Page 23 of Until Nalia
“Yes, Megan and I saw the whole thing happen.”
“Do you know Jacob’s last name?” I ask as Coop comes into the kitchen.
“Stevens.” My jaw gets hard. I don’t know a Jacob Stevens, but I do know a Willie Stevens. He’s my age, maybe a couple years older. His wife is known for causing issues around town, not to mention they are both racist fucks who have no issue using the N word or telling people who don’t look like them to go back to their country.
“Matthew Stevens pushed her?” Coop asks, and I look at my son when his eyes come to me. “He’s the kid in my class who is always picking on her. He picks on everyone.” He frowns, looking at his sister. “Was it Matthew?”
“I don’t know who the kid was,” Billie tells him.
“I’ll talk to Nalia and have her ask Zuri who the boy was,” I say, and leave out that I’m also going to tell her that she needs to file charges against the kid who shoved her. There is a difference between shit happening between kids and someone accidentally getting hurt in the process, and someone intentionally setting out to harm someone else. And I might be old school, but that shit is absolutely unacceptable when it comes to a boy putting his hands on a girl, and I don’t care what age they are. And from what Billie told me, what that kid did was intentional.
“But Zuri’s okay, right?” Coop asks.
“Yeah, bud, she’s alright,” I assure him. “And I’m sure you can call her later to check on her yourself.”
“Okay,” he agrees.
“Now.” I look between him and his sister. “The three of us need to have a talk.” When I was able to check my phone after I left Nalia’s house, I found a long ass text from Kristy telling me that I need to insist the kids spend time with her, like it was somehow my fault that they have been avoiding her. When I read that message, I wanted to tell her to fuck off but starting a fight with my ex won’t do anyone any good. I know at the end of the day the kids need their mom, and I’ll always do what I can to make sure they have a relationship with her.
“Oh great.” Billie groans, and Coop grins at his sister’s dramatics.
“You know I have no issue with you being home with me, but you both need to spend some time with your mom; she misses the two of you.”
“She has Aaron and…”
“Yeah, but you’re her kids,” I cut Billie off before she can continue. “And I understand that it’s a little awkward at her house right now, but maybe you can see if she wants to get dinner or go to a movie.”
“But she’ll bring Aaron with her.”
“Maybe,” I agree, ignoring her glare, then ask. “You two know she loves him, right?”
“Yes,” Billie snaps while Coop presses his lips together.
“And you know she loves you both, right?”
“Yes,” Billie snaps again, and Coop nods.
“Then don’t you think so it would be pretty unfair of you to try to get her to choose between you guys.” I ask then continue softly watching Billie’s bottom lip quiver. “Though I think we all know that she would choose you two, it’s just up to you guys if you’re going to make her do that.”
“Fine,” Billie whispers with tears filling her eyes. “But I’m not staying at their house.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart.”
“Good.” She swipes the tears from her cheeks, and I look at Coop.
“Bud?”
“Okay, Dad,” he agrees.
“Come here.” I hold my arms open while looking at Billie and she slides off her stool and comes around the island to me. As she falls against me I wrap her in a tight hug and kiss the top of her head.
“Oh, we’re group hugging.” I smile when Coop comes over and wraps his arms around us. “I love you both.” I lean back to look at the two of them. “You know that?” When they both nod, I tip my head towards the entryway for the kitchen. “Good, now maybe give your mom a call and try to make plans for tomorrow.”
“Fine,” Billie mutters and looks at Coop. “Come on.”
With his shoulders slumped, he leaves the kitchen with his sister, and I pick up my cell.
I type out a message to Kristy letting her know I spoke with the kids and that they will be calling. After pressing send, I pull up my message string between Nalia and me and tell her to call me when she has a minute, and a second later, my cell rings.
