Butterfly (29 page)

“You remember me, baby?” Dad asked.

“I remember everything about you. I remember the last time I saw you. I remember everything.”

My dad had a special but different bond with each and every one of his children. Whatever he had with Natalie, even when she was at a very young age, was strong. I used to be jealous of their relationship because for the first five years of my life, I was my daddy's little girl. And then all of a sudden, Natalie came out of nowhere and
bam
, she stole his heart. Of course she eventually became my baby doll, and now my baby has become a young lady.

“Do you remember me?” Natalie asked.

“I remember everything about you, too, sweetheart.” Dad touched Alan's stomach. “Do you remember me, little man?”

Alan nodded his head yes.

“Now somebody please tell me how this happened?” I asked. “Wow! How did you find them?”

“It took some research and a lot of resources, but as you can see, we did it.”

“After what happened, I can't believe their grandparents let them come.”

“Their grandparents forfeited custody years ago. They were placed in foster care, like you. Thank God they were living in the same foster home.”

“So what does that mean, Doc? Does that mean I can get my kids back?”

“Not exactly.” Dr. Forrester did not want to bring up my father's criminal activity in front of the children. “Considering your current circumstances, you probably can't get them right now. But we're working on it.”

“Come with me, kids.” Ma held Natalie's and Alan's hands and led them out of the kitchen.

After Ma walked out, Dad asked, “Then what happens to them?”

“This was an unofficial visit, Stone. They have to go back.”

“Will I ever see them again?”

“Of course. Stanley is working with the state of California to see what we can do to get your kids back to Georgia.”

“How long do you think it will take?”

“I have no idea, brother. But we're going to be working as fast as we can.”

“Eight long years, man. And all I get is one day?”

“Actually, they don't have to be back in Los Angeles until Sunday evening.”

“I guess this is better than nothing.”

“Don't worry about it, Daddy. We'll get them back. But for right now, let's just enjoy the time we have with them.”

“Yeah, you're right, sweetheart.” Dad smiled and began to leave the room. “I'm going to spend every waking second with them.”

“I think that's a good idea, Stone.”

After my dad left the room, I asked Dr. Forrester again, “How were you able to pull this off, Dr. Forrester? I need details.”

“Stone gave me information on the grandparents in Los Angeles and then I contacted Mrs. Powell for help. She told me her son was an attorney and I gave the information to him. He tracked down the grandparents and we found out that after they took the children to Los Angeles, they never assumed legal parental authority. They turned them over to the State of California, and like you, they were passed around from foster family to foster family. Luckily for them, we found both of them in the same home.”

“Be straight up with me, Dr. Forrester. Is there any possible way we can get them back?”

“It will take some time, but sure, you're going to get them back. Their situation is not as simple as yours. First of all, you were sixteen and that's a legal age for a foster child to decide on their own where they want to live. Secondly, they're in an entirely different state where the laws are slightly different. But, Stanley specializes in family law and he's confident that it's not a matter of if, but when.”

“Thank goodness! I can't wait to have all of my family together in the same city; my dad, my siblings, you, Mom, everybody.”

“You will, Butterfly.”

“Thank God.”

“I have some more news.”

“Oh really? And what is that, good doctor?”

“They arrested Harry Warren yesterday on the charges of prostitution, extortion, rape, child abuse, and molestation, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and contributing to the death of a minor.”

“Thank you, Jesus!”

“They may not get him on everything, but they have enough to keep him behind bars for the rest of his miserable life.”

“All of that from Keisha's diary?”

“No, his wife.”

I was leaving the next morning, so I took some private time to spend with Natalie and Alan. Natalie's memory was very keen. She remembered things she and I did together that I did not even remember. I guess I was the same way after meeting my dad in prison. I never knew I missed my siblings so much until they were brought back into my life. I had to leave the next morning, but I stayed with my little sister and brother until they fell asleep.

Ma Powell, Sparkle and I talked in my bedroom for a little while before they went back to their hotel. I told them about my modeling opportunity and they were ecstatic! It was mostly because the modeling would be in Los Angeles and we could spend more time together. Knowing that I would see them in Los Angeles in a couple of days alleviated the sadness of saying good-bye.

Jeremy and I hung out in my bedroom, too, but we did more than talk. We kissed and fondled, and he tried once more to get me to be in a relationship with him. I was down with kissing, but the boy cheated on me and I cannot speak for all girls, but there is no coming back from that. I just wished my heart understood that philosophy.

After everyone had gone, Ms. Alicia, Auntie Pam and I decided to clean up the kitchen before we left for L.A. My dad boldly walked in to talk to my Auntie Pam.

“Can I speak to you privately, Pam?”

“About what?”

“Just...talk.”

If I had not been in the kitchen, I am sure Auntie Pam would not have taken the time to talk to my dad. And I would have understood, but she did not want to hurt his feelings in front of me.

“I'm about to leave anyway, so I guess you can walk me out to my car.”

“Okay.”

“But don't try to steal it,” Auntie Pam joked.

“That's cold.” Ms. Alicia tried not to laugh but did not do a good job at it. “I'm sorry, Stone, but that was funny.”

Dad stepped to the side to let Auntie Pam walk ahead of him. “That's all right, Alicia. Pam got her little joke in, but he who laughs last, laughs best.”

“Hold on, what you plan on doing?” Auntie Pam looked back over her shoulder at Dad.

“Don't worry about that.”

Dad and Auntie Pam left out of the kitchen. Ms. Alicia and I were so exhausted that we just relaxed for a minute and did not speak a word. I dozed off momentarily and when I woke up again, Ms. Alicia was asleep. She must have felt me watching her because she opened her eyes.

“What are you looking at?”

“I'm just thinking.”

“Thinking about what?”

“I did it, Mom.”

“You did what, sweetie? You've done so much.”

“I graduated. And I'm going to college.”

“Yes you are, sweetie.” Ms. Alicia stood up and stretched. “Let's get some sleep.”

“I need some.”

On our way upstairs, Ms. Alicia noticed a car was still outside of our house. She cracked the door to see who it was.

“Who is it, Mom?”

“Your daddy and Pam are out there hugged up.”

“You lying!” I stood behind Ms. Alicia and we spied on them. “I can't believe this.”

“Wow!” Ms. Alicia covered her mouth.

“My dad is putting his mack down!”

“Wow!”

“Okay, I've seen enough.”

“Well, I haven't.”

“Come on, Mom, let's go.”

“Give me a minute.”

“No, come on.” I pulled Ms. Alicia away from the door and we went to bed.

W
e had to get up early to catch our flight. Our plane departed at 7:45 in the morning which meant we had to be there at 5:30 a.m. Dr. Forrester drove Ms. Alicia, Auntie Cynthia, Bri and me to the MARTA Doraville station where we met Auntie Pam. We caught the train to the airport. We had fun on the way making fun of each other for having so many pieces of luggage for only a weekend trip.

When we got to the airport. there were not a lot of people there. We got our boarding tickets and then went through security. They made us take off our jackets, our shoes, and run it through this conveyor. We had to put all of our money, coins. and all other metallic objects in a tray with the rest of our items we were carrying on board and that went on the conveyor belt, too. They had security look through something that looks like an X-ray machine to see the inside of our suitcase. It was nothing to them, but it was my first time and I needed some instructions, shit.

We waited for like an hour-and-a-half to board the plane. I was nervous, but after waiting for so long, I just wanted to get it over with. We went through the tunnel, which led to the opening of the airplane's doorway. There was a flight attendant to greet us at the door and direct us to the aisle. The first thing that caught my eye was, this thing was a lot smaller than it looked on television. I had a sudden realization that I was indeed claustrophobic.

Bri sat by the window, Ms. Alicia sat in the aisle seat, and I sat in the middle seat. Auntie Pam and Auntie Cynthia sat behind us in the middle and aisle seats. We sat on the plane for about thirty minutes before it moved away from the gate. It was like moving on a big bus. It was not bad at all. And then we turned onto the runway. The plane was still moving rather slowly and then it took off! We were going so fast, I thought we were already in the air. It was shaking and bouncing and then all of a sudden, we left the ground for real. Whoa!

The plane seemed to be going up at an angle, which made my body press backward into my seat. I stopped getting on the amusement rides at Six Flags because I was afraid and that takeoff was worse than any ride I had ever ridden in my life. I clutched Bri's and Ms. Alicia's wrists as tight as I could as we climbed higher and higher.

“You okay, Butterfly?” Bri asked.

“No, I am not. I want to get down. We're up too high, Bri.”

“No! No! No! It's fine. Once we get leveled off, the ride will be comfortable.”

“What is ‘leveled off'?”

“When the plane gets to the height where the pilot wants, it just flies straight ahead and you don't get that nauseated feeling like you're on a roller coaster.”

“I hope he hurry up and level off.”

“Okay, let's talk about something else. I can't wait to go to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Magic Mountain and take a picture at the Hollywood sign.” Bri tried to get my mind off of the flight.

It worked. We talked until I fell asleep. I woke up when I heard the pilot say that we were descending into Los Angeles.

“Wow! We're here already.” I nudged Bri. “Wake up, girl.”

“What?” Bri said.

“We're here.”

Bri sat up and raised the cover on the window. We were still above the clouds.

“I thought the pilot said we were descending. We're still in the sky.”

“It's still going to take another fifteen or twenty minutes before we land.”

“Cally-for-ni-a! Here we come!”

“California Love!” Bri broke into a serenade of Tupac and Dr. Dre's “California Love” and I joined in.
The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest. Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex.”

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What the hell?” Ms. Alicia playfully covered my mouth. “I bet y'all better watch your mouth!”

“Oops! My bad, Mom.”

Ms. Alicia leaned around the back of her seat to Auntie Cynthia. “Can you hear these hussies up here?”

“No, what did the hussies say?”

“They're talking about sex, and jimmies and slugs to your chest.”

“Who?”

“Bri and Butterfly.”

“Not my Bri?”

“Yeah, your Bri.”

“Stop it!” Auntie Pam laughed. “That's Tupac and y'all used to dance to it when it came out, so stop acting like you're disgusted.”

“Shut up! We're moms now.” Auntie Cynthia laughed out loud.

We were still laughing when the plane touched down and then my nightmare was all over. It was only nine o'clock in the morning there. I asked Ms. Alicia how could we be in the air for four hours and only lose an hour-and-a-half of time? I forgot about California was in the Pacific Standard Time, which was three hours behind us. I had to adjust to the time difference.

Ms. Erin had a limousine pick us up from the airport and took
us to our hotel. We shared adjoining rooms. The elders had the main suite, and Bri and I shared the smaller room. They laughed about stealing our large room, but the room we were in was more than big enough for us.

Auntie Cynthia and Bri went on a private tour of the hotel. Auntie Pam was in the bathroom, and Ms. Alicia and I were going over the itinerary that Ms. Erin had placed in the main suite. She arranged events, which covered almost every waking moment from the time we arrived to the time we were scheduled to leave. None of the activities on the list included Disneyland, Universal Studios or a trip to Magic Mountain. This was all about business! I thought it was going to be a one-day thing and then I could enjoy the rest of my weekend.