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"You and your brothers get all moved in?" Kimberly asked, walking out the ice cream parlor within the shopping mall. He wanted to have the early afternoon with her before he went back to manual labor with his brothers.
"Yeah," he answered, striding beside her. "Just gotta move our clothes in now. We ain't have to do much wit furnishing. That was pretty much handled."
"It's just your brothers and Romeo, right?" she asked just for him to give her a head nod, "How is yo' daddy feeling bout that—no, how's Shantey feeling about it? Her ass still crazy as hell?"
"Well pops happy bout it," he chuckled, "All he gotta get rid of now is Avant and Paisley, and I don't ever gon' move out to be real. If anything he'll be over our shit everyday."
"Paisley?" Kimberly questioned, unfamiliar with the name.
"Our li'l sister—pops and Anicia." he informed just for her to chuckle bitterly. Hw dismissed it off the strength of not wanting to bad mouth his father's wife, especially when he had no issue with her; she keeps his father happy and that alone made him respect her.
"But Shantey straight though," he went on, answering her second question. "She like any moms bout her first born. She do be on Roe bumper and Roe be right back on hers. She don't be meaning no harm though. I think it's dope."
Glancing over, Kimberly watched the way Troy admired his cousin's mother and son relationship, and her wanting to have a touchy moment and reel him in more, she said, "I'm sorry I wasn't that for you..." The words pulling his gaze in her direction, "and your brothers. I failed you and them. But not anymore."
The mother and son share a smile, and he take her under his free arm. He press a kiss to her temple before biting into his ice cream cone.
"I saw all that stuff happening with you in the media months back. You been alright?" She asked, and not because she cared.
Troy finished his cone, shrugging lightly. "Handling it all day by day, and no, I ain't never put my hands on her. I don't hit women."
"Yeah I knew you wouldn't do that. But, I am happy you are taking your sobriety serious. Some habits are hard to kick... for some." she said the last part barely above a whisper—a plan set in motion.
The mother and son continued their small talk and walking when he noticed the way she looked into Nordstrom. It was something that held her attention. "You want it?" he asked.
"What? No way. I wouldn't want you to have to spend on me. It's fine." Her mind games kicking in, and she shook her head. "My divorce will be finalized soon and I'll be able to get my own things."
