Page 125 of Heavy Is The Crown

Kenyatta caught it, smiling to himself. Musa wasn’t just a pet. He was a statement.

“Daddy!”

Kaliyah’s excited little voice rang from across the way, and seconds later, she came flying over, her braids bouncing, and a beaming smile stretched across her face.

Kenyatta bent slightly as she crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“You made it!” Kaliyah said, looking up at him with the kind of pride that could break and heal a man at the same time.

Krys watched as Kenyatta’s usually stoic expression softened just a little.

“Course I did, baby girl.”

Kaliyah beamed before her big brown eyes flicked over to Krys. She hesitated for only a second before grinning again. “Hi, Miss Krys!”

Krys smiled warmly, kneeling slightly. “Hey, princess. You having fun so far?”

Kaliyah nodded enthusiastically. “All my cousins here, and they got a bouncy house and cotton candy over there.”

Krys gasped playfully. “Not cotton candy.”

Kaliyah giggled. “Yes! I’ve tried the pink and the blue, but not the green yet.”

Krys held up a hand. “Say less. You had the good flavors.”

Kaliyah giggled again, then suddenly turned and took off running back to the cluster of kids by the inflatable slides, her excitement too strong to stay still.

Musa had watched that entire exchange. For the first time since they arrived, his tense posture relaxed slightly. His ears perked, recognizing Kaliyah. In fact, when she turned around mid-sprint and waved at him, he tilted his big head and something soft danced in his eyes.

Krys rubbed him gently, and whispered, “Not yet. We’ll play in just a second.”

He finally laid down beside Krys’ chair; back on watch duty.

“A’ight now, boy, stop stalling. Bring that girl over here to meet ya mama.”

Aunt Joyce, one of the family’s main matriarchs, was waving them over toward the shaded area where the older women sat in their lawn chairs, watching everything unfold like the Black Auntie Coalition they were.

Here we go.

Kenyatta exhaled, stealing a glance at Krys, who of course was completely unbothered. If meeting the mother of a man with a complicated past was something that fazed her, she wasn’t letting it show.

They strolled over, the sun peeking through the oaks above, the scent of barbecue growing thicker in the warm air.

Sitting calmly, legs crossed, one arm draped over the back of her chair was Traci. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t mean-mugging either. Just watching. Studying.

Since that night when Bishop had shown up at the door, Kenyatta and Traci hadn’t spoken much. He had gone by to get a few things, but he made sure she wasn’t present. The only time they really talked was when she was letting him know she had Kaliyah and would be bringing her to Sunday at the Water that day.

Kenyatta already knew how this was about to go. His mama was the type to say a little but mean a lot.

“Mama.” Kenyatta started, keeping his tone even. “This Krys.”

Krys extended a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Traci.”

Traci took her time before shaking Krys’ hand, her grip firm, but not unfriendly.

She gave her a slow once-over before nodding.

“Pretty.” She noted, voice smooth and unreadable.

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