CHAPTER 21
I was almost at Jordan's school when Kora called me.
Her name flashing across my screen made me frown a little. She wasn't the type to call unless it was necessary.
I picked up.
"I already picked your chatterbox from school."
I let out a small breath I didn't even realize I was holding. My grip on the steering wheel loosened just a little.
"Thank you, Kora. I was almost at the school to pick him up," I said, glancing at the road ahead before making a turn. "Anyways, you guys need anything at home?"
There was a slight pause on the other end, like she was shifting the phone from one ear to the other.
"No, we don't. Just quickly come home. We want to have dinner as a family."
That alone told me everything.
We didn't usually eat together—not like that. Everyone had their own schedules, their own moods. But when one of us suggested a family dinner, it wasn't something to ignore.
"Alright," I said, already pressing harder on the accelerator.
I hung up.
The drive back felt shorter than usual.
Or maybe it was just the thought of going home… to something normal. Something that felt like a real family, even if ours was stitched together by chaos, blood, and secrets.
The moment I stepped inside the house, the smell hit me.
Rich.
Warm.
Spiced just right.
It wrapped around me instantly, crawling into my senses and settling in my stomach like it had been waiting for me.
"Damn…" I muttered under my breath, already feeling hungry.
"Hi mama," Jordan's voice came, soft but excited.
My eyes found him immediately.
He was seated at the dining table, head bent slightly over his book, pencil in hand. Marissa sat beside him, calm as ever, guiding him through his homework.
There was something about that sight… something so simple, yet it did something to my chest.
"Hey baby," I said softly.
Indira and Kora were in the kitchen, moving around like a well-practiced duo—pots clanging lightly, low voices blending with the sound of food being stirred.
Lupita was nowhere in sight.
Garden.
Of course.
I went upstairs, changed into something more comfortable, letting the weight of the day slip off my shoulders with each piece of clothing I peeled away.
By the time I stepped outside into the garden, the air felt different.
Cooler.
Quieter.
Lupita was crouched near the soil, hands busy, her attention completely locked into what she was doing.
I walked up beside her, folding my arms.
"So… how'd it go?"
She didn't look up immediately. Typical.
"It went well," I said, answering my own question with a small scoff. "You should've seen her. That girl—she's judgmental and talks way too much. It's like she already knew me." I shook my head. "I even paid for her cake and coffee."
That part still irritated me.
Lupita laughed.
Not loud. Just enough to show she was entertained.
We talked about other things after that—small, meaningless conversations that somehow felt important. The kind that made you forget, even if just for a moment, who you were running from.
I bent down and started helping her clean up the garden.
"So what's the plan here?" I asked, brushing dirt off my hands.
"Thinking of planting blue orchids, roses… maybe marigolds," she said.
I nodded slowly, picturing it.
It would be beautiful.
Peaceful.
Almost too peaceful for people like us.
I glanced at her.
Hesitated.
The question sat at the tip of my tongue, heavy, awkward… but it slipped out anyway.
"Hey… have you ever thought of getting married?"
She froze.
Not dramatically. Just… still.
Then she looked at me like I had just said something completely out of pocket.
Something forbidden.
Something stupid.
She didn't answer.
Just went back to what she was doing like I hadn't spoken.
I frowned.
"I asked you something."
"I heard you the first time, Brandi," she replied, dry.
"So why didn't you answer then?"
She sighed, finally looking at me properly.
"Because I don't want to," she said simply. "Look, I'm different from you people. I don't want to have anything to do with men."
That caught me off guard.
Completely.
I blinked at her, trying to process it.
Different?
What did she mean—different?
Then it clicked.
Slowly.
And when it did…
"Wait…" I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Are you gay?"
She looked at me like I had just embarrassed her on purpose.
"Gay is used for a man, you fool," she corrected, shaking her head. "I'm not a lesbian… but I like women."
I stared at her for a second.
Then smiled.
Then stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
"So you are a lesbian!"
She groaned.
I laughed.
We were still halfway through laughing, her trying to push me off while I held onto her tighter, when a voice called out from inside the house.
"Dinner's ready!"
Perfect timing.
As always.
We all sat down at the table, the plates laid out neatly, steam still rising from the food.
For a moment… it felt normal.
Jordan bowed his head, his small hands pressed together.
"Thank you for this food…" he began, his voice soft but steady.
I watched him as he prayed, really watched him.
The way his lashes rested against his cheeks… the way his lips moved with innocence. It did something to me every time. A quiet kind of ache. The kind that made me wish—just for a second—that life had been different for him.
"Amen."
"Amen," we echoed.
We were midway through eating when Jordan's eyes locked onto the bowl of mashed potatoes like it had personally called his name.
Without hesitation, he reached for it.
"I cooked that, Jordan… beware, it might choke you," Kora said casually.
We all burst out laughing.
But not Jordan.
Oh no.
He didn't even flinch.
He scooped a generous amount onto his plate like his life depended on it, completely ignoring her.
He passed the bowl to Lupita.
Lupita paused, looked at the food… then at Kora.
"Just to confirm, I'll taste it," she said, picking up her fork. "Because I know you can never cook this good. This food looks nice, but your presentation is so horrible that even mice would avoid your food."
That did it.
I choked on my food, coughing as laughter forced its way out of me.
Jordan grinned, clearly entertained.
Kora rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile threatening to betray her.
The food was actually good—really good.
But Jordan?
Jordan just didn't believe in peace when it came to Kora.
By the time we got to dessert, the mood had settled into something warm. Comfortable.
Jordan suddenly got up without saying a word.
We all watched him disappear upstairs.
"What is he up to now?" Indira muttered.
Moments later, he came back down, holding a letter.
My stomach tightened instantly.
He walked straight to me and handed it over.
"For you, mama."
I wiped my hands slowly before taking it from him.
I don't know why… but something about the weight of that paper felt heavy.
I opened it.
Next week Wednesday at 13:00, parents of the above-mentioned student are required to attend a parents' meeting. It would be appreciated if both parents attend.
My face dropped before I could stop it.
I didn't even realize I had stopped breathing until my chest started to hurt.
Both parents.
Both.
I passed the letter to Indira.
She read it.
Then passed it to Lupita.
Then Marissa.
Then Kora.
The silence that followed was loud.
Too loud.
I could feel Jordan's eyes on me.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Hoping.
But my mouth…
My mouth refused to move.
What was I supposed to say?
Where was I supposed to get a father from?
Kora nodded at me.
A small nod.
But I understood it.
I got you.
She stood up and walked over to Jordan, gently taking his hand.
"How about I attend your meeting?"
Jordan's face lit up instantly.
Like someone had switched on a light inside him.
But just as quickly… it dimmed.
"But you don't have a husband, right?"
That question…
It hung in the air.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
I glanced at Kora, trying to read her face.
Nothing.
Completely unreadable.
"Who knows?" she said lightly. "Maybe I might."
That was enough.
That was everything.
Jordan slowly raised his pinky finger.
She looked at it… then hooked hers with his.
A promise.
Simple.
Childish.
Powerful.
Satisfied, Jordan yawned and headed upstairs.
We listened to his footsteps fade until his door clicked shut.
And just like that…
All eyes turned to Kora.
She noticed immediately.
"What?" she asked.
Silence.
Thick.
Intentional.
She sighed.
"Oh, I'm not telling anyone anything, ladies. Uh-uh… not now."
We groaned.
But we knew better than to push.
Kora only spoke when she wanted to.
We turned our attention back to the TV.
Power was playing.
The room dim, the glow from the screen flickering across our faces.
For a while… we just existed.
No running.
No hiding.
Just… being.
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Violet.
I frowned.
What does she want now?
I picked up.
"Violet."
"Yes, it's me," she said quickly. "Look, I was wondering if I could visit you tomorrow. I mean… we didn't really talk about anything earlier today so I thought that—"
I almost laughed.
"Of course. You can come by anytime."
"Cool. I'll see you tomorrow then. And please do cook something for me. Goodnight."
Click.
I stared at the phone.
She didn't even let me respond.
Typical.
"I guess she's coming tomorrow," I announced.
The room instantly shifted.
Excitement.
Curiosity.
Marissa leaned closer to me, her eyes glinting.
"Since Brandi is a sniper and good with knives… I wonder what our Violet is good at."
I scoffed.
"If she knows anything that's not clean, I'm telling you—I'll be damned."
"Let's not assume," Lupita cut in calmly. "We'll see tomorrow."
That was the end of that.
An hour later, we were all drained.
We went to bed.
The next morning, after dropping Jordan at school, I was barely back when Violet arrived.
Right on time.
Of course.
The first thing I noticed?
Her outfit.
White.
Head to toe.
I felt irritation crawl up my spine immediately.
I hated white.
Not dislike.
Hate.
With a whole kilogram of passion.
She stepped inside like she owned the place, removing her glasses slowly, her eyes scanning everything.
"Not bad," she judged.
Then—
"Brandi… Brandi!"
I frowned.
Did she not see everyone else?
I stepped in from the garden just as she spotted me.
Her face lit up.
She hurried over and wrapped her arms around me.
I stiffened for half a second… then hugged her back.
This was still new.
Still… strange.
She pulled away and then noticed the others.
Or pretended to.
She waved casually.
"My name is Violet Knowles," she said proudly. "Brandi's younger sister."
There was something about the way she said it…
Like a title.
Like a crown she had just placed on her own head.
Self-made royalty.
We all sat down.
I gestured towards the others.
"These are my sisters—Indira, Lupita, Marissa… and Kora."
One by one, she looked at them.
Observing.
Measuring.
Judging.