“Don’t start,” I warned.
“She called him cool,” she whispered. “We’re fucked.”
Mama came and tugged my arm. “Walk with me.”
I followed her out back, the screen door creaking behind us.
“She’s beautiful,” Mama said, voice soft.
“She is,” I agreed.
“You know what I’m about to ask.”
I nodded. “The test is already done. Results in a few days.”
She gave me that look… soft but strong. “And if she’s yours?”
“Then I’m hers,” I said simply. “Whatever she needs, she got it. Ain’t no other way.”
She nodded slowly, then turned to face me. “And Mel?”
I looked down at the counter. “I’m working on it. We’ve been slowly getting back to where we were, but it’s not quite there yet.”
“You lied to her.”
“I know.”
“You hurt her.”
“I know that too.”
“Then make it right, Franklin.”
I nodded again. “I’m trying, Ma.”
We stayed in the kitchen for a few more minutes before she pulled me into a hug and told me to stop being so damn hardheaded.
***
Later that night, we took Liberty home with us. Mel showed her the room we’d been working on for her. She had already told me her favorite color was purple, so I had the walls painted a light purple. The white Queen sized bed sat in the middle of the room with cloud-shaped pillows, and a purple, white and blue comforter set. A toy chest already half full, and a beanbag by the window. Her dresser and closet was already stocked, along with her bathroom. She had her own sixty-five inch TV mounted on the wall and a new PS5 connected to it. Whatever she didn’t have or wanted to add, she could. All she had to do was ask.
Liberty stood in the doorway, eyes wide.
“This all mine?” she asked.
Mel nodded. “All yours.”
Liberty squealed and dropped her bag, running to flop on the bed. “This is so cool!”
“You need help getting ready for bed?” Mel asked.
“Can you?” Liberty looked up at her, hopeful.
Mel smiled. “Of course I can.”
I watched them disappear inside of the room, the sound of their voices floating back to me like music. I stood there for a long time, hand still on the doorknob.
That little girl already belonged in every part of my life, and so did Mel. All I had to do now… was make sure I never lost either of them.
