by Tiece
She wiped her face with the back of her hands, trying her best to dry her tears. As she put the car in reverse to back out of the store’s parking lot an incredible feeling came over her that totally eased her spirits and calmed her thoughts. She glanced up at the store’s front entrance as the door swung open.
“Oh My God,” she whispered. It was the guy that she’d been running into for the past few weeks.
He quickly noticed her, but still took a double take just to make sure. Damn, there she go again, he thought feeling very intrigued by her presence at that point. She continued to ease back in reverse, but unable to take her eyes off him. Their eyes connected and he smiled a smile that was so contagious and genuine that it made her smile back. For some reason that made her want to get out of there quicker, because unexpectedly meeting up with this guy again and again and again was definitely strange.
“Aye, watch out,” he called out. Bianca wasn’t able to stop fast enough as she slammed on the breaks still backing into the car that was trying to drive past her.
“Aw fuck,” she whispered while her heart pounded. Her license was suspended and she was sure to go to jail. She disappointedly shook her head. It was amazing how a smile could hypnotize her for a moment, giving her hope, then turn around and take it away.
The guy immediately ran up to the car to make sure that she was okay. Quickly he opened Bianca’s door not even checking to see what was up with the people in the car that she bumped.
“Are you okay?” He asked her as she looked at him feeling dazed. The coke was still in her system and her adrenaline was now pumping one-thousand miles per hour.
“Help me,” were the only words she could muster up as she helplessly fell in his arms. She was tired of running and out of enablers. She’d hit rock bottom and if she couldn’t go any lower then it was time that she came back up.
The guy hugged her and in that moment he felt bad for her. She may have looked the part but inside she was falling apart, and if he didn’t know it before, he knew it then. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and whispered in her ear.
“It’s gonna be okay. I got you.”
**********
“Hey Kita,” Lauren spoke as soon as ShaKita answered the phone. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing much today,” she responded. “It’s too cold to wanna do anything except cuddle.”
“So your new Boo is there?” Lauren asked being nosey since ShaKita still hadn’t said much about her and Coco’s relationship since the Thanksgiving Day Slaughter.
“Nah, she’s at work,” she said still not wanting to talk about it.
Lauren sensed her hesitation, but wanted to see if she could open her up. “So, Mom said that you haven’t stopped by to see them and when she calls you either fast talk her or don’t answer. What’s up with that?”
“Nothing is really up that. I’m just not ready to answer any questions right now.”
“Well, maybe she doesn’t want to question you. She’s Mom, so she just wants to talk and make sure that you’re okay.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know.” ShaKita said. She did want to talk about it, but she felt embarrassed.
“You can’t stay away forever. For one, you hate cooking and Mom’s house is a free restaurant for your greedy ass.” ShaKita laughed. “And you may as well face it. If you like women then you just like women. I can say that I never saw this one coming, but hell it is what it is.” Lauren said.
“I was going to say something eventually, but that big mouth, sneaky ass Bianca just had to ruin me introducing Coco to family.” She said.
“Now Sis, I ain’t gon’ lie; your drunk ass started that shit.” Lauren stated. “If you would’ve kept your mouth shut about Tessa then none of that shit would’ve happened.”
“But she still called Coco prior to any of that going down. So I know that she was being underhanded.”
“Well, you would see it that way for the simple fact that she called you out right after the huge blow up between y’all. I can honestly say that maybe she meant well in the beginning. Things just went sour really fast, but you’re to blame for that.”
“But she dogged you too,” ShaKita said trying to make a point.
“That was only because your ratchet ass threw me under the damn bus.” Lauren responded.
“Okay,” ShaKita said. “Maybe I was wrong, but I hate Tessa’s ol’ big titty ass.”
“You just hate Tessa because she slept with Ralph while y’all were together,” Lauren reminded her. ShaKita rolled her eyes up in her head because she’d already heard that from Kerry, but it was the truth. “Is that why you turned to women, because Ralph broke your heart?”
“Fuck Ralph!” ShaKita snapped. “I just hated the fact that Bianca knew about them fucking but looked away as if the shit was cool.”
“Girl, you and Ralph ain’t did nothing but fight and fuck the whole time that y’all were together. You weren’t tryna leave that man. How many times did I tell you that I’d heard about him and some other chick? And what would you do?” She questioned like she was waiting on an answer, but then kept talking. “You’d fight him, he’d fuck you, and then all was forgiven.”
“Yeah, but that’s my sister. She should’ve shut that shit down, but her ratchet ass didn’t care.”
“And I agree, but if she felt like you were only gonna take him back then that’s probably why she didn’t say anything.”
“That’s still no excuse.” ShaKita responded.
“And it’s not, but cut B some slack. You started that shit and you were wrong. If she was high or whatever then you should’ve just waited to talk about it. You know Bianca is a basket case. She was unpredictable before, but she’s lost a man that she was in love with. So, no telling what kind of reaction you may get fucking with her now,” Lauren explained.
ShaKita was quiet for a moment. “You’re right, but I still don’t have nothing to say to her right now. Don’t forget that she even did some foul shit that night with Justin.”
“Yeah, but we still don’t know the full story on that one. Kerry has been so mad that she won’t even talk to Justin to find out anything, but maybe it wasn’t what it seemed to be.”
“Well if it wasn’t, your big mouth ass was the one that made the phone call.”
“Don’t remind me,” she said. “I should’ve kept my mouth closed, but I was still heated with Bianca’s ass too. I should’ve waited though because it was Todd who called and told me. He could’ve been mad at her about something. Who knows?”
“Hell if I knew it came from Todd I wouldn’t have even believed it,” ShaKita said knowing how hard he used to floss until his tax money ran out.
“You’re right,” Lauren agreed. “Well, hopefully some light will be shed on that situation whenever Bianca comes to her senses and wants to talk or whenever Kerry gives Justin a chance to explain himself.”
“Yeah maybe,” ShaKita said but she highly doubted it. She loved her sister, but she’d crossed a line with her one too many times and she just didn’t want to have anything to do with her at the moment.
**********
Kerry was in the kitchen cooking while Ciara sat to the kitchen table scribbling on some notebook paper with her crayons.
“Mommy, is daddy still coming over?”
“Yes, he’s still coming over.” She said allowing Justin to come eat dinner with them because the kids had been begging for a family night. She didn’t really want too, but because their oldest daughter did so good on her first dance recital, she figured why not.
“Mommy, don’t you wish Daddy would come home?” Ciara asked not taking her eyes off of the paper that she was scribbling on. “I wish Daddy would come home,” she softly spoke.
“Mommy and Daddy don’t live together anymore, C. I’ve explained this quite a few times.”
“I know, but all Daddy gotta do is leave his house and come back to ours,” she said still scribbling.
“What about Shannon?” K
erry asked.
“What about her?” Ciara responded causing Kerry to laugh to herself because she was so smart. The doorbell rang letting Kerry know that Justin had made it there. “That’s daddy.” Ciara said. Kerry then heard him come inside the house talking to their other kids.
Finally, he walked in the kitchen and kissed Ciara on the forehead. “What’s up, Kerry?” He spoke knowing that he was treading on thin ice after Bianca pulled that little stunt.
“Hey Justin,” Kerry spoke back, but never took her eyes off of the stove. She kept cooking as if he wasn’t there.
“So, Daddy don’t get a hug? You normally come running to the door when I come over. What’s up with that, pretty girl?” He asked Ciara.
“I’m mad,” she responded with her lips poked out. Justin frowned then looked over at Kerry, but she still wasn’t paying him no mind.
“Why are you mad?” He asked sitting down to take a look at her scribble on the paper.
“Because you need to come home,” Ciara bluntly stated.
“Daddy lives in another house, C.” He explained. “But I still come get you whenever you want me too.”
“But you don’t come to my school. Taylor’s Mom came to the school with some cupcakes for her birthday and even her daddy came too.” She said then taking her eyes off of the paper to address him face to face. “You hear me Daddy? You and Mommy should do that one day for my birthday. Come together,” she said.
“Okay, Daddy will do that,” Justin said as Kerry shook her head. Ciara was indeed too much and time enough for her Daddy.
“Ciara, go in the living room and watch TV with your brother and sisters. I need to talk to daddy for a moment.”
“Okay,” Ciara said then exited the kitchen.
“So you’re still mad at me?” Justin asked not wasting anytime of their alone time.
“What you think?” She asked stirring the collard greens. “You and my sister were kissing in the club. Am I not supposed to be pissed about that?”
“But it wasn’t like that,” he explained. “I don’t know what the hell was going on. One minute I’m walking around in the club chilling and gettn’ my drink on then the next minute I’m being kissed by your sister. Then after she kisses me, she tells the guy off whom she was talking too and the woman too. She grabbed my hand and pulled me as we walked off then she points her finger in my face and tells me I better not tell nobody.”
Kerry frowned. “She said that?”
“Yeah, it was like she was trying to prove something to somebody. I’m figuring the man that she was sitting at the table with when I walked by.” He explained. “I know you’ve been heated and have not wanted to talk to me, but I’m innocent in this. Honestly, I don’t think that Bianca meant anything by it except for proving a point. We all know the extents she’d go through to prove a point.”
“Yeah but kissing on you,” Kerry said. “I just don’t know about that one. That girl had already pissed me off so bad that night that we were literally gonna fight if Uncle Ed hadn’t grabbed me and carried me outside. I’m thinking she was trying to be funny or fuck with me some more.”
“I don’t think that was the case though.” Justin said.
“Well, if it’s anything concerning Bianca, we’ll probably never know the case.” She said. “I just don’t have anything to say to the old ratchet ass heifa right now.”
Chapter14
Janay and Finn sat on the bed inside her bedroom at her parent’s house. She hadn’t really said much to him since the Thanksgiving Slaughter when she’d heard his conversation with Heather on the phone that day. She was trying to piece it all together and see where did she go wrong, but she couldn’t figure it out. She’d been loyal, respectful, and loved this man with all her heart. How could he put his lips on another woman and think that it was cool? She looked over at him as he lay beside her with his hand on her stomach rubbing it.
Finn looked over at her and smiled. He couldn’t understand her sudden distance, but all he wanted to do was make her happy and proud of him. He loved her with all his heart and that’s the reason why he’d come there the day before to stay until after she had the baby. She was his heart and she needed to know it.
“Sweetheart, you haven’t been as talkative lately. I know that you’ve been upset because I’ve been busy in the church and haven’t been able to come spend much time with you, but I’m here now.” She looked over at him without saying a word. “I’m not leaving until you and our little one are able to go back with me,” he said.
“That’s nice to know.” She responded with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
“Come on, Sweetheart.” He pleaded then kissed her stomach. “Don’t treat me like this. I love you so much.”
Janay jerked her neck a little as she looked at him sideways. “Well, if you love me so much then why didn’t you tell me that Heather stayed the night with you on Thanksgiving night?”
Finn’s eyes grew wide as he cautiously frowned. “Huh?” He was totally caught off guard as he stared at her.
“Do I need to ask that question again or did you hear me the first time?” She snapped, ready to curse his ass out.
“Sweetheart,” he said getting sweaty palms. “I didn’t even know that she was staying. I honestly didn’t. She just stayed and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew that you’d be tripping.”
“I’d be tripping, huh?” She rolled her eyes. “You don’t say.”
Finn knew that he had to say more to clear himself or this wasn’t going to fly. “Look, she drank a little too much and ended up staying because she couldn’t drive home. We slept in separate rooms. You gotta believe that.” He explained.
“Y’all slept in different rooms, but you managed to kiss her.” Finn was taken aback as he looked at her stunned. “How did that happen?” she pondered.
“Did Heather call you or something?” He questioned without even thinking that he’d basically told on himself; even though she’s already known it.
Janay swopped him on the arm. “No damnit! Your phone called me Thanksgiving morning and I heard y’all’s whole lil conversation, starting with your mom running her mouth.”
Finn frowned as he thought back. He remembered that morning in the kitchen with Heather and his Mom then she left them in the kitchen alone. After Heather left he then remembered seeing his phone sitting on the counter.
“Wow,” he whispered causing Janay to frown. “I remember that morning.” Then he thought about Heather kissing him and then commenting on his lips. He disappointedly shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Sweetheart.”
“How could you do me like that?” She sadly asked. “I thought that we were upfront and honest with each other.”
“We are,” he said. “I promise we are and that morning wasn’t nothing like what you may have heard.” He said thinking back. “Heather must’ve set me up.”
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“I don’t remember leaving my phone in the kitchen but it somehow was just there.” He tried explaining. “Something isn’t right about that and that kiss. Please know that she just walked up on me, totally catching me off guard, and kissed me when she was about to leave. Then she made the comment about my lips. I know that I shouldn’t have let her get close to me like that, but I’ve made it clear to her that I don’t want her. You gotta believe me,” he sincerely said.
Janay could tell from the look in his eyes that he was being honest. Even though he wasn’t upfront, she’d never known him to lie to her about anything. She immediately leaned over and kissed him. “I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” he responded. “I’d never cheat on you. I promise you that.”
“I believe you, but you gotta stay from around that bitch.” She told him.
“Sweetheart,” he dragged with a smile thinking that she had to clean her language up being married to a Bishop. “If staying away from her will make you feel better then I will. I have no problems with
that. I just want us to be okay.”
“Good,” Janay said but she had a gut feeling that it was more to what was going on and for some reason his mom kept coming to mind.
Finn leaned over and kissed her stomach again. “Now can I get a lil some from my wife, because after you have our baby I’ll have to wait six weeks,” he said with a cute chuckle. “That’s a long time to go without some of this good ol’ wet wet.”
She grinned at his comment. “You sure can,” she said then sat up quickly with a freighting look in her eyes while staring at him. “My water just broke.”
**********
An hour later Bianca woke up in a hospital bed as she looked around the empty room. She had an IV hooked up to her arm and couldn’t even remember how she got there. The last thing she remembered was backing into a car then everything went a blur.
