Page 78 of Rebooked For Us
Ducane: Send me a pic. I miss my babies already.
Me: What babies? I’m a lone woman on this island without a raft.
Ducane: Dramatic, sensitive ass thug. SMH. I get it, I hurt your feelings, but you know what this is.
Me: Anyway. I thought you didn’t come because you were scared of Carter.
Ducane: Scared? Watch your mouth, Skye. I’ll lay that man out and ask questions later. Go check his rib cage right now for me and report back.
I laughed to myself, tucking the phone away before anybody could ask what was so funny.
“Sissy, you made it. Where is Ducane?”
“Damn, is that all anyone cares about?”
“Skye, what’s going on?” she asked, leading me inside to the kitchen.
“It’s been a rough day, that’s all. Cadence also had a bad morning. Ducane not being here had her acting all the way out. I wasn’t expecting that and shit…”
“What? Talk freely, Skye. I know you better than anyone, and I know you need to let it out.”
“Not if you’re going to ‘I told you so’ me. I got enough people reminding me of what I did and didn’t do. I don’t need it from you, either.”
“Ooff, no fun, but I’m not going to add to an already difficult time. Just tell me what’s going on.”
I leaned against the counter and let it out, the two weeks of him in the guest room, the careful distance, wanting more than he was ready to give and not knowing how to ask for it without sounding like I was rushing him or making this about me.
Airalynn didn’t say anything for a second, just pulled two plates down.
“Carter took his lick. And you’ll have to do the same. I know it sucks because you two love each other more than anyone I’ve ever seen. This is called growing pains, and this is called standing on what you did.”
“So, I’m supposed to be mistreated in the process?”
“Don’t be a drama queen. You got a big ass rock on your finger still. Now, is Ducane mistreating you or not making you the center of his world like he’s done for years?”
“When was this, Airalynn? Because from where I’m standing, he moved on with his life and never looked back. I’m not the only person to blame, or that should be sitting in grief. And what the hell is this ring without the nigga that comes with it?”
“And you think he’s not?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m saying I’m holding back while he gets to wallow. Forget it.” I said, moving to walk out of the kitchen. Airalynn hugged me from behind and squeezed.
I stopped and turned as she backed up.
“Look, you both gotta go through the motions. I’m a fierce advocate of Ducane, and you know that, but you are my sister. If you two can’t make this work, maybe parenting is all you two should focus on. You move on, and he moves on.”
“Move on, huh? I put my whole life on hold. That’s my husband and I want him, not some random man.”
“And I told your ass not to do that, waiting around.”
“I wasn’t ready. And I don’t know if I ever will be.”
“Well, sis, stay down until you come up. Time will heal this, but don’t be a sucker. You two can raise Cadence and not be together.”
“Don’t say that again, Air.”
She tossed her hands with a smirk, and I rolled my eyes.
The afternoon moved fast after that, cake, the bounce house, Cadence, and the twins running themselves into the ground on a sugar high that was going to be a problem by bedtime. I was mid-conversation with Carter’s mother when a truck pulled up out front that had the kids running to the front with us trailing behind them. I knew who was responsible for this.
