The collective sound of children approached the trio of friends once they had made their way inside Angelventures. The air smelled of popcorn and sugary treats, with the distant whir of carnival rides humming in the background. The older rumors seemed not to linger for the next generations, clear when the six-year-old with the princess crown had requested her birthday gathering at the amusement park once wrenched in twisted rumors parents used as excuses not to visit.

Omeika pulled a navy blue hand-held fan out dramatically, causing laughter from Samara. "You so extra," Samara said, her dimples showing with her big smile. The cool breeze from passing patrons carried the faint scent of cotton candy as they stood in the near end of November, making Samara curious about what heat Omeika referenced.

Omeika glanced over the small group of adults and children clearly attending the birthday—obvious due to Zachariah and his friends. One friend was missing. "The hoochie mama ain't here," Omeika said, causing more laughter. The 'hoochie mama' was Zachariah's friend Tania, absent with her son Trevin, nicknamed 'TK.'

"Mommy!"

The younger voice hugged her mother's leg, the six-year-old with the crown and red cupcake frosting on her lips belonging to her mother and Zachariah. Promise looked up with that pretty smile, her dark-brown eyes searching past the women beside her mother. "Where's Keith?"

The question hung in awkward silence. Keith had vowed to be there for Promise's special day but hadn't shown. When Promise received the answer, her adorable face turned to a pout, and she retreated to her father. Zachariah picked Promise up, cleaning the leftover frosting from her lips as Samara commented, "He finna raise hell." No doubt Promise was telling her father about Keith's broken vow on her birthday.