Page 13 of Mimosa

“The kids? They’re hellions, of course. Just like we were when we were little. And what’s this, okay? Why aren’t you better than okay?”

They were the closest in age of the six siblings. Their four older brothers were much older, the next one to them being sevenyears older than Nadia. By the time they were old enough to know what was going on, they were already an aunt and uncle.

“I’m okay. Why should I be better? At least I’m not worse.”

“Oh, Ali, my baby brother, you gave up an entire family to live your truth, and you can’t stop trying to find another father to replace the one you lost.”

Okay, so he loved her, but hated that she threw the truth at him all the time. “I didn’t call for a lecture, Nadia.”

“Then why did you call, Boojie?”

His old nickname. Yeah, he should have called anyone else. “To say hello to the person that will sit and talk to me for more than the time it takes to ask me if I’ve changed.”

“Oh, Ma. She can’t change, so I really wonder how she thinks other people will. Boojie, she’s just being loyal to her husband. That is how she was raised, and she fears going against him. But, she does ask about you all the time. She loves you. She just can’t…let Daddy know.”

“That sucks, Nadia. That sucks and you know it. Would you do that to one of your kids?”

“No, but I was raised in America. She wasn’t. She lived thirty seven years in a place that made their women cover from head to toe and walk behind their men. Do you think that’s easily shaken? And why are we on this again? Oh, and I never sit when I’m talking to you. I have three kids, I never sit.”

He finally cracked a smile. “You’re so abused.”

“Like you. How’s Murphy and those kids of his? God, they’re cute.”

He sat up proudly. “They’re even cuter than the last time you saw them. Katie acts like she’s forty, but Little Mick is just fun. I miss my niece and nephews though.”

“They miss you too. Come down next week and see us. Ma and Daddy are in Mexico, so Daddy can purchase some company for cheap. You know Daddy, always up for a good deal.”

“Yeah. I know Daddy. I gotta go, Sis. I love you.”

“Love you. And, Ali, call a little more often, or pick up when I call, huh?”

“I will,” he vowed, but he promised every time he did talk to her and then promptly dismissed it.

A knock came to his door just as he was laying on the bed on his stomach, ready to cry, or at the very least, sulk. Haze popped his head in and yelled, “Hey! Let’s go eat!”

“Where?”

“Pizza!”

There was one thing that could always pull Mims from his sulking. Pizza. “Fine.”

“Hurry up. Hip and Goldie are coming, and they’re already downstairs.”

His room was between Goldie’s and Hippy’s, right in the middle, and he liked that. He felt safe with them sleeping on either side of him.

The rest of his apartment, like their three bedrooms, was on the second floor, along with their mid-century modern style common area with the living room, dining area and kitchen. There was a door to get to the main part of Murphy’s apartment and stairs to get up to the third floor where Absinthe, Cosmo and Haze lived in rooms similar to the second floor.

One big happy family.

Absinthe was in the bar with the cat, Daiq, when Haze and Mims walked through to leave. Mims stopped to pet the cat and asked Absinthe if he wanted to go. “No, I have a date. Goldie’s bringing me half a small cheese pizza.”

“A date. Must be nice.”

“Your guy hasn’t called?”

After shaking his head, he left to the sidewalk out of the doors that were on the corner of the block. Haze grabbed his hand andheld it while he stared at his phone screen. “Should be coming around the corner here in a couple minutes.”

Goldie sauntered over, giving Mims a kiss on the forehead. “Cosmo told us you were hot for someone.”

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