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“East,” I said. “Tell Auntie what’s wrong.”

She fell right into my chest and broke down. I wrapped my arms around her, almost holding her up because she was crying so hard. Listening to my niece cry made tears burn the back of my eyes. The only thing that made my stomach drop was not seeing my middle niece, Essence.

“Everly, where’s Essence? Is she okay?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Ye-Yes. She’s in Mommy’s car. She’s laying down in the backseat.” She sobbed.

“Both of you. Let’s go to my car. I have some snacks and water in my tote bag. Get in, and I’ll go get your sister.”

Once I got them inside my car, I looked at them, and I could tell whatever happened between their parents had spilled over to them.

“I got y’all. I’m gonna bring Essence, and then I’ll see what’s going on. Okay?”

They both nodded, and I closed the door before going over to my sister’s car. I pulled on the door handle, and it was locked.

“LEAVE ME ALONE, EAST! I’M NOT COMING OUT!” she screamed.

“Essie… It’s Auntie Sav. Open the door for me, baby,” I coaxed.

“I don’t want to… I don’t want to hear them fight anymore.”

“I can’t hear them fighting right now. Tell me what happened. You know Auntie gon’ take care of it, right? Everything’s gonna be okay,” I said, leaning closer to the door.

“No, Auntie,” she croaked. “They always fight, then Mommy makes us leave. I don’t wanna leave my daddy no more.”

My heart broke for my baby. Essence was my namesake. She carried my first name as her middle name. Out of all my nieces, we were the closest. She was the most like me. Same attitude, she painted, and she loved ducklings just like me. Selene bumped heads with her the most, and I got on Selene’s last nerve when she was pregnant with her. Essence even looked like me. So, I understood her.

“Essie, you don’t have to leave your Daddy if you don’t want to. You can stay here.”

“Mommy is gonna make me leave with her. She never lets me stay!” she cried out.

I sighed, shaking my head. Khalil and Selene needed to get their shit together. These babies shouldn’t be outside, in the cold, crying because they couldn’t deal with their problems.

“I promise you can stay. I’ll tell your mom myself. Let me handle it. I just want you to come out and sit with your sisters, okay?”

“But I don’t want to be without my sisters. This isn’t fair, Auntie Sav.” She sobbed.

“I know… But I need you to come out so we can talk about it. It’s cold outside, and my fingers are freezing, Mini.”

I used the nickname I gave her when she was first born, hoping she’d hear that and actually come out. At first, I thought I’d lost my touch, but then I heard the door unlock. I stood just in time because the door swung open fast, and she flung her body into mine, crying. The cry that came from my niece made me want to go into that house and smack the shit out of Selene and Khalil. Everybody knew how I was coming about my nieces and nephews. But when it came to Mini, I never played crack head games. And at that moment, that’s what both their trifling asses were playing.

I grabbed Mini firmly by her shoulders and looked her in the eye. “Listen to me. I know you’re upset, and I understand. But I better not ever have to ask you more than once to come to me. Go to my car, sit down, and relax with your sisters. When it’s all said and done, we’ll talk. Alright?”

“Yes, Auntie,” she muttered, wiping her face.

“Okay,” I said. “I love you. Hug your sisters and don’t get out of that car.”

I kissed her forehead, and she walked toward the car. I watched until she closed my car door. In all honesty, I wanted to go in that house and ask both of them to square up. But I’d settle for cussing their asses out. As I got closer to the door, I could still hear them going back and forth. They weren’t loud, but it was still hostile, and not once did either of them come outside to check on the kids.

As bad as I wanted to kick the door off the hinges, I opened it slowly, listening to them argue. When I stepped into the kitchen, Selene had a knife in her hand. Shaina was standing in front of her. Khalil stood by the fridge, breathing hard.

“Drop the damn knife, Selene. You know your kids are outside crying, scared to death!” I spat.

Everybody turned around and looked at me as I walked closer. “And Khalil, I don’t know what you did, and it don’t matter, but this shit gotta stop! My nieces are the fuck alone. Both of you stupid mothafuckas need to get it together,” I said, pointing between them.

“This nigga got me fucked up, thinking he can say⁠—”

“I don’t care about y’all shit!” I screamed, cutting Selene off. “I care about my damn nieces. Now put the knife down. Mini don’t wanna leave. She’s staying here. And before you say one damn word, she’s TIRED! My babies are tired of y’all. Y’all ain’t twenty no more. Grow the fuck up.”