Let's Just Make It(Book I)(Re-Editing)

•Chapter 62•

*August 2001*

Clink! Clink!

That awkward sound of forks and spoons clinking against dinner plates, filled Keke's ears uncomfortably.

Every so often, her eyes would travel between her now boyfriend of three years and adoptive son, Bj.

There was an unusual vibe coming from the two of them, that she didn't particularly like, though most of it came from Bj.

Though he wasn't much of a talker from the get go, he was saying even less now.

Keke had a difficult time getting him to utter even a half of a word to her, ever since she announced their big move to Shazam's house.

He was against the whole thing, mainly Shazam. Though he never once spoke on it, his actions spoke for him.

One would've never guessed that Shazam had known Bj since he was literally in diapers from the way, he treated and acted around him.

He didn't like him, it was just as simple as that.

"Mommy, can I have some more macaroni please?"

"You sure can sweetness," Keke leaned over to pinch her daughter lovingly on the cheek.

She was so happy and proud at how well mannered her daughter turned out to be, if only she could say the same about her brother.

Keeping up with Kaiyah wasn't much of a hassle, with either Shazam and Ne'Cole around, along with the many toys in her bedroom to keep her busy, Keke hardly had to look after her.

However Bj, on the other hand was another story.

He wasn't getting along with anyone in his school, and on top of that, he was failing almost all of his classes. Sometimes Keke wondered how he even made it this far in school, without failing a single grade.

It was a good thing, he had someone like Keke to motivate him. He was only a couple years away from being a teenager, and she couldn't help, but fear the absolute worst for him.

She'd discussed these fears with Tanya plenty of times, who only reminded her, of how similar Bradlee would act at his son's age, before she shipped him off to live with his father, in New Orleans.

By doing so, she believed that she was teaching her son a valuable lesson on how a young black man should act, only for him to be led down a path of destruction.

Keke refused to let the same thing happen to Bj. She couldn't just send him off to anyone, because there's absolutely no way, they would care after him, the way she did.

Sure Bj was a rough child to deal with, raising a boy as a single mother was no joke. Especially with someone as rough around the edges as Bj.

Literally, everything about him, reminded her of Bradlee. It was a blessing and a curse to be reminded of her past love whenever she went to look her son in the eyes, painful even.

But it was a pain she welcomed.

Regardless of the things she'd went through with Bj, she wouldn't dare trade him. She wasn't going to give up on him, like his biological mother did, it was never in her heart to do so.

She would be willing to work with him, as long as she needed to, until that very day when he would come around.

"Here you go sweetheart," Keke scooped a small portion of macaroni into Kaiyah's little princess bowl, in which she helped herself to a mighty big spoonful of.