This shit was like an episode of COPS. I couldn’t believe how crazy Gabriela was acting. The impact of the door flying open sent Gabriela to the floor. Her brothers were screaming and crying and the scene was chaotic. I stood my ass right on the porch and watched the scene unfold. Gabriela was holding onto the officer’s leg as she pleaded for him not to take Magdalena. I knew her ass was on some other kind of shit because she didn’t look right at all.
“Paul, let me go,” she screamed possessively.
Paul ignored her wishes and kept trying to pry her arms from around the officer’s leg.
“You can’t terminate my rights—you can’t,” she kept screaming out.
“Let go! I’m only going to tell you once and only once,” the office yelled.
When she didn’t let go in time, he pepper sprayed her.
“Ahhhhhh,” Gaby whelped in pain.
I stood in complete shock, watching the kids cry and scream for help. Neighbors came out in the hallway as they watched on. Some young punks, riding by on bikes, stopped, walked up the stairs, whipped out cell phones and were shouting, “WorldStar,” as they recorded the disorder and confusion. I hated that dumb shit. I just wanted my daughter so I could get the fuck up outta there.
Paul tended to Gaby as the officer got on his radio and reported a disturbance. This dumb ass girl was going to jail. I shook my head. The officer walked through the apartment and minutes later, he returned with my baby girl. She was so oblivious was to what was going on. Thank God, she was young and wouldn’t remember any of the shit. The officer passed me my daughter and I hugged her tightly.
I heard the sirens wailing and knew Gabriela was about to go to jail. I didn’t stick around for none of this shit. Once I had my baby, I jetted.
Chapter 14
Gabriela
A month had passed and I couldn’t seem to get out of my funk. I’d lost my job and was on the verge of losing my man. Not to mention, the day the officer showed up at my house, I went bat crazy. I was charged with disturbing the peace. The charge was a misdemeanor. Since disturbing the peace was my first offense, I was let off with just a fine of four hundred dollars.
“You’ve been sitting around this house for too long, moping around. You have three other kids that look up to you to provide and shelter them. Wake the fuck up!” Paul spat angrily.
“I miss my daughter, Paul. You don’t understand. I’m a deadbeat just like my mother,” I screamed through tears.
“You can’t blame anybody, but yourself. You all doped up on pills and shit. I can’t believe you,” Paul replied. He paced the bedroom floor and mumbled to himself.
“You gave them to me!” I shouted.
“I gave you a Percocet to calm your nerves, not to get addicted to. You have a fuckin’ addition and it’s tearing your family apart. Get your shit together before you lose everything,” Paul seethed.
“Stop fuckin’ yelling,” I said.
I got off the bed, stomped my way into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. I reached into the medicine cabinet, fumbling through Tylenol, Aspirin, and other cough medicines until I grabbed seven Vicodin pills. Paul didn’t know that I was taking anything other than Percocets. I was tired of living. I was sick of struggling to be a better person when life kept knocking me down. I desperately wanted to down all seven pills. I grabbed the pills and slide down the bathroom as silent tears flowed down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe how my life was turning out.
“Gabriela,” Paul shouted. He repeatedly banged on the front door. “Open the door. What are you doing in there?”
I didn’t answer. I just stared at the pills in my hand as I wept.
Seconds later, I heard the bathroom door jiggling. Paul had picked the lock and stood over me. He lost it when he saw how many pills were in the palm of my hand.
“Are you kidding me? You doing other shit now?” he yelled so loudly that I was sure the neighbors might’ve heard him.
He smacked the pills out of my hand and I went into a straight frenzy.
“Stop it! You don’t know what you’re doing,” I shouted. I crawled around the cold linoleum bathroom floor picking up each pill, one by one.
“You gotta be kidding me. Beat this shit, Gabriela! I’ll work more hours. I’ll keep paying the bills, but you gotta beat this shit, baby. Do you want to go to rehab? Tell me what you need me to do baby and I’ll do it,” Paul pleaded.
He kneeled down beside me as he pulled me into his chest. I released my guard that I had up and howled as tears streamed down my face as if I was trying to win and Oscar, only I was really in pain. I cried for daughter. I cried for my mother in jail for assault charges. I cried that I was more than likely going to end up like her. My issues stemmed from my childhood and I desperately wanted Magdalena to grow up differently, but here I was, childless because my rights had been taken away.
“It’s okay, baby. We’re going to get through this,” Paul whispered.
“I lost my kid, Paul. I lost my job. I don’t think I’m strong enough to beat this,” I cried out.
“You are, baby. You are,” Paul said for reassurance.
He gently pulled back finger, by finger until he saw my palm. He slowly grabbed the pills and tossed them into the toilet. I sat there in a daze when I saw him get up and flush the toilet. “Were these all?” he asked.
I nodded my head yes.
The doorbell rang. Paul slowly backed away from me and turned around to make his way towards the front door.
“I’ll be right back. It’s probably the pizza delivery guy,” he said eyeing me.
Moments after he left, I pulled myself up from the floor and made my way to the bedroom. I went through my jewelry box until I found my last six hidden Vicodin pills and last Percocet. I had them wrapped in tissue. I was positive that Paul wouldn’t go through my jewelry, which made the perfect hiding spot. I grabbed the pills and swallowed them. I didn’t give a fuck anymore. It hurt too bad to know that I’d failed my daughters, Mia and Magdalena. I’d failed my brothers too because I’d let them down.
I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. Seconds later, Paul came into the room.
“Babe, I brought you some pizza,” he said approaching me.
I couldn’t even sit up. The room started spinning. I started having hot flashes. I couldn’t talk because my throat felt like it was going to close up. The room felt as if it was closing in on me.
“Gabriela! Gabriela! Baby, what did you do?” I heard him yell before I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer.
Chapter 15
Kimora
Today was the opening of my realty company and I was a ball of nerves. It was raining today, which is something it always did during the summer time in Florida. I was wearing a Calvin Klein cotton eyelet belted dress with black strappy caged heels. I decided to straighten my hair and it was bone straight with a part down the middle. Neron hated that I straighten my hair. I hardly did it often, but when I did, people mistook my hair for a weave.
“We’re going to be late,” Neron said.
“Thanks for reminding me. Are the babies all set?” I asked. I was running around the house like a chicken with my head cut off.
“We’re all good to go, baby. We’re just waiting on you,” Neron replied.
“Okay, let’s go.”
I was nervous. I was hoping I would have a great turnout for the grand opening.
*
The rain had finally slacked up so I was relieved. Scattered dark clouds still lingered in the sky. I was hoping the rain would hold up for a few more hours. We dropped the kids off to Neron’s parents’ house. After saying our goodbyes to the kids, we left from Neron’s parents’ house and we arrived at my grand opening.
My event planner had everything put together nicely. There was a huge crowd formed outside. Some of the guests had come prepared with umbrellas. Valet had opened my door and Neron came around the car and held my hand. I waved to the crowd as a huge smile sat on my face. I was pleas
ed with the turnout of the grand opening. I immediately said a small speech and thanked everyone for coming. I grabbed a pair of scissors and cut the huge red bow, signaling that we were now open and ready for business. I’d hired some of top of line realtors. I was grateful to have my own business up and running finally, thanks to my father of course.
Once inside, I mingled around and worked the crowd. We offered refreshments such as champagne and bottled water. I had finger foods such as goat cheese poppers with honey, stuffed celery, mini quiches, pimiento cheese squares and seared beef tenderloin mini sandwiches with horseradish sauce. I turned around and was surprised to see my mother walk into the building. I invited her and I wasn’t sure that she was coming, so it was a pleasure seeing her. What caught me by surprise was she had a date. This was the guy that had her head over heels. She looked gorgeous in a blue, black and white, printed ruffled maxi dress. Her hairstyle had changed from the last time I saw her. Her hair was now in a black asymmetrical bob. She looked amazing.
“Neron, look, there’s my mom,” I whispered. “Walk over with me please?”
Neron was stuffing his face with some of the finger foods.
“Put that shit down, baby,” I giggled.
He tried to stifle his laughter. He grabbed a napkin and wiped his face and hands. We walked towards my mother and when she noticed us, she smiled. She was glowing.
“Hi mom, I’m so glad that you could make it,” I said as we hugged.
“You know I couldn’t miss my baby’s grand opening. I’m so proud of you Kimora,” she said genuinely.
“Good to see you, Mrs. Murphy,” said Neron, hugging my mother.
“Likewise,” she replied.
“Oh, where are my manners? This is my boyfriend, Robert. Robert, this is my daughter Kimora and her fiancé Neron,” she said proudly.
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied.
He was really quiet and somewhat standoffish. Mom was doing all the talking for him and I found that to be quite odd, but I could tell that my mother was really feeling him and if she was happy, then I was happy.
Neron shook Robert’s hand while I offered them some champagne. After getting champagne, we chatted for a while. The place was filling up like sardines in a can. Some people were making appointments to come back to check out some properties. I was humble seeing all my hard work paying off. I didn’t think I could pull off my grand opening so soon, but I did.
Chapter 16
Neron
It was now July and life was going fuckin’ great y’all! Kimora was selling properties left and right. I was proud of my baby girl. We were packing for our flight to Miami to see Kimora’s parents for the Fourth of July. We were coming a day early. The kids were getting so big. Magdalena and Junior were almost five months old. They’re both learning how to sit up on their own. Magdalena was so clingy with Kimora. If Kimora sat her down, she would throw a huge fit. I loved it though because it showed how much Mag liked her and how well she was bonding with Kimora. It was always funny to see Junior and Magdalena interact too. I was such a proud father because I stayed snapping pictures and recording videos of them two. My daughters’ hair was growing bone straight while my son had my curly locks. Kimora had put Magdalena’s hair into two cute pigtails and she was looking more and more like her damn mama.
“We’re all set,” Kimora said.
She was checking off a checklist to make sure we had everything in order.
“Cool, where are Mama Pam and Quan?” I asked.
Right before Kimora could respond, I heard Quan making a beat on the door as he knocked. I laughed aloud. Some folks just couldn’t knock or ring the doorbell like regular folk. The kids looked towards the front door as Junior was banging a toy against the carpet, laughing too. Even though he didn’t have a clue as to what was going on, that made Kimora and I laugh in unison.
“Open up the door, boy,” Mama Pam said in her loud, boisterous voice.
I snickered listening to her talk shit on the other side of the door. She was too funny. Mama P was like the neighborhood mama to everyone’s kids. She was the woman that sold honey drippers, boiled Cajun peanuts and candy out of her house. She always threw some type of party at her place too. She would comfort you. She would give you advice straight with no chaser. She was that go-to woman for anything. Pam was short and thick like the comedian Monique. She had the personality to match as well. We’d invited Mama Pam and Quan on our trip to Miami.
No party was complete without my boy Quan. We went way back since high school. We ran in the same inner circle and both played football. After graduation, we always kept in touch. That was my nigga for real.
I opened the door and hugged Mama Pam. She gave me one of those big old church hugs. She was like my second mama.
“What up, man! What’s the play?” Quan said.
We gave each other dap.
I stepped to the side to let them enter. “Nothing, man. We just got finished packing. Y’all all set to go?”
“We’re ready, baby,” Mama Pam said.
She hugged Kimora and went straight towards the babies. They immediately started crying. Quan busted out laughing.
“Mama, you walking up on these babies like the big bad wolf, you can’t do that,” Quan said hollowing in laughter.
Mama Pam smirked and turned around, shooting him the bird. They were so damn funny. It was never a dull moment when they came around.
“What’s up, sis,” Quan said. He hugged Kimora.
We sat around for about thirty minutes, catching up and letting Mama P enjoy the babies before we left the house to board the plane.
*
“Lord Jesus—Jesus,” Mama Pam shouted on the plane.
We were having turbulence as the pilot attempted to land the plane and she wasn’t having it. Quan was cracking up as I placed my fist to my mouth to stifle my laugh. We ended up landing safely and made our way to Kimora’s parents’ house. Life was good. There was no sign of Gabriela and I loved the hell out of my life.
Chapter 17
Gabriela
My eyes fluttered as they tried to get used to the light. My head was pounding. It felt like Woody Woodpecker kept pecking the shit out of my head. I heard machines beeping slowly, so I immediately knew that I was in the hospital. I looked to my left and Paul was sleeping in a chair. I tried to speak, but the tube down my throat was creating pain. My throat was dry and itchy.
“Paul—Paul,” I called lowly.
I saw him stirring in his sleep and seconds later, he opened his eyes. He jumped up so quickly from his chair and rushed towards me.
I placed my hand on my throat and nodded my head towards a pitcher of water. Paul took the initiative to pour me some cold water in a paper cup. He placed a straw inside and walked back towards me. He held the straw to my lips and I took a huge, slow sip.
“What happened?” I asked.
“You overdosed on pills. That’s what happened. I can’t believe that you would try to take your life because shit ain’t going your way. Shorty, that’s life. Shit ain’t gonna always be peachy and shit. You gotta learn how to roll with the punches and deal the hand you’re dealt,” he said passionately. He stared me directly in the eyes, barely blinking as he spoke.
“The doctor has put you on suicide watch. They pumped your stomach and said you should be okay. You’re going to be evaluated for the next few days, though. Gaby, baby, I need you to snap out of it,” Paul said. I could see the hurt in his eyes.
“How are the boys?”
“They’re fine. I got everything under control. You worry about getting better,” he said. He grabbed my hand as a tear slipped from my eye. “I love you, gurl. You gonna be my wife one day.”
“I love you too,” I said, slightly smiling. “I’m—going to do my best to get myself right. I just hate how everything has played out in my life.” I coughed, trying to clear my dry throat. Paul brought the water back up to my l
ips and I took another sip.
“You got me, baby gurl. A nigga is holding you down right now.”
“I don’t have my daughter, though. I haven’t seen her in two months. I lost my first daughter and now my second daughter is taken away from me because I missed a fuckin’ court date,” I cried out.
“First, focus on getting on your feet and then we will figure out how to get Magdalena back. You have three young boys that need their sister. Their mother already failed them. Show them that you care and love them by getting your life back on track.”
*
From that day forward, Paul helped me become a better woman. I was seeing a psychiatrist three times a week, I started eating right and jogging in the morning. My mind and body were pure and for the first time in a long time, I felt incredible.
It was the Fourth of July and Paul was called into work. I hated that he had to go in, but I understood. He was now the breadwinner for our family. I enrolled myself in school and would start next month, in August. I was taking college courses in business administration and I couldn’t wait to start. Paul made me want to better myself. My brothers made me want to push myself harder than ever before. All that was missing was my daughter Magdalena. I was still on restraining order papers so I couldn’t reach out to Neron and he obviously wouldn’t reach out to me.
Paul came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.
“You’re going to be late if you don’t move it,” I said, laughing.
“I got this! They called me in so I can take all the time I need. These hours are going to put me into overtime baby.” Paul applied his deodorant.
“Well, I’ll get started on dinner. I wish I had some girlfriends or someone to kick it with,” I said sadly.
Instantly, I thought about Renee and Kimora. Renee was dead and my friendship with Kimora was dead too. I had no other friends.
“Keep focusing on you right now and then worry about having friends baby. Pop some popcorn and watch a movie with the boys,” Paul suggested as he sprayed on cologne.
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