Just Be A Man About It

Chapter Forty: Life Goes On

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Nessa called as she ran down the hallway and into the kitchen jumping on her mother's leg.

Vanessa (Nessa) is Toni and Dre's three year old daughter.

"Yes Nessa baby what is it?" Her mother asked concerned

"I want ta see my grandma and my cousins. Tan I go?" She asked softly

Picking up the phone she started dialing "Okay let's call Eric and Caleb and see if–"

"Nooooo mommy no not them." She shook her head as she shook her curly hair all over the place.

"Huh?" Toni asked confused

"I want ta see Nana Verna and my Unca Snoop and my cousins over thereeee." She said pointing behind her as if California was in their backyard

"Ohhhh you talking about those cousins?" She said picking her up and placing her on the counter. "So you wanna take a trip to LA huh lil girl?" she asked as she tickled her daughter and they laughed

"Mhm! So we can go to the beech and swim in the wataa and I talk to my daddy again." Nessa said excitedly stopping Toni in her tracks

"Again?" Toni questioned

"Oops." Nessa said as she covered her mouth and climbed off the counter then attempted to run out the kitchen.

"Vanessa Taylor come back here and answer me! What do you mean again?" Toni asked sternly as she folded her arms

Nervously she admitted "Last time I at Unca Snoop house my daddy called and Unca Snoop lemme talk to him. Mommy please don't be mad at me."

Squatting down to her level so they were face to face. "Oh baby I could never be mad at you." Toni responded

"Are you mad at Unca Snoop?" Nessa questioned

"Nope, I'm not mad at anyone. I just rather be aware when things like this are going on." Toni explained

"Unca Snoop gon be mad I snitched" Nessa said disappointed

"Who taught you that word?"

"God daddy Suge" she said innocently

"Remind me to have a talk with him when we get to LA."

"Mommy I got a question?"

"And I got an answer."

"Why come I never see my daddy?" Nessa asked sadly

I knew this day would come where Vanessa would start asking questions about Dre. But I didn't think it would happen so soon.

I guess it was going to happen sooner or later now that she's in daycare and she sees all the other kids with their father.

How are you suppose explain to a three year old that the only way she can see her father is through a glass window?

"Cause he's away at camp." Toni said thinking quickly

"Really?! Do he sleep in a tent? Can I send him marshmallows? When I talk to him he sound really nice. Is he nice?" Nessa asked excitedly.