Page 107 of When a Soul Cries

The brown skin.

Then she looked back at me.

“Whose baby is that?” Aunt Trice asked, suspicion slowly creeping into her voice.

My stomach tightened.

I pulled Halo closer.

I didn’t answer.

“Soleia,” Aunt Trice said slowly, studying my silence as her eyes narrowed.

I took a step backward.

Her eyes narrowed.

Confusion disappeared.

Something ugly replaced it.

“I know you didn’t,” Aunt Trice muttered, disbelief spreading across her face.

My heart started pounding.

“Aunt Trice—” I started cautiously, already recognizing the dangerous change in her expression.

“I know you didn’t have no fucking baby by my man, bitch!” Aunt Trice screamed, her face twisting with rage.

My mouth fell open.

“What?” I blurted, stunned by what she’d just said. Not because it wasn’t true but because she said it as if I purposely caused any of this.

She stepped toward me.

“Are you fucking crazy?” I snapped, instinctively backing away while shielding Halo with my body.

“You had my man’s baby bitch?” Aunt Trice demanded, her voice rising as she continued toward me.

“No!” I shouted, clutching Halo tighter.

Aunt Trice lunged.

My body reacted before my mind did.

The grocery bag hit the pavement.

Milk rolled across the concrete.

Bread slid halfway out of the bag.

One of Halo’s fruit cups cracked open against the ground.

I ran.

Halo screamed against my ear as I clutched her to my chest.

“Get your ass back here!” Aunt Trice screamed behind me, her angry voice following me across the parking lot.