Shambles

Chapter 19: Ember

"What time are they dropping off the bounce house?" Kita asks, walking on the side of me on the party aisle at Walmart.

"One, so we need to hurry. It's 11:30 now."

Sweet Pea's birthday party is today and I'm out getting last-minute party supplies. I'm so thankful for Maria because some days she is a big help. She's at the house with kids.

"You really need to relax. We got everything. I don't know why the hell you're picking up extra shit." She glances over at me and twists up her mouth. "Is Gabe's wife coming?"

Looking over at her I grimace at the thought. I do not want that woman there it would be so awkward. "Not that I know of. Gabe never brings her up."

"I'm sure he's not since he's always rubbing on your fat ass."

"Well, he told me that she is doing a barbeque for his birthday tomorrow."

"Are the kids going?"

"He didn't say."

"Huh." She stops and pics a large wine glass that says 'Happy Birthday Now Drink Up'. She turns the glass and smiles before sitting it back down on the shelf.. "Where was Net's ass this morning?"

"I'm not sure. You know she barely comes to the house, and when she is there she sleeps all day."

Walking to the toy aisle I look for the LOL Dolls that Sweet Pea wants. "You know she doesn't spend any time with Papa."

Kita doesn't say anything for a while. This would be a hard subject for her to speak on because she was such a shitty mother. "Well, he has you, and me. He'll be alright." She watches me grab the ball the doll comes in. "Why are you buying her all those toys? With all this shit that came from Gabe's apartment and the shit you're always picking up they're not going to have nowhere to fucking walk."

"It's only one more."

She reaches in the buggy and puts it back on the shelf. "You bought four the other day." She huffs. "Got damn kids can't play with all that shit." She walks off.

Looking at the shelf at the toy, I sigh and follow her.

Once we pick up the cake we head back to the house. When we pull up I see Fabion's car parked in the driveway. "Why is he here so early?" Kita asks.

"He's grilling. He said he wanted to come over early so he could season the meat."

"This noise today is going to fuck up my pool time. Do you know how relaxing it is to sit on the side of the pool with my headphones on? Now you got all these damn people coming over. Is he bringing all those girls' kids with him?"

"I'm sure he is. I invited them?"

Kita gives me a nasty look. "You invited them, badass kids, over here?"

"Yes, who else was I going to invite?"

Yo-yo has four kids and her and Fabion has one. Kita can't stand none of them, not even Fabion's one-year-old little girl. She says they're too hyper for her.

"Ask Gabe to bring some beers or something I'm going to need a drink?"

When we walk in the house it's quiet. Kita looks over at me. After sitting down the cake and other stuff we walk to the den and look out the backdoor and only find Fabion. He's messing with the grill I bought yesterday.

Opening the glass door I walk over to him. "Where are the kids?"

"Yo-yo is bringing them when the party starts."

"Oh ok. Did Maria show you where the meat is at?"

"Yea. I've already seasoned it and sat it back in the refrigerator." He looks around the backyard before his eyes land on me. "You don't have any beers or anything?"