Juice

by Nako

  She was extremely uneasy, and it seemed as if the Lord dropped a power-packed gem deep down in her spirit. When she was little, her grandmother used to make Tia say Psalms 91 every morning before school. In her first apartment, on the back of a few receipts, she’d recorded Psalms 91 and taped it around her home. Her first spot was in the hood and she knew it was nothing but the prayers of her precious grandparents that kept her safe day in and out.

  If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

  She was surprised that she still knew the passage, it had been awhile since she’d recited it aloud. However, on today, she needed it. More than ever.

  Freedom felt it was best that she approached the stadium alone, she felt otherwise but said nothing. Tia was ready for all of this to be over. The nightmares were fading but the scars were still sketched across her soul. Her anxiety was through the roof and she wondered would she ever revert to her original state. Bills were piled sky high, she was seriously hoping that they gave up and let her win the settlement. Tia didn’t want to take this to court. She didn’t want to have to face him ever again. Plus, she now needed the money. Juice reached out to her this morning and she thanked him for the roses and left it at that.

  Psalms 91 was lingering…She felt some power begin to rumble in her tummy. The Holy Spirit was going to meet her where she was. Tia was covered, and her steps were ordered. She was God’s child. Although, her faith often wavered, and she sometimes lost her way…He was and will always be with her. God wasn’t inconsistent, even when she was. Tia knew she needed to do better, she hated how she only came to Him when she was distraught or in trouble. She vowed to do better.

  Because he loves me, says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

  As her Papa used to always say after they finished their small family Bible study, “May the Lord add a blessing to this Word.”

  Tia nodded her head. She felt that thing…God was working. He was ahead of her. She was going to be okay.

  “Ready?” Coop stuck his head in the nook of her bedroom door.

  He was always by her side. Tia wondered had he been lying to her. She planned on asking him after the day ended. She had to know.

  “Yes, let’s do it.”

  She wore a pale pink pant suit and an egg shell colored blouse with nude heels. Her hair was curled baby-doll style and pearls adorned her wrist, neck and ears. The car ride was silent as they made their way to the steps of the courthouse.

  Freedom called her phone right when they were getting off the expressway.

  She pulled her hand from Coop’s to answer the call.

  “Hey, love, where are you?”

  Tia automatically began to think the worse.

  “Three minutes away, everything good?” she questioned, nervously.

  “Yeah… yeah, I’ll see you when you get here.”

  The call was a quick and weird one.

  “I can’t do this.” She wanted to go back home, climb into her bed and under the covers. Never to come out again. These people were savages, they were going to make a mockery of her.

  “Yes, you can.”

  Coop wasn’t going to let her give up. It wasn’t happening. She’d came too far.

  Tia took a deep breath and recited Psalms 91 repeatedly.

  He let her out in the front and Freedom opened her door. “You look beautiful,” she complimented her.

  Tia felt like crap. “I feel ugly,” she admitted.

  Freedom smiled at her. “Not for long…come on. It’s a lot of people here to support you today.”

  Tia was surprised to hear that. “Really?”

  She followed her up the steps and into the courthouse. They were quickly escorted into a small room where her former bosses were supposed to be. Tia scanned the room quickly and didn’t see her rapist there. In fact, only one person was sitting at a table with a black book in front of him.

  She didn’t know to be relieved or angered.

  They weren’t taking her serious at all.

  She instantly thought, Psalms 91, come through. Please!

  Today, she was planning on getting her apology. Where was the devil at?

  “He’s not here…”

  She pulled on Freedom’s bell sleeve blouse.

  The activist ignored her.

  “We’re here. Let’s begin, shall we?” she spoke to the head honcho who was representing Tia’s old law firm.

  This wasn’t going how she was told it would go. Fuck the money. Well, not really fuck the money, but the apology would mean more to her.

  “Here is the check. Good day,” the man said to Freedom, not even looking at Tia.

  “The client is Ms. Tia DiCaille, you can hand deliver it to her,” she said, curtly.

  He wasn’t listening to Freedom. “Cut the shit. There’s the check. We’re done here.”

  Tears welled into her eyes and Freedom immediately told her, “Don’t you dare.”

  She warned her.

  Tia felt like a child being scolded.

  The man bumped into her, purposely and coughed, “Slut.”

  How old was he?

  “Uh, Mr. Arlington, I would hate to sue your law firm next for defamation of character,” she let him know that this shit was not a game.

  He walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

  Tia wanted to know what the hell had happened.

  Freedom picked up the check and handed it to her.

  “Open it up.”

  She already knew how much it was.

  Tia shook her head, “I want an apology.”

  That’s what she had been told she would get.

  “Open.”

  Freedom had a plan. A great one, but first, she was going to see this money.

  Tia ripped the envelope open and a check.

  A check for five million dollars.

  Five million dollars.

  Tia could’ve fell the heck out.

  There was a scripture that said something about, …and the first shall be the last.

  Tia’s knees damn near buckled. “My God.”

  She hugged Freedom for a long time as tears fell down her face.

  “Half of this is yours.”

  She wouldn’t dare not give her something for all her hard work.

  Freedom pulled away. “No ma’am, I want to thank you for being a bold black woman. A woman that’s giving back to your community, steering young girls in the right direction and using your experiences to help the next generation. I can only hope that this shows that you despite whatever comes your way, you’ll always rise. Always.”

  Tia nodded her head. “Yes ma’am, thank you. Thank you so much.”

  They made it outside of the courthouse, where a mass of reporters was waiting on her.

  Tia looked to Freedom for direction, but she was on her own now. Freedom had done what she needed to do. This was her story. No one could tell her story like she could. Tia had to take her voice back.

  She looked out into the small crowd that had formed. Amid the cameras and microphones were her line sisters with poster boards promoting the rights of women. Coop standing right beside them.

  This was the first time she’d been proud in a long time.

  “Ms. DiCaille, how do you feel about today’s settlement?”

  The number wasn’t undisclosed, that was Freedom’s doing in hopes that more women would come forward to tell their truth against this law firm. She’d found several women that were victims of abuse and rape from the firm but were scared to speak on Tia’s behalf.

 
; Freedom knew that Tia wouldn’t get an apology, yet they were going to cut the check. She was aware of how this was all going to play out, which is why she made sure the news would be present.

  Either way it went, Tia was going to win, in every aspect.

  “I am disappointed in the legal system. We’re supposed to be people that represent the common folk, and yet I was violated and stowed away like a piece of trash,” she said with as much might as she could muster up.

  “You received five-million dollars today, is that not a good enough apology?” a reporter questioned.

  The nerve of this motherfucker. Tia asked him, “If I was your daughter would it have been enough?”

  The noise silenced.

  It was a real ass question.

  The reporter didn’t have shit to say back.

  Freedom chimed in, “Thank you, no further questions.” Ending the interview before it could really get started. She would have a press release sent out by the end of the week and that was seriously going to be the last thing she did before she went back to being a rich bum. Freedom enjoyed being out doing what she used to love so much, but low-key was beginning to miss her hubby. She knew that she had tons of shows to catch up on.

  As they made it down the steps, someone else called her name, but Tia was done talking for today. People were rude, and she couldn’t control what she said on national news.

  “Tia…that’s the Judge!” Freedom told her.

  She turned around and saw the Honorable Judge Marc Pleasant approaching her.

  Tia followed his career closely.

  “Hello Judge, how are you?” Freedom spoke to him.

  He nodded his head at her. “No complaints here, I’m sure the same for you.”

  Judge Pleasant didn’t have much time before his next case, he asked Tia for two minutes of her time.

  She expected him to tell her that what she did was wrong and how she ruined her career or something to that extent, but no, she had received the opposite.

  “Young lady, I want to tell you that what you did today is remarkable.”

  Tia smiled sheepishly, “It wasn’t easy…but thank you.”

  He hesitated before speaking, “A few years ago my daughter was a victim of rape. It was her senior year of college and to this day, especially on today I regret not pushing her to get justice. Thank you for today. As a parent and a judge, thank you, young lady.”

  Tia hugged him, she knew that it was a personal move, but she didn’t have no damn daddy and her grandfather was dead. She felt like she honestly needed the hug from a man who wouldn’t hurt or harm her. The judge sighed as he released his own burden and hugged her back.

  “Praying for your peace,” he whispered in her ear. Judge Pleasant was a devout Christian and you would’ve never known.

  He told Tia before he walked back into the courthouse, “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me and Freedom knows how to get in touch with me.”

  Her line sisters were standing right behind her when she turned around with tears of joy in their eyes. Tia persevered.

  “Y’all are some big ass crybabies,” she teased as she too, sobbed uncontrollably.

  They decided to celebrate today’s win at one of Tia’s favorite restaurants, Brennan’s. She and Coop got back in the car and as soon as he started the car, the question rushed out of her mouth, “Are you a drug dealer?”

  Before he could even think about lying to her she told him, “Tell me the truth.”

  Lying was a major pet peeve for her. She’d dated the biggest fucking liar in the world for years. Tia would quickly remove Coop out of her life if he lied to her.

  He turned the music down and looked over his shoulder to see if her friends were waiting on them to pull out.

  “We’re good, I told them to get the table…I’m listening,” her tone was snippy.

  “Where did you get that from?” was his first question.

  “My ex told me, is it true?”

  Coop was pissed.

  “When you see that pussy ass nigga?”

  Tia didn’t think that was important, “Does it matter?”

  “Yeah, actually it does. Are you back dealing with him?”

  She wanted him to focus on the subject at hand.

  “Coop, he’s engaged, and I would appreciate if you answer my question.”

  “How did my name come up?” That was all he wanted to know. What nigga speaks on another man? It was lame.

  She waved her hands in the air, dramatically.

  “Are you a drug dealer or not?”

  It wasn’t going to matter how his damn name came up if he didn’t tell her the truth.

  “Yeah.” Coop was tired of lying anyway. A burden was lifted off his shoulders.

  “Coop…”

  He turned to look at her. “Tia, listen…you were different. I knew that shit when I first met you.”

  “You’ve been lying to me since I met you! Our friendship is based on a lie.”

  She had to get out of his car before she exploded.

  Tia took her seatbelt off.

  “Where the hell you going?” She was being dramatic, in his opinion.

  “I can’t be around you right now,” she let him know.

  Coop refused to lose her or let her leave. She was the only positive thing he had in his life.

  “Would you have talked to me if I told you the truth? No. You were in law school. I didn’t need you judging me.”

  That wasn’t fair. “Coop, you didn’t give me a chance though and what are we supposed to have going forward? I’m not dating no nigga that’s in the streets. Period.”

  She didn’t look at anyone differently for dating a drug dealer, but it wasn’t her thing. Tia had a certain standard that she lived by and that went for who she dated as well.

  “You don’t think I know that?” he was hurt right now.

  Tia hated to let him down, but she honestly had no other choice.

  “Coop, you’ve been my refuge. My listening ear, my best friend…my boo at times…”

  The man was a beast in the bedroom…and now, she knew why spiritually she could never connect to him. There was always something holding her back.

  He breathed loudly as she continued, “Thank you for being here today for always being there for me. You show up when I need you and I’m going to pay you back for my flight to New York-

  “The flight that you must’ve took to see your ex?” he had to ask.

  Tia shook her head, “No.”

  He could believe what he wanted at this point.

  “I can’t do this with you…I’m here if you need me though. Don’t ever forget that.”

  She got out of his car and called Karma who wasn’t too far up the street to turn around and come back and get her.

  “You okay?”

  Tia nodded her head. “Honestly, sis…I don’t want nobody that’s not real.”

  She could never settle again in life and that was with everything. Her passion. Her purpose.

  Career.

  And these niggas too.

  Tia wanted quality over quantity and if that meant that she could no longer use Coop as a crutch or something to pass the time by when she was bored, then so be it. Perhaps, God was preparing to push her into greatness and was requiring her to enter a season of solitude and pure singleness. If so, she was with it. Whatever God had for her, Tia wanted it. She trusted His will and most importantly, His way…the way He wanted her to be.

  Tia decided to push all thoughts of Coop to the back burner of her mind for now. She would reach out to him later and she would also be sure to give him his money back. She didn’t want another nigga to ever think they did something for her or she owed them. Tia planned on giving Juice his money back as well. As for practicing law, she was done with that shit. She achieved the goal and it was time to move onto something new. After celebrating today with her loved ones, she would do some brainstorming along with a few major investments to ensure that
the money made more money.

  They were able to snag a private room in the back of the restaurant and as soon as she walked in. Chanda exclaimed, “Mimosas on Tia!”

  Tia said, “Check ain’t been deposited it yet, so pay for it and I’ll give it back to you, sis.”

  She didn’t think they were going to be able to get off work to spend time with her, but here they were. She was grateful for her tribe.

  Everyone ordered food and fell into a comfortable conversation. Two hours later, they were still snacking on food and chilling. No one was in a rush to go anywhere. Jhene ambled in and after hugging and greeting everyone, she made her way to her mentor.

  “You had class today?” Tia questioned.

  Jhene nodded her head as she sneaked a sip of Tia’s glass of wine, she playfully popped her hand.

  “I’m rubbing off on you,” she shook her head.

  Jhene informed her, “I been drinking.”

  Tia knew that, but she let Jhene assume that she had spilled a major secret.

  “Order something to eat, lil’ girl,” she told her as she picked up her ringing phone and stepped outside of the room.

  Not before hearing Karma yell out, “Who calling you heffa?”

  “JUICEEEE!”

  He heard someone or maybe a lot of people saying his name, so he asked Tia, “Hell you at?”

  She giggled, “Out to eat. My line sisters knew it was you calling.”

  “Oh, they like me now?”

  Tia told him, “Probably not...”

  Juice was cool with that. “How did everything go today? I saw a few lil’ post on the gram, but then I said let me just call my shorty.”

  She smiled although he couldn’t see her. He placed a lot of emphasis on the word, MY, which kind of was okay with her for today…at least.

  “I don’t know yet. Bittersweet, I guess.”

  She still was somewhat bothered that they didn’t show up.

  He didn’t want her to focus on the negative. “Five-mill is a lot, T. Baby girl, that’s a major blessing.” Juice was surprised they gave her that much. She was rightfully owed it, still it came as a shock.

  “I know…I know,” she understood that.

  “I’m going to give you your money back too,” she remembered.

  The line went silent.