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Hey, this is Agatha, call back later, or don’t, I don’t care. If this is Rio, hi baby, I’ll call you when I see this, and if it’s Nicky, give Mami her phone back, mister. Love you both, bye!
Beep
“Mama! I took mami’s phone cause she’s burning the enchiladas again!”
“They’re not burning, just…well done.”
Nicky giggled at his mami, before looking back at the screen that had a picture of his mama holding him in her arms. His mami had her arms around them both, and all three were grinning at the phone, wearing matching snoopy shirts proudly.
“I think she forgot to turn the heat down again, you forgot to tell her. That’s okay though, I like them a little burned.”
“Not burned.” Rio grumbled, coming behind Nicky and placing a kiss to the top of his head.
“Stop lying to your mama.”
“Not lying. I can smell it.”
Rio huffed playfully and ruffled his hair. “Hey Ags, I love you, and it’s your fault it’s burned, you didn’t remind me about the heat.”
“So you admit they’re burned?”
“…I plead the fifth.”
Giggling, Nicky stuck his tongue out at her. “Bye mama! I love you.”
“Love you always, Ags. Come on, baby, let’s go eat these definitely-not burned enchiladas.”
Nicky pressed a kiss to the phone and whispered another goodbye before pressing the end call button.
—
Hey, this is Agatha, call back later, or don’t, I don’t care. If this is Rio, hi baby, I’ll call you when I see this, and if it’s Nicky, give Mami her phone back, mister. Love you both, bye!
“Hey, Ags. So uh, Nicky got into your makeup bag and the result was…messy.” Rio was struggling not to burst out laughing at the sight of Nicky in one of Agatha’s old shirts, heels on his little feet and red lipstick smushed around his mouth. Black eyeshadow made him look ghoulish around the eyes but also adorable in the way he tried to do his makeup.
“Mami! Look, I’m mama!”
“You look like her spitting image, baby.”
“I’m not spitting.”
“Ah no, you’re not.” She snorted. “It’s just a phrase to say.”
“Okay, Mami. You have to say I’m beautiful now, like you do with mama.”
Rio sighed playfully, kneeling in front of the six year old and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I have the most beautiful son in the whole wide world. Agatha, you should be jealous at how well he can pull off your look.”
Giggling, Nicky reached for the phone which Rio let him take. “Mama, I look like you now, Mami can I dress like mama when we go see her?”
Rio shook her head, pressing another kiss to the top of her head. “I think she might prefer to see her cute, sweet baby boy, rather than a tiny version of herself.”
Nicky gasped. “I am not tiny!”
“Oh, you’re not?” Snorting, Rio took ahold of his legs and picked him up by them, dangling him upside down.
“Mami!” He squealed, giggles echoing around the room.
“Go on, tiny man. Touch the ground now.”
“Mama! Help! Mami’s got me!” He wiggled in her grasp, smile stretching wide across his lips.
“Sorry Agatha, your son is now in air jail.”
“Mamaaaa!” Rio slowly lowered him until his hands could touch the floor. “See I’m tall! I touch-ed the floor!” Grinning, Rio let him down and picked the phone back up off the bed.
“Well I’ve got to wash this one up before bed. Goodnight Agatha, I love you.”
“I love you mama! Sweet dreams! See you soon!”
—
Hey, this is Agatha, call back later, or don’t, I don’t care. If this is Rio, hi baby, I’ll call you when I see this, and if it’s Nicky, give Mami her phone back, mister. Love you both, bye!
“Hey baby.” Rio’s voice shook. “Hey Uhm. It’s the interview today.” She cleared her throat and took in a grounding breath.
“I know you’ll say I’ll knock them dead, but it’s still—you know. Scary?”
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, then did it again to sooth it down.
“I know, you’ll just tell me to suck it up, and that I’m too good for them to say no.” She took in another grounding breath. “But it’s a really good job, and I’m kinda freaking out that I’ll say something wrong.”
Her back pressed into her seat in the car, her free hand drumming against the wheel. “I guess I just needed to hear your voice, you and Nicky, your support has meant the world to me. So—.” She sighed. “I’ll get the job, Agatha. I promise, I’ll do it for you and Nicky.”
Closing her eyes, she took in one last breath before pulling the phone away from her ear and looking at the photo of her family on the screen.
“I love you. I’ve got this, I promise.” She gave the phone a tiny smile. “See you soon, baby.”
—
“Hi mama.” Nicky kneeled by the grave, a plotted plant in his hand.
“Mami said we can plant some more plants on your resting bed.” Rio kneeled next to him, gently helping him take the plant out of the pot to add it to the others surrounding the grave.
“It’s azaleas, your favourite.” Nicky continued, fingers dark with soil as the two planted the flowers.
“I miss you so much, mama. But it’s okay, cause Mami said we will meet again one day, so we gotta keep calling you until that day comes,”
Rio wiped her eyes, trying not to choke on her words. “That’s right, baby. Mama’s listening to every single one.”
“Uh huh. So you know that Mami burned the enchiladas again.”
“Did not.”
“So did!” They both cracked a smile.
“I wish you were home, mama. I miss you singing me to sleep, and making your pies, and teaching me how to play poker.”
“Wait she taught you poker?”
“Uh huh. I’m pretty good.”
Snorting, Rio shook her head and wiped her cheeks. “Of course you did. I miss you, Agatha. Don’t worry, I have everything handled, I promise.”
She smiled sadly, sniffling. “I got the job, you were right, I was perfect for the role.”
Nicky reached up and gently traced his fingers over the wording on the grave stone.
“Mami said we can have a picnic with you next time. I can’t wait.”
“Uh huh, so don’t worry, we will be back next week, same time. Promise, baby.”
“I love you mama, talk to you soon.”
“I love you, Agatha. So much.”
They both looked at the grave stone, both wishing it was Agatha rather than stone.
Here lies Agatha Harkness-Vidal
Loving wife and mama
Loved and never forgotten
—
Hey, this is Agatha, call back later, or don’t, I don’t care. If this is Rio, hi baby, I’ll call you when I see this, and if it’s Nicky, give Mami her phone back, mister. Love you both, bye!
“Hey mama, it’s Nicky. I have my own phone now, Mami put your number in it for me. Don’t worry, I’m no longer stealing hers.” He grinned to himself.
“I’m a little nervous, it’s my first day in highschool today, Mami said I’ll do great, but it’s—it’s new and it’s big and—and you’re supposed to be here to teach me and show me around, but you’re not.”
He sighed softly, running a hand through his long locks.
“I wish you were here, mama. I promise I’ll try my best, and make you proud. I love you.”
—
Hey, this is Agatha, call back later, or don’t, I don’t care. If this is Rio, hi baby, I’ll call you when I see this, and if it’s Nicky, give Mami her phone back, mister. Love you both, bye!
“Hey mom! Guess who’s starting college!” Nicky’s deeper, but still excited voice came through the phone. “I’m going into law and politics, maybe one day I’ll get to be the one who puts a stop to gun violence, and then you’ll be proud of me.”
“She’s already proud of you, Nick.”
“I know, Mami, but I want to do more.”
“I know, baby. And you will, we believe in you.”
“Thanks ma. So uh, I just wanted to let you know, and that I miss you and love you, and Mami won’t stop crying about me leaving.”
“Hey! Don’t call me out like that!”
The two laughed softly.
“Love you, mama.”
—
“Hey mama, I met a really nice girl, I think you’d like her, she’s real sassy. I wish you got to meet her.”
—
“Hey ma, remember Abigail? Well i think i might propose tonight, i really do love her. Uhm, wish me luck?”
-
“Ma! It’s the day! And I’m nervous as fuck.” He adjusted his tie, biting nervously on his lower lip. “And Mami won’t stop crying.”
He grunted, finally thinking the tie looks good.
“Don’t worry mama, I have your broach with me. Need to have something borrowed, right? I hope you’re proud of me.”
He paused and shook his head. “No, I know you’re proud of me.”
A sharp knock came to the door. “Nicky! It’s time!”
“Fuck—. Okay mama. We’ve got this. I love you,”
—
“Hey mama-.” A breathless voice came through the phone. “I have someone here to meet you,”
Abigail looked up at Nicky with a soft smile, a cooing baby in her arms and Rio at her side, quietly making sure Abigail was comfortable.
“This is your granddaughter, Raeanna Agatha Harkness-Vidal. A handful I know, but she’s perfect. I know you’ll love her, and we love you.”
—
Little steps followed bigger ones to the aged grave, but the flowers still grew strong around it.
“Hi Nanna Agatha.” Little hands gently found the stone and pressed a kiss to it.
“Daddy said I could bring you some flowers and have a picnic with you. We miss you.”
“We sure do, Rae.” Nicky said softly. “And I did it, mom. Stricter gun laws, more security at schools. I’m fixing it, I promise.”
Rae nodded her little head. “Daddy is very good at fixing things.” Snorting, Nicky nodded with her. “Sure am. We’re all good, mama. I promise. I love you.”
“I love you, nanna. Always and forever.”
“Always and forever, mama.”
—
“Hi my love.” Rio’s scratchy voice cooed down the phone, soft and weak.
“I think I’m ready to come home to you.” She closed her eyes, head resting back against the pillow behind her.
“Nicky knows, he’s with Rae right now, she’s graduating college soon.” She smiled to herself.
“You’d be so proud, my love. They’re perfect.” She pulled in a wheezing breath. “I’m ready to see you, I can’t wait to see you.”
Her body relaxed against the bed, ready for her time to be up. “I’ll see you soon.”
-
Extra
Sup, this is Rio, and Nicky! We’re busy playing dinosaurs at the moment but I’ll call back once I’m free. Agatha if it’s you, I love you—love you mama! I miss you! I miss you too, baby, I’ll call you ASAP. byeee! Bye mama!
“Hey-uh hey, Rio.” Agatha’s shaky voice whispered through the phone. “Hey baby, I’m uh, I’m at school and there’s an active shooter so I just, I needed to call you, just in case.” There was a shaky breath down the phone. “I’m in the bathroom god I hope Billy locked the classroom door, fuck I—.” She stopped, breath hitching.
“Rio, I love you so, so much. And Nicky! God, I love you both so much, more than you’ll ever know, okay? And I know it’s stupid sending this message, but I had to let you know just—just in case.”
For a moment there was only silence.
“You two are my everything, I love you both so much, always and forever, my loves.”
The phone cut off, ending the voicemail.
Rio had hated herself for not picking up the phone that day, even if it meant she would’ve heard the gun that killed her wife, even if she had to listen to the unsteady breathing of her dying wife until she stopped breathing altogether.
Answering meant she would’ve been with Agatha in her last moments, she never would’ve died alone, she would’ve told her how much she loved her, how she was already running to the highschool, how Agatha was the love of her life. She should’ve answered the call, and she hated herself everyday that she hadn’t caught it in time.
Since then, all she could do was continue to pay for Agatha’s phone bill, just to hear her voice again, just to pretend for a moment that she was alive and simply forgot to pick up her phone.
At least that way, her and Nicky could still update Agatha in their life, even if they are had to learn to live a life without her