Victoria

Seven

"Yes he is!"

"Amen!"

The minister of music began to play the organ, playing the intro of one of my favorite praise and worship songs.

"Lord You are good and Your mercy endureth forever..."

*

"Did you enjoy church?"

"It was good, and it didn't last long like my momma's church," Kareem replied while laughing, making me laugh too.

Church started at 10 and we were out no later than 11:45.

Saturday morning at the shop, Kareem was trying to talk me into spending the day with him. I told him that I would, if he came to church with me.

"So you never told me what time the competition starts," I stated after Kareem got Kai out of children's church and walked back over to me.

"My age group starts at 2, Miss V. You coming with us," Kai asked, grabbing my hand and smiling up at me.

"Victoria DeShay! Don't forget to go get the Hawaiian rolls for dinner tonight."

I looked away from Kai and to my mom who was yelling from her car that was almost all the way across the parking lot.

"Yes ma'am!"

"DeShay huh?" Kareem was smirking now, since he now knew my middle name.

"Whatever. And yes, Kai. I'll be there."

*

"Good job, beautiful," I said to Kai when she ran over to me and Kareem, and then handed her the flowers that I'd bought.

She'd placed in this competition and would move on to the next round in the following 2 weeks.

"Thank you for coming Miss V,"she spoke excitedly while putting her sweats suit on that had the team logo on it.

"Why is she here Kareem?"

I rolled my eyes before picking up my purse and phone.

"I'm here because I was invited. And before you get hype, I'm not trying to play Mommy to Kai or replace you for that matter. I'm not with Kareem. This is a client, business owner relationship."

I had to set Layla straight before she even though about trying me.

I did not want to get involved with the baby momma drama. I had no time, nor did I have the patience.

Plus my attitude outside of my place of business and church could get extremely fucked up. And I did not want to show out in front of these people.

"Victoria-"

"I'll see y'all in two weeks. Have a great rest of the day, and congratulations again, Kai."

"You serious right now?" I heard Kareem following behind me, but I didn't even turn around.

"Oh so you gonna run after that broad with ya daughter standing right here?"

See what I mean?

Unnecessary drama.  

*

"What's wrong with you?" My dad came out of the kitchen and sat next to me on the couch.

I was sitting in the living room of my parents' house watching the Bernie Mac Show on Netflix.

It was Sunday, so we were having our family dinner that we have every two weeks. The only person that we were waiting on was Vanessa.