Chapter 3 - Everybody Who HelpedBy the time Kiara returned home, the celebration had already fractured into separate rooms.
Yvette was in the kitchen.
Marcus was outside on the back patio.
Monique was pretending to arrange food nobody wanted.
Darnell came inside carrying Kiara’s diploma case as if he had personally handed it to her onstage.
“Where should I put this?”
Kiara pointed toward the dining room.
Darnell saw the wrapped gift.
“That yours?”
Kiara looked away.
“I think so.”
Monique shot Darnell a warning glance.
He lifted both hands.
“Just asking.”
Kiara removed her graduation cap.
Her eyes searched the hallway.
“Where’s Marcus?”
“Outside,” Monique said.
“Has he eaten?”
Yvette laughed sharply.
Kiara frowned.
“What?”
Yvette sliced a strawberry harder than necessary.
“You think his problem is low blood sugar?”
“Aunt Yvette, please don’t start.”
“I didn’t start anything.”
Kiara looked toward the glass patio doors.
Marcus sat alone, still wearing the navy shirt he had dressed in for graduation.
She walked outside.
“Marcus?”
He did not turn around.
“How was it?”
The question hurt more than anger would have.
Kiara came closer.
“It was good.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
She stood awkwardly.
“Mom told me you knew Dad contacted her before he contacted me.”
Marcus looked at her.
“She told you that today?”
“In the car.”
“Interesting timing.”
“Why?”
“Because it saves me the trouble.”
Kiara crossed her arms.
“He asked her for money. She said no.”
Marcus said nothing.
“That doesn’t mean his relationship with me is fake.”
“I didn’t say it did.”
“You’re thinking it.”
Marcus leaned back.
“You seem very interested in what I’m thinking after deciding my feelings didn’t matter this morning.”
Kiara flinched.
“I apologized.”
“You said you didn’t mean to hurt me.”
“That is an apology.”
“No. That’s a description of your intention.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What do you want from me?”
Marcus finally faced her fully.
“That question is why I don’t want anything from you today.”
Kiara’s voice rose.
“I’m trying.”
“So am I.”
“At what?”
“Not saying something I can’t take back.”
She looked toward the house.
“You think I’m choosing him over you.”
“You did choose him over me.”
“For one ceremony.”
Marcus studied her.
“You really believe the ceremony is what hurt?”
“What else am I supposed to think?”
He looked away.
“That maybe it was the sentence.”
Kiara’s face fell.
“You are never going to let me forget that.”
“I’ve had six hours.”
She swallowed.
“Marcus…”
The patio door opened.
Darnell stepped outside.
“Everything good?”
Marcus looked at him.
Kiara’s expression tightened.
“We’re talking.”
Darnell nodded.
“My bad.”
He started to turn away.
Marcus spoke.
“Nice post.”
Darnell paused.
“What?”
“‘Takes a village.’”
Darnell’s mouth hardened.
“I was showing appreciation.”
“To everybody who helped.”
“Exactly.”
Marcus smiled without warmth.
“You always did like general language when specifics made you uncomfortable.”
“Marcus,” Kiara warned.
Darnell turned around fully.
“I came here to support my daughter.”
Marcus nodded.
“Today.”
Darnell stepped closer.
“I’m not doing this.”
“Then don’t.”
Kiara moved between them.
“Stop.”
Darnell looked at her.
“This is what I told you.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“What did you tell her?”
Darnell hesitated.
Kiara answered.
“That you never wanted him around.”
Marcus stared at her.
Darnell immediately spoke.
“I said you didn’t make it easy.”
Marcus stood.
For the first time, anger replaced hurt.
“I never wanted you around?”
“You had your little family.”
“You vanished.”
“You pushed me out.”
Marcus laughed.
“Is that what you told her?”
Kiara looked uncertain.
Darnell’s voice sharpened.
“You stepped into my place before the dust settled.”
“Your place was empty.”
“Marcus!” Monique shouted from inside.
But Marcus was looking only at Kiara.
“You want to know why I never talked badly about him?”
Kiara’s face tightened.
“Because you were a child. And your mother asked me not to.”
Darnell’s expression changed.
Monique came outside quickly.
“Marcus.”
He glanced at her.
That one look told her exactly what he was thinking.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
Kiara looked between them.
“Don’t what?”
Nobody answered.
Her eyes moved to Darnell.
Then Marcus.
“What are you not telling me?”
Marcus’s voice was tired.
“Ask your mother.”
Monique paled.
Kiara turned.
“Mom?”
Darnell took a step toward the door.
Yvette appeared there, blocking the way without touching him.
“Oh, no,” she said quietly. “You wanted a seat at the family celebration.”
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She looked directly at Darnell.
“Stay for the family history.”
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