**********
Ten minutes later Mrs. Ware was pulling up to find a very pissed ShaKita standing up in front of the store. She hurriedly got inside the car.
“Mom, she got me,” she said slamming the car door shut.
“Can this be actually happening already?” Lauren asked out of confusion. “The girl just woke up.”
“What is she thinking just showing up to that funeral like that?” Kerry asked looking over to their mom for answers. “Does she not know that some of them are going to hate the fact that he’s there and she’s still here?”
“I wanted to tell her that but Bianca wasn’t tryna hear nothing that I was saying.” ShaKita said. “No wonder she wanted to ride with me.”
“Or probably because you’re the weakest link,” Lauren teased.
“I know you ain’t talking after that incident I saw yesterday,” ShaKita snapped back, causing Kerry to cut her eyes back at her.
“Did you call Dad?” ShaKita asked. “Because we all know that he is the only one that can calm Bianca down if she gets outta hand.”
“I called him,” Mrs. Ware informed her. “I’m just hoping that we won’t need him. Janay wasn’t feeling well so he was dropping her off at the house first.”
“Oh, okay.” ShaKita responded. “Janay probably just needs to rest herself. All this drama can be too much; especially for a pregnant woman that’s supposed to already be taking it easy.”
“Mom, what do we do when we get to this church?” Kerry asked. “I know that you and dad were paying y’all’s respect but that was before Bianca woke up. Now, you have to show up only because your daughter has insisted on being somewhere that she’s not even invited.”
“This girl is crashing a funeral like it’s some kind of grand birthday party and she’s the guest of honor.” ShaKita teased.
“Not Now, Kita!” Mrs. Ware fussed. “My child is not in her right mind. She doesn’t even need to be driving. I don’t know what she could possibly be thinking, but the sooner I get to her the better.” She said with a confusing shake of the head as she headed in the direction of the church.
**********
Mrs. Ware pulled up to the crowded church of people passing ShaKita’s car parked along the curbstone just feet from it. She pulled up directly behind the hearse because she wasn’t staying long. She was only there to get her baby and leave. She didn’t even turn off the ignition as she exited the car.
“Lauren, sit tight until we come back out,” Mrs. Ware said indicating that she, Kerry, and ShaKita would get out and find Bianca.
“Okay Mom,” Lauren said glancing at all the people standing around outside the crowded church. “Y’all be careful.”
ShaKita and Kerry followed closely behind Mrs. Ware as she made her way through the people that were standing in the doorway of the church. It seemed that the body was being viewed but only by one person, Bianca. Mrs. Ware tapped the shoulder of one of the young men standing closest to her.
“Excuse me,” she whispered. “Do you know what’s happening right now?”
He leaned in to whisper back. “Kory’s girlfriend just showed up here. It was all kinds of chaos at first because his sisters apparently don’t like her very much, but his mama decided to let her say her final goodbyes. I don’t know what’s up with her, but she looks sick.” He said watching from afar shaking his head.
The truth was that she did look sick standing at his casket leaned down crying like a baby. Mrs. Ware could tell that she had love for Kory, but it was time that she let him go. She started towards the front of the church with her daughters following close behind her. The loud whispers caused Bianca to glance back as she saw her mom coming to get her.
“Mommy,” she cried out. “He’s not supposed to be here.” She was hurt and if nobody else knew it, Mrs. Ware did.
“No, baby, he’s not.” Mrs. Ware responded wrapping her arms around her grieving child. “Let’s go now,” she said. “Let’s go.” Bianca cried and started to walk off but stopped in her tracks and looked back at Kory’s body again.
“I can’t leave! I don’t wanna leave him!” She screamed out. “That’s my daughter’s father!” she cried. The people in the church were either crying or shocked, but Kory’s sisters had had enough.
“Mama, it’s past time for her to leave,” the big one said. “Her ratchet behind is making a scene.”
“Please get her outta here before I do something that I’ll regret.” The skinnier one said. “Even at his funeral she gotta be the center of attention.”
Bianca jerked her head and stared straight in their direction. “You big bitch you! I’ll come over there and beat your ass!” Bianca took off after her, but Mrs. Ware restrained her. “And what are you talking about with your ugly po’ stank breath ass! He didn’t even like you bitch!” She said to the skinnier one. The girls jumped up ready to fight, but all Mrs. Ware, Kerry, and ShaKita wanted to do was get Bianca out of the church.
“Oh Lord, Please!” Kory’s mom cried out. “Dear God, this can’t be happening at my baby’s funeral!”
“God can’t help your ass now!” Bianca called out. “He hated your ass too! You didn’t even know who his daddy was. Sleeping with every muthafuckin’ man that would fuck your ho’ish ass back then,” she yelled out while kicking and screaming for her mom and sisters to let her go.
“Let me get her,” the big sister yelled out. “Let me get this bipolar bitch! I’ma teach her ‘bout running that big ass mouth!”
Bianca struggled to get free. “Turn that big bitch loose and watch I mop the floor with her ass!” She yelled out.
Kerry and ShaKita were passed embarrassed as they used all the strength they had to get Bianca’s cocky ass out of that place. The people in the church had grabbed Kory’s sisters because they were going to try to kill Bianca if they could’ve gotten their hands on her but they couldn’t. The church was in pure chaos and it was all because of her. By the time they’d made it outside Mr. Ware was just making it up the steps of the church. He carried Bianca back to his car then quickly exited off of the property before the police were called.
A day that should’ve been a day of thanks turned into a day of horror. Mrs. Ware would have to personally apologize to Kory’s family whenever time permitted itself; if they would even accept her apology at all. She was ashamed that her daughter would behave in that manner, but it wouldn’t be Bianca if she didn’t.
Chapter7
A week had passed and the family was trying their best to get over Bianca’s temper tantrum and disrespectful outbursts at Kory’s funeral. The Ware sisters talked about it every chance they got. It had become one of the craziest things that Bianca had ever done and now Kerry was trying to see how their mom and dad was handling the situation after things had hopefully cooled down some.
“Hey Mom,” she spoke over the cell phone as she pulled up in front of Ciara’s elementary school.
“Hey Kerry,” Mrs. Ware spoke back. “How are you feeling today? Did you go to work?” She asked knowing that Kerry was trying to get over a cold that she’d been taking medicine for.
“I feel better, but now Ciara is sick.”
“Aww, my poor baby,” Mrs. Ware commented.
“I’d been telling her to stay outta my face, but she has to kiss me one hundred times a day.”
“Reminds me of you at that age,” Mrs. Ware responded with a light grin.
Kerry smiled. “I can remember,” she responded. “I’m actually at the school now about to pick Ciara up, but I was calling because I wanted to know how were things going with Bianca? I stopped by there twice this week but she wouldn’t open the door up for me. Both nights you’d skipped out to go play bingo.”
“I have to play something to clear my mind of Bianca’s mess.” Mrs. Ware said with a disappointed shake of the head. “Kory’s family doesn’t even want to speak with me. They have washed their hands of Bianca’s foolishness and want no parts of the baby.”
“Wow,” Kerry whispered sorrowfully shaking her head.
“Bianca is a thirty-two year old grown woman and we still have to clean up her messes like she’s still a terrible two year old year old running around terrorizing the streets. She’s like an erratic Tasmanian Devil.” Kerry grinned to herself even though it really wasn’t funny at all.
“It’s sad,” Mrs. Ware continued. “I want to help her. Lord knows that I’ve tried in the past, but she’d skip her appointments with her doctors then claim that any medicine that was prescribed only made her behavior worse.”
“And God knows we didn’t need that.” Kerry uttered.
“She just refuses any help or love that we show her. I see so much good in this child though. She has the ability to do great things with her life. When she was with Madison’s father she went back to school and got her degree in Business and Administration. She was like a changed person for those two years. However, things changed the minute she found out that he’d been engaged to another woman. It’s like she lost her damn mind again and never attempted to find it after that.”
Kerry nodded her head agreeing fully. “Mom, you’re right.” She said thinking about her sister’s past. “Bianca wants love so bad until I think this pushes her to be the way that she is. She has sat back for years and admired you and dad’s relationship but she can’t find one quite like it. I think that it bothers her. Think about it. This girl started looking for love at thirteen years old with a man twice her age and some. It’s almost like she wanted that stability and the love and respect that you’ve gotten from Dad all of those years. She respects Dad so much. Why do you think that he’s such the enforcer when it comes to her? If she doesn’t listen to anyone else, she listens to him. He is the father, the husband, and the grandfather that every wife, daughter, son, and or grandchild dreams about. He is the epitome of perfect in his own way and about as humble as they come. Who doesn’t want that?” Kerry questioned knowing in her heart that she’d prayed many nights to have a marriage like her parents.
“And for Bianca to see us, her sisters, in relationships that totally don’t last or are wrong as hell,” she said thinking of Lauren and Jamal’s relationship. “It’s gotta be hard on her. Of course she and Kory weren’t good for each other because they both had bad habits, but for the most part he did take care of her. He had her living in a nice house; he did for their daughter even though you kept her most times. He still made sure that she was straight with her necessities like pampers, milk, and provided you with extra money for the other kids. Royce actually had said once that he liked him a little too. So with saying that, Mom,” Kerry added grabbing her purse so she could get ready to get out of the car.
“Be patient with Bianca. She needs you and she’s grieving. Another man that she loved in her own way has left her and that’s gotta hurt. I know you couldn’t imagine life without Dad, none of us could. And yes, that may be taken it a bit far, but walk in her shoes. Please, talk with her. She needs that love and support from her Mommy Dearest.” She said with a smile.
“You’re right,” Mrs. Ware agreed. “I just want her to think first before she reacts.” Mrs. Ware said still very embarrassed at the way Bianca showed her ass at the funeral. “She just disappoints me so bad.”
“Just talk to her Mom. See if you can get her to open up. We have Thanksgiving in two weeks and we want the family to be together and happy, all under the same roof. What’ll you say?” She smiled knowing that her mom would never say no to that.
“Okay, I’ll talk to her,” she said with a smile then they ended their call. She wanted to talk to her anyway, but she honestly didn’t know what could’ve been said to change the feelings of that shameful day.
**********
“How are you feeling, sweetie?” Kerry asked as she and the little Ciara made their way out of the elementary school.
“My throat hurts.” Her tiny voice responded while covering her mouth when she coughed.
“I need to get you some hand sanitizer too,” Kerry said thinking that she’ll be spreading her cold germs to everybody in the house with all that coughing and kissing on her and her siblings.
“Hey Shannon,” Ciara called out, totally catching Kerry off guard because she didn’t even see her walk up.
“Well hey Ciara,” Shannon spoke back. “I was just on my way to pick you up.”
Kerry quickly frowned. “To pick who up?” She bluntly asked the ratchet bitch that was now freely fucking her ex-husband.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said trying to play it off. “Justin called and said that the school wasn’t able to contact you and since he was an hour away he asked if I could pick up Ciara until he got back in town.”
“Really,” Kerry commented with a smug grin. “Well, I don’t know how Justin figured the school couldn’t contact me when I didn’t answer his call to even tell him if I had spoken to someone at the school or not.”
Shannon raised a concerned eyebrow. “Me, either,” she said. “I guess I’ll go on back home then. I hope you feel better, Ciara.”
“Thanks,” Ciara said gripping onto her mother’s fingertips tightly.
Kerry leaned down to speak in Ciara’s ear. “Go sit in the car for mommy, okay.” She said hitting the unlock switch on the doors as the little one took off running to the car. Kerry then looked over at Shannon. She hadn’t attempted to leave as if she’d been waiting for the moment to have a one on one with her lover’s ex-wife.
Kerry wasted no time giving the bougie, small frame, light skin, long hair Barbie doll look a-like the business. “Listen, you lil tramp. We’re not friends, we’ll never be friends, and if I ever hear that you came to any school to pick up any one of my kids I will lay my hands on you. Do we understand?”