THE TRIAL WAS QUICK and weighed more on my people than it did on me. Jackie had a hard time with the kids in her class. Kids could be so mean but my girl was tough. She called me almost everyday. Nikki and Nat were doing pretty good. They were more adaptable than Mya and Jackie. Clara said she wasn’t surprised because of their personalities. Jackie and Mya were both stubborn, in their own ways. Jackie would tell you straight out that no matter what she wasn’t changing her mind. Mya wouldn’t use those words. She wouldn’t use any words. She’d just give folks a look and they got the point. She’d given me that look on a few occassions.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Heziah had said. “She just needs time.”
I ain’t have no choice but to give it to her. The judge had ordered me to spend thirteen months under direct care. So, Mya got thirteen months.
“Mrs. Jenkins? You wanna put your journal away? You’ve got a visitor.”
Nurse Betty was just a few years older than me but she acted like she was old enough to be my mama. Not that it bothered me any, I just smiled and set my brown leather book on the nightstand. Betty and all the other nurses gave me special privileges that the other residents didn’t have. Once folks found out why I was there, their attitudes became real accomodating. They came by to chat with me, telling me about their kids, husbands, and boyfriends. Felt more like living with a bunch of friends than being locked up in the looney bin. Of course that ain’t change the fact that I missed my people. Heziah brought the twins by as much as he could and every full moon or so the social worker brought my girls to see me.
“You excited?” Nurse Betty cleared off my tray of what was left from my lunch. “Today’s the day. We’ll miss you around here.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
“You all packed?” She looked to the suitcase that stood in the corner then stood back with both hands on the small of her back. She smiled at me. “That’s a really nice dress.”
“Thank you hun.”
“You take it easy, okay?”
She slipped out the door just as Heziah’s frame filled it. He wore a brown pinstripe suit and held a dozen red roses.
“Well Mrs. Jenkins, what’s it gonna be? You ready to blow this joint?”
“With you?”
“Were you expecting somebody else?” He grinned. Gestured for me to come to him and wrapped me up in his arms. “I’ve got a surprise for you. In the hall.” His eyes danced for joy. “You’re not gonna ask me what it is?”
I didn’t need to. I already knew. There was only one thing I wanted after my freedom. My girls. They filed in one at a time in order of birth and surrounded me in a hug of giggles and tears. Nikki, as a teenager, had thinned out some but the chubby little girl I gave birth to was all I saw. She cried the loudest, hugging me gently then making way for her sisters. Nat and Jackie held the twins by the hand and the four of them rushed ahead of Mya. She tried to smile, wanted to smile I could see, but it didn’t come easy to my girl.
“Stop crying mama,” Nat laughed and tried to hoist her baby sister onto her hip like she saw Jackie do. “This the good part. We’re all together again. Now everything’s gonna be perfect.”