NO LONGER THERE

CLUSTER SIX

TROPHY WIFE

Bryce wasn't home when we returned.

He had been blowing up my phone, but I needed to process what happened with Amazon Nova. I silenced and laid it on the kitchen island. Hershey Kiss gave Nana and me pecks on the cheek before going to her room. She didn't say much at dinner. I expected it would be that way the remainder of the evening.

I changed into one of Bryce's Morehouse tees, a pair of gray sweats, tied a bandana around my no longer magical feeling ear length bob, poured a tall glass of Franschhoek Pinotage and stepped into the backyard.

The aqua pool lights and waterfall cascading against the dark Texas sky slowed my pulse and my thoughts. Nana sat next to me and lit another green cigarette. She inhaled and reached in my direction. I waved my hand and shook my head. Shrugging, she flexed her arm and inhaled again.

"Might be better you don't. You need to be able to cuss Bryce lying ass out when he gets here."

I stared into the rippling pool water. My eyeballs became dry from not blinking, and I wished I could stop what I was feeling as easily.  Anxious, I spun my engagement ring around my finger.

"He didn't lie," I said.

"Like hell. A fiancé and a baby? Omissions are lies, Aves. You thinking they aren't is the lie you're telling yourself right now."

My eyes watered,I blinked, then started the process all over again. 

"I wish I could talk to Daddy."

Nana said. "Call him."

"I did, Roberta said he was having a bad night. I didn't want to make it worse. I don't want to feel worse either."

"I can tell you exactly what Clarence would have said."  

Nana stood and bowed her legs. She placed her hands on her hips and lowered her voice."Babygirl, that motherfucker duped us all. Only a crazy motherfucker would lie about a baby and a big tittie ex fiancé."

I almost rolled out of my chair.

Nana waved her finger. "Pack your shit and come home, babygirl.  We don't need that motherfucker in our life. Come on home."

She spun her pretend rope and bell in her hands, swirled her narrow hips and shouted out, "Hee-haw." 

I love my Nana.

We heard clapping behind us. Bryce stood there, looking like a tall glass of chocolate milk. I hated his sexy ass. He smiled at me.

Dammit, no, I didn't.

Nana put away her 'rope and bell', picked up her lighter, green cigarettes and headed inside. She was still puffing as she slid back the accordion glass doors.

"Ahem." Bryce caught her attention as a warning not to enter the house while smoking.

Nana stopped, grabbed her breast, then flicked back her silver hair like Amazon Nova. She rolled her eyes and puffed again as she stepped inside and closed the door.

I chuckled. That's my cool as a cucumber Nana. Bryce took Nana's seat. I returned to staring at  water and spun my engagement ring around my finger.

"I've been calling you all night."

I smirked. "That's funny, that's just the amount of time I've been ignoring you."

"Babe, I didn't mention Nova because she was a huge mistake in my life."

"Fuck Amazon Barbie, Bryce. You have a baby?"

His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

"Is that a look of surprise because you don't know what I'm talking about, or shock that I found out?"