Page 73 of A Kingpin's Weakness
I needed answers. I needed him. But more than anything, I needed to know if what we had was real or if I was just another soft spot in a hard man’s world.
“Hey, I thought you’d never come downstairs,” Ms. Serena said the moment I walked into the kitchen.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, tucking a loose curl behind my ear. “Wasn’t sure if y’all were up.”
“Breakfast?” she asked with that warm smile, already setting a plate in front of me before I could answer.
“Thank you.” I sat down at the island, my stomach flipping with more nerves than hunger. “Have you heard from Seth?”
“Not yet, but he’s okay.”
“You’re not worried?”
Ms. Serena paused, her hands still for a moment. Then she turned and leaned on the counter.
“No, baby. I know my God will bring my son home to me.”
She took a breath before continuing. “When Seth’s father got shot, I knew something had happened before anyone told me.”
I looked up from my plate. “How?”
“My heart… it just got sad. Outta nowhere. I was in the kitchen makin’ dinner, his favorite. Roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and cornbread. Everything smelled perfect. The house was clean. Seth Sr. had just helped little Seth with homework before heading out. Told me he’d only be gone two hours, tops. Promised he was comin’ right back.” She stared off like she was back in that moment.
“But as I stood there, somethin’ in me dropped. I had to sit down. Catch my breath. Like my soul knew and not long after, there was a knock at the door.”
“The police?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
She nodded, her eyes glossing over but her smile was soft. “They came to tell me he was gone.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, heart squeezing tight for her and for Seth.
“Don’t be. He’s in a better place. Yes, I wanted more time with him, but God needed him more.”
I gave her a small smile, trying to hold back the tears stinging my own eyes. I pushed at my eggs, trying to clear my head, but it felt heavy.
“After you eat, come out to the garden with S3 and me,” Ms. Serena said, gently. “It’ll help keep your mind from going in circles.” Then she slipped out the back door. I stared at my phone again.
Are you okay?
I hit send. Again. Still no answer. I wanted to call. God, I wanted to call. But I didn’t. Instead, I forced myself to finish my food, rinsed my plate, and followed the sound of S3’s giggles into the yard.
“Stormi!” he shouted, running toward me with little legs and big arms. He hugged me tight, his smile too sweet for all this darkness around us.
“You stayed the night?” he asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.
I glanced at Ms. Serena. She just smiled and went back to tending her plants.
“…Yes.”
“Where?” S3 blinked, like he was really tryna figure it out.
“Where did I stay?”
“Yeah. Where did you sleep?”
I laughed, caught off guard. “Uhh… let’s go see what Grandma’s doing.”
As I kneeled next to her, she leaned in with a whisper.
