Five years ago, I stood at the bedroom door, marveling at the innocence of my one-year-old daughter. "She's so beautiful," I whispered into the stillness of the bedroom . Hazel, my ever-sassy best friend, chimed "I'm glad she doesn't resemble her bum of a dad." Lost in thought, I admitted, "Sometimes I miss him, Hazel."
"You honestly irritate me, Sky. That man isn't worth a can of paint," she shot back, positioning herself in my line of sight. "You say that, but he was my first love, Hazel."
"Si ou pa t 'bès mwen, mwen ta kalòt kaka a soti nan ou, Sky," she scolded with a disapproving look. "Mèsi Bondye, mwen ye lè sa a," I replied
Fast forward to the present -
a call echoes through the house, "Haven!"
"Yes, Mom," her response quicky came back.
"Kisa ou vle manje?" I asked, opting for Creole over english . "Can I have blueberry waffles and an egg, please, Mummy?" she chimed in.
"Ok, baby, go get ready for school. Aunty Hazel is taking you today," I instructed, feeling the anticipation lingering in the air as I prepared the ingredients for her favorite waffles.
As Haven scampered upstairs, I reflected on the events that had led me here. At 17, i got pregnant and abandoned by everyone , Hazel's willing support became my lifeline. When my parents turned their backs on me, and my so called bf James left me Hazel and her mom opened their home, offering comfort and a place to stay.
Now, my parents sought to be apart of what Hazel and I had bulit wanting to be part of Haven's life. Yet, I hesitated,I'm stillhaunted by my past and i don't want them anywhere near my daughter . Unemployed but determined, a recent job interview offered a slight bit of of hope. Hazel, my rock, stood by me with both emotional support and financial aid during these rough times with me losing my job and all. In her, I found not just a friend but a sister and I cherished the bond and the love we had for eachother.
Thirty minutes later, my six-year-old descended the stairs in her school uniform, her hair slicked back into a ponytail. I admired her ability to style her hair at such a young age. At six, I couldn't even manage a puff, yet she effortlessly pulled off styles I struggled with even at the age of thirteen. Memories of happy moments with my mother crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wish she had accepted me during my pregnancy and wasn't such a bitch .Perhaps she and Haven could have shared those moments together also.
Lost in my thought, Haven interrupted, requesting the pancake syrup. "Of course, baby," I replied, passing it to her. Curious, she asked about Aunty Hazel's arrival. I explained honestly, sharing that Hazel would be a bit late as she was dropping off her boyfriend at work. Haven, unfazed by this expressed her desire to see Uncle Shawn also known as Hazel's boyfriend.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're very mature for your age?" I asked, already knowing the answer. With a giggle, she replied, "Yes, Mummy, and the persons were you, Uncle Shawn, and Aunty Hazel." I simply smiled at her response.
My phone interrupted with Cardi B's "Be Careful" as Hazel called. Answering instantly, I greeted, "Hi, bestie."
"Hi, love of my life. Is Haven ready?" Hazel asked .
"Yeah, she is.How far are you?" I asked.
"Baby, I'm outside. Bring Auntie's baby outside and some of whatever the fuck you're cooking cause I can smell it from out here," Hazel chuckled.
"You know I got you, girl," I replied. Hazel expressed her love before we hung up. I packed breakfast for both of us, handed Haven her school bag with lunch, and blew Hazel a kiss as she drove off, ensuring Haven was set for the day and i was set free from responsibility till 3.
After cleaning the morning breakfast aftermath, I indulged in a much-needed shower, fixing my long, relaxed hair into a presentable state. Choosing an outfit for the day, I settled on a black tee and denim shorts. A brief Instagram scroll served as a slight distraction until an unknown number disrupted me. Uncertain whether to answer, curiosity won, and I picked up on the second call.
Me: Hello.
Unknown: Miss Morgan, if someone is calling to tell you that you got a job, you should probably answer.
A deep, authoritative voice echoed through the phone.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Your new boss. I prefer handling things personally. Sorry for being unprofessional; I'd rather talk to my personal assistant myself.
Me: OMG, is this Mr. Clark? I'm so sorry.
Unknown: What are you sorry for? I know it's weird to get a random call from an unknown number, but now that you know it's me, when can you start?
Me: Is tomorrow good?
I bit my lip, a mixture of nervousness and a hint of excitement, his sexy smooth voice doing things to my imagination.
Unknown: I was hoping you'd say today, but tomorrow is fine. Well I guess I will see you tomorrow then.
The call ended, and reality sunk in-I had got the job. Out of all the talented people at the interview, I made the cut. Eager to share the news, I called Hazel, who answered on the third ring.
Hazel: This better be good; you're calling me during my work hours, not my lunch.
Me: Girl, I got the job!
I couldn't contain my excitement, jumping up and down.
Hazel: OMG! Wait for real, wait till I get home tonight. We're out tonight. We're outside. Don't even worry about babysitting; my mom can watch Haven.
Me: How do you know me so well?
Hazel: I just do. Now, bye, girl, before you get me fired.
Taking a nap after the interaction, I found myself in a dream world.
In the dream, the deep voice from earlier echoed, complimenting my appearance. Eager to catch a glimpse of the man behind the voice, I looked around, but he remained invisible. The voice continued, expressing a desire to touch me. Unable to resist, I pleaded, "Please come touch me; your voice does wonders to me."
"Oh, I know it does, Sky," the voice replied, surprising me. Suddenly, I snapped back to reality.
Chuckling to myself, I got into the shower. The thought of my boss's voice lingered in my head, and I started to feel things again. Detaching my showerhead, I got to work, fantasizing about what my boss might look like and imagining his enticing voice.
After my shower, I checked my phone and saw it was 2, signaling it was time to pick up my daughter from school.
