9. Oh Brother ♔︎

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| King of Hearts |

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By: Janae Destiny

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"You actually came," Luna said to Kiara when she answered the door for her.

"I wasn't going to," Kiara admitted as she walked into the house. "I was really about to stay my ass at home."

"Honestly? You should have," Luna mumbled under her breath as she locked the front door back.

"What's that mean? They not on some shit, are they?"

"Nah. Can't be, cause daddy ain't even here."

"So where is he?"

Luna just shrugged in response to Kiara's question because she had absolutely no idea, and she wasn't sure Chloe, their mother, knew either.

"Wassup mama," Kiara found her cooking in the kitchen and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

"Good evening baby girl," Chloe gave her a quick hug before going back to the carrots she was chopping to add to the oxtail she already had simmering on the stove.

"It smells good as hell in here. You cooking like you tryna apologize for sumn."

"Kiara," her mother let out a very stifled laugh. "You're always so funny."

"Mmhm. So anyway, why'd you tell us to look nice just to come over here and eat dinner? What was that about?"

"Because we were supposed to be going out instead of me just cooking."

"But?"

"But your father never confirmed the reservation because... because we're sort of not speaking at the moment," she admitted.

"Why not? And where even is he? Cause Luna said he's not here."

"I truly don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in like two days."

"And the why part?" Kiara insisted.

"Because we got into a huge fight. And I'll just leave it at that since he's not here to talk about it."

"Didn't know y'all fight."

"Because we don't. We haven't fought like that in years."

Kiara wanted to ask more about it, but she decided to just leave it alone. She figured her parents are already going through enough in their relationship without her bombarding them with questions about it.

So instead, she just leaned against the counter as she texted her father, basically telling him that she hopes he's okay and that she wants to talk to him when he gets the chance.

"Kiara!" She heard her name being yelled the second she sent her text message.

"What Luna?"

"Come hereee!" She answered back in a super high-pitched voice.

Kiara made her way to the living room where Luna was sitting on the couch with her phone in her hands, squealing at the screen like a little school girl.

"Thought you wasn't talking to me," Kiara said as she sat down beside her sister.

"Bitch, that happened how long ago?" She was referencing the little back and forth they did at Kiara's house. It only happened a little over an hour ago, but she was already over it. "I been moved past that already."

"So you're not gonna apologize?"

"For what exactly?" Luna furrowed her eyebrows.

"For calling me a bitter, pessimistic ass bitch?"

"No, because I very much stand on what I said. I'll apologize for how I said it though. I was doing too much, I just... you really pissed me off with that shit you saying about daddy."

"Yeah, you're right," Kiara sighed. "It wasn't fair of me to project my own past traumas and insecurities on they relationship like that."

"Can we talk more about it later? Like a real talk. We ain't done that in a while and I feel like you got hella shit you been keeping in that you needa get off your chest."

"Uhh..." Kiara hesitated because the mere thought of having a real conversation made her want to internally shut down.

"Kiara?"

"Okay," she reluctantly agreed. "We can go to the lounge after this to chill and smoke."

"And talk," Luna emphasized.

"And talk. Whatever."

"Great. Cause I got hella shit I been wanting to talk to you about."

Kiara internally cussed, because she knew Luna was going to want to get deep and emotional- and those are two things she hates the most.

"Anyway though," Kiara cleared her throat. "What you call me in here for? What is it?"

"Bitchhhh," she said with so much excitement in her voice. "Tell me why Rowan just asked me out on a fucking date."

"As he should. You already let him hit so I was expecting that to come pretty soon. Where's he tryna take you though?"

"This nigga tryna take me out the fucking countryyyy," she screamed.

"Oh shit," Kiara raised her eyebrows because she definitely wasn't expecting that. "For a first date?"

She thought that was a bit much for a first date, but she kept that part to herself. If that's something Luna really wanted to do, Kiara's only advice is to make sure Luna trusts him and that she keeps herself safe.

"Yup. He wants to take me to Hawaii for a couple days."

"Luna... you know Hawaii is a state, right? It's part of the U.S."

"You really think I'm stupid, don't you? I mean out of the country as in out of the contiguous United States."

"Okay Ms. Geographer," Kiara laughed. "Calm down sis."

"No cause you think I'm dumb."

"I don't think you're dumb Luna."

"You've literally said it to my face multiple times, but okay," she rolled her eyes. "Moving on. Do you think I should go?"

"I mean... if you want to and you trust him enough, then I don't see why not."

"I'm honestly shocked by that answer Kiara. Thought you'd try and talk me out of it."

"You're 23 years old Luna. You're more than old enough to be making your own decisions."

"I'ma tell him yes. Ughh, Kiara," she sang out. "What if this actually lasts? Can you see us together like that? Can you see me as Mrs. Williams?"

"I can actually. I definitely do see it," Kiara nodded her head.

And she doesn't mean it in a bad way, but she's always thought Luna was more cut out to be a basketball wife than anything else. She's a 23 year old with nothing more than a high school education and her personality largely consists of spending money, being pretty on Instagram, and dating rich athletes.

And there's nothing wrong with that. Kiara actually applauds her sister for being able to find men that willingly finance her entire lifestyle, because if she could, she would do it too.

"Who the hell?" Luna mumbled when she heard footsteps from the top of the stairs.

They turned around on the couch to see their little cousin walking down the steps. It's been a couple of years since they last saw him, so they both immediately got up and rushed over to the teenage boy, tackling him into a hug the second he landed on the bottom step.

"Cameronnn," both Kiara and Luna didn't care that they were squeezing him so hard he could barely breathe.

"Mi cyaan breathe," the fourteen year old gasped for air.

"I'm sorry," they both pulled away from him.

"Oh my God Cameron," Kiara was so excited to see him. "You're almost as tall as me now. What the hell?"

"And you are taller than me. when did you even get here?" Luna asked him. "Is Aunty here too?"

"Mi plane reach late last night," he answered her. "And no, it's just me dis time."

"Why mi never know you ah come visit?" Kiara asked him.

"Aunty," he nodded his head towards Chloe, who was walking towards them from the kitchen. "She said it was a surprise."

"Shit, I'm definitely surprised. How long you staying?"

"Mi here fih stay actually. Apparently mi gone start school up here suh."

"Boy, stop talking like that," Chloe walked into the living room with them.

"Sorry Aunty-"

"Nah, don't be sorry," Kiara stopped him from fully apologizing. "Yuh nuh haffi act like seh yuh need fih talk proper just cause yuh deh yah foreign now."

"Wait," Luna interrupted. "Cameron, you said you're going to school here? What happened back in Manchester? I thought you wanted to stay there?"

And she only asked because they tried to move Cameron from Jamaica to Florida multiple times to go to school when he was younger, but he never wanted to. He liked visiting during breaks from school, but he always wanted to go back home at the end of it.

"Well mi change mi- well I changed my mind."

"That's not fully the truth," Chloe sighed.

"What truth?" Both Luna and Kiara asked simultaneously.

"Cameron is here because... because..." she kept hesitating.

"Because what?" The girls said at the same time again.

"Just tell dem Aunty," Cameron encouraged her.

"Because he's actually your brother. And he's going to be living with me now that your father is officially moving out."

"I'm sorry, what?" Kiara was a bit taken aback by that statement. "What do you mean he's our brother?"

Luna was just standing there completely frozen in shock with her eyes opened wide. They both didn't even know how to process that information to even ask any questions. Because as far as they knew for the last fourteen years, Cameron is Chloe's aunt's son, making him their second cousin.

"He's your brother," Chloe just repeated. "He's my son."

"This a joke, right?" Kiara couldn't help but laugh. "Cause there's no way in hell."

"Right..." Luna whispered. "This has to be a joke. Cameron is not our brother. How would that- that's not even..." she wasn't sure what she was trying to say to even get a complete thought out.

"This isn't a joke," Chloe pouted. "I'm being so serious right now."

"Ah wah di fuck is dis?" Kiara said a bit louder than her mother appreciated.

"Mi get yuh in shock, but yuh nuh need fi cuss bad word in front of di bwoy."

"Cameron, yuh know se she yuh muma?" Kiara completely ignored every word her mother just said to her.

"Uh... yes," he whispered. "Aunty Chloe and mi mada tell me not too long ago. Said dats why mi ah come here fih live now."

"Wow... I literally don't know what to say right now," Kiara muttered. She was at an absolute loss for words. "Just... wow."

"How?" Luna asked. "How is this even possible? You were never pregnant."

"Can we talk in the kitchen? Please?" Chloe begged.

Both Kiara and Luna followed Chloe into the kitchen, leaving Cameron in the living room so they could talk. Chloe already had this very uncomfortable conversation with Cameron already, and now it was time to have it with her daughters.

"I know I have a lot of explaining to do," Chloe went to a cabinet and took down three wine glasses before going to the fridge to retrieve an opened bottle of Merlot.

"No thanks," Kiara shook her head when Chloe was about to pour the wine into her glass. If she hadn't already gotten so drunk the previous night/early morning, this is definitely a type of conversation she'd want a drink or two before starting.

"Okay..." Chloe sighed. "I don't exactly know where to start."

"How bout the beginning?" Luna said after immediately gulping down her entire glass of wine and reached for the bottle to pour herself some more.

"The beginning," Chloe nodded her head. Okay. So uhm... I guess I'll start with the obvious. Cameron is not your father's child."

"Yeah no shit," Kiara exclaimed. "But how the fuck you have a whole ass kid and we didn't know?"

"I hid it for as long as I could. And then when I couldn't hide it anymore, I went to Jamaica for the rest of the pregnancy so no one would find out. That was the time you guys were with my sister while Keenan was on the road for those few months I claimed I went back home to help Aunty out."

"So dad didn't know either?"

"Uhm... not exactly. Not at first, that is. Only Aunty and my sister knew. Keenan just recently found out."

"When did this all happen? Like how did no one notice?"

"I don't know if you remember this, because y'all were kind of young, but your father and I were separated for a couple years at one point."

"I do remember that actually," Kiara whispered.

She was around 12 or so at the time and thought it was weird that Keenan wasn't living at home with them as often, but they always just claimed he was gone for work. And because neither Kiara or Luna knew any better, they believed it.

"That's when it happened. That's when I got pregnant with Cameron."

"Who's his father-?"

"That's not important," Chloe shook her head.

"I feel like Cameron would beg to differ," Luna argued. "And why did you lie about it? That's the part I can't understand. Why would you tell us he was our cousin? Why would you have him live in Jamaica with Aunty instead of here with us?"

"Because... because I was scared," Chloe said barely above a whisper. "I love your father. I've loved him since I was a kid. I just... I wasn't ready to let go of that. I wanted him back and I knew that wouldn't happen if he knew I had another man's child. And by the time I even found out I was pregnant, I was too far along."

"So Cameron had to suffer because you weren't woman enough to handle your shit?" Kiara scoffed. "Cameron had to grow up away from his own fucking family because you're incapable of telling the truth? Do you know how crazy this all sounds? Did you even care how this would all affect him?"

"Look, I know how wrong it was to lie," Chloe looked and sounded like she was about to start crying. "I didn't want y'all to hate me."

"And you think lying to our fucking face was the better option?" Luna was getting angry. Because of the two of them, she is definitely more outwardly emotional than Kiara. "Like what the fuck mom? I literally... I don't even know what to say or think about you right now. Cause now I'm just wondering what else you've been lying about if you lied about something that fucking serious."

"I haven't lied about anything else. I swear."

"How are we supposed to know that? Is Keenan even my father?" Luna got even louder now. "Am I really daddy's kid?"

"Don't be ridiculous Luna. Of course you're Keenan's child. Why would you even ask me that?"

"Well y'all always joking around about how different I look, so I don't know. Maybe you been out there whoring around for a lot longer than we know."

"Alright Luna," Kiara stopped her. "I get that you're mad, but chill out. Don't disrespect mom like that."

"Nah, cause I don't think I'm doing enough actually. We have a fucking brother Kiara. Our cousin is actually our brother. Do you not realize how crazy that sounds?"

"I didn't mean to upset y'all," Chloe's tears finally came flowing down her cheeks.

"Mom, I know you're not the one crying right now," Kiara looked at her like she was crazy. "You just dropped that bomb on us, but you're the one that's crying?"

"This shit can't be real," Luna looked like she was about to start crying too. "We could have been so much closer to him this whole time. But you kept us away from our own brother because of your own selfish ass reasons. Like that's really unbelievable. I can't even look at you right now."

"Luna-" Chloe attempted to reach for her hand, but she quickly pulled away from her.

"I guess you were sort of right," Luna looked to Kiara and said it with tears all in her eyes. "There was more to it than they were telling us after all."

"Luna," Kiara pulled her sister into a hug.

She wasn't exactly sure what else to say, so she just held her sister in the hug for a while until she finally pulled away from her.

"I don't even wanna be here no more," Luna wiped at the tears that were flowing down her face. "Fuck dinner. I'm going back home. This too much for me."

"Luna, baby girl please talk to me-"

"Mom, please," she begged. "Not right now. Cause if I stay, I might just cuss you out. And that's not a line I'm tryna cross with you."

"Just let her go," Kiara whispered.

"Cameron," Luna called him on her way to the front door.

"Yes, Luna?" He awkwardly answered, trying his best to pretend he was watching the tv and not listening to the entirety of their conversation in the kitchen.

"Put your shoes on baby. You gonna spend the night with me."

"Aunty-" he turned to look at Chloe for permission, but Kiara stopped him.

"If you wanna go with Luna, just go baby," she told him. "I'm gonna come over later and check on y'all, okay?"

"Okay," he nodded his head.

"I'ma be outside in the car," Luna grabbed her purse and her shoes. She didn't even bother putting them back on before she walked straight out of the door.

Cameron quickly got up off the couch and ran up the stairs to pack a bag of clothes and other things he'd need to spend the night with Luna.

"This is crazy as fuck," Kiara just lowered her head into her hands because she could feel her headache coming back.

Above all of the emotions and thoughts going through her head at the moment, Kiara just felt... confused. She was confused at how her mother could have a child and not raise him with her other two kids or even mention him for the first fourteen years of his life. She was confused about her once cousin now being revealed to her as her half-brother. She was confused because the tight-knit family she thought she knew so well was one she clearly didn't know whatsoever.

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