After I finished cooking, I put Zoie in her bouncer so that I could clean up. As I cleaned up I heard a knock at the door and knew Six's mother had arrived.

I grabbed Zoie and opened the door.

"Look who's here!" I said to Zoie as her eyes widened to the sight of her grandma's face.

"How's my sweet girl?" She said to Zoie, not acknowledging me of course. She reached her hands out and Zoie naturally went into her arms. Pam and I may have our differences but she was a damn good grandma and there was no denying that.