Locust Lane

Chapter 1

{Saraji Carson}

Being back in my hometown seems so unreal. The last time I was here, things were so different. At times I feel awful for abruptly leaving, but I had to get away by any means. I would always feel so out of place being here.

Stepping back onto the porch of my parents house brings chills down my spine, but I just really wanted to apologize to them before I go somewhere and try to figure out what I'm going to do with my life.

My hand formed into a fist, but it took me a while to move it over to the door. When I finally did, my knuckles brushed against the door briefly before it swung open. There stands my mother, the woman I left with no explanation. She always is such a beautiful sight to see, but I have a feeling she'll get ugly with me.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" The anger in her tone hurts me tremendously, but I didn't expect her to accept me back with kisses and open arms.

"Uh," I lightly exhaled. "I just wanted to introduce you to your granddaughter." She didn't say anything, so I stepped to the side to reveal my baby in her carseat. "Her name is Dominique Claudette."

I was hoping to get a little smile out of the fact that I gave my baby her name, but she rolled her eyes then slammed the door in my face. I looked down at my sleeping beauty with tears threatening to leave my eyes.

"Well, let's go baby girl. Grandma loves you, she's just upset with mommy. And she has every right to be."

I picked up her carseat then stepped off the porch. Just as my feet touched the sidewalk, I heard my name being called.

"SARAJI?!"

I turned back around just as my father jogged over to me.

"You have a lot of nerve coming back here after all this time." He wrapped his arms around me and lightly squeezed me. "We've been worried sick about you! Why would you leave all that time without contacting us?"

Contact them and say what? Running away was a mistake? I ran away from a bad situation just to get caught up in an even worse situation. There's just no winning in my life.

"So this is my granddaughter?"

He let go of me and redirected his attention to my baby. A smile like none other I'd ever seen before crept up on his face. Usually I hate for people to bother her while she sleeps, but I didn't mind when he got her out of her carseat.

"Yes. Dominique Claudette."

"Claudette? Wow, I know your mother is honored by that. Even if she doesn't say so."

No words left my mouth after that last sentence, simply because I had no idea what to say. Honestly I don't think she is or ever will be. I just feel like she will never welcome me back into her life. I really want her to, but why would she? I'm never choosing a man over my family again, but how does she know that?

"Love do you need help? There has to be some reason you came back." His smile faded away quick with a look of concern replacing it. "Let's go on the porch."

We went on the porch and sat on the swing that had been there for as long as I could remember.

"Honestly, I have nowhere else to go. I wasn't happy with Jason so I had to leave. I really tried to make it work but it didn't. I didn't come back here to beg you though; I truly wanted you and mama to meet Dominique. I truthfully did make an effort to try and catch y'all at home so y'all could meet her when she was a few weeks, but y'all were never here. After that like just got more busy." I looked at my baby before looking at his face. "I just want you to know that I am truly sorry. Words can't even explain how sorry I am."