Moving On

Chapter 18

"Kameryn, you gr-" Kathleen came into my room. When she looked at Taylor she gasped.

I had just finished braiding her hair. I wanted to do something that would last a few weeks so she wouldn't have to worry about it.

"Isn't it beautiful mommy? My big sister did it all by herself." She got up and hugged Kathleen.

Kathleen smiled at me. "Thank you."

Why should I be thanked for cheering my sister up? Kathleen probably doesn't even pay much attention to any of her daughters. That's why Katherine is such a bitch and that's why Taylor runs around blaming herself for things she can't control.

"Taylor you should go show your dad your hair."

Taylor hugged me and thanked me again before she ran out my room.

"What made you want to do her hair?"

"Kathleen... she's a small little girl. She needs attention. Something that you don't give her enough of. Anyway, why are you in my room? What do you want?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"I came to tell you that your grandmother checked into her hotel room and would like to see you. Henry is downstairs ready to take you to see her, but we need to talk. I said I was sorry Kameryn. How long will you be mad at me? You are just being a brat at this point."

I stood up and was about to walk past her, but she grabbed my arm. I snatched her hand off of me then pushed her. This is exactly what I mean. I try to have a good day and be nice or whatever, but someone always has to mess with me. I'm so sick of this shit.

"You got yo damn nerve, don't you? How would you feel if a woman who neglected you for sixteen years slapped you in the fuckin' face?! That slap was soft as shit, I been hit way harder, but it's just the fact that you would put your hands on me like that. And for what? Because of the questions I asked you? Shit I really wanna know the answer to them. And another fucked up thing is that you got mad at me for resulting in violence when I did, but what the fuck did you do?! I feel like we keep going through the same shit over and over and I'm tired of it. If you didn't actually want to put up with me, you shoulda abandoned me at the fuckin' airport. You had no problem abandoning me at the fuckin' hospital, did you?"

I grabbed my all black shoes from beside my bed then I grabbed my phone off my bed. I completely ignored her as I walked out of my room and down the stairs to the kitchen.

I honestly don't feel like my relationship with Kathleen will ever be as... good... as it should be. I've been trying. I've been trying to fix my attitude and do right, but I just... I am hurt. I can try to keep up the front that nothing phases me as long as I want, but I'm hurt. I don't want to think about that right now though.

"Good afternoon Miss Kameryn. Nice ensemble you have on today. Are you ready to go?"

I stepped into my shoes, ignoring his comment. I know sarcasm when I hear it.

"Sure."

I walked outside to his car and let myself in instead of waiting for him.

The ride to the hotel only took about ten minutes. When at the hotel, I got out the car and went into the hotel without saying anything to Henry. He'll just leave and come back when I tell him I'm ready to go.

I called my grandma on the way to the hotel, so I know which floor and room she's in. When I got in the elevator, there were three people already in it. A black man, a white woman, and a beautiful little girl. They were laughing and giggling so much that they didn't really notice me. These look like two people who are happily in love with a happy little child of their own. I only wish I could have experienced something this special as a kid.

"Oh this is our floor. Excuse us miss."

I stepped to the back of the elevator so they could get out and others could get in. Three other people got in. Oddly enough, one of them took one look at me then quickly turned his attention away. The woman that I'm assuming is with him did the same thing. I don't know what the hell that was all about, and I don't wanna know. Maybe I look like someone they know or something. That's not a reason to act strange as fuck though. Why not just say something?

As soon as the elevator doors opened again, I stepped my ass out. I walked all the way down the hall to my grandmother's room. I knocked on the door then took a step back to wait. I just talked to this woman on the phone and let her know that I was on my way, so why is it taking so long?

I pulled my phone out my pocket, ready to call her again, but she came down the hall before I could.

She looks absolutely stunning. Her dark brown, flawless, wrinkle free skin causes her to look way younger than she actually is. Instead of looking sixty, she could pass for her early forties. I can clearly see where my dad got his good looks from.

"Oh? You really were on your way." She gave me a quick hug before opening her door. We walked in her room then she shut the door.

"I told you I was coming Grams."

"I know. But child I thought you was operating on that good ol' CP time." She looked me up and down with a smile on her face. "Well hey there beautiful. I see this lil' 'Califonia' life ain't changed you much. We miss you back home. Maxine, Clara, Janice, Ted... miss ya. Just to name a few."

That last name made me want to cringe.

I'm sure my grandma thinks I'm oblivious to the truth, so why not ask her a few questions to see what she says?

"You wouldn't have to miss me if you would have let me stay with you over in Georgia. Why couldn't I?"

"This is a very nice hotel room, isn't it beautiful? I'm glad that heifer agreed to this because I did not want to be in her bougie house with her bougie behind."

Can't say I blame her on that one, but no one asked her about this hotel room. I want answers.

I stepped out of my shoes then sat on her bed.

"Why won't you answer my question Grams? Am I really that bad?"

I playfully tugged on her dress as a little kid would do. She lightly swatted at my hands as she sat across from me on the bed.

"You're a teenager. I'm too old to do anything with that."

That makes no sense. All she had to do was provide a roof over my head. I'm fully capable of taking care of myself though as far as hygiene and all that goes. In sixteen, not an infant. I know how to do things for myself.

I put my hand on my face and let out a long, deep sigh.

"Maxine honestly made me feel so bad when she just up and kicked me out of her house. And y'all didn't even say bye to me. She just forced me to leave like I was nobody."

"No beautiful. It couldn't have been like that."

"But it was though! She started an argument with me about my grades in school, which most likely were slipping because of my depression. Within that argument she told me she couldn't handle me and that she also couldn't handle how much I look and act like my father. Now the man might not even be my father. That's a different thing though. I don't understand why I couldn't stay with any of y'all though. Am I really that bad of a person?"

A tear slid down my face. At first I really was just trying to just pick her mind and see what I can learn, but I seriously am confused. Yeah I know I witnessed murder, but why couldn't Maxine have been more nice about it? Why couldn't they all been more nice about it?

"Don't cry gorgeous grand baby." She put her hands on mine. "It may not seem like it now, but this move was good for you. I can't even lie, due to your father's lifestyle, it wasn't good for anyone for you to stay in Georgia. But don't worry about this DNA test. He is your father. You don't need a piece of paper to tell you that."

"'Is'?! Don't you mean 'was'?!"

Saying that caused tears to gush out of my eyes. I kinda wonder if I'll ever get over this.