by T. N. Baker
“Alone at last.” Epiphany sighed with relief. It was one of those evenings when Tiara had church and Jay happened to be out in the streets. Epiphany hadn’t fully recovered yet, but she needed to go back to her place, in search of some answers. She grabbed her cell phone and car keys, and out the door she went.
Once she reached her apartment, she spotted a FOR RENT sign in the window. She got out of the car and attempted to use her key, but it didn’t work. She walked around to the side of the two family house and peeked through the her bedroom window. It was empty.
“Where the fuck is my shit?” she screamed as she walked back to her car. Epiphany grabbed her cell phone and dialed the number on the FOR RENT sign.
“Hello?” a man answered.
“Yes, is this Mr. Raymond?” She was obviously aggravated.
“Ahhh, yeah. Who am I speaking with?” Mr. Raymond responded.
“This is Epiphany Wright. I was renting your first floor apartment over here off of Guy R. Brewer Avenue, and I need to know where my stuff is.”
“Well, young lady, I don’t know where your stuff is, but I do know that a gentleman claiming to be your father paid me the remaining balance of your lease and took your belongings with him.”
“Oh, okay then. Thanks.” Epiphany hit the END CALL button on her phone. She sat parked in front of the house, staring off into space, when suddenly a quick vision came to her. She saw Malikai’s truck pull up in front of her apartment; then he was sitting on her couch. What Epiphany saw next caused her to have an asthma attack. She saw herself standing in front of Mali, pointing her gun at him, and in one last flash, the gun went off.
Wheezing and gasping for air, she searched the car for her asthma pump, but only found a brown paper bag instead. With tears pouring down her face, she quickly placed the bag over her mouth then inhaled and exhaled until she gained control of her breathing.
“Oh my God, I killed him,” she whispered.
* * *
Epiphany replayed Mali’s murder in her mind for days, but it just didn’t make sense to her. If I killed Malikai, then who shot me? Was it in self-defense? The same two questions kept popping up in her head. She couldn’t eat or sleep since her revelation. She needed answers. If her father was the last one in her apartment, she felt it was time to ask him some questions.
“Daddy, listen. I really need to talk to you.”
“What’s up, Epee?” Jay Wright responded.
“Are the police trying to find out what really happened?”
“I doubt it. As far as they’re concerned, your friend is just one less nigga they got to worry about. The truth will surface sooner or later, and when it does, I’ll take care of it. Meanwhile, don’t stress yourself out, Epee.”
“Daddy, you don’t understand. I need to know what happened,” Epiphany said, slightly raising her voice.
“Epee, look, I don’t know what to tell you. I tried to warn you about the company you was keeping, but you didn’t want to hear it.”
“Daddy, did anything look suspicious in my apartment, like my locks? Were they broken or anything?”
“No, besides the blood-stained couch and a busted-up stereo, nothing was out of place.”
“My gun, Daddy, the nine you gave me—was it still in my closet?” Epiphany continued to question.
“Nah, I ain’t see no gun.”
“Do you think the police found it?” Epiphany asked.
“Hell no! You kidding me? If so, they would’ve had a field day prosecuting you, especially since you’re my daughter,” Jay Wright said, checking his Rolex for the time.
“Epee, look, I have to go and take care of something. You gon be a’ight?”
“Yeah, I’m cool,” Epiphany answered. She was disappointed. Her father’s answers weren’t much help.
Chapter 64
“I feel so stupid. I can’t believe Tucker just fucked me and left without saying a word, like I’m some whore off the street or something.”
It was day two since they hit skins, and still no Tucker in sight, not even a courtesy call. Keisha tried reaching him on his cell, but after leaving several messages, she gave up. At that moment, there was only one word to describe how Keisha was feeling: played.
If this is Tucker’s way of making me feel like shit on the bottom of his shoe, well, damn it, he’s done it.
Tears began to run down her face, and the feeling of loneliness came over her.
Maybe he’s seeing someone else, she thought. All the signs are right in my face: he won’t answer my calls; he can’t be living out of a hotel all this time; and he fucked me with a condom, I guess to keep from bringing my scent home to his new girl.
“That has to be it!” Keisha cried out. Her assumptions made everything seem all too clear.
She got out of bed and started packing all of Tucker’s belongings.
“If you want to be with somebody else, that’s fine, but you won’t do it here,” she screamed out while throwing all his things into garbage bags. “I’m done with the apologies and making an ass out of myself over and over again.”
Keisha struggled as she dragged the bags down the steps and left them by the front door. Then she dialed Tucker, who, of course, didn’t answer.
“Tucker, this is Keisha, and since you haven’t bothered to return any of my calls, don’t. Just come and get your stuff. It’s already packed and waiting by the door, so the hard part is over. Good-bye.” Keisha exhaled as she plopped down to the floor and new tears began to fall, replacing the dry ones.
She took a moment to collect her thoughts, but all she kept asking herself was, Damn, how could I be so stupid? Why did I do it? I know he’s not coming back.
Still holding the phone in her hand, she decided to call and check on her son.
Chapter 65
Shana was tight about having to pay Smitty that kind of hush money. Besides, she was starting to wonder if it was even worth it. K.C. didn’t even bring his black ass home last night, and yet she was paying his right-hand man a cut of the money she made.
Shana wanted to get her mind off the stress in her Iife. She needed to throw on her “fuck him” dress, head to the club, get her drink on, dance, and just have some fun for a change. She called Keisha to see if she was down. Clubbing was something Keisha hadn’t done in years, so it might help her get her mind off Tucker.
“Hello?” Keisha picked up after the fifth ring.
“Damn, Keish, I was about to hang the fuck up. What you doing?”
“Nothing, girl. Just finished surfing the net for a job and waiting for Tucker to come and get his things.”
“Job? What you talking about? Tucker’s moving out?”
“He needs to. I packed all his stuff and told him to come get it, so that means I’m going to need a job so I won’t go through the money I’ve been saving.”
“Shit is that bad, huh?”
“Yep. I’m only fooling myself thinking he’ll take me back. It’s obvious he don’t want to be with me anymore, so I might as well face it.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, but his actions say it. I can’t even be mad at him, because if he did what I did, I probably wouldn’t want him neither.”
“Keish, you know what your problem is? You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out the house and have some fun. Fuck that nigga. Let’s go out and get our club on or something, girl. Do you for a change.”
“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly.
“Keisha, what you mean, you don’t know? The baby ain’t there and neither is Tucker, so come on. Let’s have some fun. Please!” Shana said, putting the beg on.
Keisha sat on that thought a few moments longer. It was time to get out, have a little fun, and focus on doing her.
“All right, I’m down. Let me see if Epiphany wants to come too.”
“Epiphany! Do you think she’s well enough to go to a club?” Shana asked.
“Yeah, she’s good. It’ll be like old times, just
the three of us.”
“Cool. I’ll check back with you around ten o’clock.”
“Just come over.”
Keisha hung up with Shana and dialed Epiphany.
“Praise the Lord,” answered Mrs. Wright.
“Ahhhh, hello?” said Keisha.
“Yes, who would you like to speak to?”
“Mrs. Wright.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, hi. Is Epiphany there? It’s Keisha.”
“Hi, sweetie. Hold for a moment, okay? Epiphany, Keisha’s on the phone,” she yelled.
“Hello?” said Epiphany, picking up the phone.
“Hey, girl, what’s up?” Keisha asked.
“Girl, my moms is driving me nuts.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“She done went Christian crazy. Every five minutes she’s talking about God or trying to get me to go to church with her. She even bought me a bible, and get this: She plays church music all fucking day now.”
“Well, what does your father say?” Keisha asked.
“What can he say? She ain’t even speaking to him, for whatever reason. I’m guessing it has something to do with her newfound religion.
“And that’s not even the half of it. She told me that the name Epiphany meant some type of celebration for Christ.”
“What?” Keisha questioned in disbelief.
“Yes, girl, that’s it for me. I have to get the hell out of here. She’s too much for me. I’ll never get my memory back living here.” Epiphany laughed.
“I got an idea. Why don’t you come stay with me?” Keisha suggested.
“Are you serious? What about Tucker?”
“I packed his stuff, girl,” Keisha said in a disappointed tone and sucked her teeth before continuing. “Besides, it ain’t like he’s ever here anyway, so he might as well take his belongings with him, right? Anyway, don’t worry about him. Just come on, okay?”
“Check you out, finally putting your foot down. Even though you did wait until you fucked up to do it, but at least you doing it. Anyway, we’ll talk about it when I get there.”
“No, we’ll talk about it tomorrow, ’cause me, you, and Shana hanging out tonight.”
“Oh, for real. I’m with that. I’ll see you in a minute then.”
Chapter 66
Epiphany was so anxious to move out of her parents’ house that she didn’t put much thought into her decision to move in with Keisha. All she knew was she wanted out and wasn’t quite ready to get a place of her own just yet. Epiphany also knew that even though she was grown, her mom would make a big deal about her leaving, so she decided that easing her way out would be her best move.
I’ll just pack enough for a few nights, tell them I’m chilling with Keisha for a few days, and then gradually get the rest of my things, Epiphany thought as she plotted out her plan.
She packed fast and told her parents it was only for a few nights. Tiara was uneasy about her spending the night out so soon after what had happened and bearing in mind her condition, just as Epiphany had expected her to her to be. She already had her, “I’m twenty-two, soon to be twenty-three, which means I’m not asking permission. I’m just letting you guys know where I’ll be” speech prepared.
“Baby she is grown. Besides it’s only for a couple of nights.” Jay Wright assured Tiara that Epiphany would be fine.
It was a done deal. Epiphany was out the door and in her car as soon as she said her rushed good-byes. She turned on the radio and blasted Hot 97 all the way to Keisha’s house.
Keisha rushed to the door, kicking Tucker’s bags further to the side to make room for Epiphany to enter.
“Hey, girl!” she screamed, full of excitement as they rocked side to side, hugging each other tightly.
“Thanks, Keish, for letting me chill here.”
“Girl, please! Don’t even mention it. You know you’re like a sister to me, so cut it out and get in here. Shana should be here around ten.”
“Damn, what’s all this?” Epiphany asked, referring to the bags by the door.
“Tucker’s stuff. What, you thought I was playing? I think it’s really over between us, ’cause he don’t act like he feeling me at all.”
“Keish, he probably just wants to make you suffer for a little while, that’s all.”
“Oh, so I guess that’s why he fucked me the other night, fell asleep with his back turned, and then got up and left and hasn’t spoke to me since.”
“Shit, at least you got some. I can’t even remember the last time I had some dick. I just hope for your sake you put it on his ass and fucked him good, ’cause if you did, he ain’t going nowhere.” Epiphany laughed.
“You know I did, girl!” Keisha said, wondering if her sex was as good to him as his was to her. “Come on, let me take you to your room, ’cause we need to be getting ready.”
Chapter 67
The trio was back together again. It had been a while since all three of the girls hit the club together, so of course they had to represent. Epiphany was dressed in an all-black halter top cat suit by Sean John (Not the Sean John hood shit you find in Monies or Macy’s. This was P.Diddy’s exclusive runway shit, only for the grown and sexy). She wore her hair straight back, and it flowed nicely down her back. She applied a glitter gloss to her lips, along with an earth tone eye shadow that complemented her slanted eyes. After all her last- minute primping, she slid her freshly pedicured feet into her Gucci sandals and was ready for whatever.
Keisha was dressed a little too conservatively for Epiphany’s taste, in a knee-length Chanel skirt with a buttoned-up blouse by Donna Karan. Sister needed some serious help.
“Oh, hell no. You ain’t going with me looking like that. We’re going to a club, not a fucking job interview,” Epiphany snapped.
“I know, but I don’t have nothing else to wear,” Keisha whined.
Epiphany dug down in her bag and pulled out a fitted little dress by BCBG. “Here. Put this on,” she said, throwing it at Keisha.
The dress was a little too short and sexy for Keisha, but she didn’t want to hear Epiphany’s plain Jane jokes, so she decided to just roll with it. Epiphany took care of her hair and makeup, and Keisha threw on some stiletto mid-calf boots from Aldo to at least hide some of her legs.
Shana arrived at a quarter past ten. She was looking cute as well, wearing a black-and-white sheer shirt that hung off her right shoulder, black stretch boot cut pants, and a pair of heels. She wasn’t really into all that name brand shit. To her it was the person that made the clothes, not the other way around. So, while chicks were out there trying to keep up with the Joneses, spending three or four hundred for an outfit, Shana’s cost about eighty bucks, and she still looked good.
Epiphany was glad that both of her girls finally had their own rides now, but she got a little jealous when Keisha volunteered to be the designated driver with her brand new, fully loaded XS with spinners.
“Keisha, when did you get this?” she asked.
“Oh, Tucker bought it, but he gave it to me right before all the drama started. Why? You like it?”
“Yeah, it’s a’ight, but he should’ve got you the silver one though.”
Shana rolled her eyes, noticing Epiphany’s hateration, but she kept quiet about it, because she was determined to have a good time tonight.
The girls made it to Club Suede around midnight. They headed straight for the bar. The club was kind of empty at first, but it didn’t take long to fill up with all kinds of people—black, white, Asian, you name it and they were up in there partying it up.
Suede was also a well-known hangout spot for the baller/ celebrities. That particular night, P. Diddy and his entourage were up in there, along with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, who danced the night away in the VIP section.
Epiphany, of course being the diva she only knew how to be, wanted nothing less than VIP status, plus she wanted Diddy to notice her and how good she looked in his Sean John design. She started by making eye c
ontact with one of the big bouncers in front the velvet ropes. His arms were folded, and he didn’t seem to pay her much attention.
She walked over to him and bluntly asked, “Ahhh, can you let me and my girls through, please?”
Without even looking down at her, he replied, “Nah, shorty, I can’t.”
“Come on. I said please. I’ll give you my number,” Epiphany said with a flirtatious smile.
He gave her a dirty look. Disappointed and bothered by the bouncer’s rejection, Epiphany stormed off and headed back over to Shana and Keisha, who stood holding their drinks, waiting patiently for her to signal them over to VIP.
“That muthafucka got to be gay,” she yelled out to them over the loud music.
“Or maybe you lost your touch.” Shana laughed at her snide remark.
“Never that.” Epiphany didn’t find the humor at all.
“Oh, come on, you guys. Let’s just have some fun.” Keisha was the mediator as always.
“Yeah, let’s.” Shana rolled her eyes.
“Keisha, just give me my drink. You and her go have fun. l’ma go stand over there,” Epiphany said, pointing toward the VIP section.
“You sure?” asked Keisha.
“Yessss, go,” Epiphany yelled as she headed back over to the ropes. She was certain she’d get up in VIP.
The DJ was putting it down with the music. The fellas were hawking the females like vultures. It didn’t take long for Keisha and Shana to find dance partners.
Epiphany sipped on her drink and checked out the scene carefully. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned to her left, and there stood a six-foot-four, nicely built, caramel brown brother with light eyes.
“What’s your name, shorty?” he asked with a killer smile. Jackpot bells went off in Epiphany’s head when she looked down and saw he was standing on the other side of the ropes in VIP, where she needed to be. She smiled at him, damn near showing all her pearly whites.
