Can't Change the Past

~19~

Beyoncé POV

"Aubrielle Carter."
"Mama I need help." she whined.
"You know how to tie your shoes." she looked at King, "No. Brother isn't helping you either."
"But mama."
"You have five minutes or you'll be going to school looking a mess with no shoes on." I walked out of the room and into the kitchen.
"Morning BB!"
"Good morning Laiya! You ready for school?"
"Yes!"
"Cut that yelling out. She's right there." Rasheeda said sitting her plate in front of her.
"Sorry. I'm just so excited."
"I wish your friend would get it together."
"What's wrong with Aubri?"
"Girl nothing. She just doesn't want to go to school. I told her it'd be just like camp except she'll be learning."
"She'll be fine once she gets there. I made sure they're in the same class so she won't be lonely."
"Morning TT." King said coming in. "Hey Laiya."
"Hey Kingy." she said with pancakes in her mouth.
"Your sister ready?"
"She should be."
I walked back down the hall and she came out of the room, "Mommy I want my hair braided like Laiya."
"You should have gotten ready earlier. So now you get a ponytail." I did her hair and sent her to the kitchen so she could eat.

"Mommy can we walk brother to class?"
"You want to go by yourself?" he shook his head. "Okay let's go."
Aubri grabbed my hand and his as we walked down the hall to his classroom. I met his teacher and had a conversation with her about King. When we were finished, we both gave him a kiss and left.
"Do I have to go mommy?"
"You only go for half a day Aubri."
"I'm going to miss you." she said softly.
"Hey," I bent down to her level. "You'll be with Laiya. Time will go by quick and before you know it I'll be back to pick you up."
She wrapped her arms around my neck, "Can I stay with you?"
"No ma'am. I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Okay."
"Come on Aubri!" Laiya said smiling coming over and grabbing her hand. "We going to have fun."
"See Laiya is excited. Just stick with her and you'll be good."
"Bye BB, bye mommy." They waved and went into the classroom.
"How you holding up?"
"This will be the longest I have been away from them. Camp was only four days out the week and it wasn't as long as a school day. Aubri gets out early but not King."
"BB they'll be fine."
"The way they were acting just makes me feel bad."
"Once they start playing, they'll be fine." I nodded, "Let's go get breakfast."

"So how are you and MarMar?"
I rolled my eyes playfully, "We're just fine thank you."
"Mhmm. What does 'fine' mean?"
"It means that he's a good friend. That's it."
"Friends?"
"Yes and he respects my decision to keep things that way."
"Do you think you'll ever start back dating?"
"I don't know. I mean I've accepted the fact that I might never see Shawn again. But there's still a small part of me that says he's out there."
"How you going to tell the kids, if you know?"
"I don't even want to think about it. Aubri never met Shawn so it wouldn't be bad, but King is a different story. He used to ask me about him all the time."
"Used to?"
"Yeah. Shawn was a great dad but a terrible boyfriend at times. I would always tell King that his daddy was coming back for us even though he never did. But I don't want him to hate Shawn for not being here, you know?"
"Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Hate Shawn?"
"I don't hate him but I was upset at the decision he made."
"Beyoncé you can't blame him entirely. You knew that he might have to pull extra hours when he became a real cop."
"Yeah but maybe things would have turned out so different. I wouldn't have left the apartment. I wouldn't have gotten snatched-"
"We wouldn't have reconnected." I got quiet. "BB I know you had it rough. I'm not taking that away from you. But there were a few good things about you coming here. We reconnected, I got to meet my niece and nephew and you your niece, Ms. Gloria; it wasn't all bad."
"I just wish we could have met under better terms."
"That's understandable but sometimes things in life happen for a reason. You have to grow through some things to get where you're trying to be."
"But what if he doesn't want me anymore? What if that's the reason he hasn't found us yet?"
"I can't answer that. All I can tell you is that you've got two beautiful children who look to you for guidance. You're the one they see everyday. If anything you have to hold it together for them."

Later that day I went to get Aubri from school and hung out with her until it was time to go get King. Laiya's dad came and got her because his family had something going on. I took her to the park and then we went to Mama G's place because she wanted to visit,
"Hey my babies." she smiled letting us in. "How was school?"
"I like it because I get out early on Friday. But mommy said I have to stay longer on Monday."
"What did you do?"
"We colored and played and ate snacks."
"Y'all didn't learn anything?"
"Mommy it was the first day."
I chuckled, "Okay Aubri. Come on let's go take a nap." I said picking her up.
"But mommy, I not sleepy."
"I know but I want you to take one so you won't be cranky later."
"I no get cranky." she said with her eyebrows furrowed.
I laid her down in the guest room, "Okay, take a nap. When you wake up King will be home and we can do something fun before I go to work." She laid there before falling asleep.
"What time does King get out?" Mama G asked when I came back in the kitchen.
"3." I looked at my phone and saw it was a little before 2 o'clock.
"You want to take my car?"
"N-" I was cut off by my phone ringing. "Excuse me."
I stepped into the hall, "Hey Marquis."
"BB! What you doing girl?"
"I'm about to get on the bus to go get King from school."
"Nah, where are you? I'll come get you."
"Marquis, I'm fine."
"Yeah but won't you be late to get him? Then you'll have to wait to catch another bus to get home. That's too much waiting in this heat."
I sighed, "I guess you're right."
"Send me the address and I'll be there." I hung up and sent him the address.
"Uh Mama, Marquis is going to come get me to go get King."
"That's sweet of him."
"Mhm. So what you cooking?"
"I'm making spaghetti for dinner tonight."
"Oooo can you save me some."
"You want me to pack you some to take with you?"
"No, I'll be too full to even start my shift if I eat it before."
"Giselle, you need to eat something before you go in. That's not good for you to be up on your feet all that time with no food in your system."
"I hear you. I'll probably go home and make a sandwich or something before I leave."
"That's not what I meant."
"It'll work for the time being." I heard the doorbell and looked at her.
"That's your guest. Go get the door."
I chuckled and went to let Marquis in, "Hey."
"What's up?" he leaned in giving me a hug. "You ready?"
"Let me go grab my purse and I'll be ready." I went back to the room to check on Aubri and then we left.

"You're so fat." I shook my head.
"What?"
"Did you really have to eat before we left?"
"You know black people get offended if you turn down their food."
"Yeah, sure fatty."
"Iight with the name calling."
"So sensitive."
"You're one to talk. Big Head."
"My head ain't big."
"Ch. I'll let you think that."
We pulled in the parking lot, "I'll be back." I walked in and went to get King from the auditorium. "How was school?"
"It was okay." he shrugged.
"Just okay?" he nodded. "Hey, look at me. I know it's a change but you have to go."
"Can't you teach me like you've always done?" he stopped and looked up at me.
"King, you have to go to school with other kids. The teachers here can teach you so much more than I can."
"I learned a lot with you."
"I know you did," I said kissing his forehead. "But I can't teach you forever. It'll get better, I promise."
I opened the door for him and he slid in the backseat, "Hey MarMar!"
"Sup lil man," they dapped each other up.
"I didn't even get that response when I came to get you."
"I love you mommy." He said as he wrapped his arms around my neck kissing me on the cheek
"I love you too, now sit back and put your seat belt on."
"Mommy can we go get ice cream?"
"No, Mama G made spaghetti. You can eat that."
"Then ice cream?"
"Maybe."

"MarMar you cheated!" Aubri shouted.
"I didn't!" he said through laughter.
"Uh huh. You can't win two times." she said crossing her arms.
"Aubri who made that rule up?"
"It's a rule. When me and brother play, he wins and then me."
"Well when it's more people playing that changes."
"I'm going to color." she got up and left the table.
"I should get ready for work." I said picking up the cards.
"You want me to take you?"
"I think I can make it by myself."
"Yeah but it'll be money in your pocket if I take you."
"How am I getting home then?"
"I could come get you." he shrugged.
"I wouldn't ask you to do that."
"I know, that's why I'm offering as your friend."
"Okay friend."
"I'll be in the car." he smiled before leaving out.
"Hm, y'all cute."
"Who?"
"You and that young man."
"Mama that's just-"
"Your friend. Yeah you keep saying that."
"We are just friends. I'm focused on me and my children."
"Okay. That's how I was with my ex husband. We started off as friends and then I had his kids."
"Oh uh un. Goodbye. I'll come get them tomorrow morning." I kissed her cheek and then said goodbye to my babies.

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