by MìChaune
“What a month it’s been.” Gogo lit her third cigarette in the last twenty minutes.
Janae shrugged. “Could’ve been worse,” she mumbled.
“I know, girl. Shit got real crazy because I swore up and down I was gonna get arrested and thrown in jail. I was ’bout to haul ass and get missing!” Gogo took a long pull on the cigarette.
“I’m just glad it’s over.” Janae shifted as her stomach started to ache.
Gogo exhaled a billow of smoke and leaned back in the corner of the couch. “And here we sit. Still pretty and poor.”
“Hey, when you grabbed that gun, I thought for sure you were gonna pop all three.”
Gogo closed her eyes with the cigarette resting between her lips. Truth be told, for a split second she filled her mind with killing everyone. Had she done so, she would have all the bread from Lloyd’s account. Gogo opened her eyes and sat up. Money had no meaning in relation to her bond with Janae.
“Uugghh.” Janae grimaced and held her stomach with both hands.
Gogo dropped the cigarette in the ashtray and rushed to Janae. “Girl, what’s wrong with you?”
“Stomach hurt like hell! Feel like I’ma throw up!” Janae groaned.
“Not in my living room you ain’t. C’mon, get up and I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
Janae stood weakly, leaning heavily on Gogo. “Probably that damn lasagna you made last night.”
“Shit, I told yo’ ass not to eat as much as you did.” Gogo shouldered the weight of her friend.
“Aahh, this shit is killing me!” Janae dropped her chin as vomit bubbled in her stomach.
Gogo tried to hurry her cumbersome steps to reach the bathroom before Janae puked. As her sour luck stood, Janae lost it and, in the process, Gogo’s grip slipped.
* * *
Down in Miami, Lloyd took the news of no charges being filed against Gogo with mixed emotions. He sat alone in his study with a shot of whiskey. Facing common sense, he knew it was in his best interest to leave Leshaun alone. Bryson made sure every dime of his money was returned to his accounts, but Lloyd felt empty. The last time he spoke to Janae was three days after the shooting. He told her it was best to end their bond because of the issues that would haunt them. Though it happened, he tried to forget that pleasurable moment inside Gogo’s wet mouth. Today he wanted to forget about them both.
* * *
Janae woke up with a funky taste in her mouth. When she tried to lift her hand to her face, her motion was restrained. She panicked, thinking she was handcuffed.
“Girl, calm down!” Gogo grabbed Janae’s wrists. “It’s okay. You’re in the hospital so relax.”
Janae blinked and saw Gogo told the truth.
“Your crazy ass almost tore the IV out. You okay?” Gogo asked with a concerned expression.
Janae closed her eyes and took a few breaths. “What happened?” Her voice sounded weak.
“First, yo’ ass threw up all over me. And uh, I sorta freaked out, and you slipped outta my arms and hit your head on the floor. You had me scared to death!” Gogo said as she rubbed Janae’s arm. “You gotta little bump on your head. The doctor said it’s a contusion and you don’t show any signs of a concussion, so that’s good news.”
“How did I get here?”
“Ambulance.”
Janae sighed and stared at the ceiling. “How am I gonna pay for this shit?”
“Girl, chill. You know I’ma help you.” Gogo smiled. “FYI, the ambulance driver is fine as hell, and I got a number. You know I’ll figure out a way to clear your bill for the ambulance ride.”
Janae managed a smile. “And what about my doctor bill?”
“Sorry.” Gogo laughed. “I don’t eat coochie.”
“My doctor a chick?” Janae said with a slight headache.
Gogo nodded. “Girl, you don’t need to be stressing no bills right now, and I mean that,” Gogo stated as she sat down. “You want some water?”
Janae nodded, thankful for having a true friend in Gogo. They both had their faults but, in the hood, friendship had the power to overcome all odds.
“What did they say is wrong with me?” Janae asked after downing two cups of water.
“Still running a bunch of tests,” Gogo answered. “And being we from the hood, them muthafuckas think yo’ ass is on drugs or some other bullshit! I had to show my ass with one nurse who kept asking me if you had used any drugs in the last twenty-four hours.”
Janae rolled her eyes. “How long have I been out?”
“’Bout three hours.”
Janae turned her head on the pillow and gazed out the window behind Gogo. “What’s really hood?” Janae whispered with her thoughts on the aspect of her troubled life.
Gogo blinked and thought about the question. “I guess being poor. Don’t nobody in their right mind would willingly live in the hood. Yeah, we are fools at times by glamorizing our lifestyle while each day we hustling like hell to get up out the hood.”
“To go where?” Janae said as she restrained her tears. “We are who we are, Gogo. A new address won’t change us. All we’ve been doing is running to go nowhere.”
Gogo agreed with Janae, and she, too, had to struggle with her own tears. “Where do we go from here?” Gogo blinked, sending two lines of tears down her face.
“We start over,” Janae suggested. “Let’s stop letting the streets ruin us. And stop thinking we need a man to make it in life.”
Gogo nodded and wiped her eyes. “We can leave Asheville and get a place together.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Janae smiled.
Gogo grinned. “Uh, when you said we don’t need a man, you wasn’t going lesbian on me were you?”
“Girl, please!” Janae laughed. “I’ll never be that stressed out. But seriously, we need to get our shit in order and stop fucking these no-good niggas who ain’t worth our time.”
Janae went mute when the female doctor knocked once and entered the room. The white doctor with brunette hair smiled at Gogo before turning her attention to Janae. She held an iPad that she viewed while standing at the foot of the bed.
“How does your head feel, Janae?” the doctor asked.
“Just a slight ache.”
“Feeling nauseous?”
“Not like I did this morning.”
“Has this happened before?”
Janae gripped the bed sheets. “Uh, about a week ago. But it wasn’t this bad.”
The doctor nodded and glanced down at the iPad. “How long have you known?” The doctor looked up from the iPad with an eyebrow raised.
“Known what?” Janae asked defensively.
The doctor tapped the screen and turned it around for Janae to see the test results for herself. “I checked your past medical records, Janae, and I’m sure you know what you’re looking at.”
Janae’s heart knocked her breath away as she stared astounded at the screen. Gogo jumped from the chair to see what the hell was going on with her bestie.
“Oh my God!” Gogo gasped and covered her mouth as Janae lost the battle to hold the tears at bay.
Janae cried for a retest as Gogo held her in her arms. Her protests didn’t help the case or her new issue. The two girls from the hood cried together in face of the world that seemed so much against them.
Chapter Thirty-four
Janae lay on the couch, nursing her ever-growing stomach. She was excited about the new life growing inside of her.
She wasn’t sure whether the baby was Bryson’s or Lloyd’s, but she did regret the circumstances of how her new life came to be. For the last few months, she’d been low-key. Got a part-time job at Ingles ringing up groceries and doing light stocking for as long as she could stand it. Janae wasn’t sure she was going to like the job at first because she knew how she was when people were rude to her. Janae learned quickly to suck it up and smile.
Being a cashier wasn’t too much different from tricking. Both positions required her to wear light makeup and put on her best face. Bo
th required that Janae move around and be flexible with her life and schedule. At times, both jobs required that she get on her knees to get the work done and spend a considerable amount of time in different positions. She reported to a supervisor at her job; she needed a pimp’s protection in the streets.
The only difference to some degree was the pay. Her minimum-wage rate of pay was reported to the IRS and state government, and she got what she worked for. Her pimp passed along pennies on the dollar for what she tricked. The income she earned wasn’t even hers.
Janae was surprised at how fast she and Gogo had become friends, especially after Lysa’s death. Gogo had taken her out to eat, helped her with her prenatal appointments, and helped her deal with Lysa’s death.
When she asked about Leshaun, all she heard and saw was that once Leshaun got the money to get the Gamble Property up and running, she focused on other business ventures. Leshaun built a Dame’s Paradice club near the heart of downtown. The club was more female-centered and had some of the same themes as the clubs she owned in Charlotte and Birmingham. Leshaun was pleased with the gay club she helped finance in Nashville, Tennessee and the Web series she sponsored, which brought business to the club.
In Asheville, she bought two bed and breakfasts that were thriving. Leshaun focused on expanding her rental properties and hosting events. She even helped a local promoter bring major rap and R&B artists to the Orange Peel and to Dame’s Paradice.
Prince left IHOP to manage one of the bed and breakfasts. There was no word on if he and Leshaun had gotten together, but the only time Janae saw him was at the new property or occasionally chilling in the Barnes & Noble, typing fast on an Macbook. Kofi had a new car and drove for Uber. Janae was surprised the first time he picked her up because she didn’t remember seeing his name as the driver. Janae and Kofi made small talk. He told her he was back in school at Western Carolina University and pursuing a biology degree. Kofi was the one who told her that Zay had been cremated and that his ashes were in an urn next to Tiana’s in her old suite that was remodeled at Price Street Hotel. He also revealed that 9ine moved forward with the adult entertainment business that he and Zay had always talked about.
Janae knew she was having a daughter. She really wanted a boy, but she was happy that her daughter was healthy. She hadn’t thought of a name for her yet, but she did know that she didn’t want her daughter to turn out like she had. She wanted her daughter to be more than somebody’s ho. She wanted her to grow up and become a self-sufficient woman who could take care of her own needs. Janae wanted her daughter to become the woman she wanted to be and worked toward.
The phone rang, and Janae reached on the coffee table and picked it up. She recognized Gogo’s name and smiled.
“Hey, girl.” Janae slid the TALK button and spoke.
“You feel like some sushi?” Gogo offered.
“Girl, yes.” Janae smiled. Gogo always seemed to know when she was hungry and up for some food. “I have this craving for ginger. I drink ginger ale, season my food with allspice and nutmeg. It’s like I’m craving sweets, but don’t have to have sugar.”
“Every pregnancy is different,” Gogo replied. “I’m downstairs in a black 2017 Toyota Avalon. I’m renting it while my car is being fixed. I’ll be up to get you in a minute.”
“Cool, give me a few minutes to get ready.”
“Okay, girl.”
Janae hung up the phone and was thankful she took a shower earlier in the day. She had laid out a maternity outfit in case she decided to go somewhere. It took her a minute to put on the dress and then fit into the wide tennis shoes that made walking easier. She gave herself a once-over. Her hair was wrapped tight in a bun, her face glowed, and she didn’t look or feel a mess.
Janae locked the door and made her way to the car, which was parked in the handicap spot. Gogo got out of the driver’s seat and helped her get in the passenger’s seat. Then Gogo got back into her seat and put on Pandora so they could listen to today’s R&B and hip-hop instead of being stuck with the local pop station they’d both grown to detest.
“So where are we going?” Janae asked.
“It’s a little Japanese spot on Patton Avenue. It’s behind where Denny’s used to be ,” Gogo answered.
Janae struggled to remember the restaurant. She always went to the fast food place in the mall when she wanted teriyaki, or she just bought the sushi rolls from the Ingles she worked at. The last time she had Japanese at a restaurant, she and Lysa went to Asaka’s on Biltmore Avenue, not too far from the Grand Bohemian Hotel.
Gogo maneuvered her way to Patton Avenue, and Janae enjoyed the ride. They pulled up to the white building that had Japanese script written on it.
“Doesn’t look like we are going to be alone,” Janae commented as she closed the car door.
“Naw, I doubt that,” Gogo answered. “Have you ever seen the hibachi chefs do their knife twirling act while they make your food?”
“No. I didn’t even know they did that.”
Gogo smiled. Janae was up for the feeding and entertainment. They walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a host who led them to their table. The hibachi chef squeezed some oil on the grill and set some rice on top.
“This is going to be a good show,” Gogo told her as she helped her in the chair.
Once Gogo was seated, Janae noticed Prince, Kofi, and 9ine making their way to the table from the back. 9ine sat next to her and smiled. Prince and Kofi sat on opposite ends.
“Looks like the show is about to begin.” 9ine grinned at Janae.
Her heart beat fast. She knew Leshaun operated dirty and she wondered where she slipped up that she didn’t see this move coming. Gogo was her sister—first mistake. Janae should’ve tried to kill Gogo before she found out she was pregnant instead of relying on their truce. Zay had gone nuts, and that threw her off guard.
“Ma, you’re here.” 9ine got up and greeted the woman behind him.
Janae almost didn’t recognize her. Leshaun was still a big girl, but a little slimmer. Her hair was in a giant, asymmetrical Afro similar to what Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa had in the eighties. Leshaun’s face was full, colored by autumn and earth-colored shades. Big hoop earrings hung from her ears.
“Pregnancy looks good on you,” Leshaun complimented her as she leaned in for a hug.
Janae tried to hide her discomfort and hugged her back. If Leshaun was going to kill her, she could’ve done it by now. So what did she want? And why bring her to a Japanese restaurant to do it?
“So are you having a girl or a boy?” Leshaun asked she made her rounds and then took a seat next to Prince.
“I’m having a girl,” Janae answered.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve had one of them.” Leshaun put a napkin in her lap, and the chef started the show.
Janae looked around the table to figure out how each of them may try to strike her at any time. The knives flew in and out of the chef’s hands and, when they weren’t flying, they clashed and slashed. As the chef continued moving the food, 9ine kept telling everyone what he was doing, like he was an expert on Japanese cooking.
“Now that I almost have everything up and running, I’m going to celebrate,” Leshaun announced as the chef started serving their meals. Everyone had chicken teriyaki with vegetable sushi rolls, fried bananas, and steamed vegetables. “Outta Tiana’s Purse is doing well in its location on Hendersonville Road. The store has a nice mix of urban and professional gear and the programs to dress young women for success continue to thrive. I’m thinking about opening a sister location in Birmingham. We’ll see. The Price Hotel is up and running and for the first time in seven months, and is at full capacity.”
Everyone clapped, except Janae. “Not only that, but I completed the purchase of the property near Merrimon Avenue by the Ingles, which brings my bed and breakfast total to three. No more B&Bs, Prince.”
Prince nodded his head as everyone chuckled.
“We’ve really come a long way as a te
am. I want to thank Gogo for being my rock and not letting me falter, even when I wanted to. Prince, you big-dick asshole, we been together twenty long years and our daughter pretends like she doesn’t know either one of us at times. 9ine, you’ve branched into your own world. I’m sorry you’re having to do it all without Zay but you know I love and support what you do. Kill ’em in the A and bring the money back home. Kofi, I’m glad you’re back in school. I wish Chasity were here, but she’s on special assignment for me in the Triangle and should be returning later tonight. And, Janae, I have to hand it to you; I wouldn’t have had to rebuild everything if it weren’t for you.”
Janae looked around again. All eyes were on her, especially the chef’s. This is it. This is the moment where Leshaun has me killed. And my baby, too.
“Well, I can’t give you all the credit.” Leshaun lifted up her glass for a toast. Everyone else did the same and Janae looked around. “Stop being paranoid. Lysa had as much a hand in everything as you did. You want to know why you’re here and she’s not?”
That was an interesting question and one that, if she were breathing her last moments, she’d like an answer to before she met her Maker.
“‘Definition of a Bad Girl’ is one of my favorite tracks. It’s a little over a minute long and should’ve served as the title cut for Total’s debut album. Pam speaks about what it takes to be a strong, independent woman who’s not scared to make every sacrifice to take and reclaim what’s hers. Janae, I suggest you listen to that song again.”
Janae exhaled. “Look, if you’re gonna—”
“I’m not done,” Leshaun cut her off. “I spent seven months rebuilding what you and another bitch had the audacity to try to destroy. If you wanted to leave, you should’ve just left. After all, I am what I am, and I play by the rules. I don’t get mad when you choose someone else. I’m pissed when you take the extra step to destroy what is mine in the process.
“So I’m gonna cut to the chase. After you give birth to your daughter, I’m going to give you six months to recuperate. Nourish and bond with your baby. Love her like I love my two children. And after six months, you will begin the process of paying me back. And I want all of my money back, with interest. The quarter of a mil was just the beginning. The city of Asheville assessed me with a five thousand dollar fine. It cost me about seven thousand dollars in travel and lodging expenses to live from one hotel to the next. It cost me another four to send Kofi, 9ine, Zay and Chasity across the country to raise the money. I invested another fifteen thousand in supplies and rental fees to secure the lodge and to use my properties in other cities to raise the money. I also had to pay out almost four thousand dollars in refunds and replace another five thousand dollars in property. So when we add it all together, you owe me two hundred and ninety thousand dollars, plus interest.”