Beautiful

12. It is, What it is

It Is, What It Is.

Nicole Rodriquez, had been with her daughter just over for two weeks now. She'd wake up early to cook breakfast before Tierra would leave for work, send Bella off with her service, and have dinner prepared in the evening by the time that she returned home. It'd been such a long time since Tierra had so many home cooked meals. She was surprised at how she welcomed the transition her Mother brought into her hectic world. She relished the intrusion, and had to admit she really did miss her mother in her life.

It was a good thing though that she wasn't currently dating anyone, because between the new accounts at work and making up for lost time with her mother she really had no extra time to devote to anyone. Besides, her mother had somehow convinced her to begin attending Wednesday Night Prayer and Bible Study Service. It was the same church that Qu had tricked her into showing up at, and surprisingly it had already begun to grow on her. The old Tierra that her Mother knew to have a fondness for God was slowly making an appearance.

"Tierra, I've been meaning to ask you something," Nicole said, as she stood in the kitchen, and peered over her prescription glasses at her daughter.

"I thought you said that you'd reconnected with Qu? Funny he hasn't called since I've been here? He's not afraid to come over, because I'm here, is he?" she joked, and chuckled.

"Why would he be sacred of you, of all people? He loves you and worships the ground that you walk on. You know you're like a second mother to him," Tierra replied.

She knew that her mother was just prying, and it was actually hilarious to her. She hadn't questioned Tierra in such a way since her teenage years.

"He spent just as much time at our house as he did at his own. Heck, strangers thought we were twins we were together so much," she told her.

"So, have you talked to him?... Lately, I mean?" her mother asked.

"No, now that you mention it. It's been maybe a few weeks or better. Actually, not since that day that I read the letter that he left me, the one which led me to that church to look for him," she reluctantly admitted.

"Well, now that I think about it, he did call one night to see if I liked Bella. But, I kept it short. I was still upset with him. Other than that, I haven't talked to him at all," she let her know. She picked Bella up off of the floor and nuzzled up to her.

"That was three weeks ago, wasn't it?" her mother asked.

"Yeah, well about when you got her I guess," Tierra answered.

"So, you mean to tell me that you aren't going to call him?" her mother questioned, her tone accusatory.

"He can call me too" she shot back. She handed Bella over to her mother and grabbed her briefcase up off the floor.

She rolled her eyes before she gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. She then smooched Bella on the top of her head and headed towards the front door. As she made it to exit, she stopped and turned around.

"Oh, not need to cook anything tonight Mom. I have a business dinner after work. I'll be back, but just long enough to change," she paused, realizing that her mother would be home alone.

"Hey, have you seen Shireece lately? You know that she spends all day down in that condo by herself. She's been dying to take you shopping. I'll call her when I get to the office. If that is okay with you?" she asked, and awaited an answer as she headed out of the door.

"Okay." Nicole responded, as her daughter closed the door behind her.

***********

"Ms. Rodriquez, your 10 o'clock is here. Would you like me to send in a 360?" Terri announced quietly.