Mama's Boy

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Gemini looked at his uncle in shock. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"You mind repeating that?" Gemini mockingly cleared his ear of wax and moved closer with his hand cupping his ear.

Sighing, Jackson pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm Knox's father."

"What?"

"I'm not repeatin' ma'self, boy," Jackson huffed with agitation.

Gemini chuckled with hysteria. "What the fuck is going on?" Gemini looked at his uncle in question. "How did y'all get so tangled up in this mess?"

Jackson shrugged, wondering the same thing. When it was happening, Jackson barely thought twice about what had been going on, but now that he looked back on it, he realized what a mess it was. He was glad that the worst part was over.

"Knox know?" Gemini asked. Jackson looked at the mischievous gleam in the young man's eyes and decided that he wouldn't give Gemini the chance to do whatever he was thinking of doing.

"Of course," Jackson lied easily. "He doesn't know 'bout you bein' his brotha', but he knows about me. I told 'em when I gave 'em the agency."

Gemini frowned but remained quiet. He took a deep breath and wiped down his face. This whole family was nuts, he thought as shook his head.

"Do you have even the slightest clue of where my father could be?" Gemini asked. He didn't know why he was pushing so hard to see his dad. He wasn't aware that he was in a desperate search for parental comfort and guidance. His foster parents were great and all, but he wanted his real parents to help him overcome the anxiety and trauma that had developed over his four-year course in the navy. And since Loretta couldn't be trusted, Henry was his last resort. Gemini was in search of a family.

Jackson reached into a mini fridge, located under his desk and grabbed a bottle of water. He took his time opening the bottle and taking a sip. He sighed and wiped his mouth. Setting the bottle on his desk and leaning back in his chair, he interlocked his fingers on his stomach.

"I can tell you that wherever your father is, there's a young girl and a another twin right next to him."

•••

An eight-year-old Loretta stood by her window with her curly hair brushed into two French braids. She wore a peach apron dress, ruffled socks, and her only good pair of church shoes, which were virgin white and polished to perfection. Her mother was downstairs, and, as evident by the sound of the vacuum cleaner, was cleaning up the living room. Loretta hummed watching car after car drive down her street. None of them belonged to the company that was coming over.

Pastor John and his son, Elijah, had gotten another call from Sister Earns. It was the same message they always received: Loretta was talking to demons, which were the voices Loretta claimed to hear that told Loretta to do bad things. They were on their way over, and Loretta was excited.

"Jane!"

Loretta jolted and turned to look at her mother. She hadn't heard the vacuum cleaner stop.

Loretta gulped. "Y-yes ma'am?"

Her mother stepped into the room and snatched Loretta up by the strap of her dress. The girl's eyes widened in fear.

"You trying to be another Jezebel, Loretta Jane?" Her mother hissed.

"N-no ma'am."

"Then why are you wearing this short dress when you know we have good Christian men coming to visit us?"