Page 132 of Fumble Into the End Zone
She looked over at Dr. Choice and he nodded.
“Marcus, Granny passed away in her nap this afternoon. Ms. Renee found her, and she wasn’t breathing. She performed CPR but Granny had already passed on,” Mia said.
I snatched my hands away from her and jolted my head back. She extended her hands to me again, but I moved out of her reach.
“I just had breakfast with Granny,” I said.
This morning, I surprised everyone with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Some of it was burned but Granny laughed about it as Mia prepared something else for us to eat. Numbness froze my body, but a tear dropped on my arm.
“It’s because of me. I won the damn Elite Bowl,” I said and smacked my chest with an open palm.
Tears filled my eyes to the point I couldn’t see. I looked at Mia. “You gon’ leave me next, ain’t you,” I said with venom, but she didn’t respond.
I shot straight up and flipped over the table. “You can leave. I can take care of the babies. I raised Harley by myself. All y’all can leave!” I belted until my chest hurt.
Moving toward the door, I paused at Mia standing in my way.
“Get out of my way. I got to get Granny’s funeral planned and Harley from school and...” my voice faded.
Mia grabbed my hand and put it on her stomach. “We’re not going anywhere. You are my family and my future husband. My mother has Harley and as her parents, we’re going to tell her together. But right now, it’s Marcus’s turn to grieve. Remember, I take care of you,” she said.
I dropped to my knees and wailed hard until I coughed from choking.
Mia
“Mia, the police will be here soon,” Ms. Renee said as she stood in my bedroom doorway.
I lifted from the bed and tossed my blanket back. She paused my steps before I could move.
“Mia, I need you to listen to me. You are carrying two babies, and I can’t have you upset. Mrs. Eddy is non-responsive, and I have called 911. Can you arrange for someone to pick up Harley?” Ms. Renee said, and my ears couldn’t register her words.
Tears escaped my face as I tried to find my voice. I shook my head and searched the room for my phone. Scrolling through my phone, I dropped it and cried hard. Ms. Renee sat me on the bed.
“Mia, you cannot raise your blood pressure with two babies. I’m going to call your mother and then we need to find Marcus,” she said.
I jumped up from the bed. “Marcus, I got to find Marcus. Don’t let them take her without Marcus getting to say goodbye. I will pay the city extra.”
With the back of my hand, I wiped away tears, grabbing my purse and phone. I checked Marcus’s location and found him at Dr. Choice’s office. With one hand on the steering wheel, I prayed. Then, I called my Mom.
“Mom, I know it’s last minute, but can you pick up Harley?” I said.
“Mia, what is going on? You’re crying?” she questioned.
“Mrs. Eddy she . . . ”
“Died,” my mother finished, and another round of tears fell down my face.
“Okay, Mia, where is Marcus?” she asked.
I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “He is at the therapist’s office and I’m on my way to get him,” I said.
“I prefer you let someone take you, but you’re not going to let anyone. Stay on the phone with me,” she said.
Pulling into the lot for Dr. Choice’s office, I couldn’t swallow my spit. I knew this was going to take Marcus out.
“Mom, I made it. Thank you for getting Harley. I listed you as an emergency contact. It shouldn’t be a problem getting her,” I said.
“You call me, do you hear me?” Mom said as she sobbed.
