“Yeah, I’m good as long as you’re here,” Candy replied, but quickly remembered she couldn’t keep him there and she didn’t want to smother him like that, either. “So, do you have other things you have to get into today?” Candy asked, curious to know what was on his agenda.
“Naw, I’m going to go home and go to sleep. I think I’ll turn my phone off. That way, I know I’ll get some rest. But, if you wanna call me, call the house phone. I’m sure my mama or Mona will wake me up.” Monty answered while hoping she was not going to call him.
“Well, I know you’re tired and I’m the biggest reason for that. So, go on back home and get you some more rest. It might be better if you turn your phone off because them lil’ pawns will probably call you all night like they did last week,” Candy stated, trying to break the ice when it came down to talking about Monty’s extracurricular activities.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure they will. But, I won’t hear the phone ringing if it’s off,” Monty responded. “Where is Miss Linda? Has she left yet?”
“She went home. But, Mona is coming over to stay so get on up and go get you some rest. I’ll holla at you in the morning. But, if you wake up in the middle of the night and you wanna talk, call me.” Candy kissed Monty.
“I will,” Monty said as he walked to the door a very happy man. ”Go put some clothes on before somebody sees my goods.”
Oh, his goods? Candy thought. I like the way he put that. “I’m going right now,” Candy replied as Monty hit her on the butt, and then walked out the door. She stood in the window peeking at him.
“I’ll call you later if I get up through the night,” Monty yelled as he got in his car. He headed home to get ready for at least one more date with Melinda.
Monty woke up the next morning as he felt a kiss on his forehead. He saw Candy’s pretty face smiling.
“Wake up, baby. I just brought Mona home and I saw your car parked out front, so I decided to come in. Did you get a good night’s sleep?” Candy inquired. She was very glad to see Monty didn’t stay out all night.
“Yeah, I did. But, for some reason, I’m still very tired.” Monty yawned. He then remembered getting with Melinda, then leaving her house to see Paris after one o’clock in the morning. Monty got home around five after stopping by the Touch of Class and hanging out with Rico. They talked about a strategic plan involving Paris.
“You look like you’re still tired and it’s only nine in the morning. So, you can go back to sleep and come over later if you feel like it, okay?” Candy wished she could stay, but again, didn’t want to over crowd his space.
Monty sat up and stretched out. He looked at Candy, who had walked over to his bedroom door. He noticed how good she looked in her skin tight Capri pants and matching fitted shirt. “Hey, how about having breakfast with me this morning? We can go to IHOP.” Monty got up out of his bed.
“Are you sure you don’t need any more rest. I can just go home and wait for you there,” Candy said with hesitation in her voice.
“I’m positive. I’d like to take you out for breakfast. Plus, I bet you haven’t even eaten, yet? Have you?” Monty asked as he slid into his O Dogs.
“No, I haven’t. In that case, I’d love to eat breakfast with you this morning. Just get yourself together. I’ll be up front talking to your mama and Mona.” Candy walked out of the room.
Thank God I came on home or Candy would have been upset. Let me count this money and see how much I came up on last night. Monty dug down in his deep pockets.
Monty pulled out money from all pockets, including the twelve hundred he got from Janet. She really missed him dicking her down. He then counted out the five hundred he got from Sierra and the one thousand he got from Melanie. He reached in the other pocket and counted out the eight hundred he got from Melinda, who was also feening for him, then the stack he received from Paris’ clingy ass. He realized that he’d had a long day with his pawns, and not to mention his queen, but it was all worth it as he counted his money.
I’m a bad man. I love when my pawns miss me because they’re willing to give me more money just to make sure I come see them, Monty thought as he walked into the bathroom to freshen up. Then, he came out and went into his mama’s room to leave a stack on her dresser before joining the front area where Candy, Mona, and Catherine sat talking with each other.
“Candy, I love the way you did Mona’s hair. Would you do mine like that whenever you’re up to it?” Catherine asked since she loved to have the latest hair styles and pin ups.
“Sure. Just let me know when you’re off of work and I’ll come over and do it for you. It didn’t take much time to do that, at least not the pin up part in the back. But, the tiny micro braids across the front took me about two hours,” Candy replied, and then smiled at Monty as soon as he walked in.
“Hey, Mona, with your ugly self,” Monty said, laughing as he kissed Catherine on the cheek.
“Oh, go screw yourself,” Mona responded. She turned up her nose at Monty, and then hit him on the arm.
“Alright. Don’t y’all start that shit this morning,” Catherine interjected as she puffed on a Newport slim.
“I’ll be glad when you stop smoking them damn cigarettes,” Monty stated while spraying the air freshener in the room.
“I don’t say shit about you smoking that reefer, do I?” Catherine looked over at Monty, who was still spraying.
“I don’t smoke in the house. Plus, why are you trippin’? Cigarettes smell stronger than weed, or shall I say, reefer.”
“Whatever, son. I’m still your mama and I do whatever in the hell I wanna do. So, leave me the hell alone about my cigarettes, okay?” Catherine pointed her finger in Monty’s face like she was fed up with him telling her what to do.
“Alright! You ain’t gotta get so crazy about it. I was just playing with you. I don’t give a damn what you smoke.” Monty opened up the front door.
“Watch your mouth, son.” Catherine hit him on the head.
“Yeah! Watch your mouth, with your big head self,” Mona added, laughing because Catherine smacked Monty across the head.
“Are you ready, Candy, because these are some violent women in here?” Monty grinned.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Candy got up and walked to the door, standing beside him.
“I’ll be back later,” Monty said.
“Where are you two going?” Catherine asked.
“We are going to get some breakfast.” Monty opened up the door and exited with Candy walking right next to him. They got inside of his car and left.
Monty and Candy ate their breakfast at IHOP. He enjoyed being out in public with Candy, who was a very fly chick to have on his side. They laughed and talked, and for a change, Candy ate most of her food.
“How have you been feeling lately?” he asked after he swallowed his orange juice.
“I’m better. I realize my daddy is not coming back and as long as I can visit my mama on the weekends, it makes me feel better. We still don’t know how much time she’ll serve, but we’re praying that she doesn’t get a life sentence. I just wanna take care of me and stay in my own house, ya know? My mom even agrees with me on that. She’d rather that I live in our home and attend school here. She’d go crazy if she thought I wasn’t going to college. My Aunt Linda understands and will check on me from time to time with her surprise visits, I assume,” Candy answered.
“Well, you’re eighteen now, so she shouldn’t have a problem with you being on your own,” Monty continued.
“To be honest, she doesn’t have a problem with me being on my own. She just wants me close to her because she misses my daddy so much.” Candy ate the last of her bacon. Her phone rang and she looked at the caller ID. “Speaking of Aunt Linda,” she said as she answered it. She had a brief conversation, and then hung up.
“Is everything alright?” Monty asked in concern.
“Yeah, I was just told that I have a lil’ brother.”
“Damn, the test results came in,
huh?”
“Yep, that’s what it seems like. Just tells me my daddy wasn’t being honest about a lot of things, but I don’t care to concentrate on that anymore. It’s over and done with. Ebony and the baby are in Jamaica now and Aunt Linda is going to pay the baby a visit. I’m not going. I don’t have anything to do with that.”
Monty chose to change the subject. “Well, I’m glad to see you ate most of your food. Has your stomach been feeling betta?”
“A lot better since I don’t cry as much now. I just pray anytime I’m feeling down, then you always make my day whenever I’m around you.” Candy exposed her big pretty smile.
“Are you about ready to get outta here?” Monty looked at Candy, who nodded her head up and down.
They got up from their table and walked toward the exit. Monty opened the door for Candy just as Paris entered through the same door, staring at Monty, then Candy. Monty’s heart dropped. He was hoping she was not going to say something crazy to him around Candy. Paris entered as she was watching Monty, who didn’t even acknowledge her because he was too busy looking at Candy to make sure she was not paying any attention to Paris. They got inside of his car. Then after starting it, Monty backed up and saw Paris, who was sitting at a table watching them.
Damn, she can look so evil at times, Monty thought. He hated that he ran into her like that, knowing he’d just beat her pussy up. Monty got halfway down the road before his phone beeped, letting him know he had a text message. Monty looked down at it.
So, is that the new woman n your life? Paris
Monty didn’t respond because he was upset that she even tried him, knowing she just saw him leave with Candy.
What you think? Monty asked himself. She’s one stupid bitch. I’ll be glad whenever Rico makes it over there. I bet his ass is still in bed when he should have already been over to her house, cutting some grass and ass for all I care.
Candy sat on the passenger side knowing the text message was from one of his pawns, but she didn’t care about it as long as Monty was with her. She got ready to say something just as a car rammed them in the back, knocking Candy and Monty forward at a fast speed. The air bags inflated as the car came to a complete stop. The car that hit them sped away. Monty was dazed, but looked around and noticed Candy wasn’t moving. Monty finally got it together and tried reaching over to Candy, who was unconscious. He tried to move his airbag out of the way so he could reach her since he was calling her name and she wasn’t responding. Monty made his way out of the car, and then staggered around to Candy’s side and opened up the door.
“Candy!” Monty yelled out, hoping she was conscious. “Candy!” He shook her just a little bit, and then began to panic a little until she opened her eyes and looked at him. “Candy! Please! Say something.” Monty held onto Candy’s hand, hoping she would be alright.
Another car in traffic with them, pulled over and a man jumped out of it then dialed 911 for help. “There’s been a hit and run accident. My daughter got the tag number of the fleeing car,” the man told the dispatcher.
The paramedics arrived and took Candy away on the stretcher while the police gathered all the information they could from the witnesses. Monty couldn’t believe someone had hit them and kept going. He wanted to hurt who ever did them like that. He got in the back of the ambulance with Candy as a tow truck removed his car from the scene of the accident. He stared at her as she was still dazed out from the blow and had a big bruise on her forehead. Seeing her in that condition made Monty sick but he maintained his composure for her sake.
They pulled up to the emergency side of Trinity hospital and Monty got out as the paramedic prepared to wheel her inside. He walked beside them, still talking to Candy, who was finally responding.
“Are you alright?” Monty held Candy’s hand.
“I think I am,” she said. “I gotta a real bad headache, though.” Candy rubbed the bump on her forehead and looked down at the bruises on her arm. She didn’t realize it yet, but Monty noticed her right eye was bloodshot , caused by the airbag. They made it inside the hospital as the nurse wheeled her over to a doctor.
“Excuse me,” the female doctor interrupted. “I need to run a few tests on her. While I’m doing that, you need to be checked out to make sure that you’re okay as well.”
“Alright, but I’m coming right back, sweetie, okay?” Monty released Candy’s hand and walked over to a nurse who was ready to check him out.
About thirty minutes later, Catherine and Mona rushed in the hospital looking for Candy and Monty. He exited one of the back rooms and Catherine ran over to give him a big hug before she began to cry. “Don’t you scare me like that again.” She looked around. “Where is Candy?”
“She’s in the back,” Monty replied with a look of concern. “They’re running tests on her now.”
“Is she okay?” Mona asked with tears in her eyes.
“I’m praying that she is,” he said.
“What happened?” Catherine asked, and then grabbed Monty by his face while looking him directly in his eyes as the tears fell down her cheeks.
“Please, Mama, don’t cry. We’re okay,” Monty said, then started explaining what happened. He became angry thinking about Candy’s condition. “It was a hit and run, Mama. I don’t understand how someone could be so careless and just keep riding after running into us like that. That’s just real thoughtless. But, while in the back of the ambulance, I was told someone wrote down the tag number and whoever hit us will get caught sooner or later.”
“Well, I’m just glad that someone got their tag number, because they deserve to be in jail whoever done this,” Catherine stated.
As they stood there talking, the lady doctor walked over to Monty. “You can go in and see her now. She’s asking for you. She’s a little banged up, but she’s alright. It could’ve been worse.”
Monty walked in the room and Candy smiled at him. “Are you alright, baby?” she asked as she held her hand out for him.
“I’m good,” Monty said, despite a minor bruise on his face. “How are you doing?”
“I’m betta than I thought I was. My head hurts a little bit, but the doctor wrote me out a prescription for some ointment to keep on this bruise. She says it should be gone away in a couple of weeks.”
“Well, that’s good. You’re still very cute, though,” Monty stated, trying to lighten the situation some.
“Monty,” Candy continued while squeezing his hand. “I’m pregnant.”
“Um, say that again.” Monty was caught off guard.
“I said that I’m pregnant.” Candy looked into Monty’s teary eyes.
“Are you sure?” Monty questioned. “Is our baby okay?”
“The baby is just fine.” Candy smiled.
“How far along are you?”
“The doctor says I’m almost two months and that I could’ve miscarried during the accident, but we must have a baby with a strong will to live.” Candy waited for some kind of emotion from Monty, who was fighting back the tears in his eyes.
“You said almost two months, huh?” Monty begins to smile. “So, you say that I’m going to be a daddy, huh?”
“Yep, that’s what I’m saying,” Candy responded. “I’ve figured that it happened on the night of my birthday, September 1st, I just know it.” She was overjoyed to know Monty was happy about the baby. “I can’t wait to share this news with Mama and Aunt Linda."
“Being with you, from day one, always felt so right and not thinking about if you were on birth control or not I just let it go inside you every time we slept together. I should have asked, but in a sense, it don’t matter now. What’s done is done and I don’t regret it.”
Candy smiled. “Neither do I,” she responded. “Now, nothing has to change between us as long as you’re respectful to me and our child. I’m not asking for anything more than you’re giving me now. I just pray that by the time I have our baby, you’ve decided to come out of the streets some and spend more time with us if we intend
on working things out. Do you think that is going to be a problem for you?” Candy asked. She was very serious about Monty ending his extracurricular activities sooner than later.
“That’s cool with me,” Monty replied as he was very glad Candy was pregnant with his baby. “I’ll be there for you and our baby. I promise I will.”
I really need to make all the money I can now, Monty thought while Candy looked at him with a smile on her face. He walked out in the waiting room and got Catherine and Mona. When they entered into the room, Monty told them the good news and they began to cry all over again.
“I have good news, too,” Catherine said with a big smile. “I found us a nice four bedroom home, with a two car garage, and a big yard. We’re moving in two weeks.”
Monty grinned, feeling like the day was one he’d never forget.
Chapter Fifteen
T
The next two months passed by quickly and Monty was still up to his old tricks. He was even busier knowing that they had a baby on the way. Candy was beginning to show a little belly bump as well as her unpleasant feelings for Monty’s extracurricular activities. Things hadn’t gone as she’d hope they would after finding out she was pregnant. Monty did spend a lot of time with her, but he was also making money a high priority on his list, and Candy had feelings about coming second to that. No matter what he did or said, he couldn’t convince her otherwise. The only thing that kept Candy calm and sane besides her pep talks from Mona and Catherine, was being able to visit Nancy every weekend. She also knew that she had to keep it together for the sake of her baby.
Catherine bought a new home and she, Mona, and Monty had happily moved in it. They were so excited about the new move and the baby on the way. Catherine and Candy were even closer as Catherine stepped up more in her life to try to ease the emptiness of her not having her parents around. For Catherine, things were finally coming together as she received another promotion and was ready to start dating again.
Mona was in school and continued seeing both Ross and Rico. She and Candy also spent a lot of time together. Mona was excited about the baby and had feelings of someday having her own bundle of joy.
CheckMate (Play At Your Own Risk) Page 16
