The Lakes | Beynika

TWO

OMNISCIENT POV

Beyonce looked up admiring the tall ceilings, and low lights inside of the fancy restaurant.

This setting wasn't familiar to her because she hardly ever went out to eat. Her diet became essential when starting her mental health journey and she often just tracked what she ate intensely.

But, she would be bending the rules a little today.

As she sat down, Beyonce began to think about everything that was transpiring right now, and about how grateful she was that Onika was even giving her the chance today to explain herself in the slightest.

Especially, considering she knew she didn't deserve a second chance.

After a few minutes, Onika was walking towards their table. She had on a long, blue and white skirt with a cropped tight fitting white shirt.

She looked nice. She always did.

"Good evening." She greeted Beyonce briefly while taking her seat.

"Hi." Beyonce responded, and moved her hair from her face. She subconsciously still wanted to look her best for Onika— even ten years later.

She tried speaking, before noticing her throat was dry which resulted in her taking a sip of water, and after she was satisfied she started describing her intentions to Onika.

"I want joint custody." She stated.

"You're joking?" Onika replied while lightly chuckling to herself.

Beyonce sat in silence observing the woman and waited for her to stop laughing so she could continue to state her requests.

"Beyonce what sane judge would give a woman who disappeared for ten years, due to mental illness, custody of a child?"

"I- There's a plan just let me explain."

"Go ahead." She dismissed the blonde while rolling her eyes, and focusing now on the menu in front of her.

"Beyonce I'd have to be dead for you ever get any kind of custody. I'm sorry."

"You won't even let me try?" She asked desperately.

"Baby, you had ten years to try, and it's also not fair that you got to choose when you wanted to be a parent. What do you want? Why show up now?"

"I'm feel like I've explained a million times that everything is better now— I'm ready now."

"You should've been ready ten years ago."

Beyonce sighed.

"What do I have to do?"

"You-"

She interrupted before Onika even finished talking. Beyonce knew how she could get so she had to set her straight now.

"I'm being serious Onika. I know how your mouth gets. Just tell me what you want me to do."

"I don't know..." she trailed off and stopped talking when their waitress was approaching the table.

The nice woman was just there to get their drinks so she did that and then they were alone again.

"So..." Beyonce was trying to remind her that they were previously talking before the waitress had interrupted them.

"Sorry." She took another sip of her drink before speaking again.

"...I don't know Beyonce. But If you could stay for even a day this time, that would be great." She gritted out sarcastically.