Page 99 of Until the Ink Dries

“Just make sure that little girl has the kind of day tomorrow she’ll remember for all the right reasons,” he added. “Let us worry about Tierra.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Easier said.”

“But not impossible.”

I couldn’t refute what he was saying; if I went in with negative thoughts, I would get negative results.

“I hear you. I know y’all don’t handle restraining orders and shit, but you mind walking me through it real quick. I think I need the police report from that night, too. I just want to cover all my bases because this shit doesn’t seem to be getting any better.” I mentioned.

Wes stood from his desk and walked over to the filing cabinet behind him to pull out a few folders. Returning to his seat, he gestured for me to take a seat in the chair in front of his desk. For the next thirty minutes, he walked me through what I needed to do when I went down to the courthouse.

“I’m going to call up to the courthouse to get that order expedited, but you stay safe. We’re going to get this handled.”

I shook his hand and left to go file the necessary paperwork. Wes had, indeed, called ahead, and I was in and out with the piece of paper that was meant to protect my family. I wasn’t crazy enough to believe this thing would matter, although it should. I wanted to make sure I took all the steps necessary to keep my family safe. I had this bad feeling in my gut that all of this would not end in the way I wanted it to.

By the time I made it back to my parents’ place, it was the afternoon. I had to grab a few last-minute things for the party and mom offered to help me get the candy bags together. I had gotten everything Raya the Dragon that I could possibly find. That was Charlie’s only request when it came to her birthday and to go to the jump park, which was cool with me. I didn’t have the house set up completely yet since I added a few upgrades before moving my furniture in.

I walked through the front door of my parents’ place, announcing myself. I could hear Charlie’s giggles and screams from upstairs, so I knew either my pops or mom was playing with her. When my mom came walking down the stairs, I knew it was the former. She reached out her hand once she got to the bottom step, wanting to help me with the bags. I dodged her attempt and leaned in to kiss her cheek, then headed for the dining room to set up shop.

“I got it.” I told her.

“Boy, you act just like your father. I can lift things, too.”

I placed the bags on the table and then glanced over my shoulder to see a smile on her face. I lifted a brow with a shake of my head.

“I’m sure you can. I actually don’t doubt it. But, not in my presence, you don’t.” I told her playfully.

She rolled her eyes and started going through the bags, pulling things out so we could get started.

“Uh, Benny, where are the toys? You know, the cute small ones.”

I waited a second to respond until she looked in the other bag.

“Nevermind, found it!” she exclaimed.

“Have some faith in your son. I think I got the hang of this thing.”

She nudged my shoulder, then took a seat beside me while I started spreading out the bags. We silently worked on the bags, asking for different things to put in each bag here and there.

“I went by the station today. I had to check on their progress with this Tierra situation. Do you know they still haven’t found her? It’s not shocking to me because she just trashed Shirah’s shop.”

My mother sighed. “Yeah, Lilith told me, and she wasn’t too happy about it at all. I don’t know what kind of drugs that girl has gotten herself into, to be acting like this.”

Shirah’s and my mom were super close, so I wasn’t shocked that she already knew what had taken place.

“I’m tired. You would think she felt she had done enough to us, but no, it’s all about Tierra. She needs to get some help and ASAP.”

My mother nodded and paused what she was doing to look at me.

“This will get better, baby. Just trust that God has a plan that neither of us have the playbook to. I understand it’s easier to say this, than to do it, but enjoy what’s in front of you now. You never know what new set of problems will come in the morning. Show God your gratitude by loving and protecting the things he has already given you. You understand?” she asked.

I nodded as she reached over and pulled me toward her in a motherly fashion, before placing a kiss against my temple like she used to when I was a kid. Man, I loved this woman.

“Now, get back to work. That child of yours seemed to have invited every damn pre-k student in the school to this party.” She commented with a smile.

I couldn’t help but to laugh because little miss popular didn’t miss a damn person to give an invitation to. But that was Charlie and I loved her heart. She didn’t want anyone to feel left out, so I didn’t say a word when she asked me for over one hundred invites. I just prayed all their asses didn’t come.

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