A Sister's Power. Cydney Rax

then, as Burgundy debated if she should tell her daughter to knock it off and let her find her own bras, she felt a hard tap on her shoulder. Burgundy slowly turned around.

      “Hey Sis,” Alita told her. “Let’s talk.”

      She steered Burgundy further down the aisle.

      “I heard what Natalia just said. She talks so loud I heard her before I saw her. And I know that child’s voice. And I—”

      “Lita, please don’t start.” Burgundy tried to glance behind her but Alita cornered her. When she found Natalia gaping at them, Alita lead Burgundy a few feet down until they were safely tucked away from her daughter’s itching ears yet they were still within sight of Natalia.

      “I know what you’re about to say,” Burgundy remarked. “But this Natalia thing that you heard or saw, well, let me tell you something. It’s been happening all week. Like, every single day. She blurts out whatever’s on her mind. A lot. And I’d rather she speak up and shock the hell out of me than to suppress everything she’s feeling.”

      “But her talking to you like she’s on your level, it’s so odd.”

      Burgundy sighed. “Yeah, it’s different. I don’t know what to make of my daughter sometimes but no matter what she does, I love her to death.”

      “I know you love her, but you need to make sure that she doesn’t skip her childhood. And from what I just saw, she’s acting too grown, and I don’t like it.”

      “I know, Sis. I think it’s because she’s still grieving. Natalia was her father’s little princess. She wants to have her say, and continue playing the role of the Queen of the Universe.”

      Alita wanted to angrily scoff at Burgundy’s declaration, but she thought twice.

      “Yeah, I know Nate loved her and spoiled her like she was that Meghan Markle chick or something. But,” Alita said and glanced behind her back, “This is the real world, not a movie. She’s not an adult. Please, B, don’t let Natalia get away with that. And if you can’t find the strength to do it just say the word and I will—”

      “No, Lita. She’s my child and I’m the one who decides how to handle Natalia. Case closed.”

      Seconds later Natalia fled to her mother’s side. “I heard you talking. You sounded upset. You good?”

      “Natalia, how long have you been standing there?”

      “I wasn’t snooping, Mommy. I was having fun shopping. But I heard my name. Is everything all right?”

      “Everything’s fine, sweetheart.”

      “Am I in trouble?”

      “No, Nat! Go and run along, just a few more minutes okay?”

      “Okay.” She abruptly raced into Burgundy’s arms. “I love you, Mommy. I just want to see you smile. I want to do a good job.” She held up one of the bras that she’d found.

      “Um, no wire bras, sweetie. I hate those. Find push-up if you can.”

      “Ok, I’ll do better, Mommy.”

      “You’re doing a great job, little lady. Keep it up.”

      At the surprise compliment that made her little heart feel empowered, Natalia took her sweet time walking away, looking back at Alita as if to mock her.

      “That one there . . . is a piece of work,” Alita told Burgundy.

      “And that ‘piece of work’ is my baby girl. Don’t you see that she’s trying her best to show me love?”

      “I don’t know about all that.”

      “Alita, I’m done with this conversation. No matter how much you disagree with how Natalia’s acting, she’s my business way more than yours.”

      Alita quieted down for a minute. Since her own mother, Greta Reeves, was the one who raised Elyse, she honestly had no clue of how it felt to parent a little girl. Maybe she could listen more and talk less.

      Burgundy spoke up. “Lita, I’m not trying to be hard on you. I’m glad you’re concerned. We just need to give it some time. The psychiatrist said that—”

      “Wait, hold up. Are you going to a shrink or are you sending Natalia?”

      “Not a shrink. He’s a grief counselor. We both go. It feels good to talk to someone who understands.”

      “Oh yeah?”

      “I-I can’t always talk to family. Sometimes I can. But other times, it feels safer to admit all these weird, awful emotions that I have to a complete stranger. Someone who won’t judge me as harshly as family. Not you, of course, Alita. You know I’m not talking about you.”

      “Hey, I caught that. And I apologize for sounding too harsh. But if you believe that Natalia is just trying to love you and help you in her own way, then hear me out and trust that I want to do the same thing. I care about y’all even if I have a hard time showing it.”

      Burgundy gave a tired smile that allowed her to overlook her sister’s plainspoken nature. “I know what you say comes from a good place, Lita. But what you’ve got to remember is that we’re treading on unfamiliar territory. You have no idea how I suffer from guilt, so much guilt, on some days.”

      “I heard that. I guess I should believe you, seeing as though I never had a spouse die on me, even though Leonard’s wack ass should have croaked a long time ago.”

      “Please, Sis. Don’t even joke like that. Being suddenly single when you never planned for it is nothing to laugh about. Things aren’t always as they seem.”

      “School me on it then.”

      “Alita Washington. You’re divorced. You’ve bumped heads with your ex. But you’ve met a great new guy since the divorce from Leonard. It’s apparent that Shade Wilkins is good for you, good to you, and I’m glad you all are hitting it off. And although you think Leonard is ‘wack,’ it seems like you’re finally getting over him. Nothing’s perfect. But life is much better than it was. Do you agree?”

      “You pretty much nailed it, B.”

      “Good. You’re transitioning.”

      “Hold up! What a minute.”

      “Stop playing. I’m trying to say that you’re transitioning from what used to be to what’s going to be. You’ve survived the worst parts of your life of trying to be the best single mom to your son. And I think you’ve done a good job.”

      “Why thank you, Sis.” Alita was startled by Burgundy’s compliment.

      “But it didn’t happen overnight, right?”

      “Right.”

      “It took you time to get to this new place in life.”

      “True that.”

      “So if it took you some time to make these important changes, you need to cut my child some slack, and let us take time to get to our new place in life.”

      For a rare, humble moment, Alita was speechless. Burgundy was right and arguing seemed pointless.

      “I think you’re enjoying your new happiness so much, Lita, that you’ve forgotten how it feels for a woman to suddenly face new, frightening challenges that she never ever expected to experience. And trust me, I haven’t read a handbook on how to deal with every miserable thing I’ve personally gone through the past six months.”

      Burgundy then noticed a man walk nearby. His facial features and body type reminded her of Nate. With one arm he pushed the shopping cart. The other arm was wrapped around a woman who probably was his wife. They looked comfortable and happy. And suddenly, Burgundy’s bottom lip began to tremble. She and Nate used to shop together when they had free time. And now she knew that simple human experience that she