by Mercy B
To keep her location hidden, Hampsher had moved the three cats that she cared for inside of her new apartment. For the next week, she’d set up enough meals for them to survive off. The dispensary that she’d put together herself was set to distribute food at certain hours.
Though she’d always been cautious and preparing herself for times as such, Hampsher had never thought that it would come to this. She wondered who had figured her out and how they’d managed. No matter how hard she thought about it, none of it mattered at that moment. The second her door opened, the entire place was set to blow.
Three. Two. One, Hampsher counted silently in her head the minute the two men dressed in dark colored clothing broke way and were able to enter her unit. Absentmindedly, she tapped into the camera footage from across the street at her other unit, and watched as her apartment went up in flames. Everything around her silenced. Not even the chirping insects from her slightly cracked window, the small heater that was rolling, or the jazz music that played at a whisper could be heard as Hampsher fell to her knees.
“Nooo!” Shaking her head, she whispered to herself while bringing her knees up to her chest. “Nooooo! My babies!”
Hampsher imagined how frightened they must’ve been and how their young lives had been taken at the hands of someone who was barking up the wrong tree. The thought of their small bodies being burned to a crisp in the deadly flames was so disheartening. In a matter of seconds, her world had been flipped upside down. Leaning over, Hampsher found herself on the floor bawling her eyes out and praying death on niggas that planned to run in on her while she rested.
The following morning, Hampsher woke with one thing on her mind—death. It was so common in her life, and the only thing she could actually relate to. As she prepared herself for breakfast, she made plans to investigate the home invasion that was underway while she was over ninety miles from her apartment.
Was it random? Was it planned? Was it connected to anything I’ve done? Anyone I’ve touched?
Those were questions she needed answers to and would receive in due time. For the time being, she had breakfast to get through with her grandparents and the announcement of her pregnancy that she had avoided. For the last two months, she’d been hiding behind large clothing, but that was no longer possible.
“Good morning, Momma.” Hampsher’s grandmother was all smiles as she entered the kitchen.
“Baby, how did you sleep?”
“Well. Have a seat. I heard you coming and prepared a glass of orange juice.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. How are you feeling this morning?”
“I’m well. Baby, there’s something I need to tell you and Pa—”
“Save yourself the hassle, Mamma. Your grandfather and I have been celebrating your little secret.”
“My little secret?”
“The baby.”
“How’d you know?”
“We hear the toilet flushing every ten minutes. One time you were over, the gagging was so loud that I thought I would have to come rescue you. And you’ve been such a nice girl for the last few months. I can imagine how emotional the pregnancy must be making you.”
“Why didn’t you all say anything?”
“We knew you’d come to us when you were ready,” Baby spoke as she moved around the counter.
“I’m so scared, Baby,” Hampsher admitted. “I feel like I’m going to mess this whole thing up. And the man that I’m having this baby with… he’s so wonderful. At times, I feel like I don’t deserve him, but he won’t let me go. I don’t ever want him to either.”
“Oh, hush. You deserve everything that he’s giving you. You’re such a beautiful girl. You’re just lost. But you will find yourself. Hopefully, the baby helps.”
“You think so?”
“I know so, my love. Now, go get your grandfather so that we can eat and bless the food. I’d like to have a chat with you about meeting this man and your plans for the baby before your time here has elapsed.”
“OK.”
“Are you OK?”
Rafeeq had noticed the distance. Hampsher just wasn’t herself. If it was nerves, he wanted to assure her that she had every reason to have them. His mother and sister could be a handful and he was certain that tonight would be nothing short of discomfort for them both.
“I just have a lot on my mind. I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Your parents have such a beautiful home.” Hampsher marveled over the large dwelling before her. It reminded her of the one that she once occupied with her parents, only theirs was at least twice as large.
“My parents’ house is miles up the way. This is my home.”
Yeah, they had their differences, but Rafeeq was confident that Hampsher would be it for him. Even if that wasn’t the case, she was having his child. They’d need the home more than he would. There was so much space for his seed to grow up in and so much work to do on the property that it would surely keep Hampsher busy during the remainder of her pregnancy.
Bella had warned him about his time at his home with anyone other than the one, and he felt as if he’d be making his mother proud by finally making good on the promise he’d made to her. As he took Hampsher by the hand and led her up the driveway, he couldn’t help but to notice the astonishment on her face.
“Your home?”
“Frankly, our shit—yours, mine, and the baby’s.”
“Rafeeq...” Hampsher tried her best to take in her surroundings. Everything about the landscaping was well thought out. Whoever had carved the beauty was a master and needed to be thanked every chance gotten.
“Am I taking you too fast?” Concern etched across his forehead, he looked to Hampsher for a response.
“No. It’s just that… My home is in New York. I left Philly so many years ago with no plans of ever looking back.”
“But things have changed. You’re having a child, Hampsher. My parents are here and so are your grandparents. Neither of us knows the first thing about children, so I’m sure we’re going to be able to use all of the help we can get. Besides, my parents had this house built for me at a very young age. I’ve been preparing it for a family, Hampsher. Now, I have one.”
“I know. It’s just that… Philly brings me so much sorrow.’
“I’m going to bring you even more happiness. Come on. Let’s take a look inside. We have only ten minutes before we must head over to my parent’s for dinner.”
“Okay.”
The grand tour of the immaculate home ended approximately twenty minutes later. Rafeeq felt foolish for even considering the fact that it would require less time. The home was rather large for a small family as his own, but he was sure they’d need the space eventually. It wasn’t that he was planning to impregnate Hampsher, again, but there weren’t any limits to their future.
By the time they made it back to the truck, they were behind schedule. Hampsher was the first to slide in followed by Rafeeq. Without saying a word, the driver pulled off and headed for his parent’s home. It was next on his itinerary.
“Did you like it?” He turned to Hampsher, wanting her honest opinion.
“I loved it,” she replied.
The foyer with the amazingly elevated vaulted ceilings.
The fact that there are two wings. The mother-in-law suite would fit my grandmother’s taste in housing when the baby is first born. The outdoor activities. The oversized closets big as a bedroom. The millions of bedrooms. The master suite. The lake. The garden. The fountains. The state of the art kitchen. The walk in freezer and fridge. Everything. I loved everything, Hampsher thought to herself.
“Good. I’m in no rush to make it our home. I want you to be ready. But I’d love for it to be livable before the baby comes. My mother has a shitload of websites for you to order furniture and whatever else we will need. Maybe you can get on that within the next month.”
“Just forget what I said about moving back to Philly?”
“Pretty much.” Rafeeq nodded.
Hampsher would return to Philly but not alone. With him at her side, he knew that the experience would be great. By the silence that followed his statement, he knew that Hampsher thought the same too.
Within twelve minutes, they were pulling up to his parent’s home. Hampsher’s eyes swelled as she gloated about the home.
“Your parents have impeccable taste. I thought your home was out of this world. They’re shitting on you, Rafeeq.”
“It’s aight.” Rafeeq chuckled, knowing that his home actually cost more than their family home and had more to offer. They’d actually made it that way. However, the style was dramatically different.
“It is beautiful.”
“Come on. I’m sure my mother is waiting at the door.”
They’d passed the security point to access the gate and then the driveway. The spiraling concrete was where the driver stopped to let them out at the door. As he’d called it, Bella opened one side of the double doors as they made their way up to the entrance.
“Mom.” Rafeeq embraced his mother, picking up her small frame and spinning her around.
“Rafeeq, put me down, boy. I’m not Reign. I’ve told you about that shit.”
Bella was a ball of fire, causing Hampsher to chuckle.
“Whatever. Did you miss me?”
“Forget you, Rafeeq. Who is this we have here? Come on in, sweetie.”
Bella stepped aside to let Rafeeq and his companion inside. She was thoroughly impressed with her physically as much as Hampsher was with her. They admired one another from a small distance as the introductions began.
“Mom, this is Hampsher. Hampsher, this is my mother, Bella Jones.” Hampsher extended her hand to Bella but was pulled in for a hug instead. The two embraced swiftly before Reign interrupted.
“Please, let the girl breathe, mom. Hey guys,” Reign said in passing on her way to the kitchen with her daughter in hand.
“Where is my man at?” Rafeeq yelled behind her.
“I just put him down for a nap. Don’t worry. He will be up before you leave.”
“Come on, you two. Dinner is ready. I was expecting you all at least twenty minutes ago.”
“Yeah, I know,” Rafeeq acknowledged his tardiness, which was something his family didn’t tolerate.
The table was delectable and made to feast. There was every type of seafood that one could imagine huddled around the middle with Reign on the left side accompanied by her companion, Kierce. There was RahMeek, who sat at the head of the table, discussing the unknown with him. The right side of the table was reserved for Rafeeq and Hampsher. The final seat was for Bella.
Whenever it was only the immediate family, they shared the smaller dining room. If ever the entire family visited, they’d move the party to the large hall that could accommodate everyone, including the children. On that day in particular, the occasion called for closeness in proximity.
“Dad.”
“Heavy,” RahMeek acknowledged before taking his date in. “I see you found her.”
“I had no other choice. Hampsher, this is my father, RahMeek.”
“Nice to meet you,” Hampsher said without moving forward or extending a hand to embrace RahMeek. He didn’t seem interested, and neither was she. The food was more enticing than a measly handshake, so Hampsher took her seat.
“There is sanitizer in front of each of you. clean your hands and dig in,” Bella instructed. “Before anyone touches their plate, though, we must bless the food.”
In that order, the family complied. Everyone filled their plates with their cravings and began chowing down as chatter began among them. Hampsher hardly said anything. She was too consumed with the lack family dinners involving her mother and father as a child. Seeing Reign with her small daughter and Bella’s clinginess to the infant child had her wondering what it would be like to have her mother around when she delivered. Though she was enjoying her time, there was so much to be bitter about. Even the way that RahMeek interacted with his daughter was painful to watch. There was a time when her father looked at her the same way that RahMeek did Reign—with so much love and generosity.
“So, Hampsher, how long do you plan on sticking around? I know my son can be a headache.” Bella was frank, knowing that Rafeeq was a bit of a player. Anywhere he could stick his dick, he would. To see him with anyone was surprising.
“I don’t know. Maybe a couple of forevers.” Hampsher chuckled. “I kind of have no other choice now.”
“Oh yes, you do.”
“Mom!” Rafeeq chastised.
“I’m just being honest, son. She has a choice.”
“Really, she doesn’t.”
“Yeah. I’m kind of stuck with him now.”
“What do you mean by that? Please, elaborate because I’m not following.” Bella laid her fork on her plate. She’d practically finished her meal anyway.
“Hampsher and I are expecting.” Rafeeq held a fork in one hand and a knife in the other as he cut his final piece of lobster.
“What?” Bella yelled, sliding her chair backward. “What did you say, Heavy?”
“I said we’re expecting.”
Hampsher melted in her seat before making eye contact with Reign, who gave her a reassuring stare to let her know that everything was going to be okay.
“Don’t kid me like that, Rafeeq Jones!”
“I’m not. H, stand up, baby. Lift up your top.” Hampsher was wearing an oversized sweater with a cami underneath, so Kierce’s presence didn’t faze the couple. Standing from her seat, Hampsher did as she’d been told, exposing her rounded belly.
“Oh my God!” Bella gasped. “What are we having? How far along are you? I have got to start planning the shower. Just wait until I tell Kelly this.”
“I’m not sure what we’re having,” Hampsher replied as she returned to her seat. “I’m twenty weeks along.”
“Twenty weeks? You’re halfway there,” Reign acknowledged.
“I know.”
Silence fell among the table as everyone finished their meals and settled into their thoughts. Bella was all emotion as she sat at the end of the table with a silly smile on her face. RahMeek was certain that pillow talk that night would revolve around the news she’d just received.
“Well, I’d say that calls for a celebration. I’m going down to the cellar and will return after I’ve found something worthy of our time. Bella, prepare the glasses. It is time to pop some bottles. My son is finally giving you the grandchild you want.”
“Hey, what about mine?”
“Oh, Reign, they’re so far away. I need some babies up the street.” Bella fanned her daughter off before standing with her husband.
As he walked out of the dining area, RahMeek gave a finally glance in Hampsher’s direction before winking and heading for the stairs. It would be a moment to remember, and there was no better celebration than a toast to new beginnings. Rafeeq would soon be a father.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room,” Hampsher announced as she slid her chair backward and stood. Her bladder had been screaming all throughout dinner.
“Right down the hallway and to your right,” Reign called out as she situated her daughter so that she would latch onto her breast properly.
“Thank you.”
Hampsher had gone over the blueprints for the home time after time. Reign’s suggestion was helpful but not necessary, especially since Hampsher wasn’t planning on relieving her bladder any time soon.
She knew the Jones’ layout like the back of her hand. It was as easy as pie to locate the cellar and enter with vengeance on her mind and grief in her heart. She’d waited her entire life to get to that very moment. Since it was upon her, there was nothing that would stop her from living out her dream. Lowering herself down the steps, she became engrossed with rage as she recognized her victim with his back turned unexpectedly.
“Are you just going to stand there and tire you
r arms, or are you going to complete the mission?” RahMeek has his back turned as he popped a bottle of his finest.
“Who’s after me?” Hampsher questioned, closing the proximity between the two of them. She’d investigated the murders of her poor cats and traced the intruders movements back as far as she could. Using the street cameras to gain intel, she retrieved the tag numbers and traced the origin back to Philly. Hampsher knew that it was no coincidence. Everyone who’d been marked off of her list resided in Philly.
“No one is after you.”
“Bullshit. Who have you sent for me?”
“This is a bit personal. I wouldn’t send anyone for you. I’d come my motherfucking self.” RahMeek was amused by her question.
“Someone is after me, and whoever they sent didn’t make it back to Philly last night.”
“I’m sure.” He shrugged, finding a glass from the clear cabinet. “Still, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I instructed my men to stand down the minute I discovered you were carrying my grandchild. However, I’m not the only one who may have figured you out. You’ve bodied everyone that was once on my roaster. Every member of my reinforcement crew’s blood is on your hands.”
“Just as my mother’s is on yours.”
“Ahhhh.” RahMeek sipped from his glass, turning to face Hampsher. “Now, we’re getting somewhere. Harrah was a true fucking rider.”
“Don’t ever speak on my mother as if you knew her.”
“I did, Fida.” RahMeek referred to Hampsher by her name.
“How did you know?” She questioned. Though the discovery wasn’t farfetched, RahMeek’s reach was as long as it was wide.
“I’ve known since the day my son accessed our personal data system to find out where you’d run to the first time. I had no idea that you were still living among us until I dug and kept on digging. It is my duty to know who my children are involved with. Imagine my surprise when I found out you were the daughter of Floyd Babette living right under our noses. The murders of my former crew members didn’t register until I thought a bit deeper, dug a little harder. You’re one bold bitch, cold nonetheless. If you’d been around back in the day, I could’ve saved myself a bunch of headache and money. You’re better than my entire team put together. But back to the topic at hand. Your mother was a true motherfucking rider. Too bad she trusted her life in the hands of a pussy ass nigga.”
