Famke entered her apartment to find her brother sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework. “Still up?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his head frustratedly. “I can’t figure this out and it’s frustrating me. My brain sees the numbers, but it doesn’t compute them.”
“I’m sorry. What can I do to help?”
“Brain transplant?” he asked dryly. “I’ll trade you.”
She chuckled at his words, “you don’t want my brain. It’s too volatile. I quit my job today.”
He looked to her in surprise, dropping his pencil to the table. “No way. Jack finally pushed you too far?”
“He gave half my hours to the kid.”
“No.”
“Said he felt I should have more free time to date.”
“You know he wants to date you. He wanted to free up your time so he could put his yellowed fingers all over your skin,” he wriggled his fingers at her.
She gagged at his words. “That’s gross.” She gave a shiver, “you could tell today when he stopped by to drop off the schedules he hadn’t showered in days. He had those big sweat rings around his armpits.”
It was Bram’s turn to gag as he thought of the rotund man. “I think my brain is truly broken because I think I can smell him.”
She laughed and ruffled his hair.
“What are you going to do for work?”
“Strangely, a man was waiting at the counter to pay when I was walking out. Jack didn’t know how to take his payment and he heard our entire argument. He knows the owner of Black Magic.”
“The fancy coffee shop down the road?”
“Yes. He said if I took his payment so he could leave, he’d get me a job at the shop. He drove me right there and I interviewed on the spot.”
“You got into a car with a stranger?”
“A filthy rich stranger. He had a sports car with an all-leather interior. His car was worth more than I will ever make in my entire life, I’m sure of it. I was so desperate to get away from Jack and to thumb my nose at him, I hopped into this guy’s car like it was nobody’s business.”
“That was stupid, Famke.” He scowled at her. “He could have been a serial killer.”
“Yeah, but I got the job and if I pass probation, I’ll get benefits.”
He grunted and shook his head. “You do crazy shit.”
“Well, we need to eat so I need the job. It worked out perfect for me.”
“I guess.” He picked his pencil back up from the table, “care to help?”
“Sure,” she poured herself a glass of water and sat with him at the table. They worked through his math problems, and she explained the work in a way he was able to comprehend.
“I can tell something is on your mind,” he said as he closed his books thirty minutes later.
“Not really, no.” At his raised eyebrow, she shrugged. “The guy who got me the new job, reminded me of someone and it’s making me think of the past.”
“Who?”
“He said he had a five-year-old at home.”
Realization hit his features and he gripped her hands on the table, “I’m sorry, Famke.”
“Don’t be. I had the opportunity to help two families and I have zero regrets. I know she is loved and adored and given so much more than I ever could have given her. Carrying their child for them allowed me to take care of you. They got her. I got you.”
“Not much of a bargain,” he made wide eyes and pointed to his head.
She laughed and gripped his chin, “I love you and it gave me such pleasure to know I was helping you both. I have no regrets. Occasionally though, I wonder about her and them and hope they are all healthy and happy. They were good people. I am grateful for them every day of my life.”
“Do you think you would ever do it for yourself?”
“What? Have a kid? Hell no. Can you see me with a baby?”
“Yes.” He didn’t back down. “Famke, you have a heart of gold, and you deserve to have a family of your own, not just taking care of your kid brother. I’m going to community college in the fall, and I’ll get my refrigeration tech certification. Maybe then it will be my turn to take care of us. You can stop working two jobs and maybe date.” He grinned wickedly, “maybe Jack will still be a single rich old dude when I graduate.”
“You’re disgusting.” She pushed away from the table. “I would rather live a life of celibacy.”
“You already do.”
“I date.”
He snorted, “going to the movies with the guy down in the 3B doesn’t qualify as a date. He’s eighty.”
“He pays my way.”
“Do you put out?”
“No! Ew.” She slapped at him.
“If it’s not in the realm of possibility then it’s not a date.”
“Go to bed.” She made a face and washed her glass and put it away. “I have a shift in the morning at six. I’ll be gone when you get up. Don’t oversleep in the morning.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” He stood from the table yawning and stretching. He kissed her cheek, “I love you, big sis. Don’t ever change your heart. I’m grateful for the sacrifices you’ve made for me but perhaps it’s time you start making some for you. Maybe this new job will be good for you.”
“Well, working with coffee and Cesar will be fun.”
“Cesar. Why does the name sound familiar?”
“I went to high school with him, and we worked together. He had me laughing a couple of times today so hard I could barely breathe. The new boss Keshaun is nice too. He said his wife was out of town, but she’d be back tomorrow, and I’d get to meet her.”
“Is this Cesar guy single?”
“Gay,” she dashed his hopes.
“Well maybe a guy who can actually afford the kind of coffee this place sells will come in and sweep you off your feet.”
“I’m not holding my breath,” she laughed. “Guys who can afford an eight-dollar small coffee don’t date baristas. They date models. This couple came in today and I know he was a football player, and his girlfriend or wife was the size of his leg. She was this tiny dainty thing.”
“What? You have the judgemental look on your face.”
“It’s November in Pittsburgh. She was wearing a micro mini skirt with bare legs. There isn’t a man alive for whom I would consider dressing like she did and risking frostbite on my nether regions. The skirt was so tight you know she couldn’t wear undies.”
“Chapped lips,” Bram said earning himself a gasp from his sister.
She whacked his arm and pointed to the room. “You know, occasionally, I see Dad in you. Not all of it is good. He was the most socially awkward person with no filter.”
Bram grinned, “remember when he started the conversation with the drag queen and asked them to come sit and explain their lifestyle to us? He wanted us to know there was nothing to fear. I think I was seven?”
“The poor queen was terrified getting dragged across a mall parking lot. Probably thought they were being kidnapped.”
“Yes, and then Dad brought them home to Mom for dinner.”
“They came to the funeral. Do you remember?”
“I don’t remember much of the funeral. I was eight and out of it.”
“Brought all their friends. There was an entire gay army at the funeral.” She smiled at the memory. “Mom and Dad were good people. Weird. But good. They made friends with everyone.”
“Like you.”
“Except Jack and the punk kid Robbie.”
“You’re very melancholy tonight.”
“Look at you with big words,” she pushed him towards his bedroom. “Good night.”
By the time she crawled into her own bed, she could hear Bram snoring in his. He was working hard to try to graduate. He had failed grade eight following his brain surgery and had to repeat it, but he’d worked hard. His grades were good, and he had a career plan. He had stopped by once when she had been working at the gas station and the man repairing a cooler had told him if he wanted a sure thing job which paid good money, become a refrigeration repair guy. They were hard to come by and so he’d always have work and the pay was decent.
They had been saving ever since to cover tuition for the program. They had kept in touch with the technician who said he’d allow Bram to do his apprenticeship with him and last summer Bram worked with him as an assistant, learning on the job.
She only needed to keep him on track. He was a good kid but didn’t have tons of friends in school. Most kids saw the thick one-inch scar circling his head and the way he had to concentrate and were intimidated by him. Kids could be cruel. Brain cancer had been hard but ignorant kids hadn’t made it easier.
Her thoughts flicked back to when he had been in the hospital and the couple she had met in the cafeteria. The distraught woman had accidentally sat at her table instead of where her husband had sat. She had lost a baby, her sixth miscarriage and had been warned not to try again. IVF had failed too many times to count. The woman was going to attempt one more round but was feeling defeated. Famke herself had already been crying because the bills for chemo post surgery for Bram had been astronomical.
Over the next two weeks, the three of them had sat together every day for coffee and to commiserate. When Mindy’s IVF failed again, she had held her new friend while she cried. Then the hospital administrator had come to the table to tell her the check she’d written had bounced. Prince had simply passed his credit card and said to pay it off. She had been stunned. He’d had an ulterior motive.
Three weeks later she was in stirrups having her eggs harvested, which had hurt like a bitch, and not long after she was their surrogate. All of Bram’s medical bills were covered and she was provided the best in prenatal care. They stayed close to her throughout the pregnancy. Then the day she delivered, they walked out, and she never saw or heard from them again.
The hurt reared its head again and she pushed it back down angrily. Bram was in remission, cured really and it was all which mattered. She didn’t bother to wipe the tears staining her pillow. She knew there would be more to come by dawn. These memories never fully went away when they reared up and she settled in to work through the pain which resided deep down inside.
She’d been working at Black Magic for a month and had really settled in well. The only person she didn’t really get along with on the staff was Keshaun’s wife Kara. She was nice enough, but she was a snob. She constantly made references to not enjoying living in Pittsburgh and how much she wished they could move back to New York. She complained about not having the fancy condo and talked all the time about the extravagant lifestyle they used to live with five-star dining and trips to exotic locations.Keshaun ignored her for the most part, but Famke was of the opinion, if he was being blasted like this at his place of business, he must really be getting blasted in the privacy of their home. She had learned Keshaun had experienced a heart attack at the age of thirty-two. Stress from his job had him dropping in the middle of the bullpen, as he’d called it. He’d been diagnosed with a heart condition and told to find a new job which wouldn’t cause him the stress he was under.He had told
Famke was in the back of the shop washing up some of Cesar’s dishes. She had taken two more blunt insults from Ambrosia who, for whatever her reasons, appeared to have taken a dislike to Famke from the minute she’d laid eyes on her. When Kara had snickered at a comment the other woman had made, Keshaun appeared ready to pop and Famke was ready to quit and walk out the door.As if sensing he was going to lose his employee, he’d asked her to go help Cesar out back and she had gladly tossed the rag she’d been wiping down the tables with into the sink and headed out back. Now she was furiously scrubbing a pan and Cesar was giving her side eye.“Would you stop?” she growled at him.“I’m still trying to figure out why you held your tongue. You don’t usually,” he said with a shrug.“Because I like this job and she is here for a visit but not forever. I can handle it.”“You like working with me?” Cesar boldly kissed the air in her direction.“Yes. I do like it here. It’s nice not to have cons
“Jeez, knock much?” she squealed as she turned around and stuffed her arms into her blouse.“Shit, sorry. I thought you’d gone already,” Royal apologized. “Keshaun gave Precious a juice box and she squeezed it all over my shirt.”She looked over her shoulder to note the bright purple stains on his pale blue shirt. She waved to the sink, “go ahead, clean off. I’m almost done.” She buttoned her shirt up, grateful she had pants on. He had seen her in her cheap cotton bra. He’d probably also seen the stretchmarks on her tummy. She wanted to melt into the floor in humiliation.He grabbed a bunch of paper towel and began dabbing the shirt with water. He was silent as he worked, and she reached past him to collect the make-up she’d left sitting on the counter. “Excuse
Royal stared at the woman he’d been dating off and on for the last three years and wondered what it was which had attracted him to her. She was beautiful on the outside, there was no doubt, but the ugliness inside was currently blazing forth making his stomach churn with revulsion. His friends and family had never hidden their dislike for Ambrosia, but he had ignored their complaints because she had suited his lifestyle, and she wasn’t bad in bed.Keshaun had never failed to bash the woman and had said more than once he did not like the way Kara behaved in the presence of the domineering bitch. He had always laughed it off but right now, the rage boiling in his blood at her behavior today had him reeling.As he noted the little girl standing there with tears in her eyes from watching the scene unfold, he felt nauseated. “Leave.”“Excuse me?”“I said leave. I don’t care where you go, how you get there or how
By the time she got to the diner she was a certifiable wreck.Prince and Mindy were dead. Precious was the child she’d carried. Royal Robinson had known who she was before even coming to the gas station, of it she was certain, which meant it was highly probable so did Keshaun. Had it all been an elaborate ruse to fuck with her?And what was the craziness about Prince leaving a letter declaring his love? It had to be a misunderstanding. She forced herself to forget the one time he’d kissed her out of the emotions of finding out they were having a girl. He’d wanted a girl desperately and Mindy had been feeling under the weather. She hadn’t attended the ultrasound. When the technician had told them it was a girl and had left them alone, he’d been so excited, he’d kissed her full on the mouth. It had been less than a
She knew she had rendered him speechless as she sat waiting several long seconds for him to respond.“Why didn’t he tell me?”“I don’t know,” she drew her fork through the potatoes and grimaced. “I can’t begin to understand their minds. They lied to me so much it bordered a work of fiction.”“What do you mean?”“For starters, I thought they were from Pittsburgh. I had no idea they were from out of state.”“Mindy was originally from Pittsburgh. He met her when he’d gone to a football game.”“I knew how they met but I didn’t realize he had simply been visiting.” She shuffled, “they told me his brother’s name was Rick.”“Rick?”“Rick. You
A week later, Famke entered her apartment and grimaced at the mess of the kitchen table. “Bram?”“In here,” he called from down the hall in his bedroom.“Why is there white stuff all over the kitchen table?”“Because I’m stupid,” he grunted as he came back into the space tugging a shirt over his head. “Part of my midterm assignment for chemistry is to write about the reactions of certain products. I put a bit of vinegar into baking soda and instead of doing it in the sink, I did it on the table. I thought it would be a small reaction. I was wrong. It bubbled everywhere.”“Great,” she grimaced at the sight.“Don’t worry about it. It’s my mess. I’ll clean it. You got a parcel today. From New York.” He made wide
My dearest Famke,There isn’t a day which goes by I don’t think of you. The time we spent together were the happiest days of my life. Watching our daughter grow within you was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had. I only wish I had told you how much I loved you when I had the opportunity. Your selfless heart and kind soul was a true testament to the beauty you possess inside and out. Every day I watch our daughter and wish you could see how amazing she is. She is four now. There is you in her. I see it every day. She has a habit of pulling her lower lip, right in the center, between her teeth. You used to do this when you were thinking hard. She also has your dimple on her right cheek.I know taking her from you caused you pain. Forcing Mindy to raise a child which was not hers will remain my greatest regret in life. Despite how much she wanted a child, she wanted one of her own. Do not fret, my love. She
“Happy birthday, Famke,” Nyx shoved a box across the table.Famke opened the package and took to laughing. “No way.”“Is that my face?” Royal asked his eyebrows meeting in the middle.“Remember when you went to the doctor, and you were complaining how the mood swings aren’t getting better despite the medication adjustments and sometimes you wanted to punch Royal in the face for breathing loudly? Now you can.” Nyx was proud of herself as Famke showed off the children’s version of a stand-up punching bag, she’d specially ordered with Royal’s face on it.Royal took the box from her and grinned, “it’s saying something about my ego isn’t it, when I’m proud of the fact I’ve been made into a toy?” The table laughed at his comment. “You don’t need this, baby girl. We can duke it out anytime you like. Wrestling would be preferred.” His inuendo wasn’t missed by a single adult at the table and he rubbed his shin as the toe of her shoe connected with it. “Or keep the punching bag.”“Mine next,” C
“Precious, come on, let’s go!” Royal bellowed up the stairs looking for any sign of the child.“Just a minute!” she screeched back.“Mommy is going to ring my neck if we’re late.” He looked up and groaned his heart in his throat as she climbed a leg over the banister and slid down the rail with a loud cackle, her Disney princess underwear flashing him the entire way down. He caught her before she hit the knob at the bottom and swung her squealing into the air. “You’re going to give me a heart attack.”She clutched his neck, squeezing it tightly. “Throw me again, Daddy.”Ever since he told her he’d gotten approved to adopt her, Uncle Royal no longer existed. It had been two months since he and Famke gained sole custody of her, and he was thrilled. He was Daddy all the time. His brother was probably rolling in his grave, and it made it even sweeter. He threw her up in the ai
“So what?”“Those apron strings were hard to cut. You were angry when he married Mindy against your recommendations. Yet when he and his wife went through problems, he cried on your shoulder an awful lot, didn’t he.”“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with relying on your family.”“How many times did you say, ‘I told you so’ and make him feel badly for not following your advice?” He paused, “you would give him advice, correct?”“Yes, as any good mother would.” She partially answered the question.“Did you encourage him to take Mindy to Pittsburgh and source out a blonde, white woman to scam similar in size and posture to Mindy and steal their child from her?”“Objection!” the lawyer for Imani was on his feet and the judge agreed.The lawyer waved it off, “When did Prince tell you Mindy lied about being pregnant?&rdquo
Famke took her seat back next to Royal shaking with unbridled rage. The next several witnesses were the doctors and nurses and even the cop who once looked for Prince as a favor to his nurse wife on behalf of Famke. Yet she couldn’t stop the fury in her belly. Being accused of fooling around with a married man wasn’t sitting well with her. By the time the court recessed, she was a quivering mess. Royal pulled her to a quiet corner of the lobby and cupped her cheeks. “Breathe, baby girl.” “How fucking dare, he outright suggest, I was screwing around with Prince? Your mother put this nonsense into everyone’s head and it’s insulting.” “Yes, she did. We knew this shit was going to be thrown out there though. I know it hurts your feelings and your pride but they’re grasping at straws. They need to prove Mom wasn’t part of the kidnapping and they’ll fight dirty. I love you,” he didn’t look away from her. “No matter what the outcome in there is today, I love you.” “I love you too.” She
Famke sat with Royal behind the prosecutions side of the courtroom and bounced her foot nervously. Imani’s sister Amari was sitting across the aisle from them glowering at them.Cliff and Jubilee were sitting with Denny and Mary, Cliff’s parents on the other side of her and Royal and Cliff’s spine was straighter than steel.Famke was called to the stand as the first witness for the prosecution. After going through the spiel about telling the truth and reminding her she was under oath, the lawyer smiled gently.“Ms. Noor, can you tell me how it was you were first introduced to Mindy and Prince Robinson?”“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “My brother was at the Saint Mary’s hospital, in the specialized children’s ward undergoing cancer treatments ahead of a surgery. They were trying to reduce the size of his tumor with radiation and chemotherapy ahead of the surgery. I spent a lot of my time at the ho
A month later they were sitting in front of a judge in a barely comfortable room after the room was called into session. The judge smiled at Famke, Royal and then nodded at Imani. Their lawyers sat beside them, but the rest of the room was empty per the judge’s order. The entire process had been rushed given Imani’s upcoming criminal case and her lawyers wanted it settled before her trial.“I had a lovely conversation with Precious.” Judge Ringer began. “She is a lovely little girl.”“Thank you,” Famke smiled nervously as Royal rubbed her shoulder softly.“She adores you,” the woman looked to Famke directly. “We shared a good conversation about boundaries today. I don’t know many five and half year olds who know the word boundary, let alone have a clear understanding of what it means.”“Therapy,” Famke couldn’t fight the smile on her face. “We’ve un
Famke and Royal were sitting in the dining room of Black Magic after their visit to the lawyer’s office, facing Jubi and Cliff. Royal gripped his ever-present refillable tumbler, filled full of his favorite coffee Keshaun poured for him and he was clutching it like a lifeline.Famke’s heart ached for the three people at this table. They were flipping through the scrapbook after Royal pointed out what the lawyer noticed when she was looking through the photographs in the book. Neither Jubilee nor Cliff spoke for quite some time and Famke knew they were trying to process their emotions.Cliff’s phone rang and he looked at it and then declined the call.“Mom?” Jubi asked softly.“Yes. She hid this from me.” He said his voice cracking. “She knew all this time. It meant she even lied when we talked to her the other day, and she said she knew at Thanksgiving. She knew long before then.”“I belie
Famke sat with Royal in the lawyer’s office feeling dumbfounded. “You’re telling us she has a chance?”“Not a good one,” the lawyer sighed. “Pennsylvania has law which supports rights for visitation for grandparents.”“Even if they’re unfit?” Royal asked, clearly as perplexed as Famke.“Can you prove she’s unfit?”He rubbed his forehead. “Her husband of forty years just left her because she’s off her rocker.”“He left her because she’s unfit?”“He left her because she’s tearing her family apart with this bullshit,” Royal countered, frustration marring his face. “I thought this would be a slam dunk. Famke is her biological mother. I was appointed her legal guardian when Prince died.”“Yet,” the lawyer waived to the papers she was served, “Famke, you said you never intended to be
Famke paced while Royal was furiously staring at his mother’s face on the video call.“You’re suing us for custody?”“Yes. Famke doesn’t want her. She never intended to be her mother. You have banned me from seeing or talking to Precious. I have rights as a grandparent.”“As a grandparent. You forget, I was named legal guardian of Precious in Prince’s will.”“Yes, but it’s invalid because her biological mother is alive which means the legal guardianship is moot. My lawyer checked. Precious’s original birth certificate was registered at the hospital she was born. It lists her as the mother and him as the father. Your claim to Precious doesn’t mean anything since Famke is the listed parent and she’s alive and never gave up parental rights.”“Imani,” Cliff moved to stand behind Royal at the desk in the office. “You are tearing your family apart. Why? You are willing to go to such extremes to get your own way at the risk of losing Royal and Jubi? Me?”“There was a time this family stuck t