Lost One

32

❝TAE❞

Monday morning he drives his RAM 1500 in route to Tuff Crowd foundation's office after being called in for a meeting with his eldest brother sitting in the passenger seat. The rap playing out the speakers was interrupted by an incoming FaceTime from Mini. His phone was braced on the dashboard and answers by the button on the wheel.

"Toby in here, so watch ya tongue." he told her before she could say anything with her face on the screen.

Toby leaned in to camera, waving. "Waddup, wife?"

"Hey, first husband." Shantey responds and unlike any other time Tae actually allows the two platonic relationship to rock.

"How the tour going?" Tae questioned.

"Great.. and horrible. I'm seriously over it. I just want to be home." She exhales, "I'm ready to just be in mommy and business mode."

"Sounding like you ready to retire the mic?" Toby guessed.

"Yeah, pretty much." Shantey confirmed, "Probably take a break. A longggg break. I have extra bodies on my plate now. Which I don't mind, it's fine. This tour has been getting in the way—"

"Hold on," Tae cuts her off. "Double back on whatchu just said, extra bodies?"

"Yeah. Kory and Kendra. But anyway, the last part of the tour is in December which is the West Coast part. I don't even know if—"

"You doin that fast talkin, Shantey, and when you do that you pulled one of yo Ledé Power Moves."

Shantey frowns in confusion. "Ledé Power... What the hell is that?"

"What you just done wit Kory and Kendra."

"Gloria was about to send Kory to foster care if me or Monae didn't take him. Taking him is taking Kendra, too. If you thought I was gonna allow them to go to foster care—"

"Never once thought that."

"Then why is it a issue? You took in your nephews."

"She gotta point." Toby states quietly.

"Shut up," Tae tells his brother before responding to his wife. "Wanna know what's different bout that? I was single and not in a marriage. That woulda been discussed witchu. I didn't expect you to let him go to foster care but I did expect a conversation."

"Which I had. . with Amanda."

Tae chuckles, shaking his head. "You see why we had to talk bout that in counseling? You and her live together right now, so I get you talkin to her. I've accepted sharing you. But you have a problem wit finding that balance. You talked to her, so you shoulda talked to me. That's eight kids we're gonna be taking care of and don't start yo "You don't have to care for them cause I will" bullshit," he mocks her in a high pitch girly voice, "cause you know what comes witchu is apart of me."