Girls Love Beyoncé

79

THIRD POINT OF VIEW

Mama Tina sighed hearing a knock on the door. She didn't know if it was one of her siblings or another niece or nephew coming back to ask a million questions about what happened last night.

She didn't have the energy to explain anything again. She set her papers down, slipped her glasses off, and left her office to go answer it.

It was early too early and she knew the girls were still asleep. Whoever it was better have some sense.

When she opened the door, her face dropped.

There stood Beyoncé hand-in-hand with Onika.

Tina's lips tightened immediately. "You must've lost your damn mind."

"Mama—please," Beyoncé jumped in, already pouting like she used to as a baby.

"She wants to apologize."

"I don't want this child on my porch. I don't even want you two near each other. Beyoncé, get in the house before I beat you. Go. Move."

Tina, fully angry now, grabbed Beyoncé's arm and yanked her into the house.

The door slammed so hard it echoed through the block. Tina stepped back out, closing the door behind her with a sharp click — just her and Onika now. She looked like she had fire in her bones.

"Where did you take my daughter? What did you do to her?"

Onika stood firm. "She's not hurt, Tina. I didn't hurt her. We talked. We were mature. I apologized. And now I want to apologize to you."

"I don't want your apology. You're disrespectful. You're disgusting. Evil. Vile." Onika didn't flinch.

"And I can be all those things. I've been all those things. But that wasn't my intention. Acting like that... it wasn't me trying to be malicious. I lost my temper. I should've never called you out your name. I should've never acted like that in front of Solange." She looked down for a beat, then back up — more composed.

"I'm sorry. I know it's gonna take a lifetime to undo what I did. And maybe I never will. But I'm still sorry."

Tina didn't say anything.

Onika stood there, unsure whether to fold her hands or shove them in her pockets. She kept her eyes on Tina, though. No backing down this time.

Tina looked her up and down slowly, then sighed so deep it sounded like it came from a decade ago.

"You know," she said, voice low and tight, "I was raised to believe that when someone shows you who they are the first time, you believe them."

She leaned in slightly. "And you showed me. Loud and clear." Onika nodded slowly, lips pressing together.

"I know I did."

"But here you are," Tina said, standing tall in her robe, arms crossed like a matriarchh guarding the gate to heaven.

"Looking me in my face like it never happened. Like you didn't call me out my name in front of my family and my children."

"I did," Onika said softly. "And I'm ashamed of that. Every bit of it."

Tina's jaw clenched. "Get off my porch." She didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to.

She turned, walked to the door, and opened it just enough to slide back in. Onika stood there, swallowing whatever pride was left in her throat.

As Tina started to close the door—

"I know I don't deserve her," Onika said, voice quiet.

"But I love her. I'm working on being someone she don't gotta defend anymore. Even if you never like me again, I want you to know that."