Page 14 of A Cancer's Embrace
“Mama, what the hell is all this? JaBria is in the living room by herself while you’re in bed and not answering the phone.” He paused, then looked at me. “What is going on?”
“Jabari, I was feeling sick. I called you ten times, and you didn’t answer, so I called Amina.”
I looked over at Gloria, confused on why she was explaining herself.
“Mama, you could’ve called more. You know, eventually, I would’ve answered.”
“I’m sorry, son, but I don’t know if I would’ve been able to keep up with her any longer.”
I couldn’t take it any longer. Jabari had a lot of nerve trying to come in here and scold his mother.
“Are you serious right now? Instead of you coming in and saying thank you or apologizing, you’re in here trying to lecture your ill mother on calling me instead of you?”
“Yo—”
“As she stated, and I’m sure your phone did too, she called you, but you didn’t answer.”
“But—”
I held my hand up and cut him off. “You need to be thanking your mother for calling me because the situation could’ve been worse.” I felt my tears building. “If your restaurant is more important than your family, then you have some reevaluation to do. Some people don’t even have a mom to do things like this for. Don’t take it for granted.”
I looked back at Gloria. “I’m going to head out before I disrespect your house because of your son’s behavior. I’ll call and check on you later. Get some rest.”
I walked out of the room, rolling my eyes at Jabari. JaBria had curled back up on the couch, but this time, she was sleeping. I grabbed my keys and darted out of the house. Jabari had pissed me off. I shouldn’t have used the passing of my mother as rage, but it wasn’t right for him to come at his living mother that way, when I wish I had just one more day to spend with mine.
By the timeI made it home, my anger had turned to sadness. My mood had switched that fast after thinking about how I had acted toward Jabari, but my emotions had gotten the best of me. Instead of saying thank you and apologizing, he pointed the finger at Gloria. I needed to call Gloria and apologize for my behavior, but I wouldn’t apologize for what I said to Jabari. However, before I did that, I needed a glass of wine.
I walked to my kitchen and poured the wine. I reached for my phone, and in the midst of calling, Jabari’s number appeared. I hesitated. He probably was calling to curse me out, but if he thought that, he had another thing coming.
“Hello?” I answered in a voice laced with attitude.
“Amina?”
“Jabari.”
He chuckled. “I see you’re still upset.”
I sucked my teeth. “Of course, I’m upset! You were rude as hell, not to mention you left your sick mother with your sweet but busy child. You didn’t even try to answer your phone when she called. You swear it’s a restaurant, but the way you’re moving, you would think you were working for the mafia or some shit.”
I was fuming, and I couldn’t control my inner thoughts. The calmness in his voice pissed me off.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“Motherfuc—”
“Okay, okay. Let me stop.” He chuckled.
“I don’t find shit funny right now, Jabari.”
“You’re right. I was trying to lighten the mood. I actually called you to apologize, but you threw me off when you picked up the phone with an attitude, then went on to curse me out. I knew I had pissed you off, but I didn’t think to that extreme.”
I removed the phone from my ear and placed it on speakerphone.
“Yes, I’m still mad. That’s your mama, and you don’t act like that to your mama.”
“I know, and my mama explained how my acting that way would be sensitive to you. I didn’t mean to trigger you, and I apologize for that. I also want to apologize for the way I acted and for having you here taking care of my responsibilities. I didn’t realize how much time had gotten away from me.”
I could now tell that Jabari was sincere, and he had taken the time to think about what had transpired.
