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(ai) ————————————————————— October 18th Sunday||10:04am 📍Atlanta,Ga —————————————————————
Laylani swore her nerves had never sat this loud in her chest before.
She stood in front of the mirror, biting lightly at her bottom lip, smoothing her hands down her sides even though she wasn't dressed yet. It wasn't the outfit that had her pacing it was the thought of walking into his world and hoping she fit perfectly in it.
"Why I feel like I'm auditioning?" she muttered to herself.
Her mama leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching her walk circles like the floor might cave in if she stood still too long.
"Lay... calm down," she said gently. "You acting like you finna go sit in front of the Supreme Court instead of meeting some folks who already wanna know you."
Lay sighed. "But this different. This his mama. His people. I care what they think."
"And they gone care about you too," her mom replied, stepping forward and pushing a curl away from Lay's face. "You good-hearted. Respectful. Soft but strong. Ain't nothing to be nervous about."
Lay cracked a weak smile. "You always make it sound so simple."
"That's cause it is. Now Des, Tai and Noelle supposed to be coming, right?"
"Yeah, they on the way now. After they leave, I'm coming back to pick you up at 2 so we can go together."
Her mama nodded. "Alright then. I'll be ready."Now come on, your girls finna be here any minute."
Almost like the universe was on cue, a knock echoed through the penthouse.
"Speak of the devil," her mama smiled. "Come in"
The door open and they all walked in
Lord have mercy... look at y'all," she said with a mix of shock and amusement. "Y'all done turned into grown women."
Des clutched her chest dramatically. "Ms. Jackson, don't do us like that! We still your babies!"
"I barely recognize y'all, but I see the same little girls I used to chase out my kitchen when y'all got too loud," she teased lovingly.
Des laughed. "We wasn't that bad!"
"Yes y'all was," her mama chuckled. "But y'all still my babies." She said bringing them all into a hug
She pulled back slowly, looking each of them over like she was trying to memorize their faces all over again.
"Y'all done got so big I almost don't know whether to fuss at you or be proud," she said with a soft smile. "I remember when y'all used to sleep over and stay up giggling all night like y'all ain't have school the next morning."
