“Yeah, Alex, that’s fine. I umm … I’m sorry, I’m just surprised.”
“Yes, me too. I’m not really sure how it happened, but he just probably got in with the wrong crowd or said something to the wrong person. But look, karma is ten times worse sometimes, you know? This wasn’t his only drunken hit and run, this was just his worst. His license was suspended a few days before he hit you.”
I nodded, still baffled.
Alex and I hung up with one another after discussing a few more minor details, and for a minute, I just stood there at the marble counter. It wasn’t that I cared about this Vigo guy, because after he almost killed me and my kids, I hated him. But I knew once Virginia found out, she’d be devastated.
I started on the food, and once I was done adding everything, mainly my six different cheeses, I placed the large pan in the oven.
Today, Antonia was bringing Lily over, and she told me Lily loved anything with marinara sauce. I hated that I didn’t even know what my own baby liked, but I couldn’t stand around and complain. I was just happy they were coming over for dinner.
I’d been visiting her every day since her blood transfusion procedure, and she and I had gotten so close. She was so smart, funny, cute, and just perfect. I actually enjoyed conversing with her, and also found myself missing her when I would have to leave.
After putting up a few of the things I’d used and didn’t need anymore, I went upstairs to have my second shower of the day. Once out, I checked my phone to make sure I didn’t have a missed call from Antonia, and saw I had a notification from Instagram saying someone wanted to send me a message.
Going into the app, I slid over to get in my inbox.
NorthWay: Hey Draylah how are you? I was wondering if we could exchange numbers or meet somewhere. I know it’s been a while but a lot of stuff has happened and I think we should get up with one another. I still care about you… you know I never stopped loving you.
I stared at the message for what seemed like an eternity, before finally snapping out of it. Instead of responding, I backed out of the app and locked my phone. How dare he message me years later, when he couldn’t even text me back or answer my call when I thought Lily had died. I didn’t know what he wanted to meet for, but I really didn’t care.
I got dressed in some maternity tights and a tube top because lately, that was really all I fit, and the only way for me to stay comfortable. I made my way downstairs to take the lasagna out to cool, and then I started on the baked beans. By the time that was finished, I heard someone ring the doorbell and excitedly rushed to get the door.
“Draylah!” Lily shouted excitedly before gently hugging me and then rubbing my belly.
“Hi, sweetie, how are you?” I grinned down at her, smoothing back her ponytail as she smiled up at me. She looked exactly like me.
“I’m great! Mommy says we’re gonna eat red sauce tonight. Is that true?” She stepped further into the house, removing her mustard yellow sweater as she glanced around.
“Yes, it’s true.” I chuckled before lightly hugging Antonia, welcoming her in. “So we can go into the living room while the food cools, and to wait for Ricky.” I led Lily and Antonia to the living area, and on the way there, Lily slipped her hand into mine. I swear it took everything for me not to cry.
“Ooh, this is a big living room!” Lily darted in, and went right up to Ricky’s entertainment center.
As she looked around, Antonia and I sat down on the couch, watching her for a little bit.
“Antonia, when you first came to me about Lily needing blood, you said you’d contacted her birth father and he wasn’t a match.”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Charlotte did give me his name when we first did the whole adoption. His name is North Powers, right?”
“Yeah, it is.” I inhaled and glanced Lily’s way, who was amazed by Ricky’s DVD collection wall. “So did you see him? Or how did that work?”
“Yeah, well, I told my assistant about him, and she found him on social media. I’m not too much into that stuff. But yes, she found him and contacted him for me to get his phone number, and we went from there. He’s a nice young man, a little thuggish, but nice.”
“I see.”
“Can I ask you something?” I spoke lowly as Lily began to look through Ricky’s DVDs.
“Sure, honey.”
“You told me you were having a hard time adopting through a legit agency, why is that?” I cocked my head. When she first said it, I didn’t think too much about it, but now, I was wondering. I mean, I’d heard about gay and lesbian couples having issues, or single people, but Antonia and her husband, Mark, seemed to have been in pretty good shape, so I wasn’t sure why they’d have any issues.
“I don’t think that really matters now, does it, Draylah?”
Squinting my eyes in confusion, I replied, “Yeah, I do think it matters. I mean, I’m her mother—”
“No, no, I am her mother, okay? If we are going to continue with this little arrangement, you must remember that you are not Lily’s mother, I am.” Antonia stared into my eyes intensely. I wanted to sock her ass for talking to me that way, but I knew if I did, it would hurt Lily.
Pausing briefly, I said, “I know that, Antonia, I was simply saying I think I have the right to know since biologically, I am her mother. Not to mention, I didn’t really agree to give her away.”
“That’s not something I’m ready to talk about with you, Draylah. Maybe down the line, maybe never, but as of right now, it’s not gonna happen.”
Before I could say anything, I heard someone coming through the front door, and I knew it was Ricky.
Standing up, I sighed. “Okay, Ricky is here, so we can all go to the dining room to eat dinner.”
“Yay!” Lily shouted as we filed out of the living area. As we did so, we ran right into Ricky, looking good enough to eat.
“Baby, this is Antonia, and this is—”
“Lily!” Lily introduced herself and stuck her little hand out to Ricky. “You are so tall, boy!”
“Nice to meet you. And you short as fuck,” he replied, causing Antonia and I to gasp, but Lily fell out in laughter.
“So! When I get to be an adult, I will be tall like you!” She placed her hands on her nonexistent hips.
“Oh yeah?” Ricky squatted down so that they were face to face. He frowned playfully, making Lily grin and chuckle.
“Yep! And I’m gonna beat you up!”
“Well shit, then I better start beating you up now.” He swooped her up and clawed at her stomach, making her screech with laughter. Antonia and I chuckled as we followed them both to the den.
During the whole dinner, Lily held conversation with Ricky and I, ignoring her mother. I don’t think it was done purposely though, I just think she was excited to be around new people.
“Okay, so once I wash it, you gon’ do what?” Ricky looked to Lily who was standing on the kitchen stool at the sink with him.
“Ummm … okay, okay! Rinse it!” She laughed when he reached to claw her again. She was extremely ticklish, I’d learned.
Antonia and I sat at the bar, watching Ricky and Lily wash dishes together, which put a smile on my face. As soon as he and Lily had all the dishes in the dishwasher, Antonia stood up.
“Okay, Lily, time to go.” Antonia smoothed down her dress.
“No, Mommy, can I stay the night? Ricky said he’s gonna show me how to fuck some niggas up on Grand Theft Autoooo,” she whined.
“Lily!” Antonia hissed.
“That was supposed to be a secret.” Ricky bucked his eyes down at Lily who was hugging his leg.
“I’m sorry, Antonia.” I chuckled even though I didn’t want to. “Lily, you can come back over tomorrow.”
“I don’t know about that. We have a church meeting,” Antonia interjected.
“She’s six. She doesn’t wanna go to a damn church meeting on a Friday. Fuck they need a six-year-old for anyway?” Ricky frowned.
“Yeah,
they don’t need me! All I do is sit there bored, Mommy!”
“Lily, I said come on!” Antonia barked and grabbed her roughly, prompting Ricky to block her. Antonia looked up at him with an appalled expression.
“You ain’t gotta grab on her. Step out the kitchen and let me talk to her,” he gritted, gazing seriously into Antonia’s eyes. She looked like she wanted to speak up, but knew better.
Once Antonia stepped out, Ricky squatted down to Lily and gripped her small shoulders as she let her head hang.
“Hey, pick ya head up. I thought you was a G?”
“I am a G,” she whined cutely, making me chuckle.
“Aight then. So tomorrow, just go to the meeting and be good. And when you come back here, I got you.”
“Yep, and I will play too,” I said, making Lily beam.
“Y’all promise?”
“I don’t make promises, I make guarantees. You know what that is?” Ricky replied, and Lily shook her head ‘no.’ “It means I’m being truthful with you.”
“Okay.” She locked her small arms around his neck, and I saw him hesitate for a brief moment, almost like he was surprised, before hugging her back.
Once she let him go, she rushed to me, and I gave her a hug as well, before walking her out into the foyer. Antonia slipped Lily’s coat onto her small frame, and the whole time I fought the urge to blurt out that I was her mother and that I wanted her to stay. As soon as Ricky closed the door behind them, I burst into tears. This dinner was maybe too much for me.
Wrapping his arms around me, he said, “It’s aight, Dray.” His hand moved up and down my back slowly. “Maybe over time, we can work some shit out with her, have Lily’s time split between us.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” I tilted my head back. “We already have two coming.”
“Fuck nah, I wouldn’t mind. If we gotta whip around L.A. in a muthafuckin’ minivan, then that’s what the fuck we gon’ do. Just throw some rims, hydraulics, and tint on that bitch so I won’t lose my gangsta card,” he replied, causing me to laugh heartily. “And whoever got some shit to say about it, I guarantee they gon’ keep their thoughts to themselves if they know what’s good for them.” He kissed my forehead. “But I’m serious. I want you and whatever that comes with, including the double dose in ya belly and Lily.”
“I love you, Frederick.”
“I love you too.” He pecked me. “Come on so I can rub yo’ fine ass down and then work that pussy out.”
“Baby, I think I’m getting too big for sex.” I chuckled as he led me up the stairs.
Bringing me in front of him so he could hug me from the back, he whispered, “As horny as I am for you right now, I just need you to lay there and give me ten minutes.”
“What? Only ten minutes?”
“That’s all I got for yo’ ass. I already know I’m nutting quick. I’m busting a big one too.” He groped my ass roughly while biting his lip as we entered the room. “Fuck, I’m about to hurt you.”
I just gave him a faint smile, before he started to remove my shirt in between kisses.
“Did you handle Vigo?” I inquired as Ricky kissed all over my collarbone, and then trailed his way down.
Looking up at me, he shrugged before pulling my tights down. I already knew the answer, and I wasn’t surprised.
Chapter Six: Virginia
The next morning …
While I was cooking breakfast, Draylah called me and asked to come over, so I made sure to whip up some extra food. By the time the waffles, eggs, spicy sausage, and biscuits were all ready to go on my plate, I heard Draylah at the door. I rushed, wanting to get to her as soon as possible, and I guess it was because I missed our friendship. It’d just gotten started and then kind of just crumbled because of my dishonesty. I was hoping her coming over today meant that we could make amends.
“Hey.” I beamed at the sight of her. Draylah was glowing, and looked so beautiful as always.
“Hi,” she replied shyly before we embraced. “Mmm, I smell something syrupy-sweet,” she said, stepping into my condo.
“Oh, I made some cinnamon waffles. I made enough for us to eat together, if you’d like.”
“I hadn’t planned on it, but I am starved now. I feel like I eat so much with two babies in here.”
“And they are definitely taking it all because you’re pretty much all belly.” I laughed, caressing her round stomach.
We entered my kitchen, and after washing my hands, I made us both a plate, as well as some glasses of juice. We prayed over the food, and after eating a couple of bites, Draylah laid her fork down and looked at me. Pushing her hair behind her ears, she just stared.
“What?” I chuckled awkwardly, not knowing what her odd look was for. What I did know was that it couldn’t have meant anything good.
“Vigo is dead.”
Cocking my head slightly, I dropped my fork. “What? What are you talking about, Dray?”
“He died in jail. His throat was cut, and by the time they’d found him, he’d bled out. He’s dead, V.”
Time seemed to slow down as I gazed at nothing in particular. My love for Vigo had long ago dissipated, but I still cared for him. To hear that he was dead seemed unreal to me, and it definitely hurt more than I thought it would. I had never imagined my life without Vigo, even though I’d broken up with him. And I think what made the feeling worse, was that I’d had a hand in putting him behind bars.
“Umm, why didn’t they call me? I mean someone? He’s on my damn insurance and they didn’t even tell me he died, but told you?” I shook my head, hoping the tears building up would subside. “He has people that care about him and they just … they just let him die and don’t say anything? How do you know this is true?” I smiled. “I mean … maybe it’s the wrong guy or they’re lying—”
“It’s true, V,” Draylah responded softly, placing her hand on top of mine. “I know it was hard to tell the police on him, but I want you to know that I appreciate it. And I’m sorry for staying mad at you for so long. I know what you had to do was really hard, and at the time, all I could think about was almost losing another child.”
“I get it, Draylah, you don’t have to explain. What your aunt did was traumatizing, I know, whether Lily really died or not, you still lost her. So I get it. It’s just I feel bad for betraying him and then for him to die is just…” I covered my face with my hands. “It’s just fucked up.” I began to cry. “He wasn’t that bad of a person, you know? He was just stupid, and weak for alcohol. I tried to get him to see that nothing good could come from it, and he just didn’t get it! And now, he’s dead because he just couldn’t get it right! He could have been great at something!” I sobbed violently, prompting Draylah to scoot closer to me so that we could hug.
“You can only help people that want help, Virginia. He was the only one who didn’t think his drinking was a problem, and because of that, he was never going to get better. There is nothing you could have done to make him see the light, I promise you.”
I nodded with my eyes closed, before wiping my tears. She was definitely right because I’d bent over backwards for years to get Vigo on the right track, and every single time, he never lasted. The only time he acted like his drinking was a problem and he was gonna get help, was when he thought I was gonna leave him. I still hated that he was deceased, but I found a little bit of peace in the fact that maybe he was now at peace himself.
Draylah hugged me until I got myself together, and then we resumed eating breakfast. To my surprise, she stayed over with me for a few hours before leaving. She was going to the park for a little bit with Ricky, Lily, and Lily’s adoptive mother. Draylah said Lily’s adoptive mother was starting to become annoying, and how Ricky didn’t like her. I just chuckled because my homeboy didn’t really like anybody. If he did like you, you needed a gold medal or something.
I laughed at the thought of her telling me how well Ricky and Lily got along, and how Lily could handle his rudeness and even found it hil
arious. She was definitely Draylah’s baby if she could deal with Ricky’s ass.
I took a nap, but I was woken up by the sound of my iPhone ringing. Looking down at the screen, I saw it was Frisk, so I spritzed my face with some rosewater to wake up, and then answered.
“Hello?” I smiled, climbing out of my bed.
“Hey, did you schedule my fitting for the Bankroll signing party?” he quizzed.
“Of course I did. Did you really call me for that? You could have sent me a text.”
“I know, but I wanted to hear ya voice. If you’re not busy, you wanna come through? Maybe we can get some drinks first. I can pick you up.”
“Yeah, sure, unless you have something else for me to do, boss.”
“Mmm, I like that formal shit. But nah, you good. I’ll be to you in about an hour once I finish recording my verse for this track I did with AK.”
“Ohh.” I cleared my throat. “You’re working with Ricky AK?” I knew he was joining forces with Head Honcho, but damn. I was nervous for them to be all hanging out together. I thought I’d have more time, but clearly, they were already working.
“Yeah, that’s always been the homie, and so he did me a solid by featuring on my first single with the new label. You know how the saying goes—”
“Add Ricky AK and stir for a hit,” we said together then laughed subtly.
“Well, I can’t wait to see you.”
“Same, see you in a bit.”
I hung up and just sat there for a little bit, hoping that queasy feeling in my stomach went away. I just wished Frisk was someone completely separate from that whole crew, because I knew it’d be just a matter of time before bratty ass Wonder started to be petty.
I took a nice hot shower, and went the extra mile to use body scrub to make my skin soft. I covered my body in lotion while still damp, and then put on a casual dress with some casual sandal stilettos. I wasn’t sure where we were getting drinks at, but I wanted to be ready for any type of setting. By the time I’d put on my jewelry, ran some cream through my hair, and sprayed on a little bit of my Gucci Bloom perfume, Frisk was at my door.
She Got It Bad for a Heartless Gangsta Page 18
