Ouch, I cringed as I sprang into action. Her whimpers began immediately as she stepped back and held her aching face. I opened the door and pulled her into my arms and allowed her to cry on my shoulder.
“It’s OK. It’s OK. Hi, Essence.” I multitasked, bouncing Emorey in one hand while beckoning for Essence to come hug my leg.
She rushed over with the prettiest look of astonishment I’d ever seen. Maybe I was biased because she was mine, but no one could deny the twinkle in those hazel eyes as her dirty blonde curls bounced in my direction. My girls were perfect in every way. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch. The moment I was married, I would add to the crew but for now it was just us three.
“Mommy!” she squealed as Emorey continued to have a meltdown in my arms.
“Are you ready for school?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Go get your backpack and come on. I’m taking you guys today, but Grams is still picking you up, OK?”
“Good morning, Ever,” James said as he made his way downstairs and out of the front door.
“Morning!” I yelled behind me.
He was probably running behind. Otherwise, he’d stick around to talk a bit. Right after he left, my mother came down the stairs. Though in her late fifties, she didn’t look a day over forty-five. I aspired to be just like her when I reached her age. She looked good.
“Hey. They’re both ready to go. I’ve fed them eggs and bacon. The little one didn’t eat much, but I packed her a Pop-Tart for the ride to school.”
“OK. Essence is gone to grab her bag and then we’re heading out. They haven’t been too much trouble have they?”
“Honey, these are the most mild-mannered children I know. Most times I forget they’re even here. Respectable and listen well. Sometimes I have to tell Emorey twice, but she gets the job done eventually.”
“Yeah. She’s a little firecracker.”
“Spoiled is all. She reminds me a lot of you. She has a fire to her. Don’t ever put that out. She’s going to need it to face this big, bad world.”
I wonder when my fire was smoldered, I thought. Maybe it was when Dewayne entered my life because prior to that, I remembered being this outgoing woman with a bright future ahead of her. From the moment he entered my life, insecurities crept in that led to me shying away from life and its beauty altogether. Before I knew it, I was a stay-at-home mom who hid herself from the big, bad world.
“I promise I won’t,” I agreed with my mother. “Come on, girls. Let’s get going.”
Emorey had finally calmed down enough to wave goodbye to my mother as she said her goodbyes to the girls.
“See you two this evening. It’s popcorn and movie night.”
“Caramel popcorn?” Essence probed.
“If that’s what you prefer.”
“Yup. I want caramel popcorn.”
“Me too,” Emorey chanted.
“Then caramel popcorn it is, ladies. I’ll pick you both up, and we can come straight home and pop it. How does that sound?”
“Fantastic,” Essence responded with a nod.
“Pantasic,” Emorey tried, but fell a bit short.
“See you, Mom. Thanks again for getting the girls. Love you.”
“Love you, back.”
“Oh, I got a new cell number. I’ll text it to you when I get in the car and get them strapped in.”
“OK. That’s good. I was wondering when you would. I might do the same. I’m about tired of the old thing I’ve got. Too many people still remember the number.”
