Two days later. Space Girl and Little Man's joint birthday party. Fourth of July.

Happy Fourth of July and a Happy Birthday to you.

Mrs. Diola Tyson swept into the backyard in a one-piece bathing suit and crochet sheer cover-up. Her deep dark skin was coco buttered up and no one would call her old in the hot July sun. My mother was forty-seven-five feet tall and didn't look a day over thirty. Hell, she was mistaken for mid-twenties more often than not. Mom knew she looked good and acted like the black queen she was. As always, when my mother was able to come to any event in person, I had to resist the urge to bow. Her entrances were always grand. Whether or not we had a dollar to our name, my mother always had her head up. It wasn't like she was trying, she really wasn't. It's just everywhere she sits, it's always a throne, and it is what it is. It's how she was raised to act. I turn out as a nerd. My mother always carried herself well.

My mom kisses my cheek and each one of my friends. Eve, caught up in the moment, gave a little curtsy. Although, I think that was more joking than an actual need. My mom gave Eve a grin of pure consternation at her usual mischievous, rotten nature.

"Jo-Lee, when Bella comes back from her grandparents, make sure she comes by and sees me, you hear?" Her imperious welcoming eye brown was up in full-court mode.

"Yes, ma'am, Mom," she answered promptly to Jo-Lee, her skin turning pink at the slip-up. Everyone calls my mom, well, mom. When Jo-Lee first moved out here to live in base housing, my mother used to watch her daughter Bella for her. She helped to raise that little now-teenage girl. She was family to us, just like all my friends were. My mother walks over to the tiny table of sweet cupcakes and finds a tiny undersized mini cupcake that Carly made her especially. The dark chocolate cupcake with dark chocolate frosting and dark chocolate shaving was something my mother could never have said no to. The cupcakes near it were larger, but her mini one was just her size. She picks it up and eats it. My mother doesn't need to watch her weight, but she always does.

"Carly, delicious," my mom says.

"Thanks, Mom," Carly replies like the cat that ate the cream. The best thing about my mother is when you do good she says it. She's not like one of those moms who compliment you on everything and anything. You know where you stand with her. My mom took another tiny bite of the tiny cupcake.

"Is he bringing her?" said Mom.

"Mom, Theo's my ex-husband, not Voldemort, you can say his name!" Eve cackles behind me. The pot-stirring my mother is doing is right up her alley. I smile at her second round of cackles to follow the first. "Yes, she's coming with him. Her name is Alexa, she's a lawyer, Mom." Maybe my mom heard that slump of uncertainty that sunk into my tone. My mom comes to my side and gives me a sideways hug. She's so small I always forget she's not six feet tall. I needed it.

"Met Noah..." A leading statement from my mom. Who's the lawyer now, mom?

"And?" I replied. Two can play at that game.

"He's so very tall, baby. Wow."

"Ok..." full mom judo on display right now.

"I like him." I relax into her half-hug more. I'm not sure why, but a part of me worried that his silence might be off-putting to her. It turns so many people off because they don't give him a chance. He's been a good friend to my family. I would have hated it if my mom didn't like him. I walk with her over to the beach-style chairs so she can take her Queen name and get some sun at the same time. Then I head back to the setup area for the party.

***

https://youtu.be/Oy-hUXL8dy8

My friends put together the last touches for the party. The house with the wrap-around porch ready for guests to sit during the event. Noah and his sister Zoey help with the space theme party. Painted galaxies with winks of the stars on canvas' throughout sit on Noah's huge painting easels. Big painted Happy Birthday Sim and Ade. Both kids stare at the huge lettering. Then they dip their hands into the paints for all the kids and smack the four handprints in. Little Man turns and gives me a big grin. Then he sticks his hands back into the paint for another round of bright handprints. Sim smiles at him, takes her painted wet hand, and dots his nose in a combined giggle fit.

I hate to cut off the horseplay since it's their day. But I yell, "go inside and wash up before everyone gets here for the party."

A flash of lens flare from the street hurts my eyes. The huge paparazzi lens zooms in on Zoey and Noah together. The brother and sister don't seem to notice while putting out chairs for the party, but my stomach turns. As Zoey and Sabali win rounds in The Tour singing contest, the amount of paparazzi grows exponentially. It doesn't matter that Zooey isn't home; they line up like a murder of crows and wait for that picture. The popularity of the YouTube show was unexpected. Maurice, Mr. black Kryptonite himself in the flesh, comes out with his sister Sabali. They place the heavily laden food trays out on the picnic tables. The first of the guests drove up the lane, past the paparazzi. I turn to look for Noah. But he's done and has disappeared, probably back to the workshop.

Every child from the kids' school in both their classes was invited to the party. It is a bit of pure chaos, with kids and parents running around everywhere playing tag football. Other kids with a face full of birthday cake in a sugar coma at the tables on the deck.

"It isn't a bad party at all," says Jo-Lee. She takes a dip sip of her cocktail and smiles at me. The half-ass southern bell has the look of mischief in her eyes. I let her play her mischief and take my bit of wonderful Noah brew coffee.

Eve comes up next to Jo-Lee, taking her cocktail and getting a sip. Carly walks next to me with a pout at the cocktail. For once, Eve isn't the designated driver. Our little group is a calm spot in the sea of birthday joy from all the kids. I look and the Little man's cape is flipping after him as he runs with the football. I am not totally sure that all the kids know the touch football rules because half are running the other way from the ball movement. All the kids playing look adorable, though.

"Mr. Black Krypton looks good on the field," said Eve. He did look good playing in the adult football game that turns more serious for some reason. As one of the few non-dad-bod guys. He looks really good. Shirts and skins at a kid party, but I guess the testosterone got the best of some of the dads.

Carly smiles at the new party guests. "We got booze at the table in the back top-shelf. And for the one who isn't drinking, I have a lovely yellow armband like mine to say you are a driver. The cake has already been served and the kids are playing everywhere." She armbands the dad and I guess mom is getting her cocktail on. Their two kids run in the opposite direction. Carly's eyes locked back to the football game like she had radar.

Jo-Lee says, "don't lick your chops like that Carly, you're giving away the game." We laugh together. More men join the adult football game. My eyes scan the crowd, looking for Noah as I take another sip of coffee. Gone.

A sweaty Little Man runs up to me, a bit dirty but thrilled. The cape flies back with all his speed as he heads straight for us. Little Man stops as he looks at the drive and his dad's car coming up.

He's late.

Theo parks to the side, getting out. Little Man walks slowly towards him. He looks a little happy and a bit hopeful. The cape drags a little loose on his shoulders now that he isn't running.

"Tari," says Zoey, drawing my attention away from the big SUV and my Ex. I turn and smile at Noah's sister. "Thanks for inviting us to the party."

"It's your house, Zoey, and you encouraged us to have the party in the first place," I replied to her.

"I do love parties. It's also good to meet your friends in person. I love the collab video you made for the YouTube account. I knew I had to somehow taste a cake." She laughs lightheartedly. My friends reach out and each shakes her hand. "Do you mind if we go on a walk?"

"Sure." I set my coffee on the table and follow Zoey. We walk along the side of the house, heading towards Noah's workshop.

"I'd like to offer you a contract for next year."

Well, she didn't work up to asking that question. Went right for it. I keep my mouth shut as mull over an answer that would work. I'd be on my feet again by the end of the year in a much more stable place. A part of my mind wanders into my mother. My mom didn't have a home after my father got sick with cancer and with his death we lost everything. The idea of not having a home, a place of my own, and something that I could fall back on that is just mine. Even at the end of the year, I'd be in a good place to put a down payment on a small condo or an apartment. But this job in its original form was live in.

"I don't know right now. I'll have to take even more time to think about it if that's ok? Do you need an answer right now in case you need to look for someone else?"

"No, but tell me when we get done with the tour over Christmas or before." She smiles politely and heads back up the path.

My feet take me like a magnet to Noah's workshop. He laid out another project at the workshop. My mind catches the piece for later in case he wants it in his gallery exhibit at the new year. Wood sculpture abstract modern art medium size piece. The curves in the piece are intricate with loving detail but smooth and round at the same time.

"Yes, the curves are important in this piece," Noah answers me out of nowhere. Did he read my mind? His hands stroke over the curves, taking small pieces out.

"I said that out loud?"

"Yes, you do that sometimes when you watch me work."

Shit. With my jaw tightly closed.

I had nothing to add to that. The fat silence was uncomfortable. Noah's sharp ocean blue eyes smile at me from the corners. Yep, my discomfort is that obvious. The bright spot is its one of those rare times that Noah gives me full eye contact. And his striking eyes say more than his words.

A stick on the path breaks. It breaks Noah and my eye contact. Maurice comes up the path behind me smiling, sweaty and shirtless from the football game.

"Hi, Tari. Thought I'd grab a shower," Maurice says.

"Who won," I asked?

"No one, the game was interrupted by the kids."

"Oh," I replied lamely.

Noah keeps working, but his sandy locks block his eyes from me. And it's as if his whole being is focused again on his work. He smiles at Noah's hard work and it's a look of real appreciation for the craftsmanship. Maurice looks up at me, catching me looking at him.

"We have this event for work. We get free tickets from the firehouse every year for a pretty fancy restaurant. Would you like to go?" I was a little off guard.

"A friendly dinner?"

"No, a friendly Friday night date," Maurice answers with steady confidence. Noah's head comes up, and he looks at me in a way as his blue eyes swirl. It's that stormy way I can't put my finger on.

"I don't think I could find a babysitter."

Maurice breaks Noah's and mines eye contact. "Noah, will you babysit?" We both turn to Maurice together. Then, moments later, Noah nods slowly. His eyes don't come back up to meet mine. It's like I'm shut out again. Reset back to a time of that first Hey, Noah.

Maurice smirks at me and starts heading to the outdoor shower. "See you Friday, Tari." He walks away like with full black krypton on display.

I wait a few moments for Noah to look up. For him to stop working. For him to say something. For me to find the words. For this not to feel fucked up. I don't know. Then I did the only thing I could do. Walk back to the party.

AN:

Thank you for reading awhile I was away. happy 4th!