Trust Me [Book 2]

Chapter 13 Part 1: Fear

Chapter 13 Part 1 - [October 8th]

Rocky and Malaysia ran back and forth across the blacktop, passing the basketball. Neither had exceptional hand eye coordination. They'd over shoot the ball and end up chasing it. It was still cute to watch. Malaysia loved her baby cousin as much as Rocky adored her older cousin.

I watched from the screen door connected to the family room. I was supposed to be in the kitchen helping with dinner but Mama needed time alone. From two rooms away, I couldn't make out the words but I heard her muddled her tone as she passionately discussed something on the phone.

If Mama was getting a call from her mother then something happened. Tetah preferred snail mail over telephone conversations. She's said she liked to hold onto her words, which is why she sent monthly letters to her children and they responded in kind.

Unfortunately I didn't catch much before being shooed out of the kitchen. Three things warranted a phone call: death, birth and, the ominous, tragedy. Tragedy could be anything from a house fire to a dream about destruction. It depended on the circumstance.

Only thing I knew- I was behaving myself so it wasn't about me. Thank God.

Ty sat in a plastic chair a few feet away from the girls with Halima on his lap. Sliding the glass door, I left the house and pulled a chair away from the pool area to join them.

"Hi auntie's baby," I cooed to the one year old. She was so funny, clapping her hands and laughing. "Give her to me Ty." I reached for her.

"Nah sit down," Ty pushed my hands away. "Hold your own baby. I just got her."

Rolling my eyes, I leaned over kissing her chubby cheeks before sitting down in my chair. "You shouldn't be selfish." Ty held Hali up, letting her stand on his lap. "What's up though? I haven't talked to you in a while."

"'Cause you stay ghost like Trich." True. The only reason I came today was because Mama begged for a family dinner. She pulled out every card she held to get all her children under one roof for the weekend. "I been chillin'. Tryin' hit up your friend but she on her brand new shit again."

He let Hali sit down, giving me a look. I simply shrugged.

"How's she doing?" I shrugged again. Ty huffed and kicked the leg of my chair. "Man stop playin'."

"Nope," I sang. When the relationship between Elaine and Ty ended, I told both sides that I would not get in the middle. It didn't stop them from trying to get info.

"You're fake."

"I love you too Ty." I laughed at his frustration.

He tried mean mugging me but ended up laughing too. "Nah forreal, is she okay? I haven't spoken to her in a month."

"She's fine."

Ty unsuccessfully waited for me to elaborate. I kept a blank stare on my face.

They wanted to blur lines and everything was fairy tales when they were in love. However, the second that love wore off they both came running to me about the other one. At the time, I wasn't in the position to give anyone advice which made it easier to stay out of it.

"Good to hear," he relented. "What's up with Elle's world?"

"Everything except for sleep."

"Yeah Ma told me you got your super mommy thing going with work, school and Rocky."