Malachi, page 27
Aeir peered in my direction, taking a second to look up from the sheet of paper she and Aeir were both focused on. With a shake of the head, she closed her eyes and got right back to work. It wasn’t until Aussie jumped from her seat and ran toward me, screaming, that she gave me her undivided attention.
“Uncle!”
“Aussie!”
She ran right past me. I didn’t have to turn around to know what was going on behind me. He had her upside down, tickling her tummy. It was the same thing with the two of them. It was their way of greeting one another, like a secret handshake for most.
“Malachi,” she sighed. “What are you doing here? I thought we talked about this?”
“We did, but we agreed on special circumstances.”
“What are the special circumstances?”
I stopped in front of her, looping my arm around her waist before turning slightly to expose the two behind me.
“Hank is here.”
Tensing slightly, Aeir tried moving my arm.
“Don’t be that way.”
“I just got her into her groove, baby. I just don’t want her lesson to be interrupted. It’s only the first day. We’re trying to establish a rhythm here and we almost had one.”
“I’m sorry, okay? I promise to stay away from now on. Hank wanted to see her and I didn’t want him to leave without making that happen.”
“Okay, Malachi, but please respect our hours in this classroom. It’s the only way she’ll learn and take school seriously. When I’m in this room, I’m not her mother and I’m not your woman. I’m a teacher. I’m Ms. Rothshire.”
“Alright. Alright. But don’t get too comfortable with that last name. I’m ’bout ready to change it.”
“I’ve lived with it all my life. I can stand it for another few months. I’m in no rush. Take your time, Malachi. I’m here.”
“I know and that’s why I love you.”
“Aeir, is it?” Hank stepped forward and extended his hand.
“Yes.”
“Hank.”
Aeir reached out to shake his hand, but was caught by a sharp pain that we all witnessed. Clutching the side of her head with her right hand, she took his hand into her left.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, Malachi. I’ll be fine. I feel like I have a migraine coming on. Sorry, Hank. It’s nice meeting you.”
“Same to you.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my lesson. You and Malachi are excused.”
“Oh, she’s serious business. Okay. You sure know how to pick ’em, nigga.”
He referred to Anna and her knack for getting on his case. She loved him dearly, but she was forever on his ass and making sure he was on the straight and narrow. She saw him as a brother and simply wanted the best for him and everyone else we loved. When they were out of line, she was sure to check them as nasty and as nasty as only Anna could.
“You sure you don’t want to lay down?”
Her face was still contorted after the pain had subsided.
“I’m fine. I’ll have a Tylenol and get through the next three hours before we’re finished here and can come home.”
“Alright. See you then.”
“See you.”
I felt awful for disregarding Aeir’s simple requests to allow her time with Aussie for the first two weeks, at minimum, without interruption. It was becoming clearer by the day that when it came to Aussie, she and I would bump heads if I didn’t do better. She’d adapted so well to motherhood in such a short amount of time that I’d think she carried Aussie for nine months and birthed her naturally if I didn’t know any better.
“You found a fucking clone, man?”
Stopping in my tracks, I took offense to the inaccurate revelation Hank thought he was having.
“She resembles Anna, yeah, but I didn’t find her. She found me. It’s called having a type… a preference. She fit the mold, but she’s not a clone.”
“Pipe down, my nigga. I’m just making an observation.”
“I’m good. Just stating facts.”
“Understood.”
“What’s on your agenda for the day? What made you stop by?”
“I heard you were in my neck of the woods yesterday. I didn’t believe a word of the shit until I pulled up to see you with the fresh fade, trimmed up and shit, looking like the nigga I once knew.”
“Yeah. I was out that way, fucking with them niggas. It was Mercer’s birthday. We picked up Pops and pulled down on that nigga.”
“Man, still can’t believe he’s out. This year has been full of goodness and mercy.”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around all this shit, man.”
“I’m going to get my ass out of here. I need to catch up with the wife for lunch. Hit me up. I’m glad to see you’ve shaken back.”
“One love.”
“One love.”
Through the windshield, I laid eyes on Willie. He tossed a hand in the air. I responded with a nod before climbing the steps to my porch and waiting for my reading to be given access to my house. Promising to keep busy and stay out of the girls’s way, I locked myself inside of my office without plans of coming up for air until it was time to start dinner.
A knock on the door hours later tugged at my attention, forcing my eyes away from the screen where I replayed the same video for the twentieth time in the last thirty minutes. Identifying anyone by the small, faint shadow would be impossible, but I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to try.
“Daddy!”
I opened the door to find Aussie standing with her hands folded over her chest.
“What’s up, baby? How was school?”
“I’m hungry. Mommy said you’re doing dinner tonight. Can you make spaghetti? I love spaghetti.”
“I know, baby. Where’s Mommy?”
“Her is on the couch.”
“She, Aussie. She’s on the couch.”
“Ooopsie.”
“It’s okay, baby. Try not to forget that.”
“I won’t.”
I believed her wholeheartedly. She hardly forgot anything.
“What couch is she on?”
“In the TV room.”
She meant the living room. It was my first stop. True enough, Aeir was sprawled out on the couch with a pillow under her head and between her legs. Kneeling beside her, pushing her hair out of her face, I noticed her elevated temperature.
“What’s the matter, baby?”
“I don’t feel good, Malachi. I think I’ve been overworking myself, trying to get everything ready for Aussie and get the business ready for launch. I feel awful.”
“I’m going to get you a cold towel. You’re warm.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. Your forehead is hot. I’ll grab some ice, too. Just eat them for a little while, until your temperature is regulated.”
“Okay.”
“Can I stay here with Mommy?” Aussie asked, concern dripping from her tone.
“Sure, baby. Come lay right here,” Aeir told her before I could deny her request.
She climbed on the couch and into Aeir’s arms. Side by side, they laid, staring back at me. Their resemblance was maddening. She truly belonged in Aeir’s arms.
I returned to find Aeir half-asleep. Her forehead was still warm. I laid the cool towel over it and shook the cup of ice to break it up a bit.
“Here, baby. I’m going to get dinner started. I need you to stay up and finish this ice for me to see if it’ll cool you down.”
“Okay.”
“Can I help, Daddy?”
“Of course, baby. We’re going to make some really quick spaghetti, Aussie, so don’t expect too much. It’s a very simple dish.”
I’d already started the water and was certain it was boiling already. Cooking the mushrooms and veggies, boiling the noodles, and adding the pre-made sauce that we kept in the fridge with tomatoes from our farm was all that was left to do. Aussie was a girl who loved her pastas, so having sauce prepared on a weekly basis made life easier for both Aeir and I.
“Okay! I’ll be back, Mommy. I’ll be right back.”
She hopped down and leaned over to give Aeir a kiss on the lips. She rubbed the side of her face, making circles while looking into her eyes.
“You’re going to be better soon. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, baby. Go help make dinner for us. Mommy could use something on her stomach.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back.”
Forcing a smile, Aeir nodded in understanding.
Aussie grabbed my hand and began climbing my side like monkey bars. I hung on tightly, traveling to the kitchen before she’d made it up to my chest. I sat her on the counter and grabbed her stepping ladder from the pantry. She climbed down and onto the ladder and held her hands out to accept the sanitizer I squirted into the center. I cleaned up next and then finally poured the noodles into the boiling water with Aussie’s assistance.
Together, we seasoned the rest of the ingredients to our liking, stirring them constantly as they sizzled in the pot until we poured the sauce on top. When the noodles were finished, we drained them, added them to the mixture, and cut the stovetop off completely. I popped a bowl of spaghetti in the fridge for Aussie. It was too warm for her to dig in, yet.
“I’m going to check on Mommy.”
“Make sure she’s eating her ice, baby. Tell her dinner is done and we’ll be at the table waiting for her.”
“Okay.”
She ran off toward the living room while I prepared a plate for Aeir and I. Because she wasn’t feeling well, I gave her a smaller serving than usual and added a cup of ginger tea to help her feel better and help her digest her food easier.
Aussie shot around the corner just as I was finishing up.
“I’m ready to eat!” she sang.
“Alright, love. Have a seat and I’ll grab your bowl from the fridge.”
After doing so, I gave her the proper utensils to get to work. I sat beside her, waiting for Aeir to turn the corner. My food grew colder as hers did too. Once I realized she probably wouldn’t be joining us, I headed into the living room to make sure she was alright. I rounded the corner to find her sound asleep.
Deciding against bothering her, I used the blanket on the other end of the couch to cover her feet. I laid the back of my hand against her forehead and noticed a difference in her temperature. It had decreased and was back to normal. I replaced my hand with my lips and kissed her goodnight before returning to the table to finish dinner with Aussie.
“Is Mommy going to be okay?”
“Yes. She’s just not feeling well today. She’ll be better by morning. Daddy will make sure of it.”
“Can I go to sleep, too? I want to wake up when she’s all better.”
Everybody was bailing on me. I wasn’t mad at her, though. I wanted to go to sleep and not wake up until Mommy was feeling better, too. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. I needed to get her in the bathtub and get the kitchen clean before I was able to lie down. A shower wouldn’t hurt, either.
“Once you finish your dinner, of course, baby. I’ll get you cleaned up and in some pajamas. Then, you can get in bed. When you wake up, Mommy will feel better.”
Aussie devoured dinner quicker than she ever had. I’d barely touched my bowl before she was hopping out of her chair and heading to the bathroom. With a shake of the head, I stood and followed her, remembering Aeir had made me promise to put a cap on her independence as it was a survival mechanism.
Aussie was no longer in survival mode. We wanted and needed her to enjoy her youth for as long as she could without having to make decisions and handle tasks before the time came for her to do so. It was the only way to truly see the beauty and brains she possessed.
Strangely, the bathroom door was closed. I knocked before entering. She remained quiet, leaving me no choice but to come through, anyway. I opened the door to find her in the corner of the bathroom with her knees up to her chest, trembling with tears staining her face.
“Aussie.”
I lowered to my knees in front of her, brushing her hair out of her face.
“What’s the matter, baby?”
“Mommy doesn’t feel well,” she cried, burying her face in her legs.
“I know, but it’s okay.”
“Just like my other mommy. Will she go away forever, too?”
“Nooooo, Aussie. Of course not.”
At that moment, I regretted telling Aussie that her mother had been injured, grew sick, and succumbed to her injuries. Though it was the watered-down version, it was the truth. She’d been murdered—shot in our home—fallen ill immediately and succumbed to her injuries from the fatal gunshot wound.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Okay.”
“How about we skip bath time tonight and go straight to bed? You’re dealing with some really big feelings right now and I think it’s best if we get in bed.”
“Okay.”
I picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom, into her bedroom. She undressed with little assistance and picked out a pair of pajamas to wear. Once we got them on her body, I got her into bed and kissed her cheeks.
“Feeling better?”
She nodded, a big yawn ripping through her face as she did so.
“You never told me how school went today. Did you enjoy your lesson?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Get some sleep, my love. We do it all again tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Daddy.”
“Goodnight, Aussie.”
I shut off the light and let Aussie rest. She was feeling some type of way about Aeir’s sickness and I didn’t blame her. I was feeling some shit, too. Seeing her down was disturbing, and the realization that she might not feel better by morning was tapping dancing on my heart.
I busied myself by cleaning the kitchen and the dishes we’d used. Trashing my spaghetti was the only option at this point. My appetite had declined tremendously. Just as I began wiping down the dinner table, Aeir’s voice gripped my heart strings and began tugging.
“Please!” She begged, “Please don’t. Please don’t do this. Please. My daughter. Please.”
I took off for the living room, rounding the corner on one foot. From a very short distance, I watched her fight the empty space above her.
“No! No. Don’t do—”
As much as I wanted to interfere, I couldn’t. In my heart, I knew what she was experiencing and it wasn’t a dream. It was, in fact, a nightmare, one that held all the answers I needed possibly. Waking her would ruin my chances of new discoveries. She was the key to the mystery that drove me to the brink of insanity. I could feel it. I listened closely, waiting for any clues that would get me closer to finding Anna’s killer.
“Please. No. Aussie. Don’t do this in front of Auss—”
Gasping for air, her hands smacked the couch, assisting her as she lifted and tossed her legs over the edge. Though I couldn’t see the tears, her whimpers were evidence that they were plentiful.
“Aeir.”
Making my presence known, I beckoned for her attention.
“Are you okay?”
Nodding, she swiped the tears from her eyes.
“I will be. I just need to get in bed. I feel awful, Malachi.”
“Come on.”
I took her hand into mine and led us to the bedroom. The shower I’d planned to take had been rescheduled. I didn’t want to leave Aeir’s side, not only because she wasn’t feeling her best but because I refused to miss the opportunity of discovery.
Together, we climbed in bed. Aeir tucked her head between my neck and shoulder. It wasn’t until I wrapped my arms around her that I noticed her body was trembling. Pulling her closely, I prepared for a restless night.
SIXTEEN
I’d seen the inside of the toilet bowl ten times in the last twenty-four hours. Nausea seemed to worsen by the hour. What I assumed was an upset stomach that would be better after a few hours turned into a sickness that I hadn’t been able to shake for three days.
“God,” I sighed, wiping my mouth and leaning my back against the cold tub. It made me feel so much better.
“All done?” Aussie’s little voice was like a hug.
“I hope so, baby.”
She never left my side. Over the last three days, she was the ultimate helper, making sure I wanted for nothing that she had access to. Whether it was an extra pillow, wet cloth, or a cup of ice, she was on it.
Our lessons had gone from the classroom to the bedroom, but we hadn’t slacked even a little. She was doing well, despite the circumstances. After four days, her assessment was almost over. The evaluation revealed that she was on a third-grade level in math, science, history and social studies.
Her trouble areas were writing, language arts, and English. At only two and a half, she was still above average, but those were the areas we’d focus on most in the next few months. When I was better, I’d tailor the lesson plan to fit her favorite methods of intake and more fundamental skills.
“Let’s get you back in bed, my love.”
Malachi lifted me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom. He peeled the covers back and laid me down gently. I got comfortable on the pillow and closed my eyes, hoping sleep would find me soon.
“Can you put the trashcan beside the bed?”
“Yeah. Let me dry it out and put another bag inside.”
“Thanks so much.”
“Just looking after you like you’ve been looking after me. That’s what we do, my love. Aussie, how about you come help me and give Mommy a second to breathe?”
Instead of protesting for her presence, I agreed with Malachi. I needed a few minutes alone, but I wanted my baby back as soon as I’d gathered myself.
“Alright. Be right back, okay?”
“Okay, sweetie.”
“If you need me, say AUSSIE!”
“Alright. I will.”
“Be right back, okay?” She repeated herself, needing me to know that she’d be back and I had absolutely nothing to worry about.
