"I don't know why the conversation goes this way everytime I decide to call home. This is why I don't call you now" Fatima says harshly
"Well Fatima it's hard not to when that's the biggest issue we have here" Her mother responds
"I'm sure there are way bigger issues than worrying about my life in New York." Fatima says
"No that is the biggest issue and you know it! You haven't been home in years. We haven't seen Ezra since she was 10! She's about to be 18 Fatima why don't you see that as a problem!" Her mother nearly yelled into the phone
"Like you really care" Fatima laughed to herself
"We've communicated through FaceTime plenty of times, or whenever you decide to pick up!" Fatima responded weakly
"That is not enough! Your father misses you and your shorting Ezra from her family loving her"
"You know why I'm staying away and I hate that you try to act oblivious each time it's sickening!" Fatima says becoming upset
"I actually don't know why you've stayed away. You completely up and left without any real reason. You're grown, it was nothing anyone could do about it but that was very irrational" her mother says
"How the hell is that irrational you-
"Watch your mouth when you're talking to me. I will not accept that kind of disrespect from you Fatima now I done allowed yo-
"I'm done having this conversation with you" Fatima states plainly and there was a moment of silent before her mother took a deep breath.
"Can you atleast talk to your father, he has something he wants to ask you?" Her mother huffed
"What answer could I possibly give to you in New York?" Fatima says with a tone
"Can you just give me a chance to even ask" her father says entering the conversation.
Fatima had always been a daddy's girl and would crumble each time her father was brought into the equation. Her and her mother were both strong willed women with clashing personalities so it has always been a power struggle between the two.
"Hi Daddy" Fatima says as her demeanor softened
"Hey baby girl, you and your mother with your shouting matches over the phone-
"Daddy you know how she is, I can't take it" Fatima says
"Well baby girl she is right. I haven't physically hugged you in eight years. My grandchild either. You have to know how much that messes with my head that I'm missing out on my granddaughter's life." He expresses sincerely
"Daddy I tell y'all everytime to come to New York, no one ever wants to but y'all want me to uproot my entire life here and come back to Georgia"
"I think you've been gone way too long and the way you've been telling me about how your life is going now. I think you need to rethink the idea babygirl, come home for a little" he says
"You know the house is big enough for you,
Ezra and Zachary. There is plenty of room" he says warmly and pleading. He missed his daughter.
"Daddy-
"Please just think about it and you know as soon as you're ready, all you have to do is come. Everything is ready for you" he says
"Bye Daddy" she says before hanging up the phone
Fatima tossed her phone on the side of the couch as she took a deep breath in and out. She threw her head back with her eyes closed.
"You alright babe?" Zachary ask as he walks into the living room seeing his wife taking a minute. He had been intensely typing away on his phone but put it away at the sight of his wife in distress.
