Can't Change the Past

~11~

Beyoncé POV

Today is my day off and Ms. G told me to enjoy myself and she'd watch the kids. I was hesitant at first but she said that I needed sometime to be an adult. So I took myself to the mall and actually decided to buy myself an outfit or two. I always end up getting King and Aubri something but this time I'm definitely getting myself something cute too. I walked into this store called 'Pressed'. They had some stuff that caught my eye but it looked kind of expensive.
"Do you need help ma'am?"
"Oh no, I'm just browsing."
"Well let me know if you do."
"Josh have you seen my child?!" I heard.
"No, she not in there with you?"
"No, lock the doors. That lil girl in here somewhere."
"Do I need to leave?"
"No ma'am, this shouldn't take more than ten minutes. The owner's daughter likes to play hide and seek."
"So I'm locked in here until y'all find her?"
"Just temporarily."
I deeply sighed and continued to look through the clothes. I hated being locked in unfamiliar places, it takes me to a bad place mentally. As I'm waiting, I grabbed some clothes and went to the dressing rooms. I opened one of the doors and seen Aubri's friend from camp.
"Alaiya?"
"Hi Aubri's mommy!" she gave me a hug around my legs. "Shhhhh. I'm hiding from my mommy." She pretended to zip her lip.
I put my hand on my hip, "So you're the little girl that's missing? Why aren't you at camp today?"
"I wanted to go to work with mommy."
"You have her worried about you."
"Worried?"
"Mhm. She's sad because she can't find you."
"Oh! I don't like when mommy is sad!"
"Come on," I reached out my hand for her to take. "I'll take you to her."
"Okay."
We walked out of the dressing room and she ran straight to this lady who was all dressed up. "Laiya!"
"I sorry mama. I won't hide from you again."
"Why were you hiding?"
"I wanted to play."
"I told you we could after lunch."
"I not do it again. I promise."
"Who found her Josh?"
"The lady over there."
I was grabbing another piece of clothing, "Excuse me?"
"Yes?" I said not looking up.
"I want to thank you for finding my baby." her voice sounded so familiar. I popped my head up.
"Rasheeda?"
"Yeah that's me..."
"You don't recognize me do you?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't. Have we met before?"
I looked down at Laiya and thought she must have looked like her daddy because I would have known. She does have a few of her mother's features. "You left home when I was ten and Solange was five. I remember it like it was yesterday because we cried all night long."
"BB?" She said squinting. I shyly smiled. "OMG! MY BB!" She grabbed me into a hug.
"Hey."
"I can't believe you really here."
"I know, it's been a long time."
"Yeah but- forget it."
"Mhm."
"What you doing in Cali?"
"Uhm- I live here now." I said not wanting to go into detail.
"I'm surprised mama and daddy let you out the house."
I lightly laughed, "Yeah after you left daddy was hard on us. Made sure we stayed in school. Even put us in little summer scholar programs."
"I'm sure it helped though."
"Yeah, I graduated top of my class."
"Congrats girl. I knew you were smart. How's Solo?"
"She's good." At least she was the last time we talked.
"I know she should have graduated by now. Speaking of, you go to UCLA?"
"No, I didn't get to finish school actually."
She scrunched up her face, "Wh-"
"Mommy how you know Aubri's mommy?" Laiya interrupted.
She looked down and back at me, "You're Aubrielle's mama?"
I bit my lip and nodded. "Yup, that's my baby girl."
"BB you had a baby?"
"I could say the same for you."
"Yeah but I'm about to be thirty in a few months. You not even twenty four yet."
"Well life happens. You should know that better than anybody." I snapped but quickly regretted it. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. So how is everybody?"
"You would know if you called or visited home."
"I can't do that. It reminds me of him too much."
"I get it, I do. We all miss him. But we lost both of y'all when you left."
"Laiya this is your Auntie BB." she said changing the subject.
"She's my auntie?"
"Yes baby this is my younger sister."
"So Aubri is my cousin?" She nodded. "She my bestfriend though."
"Aubri can still be your bestfriend. She's just also your cousin."
She smiled, "Can I come over to play with her?"
"Not this week. I have to work but maybe we can meet at the park on Saturday?"
"Please mommy? Can we?"
"Sure, why don't we have dinner together tonight? I would love to catch up with you."
"I don't know."
"Give me your phone." she took it and put her number and address in. "Call me later if you change your mind."
"I will." I smiled giving her a hug.
"Bye Auntie BB." she said hugging my legs again.
"Bye Laiya."