“You hear me Homer?” Michael asked. “You staying one more day or not?”
“Hold on for a second,” I muttered, trying to get a closer look at the growing spectacle. The moment the woman turned her panicked face to the side, I felt my stomach tighten before stepping on the gas.
“What the hell is this bitch doing now?” I gritted my teeth. “Is she crazy?”
“Who?” All three of the men asked.
Pia Milton
“What am I supposed to say?” I asked out loud. Both hands were on the wheel as I glanced back at Violet in her car seat. Wide bright white eyes watching the rain hit the window in her car seat. “I’m not calling that man up begging him to be apart of Violet’s life! I won’t do it!”
“I’m not asking you to do that,” Delilah spoke calmly into the speaker as Francesca sighed. My sister-in-law who happened to be a newly discovered cousin to this family tried to keep the peace between Delilah, and I. Between the Skye family, and I. Between everyone who apparently now had it out for me while being the messenger at the same time. After Dre, and I spoke more in depth about what was happening, and what could possibly happen now that Homer was aware, I decided for myself, that I STILL wanted nothing to do with Homer.
I didn’t want him in Violet’s life.
Nor mine.
I glanced in the rearview mirror at my face. Choppy bangs hanging down to my eye lids, round cheeks still sore but finally gaining it's caramel complexion back, but my eye was still dark. Head still hurt, and my body still ached. Didn’t stop me from having to step out to the store, and with Violet in tow, I thought this would be something to distract her from the events that happened earlier this morning, and last night. A car ride always did the trick with her.
“Are you listening Pia?” Delilah asked. “I’m telling you, Nasia broke up with Homer. He’s probably----.”
“Has absolutely nothing to do with me. My relationship with my boyfriend is fine, and apparently stronger than his relationship with her----.”
“This isn’t some competition. I’m telling you this because eventually, Homer is going to step in, and Dre is going to have to learn how to step aside, if he’s still around. I realize he’s been the only man in Violet’s life but knowing my cousin, Homer isn’t going to allow that to happen for long.”
“This is bad,” Frannie muttered. “All anybody is talking about is you, and Violet...The baby mama drama...Your mom is probably getting an earful of this stuff right now. Piru is still upset with me because I knew. I didn’t want to know. You know how hard it was to keep this damn secret?!”
“And we thank you for your service,” Delilah retorted dryly.
“As always, I’m stuck in the middle,” she groaned. “Like I’m the peace that brings everyone together. Did you know Percy’s fiance is best friends with Homer’s girlfriend?”
“What?!” I floored. “This entire time?!”
I might have met Jasmine once or twice at a family function, but Percy rarely shows up unless he’s forced to. Only thing I could think of when it came to her is why? Why would you sit there and torture yourself to be with Percy? He keeps his women away from his family on purpose. Didn’t believe they needed to be that close to his personal life, despite getting married to her, she had no business knowing or being around his family. According to him. Piru was the same way.
“So that’s the connection,” Delilah hummed to herself. “Interesting. You all should really be closer as a family. Wouldn’t be so tangled if you already knew how well connected you are.”
“That’s what I said. If this is how it's going to be for the rest of my life, being caught in between brothers, and sisters…. Cousins, and----.”
“It won’t be. Once Homer steps in, everything will change. Pia knows this, but she’s trying to avoid this conversation----.”
“What’s with you?” I snapped, turning into the shopping plaza parking lot. “Huh? What’s with you all of the sudden? Is it the pregnancy hormones? First, Homer’s an asshole of a cousin. Talks to you, and every other woman like they’re beneath him. You---.” Shutting the car off as I reached in the back seat for my purse. “You act like you’re taking his side now. I don’t want Homer in my life. I don’t! Dre has done a wonderful job---.”
“It’s no longer up to you to decide whether you want---.”
“Yes it is! Yes it is! I’m her mother! Not him! I am!”
“And Pia, he’s the father. He gets a say so----.”
“No! NO!” I screamed, snatching the car door open before stepping down. “I don’t know who you spoke to or if somebody threatened you, but please call me when Delilah Skye, the wicked witch of Carolina is back.”
“Look,” Delilah laughed dryly. Course she would find this funny. She always found humor in my life. “I’ve gotten cussed out by just about everyone in this family. Including Homer’s mom who is his heart wrapped up in an old saggy brown body. I’m probably the most hated person right now in the Skye family because of you. Everyone thinks it's my fault that the perfect Moon Child, Homer is single, and lonely with a child he knew nothing about instead of looking at what type of asshole he really is. Always been.”
I adjusted the bluetooth in my ears while digging in my purse to check for my wallet.
“I just know that when things become close between you, and Homer…. Something is going to happen----.”
“What are you talking about?” Frannie asked as I laughed outright.
“She’s talking about Homer, and I becoming a damn couple. Are you out of your mind? Are you high? Is there some drug I don’t know about that pregnant women are allowed to dope and fien off of? You lost your damn mind if you think I’m going to let a man who had his demon sisters attack me----.”
“Your brothers attacked first----.”
“BECAUSE YOUR COUSIN CAME FOR ME!” Standing in the middle of the parking spot beside my car, just on the back road closest to the road. Never liked parking beside cars, but even with this steady downpour of rain, I was starting to rethink that. “I don’t want anything to do with that man Delilah!”
“Wait, you think they’ll fall for each other?” Frannie laughed. “Is that why you did all of this? Piru would never let that happen---.”
“And Piru doesn’t dictate who I can, and can’t be with. Why can’t for once, people let me live life the way I want without having hands pointing the direction of where I should go----.”
“Mommmy?!” Violet yelled from the back seat as I shuffled around my tote for an umbrella just as a silver truck swerved into the parking spot right next to mine. With my door still open, almost causing me to be squished against him with my door nearly folding in just in time. White man got out without a care in the world, long dirty blonde hair with a simple shirt, and khaki shorts as he looked at me.
“Excuse me? I know you saw my door was open with me standing here?” I snapped. This was so out of character for me to even approach anyone, but I had had it for today. “Did you not see me standing here?!”
“I saw you. Same way you saw me, should’ve moved----.”
“No, you should have found another parking spot. All of the spots available at the front, and you chose to park right next to me,” I snarled, slamming my door shut before walking around to grab my daughter. “Learn how to freaking drive!”
“Learn how to keep your mouth shut bitch. I park where I want. Free country, got a problem with that? Then leave,” he retorted back as my eyes grew wide, head snapping to the side as he started for the store.
“White people are their own worst enemies I swear,” Delilah laughed as I grabbed my daughter out the back seat.
“You racist pig!” I screamed. “You better hope nothing happens to your damn truck while you’re in the store!”
Thought my threat got lost in the rain as I flipped my umbrella open to cover my daughter, but when the man turned back around, letting out a wad of spit, I knew this night was about to go from bad to worse.
�
�Sick of people treating me like I won’t say anything! Sick of not saying anything!” I said, slamming the door shut. “What are you gonna do cracker?! Huh?! You know who my father is?! He runs this damn state!”
“Not the daddy threat,” Delilah said into my ear.
“Pia, you need to call the police if this man is going to----.”
“What’d you say?” The man asked, walking towards me. “You better stop while you're ahead. I’m not from around here----.”
“Clearly! You looked like you crawled from whatever plantation field in the 1800s----!”
“Pia!?” Frannie panicked while Delilah laughed. “Call the police----!”
I started to open my door, ready to put Violet back in the car for her safety when he came up to my side of the car.
“Don’t you bring your privileged ass towards me!” I cried out, feeling Violet’s arms tighten around me. “I----!”
A pair of bright headlights came turning into the empty spot beside me, and jerked at a stop with the crooked park. Homer Skye wasted no time shooting up from the car as my anger nearly spilled over.
“Are you following me?! You actually following me now?!”
“Pia, just call for help! I’m calling Dre----.”
“No need Frannie, spirits are playing right now. Leave her be,” Delilah said knowingly before hanging up, disconnecting both her, and Francesca off the line. Homer walked over like a dark evil hero of the night. Not once making eye contact with me. Dusty blue shirt and jeans didn’t do much to conceal his size, and his dark complexion, and deadly white stare didn’t scare the palest of men from me, then I knew it was going to be a problem.
“What’s the problem?” He asked, pulling his jeans up with a yank, as he walked over towards us, keeping his eyes on the white man who smirked.
“This man practically hit me with his car pulling in! When there are a dozen of other spaces to park! He chose to park by me!”
“You chose to pick a fight with me! I was minding my business woman---.”
“Oh now, I’m a woman. Not a bitch?” I let out.
“Pia? You got a damn child, and you’re picking fights in the parking lot? Always seem to manage to put her in danger---.”
“Excuse me?!” I let out, enraged. “You don’t know me! I----!”
“Better keep her ass in line. I told her I’m not from around here----.”
“And neither am I,” Homer threatened, stepping to him. The two stood with the rain steady coming down as a hard drizzle when Violet finally lifted her head up to look at the scene taking place in front of her. People were standing in their perspective areas by their cars watching the scene go down, wondering if it was going to push any further when Homer leaned over to let out a wad of spit before stepping closer to the man. Height for height, Homer’s size was twice that of the redneck whose mouth tightened up into a ball.
“You threatening me boi?” He asked.
“Mothafucka I’m a grown ass man. Try me or mine, and I’ma have yo white ass hanging from this light pole by the neck. Go on and fuck with somebody else,” Homer said in a low voice.
“She better not mess with my truck----.”
“I won’t touch your raggedy truck!” I yelled, taking a small step back as Homer stepped again, concealing the man’s view of me, and Violet. The man shot one more look my way over Homer’s shoulder before turning to walk off, taking long strides as he barked at the nearest person staring him down. Homer waited until he was gone out of eyesight before turning towards me, wiping his face free of rain.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped.
“You’re following me---.”
“I’m not following you! I was on my way home. Still on my way home, and I saw you out here carrying on---.”
“I didn’t ask for or need your help,” opening the car door once more.
“You need to be aware of your daughter, and the situations you put her in. What kind of mother----.”
“Ohhh okay,” I laughed sarcastically, closing the door once more as Violet, and I looked at him underneath the umbrella. “What kind of mother? Did you really just go there? I’m the kind of mother that doesn’t send a squad of demons after my child to force her to----.”
“I’m not answering for my sisters---.”
“Oh, I’m glad you know what demons mean!” I let out before squinting my eyes in suspicion. Homer looked a damn mess. Whatever front he had for that man had long disappeared as his true emotions appeared. Eyes were red, shoulders slumped. He was defeated, and you could tell he’d been crying or wanted to cry.
The wimp.
“Sorry for your relationship,” I said, looking at Violet to adjust her jacket. “Hope you two work it out.”
“Don’t speak on anything concerning my relationship. You don’t wish shit. You’re probably laughing at---.”
“Honestly, I’m not. Your relationship isn’t the only one that was affected by this,” I stated, thinking about my parents, and brothers. Dre left me confused. My mother hasn’t called since she disowned me. I didn’t even bother with my father.
There was silence between us as Violet began to shift in my hold. Identical face looking almost too much like Homer, she pointed at him. As if this wasn’t the man that attacked our life hours ago.
“The wain! The wain!” She hollered in panic, pointing to him as the rain continued to come down. “You getting wet! Uhh!” She pointed to the umbrella in panic before trying to grab the silver pole in the middle. “Huhh!”
“He doesn’t need it Violet,” I said with a laugh. “He likes the rain, but we don’t. We can’t get wet----.”
“The wain!” She continued, freaking out that Homer was getting soaked as he looked up at the tall light post shining down on us. Hands shoved in his pockets, he looked at Violet with a small smile.
“She’s really mine,” he spoke in a low voice.
“She’s really yours, unfortunately,” I gritted, ignoring the heavy emotion in his tone. Without warning, Homer came walking over towards us as I shook my head. “Hold on----.” He ducked his head underneath the umbrella, standing up against me with his eyes only, almost in an obsessive manner for Violet who looked at him. “Wait a minute, we can’t all fit under----.”
As if somebody sitting on top of a cloud thought they had a sense of humor, the rain suddenly became a hard downpour as Violet screamed. Two fingers hooked onto her mouth, eyes wide at the loud sound with the flimsy orange umbrella barely covering the three of us.
“I need to get her in the car!” I yelled, feeling her body already reaching for his. He instinctively grabbed her tiny frame to hold, and just like a bad cheesy romance film...My car keys dropped. Couldn’t juggle it all at once, but he took the umbrella from my hand, and held on to Violet who covered her ears at the heavy sound.
“My door is already open!” Homer yelled, moving her towards the passenger side.
“No! NO! Homer don’t! Damnit!” I snapped, grabbing the slippery keys before dropping them again.
“Stop it! This is not that kind of story!” I yelled out to the imaginary narrator of my life.
I could hardly see in this downpour when he quickly placed himself, and Violet in the front seat of his car while I angrily, and annoyingly ran to the other side to sit behind his wheel. Closing the door shut, and almost was hit with the faint cologne. Black & Milds I didn’t know anybody smoked anymore, even I, knew about that, and just the masculine scent of a man’s man. Dre usually kept his car smelling like him coming from the gym or practice, but Homer’s scent was different.
Not in a bad way, just different.
He closed the umbrella up before tossing the wet flaps in the back seat and slamming the door shut with Violet in his lap, wiping her face.
“Mommy, my face!” She squealed at the few rain drops on her nose. “My face!”
“I see coco bean,” reaching to wipe her down. Hair was ruined. I have yet to figure out the science to Violet’s hair. It was
so coarse, different from anyone in my family, including my own hair. Soon as water touched it, it tightened up so quick. It was going to be hell trying to comb through it. She sat calmly on Homer’s lap with the unique ability to make herself laugh. Brushing her hand down her own face before letting her head back with a laugh like it was the funniest thing in the world. She looked at Homer who started to laugh, mouths dropping at the exact same time, eyes squinting up with their identical faces as they laughed.
He even laughed like her too.
Suddenly, my smile disappeared as I glanced at my hands. Wishing the rain would stop, but even the people running to their cars with shopping carts flying told me, the rain only came down harder.
“I’m sorry Violet,” he suddenly said, looking her in the eyes as Violet stopped laughing. “I’m sorry that I was mean, and angry when you last saw me. Were you scared?”
She nodded, fumbling with the zipper of her jacket, shutting down before my eyes. I started to take her, wanting to shield her from any hurt or fear she might feel with him.
“But I promise,” turning her to face him in his lap as she looked up at what was basically her mirror, and a small part of me wanted to believe she could see the resemblance. “I promise not to be angry or upset at your mommy in front of you ever again, you hear me?”
She nodded. Homer pulled her close for a kiss on the cheek before holding it there. Eyes squeezing tight before pulling back, and opening. Small build up of tears in the corner of his eyes refusing to come down, but Violet noticed, and nearly shocked us both when she said,
“You crying Daddy?” She asked. My eyes almost fell out of my head while Homer choked up.
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