"I do and I'll be monitoring your accounts to make sure we keep a handle on shifting things."
My phone was going off again with another text from my mother and I groaned internally. I wasn't in the mood for her criticism.
"’Preciate that. I know you have your own shit to deal with, and no matter how crazy it gets, I fucks with you heavy. Don't let them people stress you. You're solid as hell. I'm sending some people your way too, so be looking out."
I smiled, appreciating his words. "Thank you so much. The past month has been stressful and annoying, which is why I really do understand what you're dealing with."
"Nah, them folks are on your ass just cause they're minding your business when they shouldn't. They're on mine ’cause I speak my mind."
I laughed. "True but it's all still annoying. I'll reach out to you later this week to check in. Maybe pull back from speaking your mind for a while."
He chuckled. "I'll see what I can do but no promises."
After I ended the call, I leaned back and rubbed my eyes. Avi, who had been occupied with oversized Legos, crawled over to me and pulled up on my legs. "Hey, pretty girl. You ready to get some lunch?"
She flashed me a smile, exposing her peggies. I was exhausted but locked in on her eyes, which had me thinking about her father with a smile. Three hours of back to back client calls and two hours of composing drafts for my clients' scheduled posts had my brain on empty. I’d lost several but also gained a few thanks to clients like Andre who sent overrecommendations to their teammates because they hated how my life was being dragged for no reason.
The ones that pulled back were mostly players with wives or girlfriends who decided they didn't want their men doing business with someone like me. It messed up their brand alignment. Fuck them and their brand alignment. They believed the rumors and thought I would try to push up on their men, which would never happen.
I grabbed my phone, lifted Avi into my lap, then carried her to the kitchen and placed her in the mobile walker while I moved to the refrigerator to find us something for lunch. After a quick scan I decided on pizza puffs for Avi and spinach artichoke dip for me with tortilla chips.
All of which was prepared from scratch by the chef Omiri used to make sure he was eating properly and getting in game shape. I truly couldn't tell the difference because the man's body was impressive. He also insisted that his chef prepare homemade baby food for Avi and whatever I wanted to eat, which was never healthy. Cheese was a food group for me. While Omiri's dinners and lunches were lean proteins and fresh vegetables, mine were carbs, cheeses, and starches. I was a work in progress.
Once I had everything warmed up, I got comfy at the kitchen table and left Avi in her walker to feed herself while I dug into my spinach dip. After the first few bites of heaven, my mood was disrupted again by another text from my mother. This had to be the tenth one today, so I sighed and clicked on the thread.
Mom: We need to talk immediately.
I rolled my eyes because what was there to talk about? I had a baby she didn't want me to have and she disowned us both. End of story. Fuck her and her talk. It would be nice if she wouldat least reach out to check on her granddaughter. She could be upset or disappointed in me all she wanted, but my muffin was innocent in all of this.
I grabbed another tortilla and scooped out a heavy amount of dip, moaning when the cheesy flavor met my tongue. I wasn't about to allow that woman to ruin my mood. Avi pushed herself over to me, opening and closing her hands when her tray was empty so I lifted a few more pizza puffs from the bowl and placed them in front of her.
She smiled, grabbed one and was off again, moving around the massive open kitchen. I grinned at how happy she was. We were both happy. After the first couple nights of being here, things felt right. I used Omiri's card to purchase what we needed to be comfortable.
The three of us settled into a routine that worked naturally but I hadn’t acknowledged that waking up in his bed every morning shifted things between us. I was getting used to us being a family unit.
My phone rattled on the table with three more texts coming through from my mother.
Mom: Your life is completely out of hand.
Mom: My friends are calling me daily, asking questions about my unwed daughter and her baby.
Mom: Answer the phone, Makari, or I'll be on the first flight to Crescent Falls to have this discussion in person.
I tensed at the idea of my mother hopping on a flight to discuss my scandalous life. The thought was laughable because she would only do so if it meant convincing me to do what she wanted me to do. I refused to let her insert herself into analready complicated situation between me and Omiri, nor would I let him be exposed to her entitlement.
I lifted my phone and typed out a response.
Me: You don't have the right to have input on my life. In case you forgot, you want nothing to do with me or Avi. Please leave me alone.
Mom: When you're tarnishing the Phoenix name, I have the right, Makari.
And that was the problem. It wasn't about me or Avi, only her reputation with people whose lives were even more fucked up than mine. Honestly my life was pretty damn good but there was no way she could be okay with her daughter getting knocked up.
I finished my lunch, got Avi cleaned up and changed, then built towers with her legos that she destroyed seconds after. We watched TV while the cleaning staff collected our things to wash then moved through the house doing whatever they did since I mostly cleaned up after me and Avi so there was nothing left for them to do. Then I went for a walk on one of the many trails they had out here before heading back to the house just in time to get another round of texts from my mother.
Mom: I'm booking a flight, Makari.
I groaned and glanced at my baby who was cruising the living room in her walker. "Your grandmother is incredibly annoying."
