Page 66 of Moros

“What would you call it?”

“Life?” Pasha shrugged. “It’s a little more—well, fast and furious than most but it’s still life, lifing. But it won’t always be this hard.”

“Can you give me a date when life is supposed to start playing fair?”

Pasha chuckled.

“Hate to break it to you, Phi.” She lifted her beer to her red lips. “It doesn’t.”

I grunted.

“You two should come inside.” Khadri called from the back door. “We found something.”

When we were settled in the living room, Tex on the big screen to the side and a picture of an elderly man hugging an elderly woman sat on the screen.

“Who are they?” Pasha asked.

“Um—Shorty, you should sit.” Tex drawled.

I quirked a brow. “This really is a thing now, right?”

Tex winked at me.

I blushed.

“Hey!” Khadri called.

“Cool it, Doom.” Tex smirked. “I’m not after your girl.”

I blushed harder.

“You asked a question, Shorty.” Tex was all business again. “This is Morgana and Theodore Larwick.”

I blinked and exchanged a look with Pasha.

“I’m s-sorry—what?”

“These are your grandparents.” Khadri explained.

“I heard you the first fucking time!” I barked, fighting back the tears. “They’re dead, right? There’s no way they’re alive and didn’t want me.”

“I’m sorry, love.” Tex’s voice was sad. “They’re alive.”

I hung my head as my legs began shaking. Falling backward, Pasha moved quick as lightening to catch me. When Khadri approached her, she eased me into his chest. He carried me to the sofa.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Really?” I managed.

“Look, Ryanne,” Tex said. “I know this is a lot. But there has to be some kind of explanation. They live in Jamaica—and from what I can see, they’ve never been to Canada.”

“Then how did my father get here?” I wanted to know.

“Right.” Khadri whispered, his beard comforting against my forehead. “We’re still finding things out. Now, your grandfather doesn’t seem to have a passport which means even if they wanted to, he couldn’t come into the country.”

“I have to speak with them.” Ryanne told me.

“I know, Shorty.” Khadri eased back to tip my chin up. “We’re going to have to go to them.”

---