by Mz. Toni
“Woah there calm down, I ain't come here for drama,” he said with his hands up.
“Well why are you here?”
“Can we talk privately?” he asked.
“Anything you gotta say to her you can say right here, right now!” Shante said with a smirk. Raymond looked at her with so much hatred he scared me.
“Just for a minute,” he begged. I just wanted him to go because he was ruining my best friend’s welcome home party with his shenanigans. So instead of cursing him out in front of everyone, I got up and went into the other room with him following behind me like a lost dog.
“What Raymond?”
“I'm giving Destiny to my cousin down in North Carolina,” he said shocking the shit out of me. It was rare that I was speechless, but this shit took the cake and I had no reply.
“You have really out done yourself this time Raymond!” I said causing him to smile. This nigga had to be on drugs if he thought I would be ok with him sending his child, my niece, to live with a fucking stranger all because of his mistake.
“See I'm doing this because I love you,” he said with a wide smile.
“So you love me more than your child?” I asked walking closer to him.
“Can't you see that, didn’t I just prove that?” he said trying to hug me. Reaching my hand back I slapped the taste out of his mouth.
“I can't believe that I ever loved and married someone as selfish and unloyal as you!”
“Wait, you don't mean that!”
“Oh I do, and if you even think about sending my niece anywhere you will never see me or your children again!” I said walking to my front door and holding it open for him. He didn't even try to argue or beg like he usually did. He put his head down and walked out of my house. After he left my night was ruined so I apologized to Quesha and called it a night after seeing everyone out. Curling up in my bed, I cried for myself, I cried for my kids and I cried for my niece, none of us deserved what was happening.
It’s been a few weeks since Quesha has been at my house and she is such a big help when she isn't sleeping. She says she thinks it's the flu but I’m starting to think that maybe we should set her up a doctor's appointment.
“Hey Quesh you up?” I asked while knocking on her door.
“Yeah come in,” she said. Walking into her room, I sat beside her on the bed before speaking.
“I think you should see a doctor,” I blurted out.
“I made a walk in appointment for the afternoon, can you take me?” she asked surprising me.
“Of course boo,” I said hugging her.
“Well Imma start getting ready, see you in a little bit,” she said. Walking out her room, I hopped in the shower and got dressed and ready for my day. When we were ready, we headed out the door only to have my cell phone ring as soon as we got into the car.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Good afternoon, I am calling to speak with LaQuesha Cooks.”
“Hold on, I’ll get her,” I said handing the phone to Quesha. They spoke for only a minute before she hung up the phone.
“They need to see me right now,” she said sounding confused.
“Ok I can take you but you’ll miss your doctor's appointment.”
“It's cool I can reschedule,” she said as I pulled off making my way to the rehab. When we walked in there were two nurses, a doctor and Quesha’s counselor.
“Hi Quesha, can you please follow us to the back,” her drug counselor said. Looking at me with worried eyes, Quesha followed her to the back while I sat nervous in the waiting room. An hour later, Quesha was walking out with a funny look on her face.
“You ok boo?” I asked.
“Can we go?”
“Yeah we can leave,” I said getting up. When we got outside I saw the tears fall from her eyes.
“What wrong Quesh?”
“I'm finally clean, it may have taken me a little while but I fucking did it!” she snapped. I didn't know what to say or where her outburst was coming from so I just listened while hugging her.
“When I found you Shana I thanked God, I knew he brought you back into my life because it was time for me to do better for me and my son. I thanked God for loving me enough to give me second chance. Now look at me, a 32-year-old recovering crack addicted whore who’s HIV positive. They wanna tell me this ain't no death sentence, well fuck them and their lies, I'm already dead!” she screamed causing me to shed tears. It hurt me to the core to see her in so much pain as we stood outside the rehab on the ground of the parking lot. I held her as she cried in my arms.
“It's gonna be ok Quesh. They’re right, it isn't a death sentence!”
“I just wanna die Shana!” she bawled.
“Don't say that Quesh, we gonna get you through this.”
“Where’s my happily ever after, huh? I just want to be happy. I got clean so I could finally be happy, who’s ever gonna love me now!”
“I love you, your son loves you!” I said lifting her up off the ground and hugging her.
“When they delivered the news all I saw in their eyes was pity, is that the way people will look at me from now on?” she asked with tears still pouring from her eyes.
“I don't know boo maybe they will, but you won’t need their sympathy or pity because you gon be good!” I said hugging her.
“I just wanna go lay down, but we have to go fill these prescriptions first please.”
“That's fine,” I said as I got into my car. We pulled off and the ride was silent. Pulling up to the pharmacy, she walked in and came back out twenty minutes later with a bag full of medicine. I didn't know what to say to her, I mean what do you say to someone who just found out that they have an incurable disease.
“I don't understand how you can give your love, your heart, your everything to a man and it turn out like this. I loved that man more than I loved myself, I trusted him with my life and now look at me, a fucking walking dead woman. Look at all these fucking pills they want me to take supposedly to help me, yeah right,” she said with a smirk that scared me. Again I was speechless so I continued to drive until we pulled up to the house. Walking up to her room and closing her door, I said a silent prayer to God that he gives her the strength to deal with this disease.
Chapter Fifteen
(Mark)
I been real fucked up ever since the robbery, don't get me wrong, I’m glad that my girl and kids are cool, but I can't believe my mom set me up to be robbed. The hood in me swears Imma murk her and that bitch nigga of hers, but the human in me knows that I would never harm her. That bitch nigga and them niggas that robbed me, I can't say the same for them, I already got all of em handled. Pulling up to my mother’s house, I knocked on the door.
“Oh hey son… what are you doing here?” she stuttered. She must have thought I was somebody else because the look on her face right now was priceless.
“Were you expecting somebody?” I asked with a smirk.
“Yeah Woodie ain't been home in days,” she said sadly.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course!” she replied nervously. Moving to the side, she let me in.
“Why ma?” I asked as soon as I sat down.
“Why what… I didn't...”
“Please don't lie. I already know you're a thief, don't make me add a liar too,” I said trying to keep my cool.
“I'm sooooo sorry son. I don't know what I was thinking.”
“My fucking family could’ve been killed!” I snapped.
“Do you really think I would have actually let that happen?” she asked while tears fell from her eyes.
“A nigga don't know what you're capable of anymore,” I said shaking my head. Standing up I prepared to leave, looking at her was making my trigger finger itch and that was breaking my heart.
“Mark, y’all weren't supposed to be home!” she screamed, before I could walk out the door. Turning around I rushed her, grabbing her by the neck.
“How the fuck you sound bitch
, anything could've went wrong, my fucking baby was there!” I said completely blacking out.
“Mark…Baby I can't breathe!” she managed to get out. Looking at her beautiful face it finally registered that I was choking my fucking mom out. Letting her go, I watched as she fell to the floor. Watching her gasp for air, I couldn't stop the tears that fell from my eyes.
“I can't do this ma!” I said backing away from her.
“Wait don't leave, we can fix this son.”
“Are you ready to go to rehab right now?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“I’ll go baby, but I have to wait for Woody to come back.”
“He ain't coming back,” I said honestly.
“What you mean he ain't coming back, did you hurt him Mark?”
“Fuck you thought I would let them niggas live,” I said with a smirk.
“Noooooooo I need him, I love him!” she screamed while trying to rain blows on me. I couldn't do shit but look at her with disgust while grabbing her wrist. I don't know who this weak woman is, but it ain't the woman that raised me.
“Now who’s gonna love me?”
“You can love yourself, what the fuck is wrong with you!” I asked shaking her.
“Nooooooooo I want my Woody back, bring him back to me. I hate you!!!!!” she screamed before slapping my face.
“You stole from me, you and that nigga had muthafuckas break into my crib, hold my girl at gunpoint, but you hate me?” I asked confused.
“Fuck you Mark, all I need is my grandbaby, I will never forgive you!” she screamed. I couldn't do shit but shake my head. I now realized that she loved that nigga more than me and her family.
“You think you gonna see my child,” I said with a laugh.
“I don't wanna have to hurt you so please don't make me, stay the fuck away from my family!” I said before walking out the door. Getting into my car, everything that just happened played through my head and I couldn't do shit but scream. Punching my steering wheel, I took all my anger, hurt, pain and frustration out on my car, before pulling off into traffic.
It’s been a little over a month since I last saw my mom; I heard she real strung out on that wet. As bad as I want to help her, I know I can't do shit unless she’s ready and I can't have her around my family while she’s on that shit because she’s proven that she can't be trusted. This shit been really fucking with Camille. She’s unhappy because she knows I'm unhappy. Shit I ain't no bitch nigga I ain't afraid to admit that I'm a mama’s boy and not having her around is really fucking with my head. Putting that shit to the back of my mind, I walked inside of Outback Steakhouse. I called Shante and asked her to meet me here since my future wife’s birthday was a few weeks away.
“What’s up?” Shante asked walking up and sitting down.
“Hey sis!” I said greeting her with a hug.
“Shit dealing with ya sneaky ass cousin,” she said with an attitude.
“Damn, I haven't really seen my cuz.”
“Yeah well neither have I,” she said sadly.
“Cheer up; you got a party to plan!” I said changing the subject. I wasn't lying when I said I really ain't seen my cousin, but I also don't like getting in the middle of their relationship bullshit. Shit with me and my girl doing good as hell, fucking all crazy and barely arguing, I ain't tryna get in their shit and have my girl mad at me.
“Yeah about that…” she said pulling out her notepad.
“Money is nothing, spend what you see fit.”
“Well alrighty then,” she replied with a smirk.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked Shante after giving the waitress our order.
“Yeah what’s up?”
“Do you miss ya moms?” I felt like if I was gonna talk to anyone it would be Shante because she would understand where a nigga was coming from.
“Naw not really, I know you miss yours though,” she said sympathetically.
“Man that was some bullshit she did though.”
“But you still love her, just like I still loved my mom.”
“I don't know if I can forgive this shit.”
“You can and you will. Miss. Alex ain't like my mom, she made a mistake but she loves you, she just needs help.”
“Well I guess she better go find some!” I said paying the bill and preparing to leave.
“All that anger you got in you right now ain't gonna do shit but make shit worse,” Shante said as I unlocked my car door.
“Yeah aight,” I said paying her ass no mind, she sounded just like Camille.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“We gotta go, did you forget about Sparkle’s doctor appointment!” Camille asked excitedly. To be honest I did but I wasn't gonna tell Camille crazy ass that. Two weeks ago, I paid almost twenty grand to get Sparkle’s implants put in and today was her first therapy session. Camille grabbed my arm as soon as I walked in my crib, snapping me out of my thoughts. Pulling up to Sparkle’s otologist, we were all nervous. I know how bad she wants to get her hearing repaired, I didn't make any promises and neither did her doctor, but we were all hopeful. It's crazy how attached we all have gotten to her, she a cool ass little girl, not to mention she’s smart as shit, me and Camille both have grown to love her as if she was our own. We officially adopted her a couple months ago and her mother isn't doing well at all. We were taking Sparkle to see her daily but Peaches asked us not to bring her anymore, she doesn't want the last image her daughter sees of her to be her on her deathbed and I understand that.
“Hello Mr. Richards and Mrs. Richards, I have everything set up and ready to go,” the doctor said with a smile.
“Ok well let’s try them shits out!” I said hyped as hell causing the doctor to laugh and Camille to shake her head. The doctor ran a series of hearing test.
“Can you hear me?” the doctor asked Sparkle. Shaking her head, tears fell from her eyes and a look of disappointment flooded her beautiful face.
“Well this is just the beginning, it takes time. I'm not giving up and neither should you guys,” the doctor said sympathetically.
“Hell naw I ain't giving up, are you?” I asked Sparkle. She answered by shaking her head.
“I know I'm not!” Camille said hugging her.
“Well wipe those tears and let’s go,” I said causing Sparkle to smile. She wiped her tears and we walked out of the doctor’s office hopeful.
Chapter Sixteen
(Shante)
“Oh my God she is so pretty!” I said.
“Thank you,” Sparkle replied with a smile. I couldn't believe that they were going to adopt Peaches’ daughter. I use to see her whenever I went to the club and she was always nice, but I had no clue her and Mark were that close.
“Has she met your mom yet?” I asked.
“Yup and she loves her just like she does Mylee,” Camille said with a bright smile.
“You go ahead and go play sweetie,” Camille said to Sparkle.
“You alright?” I asked.
“Yeah I'm just so scared, what if this is too much responsibility for us?”
“That's understandable for you to feel that way, why didn't you talk to Mark about this before agreeing to take her in?” I asked confused.
“Girl I already knew as soon as Mark asked that he had already made his mind up.”
“Well I don't think it's that serious, she is a pre-teen and she handles herself well,” I said with a shrug.
“Yeah you're right, it's just with this robbery and shit it has me thinking crazy, what if I’m not a good mom?” she asked with teary eyes.
“Go head with that bullshit Cam, you know you're a great mom, don't let them fuck niggas steal your joy!”
“You’re right! So how are things on your end?” she asked while watching Sparkle push Mylee on the swing.
“I don't know, Kasan been acting real weird girl, his phone rings off the hook all day and all night,” I said shaking my head.
“Sounds like you need to do some snoop
ing.”
“Fuck that shit, before I snoop Imma leave, what’s done in the dark will come to light eventually,” I said not believing shit I was saying.
“You seen what Karlie Redd did for Rasheeda on “Love and Hip Hop” bitch, let me be ya Carlie minus the messy shit!” Camille said laughing.
“I don't know Imma give it some more time, but if shit doesn't start to go back to normal then you're free to snoop ya life away,” I said laughing. I stayed at the park with Cam until she was ready to go. I finally talked Kasan into letting me get my truck back so I wouldn't have to depend on his busy ass. A few weeks ago, he was supposed to come pick me up from the salon, I waited over an hour for him to show up. I was blowing his phone up with phone calls and text messages and when he finally answered he told me he wasn't even in the area. I understand he lives a complicated lifestyle but I don't appreciate being pushed to the back burner. Had me standing outside looking a fucking fool waiting for his ass, eventually I said fuck it and called a cab and he still didn't come home until around nine that night. To say I was pissed was an understatement and he used the same excuse he always did, he was out handling business with Mark, yeah aight. It's funny how my man nowhere to be found but it seems like every time I call my best friend she always hugged up with her man. I'm really starting to think that he thinks I'm a fucking idiot, but I still have no proof that he’s doing anything besides working so until I have proof Imma let him live and keep my mouth shut. When I arrived home the smell of collard greens were all through the house, mad or not I ain't gonna lie that shit had my mouth watering. He knew the way to my heart was through my stomach so I was expecting a full course meal to be laid out when I walked into the kitchen.
