Coming Back

*CHRIS*

For weeks I’ve been working to escape my own thoughts of Jamira. She really thinks I’m going to just lay down and accept the fact that she wants to leave? She has life all fucked up.

The last time we spoke I made sure to let her know this wasn’t over. I intend to show her exactly what I mean.

I’d been riding past her school looking for her for a week just to finally call and find out she doesn’t even work there anymore. That made my mission to find her harder, but not impossible.

The following week I rode around and when I went to get some gas, I just so happened to catch her bald-headed ass friend Ayana. I made sure she didn’t notice me by sliding a little down in my seat when she exited the car.

She was with a medium-built, medium-brown man with dreads and just a few inches taller than her.

I wanted to throw my shoe at the back of her head.

It took all of ten minutes for them to come out and get in the car. I waited another five minutes before I left. I made sure to stay no more than two cars behind them. They went a few places and by the end I was damn near spent until they finally pulled up to her house.

She kissed the dude and he left. What a bum. He couldn’t take her in his car? What kind of man hops in the woman’s car to ride around town like that?

I know I didn’t know that man or his situation to be judging him, but I didn’t give a damn. I watched her go inside the house as I wrote a note in my phone that only contained her address.

I got out of the car and walked towards the house.

My phone then rang throwing me off. I pulled my phone out and looked at the screen. Mom flashed across.

Shit! She got lucky this time. I answered the phone as I walked away from the house.

“Hello?”

“Hey sweetheart, how are you? I was thinking about you and I just knew I had to call.”

“I’m good, ma.”

“Well I haven’t seen or heard from you. When are you coming over?”

I took a deep breath.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to check and see if my schedule would allow it.”

There was a long silence. I’d finally made back to my car and slammed the door as I got in.

“Well, what are you doing now?”

“I… uhh…—“

“Chris, come on over now… we want to see you.”

She wanted to see me. I work with my father. Whatever he wanted to say, he could’ve done that there.

“OK, Mom.”

I started the car and headed to my parents’ house.

Although upset she had called, I still couldn’t tell her no.

I’d just have to come back to this later.

I drove forty-five minutes away onto an old, cracked road lined with trees and streetlights every three houses. The homes were older and made entirely of brick. It felt lonely since most of the neighborhood either moved or passed away a long time ago.

My parents and six other families were the only ones still occupying the neighborhood.

I pulled into the driveway just to find out my dad wasn’t even there. The lengths she goes to get me to stop by.

I walked in the door, and it immediately smelled like my childhood. Smothered pork chops, collard greens, sweet carrots, and cornbread.

I didn’t realize how much I missed home-cooked meals until this moment. As long as Jamira was living with me, I never missed out on one. My face got hot again at the thought.

I hugged my mom and kissed her cheek before I sat down at the table.

She was fixing plates and smiling as she usually does.

“Where’s Dad?”

“He said he’d be late coming home tonight.”

That was strange. My dad had never been late to anything. Especially when food is involved.

“Did he say why?”

“Something about helping a friend.”

“At nine o’clock at night?”

“Chris… please eat.”

I took a bite of the pork chop and instantly transported back to twelve when everything my mom made tasted like a trip down to the candy store.

My mom smiled widely as she watched my face when I ate.

“How have you been since being discharged?”

“You know I have my days. Sometimes my head hurts where I was hit.”

“You look like you haven’t been sleeping.”

“It’s hard to sleep these days.”

“I’m really sorry that happened to you. I worry about you a lot.”

“I know.”

“How’s Jamira? Have you guys fixed whatever issue between you two?”

“Mom you know we’re not together.”

“I’m sure it’s just a phase. You two have been through so much.”

“Yeah, well history doesn’t erase bad decisions.”

“Excuse me?”

Suddenly the door opened and my dad was in the doorway.

“Cheryl, I know I told you to lock this door.”

“I was too busy cooking and forgot.”

He shook his head. He then started looking around the house.

“Where’s that pipe you told me about?”

“There is no pipe. Sit and eat dinner with us.”

My dad sighed deep while holding the bridge of his nose.

“Cheryl you can’t keep doing this.”

For a few seconds I looked at them both waiting for someone to explain what the hell was going on.

“Deon…please just eat.

He hesitated. For a while.

I didn’t like the way he looked as if he was caught between a life and death situation. It had me looking down at my plate like she’d done something to the food.

That’s crazy she wouldn’t do that. Would she? Why was he so weird about dinner?

He finally made a plate and sat down.

He enjoyed the food as much as I did.

“This some good eatin’.”

“Dante’s favorite.”

My dad and I both shared a look.

“So Chris, where’s that girl of yours?”

“We’re not together.”

“Why not?”

“Mistakes were made.”

“I’m not gonna get all in your business, but when you have a good girl you do everything you can to keep ‘em.”

I nodded.

We finished eating dinner and I decided to clean up afterwards.

I walked into the living room. We all watched tv until around 10:30 when my dad decided to leave.

He hugged me.

“It’s good eating with you again. Alright Cheryl, I’m gone.”

I stood there confused. Then my mom reached for my father with desperation in her voice.

“No Deon, don’t go. The kids need you.”

My dad tensed as he stood there and stared at her. It was as if she suddenly realized what she said and covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks.

I froze.

My dad went to lift her to her feet and take her upstairs.

What the hell was that?