Sample Sunday - Keep You To Myself

A glimpse into Synovi’s life…

Please note: Some details in this scene were deleted from the sneak peek, but will be in the published version. I can’t give everything away just yet.

THIS SNEAK PEEK IS SLIGHTLY EDITED, SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND COPYRIGHTED. ENJOY!

Synovi’s entire body tensed. Eyes darkening and mood mimicking it, he flexed his jaw as his mama entered the home. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen her, and that was sad. They lived in the same city, from what he knew.

Walking inside, she placed grocery bags on the counter. Shock covered her face when she rounded the corner and saw him.

“H-Hey, son,” Unique stuttered.

Synovi hit her with a head nod.

Her timid smile was always present whenever they were around one another. “It’s nice to see you. Who’s your friend?”

“I know you better open up your mouth and speak to your mama,” GiGi scolded, staring Synovi down.

“What up, Unique?” he grumbled.

“He gave me a head nod, Mama. It’s fine,” Unique said, defending him.

“No, it ain’t. Not in my presence. I done told him plenty about showing you respect.”

D’Marco shifted uncomfortably in his seat and stood. “I’ma step out on the porch and spark up. Granny, you good?”

“Mhm. Enjoy it yourself,” GiGi said.

Synovi wanted to get up with him but he knew GiGi would chew his ass out. Not because he couldn’t smoke, but because she expected him to hold a conversation with his mama. His animosity for Unique wasn’t a secret. Synovi despised her entire being and couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal, no matter what.

“So,” Unique began. “How have you been, Mama?”

GiGi sat next to Synovi on the couch and grabbed the remote off the table. She turned the volume to the TV down and placed it back.

“Better. This knee of mine been giving me some problems, so I’ll probably get surgery on it soon.”

Synovi frowned. “You ain’t tell me that.”

“I was planning on it. You know I was going to tell you.”

“Well, that’s good. I was just bringing you some groceries by. They had blueberries and strawberries on sale at Benny’s. There’s some can goods in there too.”

GiGi nodded. “Thank you. Benny’s ain’t too far from here, no?”

“Nope. About ten minutes. Right over there on Walsh.”

“Hmm. Synovi, where’s that place you’re staying at? It’s about ten minutes the opposite of Walsh, ain’t it?”

Synovi cut his eyes her way. GiGi knew exactly where he was staying and the address. Hell, she knew the fax number and Ms. Reid’s by heart.

“Yes.”

“Your mama need to gon’ head and make her way over there one day. My boy got him a nice room and the staff real nice,” GiGi bragged.

“Nah. She good. We can’t have visitors,” Synovi said dryly.

“Since when?” GiGi wanted to know.

Unique chuckled sadly. “It’s okay. Maybe we can meet outside of there. I’d love to catch up with you.”

Synovi licked his lips and sat up on the edge of the couch. “Tell me this, Unique. When the last time you saw me?”

She swallowed the rock in her throat. “March third of last year.”

“Girl, how you remember that damn date?” GiGi blurted. 

“You can remember a date, but not that you have a fucking son?”

Synovi’s voice was so cold, it made Unique’s heart stop.

“Now, Synovi,” GiGi sighed.

“Nah, Granny. ’Cause she sitting up here like everything is all good. Dropping off groceries and shit. When the last time you did something for me? Bought me anything, huh? You don’t know ’cause you haven’t. A nigga could’ve been dead, and you probably wouldn’t have known if GiGi didn’t tell you.”

Unique shot to her feet with tears in her eyes. “I tried my best to take care of you! You don’t know what it’s like being a single mother and struggling with no family! Yes, I failed you, Synovi, and I’m so, so sorry. I beat myself up every day about letting the system have you, but I wasn’t mentally or financially capable of taking care of you. I wish I could change the hands of time and go back and beg God harder to have mercy on our lives. You didn’t deserve to suffer from my inabilities, and I’ll never be okay with that.”

Synovi stared her dead in the eyes. “You shouldn’t. You never came back for me.”

The heaviness of his statement and the truth behind it stilled the room. It was no secret that Synovi had been in and out of the system and was a product of neglect. Her daily struggles through life itself caused it.

“I tried,” Unique said pathetically.

“Quit saying that. When you try at something, the outcome changes, even if only a lil’ bit. When GiGi got hurt, I couldn’t even come stay with you. You wanna know why? ’Cause even after all them years to get right, you were still unstable, living with a nigga who was knocking yo’ fucking head through the wall. You ain’t try to leave him yet, I see.”

Synovi was so mad, his hands were shaking. The bruises on Unique’s neck that she tried hiding were visible as day. That was why he held animosity toward her and would continue. She couldn’t leave a man who shouldn’t even be considered one. Synovi felt that as a parent, no matter the circumstances, he should’ve been able to call on her for anything. Unique had somewhat gotten herself together and, in his eyes, said fuck him, so the feelings would forever be mutual. 

“Mama, I’ma go,” Unique said, wiping at her wet face.

GiGi just shook her head. “You can’t keep running from your problems, child. Your son is right here pouring his heart out, and the first thing you wanna do is leave?”

“What am I supposed to do?” Unique cried.

“Figure it out and love on him! He’s giving you the chance to fix y’all’s broken relationship, and you’re not taking it. Go hug him right now.”

Unique’s lips trembled. “Mama.”

“Go hug him!” GiGi shouted.

Synovi had never heard her raise her voice like that in his life. Unmovable, he stayed seated as Unique walked toward him. Her eyes, the same oddly colored ones as his, stared at him with apprehension so thick, fog appeared before them. There was a shiny glint of fear and deprivation there as well. Unique missed her baby. Her motherless child. She was alive but dead in his eyes, and it crushed her soul.

The closer she got, the iller Synovi felt. There was a boulder sitting on his chest, and his stomach decided to start break dancing. He wanted to stand. Let her know that this was okay. That he, too, needed to feel her. To feel something other than unloved.

“Can I?” Unique asked meekly.

Synovi nodded, and she shoved her nerves aside and stretched her arms. Only then did Synovi find his footing. He reached for her like only a child does when their mothers were the only ones who could soothe them. Unique fell into his embrace, and the tension between them began to melt as they hugged one another tightly. As hard as he tried to hold them in, Synovi’s tears rapidly filled his eyes, blurring his vision.

“I’m sorry,” Unique blubbered against his chest.