Page 109 of Tainted

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me, but I’ve been waiting since I called you.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? Make them tell you.” I cut myself off, looking for the nearest nurses station, but Kenyon grabbed my forearm.

“I need to know what’s going on! I won’t sit here and wait while she’s back there alone or with God knows who!”

My palms rested on my forehead while I gripped my hair to manage my frustration. Kenyon didn’t say anything. He just held on to my waist until I collapsed into him.

“I can’t lose her, Kenyon.”

He stood firm as my safety net, allowing me the space to be whatever I was.

“You’re going to pop a vessel in this big ass forehead if you don’t stop crying,” Kenyon’s jokes usually irritated me, but tonight, it was welcomed as he lifted my chin and kissed me. “Sit with Brandy, and I’ll go figure it out.”

She patted the empty seat next to her with a forced smile, but the sudden shift in her demeanor made me turn around. Misa had always been Nana’s twin. Despite not seeing her in a long time, that hadn’t changed.

Brandy walked around me, paused short of Misa, and asked, “What are you doing here? Who called you?”

“This isn’t the time or place!” Misa spoke in a hushed tone.

“Then when? It’s not like I’m invited over for dinner. You got a new husband and kids and forgot about the one you already had.” Brandy’s neck rolled with a sass that made Kenyon and I both share a look.

“I didn’t come here for this! If you were doing such a great job, the hospital wouldn’t have called me,” Misa defended, finally realizing I was standing there. “Zara? Where’s Shana?”

“She’s not here. It’s just me,” I replied.

“Figures,” she chuckled in a tone reserved for two enemies instead of sisters.

“What the fuck does that mean? I’ve been here for months, and this is my first time seeing you.”

Shana had many faults, but none would make her forget Nana existed while she lived in the same city.

“And wasn’t around much before that either,” Brandy murmured, but Misa heard her, and so did I.

“Well right now I’m here and Shana’s not.”

“Watch your mouth! If she could be here, she would’ve been by Nana’s side doing whatever needed to be done.”

I didn’t even feel my feet moving, but Kenyon held on to my elbow, pulling me back.

“Shoulda, woulda, could have’s don’t matter. Shana’s not here now and hasn’t been for a long time. Who had to pick up the slack when she got herself in trouble?”

“Nana picked up the slack raising your child! You’re not so fuckin’ perfect,” I yelled.

Misa stepped forward, looking at Kenyon, “Like mother like daughter, I guess her type rubbed off on you.”

Kenyon reached for me, but I was too quick closing the gap between us, "Say something else and I will drag you up and down this motherfuckin’ hallway!”

Before I could get a hand on Misa, he pulled me back.

“Let me go!” I yelled, but Kenyon didn’t budge. He just kept holding me in place even though I thrashed against him.

“Out of respect for my mother, I won’t have you thrown out. . .yet. So I suggest you calm down. She’s okay for now, and I know she wants to see you both. They think it might’ve been another stroke, but they’re running tests,” Misa shared.

I stopped struggling, my breath coming in hard, angry bursts. I glared at Misa over Kenyon’s shoulder, smirking like she had won.

“I need to see her,” I started toward the double doors when the man she walked in with interjected.

“Let the doctors do their job first.” The older man said, causing my face to scrunch.

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