Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  I turned to look at her.

  “You told me your father died.”

  “I lied. He’s alive, and well.”

  “And you never took his last name?”

  She shook her head just as we heard a door open in the hallway only to close shut.

  “You said nobody was home,” I accused in a high whisper, hating that she went into her I’m mysterious persona with me.

  “Nobody is home. My mom is out doing whatever, and my brothers are doing whoever. Ben won’t be back for a while. This home doesn’t just belong to us though.”

  Violet began to stir in my arms as I looked down at her face, seeing her eyes barely open. She studied my face with her eyes searching to make sure it was me before snuggling tighter in my hold. She only started to whine when I tried to lay her down, and let her go. So I just ended up laying in the bed with her. Kicking my shoes off, and slipping underneath the covers with Violet while Delilah laid down on the other side, rubbing her stomach. Both of us listening to the sounds of her house making more noise than I felt comfortable with from footsteps to doors closing.

  “I’m sorry,” I told Delilah, looking at her with tired eyes as she rolled hers in her usual dramatic fashion. “I am. You drive me crazy sometimes, but we’ve been at this for far too long.”

  “Don’t talk to me like I’m some man you’re trying to get back in a relationship with. This isn’t that. Real friends go through things, but real friends get over it. Sometimes, space apart is needed to grow together.”

  “So you’re admitting we’re friends? Am I up there with Megan?”

  “Not quite, but you’re third in line I suppose.”

  “Who’s in front of me?” I asked with a laugh.

  “My son, Megan, then you… Ben is somewhere in the top 20 give or take,” she waved off as I laughed. “Husband or not.”

  “Are you going to tell your family you, and him are actually married or is it still a secret?” I asked, laying back on the pillow to look at her as Violet’s light snores began to take over. “That your last name is no longer Skye?”

  “Why are you bothering me Pia?” She asked as I laughed. Delilah's family had no idea about her, I barely had any idea about her.

  “I guess you’ll be the first to know before anybody else… Dre proposed to me on the way over here, and I told him yes.”

  Delilah turned her head on the pillow to look at me with a small smile.

  “If I could just get everything straightened out with Homer to where we could be cordial, my life would be next to perfect. I have a great man. He’s fantastic in bed, amazing to my daughter, and despite our issues? I think Homer is an awesome father,” listing everything in my life like a checkpoint. “Violet loves him, and although this wasn’t ideal to have her in a house like that, with all of that going on? I have no doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

  Delilah slid her head back to look at me with suspicion.

  “What?” I laughed. “I’m still pissed, and don’t know how I’m going to even look him in the face tomorrow without going off again, and finding the nearest chair to toss.”

  “So you’re staying? Hopefully you’ll stay to see the Moon Run. Best part of the weekend.”

  “I’m going home,” I yawned. “So I can be with my soon to be husband.”

  “Hmmm,” she hummed. “Good ol Dre finally popped the question.”

  There was a sudden ray of headlights flash over the room as Delilah slowly sat up. Locs like thick tree branches, and vines hung down her back with gold coils, and string wrapping around each. She got up, and looked out the window for a moment only to sit back down on the bed, and began to text.

  “Who is it?”

  “The boys.”

  The boys always referred to Ben, and Piru. Whether it was her, and I or Francesca, and I. We always referred to the two best friends as the boys. The door opened downstairs, hearing their loud rowdy laughter, and Francesca’s soft tone being the only interruption.

  “Delilah!? Did you hear what happened to Homer!?” She screamed. “Where are you?!”

  “So much for peace,” she sighed.

  “Are we all staying here?” I asked. She nodded, and I made a mental note to book a hotel room next time I decided I wanted to stay for my daughter’s sake. This family was too closely tied to one another. Although Francesca was born from this Skye family, she never found out or knew about it until a few years ago so she was never raised with them. Still, she was an outsider on the inside, and I remember Piru always telling me he never liked coming down here because of the way they spoke about her. He would never tell Frannie who was just excited to see her cousins. She didn’t fit in the way I knew I would never fit in.

  “I'm here!” Delilah yelled.

  “Oh my God!” Francesca laughed. “They’re saying Pia pulled a knife on Homer! Can you believe that?!” Her last footsteps turned the corner into the room as she gasped at the sight of me. “Pia!”

  I quickly silenced her, and pointed to a sleeping tot on my body when she frantically waved for the boys to follow. Thick ponytail pulled back with strands of her hair falling down her face, a large gorgeous rock for a wedding ring, and her usual orange sweater that hung off her shoulder with simple jeans. Francesca was a pretty girl with simple taste. Brought up in a world of money, and class. I knew so many guys wanted to be with her, a few of my cousins on my father’s side always tried to set that up, but Piru staked his claim on her since they were children.

  “Pia?” Ben came in with a laugh as I watched my brother turn the corner with his daughter in his arms. Fresh tattoos on his fingers still bright with a white dress shirt opened up, revealing the designs and artistry underneath. “You really pulled a knife on that nigga?”

  “No I didn’t pull a knife,” I laughed crazily. “Well I did, but not on… Wait, what did you hear?”

  “That you came in there, and pulled a knife on him and that he passed out. I’on know, nobody outside knew what the hell went on, and everybody that saw it wasn’t tryna say.”

  “I hit him with an iron skillet for taking my daughter across state lines, and putting whatever they put on her. Everything makes so much sense now. I’ve been having such a hard time with Violet, and now I know why. His sisters I’m sure are gonna have it out for me for the remainder of my life, especially after what I did to Trinity. No matter how much I try and mind my own business, there was always going to be friction.”

  “Did you bring food?” Delilah asked, sitting up.

  “Downstairs baby,” her husband grinned, taking her hand to help her up from the bed.

  “I was there, I can tell you exactly what happened,” she stated with Francesca eagerly taking her daughter from Piru’s hands and following the two downstairs. Leaving just my brother, and I.

  “Some brothers I have,” I muttered, watching Piru look around the room like he was afraid to touch anything. Stuck up was his natural demeanor but asshole was his true attitude. He slowly crawled onto the bed and laid down next to me, kicking his slides off with a heavy sigh.

  “Yeah, some brothers you have. Poor Pia Mia… Two brothers who appear not to care about her. You’ve always been a complainer, and whiner. You want me to beat his ass? Again, or wait for Percy so we can tag team? I got to deal with you getting caught up with the exact family I have to play nice with because of my wife. Sticking up for you would be upsetting her, no matter how I look at it. I don’t think you give yourself credit for how strong you are, or how you can handle shit by yourself. If you can grow up with a mother like ours, and the way she treats you? You can handle this. Besides, I’ll do what I have to do on my end to ensure he doesn’t pull that same bullshit he did to my niece. So stop whining, and complaining about what I won’t do. I do more for you than you’ll ever realize, always have.”

  I stayed quiet, deciding it was best not to fall into that baiting trap. Instead, I rubbed Violet’s back as her snores grew light, and airy.


  “Like what?” Giving in. I looked beside me to see Piru’s head nodding off against my shoulder before his eyes slowly peeled open. “What do you do for me that I don’t know about?”

  “Percy pays for Violet to go to that school, per semester. I paid the lease on your condo. You honestly think your dad is paying that?”

  “He told me he pays---.”

  “No,” cutting me off. “He comes begging to Percy who then calls me, and we all sit here and try and figure out how to make you stay afloat because you make the least out of everybody. Percy makes the most. Your father blows all his money on bullshit like gambling, and is in more debt than he can handle. His mother thinks he screwed up in life by getting with Mom who in turn had me, the outside child while they were together. Then your situation with Violet happens which closed him off to any help from the Milton side. Nobody wants to touch it or be apart of it, and that is why there is so much pressure on Percy and Jasmine to get married. Mom said it would be a good look, and they could be afforded a fresh start. Freemans don’t have shit to their name but the name itself. They’re all having money problems. All of them which is why I can’t stand to be around them when they fake like their money is endless. Your car you got? Paid by Dad? Those payments are from me. Francesca has her savings, and what she got from her grandmother. We have to tap into that now because whatever I get from my shops, it goes to you or Mom. Any time you call Dad up asking for money, he calls Percy since he knows not to call me with the shit, and Percy will call me.”

  “Why doesn’t anybody ever tell me these things?” I asked. “How can I know what the hell is going---?”

  “Because nobody wants you to know or worry Pia. You’re the only one taking care of a child by yourself. Last thing Mom wants you to worry about is money. Everything rests on Percy marrying Jasmine. I’ll be fine. My family will be okay. Francesca already made it clear if we fall on hard times which I would never let her see that day, but if we did? She has a few contacts where she can get a high paying job. I don’t want her to work outside of doing what she loves, and taking care of my children. That’s it. Once he marries Jasmine? Percy has plans with her father to go into business together. He will set aside an account that we will all contribute to for you, and Mom to pull from.”

  “And Mom knows about all of this? She knows but I don’t?”

  “She didn’t want you to know. After this whole bullshit with Violet’s dad being real, and alive, it was the last thing you needed to hear.”

  “I’ll be stealing from Jasmine basically,” I muttered, feeling my eyes tear up. “You guys never tell me---.”

  “Here we go,” he groaned.

  “No! No!” I sniffed. “I’m not crying, I just don’t like being a burden and especially not know it. I can find another job or---.”

  “Don’t do anything but live. Everything else will be taken care of. We’re not poor, not even broke. We’re just constantly moving money around to adjust.”

  “I can take Violet out of that school, and---.”

  “No. It’s been fine. We can handle it,” he yawned.

  “And Francesca? What is she saying about all of this?”

  He was silent. I looked down to see his eyes were closed like he was falling asleep when really, I know he just didn’t want to say.

  “Piru?”

  “Let’s just say between money going to you, and your life on top of you calling, asking us to watch your daughter this week because you can’t handle her…”

  His words trailed off as I imagined Francesca, and Piru arguing over money. She never told me anything of the sort, and I never got the sense that she didn’t like me.

  “My marriage will be fine Pia. She’s more upset about it being one sided with us doing so much for my family. I have to fake like I enjoy being around her family, and then I find out about Violet being taken, and you hitting him with whatever. I’m not to say a word or cause trouble. I’m meant to let you and Homer figure it out on your own.”

  I could hear footsteps on the stairs with laughter and the smell of food as the three, and a small toddler in Ben’s arms, turned the corner into Delilah’s room with heated plates of food. One look at Francesca, and I saw her as a completely different woman. She eyed Piru with a deadly stare that lasted only for a second.

  “Yall really look like brother and sister right here,” Ben noted with a laugh, but Delilah could read me like her favorite book. She knew something was off, but smiled when she popped a piece of food into her mouth.

  “Pia has some great news to share with us. Just us first before she tells everyone.”

  “What’s up?” Francesca asked as my eyes darted towards Delilah. “What? What is it?”

  Delilah smiled something so devilishly, like the demon woman she was known to be.

  “I’m going to be a Maid of Honor,” she announced as Francesca gasped. Piru leaned back, looking at me with hard eyes while Ben took a second to think about it.

  “Dre proposed,” I said softly, not feeling as happy about it as I was before. “Just happened on my way over here. When I see him Sunday he’s going to officially ask. He already asked me over the phone, and showed me the ring. I said yes.”

  “Where’s he been all this time?” Piru questioned.

  “We took a break. I guess the Homer situation was something he needed to think about before deciding if he would still be with me or not.”

  Piru’s face didn’t look convinced. Ben gently rocked my niece in his arms while glancing awkwardly at Delilah who just stared at me.

  “Oh! Congratulations!” Francesca freaked suddenly. “This is so exciting! First Percy, and Jasmine! Now this! Does Percy know? Your mom?”

  “No, I don’t think so. I should probably call him since we’re all here. Mom isn’t talking to me yet, but I’m sure after she hears I’m getting married, she will. Where’s my phone? I know he’s probably working late---.”

  “Actually?” Francesca let out. “He’ll be on his way to South Carolina tomorrow just in time for the Moon Run. He didn’t want Jasmine to get caught in the bad weather. We barely made it without getting hit with the downpour so he offered to take her, and the rest tomorrow.

  “Great,” Piru muttered, closing his eyes while leaning against my shoulder. “Family affair all around.”

  “Are you going to talk to Homer, and try and work something out with him?” Francesca asked. “You’re about to get married. You don’t want to drag those kind of problems into your marriage.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to talk to him right now or even this weekend,” rubbing my daughter’s backside. “Enjoy Violet being here, we don’t have to speak about what you did right now.”

  …

  The next morning I woke up to laughter from my daughter as I looked around the bright sunny room. Bed was still made with me sleeping on top of the covers, and my dress was still on from yesterday. I grabbed my phone, wiping around my mouth and eyed the missed call from Dre.

  “Mmm,” I grunted, feeling like a mama bear that just woke up as I staggered to the connecting bathroom with my things. Violet was probably downstairs picking on Piru as we speak so I took my time getting myself together. Shower was awfully small for my size with the tub being no bigger than a damn bucket it seems. I managed to get myself together though with some cute basic jeans and ankle boots. A cream colored long sleeve top with my hair thrown in a ponytail, and just a layer of mascara. Little eye makeup never hurt anybody, but I was feeling better today than yesterday. I was in this strange place where the morning was quiet. Almost too quiet. Didn’t hear neighbors above or below, and the loud TV in the morning from a two year old that knows to keep pressing buttons on the remote until something happens.

  I stepped down the wooden steps that felt like a spiral. The paint was chipping, and peeling in some areas while the floorboards occasionally lifted. Nobody has lived in this house for a long time. Aside from family visiting which explains why they still kept power to this place. Del
ilah said she hasn’t touched the stove in years so anything we had to eat, it had to be already cooked, and ready.

  “Getting a freaking hotel next time I come out here,” I muttered, flicking dirt before hearing Violet’s voice just outside on the porch.

  “Daddy I not mean! I don’t like it!” She let out, trying to explain herself. I leaned over the railing, and looked out the screen door to see Homer was sitting on the porch step with Violet standing beside him, trying to talk to him. Red baseball cap with USC in white letters written on the strap, he wore a grey shirt, and jeans as he looked to the side at Violet with a smile.

  No bruise on that side of his face.

  “Violet you are mean,” he said as she shook her head with french braids growing puffy around her edges. She wore a grey hoodie with jeans, and her play sneakers as she placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to explain herself.

  “No Daddy! No! I not mean! I say dis,” laying her hand flat. “And dey mean to me so I not nice to dem!”

  “Not nice is being mean baby girl,” he spoke in a soft tone. I smiled, seeing that same look on his face that I always had when Violet, and I would talk. It was like falling in love with your greatest gift. “Not nice, and mean is the same---.”

  “No,” shaking head her. “It’s not Daddy. I like dis,” putting her hand out as he laughed. “Dats not dis!”

  “Who’s yo bestfriend? Me or Mama?”

  Violet started to open her mouth to go all out with her answer before resting her chin on her finger with a tap like she was thinking. Homer let out the loudest laugh before Violet cheesed, and started laughing. Just for the simple fact that he was laughing.

  “Yo mama mean to me though,” he said in a low voice, leaning in close.

  “No she not,” she grinned. “My mommy not mean Daddy.”