#3 :: Royal By Name, Loyal By Blood Pt. 3

25.

Orphan

TANAYAH.

A year ago I gave birth to my precious son JJ. He's such a good little baby compared to my other three little terrors as well as their cousins. Time has gone by so quick! I can't believe it's his birthday already. The past year has been hard without my pops but I can honestly say my babies have kept me going. All of them. The twins, JJ & Hope. And of course my Ro. I'm so grateful for him. He has kept me going and despite Joziah being in JJ's life it doesn't change the relationship they both have.

Now that JJ was one I was more than ready to go back to work; I would only go in a few days a week to start off with but would always work from home if not in the office. I was grateful for the girls at the office because they took care of everything. Especially now they no longer had Robin to fall back on. I just wanted to get my son's birthday out the way and then back to being a boss as well as a mom.

Today was JJ's birthday and today was his day and just like the twins he will get the best birthday ever. Not that he would remember. I spoke to Joziah and he said he would be here about two. He wanted to come earlier but there was no need. The men in my life had everything taken care of already. Didn't stop me from fussing though. Everything had to be perfect!

The party was in full swing, hours had gone by and still no sign of Joziah. I didn't understand. He couldn't have been mad because I told him to come at two. It was now four and he still hadn't shown. I called but his cell never rang. It was as if he had disconnected his line. I was annoyed because JJ knows who he is. Well at least I think he does. I heard him call Ro "Da Da" the other day but with the twins and Hope calling him that it would be inevitable that he would do the same; especially how he loves to try and copy everything they say and do.

It didn't make sense to me because every weekend he is here. He never cancels; so with today being his birthday and him not being here it was weird; even more so that I couldn't get through to him. I look at JJ who is having fun and smile. It's Joziah's loss if he doesn't want to be here. My son wouldn't even notice the way everyone is showing him love and attention.

It was time to cut the cake and still no sign of Joziah. I had officially given up. There was no excuse. He had lost all rights to call himself JJ's father. I was pissed! Unless he was in jail or dead there's nothing he could say to me. He already said he didn't know his parents; so he never had any family. How the hell could you miss your son's first birthday?

I shook my head at the thought and went ahead to let my son attempt to blow out the candles to his cake. Afterwards Maine and I helped him cut the cake. I smiled. He didn't have to but he did. I sure did love Romaine.

As the kids played, we all went into the kitchen, I asked my mum to cut the cake and as I passed her the knife she cut herself.

"Shit!" she said.

"Oh lemme help Mama T" Rochelle said.

"NO! Stay back!" she shouted.

All eyes were on mom. What was wrong with her?

"Mom? Roch was only tryna help." Tyrell said.

"Yeah mom. Calm down." I said.

"I gotta go." She said and ran out the house.

I just shook my head. Mom has been having these random outbursts lately. I shrugged it off and ended up cutting the cake myself. The rest of the day we supervised the kids until it was time to go home. We all cleaned up and then everyone left. I bathed the four of them and then got them ready for bed. I was exhausted. It had been a long day.