Mama's Little Girls

twelve

Onika Maraj
19 May 2019
Aquarium

As we wandered through the shimmering tunnels of the aquarium, my heart danced between delight and nervousness. I glanced at Beyoncé, his wide grin capturing the wonder of our surroundings while her daughters roamed ahead, giggling and pointing at the exotic sea creatures.

It was strange, in many ways, to step into this world of just-budding connections, yet every laugh from the girls felt like a soft thread weaving us closer together. Our hands were intertwined, gently swinging between us.

I reminded myself that my polished attorney's demeanour should give way to a more playful side today. That was something Beyoncé had gotten me to do twice now.

"You see that? Huh?" Beyoncé pointed upward as a stingray crossed from one side of the tunnel, to the other. Then she let out a hearty laugh, which let me know she was entertained.

"Wow, momma. Look!" Raiya excitedly gestured towards a shoal of fish, gathered near the glass.

"Oh. Wow, wow, wow." Beyoncé hyperbolised her reaction for the sake of her baby girl. "I see it. Oh, look at that right next to it."

Akira peered back towards, grinning widely. "Do you see it, Ms. Nicki?" She asked, wanting to involve me in the interaction.

"I do." I smiled back.

"Yeah." Beyoncé nodded.

I gave a short response in complete awe at our surroundings. "Wow."

Raiya eagerly pointed to another section ahead, which led her two sisters to run after her. They looked so cute in their matching attire. I'm sure Beyoncé had seen the three outfits and deemed them fit for her daughters.

I caught a glimpse of her through the lenses of her motherly role, tender and protective, while still maintaining the playful spirit that lit up her features. It hurt my heart that her ex-wife, who clearly had no care for her girls, had the audacity to try intervene with Beyoncé and her daughters.

"So you know," Beyoncé began speaking, once the girls were out of earshot. "I'm mad excited. I'm gonna get my sign for my new garage."

Our interlocked hands moved as she threw her arm over my shoulders pulling me more into her.

"I know." I smiled up at her. "Sounds great."

"I'm really excited about that." There was a child-like innocence in her words.

"Congratulations." I murmured as we slowed down with our walking and our chests collided as I leaned up to peck her lips.

Taking me out of my bubble, I heard a familiar voice call out my name.

"Nicki?"

I slightly turned my head, looking in the direction, meeting the gaze of Porsha. She was here with her husband and child.

"Hey." I subconsciously smiled, loosening my arms around Beyoncé, eventually dropping them.

"Hey." Porsha responded, very lowly, rushing to say the very next thing. "What are you doing here?"

Her husband and daughter left, to check out the many little things around us.

I looked at Beyoncé for a split second, then shot my eyes back at Porsha, ready to speak after a long enough pause. "Nothing, we were just—"

"I'm Bey." Beyoncé raised her left hand, to give a friendly introduction. However, her hand wasn't accepted, so she awkwardly brought it back to herself.