Crystal and Mimi returned a few hours later with Starbucks and Nordstrom bags. Devale just shook his head at Crystal, already knowing the majority of whatever was purchased was for the kids.
Devale: Yall so spoiled it don't make no sense. At noway you bought all that shit in 2 hours.
Crystal: They had all their baby summer stuff on clearance. Most of that stuff is for Deuce. Mimi only got some shoes and two outfits.
Devale: Yeah , yeah, yeah, yall ready to eat?
Mimi: I am!
Crystal: Me too, babe.
Something about dinner that night was different. Devale could feel something was off with Crystal but decided not to address it in front of the kids. After dinner Crystal finally finished packing and was getting excited to get back to work.
Amira would be leaving for sleep away camp before Crystal was done filming so this would be the last night they would see each other for 7 days. Crystal was anxious about it but Mimi was so excited and assured her mom she would be ok.
Over dinner the family (mostly Mimi) brought up some baby friendly vacation spots. She was going to keep pushing this vacation because from her perspective, the family was the happiest while sitting at the foot of the ocean. She wasn't wrong, her parents felt the same but the timing wasn't the best.
Crystal hadn't told Devale she wasn't playing on coming home after filming. She would be returning the day before Mimi was coming home from camp. The other four days she was planning on spending on some much needed self care. Therapy was helping with some of what's going on but to hear Amira say she hasn't been the best mom lately made her check herself immediately.
Yes, she went through a traumatic event on top of having a baby and post pardum, and yes, she was doing g her very best day to day someday with Devales support. However, none of that is an excuse for her child to ever feel the weight of what she is going through.
After dinner Crystal being the perfectionist she is went off to study her lines one last time. Devale got Ameri bathed and ready for bed. He brought to gummy juicy cheeks baby into Crystal's office to say goodnight.
Once he saw Mimi asleep on the lazy boy in the corner he crawled over to her and up the chairs. His tiny hands delivered light taps on her face trying to wake her up.
He kept saying "Me me meee mee" and giving her slobber kisses. Crystal recorded the encounter and then posted on to her Instagram stories with the caption "Back to work tomorrow, I'm going to miss these moments. It makes my heart smile knowing how much my kids love each other."
Devale: Babe you almost done studying? I want to spend some time with you before you go to bed.
Crystal: I can finish this on the plane I will get Mimi to bed, you get fats to sleep then we can we watch a movie and cuddle.
Devale: Deal!
Crystal: Lol you sounded like Mimi when you said that.
Devale: That's because that's my baby.
After the kids was down Crystal found Devale laying across the bed watching sports highlights. She went to take a quick shower, when she returned he hadn't moved.
She sat in the bed the and laid her head across his lap. He started rubbing her hair but stopped when he thought he heard her start whimpering. He paused the TV to make certain. Sure enough she was bawling.
Devale: Babyyy what's wrong?
Crystal: I'm a bad mother and fiancée, Mimi doesn't trust me. I've broken our bond and I was too busy to even notice. I hurt her, I hurt my baby. You telling me how you feel was steel wheeling in my head but when she said the same thing it confirmed I'm the problem.
Devale: Crystal we all played apart of what's been going around here, Amira included. But we all put it out there and we are all better because of it. It's not all on you.
Crystal: It is though, I'm her mother. Her entire adulthood will be based on how I teach and treat her. I've failed her,and you. I didn't know it was this bad, I wasn't trying to withhold sex or seem disinterested. I was just trying to feel better.
Devale: Hey you're being to hard on yourself and honestly maybe Amira and I was too hard on you.
Crystal: You think? Your exact words were "What relationship?
We don't communicate. We don't eat together. We don't date or even do family activities, we don't support each other, and that I ran to celebrate with my manager instead of you and Duece, lastly you can't even remember the last time we had sex. You not trying to hurt my feelings, but seriously, what relationship?"
Then the very next day she tells me I've been a shitty mom to her for the last few months and she thinks she's the fucking reason. Did you her hear say she will have two moms that hate her. How am I suppose to take that?
Devale: Why you still holding on to what I after we talked it out in therapy? We was in an argument, I was just saying shit. You have to chill babe, we're all working through our shit.
I'm ashamed for the way I've treated you and if the mom not happy the house not happy. This is more on me than you. She sat there and said she blames me. But she was mad, did she say something else while yall was out?
Crystal: No, she was really clingy but kept saying how happy she was we were out and about how she missed me. What hurt is when I took Deuce without her, she said she felt like they had two different moms and that she was jealous of him.
Devale: She was just shocked you followed through with her punishment. Babe, let that go, please. I don't want you to film like this.
Crystal: I'll be ok, I just needed to get it out.
Devale: You sure? We can make a therapist appointment for Wed morning and until then it's not too late for that movie/cuddle date.
Crystal: I forgot to tell you I won't be back until Saturday.
Devale: How you forget that, I thought you would be done Tuesday.
Crystal: I was waiting until the kids was asleep to talk to you about it. I done Tuesday but, I'm staying the whole week to get myself together. I need some time alone to figure me out. I'm not okay!
Devale: Wait sit up and look at me, what you mean you need sometime alone. You're in a relationship it's ain't no alone unless you trying to leave, and what about the baby. You just leaving him.
Crystal: Great Devale add more mom guilt, you're his father you can take care of him for 5 damn days. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm tired, I'll pass on the movie. Goodnight.
Devale: Now you're tired. You know what, I'm getting tired my damn self.
Crystal: Goodnight Devale.
The next morning at 5am Crystal got up to kiss on her kids and head to the airport. She was in the kitchen making a quick breakfast when Devale came down. He pulled her into a hug and they just took each other in.
Devale: You're going to do great, I'm proud of you and I love you. If you need a few days to yourself I understand but when you come home we need to start moving on from this.
Crystal: Thank you. This isn't about leaving you and it's only for a few days I promise.
Devale: I know because if you're not back I'll be to get you.
Crystal: Promise?
Devale: Promise! Come on let's get you to the airport.
