He took a deep breath. “Savannah, you don’t think that I haven’t asked myself that question a thousand times? When I saw you in Vegas with that nigga, then watched you go to a hotel with another nigga for lunch, followed by you taking another nigga to your beach house to fuck you the same night, you think that shit didn’t cross my mind? The first question I asked myself was why I was chasing down a ho.”
He was silent for a moment, and then continued. “My goal then became to get Sade and bounce, leave you to fucking any nigga you wanted to. Then, I broke into your place after the little orgy you had and watched the videos that you labeled Revenge. My boy sent me you and Stephanie’s phone taps plotting shit. I knew they had to have fucked you over badly for you to go that far. Baby, that week we spent together was magical. I saw fireworks and every damn thing. The Sunday I went home to be with Tasha and my son, I couldn’t get you off my mind. I gave Tasha the best dick I had ever given her because I was pretending like I was fucking you, like I was deep in you.
“Yes, beautiful, I used you to buy me some time with the police, but that was so I could end shit with Tasha. My mama has full custody of my son now, and when we get married, he’s coming to stay with us. Tasha turned snitch and was helping the police the whole time. I knew she was helping them, but I couldn’t tell anybody, because if I did, they would know I knew they were coming. If I wouldn’t have spent the night with you, I would have gotten arrested at the club that night.
“Baby, I do right by people. I’m not violent at all. I just like money and found an easier way to get it besides working an eight to five. With the help of my boys, I’ve made well over a million dollars in three years. When you making money like that, you let the police get you on the small shit so you can get away with the big shit. Baby, we straight: you, Andre Jr., Sade, and me. I love you, and you will be my wife. If you want to take it slow and get to know each other, that’s cool too, but I ain’t going nowhere. I don’t want to make it work for Sade. I want it to work for us, baby. It’s Kismet.”
Tears were pouring from my eyes. The doctors were ready for me. I put the phone back to my ear and told Dre that I loved him and went for more exams.
* * *
When I woke up after my surgery, my room was packed with familiar faces, balloons, and flowers. Physically, I felt empty, like I was missing something, but emotionally, I felt reborn. “Dre, baby, come here.”
I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was nearby. For the last five years he hadn’t left my side, so why would he now? When he came within arm’s reach, I grabbed him and kissed his lips. The whole room commented, but the only comment that caught my full attention was Sade’s.
“Mama just woke up and didn’t brush her teeth, and she kissing Daddy—Yuck!” She was snitching on me to Mrs. Jefferson, who joined the crew today.
“Now that Savannah is fully woke, y’all gather around and hold hands.” Mrs. Jefferson said a prayer of thanks and asked for new beginnings for everyone in the room. When she was done, I felt the need to break the silence that followed the prayer.
“I sure could do for some peach cobbler when I get out of here.”
She smiled and rubbed my shoulders. “You will get plenty of that each week at our family dinners on Sundays. Your daddy and fiancé love them, don’t y’all? As soon as your daddy gets out of church, he ready to eat.” Everyone laughed.
“Savannah, the doctors said they think they got it all. You will be here another two weeks, and then you can come home. I can’t wait so you can get a pool man over there; then we can have a pool party.”
That was typical of Memphis, ready to swim. That comment made me remember how close we were before I started messing with Kim. Memphis was my best friend, and hopefully, we could get that back.
I wasn’t trying to be rude, but I was tired and really felt like going to sleep. I told everyone I loved them and fell asleep before the last person had left my room.
I woke up to the theme music of one of those late-night talk shows and wasn’t surprised to see the nurse standing over me.
“Everything is looking good, Savannah. You beat this one like a champ.” She had come to see me, and I still didn’t know her name.
“It feels like I was in a fight too. I’m sorry, I never caught your name.”
There was a brief hesitation, and then she said, “Everybody calls me Peaches, baby. I got the nickname from one too many cobblers. Now that you’re done with this, what are your next plans?”
I was glad that I actually had a plan to share. “I’m going to raise my daughter and my future stepson and give this family thing a real shot. It’s never been in me to be somebody’s wife or someone’s mother. I lived for me, and that didn’t work. So, I’m going to try something new and live for them.”
Peaches looked me dead in the eyes. “That’s right, baby, take care of your family. It won’t work if the woman is weak and selfish. You got to put what you want to the side and get what is best for you all. You’re young, so it’s not too late to get back in them babies’ lives the way you should be. Once you leave them, a lot of times you don’t get to come back, even when you beg to.”
It was like a light switch the way it turned on. I could see things clearer than I had before. Missing puzzle pieces were adding up and all the hurt and anger I had just decided to let go came speeding back. It was the dimples like Sade’s and peach cobbler that gave her ass away.
“So, what made you decide to bring your ass back, Mama?”
To be continued . . .
Kismet Page 18
