𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙿𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚊 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚅𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚊.

                                  քօʋ քέȶʀɨƈɛ--റ-ང🌸
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"Pet where are you?"

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"Mi inside the Villa."

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"Wi a come up now, Clarkey deh bout?"

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"Yes e inna d parking lot, a wah?"

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"Nothing."

I stared at the phone with a slight frown before turning my attention back to Petrona.

"She reach."

"Ok."

We had been together for the past thirty-seven minutes and to me it felt as if we had been there for an agonizing hour. I tried not to fidget as I watched the woman seated opposite me.

Our mother was a beautiful woman. She held up well and as they would seh 'foreign treat are good.'  Our resemblance to her was striking it's just where Patrice's and my face were round hers was more angular.

When earlier I had met up with her I was taken aback by the fifty-eight-year-old splendid upkeep of herself. I had not laid eyes on in person for twenty-odd years and it seem she looked like the same woman that had left Patrice and I clinging to Mama's legs as she left us watching her go, her only change was the now prominent crowfeet at the corner of her eyes.

Our mother had left for the US of A when Patrice was only four years old and it was close to ten years later that Patrice or I had spoken to her and that had been through strained phone messages.

Petrona had turned us into barrel babies leaving our care to Mama, but here we were now at the dawning of a revelation that would not make us but further break us.

Life nuh ramp wid wi a rass.

The woman across from me sat rigid and was rather jumpy. I watch the suffering of guilt and remorse that played in her eyes. I reach for the end of one of the belting ends of my ankle lenght stripe dress and fiddle with it.

"So Jae will be celebrating a birthday soon?"

I stared at her and this time she fidgeted.

"Mi tell yuh seh a nuh she a Deenie memba."

"Mama seh she big and very mature fi ar age," she returns with a slight smile that seems to wobble at my hard stare.

"Cut e chit chat Petrona wi realize e naah work fra mi a yuh come siddung yah so."

The curt response caused Petrona to hurriedly reach for her Louis Vitton purse that rested on the table and fumble with the zip to search for only God knows what.

"This is not us getting to build no bridge weh yuh burn wid mi n yuh grand pickney dem. Peggy mi deh yah fah cause mi know she a guh need me wen she know seh OD a ar---"

"Hey ladies."

Speak of the devil an he appears.

I look up at the figure now standing at the table smiling at us and the minute the realization that his daughter was the splitting image of him hit me my heart rushed with emotions that cause me to grip the phone I had in my hand tightly.

Dead men tell no tales but the truth would not be buried with Ms. Murl. The day was here now when hell was going to break loose.

"Odean yuh reach."

It came out sounding like 'why yuh badda come?'

He retains his broad smile as he indicated an empty chair and I shrug looking away from him. I wished I could rewind time to the days when we were innocent children and we all use to meet up to play cricket in the lane and have Ms. Sylvia and her husband cuss out hell as we turn their yard into a cricket field.

"Peggy nuh reach yet?" he asked sitting down and I getting further agitated by what lay ahead snapped.

"Yuh c ar yasso wid wi?"

There was something too assured about Odean. He wore an air of arrogance that grated further on my already frayed nerves. He also seemed a far cry from the sweet, reserved boy that we had grown up with putting me further on edge.

If only he knew what lay ahead he would not be so self-assured and ready to count his chickens before they hatch.

"Pet relax."

Though it was softly spoken it held a firm note that cause me to let go of my misplaced animosity and pull myself together, it was hard and more so as Patrice came walking through the door of the dining room.

"Petrona you're looking lovely," he said sweetly turning his attention to the older woman causing Petrice to hiss her teeth softly and cut her eyes at him.

Ole fawt tink e slick. Yuh nuh have nothing ova mi OD. I thought to myself then ask sweetly.

"So weh Goodaz deh mi tink to how the two a yuh hat n heavy she wudda a trail back a yuh?"

I knew deep down that he would not have carried her here to such a private affair. She was nothing more than a convenience, but I just wanted him to know I knew he was not sitting down and keeping to himself as he tried to win Patrice back.

Of all the ooman dem a fyah cratches Goodaz e hook up wid. Gyal cyaah even walk in a Peggy dutty yawd slippaz.

However, it was for the best.

Odean look over at me and was about to speak but Patrice coming to stand by the table had him snapping his mouth shut as he became aware of her presence.

Call me a bitch I care not, if the bastard wanted only Patrice Goodaz wudda neva be in the picture.

I look at my sister standing there looking as white as a sheet her eyes red and puffy in a well-made-up face that did enough to showcase her beauty, but little to hide the sadness it could not masked.

What a contrast she made looking all sexy in her little tie and dye dress of varying shades of red and gold threading as sadness raged in her eyes and her countenance looked crestfallen. I quickly stood up and reach for her.

Why the hell had she been crying? I glance past her to the entrance looking to see Maleek but an empty archway greeted me. I scan the dining room to see if he was seated at some other table but all I saw were strangers engaging in dining.

Pussyclaat, something happen mi jus know it.

"Hey come yah," I said pulling her away from the table but Odean had risen from his seat to grip her hand and stared with deep concern at her.

I resisted the urge to push him away but I knew that he cared for Patrice despite him getting back and hooking up with Goodaz without even making the effort to get Patrice.

Where was the pursuit of love? The fight for what you truly wanted? All he did was run to Goodaz every time things went downhill and have her flapping her yap about it.

I knew that even though he got involved with Goodaz his feelings were still there but those feelings were fickle and not a solid foundation for Odeania and Patrice.

"Hey, sis mi good man."

"Siddung roun yasso," I said pulling her to the seat beside me.

I smile as she shrug off Odean's hold and did as I said.

After she was seated she turn to our mother for the first time since getting here and said. "Hello, Petrona."

"Hi, Patrice."

Silence filled the table for a short time before I watch Patrice's attention turn to Odean and she said softly.

"I want you to know that whatever you hear here today our main responsibility is being Deenie's parents. The past and the present must never hinder that...can you promise me that?"

"Babes you---"

"Promise mi!"

All eyes were on Odean as he sat there just looking at Patrice. It was a pleasure to watch his arrogance deflate. I almost smile outright as he seems to diminish.

Ole fawt believes he could just mess around then walk in with his gorgeous ass and have Patrice up in his favor.

Serve him right. Some men were such self-centered bastards. He wanted Patrice yet there was Goodaz up in the mix with her Miss Come Around Ass strutting the stripes that he gave to her.

I could see questions burning in his eyes but just like each of us, he would have to wait until Petrona reveal the answers by shedding light on the big mystery, which might not be much of a mystery after all.

I look at Patrice wondering if somehow she has figured it out. Did she know?

"Siddung and let's get this over with."

Odean quietly took his seat and my heart beat like a congo drum in my ears as I awaited what was to come.

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Please👇

Nuff love 🇯🇲