Can't Change the Past

~41~

Beyoncé POV

"Have you called Marquis?"
"Kenzie stop running in here!" I yelled as she zipped past me. "No ma'am but Kenzie has been asking to see him."
"Then call him." Aunt Vera said.
"I will."
"When?" Mama Gloria asked. "Y'all been here since Tuesday and leave in two days."
"I'm scared."
"Just tell him who you are and explain why you're calling. Go on now."
I stepped away and gave myself a pep talk before dialing his number. It rang twice before he answered.
"Hello?"
"Uhm... I'm..."
"The contact says 'My One and Only💍' but I'm pretty sure that's not your real name."
"It's not." I said nervously. "That's what- it's not. I'm McKenzie's mom."
"McKenzie... McKenzie... my daughter McKenzie right?"
I nodded my head but quickly answered because he couldn't see me, "Yes."
"Well it's nice to hear from you. I've been calling Rasheeda to talk to you because I didn't know which number was yours."
"Oh that's because I'm not with her. We're actually back in California visiting family."
"Are you close to my mom's house? I've been here enjoying being taken care of since being released."
"Uhm probably an hour or two with traffic."
"Do you mind if I see her?"
"That's why I called actually. She really wants to see you before we leave in a few days."
"Christmas is coming up, do I normally spend it with her?"
"You've never missed one."
"Not one, huh?"
"You've been there for all of her firsts. Steps, words, first day of school, all of it."
"And birthdays? Did I miss any of those?"
"Just one but that's because you were in the coma." I sighed, "It was a couple of days before you woke up."
"I should probably go out and get her a gift. I don't want her to be upset with me. What does she like?"
"Marquis you don't have to buy her a physical gift."
"But I missed her birthday and I'm pretty sure I missed the party."
"This year there wasn't a party. It was just her, her siblings, and myself."
"Why?"
"She didn't want anything big because you weren't there. That's the only thing she wanted was for you to wake up, so you've already given her the best gift just by being awake."
"Are you crying?"
I sniffled, "I'm okay."
"Well uhm, you guys can come over now. My mom went to work earlier so I'm just here bored." he chuckled.
"Okay, I'll text you when we're ten minutes away."
"Great. I'll see you."
I hung up and jumped a little when I turned around. "Sorry mommy."
"It's okay baby. Did you need something?"
"Where you going?"
"Well I just got off the phone with your daddy and he said you can come over today if you want."
"Yes! Can I spend the night mommy? Pleaseee?"
"Of course you can. Go put your shoes on."
She ran off, "So y'all going to be gone for the night?" Mama Gloria asked.
"I was just going to drop her off."
"Okay then, I'll keep the other two while you take her."
"Thank you."

"Daddy!" Kenzie yelled jumping in his arms. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"I'm glad to see you too."
"Can we play tea party?"
"Of course- wait. Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving. Did you need something?"
"You trust her with me alone?"
"You're her dad Marquis. And if you need help you can call me."
"Can we talk?"
"Uhm, sure." I walked inside. "Kenzie go set up your tea party for you and daddy."
"Okay, don't be late daddy. The Princess doesn't like it."
"So?"
"I- wow. I still can't believe it. I have a daughter."
"Yeah, we do."
"I've never done this before. I'm a little nervous."
"You have, you just don't remember. You were always good to them. When Kenzie got here you just got better."
"Them? I thought I-"
"I have two other children. You consider them your own as well. They were also at the hospital when you woke up."
"Oh okay. Why didn't you bring them?"
"They're spending time with their grandma and great aunt on their dad's side."
"Understandable. So when should we expect you back?"
"She wanted to spend the night with you but if it's too much I can come get her."
"Yeah maybe give it some time."
I nodded, "I'll come back around seven. That'll give you guys a few hours to hang with each other."

Marquis POV

"Daddy! Come on!" I heard.
"Where are you McKenzie?"
"My room! Duh!"
"Right." I mumbled. I went to the different doors in the house and finally got to the right one.
"Took you long enough. Come sit."
"What are we playing?"
"Tea party cause I got some tea to spill."
"Oh really?" I said sitting on the floor near her little table.
"Mhmm. And it's good."
"Tell me about it."
"Well first off, I got in trouble at school on the last day."
"What happened?"
"I punched Billy in the throat." she said sipping her fake tea. "He deserved it though."
"Okay but you're not just going around hitting people right?"
"Of course not daddy! Mommy wouldn't like that."
"Good."
"Kingy won his game last week but mommy was about to fight Morgan. She was being mean to her. TT was going to help but their daddy said not to."
"Kingy is?"
"My big brother. Morgan is their step mommy I think. Or maybe it's Maleficent. I don't know."
"Oh okay. Did they?"
"Did they what?"
"Fight?" I said worried. Her mom seems like a really nice lady. I can't imagine her fighting.
"No, but King said one day they would. She made Aubri cry one time and mommy got so upset."
"This lady hasn't been mean to you?"
"Nope. Mommy said she should know better now."
"Okay, how has your mom been?"
"Mommy missed you a lot like me. She cried at night when she thought I was sleep but I heard her. She still cries sometimes." I sat quietly. "Daddy?"
"Yes McKenzie?"
"Are you still going to marry mommy?"
"Well I don't know. Things have changed."
"But you said you would do it on Christmas! That's in-" she counted on her fingers. "Three days!"
"McKenzie."
"You can say Kenzie daddy. Everybody calls me that."
"Kenzie, I don't know your mommy." I admitted.
She sat like she was thinking for a minute, "You forgot like Dory in Finding Dory?"
"I guess, yeah. Like Dory."
"Well then we have to help you remember daddy! Can I call King please?"
"You know the number?"
"Nope but it's in your phone. The password is my birthday." She smiled.
"So that's what those numbers are?"
"Come on daddy. We don't have all day!"
I gave her my phone and watched her make the call. I swear there's an old woman inside her little four year old body.