"Watch ya—mi gyal reach home." My father's booming voice rattles under the big mango tree, where he and his friends bend over dominoes.
"Hi, Daddy. How are you?" I call out, weaving past Uncle Ratso and Karpy until I reach Dad for a hug. Calvin Langston leans back in his chair, hair catching the breeze. He's not here just for dominoes—he's waiting on Kaylee, if she's home.
"Mi good, eno. Come change and play two domino wid me," Daddy says, waving a cold beer.
"Daddy, yuh know mi nuh like beer—old man liquor dat," I tease, though a pang of guilt tightens my chest at the thought of Crawford.
"Ask your mother if me a old man!" Daddy laughs. Calvin bumps fists with him, untying the last threads of formality.
Mommy scrolls her phone and sighs. "Unuh don't mind her—yuh nuh see she nuh have manners? Nuh see me and lawyer?"
"Sorry, Mommy. You know mi love yuh—nu know why yuh act so?" I slip around the table to lean on her shoulder.
"Nuh come rub up yuh frontzy self pon mi!" she snaps, elbowing me away, but I catch her quick smile.
"That's why Daddy a mi favorite!" I grin, hopping beside him.
"Mek sure him cook fi yuh. Have a great mind go duty up di clothes pon di line," she calls as she stands.
"Rayyyyy mi mada wash fi me—a joke mi mek! Yuh a mi favorite, come mek mi give yuh a kiss pon yuh jaw ya!" Daddy roars back.
So much love, so many games... I think, watching her head inside.
"See how yuh badmind? Yuh nuh hear mi a ask her come play? Ratso a go a gyal bush!" Daddy teases.
"Mek Mavis pass and beat him—nu cook dinner for him!" Ratso hisses mock-serious.
"Unuh a idiot? Mavis can't beat mi!" Karpy laughs until Ratso's irritation shows.
"Wait til she find out 'bout Browning!" Daddy pounds the table—each domino thud echoing tension.
Calvin chuckles. "Kaliyah drop a six, love?"
I slip away to freshen up.
Inside my room
Kaylee's door is empty—probably filming TikToks. I wrap a towel around me and check my phone:
Husband to be: Hi luv, I need to see you later. Come over please, I miss you <3
Hi bby, I just got home but I promised Dad I'd play domino wid him.
Husband to be: So you prefer domino than see your FIANCÉ?
Babe, you know that's not the case. I don't break promises.
Husband to be: Who else is there?
Some friends of his.
Husband to be: Okay, I'm coming over.
To play wid us?
Husband to be: No—to come get you.
My pulse spikes—he's finally making time. I text back: Babe, mi will come after I'm done.
His "last seen" freezes me. Frustration and longing tangle in my chest—why must I chase every moment? I need space, but crave his attention.
Dressed in a black bodysuit and pink slippers, I crave comfort as I head back downstairs.
YOU ARE READING
Perfect Escape
RomanceMi granny always sah every hoe have dem stick a bush, but mi neva too understand til now. Long story short, the stick I thought was mine , wasn't the right one but me beca know that until mi decided fi tek a likkle trip to St. Ann for a perfect e...
