Janet
"Mommy." I kept the cover over my face. "Mommy." I heard sniffles and little feet running away. I felt bad but I couldn't bring myself to sit up. There was something keeping me here. That dinner with JohVonnie really hurt me. I felt like it was always nighttime. Like there was this dark cloud hanging over me that was overfilled with rain that could drop at any moment.
"Jan, honey." I heard more footsteps come into the room. "Do you need anything?" I shook my head.
"No." I whispered.
"Mommy." I heard Tommy's sad voice and sniffles. I turned over and lifted the blanket. Moving over, I let him and TJ under the covers. They snuggled close to me.
"Mommy you sad?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"Why?"
"Mommy just gets sad sometimes." I felt someone hit my arm over the comforter. I pulled it down and saw Josiah sitting on the bed.
"Mommy." He hugged my neck. "Wuv you mommy." He laid on the other side of me.
"Does your tummy feel better?" He shook his head. "It still hurts?" He nodded. "Awww." He cuddled into me.
"I'll take care of you, baby boy." TJ and Tommy snuggled into my other side.
"And how is mommy feeling?" asked Toni. She sat on the bed with Jordan who immediately reached for me. I grabbed him and he laid on my chest.
"Mommy is feeling....." I let out a sigh. ".....she's just feeling."
"I get that."
"I just....I can't believe that she had him. She had......a dad. The dad I was supposed to have. You know I found her on social media." I grabbed my phone and scrolled to her page. "Look at all of this. All of these pictures." She looked at them.
"Oh, baby."
"Birthdays. Parties. High school and college graduation. This is the father of her daughter. There are several pictures of him with them. Turns out she's married and Joseph walked her down the aisle. He went to the birth of her daughter. Her daughter's middle name is Josephine. She named her daughter after him and he was mad when mother named Mike and I after him. He told her that his name was too personal to share. Everything he refused to do with us, he did with her. I'm happy he's dead." I felt tears fall down my face.
"Mommy don't cry." Tommy wiped his hand on my face.
"It's okay, baby. Mommy's just talking to Mama." He looked at Toni and pointed his finger.
"Don't hurt Mommy." She put her hands up.
"It's not me, I swear."
"I beat them up, Mommy." He stood up and showed his muscles.
"Me too, Mommy." TJ stood up too. "We beat them up." TJ pushed Tommy and they started wrestling. We laughed.
"That's enough boys."
"I win." TJ held his arms up.
"Good job, boo boo." I sat up against the headboard and he hugged me. Tommy sat next to him.
"Mommy, can we have chicken nuggets?" They gave me puppy dog eyes.
"Mmmmmm...sure."
"Yay!" They jumped and pulled Toni. "Let's go to store, Mama." They pulled on her arms.
"Don't break me, now." She laughed and got up. "Baby..." she gave me a look of sympathy.
"No, go. I need to get out of this bed anyway."
