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939 Words
“Hush little baby, don’t say a word ... Grandma’s gonna buy you a mockingbird ... If that mockingbird don’t sing ... Grandma’s gonna buy you a diamond ring …,” Rebecca sang to Meralei as she cradled her in her arms.
When Kat woke up, she followed the sound of her mothers’ voice to her daughters’ room.
“Mother, what are you doing up so early?” Kat asked.
“There’s a little thing called work, doll. Keeps me on my toes.”
“I know that all too well. Here,” she said reaching for her daughter. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Do what? I love spending time with my grandchild. Get out of here! You probably need rest anyway. Taking care of a baby is a full-time job.”
Pulling her arms back and placing her hands on her hips, Kat said, “I know this.”
Rebecca laughed and shook her head. “You still concentrated on moving?”
“Very much so. I just want to get out of here.”
“But, darling, why? I thought you loved Australia.”
“I do love Australia, mother, but I want to start over. I miss Jupitervale. You’re not going to try to talk me out of this again, are you? Do you not want me to live with you or something?”
“Kataleena, that’s not it. I have no problem with you and Meralei staying with me. I just … I want you to think about what you’re doing … think it through thoroughly instead of acting so … hastily. You’ve lived here since you were thirteen. I just don’t want you to let Claudio run you out of your home.”
“Mother, my home is Jupitervale. Claudio is not runnin me out of anywhere. I’m doin what’s best for my daughter. And not to open old wounds but I had no choice in coming to Australia. We moved here because you wanted to.”
Overhearing the two talking, Kat’s roommate, Jill, walked in to join in on the conversation.
“So now you’re gonna do the same thing to Meralei?” Jill chimed in. “Move her around and not let her have a choice?”
“A choice? Jill, Meralei is two years old. There’s a big difference between two and thirteen. Don’t compare the two.”
“So, you’re just gonna take her away from her father? I mean, she’s his daughter too!”
“Excuse me,” Kat defended as her voice got louder. “Providing the other half of the equipment to create a child does not make a father.”
“Actually, it does.”
“No, it doesn’t. It makes you a sperm donor. Being there for your child … loving it … supporting it … that makes you a father. I haven’t seen him around in the past two years. Have you? Ain’t seen no checks in the mail ... not a diaper of support ... no phone calls sayin ‘Hey! Just checkin to see if y’all are still breathin’ ...”
“Shh … you’ll wake the baby,” Rebecca warned with a whisper.
But it was too late. Meralei’s eyes had already peeked open and she started to cry. Kat took her from Rebecca’s arms and rocked her until she went back to sleep while Rebecca and Jill walked into the livingroom. Kat soon joined them.
“See that?” Kat pointed to the room when she placed Meralei. “I handle that. I take care of Meralei ... so know what you’re talkin’ about before you start runnin’ your mouth!”
“What is your problem?”
“My problem is you! Up in here tryna be Claudio’s alibi … his lil mouthpiece … like you getting paid to defend him or somethin.”
“I’m just saying …”
“And since when did you become the damn judge and jury anyway?”
“I’m not! I just … why you gotta be so hard on him?”
“Hard on him! Wait a minute. Why are you all the sudden on Team Claudio? You were one of the main people telling me to keep my distance from him when I moved here. Now I’m hard on him?”
“I’m just saying … give him a chance. People change, ya know?”
“People change, huh?” Kat smirked. “So how long have you been dating him that’s got you thinking he’s changed?”
“What?”
“Don’t what me. Girl, you ‘bout as transparent as saran wrap so don’t even try and deny it.”
“Kat, I …”
“No, it’s cool. I mean, I fell for it once. I could care less about what Claudio does. Our friendship won’t suffer because of that.”
“Really?”
“Mm hmm. What you and Claudio do is your business … but when it comes to me and my daughter … that’s my business ... so stay the hell out of it.”
- Writer
