Page 28 of R&B Mixtape

“Hey Sunny. How you feeling today?”

She rolled her eyes before speaking. “I’m fine. She has everything she’ll need so she should be fine. The snow is supposed to start in a few hours. Get home in time with my daughter please.”

“I know how to take care of my daughter, Sunny.”

“I didn’t mention anything about your fathering skills, Naeem. Get Serenity home please.” She was done conversing with me and gave her attention to baby girl. “Mommy will see you Sunday if the roads are clear and Monday if they aren’t. Behave for daddy, okay?”

She nodded wildly once more and showed her gapped smile. I entered the grocery store with baby girl helping steer the buggy. I knew she was going to want a variety of snacks, but she couldn’t survive off just hot Cheetos and fruit punch. I was a man that knew his way around the kitchen, so I grabbed ingredients for full course meals as well.

It didn’t take us long to fill the cart. When it called for snow in Davidson County, it always came, and it covered every inch of the ground giving us inches at a time. Sometimes it went away with ease while other times it hung around for almost two weeks. I was preparing for it regardless.

We made it to the register and checked out with ease. Once we were all loaded up, I quickly purchased a few bottles of wine from next door and then headed on up the road. Where I lived was coming in at about twenty, thirty minutes from the city. I was just on the outskirts.

I was in a good mood and was ready to enjoy my time with my little one. It’s been a few months since I saw her, so I was ecstatic to play games and whatnot. I knew the only reason why I was able to get her this go round without a fuss was because of Sunny wanting to do whatever with whomever. I was granted the time I’d been begging for, so I didn’t even care that I was being used.

As we made pulled onto my street, small flakes began to drop. What we were supposed to get later was already starting. I had chopped up wood all day yesterday and for a little earlier. We had more than enough to last us through the snowstorm that was headed our way. I had brought it in and had it stacked in the corner.

“Okay baby girl. We’re home.”

She opened the door once the car stopped and ran inside. Being so far out and away from everyone gave me the benefit of leaving my door unlocked and knowing no one could come and steal my belongings. I was comfortable and content out here for real.

It took me a little over an hour to get everything situated in the house from the groceries to the fireplaces getting going to starting dinner. It was about two in the afternoon but with homemade chicken soup or even a good pot roast, it would need to be put on now.

I was finally taking a seat ready for a little relaxation. Serenity was in her room playing and doing her so I figured I could get a few minutes in. Turning on the television, I went for the weather channel to get updated and sure enough thesnowstorm was coming through like a wrecking ball within the next hour or two.

Muting the television, I pulled out a book that I was reading and picked up where I left off. Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed by and the roast I had put on was near the end of being done. I went and checked on Serenity to find her napping in her room surrounded by her stuffed animals. After placing a kiss on her forehead, I headed back to the front when a loud thud was heard.

Going to the front door, I saw that the wind had picked up tremendously and the blizzard had started. From what I could tell, the tree that was sitting near the end of the driveway had fallen, which was probably the result of the noise. I shook my head but as I was getting ready to walk away, I saw a set of lights approaching.

It sparked my curiosity because this was a private road and the only people that came on this street were the mailman and family. My siblings knew about the blizzard so I knew they wouldn’t come out in it. This had to be someone else.

I watched as someone exit their vehicle and approached the tree. They looked around and threw their hands up in defeat. This weather had gotten bad, and driving was dangerous. Whoever this was, was a daredevil because no one in their right minds would be caught in a storm as such.

Grabbing my coat, I rushed out after seeing them trying to use the car to push the tree out the way. I didn’t know who they were or where they were going but at the end of my street was a dead end. There was nothing to see or anywhere to go.

“Hey! Stop!” I shouted as I got closer. “That’s dangerous. Hey!”

I was trying my best to sprint through the snow without falling and busting my ass. Thankfully, whoever was driving,stopped, and sat there. However, I could see that they were hitting the steering wheel.

When I made it around to the car, I tapped on the passenger’s window scaring them. The window was let down and a woman occupied the driver’s seat.

“Is there someone you’re looking for?” I yelled over the howling wind.

“I was supposed to be meeting my friends at a cabin fifteen minutes away and the map brought me down this road.”

“This is a private road which is also a dead end. Are you sure the directions led you down this road and not the next one over or something?”

I was trying to help but she wasn’t really handing off much information. I knew there was a set of cabins not too far from here, but I’ve never seen guest come down this road to get to them.

“It rerouted me three times. If I would’ve known the weather was going to be this bad, I would’ve left a day early.”

“You’re going to have a hard time getting out of here due to the road already being packed with snow. I can open my home to you and see if someone will come through and shovel it tomorrow morning so you can be on your way.”

She was cautious about accepting my proposal and I didn’t blame her. I was a stranger that opened their home to them without hesitation.

“I really need an answer from you, so I’ll know whether or not I need to help. I have my daughter inside,” I said letting her know that I couldn’t stay out here with her the entire time of her figuring out what to do.

“Yeah. Thank you, a lot. I just have two bags in the trunk.”