Can't Change the Past

~23~

Beyoncé POV

"What if they're not here?"
"I know you see their cars in the driveway." she said. "Look, I'm finally seeing them after a longer time than you."
I breathed deeply, "Okay."
We got out the car and I held King and Aubri's hand walking up to the door. I knocked and waited for someone to open the door. When the door swung open there stood my mother shocked.
"Beyoncé? Rasheeda? Am I dreaming?"
Rasheeda spoke first, "No mama. It's really us."
She started crying and Rasheeda went to comfort her. I stood stuck because I didn't know what to do. "Mommy why she crying?" Aubri asked.
"She's just happy baby."
"She crying cause she happy?" Laiya asked.
"Yeah sometimes grown ups cry when they get really happy."
"Come here Bey." I went and gave her a hug. She hugged me so tight. "Y'all come on in this house."
"Tina who's at the door?"
"My babies are back!" she said smiling through her tears. Few seconds later my dad walked into the foyer.
"Rasheeda? Beyoncé? My girls are back?"
"Yeah daddy." Rasheeda said with tears now in her eyes. I just couldn't cry. I left on bad terms with my parents and I couldn't be more than happy to see them. But no matter how happy I am to see them, the tears just won't fall. He pulled us both in a hug, "Y'all really made my day."
"King you've gotten so big." my mama said gushing over him. "And who are these two lovely ladies?"
"I'm Aubri!"
"I'm Laiya!"
"Laiya is my daughter and Aubri is BB's."
"I have three grandchildren now?"
I nodded, "Yeah y'all do."
"Y'all come on in the living room and sit down." my daddy said. We followed them to the living room and sat on the couch. "I don't want to bombard y'all with questions."
"I do. Where the hell have y'all been? Rasheeda you've been gone without so much as a phone call in over ten years. Beyoncé you up and move to Florida and take my grandson then your boyfriend comes telling us that you're missing. Start talking, and I don't care who goes first."
"Well I left and went to California. I couldn't take it here anymore. Everything reminded me of him and it all got to be too much. I got a job and made some friends who were there for me. Eventually I met a guy and we dated for a while, got married and I had my daughter. Around the time she was eighteen months I found out he was cheating so I left him. I opened up my own clothing store and have been coparenting ever since."
"Baby we were all dealing with his death." my mama said.
"I know. I get y'all we're trying to help me but our bond was unbreakable. My other half was gone and I felt like it was my fault."
"We would have taken you to get help Rasheeda." my dad said.
"At the time, I just needed to get away."
"And you?" All eyes were on me now, "How did you two find each other?" my mom asked.
"I was in her store in California."
"What were you doing in California?"
I shook my head, "I can't tell you."
"What you mean? Beyoncé Giselle you up and disappeared without even leaving the father of your child a note."
"Mama it wasn't like that."
"Then spit it out girl."
"Mama BB didn't willingly leave Florida."
I looked off to the side, "Uh, come on kids. There's some ice cream in the kitchen."
They all followed my dad into the kitchen, "What do you mean she didn't go willingly?"
"I don't want to repeat this story."
"Well I haven't heard it."
I sighed and told her the short version. I said I wasn't crying anymore and I meant that. "I'm only here because he found me and I would rather you here my side of the story."
"Baby we wouldn't have judged you."
"So you just knew Aubri was Shawn's?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No but I know you know who her father is." I nodded, "So when is this trial supposed to be over?"
"Hopefully by Thabksgiving. I'm supposed to go to Florida for a graduation in early December."
"Then he can spend time with the kids then."
"No. If he wants to spend time with them, he'll fly to California. I don't have money to spend on plane tickets."
"Beyoncé you have to work with him."
"Why should I cater to his needs? I've been there and done that."
"She's stubborn like daddy."
"I heard that!"
I slightly smiled, "I can't move back to Florida and be a housewife again. That's boring."
"Weren't you enrolled in classes?"
"Yeah but I doubt they'd accept me back. I just up and disappeared in the middle of the semester. Plus I have two kids now. Things would be way more expensive and cause even more problems."
"Well we're here if you need help."