Page 160 of Taeja

Miss Charm hissed her teeth as they started walking toward the living room. “Yaa visit me fi mi tell yu anything? Not even a phone call. You see how children ungrateful? I will pray to Christ that when Liyah and Mason have—”

“Whoa, Miss Charm! No badda wid it, please. We’re not ready yet,” Liyah rushed out.

Miss Charm’s brows pulled together. She handed a container of pudding to Mason while saying, “Not ready? But I dream see fish last night, and you’re glowing like you have one in the oven.”

Liyah gasped, and Mason cleared his throat.

“Nuh listen to Miss Charm, Liyah. Yu know seh she love wish pregnancy pon people.” She grabbed Mason and Liyah by the arm, dragging them toward the door. “Bye, Miss Charm! I love you!”

“I love you too, my child,” said Miss Charm. “But I know unu not leavingwithout doing what I taught you to do.”

Mason groaned. “I can’t believe you still want us do this—”

“Hush up, boy. Stand before the mirror.”

Mason stood before the mirror on the wall beside the door. He said to his reflection, “I am handsome. I am enough. I deserve all the good this world has to offer. I will achieve my goals and strive every day to become a better me.”

Miss Charm smiled and clapped her hands. “Now was that so hard? Come, Aaliyah.” Miss Charm pointed at the mirror and smiled after Liyah did the same. “Come, my child.”

Taeja stood before the mirror. Looking at her reflection, she repeated the words Miss Charm made her recite since learning she’d been bouncing around sitters after Teddy no longer wanted to watch after her and suggested Jerry give her up for adoption: “I am beautiful. I am enough. I deserve all the good this world has to offer. I will achieve my goals and strive every day to become a better me.”

“Amen.” Miss Charm hugged Taeja. “Take care and let me know how it goes.”

“I will.”

“Okay. Unu drive safe,” Miss Charm said, waving at them as they exited the house.

Now in the car, Liyah said, “Mason, we need to stop at a pharmacy because if yu breed mi—”

Mason paused putting on his seatbelt to glare at Liyah. “I know you’re not going to say what I’m thinking.”

“Just find a pharmacy and get me out of here. My head’s starting to hurt.” Liyah leaned her head against the door, closing her eyes while her brows furrowed.

That night, Taeja wasin bed with Liyah. She sighed into Liyah’s ear, hugging her tighter. “Liyah, I’m going to see my mom.”

“You’re drunk, Tae,” Liyah replied, laughing at something on her phone.

“I’m not drunk anymore, just a little tipsy. I’m thinking straight.”

Liyah sighed, turning to face Taeja. “When you told me you contacted her, I didn’t know that you’d do this.”

“Am I being stupid?”

Liyah shook her head. “The only thing stupid right now is those tests sitting in the bathroom.”

“It’s been a while now. Should we go look at them?” Taeja asked. “I’ll be your baby daddy if you’re scared of what Mason will say.”

“I’m not scared because he’ll be happy. But I’m not ready for this—”

“What did you think would happen if you always have unprotected sex and you’re not on birth control?”

“Don’t go there. You know it gives me headaches and makes me vomit.”

“I’m just saying…”

Liyah sighed. “I know, but I’m not ready for a kid. I’m in debt and I can barely take care of all my expenses. How am I gonna manage a kid?” she asked, her voice cracking. “I’m tired of doing it all on my own.”

“You need to get rid of the mentality that you don’t need help, Liyah.”

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