Page 82 of Til Death
“See I’m not the only one who thinks you’re all work and no play.”
“My company won’t run itself. I didn’t get where I am today by taking breaks.”
“You have to have balance though, son. If not, you’ll burn yourself out.”
“Listen to your dad, Yosiah. In the beginning I was just like you, always hitting the ground running. It wasn’t until I had kids that I realized that it was okay to step back and enjoy the fruits of my labor. By that time it was too late to get back the time I missed, but I vowed to slow down and make myself and my family a priority.”
“He’s right, you know. Maybe once you two have kids you’ll be able to slow down,” Mama Chelle suggested.
“Kid?” Mom balled her nose up with a huff.
“Zoya,” Dad warned.
“Alonzo.” She matched his tone.
“Yosiah, you always wanted kids, right? I’m surprised you’re not a dad yet. I think you’d make a perfect one,” Reginae said, eyeing me slyly. “Don’t want to mess your body up by having a baby, Xylina?”
This was a conversation I didn’t want to get into. We had been having a good time, making small talk and enjoying good food. Kids were something I knew would shift the mood.
“Actually, I would happily have Yosiah’s babies. Mommy makeovers and tummy tucks do exist.” Roman choked on the beer he was drinking while laughing at the same time.
Mom hopped in. “And that’s the exact reason why you don’t need to have a baby”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re more worried about how you look rather than being a mother.” Mom brought her wine glass to her lips while I sighed.
“Respectfully, you don’t know me, Zoya.”
“It’s Mrs. Bedford and I don’t have to know you to know my son doesn’t need to be any more attached to you than he already is.”
Xylina tensed next to me.
“Oh shit,” someone muttered.
“And that’s not your decision to make. In fact, who’s to say a baby wasn’t put into me during our trip?” Xylina’s head cocked to the side as she glared at my mom.
It was like watching a ping pong ball getting hit back and forth. I knew Xylina could defend herself. She was snarky and quick when she needed to be. I also knew Mom was only worried about me and that was why she was so against kids between me and Xylina.
“I truly hope not. You already forced him to marry you, the last thing he deserves is to be stuck with a kid too.”
Another person muttered in the background, “Damn.”
Someone else muttered, “She’s not wrong.”
Again, Xylina tensed. This was only going to get worse. For a second I thought about the last time Mom and Xylina went back and forth at my award ceremony and how that played out. Xylina was beyond upset that I’d allowed and agreed with my mom’s reasoning. While I was still in agreement, this wasn’t the place for that. I needed to dead the whole conversation.
“Mom.” I spoke up, staring in her direction. “This conversation is inappropriate and shouldn’t be had right now.”
“Someone needs to have it, Yosiah. You’re not getting any older and you’re wasting your years denying yourself something we all know you want because of your sham of a marriage.”
“Mom!”
“Zoya!”
Both me and my dad said at the same time. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The table went silent, watching to see what would happen next. Xylina was damn nearshaking next to me with her jaw clenched. This dinner was turning into a disaster.
“Look.” I inhaled a deep breath before pushing it through my nose. “I know you want what’s best for me. I know you’re only saying all this because you care, but you’re out of line.”
