Hoops & Harmonies

66.

The following morning, Monica woke up with a sense of purpose. After getting Melo settled in Atlanta with Nana and Papa, she felt a little lighter, though the realization that her home in Chicago would be a bit quieter weighed on her. Still, today was a day she had been looking forward to—time in the studio with Jermaine Dupri.

Angel was already up, sipping coffee at the kitchen counter of their rented house in Atlanta. Laiyah was sitting next to her, flipping through the script for her acting class.

"Morning," Monica greeted them as she entered, reaching for a cup of coffee.

"Morning, baby," Angel teased, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Ready to get back in the studio today?"

Monica grinned, though there was a hint of nerves behind her smile. "Yeah, I'm ready. I think it's just the excitement and the anticipation. It's been a minute."

Laiyah looked up from her script, her eyes wide. "Are you going to make a new song today, Mommy?"

"That's the plan, baby," Monica said, sitting down next to her. "If all goes well, you might hear something new soon."

Laiyah beamed, always proud of her mom's music career. "I can't wait! Can I come to the studio one day?"

"Of course," Monica replied, smiling. "You'll be my little assistant."

Angel laughed. "She'll be giving you notes on your vocals in no time."

As the morning rolled on, Monica showered and got dressed, feeling a mixture of nostalgia and excitement as she prepared to meet Jermaine at the studio. It had been a while since they had collaborated, but she trusted him completely. Their history of making hits together made her feel confident that they could find their groove again.

Before she left, Monica checked on Angel, who was sitting with Laiyah again, watching her read through more lines from her script.

"Are you two going to be okay while I'm gone?" Monica asked, half-joking.

"We're good," Angel assured her, smiling up from the couch. "We'll probably bake something or watch a movie. Don't worry about us—go kill it."

"Okay," Monica said, leaning down to kiss Angel before heading to the door. "I'll be back in a few hours."

When Monica arrived at the studio, Jermaine was already inside, playing through some beats. The familiar sound of the speakers thumping through the walls brought her back to the early days of her career. It felt good, being in this creative space again.

"Monica!" Jermaine greeted her, pulling her into a hug. "It's about time you got back in here."

"I know, I know," Monica laughed. "Life's been crazy, but I'm ready now."

Jermaine led her into the booth, where a few tracks were queued up. He handed her a pair of headphones. "I've got some ideas, but I want to hear what's on your mind. What's the vibe you're feeling for this next album?"

Monica took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she let the music wash over her. "I want it to be real. Something about love, but also about strength. I've been through a lot, and I want people to feel that in the music."

Jermaine nodded, understanding immediately. "I've got just the thing."

He played a track with a slow, soulful melody, the kind that Monica could sink her voice into. As the beat dropped, Monica felt the rhythm take hold of her, her mind already racing with lyrics.

Hours passed as they worked together, bouncing ideas back and forth. Monica was in her element, pouring her emotions into every note, every word. It felt like she had unlocked something inside herself—something powerful, something she had missed.