Page 29 of Rich and Rotten

I swung my legs out of bed and stood up to start my day. I went into the closet and tossed a dress I had been thinking about earlier this week into my open suitcase. My schedule was packed with meetings this week, so I decided to stay in the city. If that wasn’t enough, I had to fly to Las Vegas this weekend for a meeting at the Valora Hotel. I hated traveling for work. Karim usually handled all the traveling when it came to Hush. He was the one who had been working on most of these deals, while I worked at the spa and made it home each night to be with our daughter.

As much as I loved being an entrepreneur, which could be very demanding at times, I also wanted to be present for Nazira. I wanted to be the mother who baked cookies and was always home when she got in from school. Now that it was just me, I couldn’t be that mother anymore. Although I wasn’t always home when she returned from school, I made sure to spend quality time with her and pour into her. Our cherished moments together brought me joy because I loved being with my child. Nazira was an amazing girl, and I felt pride whenever I looked into her eyes.

There were times when I felt guilty that Nazir missed her most important moments. For every first I shared with Karim, tears often fell when I was alone. I had been mourning for a long time, and then life took my husband, deepening my grief. I mourned every moment Nazir missed with our daughter, every moment we didn’t get to experience together, and every promise he broke. Then, the mourning always stopped, and anger took its place.

The timing of this business trip was perfect since Aja was taking Nazira away for the weekend. Her niece had just turned ten and was having a birthday party, so she was taking Nazira with her.

My village always showed up for me and Nazira. I never had to ask for anything because they were always there to make sure we were taken care of. After finishing my morning bathroom routine, I shuffled back into my bedroom. Zira, sitting on the bed’s edge, surprised me because I usually had to pry the girl out of bed in the mornings.

“Good morning, Mommy,” she yawned.

I held my arms out, and she abandoned the bed to hug me. I kissed her head and looked down at her.

“Why are you awake so early?” I asked.

“I wanted to see you before you left for the city.”

I smiled. “Baby, I was going to come and peek in on you. I can never leave without giving you a kiss.”

She giggled as I tickled her. “Yeah, well, I’m never really awake–awake when you do.”

“Very true. I’m going to miss you, but Bloom has everything under control,” I assured her.

Bloom and I had gone over the schedule so many times that Emilio could recite each activity Nazira had without looking at the digital board in the kitchen.

“I know. Mommy, you’ve traveled for work before. I’m just gonna miss you because I’ll be gone with Aja.”

I hugged her a little tighter. “I know. I have a surprise for you when you come back.”

At the mention of a surprise, she lit up. “What?”

“I’m taking you on my next business trip. I think some work and play balance is needed for both of us, right?”

She excitedly jumped up and down in excitement because she had never been on a business trip with me before.

Since we’re expanding to the Dominican Republic soon, I wanted to make sure the resort was perfect for a Hush location. Hush focused on pampering women, especially mothers. I wanted to make sure that after a busy day of running after the kids at the resort, moms could enjoy being pampered by a highly certified staff.

“Yessss! Where are we going? Out the country? Out the world?”

I smiled as I listened to her giggle. I loved it when she acted silly. Being silly and carefree is part of being a child, but she didn’t do it often. I didn’t want her to feel like she had to be strong for me. I’m the parent, and she’s the child. She shouldn’t worry about her mother. It was my job to care for and protect her, not the other way around.

“I have an important business trip by the beach. While I work during the day, you can play on the beach with Bloom. Then, later, I’ll join you––just us for dinner.”

Her smile showed this was what she had wanted from me––us enjoying each other’s time together.

“Is Yaya coming, too?”

“She’ll be there, but mostly, it will be just you and me. Okay?”

“Sounds like the best idea, Mommy.”

I kissed her nose, smiled, and said, “The greatest idea in the world. Love you, baby.”

“Love you, too, Mommy.”

I glanced at the clock. “Hmm, you still have an hour to get some sleep before getting up for school. Want to sleep in my bed?”

She looked around my room and shook her head no.