The Black Widow Clique

by Genesis Woods

  According to my granny, regardless of the way in which the baby was conceived, he or she was still a blessing from God, and I totally agreed, but my psyche wouldn’t allow me to see it that way. I looked to Fiona for help, but as always, her face was buried in her phone. When I looked for my aunt Bree, she was nowhere in sight.

  “Baby, what did Daddy tell you about asking Mommy that?” I knew you were not supposed to answer a question with a question, but I didn’t know what else to do.

  “He . . . he said not to ask you that,” Madison said with her head down. “But I heard Gammy ask God to help you change your mind, and if Gammy asked God to help, then He will, right, Gammy?”

  We both looked over at my granny at the same time. Excitement and curiosity in Madison’s eyes, but slight anger in mine.

  “Hey, hey, hey . . . Why the sour face? Don’t tell me you’re not ready to leave?” Aunt Bree asked, breaking the tension. She looked at me, then Granny, and shook her head. “Mama, leave this girl alone already. If her doctor gave her the okay, then she’s okay. Stop worrying so much. She’s going to be just fine. I’m here for the next two months to take care of my favorite niece, and please believe that she is going to make it to every appointment on time with bells on. She’ll be A-one in no time.”

  “Yeah, well, you make sure a few of those appointments are to the ob-gyn,” Granny retorted.

  “What’s an od-gn, Gammy?”

  “A doctor for your—”

  “Well, would you look a here!” Aunt Bree yelled, cutting Granny off. “Jaylen finally found his way to the front of the hospital. I mean, we’ve only been sitting here for an hour. Pull your ass up into this blue section. We might not have a handicapped placard, but we do have a handicapped person.”

  “What’s a handicap, TT?” Madison asked.

  “Girl, stay your little ass out of grown folks’ business and get your little tail in the car,” Aunt Bree said, then turned in the direction of Fiona. I caught the small eye roll and heard when she sucked her teeth. “If you’re riding with us, you need to come on. Ain’t nobody about to wait for you.”

  “You don’t have to wait!” Fiona snapped, with attitude equal to Bree’s. “My brother’s coming to pick me up, anyway, so I’m good.”

  “Yeah, I bet,” Aunt Bree said as she turned her back to Fiona and, with Proof’s help, got me in the car, then fastened my seat belt. “I’m telling you, niece, you need to watch that trick. Something is off about her. Always has been.”

  I waved Aunt Bree off and sat back, getting as comfortable as I could in my seat. Her and Fiona’s “no love and hate” relationship had been going for years. Even when my mother was alive, she used to give out those little warnings about Aunt Bree and Fiona. But in all the years I’d known Fiona, she had always had my back and had never done me wrong. When my mother died and Aunt Bree was away at college, it was Fiona who had held me all night while I cried, even though she had sorta lost a parent too. Their little beef was starting to get on my nerves, and with Aunt Bree being out here for the next two months, one of them was going to have to wave that white flag. My sanity depended on it.

  “Okay, everybody set and ready to go?” Proof asked as he hopped into the driver’s seat and fastened his seat belt.

  His cologne surrounded my whole head, and I inhaled the scent deeply. He was back to his regular self now that I was getting better. The fresh low cut and his neatly trimmed beard had his yellow ass looking good as hell, and as enticing as those green eyes were, I remembered that we were only co-parents to Madison now and nothing more.

  “Fiona’s staying here?” Proof asked when he caught sight of her outside the car.

  Aunt Bree sucked her teeth again. “Yes. So can we go now? Damn. Your concern should be on getting your baby mama home, and not on whether or not this trick needs a ride or not.”

  Proof laughed. “Same ole Bree, I see. Two college degrees, a master’s, and a high-paying job could never change your ass.”

  “You damn right, and just wait until the day I get to stick my foot up her ass. Those degrees and that high-paying job haven’t changed the way these hands whip ass, either.”

  While they continued to laugh and go back and forth about whether or not Aunt Bree could really kick Fiona’s ass, I closed my eyes and dozed off for a minute.

  Like always, the second I touched down in la-la land, those green eyes of his invaded my dreams. His face was so close to mine that I could literally see through him. Everything he felt inside, I could see dancing within his soul. Nothing about the way he felt or looked at me screamed, “Rapist.” Whenever I would try to touch him, he would back away, only to step back in front of me when my hand returned to my side. We would just stand there and stare at each other for what felt like forever before he would inch a little closer to me and brush his lips against mine.

  I bit my bottom lip to try to stop the urge to try to touch him again from building inside me. That was of no use, because as soon as I saw the small glint in his eye, I crashed my lips against his and locked my arms around his neck. A blazing fire shot through my body and jolted me out of my sleep.

  “What the fuck!” I heard Proof yell as he tried to stop the car from swerving and slammed on the brakes, causing me to bump my head on the frame of the window. The loud squealing sound of the tires screeching still rang in my ear, as the smell of petrol fuel began to rise in the air. “That asshole just crossed over lanes and stopped in front of me. Is everyone all right?”

  “No, we’re not all right, Proof. You just rear ended the back of someone’s car with all of us in here.”

  “You’re saying that as if I did this shit on purpose, Bree.”

  “You should’ve been paying better attention is what I’m actually trying to say.”

  “What’s wrong, Mel? Are you okay?” my granny asked, ignoring the bickering between Proof and my Aunt.

  “Niece, do you wanna go back to the hospital? Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?” Aunt Bree quizzed. “Proof, you need to try and turn this muthafucka around or something and head back to the hospital!”

  “Don’t you think that’s what I’m trying to do? I knew it was too soon to take her home. She should’ve stayed another week!” Proof yelled as he hit the steering wheel and pulled out his phone.

  It wasn’t until I heard Madison’s question that I felt the tears coming down my face.

  “Mommy, did Daddy hurt you? Why are you crying?”

  “Baby girl, are you in any pain right now? Is the baby okay?” Granny asked.

  Complete silence fell over the car as everyone waited on me to respond. I didn’t know what it was about that dream, but it had triggered something inside me. It had opened up a part of my mind that I had blocked out.

  I turned to face my family, then uttered the only words in my mind at that moment.

  “I . . . I think I remember what happened.”

  Fiona

  “I swear to God, I can’t stand that bitch,” I said through gritted teeth as I slipped into the passenger’s seat of Cowboy’s car.

  The cold AC and the cool leather on the seat immediately took my body temperature down a few notches and had me blowing out a frustrated breath. I picked the fast-food cup up out of the cup holder and took a sip of the soda, which I was sure Cowboy had drunk.

  I’d been at the hospital every day since Melonee was brought here, and I was so glad she was finally being discharged. I had offered to take care of her for a couple of weeks at my house, but Bree’s bitch ass had immediately shut that down the minute she stepped into Mel’s hospital room. I thought I had done a good enough job of drilling into Mel’s head that Roman Black was the one who did this to her, but you could never be too sure. Even if she never remembered what happened, that baby growing inside her belly would be just the pawn we need to checkmate his ass and get the money, after all.

  I shook my head as thoughts of how much I hated Bree continued to run through my mind. “Do you know what the
sad part is?” I said.

  Cowboy remained silent and continued to pay attention to the road, because he knew that the question was rhetorical.

  I went on. “I don’t even know why she doesn’t like me. I’ve never done shit to her for her to not like me. Ever since we were younger, Bree has always tried to come between me and Mel, to interfere in our friendship. It wasn’t my fault that I was there for Mel after Shaunie died, while she was on the other side of the country, living her life.”

  Cowboy laughed. “Come on, Fee. You know damn well she wasn’t out there just living her life. You act as if she didn’t come home for her own sister’s funeral or stay a few weeks after that.”

  “Are you my brother or hers?” I asked with an eye roll.

  “I’m your brother, but I hate when you put people off like that. Especially people we consider family.”

  I reared my head back and looked at him with the stinkiest face I could muster. “That bitch is not my family.” Cowboy’s ass was crazy to even imply that shit. “See, that right there is what’s wrong with people today. So quick to call someone who doesn’t share any of your DNA family. That bitch probably wouldn’t even spit on me if I was on fire.” I sat up straight in my seat and pulled my ringing phone out of my purse. “The only family I have is you and Daddy. Fuck everyone else.”

  I could feel Cowboy’s eyes on me as we stopped at a red light. “What about Mel? You don’t consider her family? I mean, with her being your best friend and all, I assumed you considered her somewhat like family.”

  I smirked at Meyers’s name flashing across the screen of my phone and ignored the call. This dude was making me feel some type of way, and I didn’t have time for that right now, especially if what he was calling about didn’t have anything to do with getting this money.

  “Mel’s like my sister, but as far as family goes . . . no, I wouldn’t consider her that. Would I lie for her? Yes. Would I steal for her? Of course. Would I kill for her? Hmm . . . as long as some money is involved, yeah. But would I die for her?” I shook my head no. “That’s where the difference comes in with calling someone your family or not. I would die for you and Daddy, no questions asked, but for anyone else . . .that’ll never happen. If it ever came to me and Mel being in a situation where a gun was trained on her and I was given the opportunity to save myself or push her out of the way and save her instead, Mel would die every time.”

  I knew what I’d just said was a little harsh, but like I said before, the only family I had was Cowboy and our father. They were the only two I would lie, die, steal, and kill for. One had already been taken away from me behind some bullshit, and I refused to let it happen again.

  Cowboy laughed again, drawing me from my thoughts. As he got on the freeway, he said, “Damn, Fee, you a cold piece of work. I bet if you asked Mel those same questions, she’d say yes to all four.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s because everyone’s definition of family is different.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in our own thoughts. I didn’t know what Cowboy was thinking about, but I couldn’t get Bree’s smart-ass mouth and voice out of my head. The day that this bitch flew into town and graced us with her annoying presence at the hospital, I had just happened to be in the little bathroom in Mel’s hospital room, on my phone, talking to Meyers about some business. Her ass hadn’t even been in Mel’s hospital room for five minutes before she started talking shit. I’d heard everything from my spot in the bathroom.

  “So where’s that so-called best friend of yours? I assumed her face would be the first one I seen walking up in here.”

  Mel coughed. “She was just here a second ago, before I dozed off. When I woke up, she was gone. She’s probably on the phone with her new boo. I think she really likes this one. Every time he calls, her face just lights up.”

  “New boo?” Bree scoffed. “Fiona’s face ain’t lighting up about anything unless it involves money in some type of way.”

  “Leave my best friend alone. Not everyone believes in falling in love and riding off into the sunset like me. I think that’s why she and I get along so well. We balance each other out. I keep her from going deep into the dark side, and she helps me to take it there when love starts to cloud my judgment,” Mel responded with a laugh.

  I sat on the toilet, just listening to them talk. I wanted to see if Bree would say why she didn’t like me. As if she were reading my mind, the next question out of Melonee’s mouth was just that.

  “Why don’t you like Fiona, Aunt Bree? I don’t ever remember a day that you did.”

  I could hear Bree’s sandals slide over the floor as she moved from one side of the room to the other. The cushion on the chair she must’ve sat in made that low sighing noise cushions made when someone too heavy sat down on them. I felt sorry for that leather and stuffing underneath her ass. Although she wasn’t super big like the old Mo’Nique, Bree’s curvy, size 18 frame was still packing some meat.

  “It’s not that I don’t like her. I just don’t care too much for her.”

  “Why?”

  “Fiona reminds me of one of the girls I used to hang with in high school. When she was in my face, it was always ‘I love my best friend’ this or ‘My best friend is the best’ that, but behind closed doors, she felt differently.”

  “Differently how?”

  “I don’t know. Before your mom died, your friendship with Fiona seemed genuine to me, but after Shaunie passed and Maxwell went to jail, something seemed different. Then, after you guys started the Black Widow Clique, it got worse. Fiona used to have this bright fire in her eyes, but after everything happened, it’s like it went away. And when someone’s light goes away, nine times out of ten, they believe someone blew it out. Once they assume who did it in their head, they start plotting against them on some revenge-type shit.”

  What Bree was saying was partially true. I’d give her that. My light did go out the second my father was taken away from me. I lost a parent on that day too, but no one seemed to care other than Cowboy.

  “So what are you trying to say, Bree?” I could tell by the strain in Mel’s voice that she was trying to move around in her bed. The doctor had told her that it was okay to sit up, but that she should page the nurse to assist her if she wanted to change positions.

  “I’m saying what I’ve always said. Just keep your eyes open with her. People who you consider family that aren’t don’t always feel the same way as you.”

  Something else she and I agreed on, but she’d never know that.

  Tired of hiding out in the bathroom and ear hustling, I flushed the toilet like I’d just finished using it, turned on the water to wash my hands, then sprayed a few spritzs of air freshener to make it look believable. Holding my stomach with one hand and waving my face with the other, I walked out of the small bathroom.

  “Please remind me to never eat that nasty cafeteria food again,” I said, all smiles, as I faced Melonee. I waited five seconds, then turned toward that bitch Bree. “Oh, hey, Aunt Bree. When did you get here? I was just asking Mel if she had talked to you.”

  Bree smirked, then ran her fingers through her layered bob cut. Her smooth dark skin resembled Mel’s, but it had a bronzier tint to it. Her makeup was flawless, as always. Different earth-tone eye shadows accentuated her almond-shaped eyes, while gold-tinted lip gloss adorned her lips. She was dressed simply in some distressed boyfriend jeans, a white tank top, and a green fitted blazer. I had to give it to Bree. She carried her weight well and would give any of those Victoria’s Secret Angels a run for their money. She reminded me of that plus-size model Precious Lee and even looked like her a little bit.

  Her hazel eyes scanned me from head to toe. I could tell that the white shorts I had on and my pink off-the-shoulder top were a little too hoochie for her, but I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted to be comfortable while I was sitting in this hospital damn near all day. Plus, it was hot as hell outside.

  “First thing, my name is Brenae. O
nly friends and close family can call me Bree,” she snapped. “Which leads me to the second thing. I have only one niece and one great-niece. Those are the only two who can call me auntie.”

  “Bree—”Melonee began, but I cut her off.

  “It’s okay, Mel. Aunt Bree gives me that little speech every time she comes around. I call her Auntie. She tells me not to, just for me to do it again. You would think after all these years she’d just leave it alone.”

  One of Bree’s perfectly arched eyebrows rose as she stood up from her seat and walked toward me. Her eyes never left mine as she began to talk to Melonee.

  “Niece, you just remember what your aunt Bree just told you. Not everyone you call family feels the same way. I’ve come to learn that the eyes never lie. They have the power to show you exactly who people are, even with blinders on.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “So now I have some ulterior motive on being Mel’s best friend, and you can see this in my eyes?” I turned to Mel and bent over laughing. “See? I told you Aunt Bree is a trip. She ain’t that much older than we are, but I think I can learn a thing or two from her, like how to be a delusional bitch.”

  “I got your delusional bitch, all right,” Bree replied as she charged toward me.

  “What’s going on in here?” Granny asked as she came through the door, with Madison and a wide-eyed Proof behind her. “We could hear you all down the hall. Brenae, when did you get here?” she said, turning her focus from me to Bree.

  “I just got here thirty minutes ago, Mama. Where were you?” She gave Granny a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then looked at me and smirked.

  “Hey, TT’s baby!” Bree said, grabbing Madison. “Who’s TT’s favorite and only great-niece?”