Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  “That don’t sound suspicious at all,” Junie muttered, reaching into the trunk of the car as I glared at him, but he stared back. “Don’t it though? You know what kind of family you got, and the type of things they do.”

  I started to tell him to be quiet until I thought about what Pia was telling me. Watching Junie take the shopping cart over to Pia’s car to help her load up, I looked at Violet who was laying on my shoulder. Small fingers clinging to me like she didn’t want to let go, but the look in her eyes was something I couldn’t read. Eyes were darker than they should have been. Not even a hint of brown, but just...black. Face swollen and deep undertones of red on her cheeks, and forehead, I reached up to feel her face.

  She was burning up with a small fever. Unnaturally warm, even in this cool muggy weather, she was warm. Glancing back up, I could see my daughter across the way with Pia, looking back at us while her fingers tapped at her own mouth. Repeatedly.

  “Violet, can Mommy take you home?” I asked softly. She didn’t respond, but I could feel her fingers squeeze my shirt like she didn’t want to let go. A single quick glance at Pia, I turned my back to the two before adjusting Violet to sit up as I looked her over.

  “Please tell me my sisters did not do what I think they did,” I muttered, feeling my pulse quicken as I checked her ears. Tiny white flowers for earrings, I tugged at the lobe before lifting her chin up seeing she a ring of sweat lining around her neck. She was burning up badly. I looked over at my daughter, seeing her hazel eyes grow wide as she began to scratch and pull at her own mouth once again. Being switched from Pia’s arms to Junie’s hold, she never left my gaze. Feet kicking at his sides, her nails began to clinch against her lower lip.

  “What in the world…” I whispered. I looked back at Violet as if guided by my daughter, hand gripping her small chin to pull down. “C-can you open your mouth for Auntie? Can I see inside your mouth?”

  She shook her head as the sound of the riggedy buggy Junie was pushing came back down. I attempted to pull her chin down, tugging just underneath her brown lip to open when I heard a scream that caused me to jump.

  “MAI?!” Junie cried out as I looked up seeing my daughter’s mouth was oozing trails of blood like she bit her lip until she opened her mouth to show the blurry red teeth. “What the hell? She chewing on herself now? When did this start?”

  Junie rushed her inside the car while I looked at Violet, nearly yanking her jaw to squeeze open, I could see a glint of black string, almost hair thin stretch from all corners of her mouth like a web before she opened wide. Exposing the thin hairs like wires connecting and wrapping around her teeth before letting go.

  I cannot believe Homer would do this. My sisters, I’m not surprised but Homer of all people…and the effect it was having on my daughter was enough to officially have me involved.

  “What’s going on?” Pia rushed over, attempting to dry her shirt. “What happened?”

  The look on my face must have said it all, but I tried to recover as quickly as I could. Deciding not to stress her out anymore than she already was. Last thing she needed to hear was my family putting something on her daughter, and I suspect her as well.

  “You want me to stay the night with you to help with Violet? Just until you drop her off to daycare tomorrow? We don’t have to be to South Carolina really until Saturday morning.”

  “Is that asking too much?” She pleaded. “I don’t want to be a bother or take you away from your own---.”

  “No, no, it's fine. I want to keep close to her,” I said. Attempting to hand her Violet, but she refused to let go. “Violet, go with Mommy. Mai, and I will be right back for a sleepover okay?”

  “No, no noooo----.”

  “I got her,” Pia said hesitantly. “You don’t have to come. I’m going to try and get Homer on the phone so he can at least FaceTime Violet. Junie is probably sick of my drama at this point. Second time he’s seen me be a mess over my kid.”

  “He would be the same way, trust me,” I smiled sweetly, feeling my fist tighten before watching Violet begin to squirm in Pia’s hold. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? I---.”

  “I don’t want to be a burden, really,” Pia said tiredly, seeing the bags grow heavier under her eyes. “I’m going to keep trying with her dad until I can get him on the phone.”

  “Okay, call me if anything. No matter the time. I mean it. Me, and Junie might hit the road later on tonight for South Carolina so you call me. I’m serious.”

  “I know, no matter the time. I’ll try not to bother you too much, but I really do appreciate it Nevaeh. Really.”

  I closed the door shut, and waited until Junie began to pull out of the parking lot before immediately shushing my husband, and getting my brother on the phone.

  “What’s going on? What happened? We not going to South Carolina?” Junie asked, hopeful.

  “No we’re leaving tonight. We already bought all this food for the weekend. Bags are packed so we’re leaving---.”

  “Hello?” Homer answered, hearing my sister’s laughter in the background. Caroline. There was no way Caroline was already in South Carolina which meant one thing.

  “You’re in Atlanta aren’t you?” I questioned.

  “Been here all week,” he said proudly. “You know I would come and see you sis, but you barely like to come around ya other famil---.”

  “Because you all do stupid shit like putting roots on a damn child! A child!? Homer!? Your own seed!?”

  “What did Pia tell you?” He asked, sounding intrigued. “Did she say---?”

  “I was there! I was with her! I saw it for myself, and my poor daughter was feeling it too! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!”

  “Who is that? Is that Pia?” Caroline could be heard.

  “You’ve been here this whole time with Pia trying to call, and text you! All of you!”

  “Where my keys at? It’s time to go head and get her,” Homer said.

  “You damn right it's time to go get her! Violet is running a fever, going sick over you because you can’t…. UGHH!”

  I hung up the phone, so pissed.

  “We’re not going to South Carolina,” I said suddenly as Junie came to a red light. “I’m not going anymore. I don’t want anything to do with my siblings. They put a root on Pia’s daughter, and I’m certain they got one on Pia as well. If they can do that to their own, ain’t no telling what they’ll do to Mai when they get upset or something doesn’t go their way.”

  “Aight nah,” Junie warned. “I let you take up for yo family all these years… They fuck with my child---.”

  “They won’t. I’m not dealing with them anymore,” dialing another number. I was the first to move to Atlanta to escape my family in South Carolina, and to find peace. Now that they’re all here, it was beginning to suffocate me. Without anyone knowing, Junie and I were closing in on a property in Houston, and hoping to make this move later this year once the house was done being built. He already had a few of his family, and friends move out there in the same neighborhood with Demarco, and his wife being one of them. Could never stay far apart for too long, and I was just counting down the days when I could get away from this city.

  “Hello?” My mama answered tiredly.

  “Hey Mama, did I wake you?”

  “I’m laying in the bed, fell asleep on this lil program. You on yo way with Junie?”

  “We’re not coming. I don’t want anything to do with your other children---.”

  “What happened now?” She sighed.

  “They put a root on Homer’s daughter. I don’t know what, but she’s been acting crazy towards Pia so I can only guess they made it to where Violet forgot her own mother, and only wants Homer. So you know he was behind it.”

  I could see Junie’s mouth drop in shock out of the corner of my eye, but I waited for the verdict. If anybody had a right to be more upset than Pia, it was our mother who went through the very same thing when she got with our daddy.

  “I don
’t believe that Nevaeh, you sure? Homer wouldn’t do nothing like---.”

  “Mama, Mai felt it too. I opened her mouth, and saw the black hairs all tangled up like a web. They got her fixed…

  “What the hell?” Junie squeaked, looking at me. “You said you saw what?”

  “I’m just letting you know, I’m not having my child around that, and thought you should know before anybody else. They sitting there thinking it's fucking funny---.”

  “Watch cha mouth,” she interrupted naturally before sighing. “It’s a cycle trying to repeat itself all over again. They know the mess I went through so why would they even try something like that, and on a baby? Of all people? If you feel you gotta keep Mai away from your family then you do what you think you need to do as a mother. I don’t blame you.”

  She didn’t believe me. She refused to think anything bad about Homer. I just hung up, not even bothering to say bye, and shook my head.

  I can’t wait to get the hell out of Atlanta, and away from my sisters for the last time.

  Homer Skye

  “Leh’ skooo!” I yelled, tossing a duffle bag full of things for my daughter in the back seat. “It’s go time!”

  I looked up at the growing grey sky with evening trying to set in, inhaling the wet air before hearing my sisters rush out of the yellow house.

  “To the Moon Run!” Ominaya yelled excitedly with a fist in the air. Everything was about to begin with Tucker having just pulled up in his truck, sitting in the seat on the phone probably talking business. Michael in the back seat of my own car while Caroline clicked and clacked her heels to the passenger seat.

  “Did Pia say to get her now?” She asked, hair wrapped in a colorful scarf with her nails clicking the roof of my car. “Did she sound distraught? Crazed? Angry? I can’t decide. Trinity thinks she sounds crazy in general. I said she sounds like a whining baby, but what do you think? That root worked a little too well. Maybe Violet already had these deep rooted feelings towards her.”

  “Desperate is what she sounded like,” I laughed before my smile fell flat the moment I turned my head.

  I wanted to feel as ecstatic as I looked, but the truth is. I was nervous. That phone call with Nevaeh fucked my nerves up in the worst way possible to the point where I ended up calling Pia right after to finally talk to her.

  “You’re in Atlanta?” She asked in shock. “Oh my God… Homer look,” sniffing every other minute as Violet cried in the background. “I don’t know… I know we haven’t figured this co-parenting thing out, and as much as I can’t stand you for what you did to my relationship? Violet needs you.”

  It was like music to my ears when she said that. Of course my baby needed me. Why wouldn’t she need me? She’s been waiting on me her whole life. Pia was the only one trying to put a stop to it.

  “If there’s a way you could come get her tonight just so she can sleep, and be calm? I could use the break, and it's obvious she doesn’t want to be around me right now. Maybe she knows I pushed you away or blames me.”

  “Probably,” I said in a low voice, trying to hide my smile as my sisters hovered over the phone with me in the kitchen.

  “I just… I just don’t want to lose her. Your family is so close, and tight knit. It’s always just been me, and her. She’s my best friend, my sister, my child, my partner in crime, she’s my everything, and when she’s gone, I have nothing. I’m afraid to lose her to you, and your family, and she forgets all about me or prefers you over me. It’s childish, but it's the truth. Now I see, she clearly knows what she wants, and who she wants to be with, can’t even stand me touching her.”

  “You want me to take her for the night?”

  “And just drop her off at her school in the morning if you can, please. I can pick her up, and deal with her then or if you’re here for the weekend, we can both pick her up. Maybe it would be good if she saw us both together. Maybe she would know I’m not such a bad mom… or monster.”

  Trinity, and Caroline slapped hands with each other while I quickly silenced them before leaning over the screen.

  “I can come get her now, and drop her off in the morning. Send me yo location, and the address of the school,” I said with a smile.

  Plan was set in motion, but something didn’t sit right with me. Michael was quiet in the back seat next to the car seat while Caroline sat with her legs crossed on her phone texting. One by one like a convoy, we all rode behind one another in multiple cars until they split off onto the interstate going on 20 East while I hopped on 285 to meet Pia at her place.

  Anxiously, I kept looking in the rearview mirror at my brother, seeing his hat pulled low wearing sweats, and a long sleeve shirt with his arms stretched out on the seats.

  “Michael? You good?”

  “Yeah nigga, I told you I was.”

  “You too quiet.”

  “Because what y'all doing is some fuck shit. What else am I pose’ to say?” He snapped. “Can’t believe y'all did that to that girl man.”

  “It’s not like Homer didn’t try to do it the right way,” Caroline interjected. “He tried. He came up here, and followed her rules, and did everything on her time. When that didn’t work? You take matters into your own hands. Besides, she’s going to be easier to deal with after this. Watch. She won’t be apart of our family, but she won’t be as much of an issue. Both can move on easily from this, and just co-parent like normal people. This was just to set the tone of what’s to come.”

  “All it is,” I said in a low voice, but the look in Michael’s eyes scared me. I rubbed my face down, trying to calm my nerves. The moment I get this girl in my car, she was getting on the road with me to South Carolina.

  “Tallulah is riding with Indigo, and Jasmine,” Caroline continued. “If Jasmine is coming… I’m sure that means her boyfriend will be there. Isn’t he Pia’s younger brother? Francesca, and her husband will be there tomorrow as well. Is that not also Pia’s older brother?”

  “Your point?” Michael let out.

  “My point is, Violet will still have family represented on both sides. She won’t be just around us the entire weekend, her other uncles will be there. I wouldn’t worry so much. The most Pia can do is show up, yell, argue and then get with the program. That root I put on her will last a lifetime. She won’t get all emotional on Homer. As long as Violet is happy, she won’t care. That’s the end result.” Caroline looked up through the windshield. “Looks like it's going to storm out here. We need to hurry up before we get caught in it. This weekend is supposed to be crazy in Atlanta with the weather. Lemme call DJ,” pulling her phone out as I turned into a parking lot, and could already spot Pia’s car up ahead. I smiled. Only for a brief moment until I saw her get out.

  “Oh my God, look at her,” Caroline muttered. Pia looked worn down with two circular stains on her shirt where her nipples would have been underneath. Hair was pulled back with her bangs spread, and sticking out in different directions. Her eyes had greyish red circles underneath them, and her pants were soaked like she spilled something. Soon as she pulled out a crying Violet who was fighting against her hold, I could barely give myself enough time to stop the car before I got out.

  “Homer?! Wait a minute!” Caroline yelled. I pulled my sweats up, and immediately reached out for my daughter who clung to me like I was the best thing to ever happen to her. First time I got to hold her since the day I came to her school.

  “Daddy missed you baby,” I said against her face before kissing her hard against the cheek.

  “She hasn’t really eaten much this week. She won’t let me feed or take anything I give her directly,” Pia continued, attempting to rub Violet’s back who squirmed like she didn’t even want to be touched. Pia backed off, and nodded with her eyes welling with tears.

  “Right,” she cracked, digging in the back seat of her car. “I have some of her things.”

  “It’s fine. Pia it’s---.”

  “She loves to read these books,” she continued, trying to ha
nd me multiple things at once to stuff in a bag. “She loves to---.”

  “Pia, I got everything I need for her. If I don’t, I can go to the store or see Nevaeh. I got her,” I assured her. “I’m not taking her away from you for good.”

  “I know,” she sniffed, rubbing her hands down her thighs as she stared at Violet. “She’s so calm now… Look at her. She’s probably going to fall straight to sleep when she gets in the car.”

  A horn suddenly honked from my car causing us both to jump as I looked back, seeing Caroline rolling the driver seat window down.

  “We have to go Homer,” she said before rolling the window back up. Pia, to my surprise jumped at the chance to bend forward to look into my car.

  “I apologize Caroline for how I reacted when I came to your house. I’m still a working progress, and a new mother. I really didn’t mean to offend you if I did.”

  Caroline continued to roll the window up as Pia pulled back.

  “Can you just text me and let me know or call me---.”

  “I will text you to let you know she’s alright. Even send pictures.”

  “Drop her off early before the traffic hits. There’s always this long line to get in her school, and her uniform is in her bag, but they have one at the school as well---.”