Page 13 of Coming Home for Love

“Hey, Mommy.” I kissed her cheek.

“Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

She stirred whatever was in the pot and turned toward me.

I sat down at the kitchen table and laid my head on my arms. My baby came over and laid his head on my lap. I smiled at him and rubbed his curly hair. I didn’t think he was ready for a haircut yet, so I let it grow out.

My mom came over and sat across from me. I looked up when she reached over and rubbed my arm. “Tell me what’s wrong. I felt your energy when you came.”

I peeked at Osiris, and he was all in my mouth with his nosy self.

“Go play with your tablet until it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay.” He didn’t waste any time running out of the kitchen.

I needed him occupied while I talked to my mom.

“So, you know Olivia was supposed to come today?” She nodded. “It wasn’t her that came.”

My mother sat up in her seat. She looked anxious to hear what I had to say next.

“I’m sure I know where this is going.”

“Yup. The father.” I paused for dramatic effect. “I saw him and hauled ass in the other direction.” I sank my body into thecouch. “And Mommy, Little O looks just like him except the elder has waves.”

She laughed, but I didn’t find it funny at all.

After my mom composed herself, she reached across the table and grabbed my hand.

“Wynter, it’s time. I don’t know if or how you’ll see him again, but you have to tell him. He has every right to know, and Osiris needs to meet his father, not just see him in pictures. The only thing you can do is tell the truth and take it from there.”

“You’re right, and I promise you I will.”

She squeezed my hand, then got up to finish cooking. She knew if there was anything left for me to say, I would when I got ready to.

A few days later, little O and I were out doing some shopping at the outlet mall.

I was off from work, so I stayed home for a couple of days, afraid to go outside in case I ran into Osiris, but I was tired of hiding.

He and our son deserved the truth. I just hoped he wouldn’t be too upset and not want to be in little O’s life, but my baby would be okay regardless.

“Mommy, can we get ice cream?”

“Yes, as soon as”

“Hand over the bags, and your purse.”

I couldn’t see the person’s face, and his voice was muffled as if he wore a mask over his mouth.

My heart dropped to my feet, and the only thing I was concerned about was getting my baby and myself home unscathed.

Sweetwater Hills was typically a safe town, so the fact that I was getting robbed in the middle of the day had me terrified, but I couldn’t show it.

“Bitch, I said” He raised his voice and pressed something against my back. The seriousness of his tone made my pulse race. One false move and that could be the end of me and my son’s life. I tasted the saltiness of my tears as they streamed down my face. My stomach bubbled, and I prayed I didn’t have an accident, because I tended to get the nervous shits.

His sentence was cut off when someone punched him.

I wasn’t sure who it was because my back was turned as I tried to block Osiris’s view of what was happening behind me.

---