The car door to the Cadillac he drove flew open and broke them out of their trance. A girl who looked to be no more than fifteen looked at Red. "Come on, Daddy, let’s get out of here." She then looked at Dena. "Leave that bitch," she said with much attitude.
Red went to say something, but the bullet to the back of his head silenced him. His daughter had killed him. The girl that was in the car screamed. She jumped out and ran down the street screaming for help while Mrs. Kenslow sat there in a state of shock. If it wasn’t for Ken and Pastor G, she would have been caught at that moment. Ken snatched her up off the ground and drug her to safety. She appreciated that. She vowed to always have Ken’s back, but all that changed the night he messed with her own. The courts didn’t have enough evidence to charge Ken for Diesel’s murder, but she would use her power to make sure he didn’t walk away a free man, even if it meant she had to pull some strings or frame him.
When Mrs. K returned from memory lane, she had noticed that she pulled up to Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Her vision became a blur from the tears that she shed. She wiped her eyes as she drove into the gate. Being that it was night, she appreciated the lights that the park had on the grounds by each headstone. She followed the dimly lit path that led to where Diesel and her late husband rested. She turned the car off and wasted no time getting out. As she stepped her right foot on the pavement, she took a deep breath, let it out, and then stepped completely out of the car. “My baaabbyyyy,” she cried as she ran toward the gravesite. She threw her body against the headstone. “Where did I go wrong?” she asked through sobs.
*****
He followed her from her home to the spot where she briefly met up with a biracial dude who struck him as a cop. He followed her as she drove over thirty minutes to the city of Hollywood. When he saw her turn toward the cemetery, he already knew what was up, so he parked inside of the bank parking lot and waited twenty minutes before he drove into the cemetery behind her. It took him a few minutes to locate her car and when he did, he made sure he parked several feet away. He checked each of his mirrors before getting out. Everything seemed secure. Just as he got out the car, he spotted a security car driving his way. He played it cool by waving and then walking toward an unknown grave. He waited until the car was no longer in sight and made his way near the row where she was. There she was crying hysterically on her knees. Through her sobs, he heard that she was apologizing for being a bad mother and wife. He almost felt sorry for her, but he couldn’t. She was a bitch and so was her son. Just in case the high class ass cemetery had cameras, he decided not to approach her at that moment. He’d surprise her instead.
~ Back at Pam’s ~
Pam and Officer Michaels sat on the love seat enjoying a classic. They decided that Love & Basketball would be much better than watching another thriller flick. Michaels didn't want Pam having any nightmares when he left.
"Thank you for being so kind," Pam said when they got to the end of the movie. She put her head down so he couldn't see her face.
"Thank you for allowing me to keep you company. It was a pleasure." He lifted her chin with his finger. "Are you crying? I mean, I don't have to go, well, not now at least." He chuckled, knowing that the movie was what had Pam emotional.
Throughout the movie, anytime Monica seemed as though Q had hurt her feelings or when they broke up, all she did was coo or cry. It was cute to him to see Pam act like that, but to Pam it meant more than just a fictional love story. Watching Q and Monica battle with their hearts for a love that was surely there made her think of Pastor G. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she still loved him. She was hurt because she felt like he should have waited for her. She didn't have the full story, but she knew that he and Stacy hooked up right after her death. That was all the info F said he had on the two. She felt in her heart that she was being selfish because they thought she was dead, but she couldn’t help feeling salty behind it. Especially after the way Stacy talked about her that day at the hospital.
“I’m alright." She smiled weakly.
"Are you sure?" He was concerned.
"Well, I am living another life and not able to be with my daughter or knowing where she is driving me crazy." She wiped her tears from her eyes. "I'm just ready for this to be over it."
Michaels didn't know what to say. He didn't know what was going on with her or her case. All he was told was the former family he was watching, he was off the case and assigned to a new one. He didn't ask F any questions. "I'm sure it'll be over soon." He touched her leg.
"No, it won't. I've been here over two years. I just want this over with. I miss her, she needs me.” She sobbed thinking of Jazz. Michaels put his arm around her and pulled her into his chest. Pam laid there and continued to cry. She let it all out. She cried for what she allowed Calvin to put her through. For being so wrapped up in a man, she allowed him to control her life. And, now it was affecting her daughter’s life. She should have walked away after the shit with Mr. Biggs and her contracting AIDS, but no, she was still in love. Stupidly in love. Now, there she was with AIDS, in protective custody, being blackmailed to bring down a man she once loved, and their daughter was laid up in the hospital pregnant and shot. Pam’s shoulders shook she was crying so hard.
“It’ll be alright,” Michaels whispered. "You'll be alright. You're a strong woman. I see it in you. You're going to get through this. I’m sure you’ve been through worse, and came out fighting and won." As if she was in a dark room trying to figure out what she was going to do, those words hit her like a light and she was back into protect Jazz mode. She was going to protect her daughter by any means necessary. She removed her head from his chest and looked up into his bedroom eyes. Without saying a word or wiping the tears from her face, she kissed him and he kissed her back.
~ Dena Kenslow ~
Dena spent a half hour crying, and talking to Diesel and her late husband, who was next to him. Her head hurt something terrible. Before getting up, kissed each of their headstones and told them how much she loved them. As she slowly walked away, she looked back. “Diesel, baby, I promise you will rest in peace." She then turned and walked to her car.
I need a fucking drink, she thought as she opened her car door. A slight chill ran over her body, which caused her to shiver just a bit. She hurried and got in the car. She looked over toward the gravesite and shook her head. Her baby was dead. I gotta make it right with Laurie, she thought as she started the car. But, she needs to understand that momma wants to be happy, too. She thought of her relationship with Calvin and smiled. They didn’t do much together, but when he was there he did keep her mind and body occupied. Dena put the car in drive and just as she was about to pull off, a large hand covered with a leather glove covered her mouth. Before she could think to react, a gun was pressed against her temple.
"Cut the car off," he demanded. She didn’t bother to put the car in park, she turned it off. "I'll talk and you'll listen." She shook her head to agree. "Ken didn't kill your boy."
Mrs. K’s eyes got big. He’s behind this, she thought. She didn't say a word.
“He wished he did kill him, but he didn't. I guess the shit he did to Jazz finally caught up with him. I don't know and I don't give a fuck. But, I want you to know that if you don't call off your dogs and have Ken able to get bail, or, better, all charges dropped, the Kenslows is going down.” He got closer to her ear. She could smell the Juicy Fruit on his breath.
“So, Ken sent you?” Her heart beat so hard, it felt as if it was about to jump out of his chest.
“It don’t even matter. Know this. I know you killed dude in front of the warehouse. Just in case you don’t know, I have the video, but that shit means nothing to me. I ain’t no bitch ass nigga who will turn you over to the law. I am a nigga that will make a phone call and have you and yours taken care of. You know what I mean?” Mrs. K cleared her dry throat. He continued. “Now, your son dug his own grave. And, now he gotta lie in it. I mean, you still have Laurie and that baby you kidnapped
, right?” When she heard Laurie’s name, she froze. Pastor G felt her body tense up. He knew he hit a nerve. “How would you feel knowing that you and Diesel was the cause of Laurie’s demise?”
“You keep my fucking daughter name out of your mouth.”
“And, why would I do that? You fucking with mine and it’s only right that I fuck with yours. But, peep, after it’s all said and done, not only will you be the cause of a lot of bad shit that will happen to your family, the media will know who you really are. A murderer.”
“Alright, alright, I get it. All of you are out to destroy me. I get it.” She cried. It was beginning to be too much for her.
Pastor G didn’t have any remorse for the selfish board. “Naw, it seems like your family is out to destroy any and every one to protect themselves. I mean, it’s only right. I would do the same, but, unfortunately, you picked the wrong ones. You have exactly seventy two hours to have my boy released. Don’t say you have no control because that is a lie. Seventy two, Dena.” She nodded her head to let him know she agreed. “You’re spared because of your word. You have control over what will happen in the next seventy two hours.” Pastor G used his left hand to open the car door. With the gun still aimed at Mrs. Kenslow, he slowly exited the car. Once he was out, he put the gun in his waist and walked backwards to his car.
Mrs. K dropped her head on the steering wheel. It seemed like everything was falling apart. All of her life she felt inferior. She was what one would call a bad bitch. Personal and business, she held it down. She didn’t take any mess. No one was able to screw over her or make her do something she didn’t want to do, and now with a snap of a finger shit changed fast. F and Pastor G was in control. At that moment, she was confused. She didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t sure if she should fold or fight toe to toe with them. She thought of Calvin. Can I ask my man for help?
~ Pam ~
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Michaels asked Pam. The two went from watching a movie to sharing a kiss, and now standing face to face lusting over each other’s naked body.
“I do,” she admitted. Pam walked closer to Michaels, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him again. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Still enjoying each other’s tongues, he walked her over to the wall. They both anticipated love making.
“Can I make love to you?” Michaels whispered.
Pam was soaking wet, hot and bothered. She wanted her fire put out at that moment and at that time, only Michaels could put it out. “Please,” she begged.
Michaels bit on her neck. “I can’t wait to feel you.” He grabbed his swollen tool with his left hand and placed it on the entrance of Pam love box.
Oh, my God. What am I doing? Pam thought. She used both hands, pushed him in the chest, and jumped out of his arms, falling onto the floor. She put her head down in shame. She couldn’t believe that she was about to let that man make love to her without protection. She had AIDS! Pam covered her face. She was so close to destroying another’s life just as she had done Ken’s father and mother. She’d gotten an instant headache thinking about how she was part of the reason Ken’s mother killed herself. She selfishly slept with the man without protection just to live a self-destructive lifestyle. That is why I am going through what I am going through. She thought about Karma. Was Jazz now paying for the mistakes that she made? She shook her head in pity.
“Are you ok?” Michaels looked down at her. She shook her head no. “Do you want me to leave?” Pam removed her hands from her face and looked up at him. Michael could see the sorrow in her eyes and felt bad.
“I’m sorry,” she admitted truthfully. Michaels didn’t say a word. He leaned down and tried to pick her up. “No, I, we…” She pushed his hand away.
“I understand. And, I apologize for taking it there.” He lifted her from the floor, carried her to the couch, and sat her on his lap. “Pam, I am sorry for taking advantage of you. . . I knew you were emotional and I should have never.”
“It’s not your fault,” Pam admitted. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Michael kissed the top of her head and held her until she fell asleep.
~ The Kenslow Estate ~
Dena pulled up to her estate. She was all shaken up from the night’s events. After pulling into the black iron gate with the gold K, she parked her Rover in front of her door. Dena took a minute to prepare herself before she got out. She knew that if not Calvin, Laurie would be questioning where she was that time of the night and she wasn’t in the mood to explain anything. She laid her head back on her seat. Damn. She chuckled. It was the first time that she ever felt like she wasn’t in control.
Dena entered the doors of her mansion. She let out a relieved breath when she saw that no one was in the living area, especially Laurie waiting on her to return. She was so not in the mood to deal with anyone. All she wanted was to take a hot bath and climb into her bed. As much as she loved getting dicked down by Calvin, she didn’t even want that. Quickly, she headed to the staircase.
“Mother, where have you been?” She stopped at the first step when she heard her daughter’s voice.
“I had to go take care of some business,” she replied without looking back at Laurie.
“What kind of business and why couldn’t your boyfriend go with you to make sure you’re alright? I mean, why do you have him? Oh, God, don’t tell me it’s just for sex.” Laurie frowned. She’d had a flashback of the day she caught her mother on the pool table. Apparently, she had just got done sucking Calvin off because she was in front of him on her knees with sperm all over her face.
“Laurie, now is not the time.” Her voice raised just a bit. She really didn’t feel like the shit. Everyone was fucking with her and she was seconds away from blowing the hell up.
“Well, when will you have time? All you do is lie up in the room with him or when he is not here, you’re still distant. Like he can understand your pain.” Dena started to respond, explain that the only reason that she hadn’t reached out to her was because she knew that she secretly blamed her for her brother’s death. Laurie hadn’t said anything, but she knew that her and Diesel both were upset because she didn’t allow Ken to go to jail for something he didn’t do. Now, she wished she had. She knew if she responded, things would escalate. She slowly walked up the stairs. “Really, mom?” Laurie put her hands on her hips. “You’re just going to walk away? Laurie walked up on the first two steps, Dena was on the eighth step. “I guess I’ll be dead like Diesel before you…”
Mrs. K turned around. “Laurie, I am warning you right now to leave me alone.” She gave her a stern look. Laurie crossed her arms in front of her.
“I have a right to speak.” Laurie began to feel emotional. She was hurting, too, and she wanted her mommy. She missed her brother dearly. They were so close. She had never really gotten a chance to mourn his death because she was too busy trying to get her mother’s attention. Tears laced her face and she forcefully wiped them away.
“Laurie, we will talk later. I can’t do this tonight.” She stared at her daughter. Besides her latte skin color and natural curly hair, the two looked just alike.
“Dena, you alright, ma?” He looked from her to Laurie, and then back at his woman. She looked up at him,
“I’m fine.” She gave him faint smile. She looked back at Laurie. “We will talk later.”
Laurie heard her, but she didn’t. Her focus was on Calvin. From the first day she walked in on him and her mother’s nasty sex scene, she never cared for him. His entire demeanor rubbed her the wrong way. When she brought it to Rosa’s attention, she expressed she felt the same way. Rosa said he was bad news and her mother needed to get rid of him. Her mother had too much going on for herself to deal with a so-call bodyguard slash thug.
“When you see her talking to her daughter, respect that.” Calvin looked at Laurie unfazed and she didn’t appreciate it. “What is it, you don’t know what respect means? Well, I will say it in your language. Mind your
own fucking business, homie.” She crossed her arms in front of her like she just got done performing a rap song. “Why are you around, anyway? My mother is out of your league. What is it that you really want?” Her hands were now on her hips.
“Laurie, shut up, just hush and stop being so disrespectful. I raised you better than that.”
“I can say what I wanna say. Just like you can do what you want to do. You have your head so far up his ass you can’t even…” Before Laurie was able to finish her rant, Mrs. K had run down the stairs into her face and slapped the hell out of her. The hit was so loud, it probably woke up the dead. Laurie held her cheek. She was appalled and hurt. She could only remember her mother hitting her one other time, and that was when she was twelve and was caught in the closet humping her friend’s brother.
“You will respect him and whomever I bring to MY house.” She pointed to her chest. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Come on, Dena.” Calvin touched her shoulder. He looked at Laurie and smirked.
“Yes, you most defiantly made yourself clear.” Laurie was now sobbing. “You made it clear that you will always put others before your family. Well, before me, because I am the only one alive. I hope baby Amanda finds her mother before she sees you for who you really are. That’s why my brother is dead because you put others and your job before him. Mom, you killed Diesel. Dena back handed Laurie. She grabbed her by her curly hair and slung her to the floor. She jumped on top of her and slapped her in the face. Laurie tried blocking the hits to her face, but that didn’t stop Mrs. K. She slapped her in the head.
“Who do you think you are? I am your mother? Don’t ever talk to me like that.” She continued to hit her.
Rosa sprouted up in her bed, the commotion had awakened her. She hurriedly grabbed her robe from behind the door and put it on. When she stepped out of her room and saw what was going on, she couldn’t believe it. “Oh, my God. Stop it...Stop it...” Rosa ran from the west to the east wing of the mansion, and ran down the stairs. “Are you just going to stand there?” she said to Calvin as she brushed past. “Get off of her, now...” She pulled Mrs. K off Laurie onto the floor.
Too Salty: Ain't a Damn Thang Changed (Part 6) Page 5
