Page 53 of Widow Mayker

That was weeks ago, and I was still caught up replaying Lewis’s voicemails.

Despite being nearly sold into trafficking by my own parents, I still had a zest for love that I couldn’t quite understand. Then again, after Antonias, Adir, and the crew rescued me, I’d been surrounded by nothing but love. Even while trapped in an attic, scared for my life, I recalled how I used to think that I was just a princess waiting to be rescued by her true love. I dreamed of it nearly every night. I prayed and hoped for rescuing daily. When my rescuers finally came, they happened to be a few men who could easily be my superheroes.

So, in essence, I had sort of a fairytale story. I was the damsel rescued by knights in all black and shiesties, carrying big ass guns.

I wasn’t a damsel in destress anymore. It was years later; I didn’t miss the people who nearly ruined me, and I was thriving as a student, working towards an engineering degree. . My life was perfect.

“Shyah!”

Startled, I glanced at my office door to find Maja standing there, eyeing me curiously.

“I’ve been standing here for a couple of minutes,” she stated. “Everything okay?”

Nodding, I started shifting my books and papers around on my desk to quelch the fact that Maja caught me daydreaming about a man who wasn’t my man. Lewis was a stranger.

Although I didn’t work at Dr. Bell & Associates, I used one of the offices as my own office. Here, I could bring all my books, folders, study guides, presentation posters and props, and situate them around the office. Being here gave me some time away from the farm, closer access to campus, and I was close to Maja and Heir.

“Boo, it’s your birthday. School can wait. Close those books and come on. We have a few stops to make before tonight.”

“Alright, I’ll be right there,” I told her. Maja softly closed my door, and I took that time to take a deep breath and blow it out. Laughing at myself, I tidied up my desk and prepared to leave the office.

Minutes later, Antonias strolled into my office.

“What’s on ya mind?” he questioned.

Confused, I answered, “Nothing.”

“My baby just left out of here and said you were in a daze. You sure you good?”

In the years since I’d been with Antonias, my brother’s hair had grown longer. He even had a few silver pieces tucked between his thick, curly locs. The older he got, the more he looked like the man who fathered us. Antonias was nothing like that man, though. Being at the farm, being raised by him and Bianca, I was exposed to a world that I could only dream of.

I shouldered my bookbag and purse, then chuckled at the look on Antonias’ face.

“You and Bianca are so cute. Trust me, if there was something wrong, you’d be the first to know.” I walked into his arms and hugged him. “I’m twenty-seven today. Don’t you think it’s time to release the reigns?”

He snorted. “Hell naw!”

I cackled and smacked his chest. “Come on, bro. What’s going to happen when a man comes along and sweeps me off my feet?”

He winced. “I’ma break his fuckin’ broom in half and burn all the straw off that muhfucka.”

Throwing back my head, I laughed. “That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“Nope. That nigga better know how to fight fuckin’ wit’ me.”

I smacked my teeth and hugged my brother tighter. Meeting him was the happiest moment in my life. Every day he proved to me that he loved me. Every day I thanked God that he saved me.

***

“Today, I had the craziest thought. I thought about changing my profile picture to one of me and you. Of course, I gotta swoop that shit up to look natural. I don’t need anybody thinkin’ that shit is fake. Then again, I thought better of it. Actin’ a fool is gon’ scare you away.”

“You know what kind of day I had, baby? Had to put a nigga on his back for talkin’ slick. Almost put a bullet in another nigga and forgot to renew my license plate sticker. It was a fucked-up day, baby. All I need is to talk to you. I know you can get me right.”

“Hey, baby. I ate pancakes and bacon for breakfast, tacos for lunch, and I’m about to have a salad for dinner. Wish you were here to have dinner with me.”

My phone rang, startling me. I was sitting here getting my toes done while thinking about another round of Lewis’s crazy ass voicemails, and here he was, calling me again. My stomach went into overdrive. My eyes darted to Maja and Heir, who were across the nail salon getting their nails done. They were in their own world. I thought to ignore Lewis again, but something tricked me into pressing TALK.

“You ever think how weird it is to continue to call someone who never answers your calls?”