CHAPTER 22
"Your sisters… like me? Blood related?" she asked.
There was something in her tone.
Not curiosity.
Not even confusion.
It sounded like she was… claiming something. Like she was quietly fighting for a position that hadn't been given yet.
I leaned back slightly, studying her.
"No," I replied calmly. "Not like you… more than you."
A beat.
Then laughter.
The ladies laughed and, almost like they understood without words, excused themselves—one by one—leaving the two of us alone in the living room.
Silence settled between us.
Thick.
Unfamiliar.
"Can I offer you something?" I asked, suddenly unsure of what came next. What do you even say to a sister you just met?
"Black tea," she said immediately. "With raw ginger. No sugar. Piping hot… and please make it tasty."
I blinked.
This girl…
She sat there like she had just placed an order in a five-star restaurant.
How did I get here?
I stood up slowly, still staring at her.
"How do you make sugar-free tea… tasty?" I asked honestly.
She burst out laughing.
"Oh my God, Brandi!" she said, shaking her head. "Did you even go to school? Use honey, baby girl."
The words hit.
Not hard enough to show on my face…
But enough to sit somewhere deep.
I said nothing.
Just turned and made the tea.
When I came back, I placed it in front of her.
She took a slow sip.
Paused.
Then nodded.
Approval.
Like I had passed a test I didn't even sign up for.
We sat there.
Looking at each other.
Trying to figure each other out.
"So…" I started, folding my hands together. "What's your story? Why did you leave Africa for this place?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Why don't you ask me about our father first?" she said. "Shouldn't that be the first thing you ask?"
There it was.
That topic.
The one I always walked around.
I exhaled quietly.
"I don't think he's important," I said. "Well… he might be for you, but not for me. If you don't mind, we can talk about something else."
I kept my tone steady.
Careful.
But she wasn't letting it go.
"Well, we have to talk about him," she insisted. "He's your father, Brandi. He fathered you."
Something snapped.
Not loudly.
But enough.
"No," I said, my voice rising before I could stop it. "By birth, yes. But he never fathered me."
I stood up.
My body was already moving before my mind could catch up.
"He was there when I was still in my mother's womb—maybe. But the moment I came into this world, that excuse of a father walked away!"
She watched me.
Still calm.
Still composed.
And that made it worse.
"He was more of a father to you," I continued. "So that makes him your father… not mine, Violet."
My chest was rising and falling too fast now.
Too much.
Too many years in one breath.
The sound of footsteps.
The ladies rushed back into the living room.
"Is everything okay here?" Lupita asked.
I was pacing now.
Back and forth.
Trying to breathe.
Trying not to lose it completely.
Violet stood up slowly, smoothing her outfit like nothing had happened.
"Everything's fine," she said coolly. "Just that some people don't want to face the truth."
She turned slightly, her eyes locking with mine.
"Which person in their right senses doesn't want to talk about her father?"
That did it.
"You know what?" I snapped. "If it wasn't for your mother, he wouldn't have left mine and run after her!"
The room went still.
"You being here?" I pointed at her. "That's part of the reason he left. He was with you when he was supposed to be with me!"
She didn't even flinch.
Not once.
"How are your mother's shortcomings my problem?" she fired back instantly. "It wasn't—and still isn't—my fault that your mother couldn't keep our father."
Everything went red.
Before I even realized it, I was already moving.
Straight for her.
But Lupita was faster.
Her arms wrapped around me, holding me back.
"Brandi—!"
I struggled.
Fought.
Tried to break free.
"Get the fuck out of my house!" I shouted, my voice tearing through the room.
And then—
The door opened.
Jordan.
Everything froze.
He stood there, small… confused… scared.
His eyes moved from me… to Violet… to Lupita holding me.
He had never seen me like that.
Not like this.
Never.
He ran to me and wrapped his arms around me tightly.
"Mom… what's happening?" he asked, his voice shaky.
And just like that…
Everything inside me dropped.
I softened instantly.
"Go upstairs, darling," I said, forcing my voice to calm down. "Mommy just needs to fix something here."
Kora stepped in gently and led him away.
He kept looking back.
That look…
It stayed.
Violet grabbed her bag without another word and walked out.
The door closed behind her.
"Let go of me," I muttered. "I'm cool."
Lupita hesitated… then released me.
I didn't even stay.
I ran upstairs.
I stopped outside Jordan's door.
Took a breath.
Then opened it slowly.
He was on the bed.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
"May I come in?" I asked softly.
"Sure," he replied.
There was a smile on his face.
But I knew it.
It wasn't real.
I walked in and sat beside him.
"I'm sorry, baby," I said, reaching for his hand and kissing it. "You shouldn't have seen me like that."
His fingers curled slightly into mine.
"Who was that lady?" he asked.
I paused.
This was one of those moments.
The ones where you either lie…
Or trust your child with the truth.
"That was my sister," I said gently. "Your aunt."
He looked at me.
"Just like the ones I stay with?"
I nodded.
He was quiet for a moment.
Thinking.
Processing.
"But you never fight with Aunty Lupita and the others," he said slowly. "Why were you so angry at her? Is she bad?"
That question…
It broke something in me.
"No, my love," I said softly. "She's not bad."
I brushed his hair back gently.
"We just… didn't understand each other. That's all. But it'll be alright. I promise."
I opened my arms slightly.
"Come here."
He leaned into me without hesitation.
Rested his head on my lap.
Like he always did.
Like everything was still safe.
I ran my fingers through his hair slowly.
Carefully.
Like I could undo what he had seen.
Like I could protect him from everything I was.
We didn't go downstairs for dinner.
They brought it up.
Neither of us really ate.
That night…
My phone kept buzzing.
Over and over.
Calls.
Messages.
Probably Violet.
I didn't check.
I just stayed there…
With my son in my arms.
Hoping that for once…
the world would stay quiet.