“Let Mommy finish this call, baby.” I gave the info on the card to Jillian and hung up.
I had to calm the kids down and get them focused on something else. They were acting worse than me. Attempted murder? My mind was reeling. Who in the hell did Trae attempt to kill? Did Kyron’s bitch-ass snitch? Or, knowing Trae, is this some old shit that finally caught up with him? After I got the kids straight, I was going to make some phone calls.
“Who wants to go to the park?” My voice cracked as I called out.
“I do! I do! Me!” they all yelled.
“Okay, let Mommy call Uncle Kaylin first. Everybody go to the bathroom. Aisha is in charge. After you use the bathroom, get one toy and go wait for me on the front porch.” They took off running.
Just as I was getting ready to dial Kaylin, my cell rang. I answered immediately.
“Do I have your attention now?”
If Kyron didn’t have my attention before, yes, he had it now. If that nigga was responsible for Trae getting locked up, then he was more bitch than I thought he was. “I know that you need to stop playing these games. I’m getting ready to call your brother right now. I don’t give a fuck if Trae goes to jail for life, I still wouldn’t fuck with you.” Furious, I ended the call and dialed Kaylin.
“Tasha Macklin, what’s up? Angel has been in meetings all day. You can call her back in about an hour.”
“I’m not calling to speak to Angel, I’m calling to speak to you.”
“Oh, my bad. Is everything aiight?”
“No, they just came and took Trae outta here in handcuffs for attempted murder.”
“What?”
“Yeah, and Kyron just hung up. He may be the one behind this bullshit. He’s been calling me and threatening me. I called Benny’s office already, so I’m hoping he can make this all go away. But it’s your brother, Kaylin. Tell him to leave me alone. It has gotten out of hand.”
“Wait a minute. You said Kyron is behind Trae getting locked up?”
“I think so but I am not sure but I won’t put it past him. He’s been trying to get with me. First he had Trina call, then he fucked up my brother, and now this. He calls after each incident. Me and my dumb ass, I’ve been hiding it from Trae because I’m scared that he’ll think I’m back fucking with him. I need your help, Kaylin. Make your brother stop this bullshit.”
I heard Kaylin sigh. I knew he didn’t want to hear what I was telling him, but it was what it was.
“All right, I’ll take care of it, but have Benny call me.”
“I will.” I hung up and went to take the kids to the park. I was a nervous wreck. I told Kaylin, and I knew he was going to tell Trae, that Kyron had been calling me and starting shit. On the way to the park, I decided to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few snacks. I could have easily packed something, but I needed to get out of that house fast.
“There goes my mommy!” Aisha yelled out. We were riding past the front entrance of the supermarket.
“Auntie Kyra, Auntie Kyra!” Caliph squealed as he squirmed in his seat, trying to get his seatbelt off. I think my five-year-old son has a crush on Kyra.
I looked to my right, and yes, it was Kyra, but she hadn’t told me she was going to the store. Wait a minute. How did she get there? I didn’t notice any vehicles gone other than Aunt Marva’s. What the hell is she doing? It looked like she was selling something. She was stopping people and talking to them, but everyone was keeping it moving. She had a book in her hands. Was she selling books? I pulled into a handicapped spot and threw the car into park. “Kids, stay here. Aisha is in charge. I’ll be right over there talking to Kyra. I’m not going into the store yet.” I jumped out of the car and rushed over to where she was.
As I got closer, she opened the book and said, “Two Kings, chapter twenty, verse one says, ‘In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amos went to him and said to him, Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not