Free You Get What You Pray For by E.N. Joy

Virginia, she hopped on it. Malvonia had too many memories, too many reminders of her boys that she couldn’t seem to escape. It didn’t matter how many years had gone by; she couldn’t let it go. She prayed that a little bit of time away would help.
    Truth be told, Unique was happy when the contract at the nursing home got extended. When she moved away, she felt like she was able to breathe for the first time in years. It gave her time to try to come to terms with things without any interference. She had been thrust into this new life as a single woman and was no longer a single mother. But now Tamarra needed her, and she was faced with the inevitable, returning to Malvonia. She had no idea if she was strong enough yet to face her demons that dwelled in this city.
    â€œI know it’s hard for you,” Eleanor said to her granddaughter, placing the broom up against the counter and going to sit down next to Unique. “But you’ll get through it. I know the past few years have been stranger than fiction for you, something out of a bestselling novel, but it’s real. As real as it gets. You can do that ‘fake it until you make it’ stuff all you want . . . you and your mama both. But I’m telling you, the weight of it all is going to come crashing down in the worst way if you don’t deal with it. You know?”
    â€œYes, Gran, I know.” Unique sighed, looking down at the black- and white-checkered place mat that sat in front of her. She agreed with her grandmother, but it was easier said than done. And unless a person had lost not one child, not two children, but three on the same day, he or she could never know what she was dealing with. And she didn’t want to deal with it. “Mom should have the girls bathed and stuff by now. I want to go make sure I kiss them good night before she tucks them in for bed.”
    â€œOh, you’re a tad bit late,” Lorain said, entering the kitchen. “I read them a book, and they were out like a light bulb before I even got halfway through it.” Lorain felt immediate guilt from the little white lie she’d just told. Of course, in her book, every lie was a mere white one, instead of a bright, spicy red one.
    â€œAwww.” Unique was disappointed.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Eleanor told her. “You can help me get them on the bus in the morning. I’m sure they’d like that.” Eleanor looked at Lorain. “Don’t you think?”
    â€œUh, yes, of course. I’m sure they’d love to have their big sister put them on the bus,” Lorain said. It wasn’t clear whether it was subconscious or a conscious choice on the part of Lorain to remind Unique of her place in the girls’ lives.
    â€œOkay, fine, then,” Unique said, not bothered at all by Lorain’s reference to her as the girls’ sister. That was the role she’d been playing for all their lives. “I guess I’ll head to my place and make sure I stop by in the morning on my way back to West Virginia.” She looked at Eleanor. “What time do you put the girls on the bus?”
    â€œNine-fifteen.” Eleanor announced.
    â€œPerfect. That should get me back to West Virginia right on time for lunch service,” Unique said, clearly still concerned about not putting in a full day’s work.
    â€œYou sure you don’t want to stay the night here, in the guest room? Your mom has got it set up all nice. Got it wallpapered with these navy blue and silver squiggly designs. She got rid of the full-size bed and replaced it with a queen,” Eleanor offered. “I got a guest room at my place too. It only has a full-size bed, but it’s comfortable as all get-out. Or you can sleep with me in my big ole bed. We can have a slumber party.”
    â€œOh, no. I have been in these clothes all day.” Unique looked down at her black skinny jeans and red sequined top. “Plus, it will be