Chapter 1

Nicki pushed past Lamar and reached for Zuri. Zuri laid on her mat lifeless. LJ raced around and hit the front of his bike tripping over a stone. Lamar held Nicki up as she cried.

“And scene.”

“Mommy, I’m a star did you see me not breathe.”

Nicki laughed at her and pulled her into a hug as she practiced her lines for the rewrite of Romeo and Juliet. LJ and his Drama teacher had a dispute about the concept of R&J. He thought it was stupid that the kids died because they were too pussy to tell their parents how they felt.

“LJ how did you like that?”

“Well I kind a broke my camera and don’t got it. Start over.”

“LJ! Daddy just bought you that stupid camera!”

“Lame stop talking to me!”

“Man, stop it being mean.”

“Tell her to mind her damn business.”

“Yo.”

“My bad.”

“Lamar what are we eating? Today’s your day to cook.”

Zuri stated pulling herself up with the back of the chair. Lamar looked over at her then back at Nic who was kissing on LJ as if he was a baby. LJ squirmed and kicked his foot out then attacked her back.

“Mom stop with your affection I’m almost grown.”

“Nigga you’re 12 go sit down!”

“Mommy and LJ can we get some attention?”

Nicki pushed LJ over the sofa and crawled over to Zuri. She smothered her with kisses and Eskimo kisses. Zuri giggled and wrapped herself around Nic. Lamar cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.

“Yes, honey.”

“I can’t cook tonight I have a meeting at the shop. Remember Nic?”

“I know, I never said you were cooking now did I?”

“No need for your smart remark. Sorry Zuri.”

“No chocolate chip pancakes for dinner, Fuck!”

“Zuri Amore Samuels!”

“Sorry mommy.”

“This is why I don’t like sending you guys over there.”

Nic mumbled looking at Lamar. The last few weeks Lamar had taken them to Safaree’s because Nancy had gotten sick with the flu. Lamar shook his head and picked Nic up giving her a deep kiss.

“It’ll be okay, don’t stress it.”

“I asked him to do one thing and he acts like he can’t do it. Don’t cuss around the kids.”

“Daddy didn’t teach us. Karen did whenever she gets mad at us…”

“Shut Up Zuri!”

“No Zuri what?”

Nicki asked pushing away from Lamar. Zuri looked at LJ, who huffed then shook his head. He released a loud huff. Zuri looked at Nicki and started crying.

“Zuri don’t start that.”

“You won’t let us go back over Daddy’s if I say anything.”

“Zuri…”

“No.”

“LJ, one of you better tell me something.”

“I plead the 5th. That’s my right.”

“And it’s my right to…”

“Nic don’t force em’ to talk. If they aren’t physically harmed let them deal with it with their dad.”

Nicki walked out of the room into the kitchen and began cooking and fixing a lunch for Lamar & the kids. She was pissed and wanted to call him, but she hadn’t talked to him over five years.