Brave Face

Chapter Three

Loretta POV

"Every time I close my eyes I think of you,
And no matter what the season is I still love you,
With all my heart,
And I want to be with you wherever you are" ~The Deele (Two occasions)

"Mrs. Johnson, you have outdone yourself with these deserts. Everything is absolutely divine. Thank you so much for doing this," the mayor says, giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"No thank you Mr. Mayor, for this opportunity."

"Oh hush up. Who else would I have cater my party other than the best in the city," he says smugly.

"Aww thank you. You are too sweet," I says giving him a departing wave.

He disappears from sight and I continue arranging the rest of the cupcakes on the tier rack. When everything is to my satisfaction I load it unto a cart a wheel it to the desert table. It draws the attention of everyone because it is so stunningly prepared and come on, who doesn't pay attention to free cupcakes.

After everything is set up on the table I check the time. It's 4:53, that gives me roughly an hour to get home. I track down my most trusted employee and friend, Nicole.

"Nicole I need to jet. You think you can take over," I ask, ripping off my apron.

"Ain't no thang. Go on ahead, see you on Monday," she says giving me a hug.
I grab my personal things and rush out to my car. I load my junk up and speed off. I arrive home with ten minutes to spare.

"Nima. Come here please," I yell, slipping into my bunny slippers sitting by the door.

"Coming," she yells her response, feet pounding on the floor. She hops down from the stairs and almost bumps into me.

"Don't run in the house girl. Grab your coat so we can go visit your father, and go see if your brother wants to come," I say and her eyes light up. She engulfs me in a tight hug and thanks me. Visiting Nasir is one of the few time we get to spend alone without Earl and she cherishes that.

She grabs her coat in record time and informs me that Nino has to study for an exam. This perks up my mommy sense. Nino never studies, good grades just come to him because he has photographic memory. You could ask him something he saw years ago and he could tell you every detail.

"Nino put on a coat and get your ass down here," I yell up the stairs.

I hear his room door open, right before I hear his voice exclaim, "But mom I have an exam."

"That you already know every answer to, you just want to sneak out to one of your little friends house. Bring your ass. You got two minutes to be in the car," I say walking out the front door. I hear his incoherent response.

By the time me and Nima got to the car, Nino was at the front door locking it. We all piled into the car and I pulled out of the driveway. Every time we go to Nasir's grave, we ride in pure silence reflecting on what it would be like if he was still here.

I believe we would be a picture perfect family. Nasir would be an amazing dad. He would have been in every aspect of their lives and been that cool parent that the kids would feel comfortable talking to about anything. He would support them and make sure they had everything they needed.

Sometimes I feel guilty about being with Earl, because I feel like I am betraying him. I know he would've wanted me to move on, and not live in the past, but that does nothing to lessen the guilt. Nasir was simply an angel that was called home too soon.