by A'zayler
“Who are you?” Bonnet head asked with the same attitude.
Paradise held one finger up in the girl’s face to silence her. “You wait one minute. I’m finna get to you.”
“Paradise, just come on and sit down, baby,” Sofia tried again to no avail.
“No, ma’am. I’m not about to sit here and let her yell at you. She can yell at me if it’s a fight she wants.” Paradise turned toward the girl.
“Girl, you better go ’head on,” Bonnet Head spoke.
“Listen here, bitch.” Paradise touched Sofia’s hand as an apology. “You better have some respect for my mother-in-law. She does good by your raggedy ass daddy. She doesn’t have to do anything to hurt his old ass. He’s old, hoe. Old people have shit wrong with them. What you expect her to do? Get inside his chest and stop the heart attack?”
Jerrico caught the tail end of her lashing but was glad that he had because she looked like she could go for some more. With his hand on the side of her body, he pulled her back while simultaneously stepping between the women.
“You and her better get away from me, I know that,” Bonnet Head said while backing away.
Jerrico could tell by the way she spoke and retreated from Paradise that she was obviously not really looking for a fight.
“Yeah, alright.” Paradise nodded. “You thought you were going to pick on her, but I got something for your ass. You’d better go sit down and just wait on them to come out here and update us because if you come at Ms. Sofia like that again, I’ma slap your dusty ass.” Paradise grabbed Sofia’s arm and pulled her back toward their seats.
In her anger, she ended up snatching Sofia a little harder than necessary, but all Sofia did was laugh while catching her footing.
“I understand you’re upset and worried right now but make that the last time you talk to my mama like that.” Jerrico turned and left without allowing her time to say anything.
With the good sense that she’d probably had all along, she turned and walked to the other side of the waiting room and took her seat. Jerrico sat down in the chair that Paradise had been sitting in since she’d taken his and was seated next to his mother.
Sofia looked at Paradise, and playfully tapped her leg. “I knew I liked you.”
“Sorry for cussing like that in front of you. She just made me mad.”
Sofia waved her off. “She’s always like that. It’s nothing new. She doesn’t like me for whatever reason.”
“She doesn’t have to like you, but she’d better learn to respect you. Jerrico doesn’t like Mr. Clarence, but he would never do him the way she just did you.”
“You’re right, but people are raised differently, baby girl. I raised my sons to be respectable young men. They have values, morals, and respect for their elders. Everyone isn’t raised that way.”
Jerrico could tell Paradise was listening to his mother but still felt the way she felt. Her face was attentive, but the small frown that adorned it was a sure sign of her disagreement.
“I understand all of that, Ms. Sofia. My mama taught me all the same stuff, but she also taught me to demand respect.” Paradise looked off toward the girl. “And how to fight, so that girl can get whatever she wants from me.”
When she shrugged. Sofia smiled. It did Jerrico’s heart good to watch his best girls interacting so personally. The way Paradise had run to his mother’s rescue reassured him of what he’d been known all along, she had a good heart. It didn’t matter what she portrayed to the world; she was truly a diamond in the rough, thanks to the man who had pledged to take care of her heart.
He’d been so careless with her heart that he’d thrown dirt on it, making her a harsher person than she’d ever wanted to be. A person like Paradise with a heart like hers deserved the world or at least a man who would love on her until he was able to give it to her. Jerrico dropped his head when he thought about how he’d been on the same road as her ex.
Summer had been his love, and because that chapter hadn’t been fully closed, he’d been subject to falling for her again, when in reality, she wasn’t even who he wanted. What he wanted was right next to him, trying to convince his mother that it was okay to curse people out.
“I will do no such thing.” Sofia laughed. “Sometimes, you just have to ignore people.”
“I do that too, depending on how I feel. Right then, I felt like fighting.”
The two of them laughed again while Jerrico and Marcellus watched with smiles.
Forever poking the side of his stomach got his attention. Jerrico turned to face her. She looked from Paradise to him and pointed her finger.
“You’d better be careful with my sister. I’m not playing with you.”
“I am. I promise. I just had a small slip up today.”
Forever leaned closer so that she didn’t have to speak as loud. Jerrico got a good look at the freckles on her face going across her nose and beneath her eyes. He’d never noticed them before, but they were actually very intriguing. Just like her sister, Forever was a uniquely beautiful woman.
“She can’t afford your slip-ups. I know it’s not fair, but Kayson has taken all of the slipups she had.” Forever raised her eyebrows. “You got that?”
Jerrico nodded. He definitely had it. “I’m going to do better from here on out.”
“You better. If for one minute you think you can’t, move your ass on.”
Jerrico heeded her sincere warning because he understood. If it was him and one of his brothers had gone through something as seriously painful and emotionally catastrophic as what Paradise had just come out of, he’d have the same attitude as Forever.
“Hello, ma’am, are you Sofia Blake?” a short, black female doctor stopped in front of his mother.
Sofia nodded hesitantly. Paradise grabbed one of her hands while Marcellus grabbed the other one. Jerrico could see the worry lines all over her face as she looked apprehensively at the doctor.
“I’m Dr. Hammonds. Would you like to take a walk with me?”
Sofia shook her head from side to side in fear. Paradise patted her hand. “It’s okay. You’re fine.”
“Can you just tell her what’s going on right here?” Marcellus stood up and towered over the short doctor.
She gave a warm smile and nodded. “Sure. Mr. Henry suffered a mild heart attack due to a small blockage. We’re going to keep him for a few days to ensure he reacts properly to his heart medication, then he’ll be free to go. He’ll have to make some minor lifestyle changes, but it’s nothing he can’t do.”
“Oh, thank you, Jesus!” Sofia grabbed her chest and sat back in her seat with her eyes closed.
“That girl over there in the purple bonnet, that’s his daughter. If you don’t mind, can you let her know his condition as well?” Paradise questioned. “If I tell her, she might end up sharing a room with her daddy.”
Forever and Marcellus both burst out laughing while the doctor chuckled lightly and nodded. When she walked away, Jerrico kissed Paradise’s face. She looked at him and smiled.
“I heard you tell that girl my mama was your mother-in-law.”
Paradise smiled. “That as an accident.”
“Sure, it was.” Jerrico held her hand up and kissed it. “For now,” he winked, and she smiled even harder.
He wasn’t sure what the future held, but one thing was for sure. He wasn’t letting Paradise go any time soon. His feelings for her were real, and if she ended up being his wife, then so be it. He would be more than happy.
When the doctor came back and asked them would they like to see Mr. Clarence, Forever and Paradise both declined while Marcellus and Jerrico chose to go back with their mom. Jerrico had been about to decline as well until he noticed Clarence’s daughter headed to the back. There was no way he was going to let his mother go back there by herself.
“I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here.” Paradise pulled her hand away from him.
He nodded and caught up with his mother and brother. H
opefully, they wouldn’t take too long. He was ready to go home and lay up with his girl. The day had been long, and he needed some rest. The coolness of Paradise’s sheets would be the perfect ending to a bad day.
Chapter 10
You’re So Good to Me
The bright flickering of the candles danced in the irises of Goody’s eyes as she sat a few feet away from the bridal runner decorating the center aisle. The round table and the other eight people she was sharing it with seemed to disappear as she watched the groomsmen standing at the front of the church.
Red, green, and gold decorated the entire room of formally dressed attendants. “Happily Ever After” by Case played throughout the building, bringing the slightest bit of rhythm to the otherwise silent wedding ceremony. It had been a little over an hour that Goody had been in her spot watching her brother marry his tacky ass bride.
Messiah and his little tramp hadn’t even been together that long, but she’d gotten him whipped, and now he was marrying her ass. Even though Goody didn’t necessarily agree with Messiah’s impromptu decision, she couldn’t be more happy or proud of him. He’d been ducking and dodging women for as long as he’d been able to, so for him to finally mature enough to marry one meant that he was finally growing up.
Even though he could have done better with the woman he picked, the fact remained that he was doing it. Though she wasn’t sure how long she would dislike her new sister-in-law and her uniting with her brother, she loved Messiah and wished them nothing but happiness.
All morning she’d dreaded going to the wedding because she knew Kayson would be there, and she hated to see him because she was still so deep in love with his ass, but she wouldn’t miss Messiah’s big day for nothing in the world. Even if that hoe he was marrying hadn’t included her or Forever in her little wedding.
Goody got why she didn’t include her, she’d been damn near about to beat the girl up every time Messiah brought her to her house, but Forever had been nice to her snotty ass. Nicer than Goody would have ever been, but she knew that, though. Which was probably the number one reason for them being seated in the audience and not on the stage with the wedding party.
As jacked up as it was, Goody was actually glad she hadn’t included her. Being around Kayson that much wasn’t what she needed. She’d been well aware that an array of emotions would probably overtake her because weddings were so sweet and always played on the weak parts of her.
What she hadn’t known was that the emotion she’d anticipated would be accompanied by many others as well. She’d been all smiles watching the bridal party begin the wedding, but it was like the room flipped and began to shake her upside down the moment Kayson walked out.
He looked so handsome in his tux. Though it was the furthest thing from healthy, all she could think about was how good he’d looked on their wedding day as well. Everything from the way he looked to the way he walked and stood had made her heart beat fast. She still loved him and desperately missed him.
Well, not him, but them. She missed them together along with everything they’d built. Back when her life made sense. There were so many days that she still wished she could have the life she had once loved back, but then she was reminded just as fast that there was no going back.
“You okay, Goody?” Forever whispered.
Goody looked over her shoulder and right into the eyes of her cousin and sister. “Yeah, why you ask that?”
“Because your li’l boo up there. I know he looks cute to you,” Yummy joked.
Goody laughed but shook her head. “Nah, I’m not thinking about him.”
“Yes, you are, and it’s okay. You’re entitled to that. Everything is still fresh.” Forever grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze.
“Don’t look at him. Look at all of the other fine men around him.” Yummy nodded her head at the men.
Goody was so thankful that she was there because the way she laughed after that had been just what she needed.
“Believe me, I’m not worried about him.”
Neither of them said anything to her. Instead, they smiled and nodded. When their attention was back on the wedding, Goody’s eyes found Kayson. He was at the front of the church looking around, not paying an ounce of attention to what the pastor was saying.
Goody rolled her eyes because that was probably his biggest problem. Maybe had he actually listened to the vows he’d taken at their wedding, they would still be together, but he hadn’t. She’d been doing her best for months not to allow herself to be bitter, but certain things wouldn’t allow that.
Like right then, versus her being happy for Messiah, all she could think about was how he’d so easily neglected his vows and promises to her. Life could have been so simple had he just did what God had commanded him to do, and that was commit himself totally to her and no one else.
“Look at her, Rabbit. She’s mad now.” Yummy snickered. “Go ahead and steal on him, Goody. I got your back.”
“Don’t encourage her to do that,” Forever said.
Goody laughed at them because Yummy knew her like the back of her hand, and Forever was scolding her as if she would really go and mess up Messiah’s wedding like that.
“I’m not going to hit that man,” Goody told them. “I want to, though. All that damn money I spent on my wedding. I could have kept my damn money.”
“Hell yeah, you could have,” Yummy agreed.
“Y’all be quiet,” Forever shushed them.
Goody’s attention was back at the front of the church, and as much as she didn’t want to acknowledge Kayson, her eyes wandered right back to him. That time, he was looking at her too. They locked eyes and held. His expression mirroring hers. Through their lenses, they transferred unspoken feelings. Feelings Goody prayed would go away every day.
The whole thing was too much, and she would be glad when it was over. She hated to still have feelings for him, but she did. How could she still love a person who had broken her heart as badly as he had? It was weird to her how she still wanted to understand and love him after he’d hurt her in such a horrific way.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid, girl,” Goody mumbled and looked away.
For the rest of the ceremony, she looked everywhere but at him. She needed to get her mind right. It was time to get over him. Why wasn’t there an expiration date on feelings after a breakup? She needed to figure that out because there should have been one. There was absolutely no reason on earth that a person should still love and mourn a breakup months and months after it was over. That shit should die the second after you call it quits.
“Just Fine” By Mary J Blige kicked off the reception, and of course, everyone ran to the dance floor. Mary had done her thing with that one. No matter how bad Goody felt or pretended to feel, that song picked her spirits right up. So, imagine how quickly she should have turned Kayson down when he walked up and asked her to dance because that was just how fast she’d said yes.
After staring at his hand for a few seconds, she took it and followed him to the dance floor. They danced together with all of their old friends egging it on.
“You might as well stop frowning like that. You know you want to dance with me.” Kayson stepped closer to her while dancing to the music.
“Whatever.” Goody waved him off and continued dancing.
“I like this dress you got on.” His large hand slid up the side of her body and gripped her butt.
Goody walked right out of his grasp. “I know you do, now stop touching me.”
Kayson’s handsome smile made her remember all the good times. The times when they were friends before anything. The times that made it hard for her to picture him being the person he’d become during the end of their marriage. Just as much as she hated him, she loved him. Things with them hadn’t been all bad—more good than anything. The bad parts were just the freshest in her mind.
“What you doing after this?”
Goody turned her nose up at him. “Why?”
“I want t
o spend some time with you.”
“Nigga, please. You should have spent time with me when I was your wife.” Goody got ready to walk off, but he pulled her back to him.
“Don’t walk away.”
“Well, you better talk like you have some sense then. I’m not about to stand here listening to you tell me lies.”
Reasons like that one were why she’d had to walk away. She couldn’t help the hurt that spilled out whenever it wanted to. He didn’t deserve that type of turmoil, and she didn’t deserve to be the one to inflict it, but right then, it was all she knew. They were ruined. With no trust, she couldn’t deal with him accordingly.
She would run herself crazy if she’d stayed with him and had to wonder what he was doing every time he picked up his phone, left the house for too long, or interacted with new women she didn’t know. That was no way to live, and before she put him and her both through that headache, she’d walked away from it all.
Kayson chuckled and held his hands up in surrender. “Alright, my fault.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The two of them danced for a little while longer before Goody took her seat again. She had only been there for a few minutes when the deejay called for all the single ladies to take the floor. Of course, Goody, Yummy, and Forever took their places.
If Goody could have recorded the look on Kayson’s face, she would have. He looked like he was about to kickstart a fire with his eyes; he was so mad.
“Girl, Kayson gon’ kill you,” Yummy whispered.
“I know, right. He’s crazy.”
“As hell,” Yummy mumbled before turning to face the bride.
When the music kicked off, and the bride began to dance with the bouquet, the ladies got ready. As luck would have it, Goody caught the flowers. Pictures and an array of comments surrounded her as she walked to her chair. Before she could even take her seat, Kayson had grabbed her arm and was pulling her from the room.
Goody’s typical reaction would have been to kick and scream, but she already knew that would be pointless. Whenever Kayson got on one of his crazy tantrums, it was best to just let him have his moment.
