Shawn is a rookie cop trying to prove himself. He takes case after case but is neglecting his family in the process. Him and his girlfriend get into this huge argument because he's taken yet another case. This time he has to leave home for a while...
"King grab your bag and let's go!" "I'm coming mommy." "Mommy we go to park?" "Yeah baby girl." I picked her up and held her on my hip. "Corey!" He came rushing to the door, "I'm ready." I grabbed his hand and locked up my apartment. We rushed to the bus stop and made it just in time. I paid for myself and King and we made our way to the back to sit down because there were no more seats at the front. "Why can't we go to the old park anymore?" "You don't like the new one?" "I do but I made friends at the old park." "Well you'll just have to make new friends at this one." "Mommy I'm hot." my daughter complained. This bus sadly didn't have air conditioning and this L.A. heat isn't making it any better. "Here drink some water baby." "Thank you." she smiled and drunk from the bottle. "Don't drink it all then you're going to pee on yourself." King said. "I not pee on myself." The bus finally arrived at our stop and we got off. I checked my surroundings before crossing the street to go to the park. I walked over to a bench and sat down. King put his backpack down next to me and was ready to take off. "Wait baby, let me tie your shoe." "I can do it mommy." He knelt down to tie his shoe. "Can I go now?" "Go head but be careful-" "And no strangers." I smiled. "I remember." "Mommy swing?" "You want to swing first today?" "Yes please." "Okay, let's go." I put King's Spider-Man backpack on my shoulder and grabbed her hand walking towards the swings but still keeping an eye on King. I picked her up and placed her in the swing. "Yay! Mommy look I go high!" "I see you mama." I smiled. I continued to push her until she got tired and wanted to go play on the other parts. She saw the see-saw and immediately wanted to get on. She begged her brother to come play with her and he couldn't say no, just like me, and joined her. "Go higher bubba!" she said excitedly. He went a little higher but not too high because she was only two, almost three. "I am Aubri." "Higher!" "Okay miss bossy." "I no bossy." "It's 'I'm not bossy' baby." "See told you!" I shook my head, she's too much. I glanced at my watch and saw it was almost time for me to go to work, "Come on y'all. It's time to go." "But I'm not ready." Aubri whined. "We'll come back tomorrow." I picked her up off the see-saw and gave King his bag. "Where we going this time mommy?" "You might have to stay home and be a big boy again." "Okay." As we were walking back to the bus stop I saw a familiar car pull up. "Daddy!" Aubri began clapping. He got out the car and walked towards us, I grabbed King's hand and walked the other way before he saw us. Apparently I was too late because he caught up to us. "Giselle! Where you going?" "Julius leave me alone." "Daddy!" Aubri kept reaching for him. "Aubrielle stop it." I said sternly. "You really denying me my child?" he said with a smirk on his face. "What's up King?" "Hi." he said standing close to me. I sighed and handed her to him, "Mommy we go with Daddy?" "No baby." "I can watch them for you." "No." I quickly snapped. "Give me my child." "Nah, where y'all headed? I can drop y'all off." I looked around, if I didn't have my kids I would have taken off. "Look, let me take you home." "How you know where I stay?" "I told you baby, I'll always be watching you." I tensed a little. "Fine, take me home."
We walked back to his car, I got in the backseat with King and Aubri. He drove straight to my apartments without even asking for directions. I got out and began walking up the stairs, but Julius was still following me. I unlocked the door and let my kids in and closed the door. "What do you want?" "Where you been?" "Look, I told you I wouldn't go to the cops." "I don't give a dam about no police. They can't touch me." "Julius why won't you just leave me alone?" "You should really come back and work for me though. You were the best at what you did." he said completely ignoring my question. "You call what I was doing work?" "Yeah." "I almost got killed behind you!" "Aye lower your voice!" he yelled getting in my face. "You still alive ain't you?" "No thanks to you." I spat. "Giselle come on baby." he said trying to grab my hands. "Don't call me that." I said moving away. "I'm not going back." "What did you just say to me?" he said grabbing my arm tightly. "Let go of me. You're hurting me." He squeezed my arm tighter then eventually let go, "I'm coming back for you and the kids around seven. Have your shit packed and ready to leave. I'm not playing Giselle." I went back inside and immediately locked the door. I went to my room and put the few clothes I had in a bag and then went to take a shower. When I finished I put the rest of my things in another bag and went to pack King and Aubri's things as well. "Mommy-" "King I need you to put your toys in your backpack and Aubri's in her backpack." "Okay, but where are we going?" "We're, um, moving." "Again?" "This should be the last time, I promise." "Okay." He did as I said. I checked the time and I was going to be late for my shift if I didn't leave now. "Grab your bag and your sister's." I picked up Aubri because she fell asleep and walked out of the apartment leaving the key. I left a note for the landlord and dipped. We went to the bus stop and waited not even five minutes before it came. "You guys are going to work with mommy today, okay?" "We get to see Ms. G?" King asked smiling. "Yeah King. She said she misses seeing you two." I smiled back.
The bus stopped in front of Mama G's Diner and we got off. I rushed to the back and put my stuff in a locker. I grabbed King's hand and led them to my boss's office. I knocked and waited for her to open the door. "Ms. G!" King yelled. "Hey, don't do that." I said. "Sorry." A few seconds later she opened the door smiling, "Well hello there King."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hi Ms. G. Can we stay with you?" She glanced up at me, "Come in." We walked in and I laid Aubri down and covered her with the blanket that was on the small couch. "King go over there and turn the tv on and watch it while I talk to your mommy." "Yes ma'am." "Now Giselle-" "I know, I know. Something came up and I couldn't leave them at home this time." "What you mean this time? You've been leaving those babies at home alone?" "Sometimes I didn't have a choice. My neighbor couldn't always watch them, they were fine though." She sighed, "Go out there. We'll finish this talk later." "Thank you."
After a long shift and me closing up the restaurant I went to Ms. G's office to see my kids eating ice cream and watching tv. "Hey babies." I cooed. They turned and hopped off the couch to give me hugs. "Mommy I have ice cream." Aubri smiled. "Is it good?" "Yes." "I saved you some mommy." King said. "But it melted." he frowned. "Oh it's fine baby. I'm glad you thought of me." I said kissing his head. "Giselle." "Hmm?" "Sit down sweetie. You look tired." I sat down on the couch and Aubri climbed in my lap then turned to watch tv. "So I should probably explain." "That would be nice. This is the fifth time since you've worked here. What if I wasn't here?" I looked down. "Giselle they are too young to be at home alone. They shouldn't be staying by themselves for this long without an adult." "Well, I've been on my own for a few months now. I just got out of uh, a bad relationship. I thought I was doing good by leaving but he found us." I said fumbling with my fingers. "I've always wanted a better life for my kids. I can't do that if I'm with him." "Personal question." "I'd rather not." "I'm not asking if I can ask. Now this boyfriend is the father?" "He's not their father." She looked at me, "Where are you staying?" "I was staying in an apartment across town." "Was?" "He threatened to come take us. I can't let that happen." I said mumbling the last part lowly. "Threatened you?" "I'm just glad that I work in a different territory, he won't come here." "How sure are you?" "You don't cross into somebody's territory unless you have a death wish." "Where did you plan on going? The shelters are probably filled now." "I was going to find some where to go." She sighed, "Get your things. King and Aubri pack your toys up." "Huh?" "Y'all are staying with me. I'm not going to fight you on this." "But I don't need-" "A safe place for you and your children to sleep? Beyoncé you just told me that you're basically running from a bad person. I know you don't like to ask for help but now is not the time." "Ms. G I can handle it." "Look at them!" she whisper yelled. "They're depending on you. You can't do that if you're laying in a ditch somewhere." I looked at King helping his sister put her toys up and put her shoes on the right foot. I should have never left the house that day. All of this could have been avoided had I been paying attention to my surroundings. "Okay, I'll allow you to help. But just this one time. As soon as I find a better place, we're leaving." "Alright. Let's go." she smiled giving me a hug.
