Toni Braxton : Just Be A Woman About It!

The phone vibrated on Toni Braxton’s nightstand, buzzing her awake just before the sunrise could hit her photo collection of family.

She fumbled for it, squinting at the caller ID.

Keri!

(Her ex-husband - The great Keri Lewis, who lived simple, quiet and happy.)

A pit settled in her stomach, It was never a good sign when he called this early.

Toni answered the phone…

Toni: Keri? What's wrong?"( she asked, her voice thick with sleep)

His voice was tight, agitated.

Keri: Toni, we need to talk. About our sons.

Toni sat up straighter, pushing the sleep from her eyes.

Toni: What about Diezel and Denim?

Toni: Are they okay?"

Keri: They're fine, physically. But I saw Birdman with them last night." (His voice dripped with disdain)

Toni sighed. She knew this was coming.

Birdman, her… well, her friend, her confidante, her rumored boyfriend turnt husband that kept her in the media more than her music – the relationship remained undefined – but Birdman had a way of charming people, including her sons. He was generous, funny, and undeniably powerful and full of cash money. But Keri saw him only as a potential bad influence, a symbol of everything he disliked about the industry. ( and why he left, destroying mint condition fans around the world)

Toni: Keri, Birdman was just being nice. He took them to a basketball game. They had fun!

Fun? (Keri scoffed) "Toni, you know I don't want those boys around him. He's got a reputation, a track record. Do you really want them exposed to that lifestyle of drugs and rap?

Toni: He's been nothing but respectful to me and the boys," Toni defended Bird, as a prickle of irritation rising within her.

Toni; He respects my boundaries. And he genuinely seems to like them."

Keri: Respect?" (Keri's voice rose a notch)

Keri: Respect isn't enough, Toni! Their father is their role model, they need positive male figures, not someone who glorifies a life of…" He trailed off, seemingly searching for the right words.

Toni: Look, Keri," Toni interrupted, trying to keep her voice calm.

Toni; I understand your concerns But I'm their mother. I wouldn't let them be around someone who would harm them. I know Birdman, at least the version he shows me. And he's not a danger to our boys.

Keri: Ugh…OUR boys Toni…ours…(taking a breath before going on with his manily rant)

Keri: You're blinded, Toni! You're blinded by the attention, the money, whatever he offers. You're not thinking about what's best for Diezel and Denim."

His words stung, because every word was TRUE!

Toni took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to lash out.

Toni: I am thinking about what's best for them, I always have. I let them make their own decisions about the people they want in their lives. They're growing boys, Keri. I can’t shield them from everything.

Keri: So you're just going to ignore my feelings? Ignore the fact that their father, who has their best interests at heart, doesn't want them around this man?"

The accusation hung heavy in the air of Toni bedroom…

Toni: I'm not ignoring your feelings, (Toni said, her voice softer now)

Toni; I'm just saying that I trust my own judgment. I'll talk to the boys, I promise. I'll talk to Birdman too. But I won't forbid them from seeing him. I won't turn them against someone who's been kind to them."

Keri: That's not good enough, Toni. I'm telling you, keep him away from my sons. He's poison. He'll corrupt them!

Toni; Keri, that's enough," Toni said, her voice hardening again. "You've said your PEACE. I appreciate your concern, but I need to think about this. I'll do what I think is best for our sons."

She hung up the phone, the dial tone ringing in her ear. The weight of the conversation settled on her chest. He had a point, she knew he did. Birdman's world was undeniably different from the world she wanted for her sons. But she also knew that Birdman had shown them kindness and respect.

Toni looked out the window, the first rays of dawn painting the sky in soft hues after the passing of the short rainstorm.

She had a lot to think about. She had to find a way to balance Keri's concerns with her own judgment, the needs of her sons, and the unexpected presence of a powerful, and potentially overwhelming, figure in their lives. This was more than just a relationship dilemma; it was a question of protecting her children, a battle she was prepared to fight on all fronts.

The sun rose higher, casting long shadows across her room.

Toni knew this was a conversation that was far from over. The future of her sons, and her own peace of mind, depended on it.

The white silk sheets felt cool against Toni Braxton’s skin, a stark contrast to the warmth spreading through her chest. Sunlight, fractured by the Venetian blinds, painted stripes across the ceiling, a lazy rhythm mirroring the beat of her heart.

Toni hadn't intended to be awake this early, especially after the grueling recording session the day before. But sleep had fled, replaced by a familiar, bittersweet ache.

She lay still, her back to the figure beside her, pretending he was Keri!

It was a silly, childish game she sometimes played in the quiet hours before the world demanded its attention. (A mental escape hatch.)

She imagined the warmth of his hand resting on her waist, the gentle rise and fall of his chest against her back. She conjured the scent of his cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something indefinably… Keri.

She remembered the way he used to hum along to the radio while he was half-asleep, a low, comforting rumble that anchored her in the storm of her life.

"Keri?" she whispered, the name a phantom echo in the room.

No response (Of course not)

She closed her eyes, deepening the illusion, She pictured his profile, the sharp angles softened by sleep, the way his brow furrowed even when he was dreaming. She could almost feel the stubble grazing her skin.

Their marriage had been a rollercoaster, a beautiful, turbulent ride that eventually derailed. The lupus, her demanding career, his own artistic aspirations – the pressures had been immense. They fought, they loved fiercely, they hurt each other deeply. But beneath the layers of complexity, there had always been a genuine connection, a shared history woven into the fabric of their lives.

He was her GEMSTONE…

Toni sighed, the sound escaping her lips like a deflated balloon. She knew this was unhealthy, this clinging to a ghost of what once was. She knew she needed to move on, to fully embrace the future that stretched before her. She was a strong, independent woman, a Grammy-winning artist, a single mother navigating the challenges of life with grace and resilience.

But sometimes, just sometimes, she longed for the simple comfort of his presence. (The familiarity)

The shared jokes only they understood. The silent acknowledgment of their unspoken history.

She rolled over cautiously, keeping her eyes closed. She could almost picture his face on the pillow, a warm smile gracing his lips.

Good morning," she imagined him whispering, his voice a husky murmur.

"Morning," she replied, her voice trembling with the weight of her longing.

But when she finally opened her eyes, she was alone. The other side of the bed was empty, the sheets smooth and undisturbed. The sunlight streamed in, harsh and unforgiving, shattering the fragile illusion.

A wave of sadness washed over her, a familiar sting in her throat. It was time to face reality.

She sat up, pushing the covers aside before slipping into a pair of Levi short cut jeans before heading downstairs.

Today was a new day. A day for music, for her boys, for building a future that didn't rely on the ghosts of the past.

As she reached for her phone, the melody of a new song began to form in her mind, a poignant ballad about love, loss, and the enduring power of memories. It was a bittersweet composition, tinged with the colors of her past, but ultimately, it was a song about hope.

And in that moment, Toni Braxton knew that even though she couldn't relive the past, she could use it to create something beautiful, something real, something that would resonate with others who had also known the bittersweet ache of love and loss. And maybe, just maybe, in that act of creation, she could finally let go. The daydream faded, replaced by the promise of a new song, a new day, and a new beginning.

The memory of Keri lingered, not as a ghost to haunt her, but as a touchstone, a reminder of the love she had known, and the strength she had found within herself.

The Los Angeles sun, usually Toni Braxton's favorite accessory, felt oppressive today. It beat down on the patio of her sprawling home, reflecting off the pool in a way that made her feel dizzy. She stood in the middle of the kitchen swirling the melting ice in her glass of berry lemonade, the sweet tang doing little to soothe the knot in her stomach.

The doorbell chimed, a polite, almost hesitant sound. Toni knew who it was. She’d been expecting, dreading actually, this particular visitor.

Taking a deep breath, before she opened the door to Keri Lewis.

He stood there, a familiar face framed by the California sunshine, looking older, perhaps a little weary, but with the same gentle concern in his eyes she remembered from their years together.

Keri: Toni, he said softly, his voice a low rumble.

Toni: Keri, she replied, (stepping aside)

Toni: Come in, How are you?

He stepped inside, glancing around the impeccably decorated living room

It was a space that screamed success, but today, it also felt like a gilded cage.

Keri: I’m… okay,” he said cautiously, settling onto a plush gold rose sofa.

Toni: The boys are good, Healthy, They miss you, you know.

Keri nodded, his throat tight.

Keri: I miss them too. More than words can say.”

Keri hadn't seen Diezel and Denim as often as he would have liked lately, swallowed up by the whirlwind of the secret music he was making for her, Keri knew that music was their relationship before the kids.

Now, Keri realizing the devastating cost of his choices, are why Birdman is around again!

A silence settled between them, thick with unspoken words and years of shared history.

Finally, Keri broke it!

Keri: I read the news, Toni,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “About… Birdman.” (Toni winced)

The messy end to her five-year on-again, off-again engagement had been all over the tabloids, but this time Birdman has another baby on the way by another women! (While with Toni)

The speculation, the accusations, the judgments… it had been relentless.

Toni: Look, Keri, I know,” she began, but he held up a hand (Lying to god, because you didn’t know shit)

Keri: I’m not here to judge you, Toni. Honestly, I’ve done my fair share of… questionable things in my life. I just… I wanted to know if you're okay. (Really okay.)

Toni hesitated. Could she be honest with him? With herself? The truth was she felt lost, disoriented, like she'd woken up from a long, turbulent dream and didn't recognize her surroundings.

Toni: I’m not,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “I thought… I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I was strong enough to handle it. To make it work.”

Keri nodded understandingly. “Birdman… he’s a powerful man, Toni. Charismatic. He can be… overwhelming.”

Tears welled up in Toni’s eyes. It was true. Birdman had swept her off her feet with his extravagant gestures and unwavering attention. He had stalking her since day one, promised her a world she had never experienced.

(But beneath the surface, there was a darkness, a possessiveness that had gradually suffocated her.)

Toni: I got caught up in it,” she choked out, “the lifestyle, the excitement… I let myself get distracted. I let it… complicate things. With my music, with my family, with myself.”

Keri reached out and took her hand, his touch familiar and grounding.

Keri: You’re Toni Braxton?

Keri: Toni. You’re a force…You’re talented, resilient, and you’re loved, Don’t ever forget that.”

His words resonated deep within her. She had forgotten. Forgotten the woman she was before the fame, before the accolades, before Birdman. She had forgotten the woman who had raised two incredible sons, who had fought lupus with unwavering strength, who had poured her heart and soul into her music.

Toni: Thank you, Keri,” she said, squeezing his hand.

Toni: I needed to hear that.

Keri: So, what now?” he asked, (his gaze searching & wondering)

Toni wiped away a tear and took a deep breath.

Toni: Now, I focus on myself. On my sons. On my music.

Toni: I need to rediscover Toni Braxton, the woman who got lost along the way.”

She looked out at the shimmering pool, the bright California sun suddenly feeling less harsh, more hopeful. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long time, Toni felt a flicker of hope ignite within her.

Toni: I think, ( she said, a hint of her old fire returning to her voice)

Toni: “I think I’ll be okay.”

Keri smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile.

Keri: I know you will, Toni. I always knew." He paused, then added softly, "Just… be kind to yourself. You deserve it."

As Keri got up off the couch to drive away he froze at the family photo in the frame of his sons and Toni!

( Knowing that completely what he was doing will be everything Birdman couldn’t give, especially with his new piano that comes Sunday)

Toni stood on the pool side, the warmth of LA sun on her face. The visit had been a reminder of her past, of her mistakes, but also of her strength. Keri’s genuine concern had been a lifeline, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there are people who care, people who believe in you.

The road to recovery would be long, but she was ready to walk it. She was Toni Braxton, and she was going to find her way back to herself. This time, she was going to do it right.
(Without Birdman)

Keri enters the backyard and gives his cell phone to see the article about Tamar & K.Michelle !

Toni: AGAIN?! ( I DONT… have time for this, hopefully Tay knows not to RESPOND! (Handing Keri back his cellphone)

Toni knew once again everything was about to be about Tamar embaressing the whole family by what she may say next!

Toni: This celibacy Shit going to her brain while she run around with James doing whatever she want!?

Keri: Chuckles! ( Remember when he first met Tay and how she is “MORE WOMEN ABOUT IT”- than others that could never sing close to what she is capable of doing)

Tamar Braxton: First Anchor At Hunt!