“One of who?”
“One of the guys who’s been bothering you!”
“No,” Tamika said as she waved back. “That’s one of David’s clients. Would you believe he’s almost forty years old? He dresses like he’s a teenager, doesn’t he?”
“Whew!” Regina said as they walked to the hospital entrance. “That’s a relief. I thought we mighta had to give someone a beat-down out here on 135th and Lenox.”
“Mrs. Corbett,” the man said, approaching them. “Howya doing? Got a couple of minutes?”
“Um, sure, Mr. Riggs,” Tamika said a little nervously.
“Call me Spider.”
“Thanks. And this is my friend Regina Harris.”
“How do you do?” Regina said, extending her hand.
“Fine. Fine.” The man grabbed her hand and gave it an absentminded shake, then addressed Tamika again. “Mind if we talk privately for a minute?”
“Sure,” Tamika answered again. “Regina, why don’t you go on upstairs? I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”
Regina gave Tamika an “are you sure” look and received an assuring “I’ll be okay” nod in return.
“Okay, girl,” Regina said. “I’ll see you in a few, I guess.”
chapter eighteen
Aunt Gina, you missed it!” Renee’s voice rang out as Regina entered the room.
“How are you feeling, sweetie?” Regina bent down and gently kissed her niece on the cheek. “Hey, Liz,” she said to the girl who was sitting in a chair next to Renee’s bed. The bandage on Liz’s head was smaller than it was the night before, and she was dressed in her usual uniform of tight jeans and slinky blouse.
“I’m feeling okay, but you missed it!” Renee said excitedly.
“Hi, Miss Regina,” Liz said with a huge smile.
“Okay, what did I miss?” Regina placed the flowers she had purchased at the hospital gift shop on the nightstand next to Renee’s bed.
“Mommy just threw her preacher man out on his butt!” Renee started laughing, then winced and pressed her left hand against her ribs. “Dang, it hurts when I laugh.”
“Preacher man? What preacher man?” Regina asked.
“Father Destiny. The guy who heads the Church of Unified Reformers that Mommy goes to,” Renee answered with a little chuckle. “He came up here so he and Mommy could pray for me, which you know I wasn’t all that hot about, anyway. But then when they got up off their knees, he told Mommy that he was sure she knew that God had punished me because I was a miscreant and sexual deviant who strayed from the path of righteousness.
“You shoulda seen Mommy’s face. I thought she was going to hit him!” Renee was struggling not to laugh again. “She went off on him, telling him that she called him in here for prayers and support and that if he thought he was gonna come up in here and call her daughter names, he had another thought coming. She even said that if God wanted to punish anyone, it would be someone like him lining his pockets with poor people’s money and buying a new car every year when some of his followers couldn’t even pay their rent.”
“Yeah, she read him up, down, and sideways,” Liz said. “He ran out of here so fast he left his Bible.”
“And then he was scared to come back in the room with Mommy in here, so he sent a nurse in after it,” Renee added.
“Get outta here,” Regina said in amazement. “Where’s your mom now?”
“Right here,” Brenda announced as she walked through the open door. “I was down at the lobby reception desk letting them know that if that fake man of God tries to get in here again, they should throw him out on his ass.”
“Whoa,” Regina said, giving Brenda a hug, “I’m scared of you.”
“Here, Miss Brenda,” Liz said, getting up and offering Brenda her chair. “You look like you need to catch your breath.”
“That’s okay,” Brenda said in a sharp voice. She walked over and sat on the windowsill. “You go ahead and keep the chair. I’m okay over here.”
Regina noticed Renee and Liz share a worried look, and she started to say something, but Brenda spoke first.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you, sweetheart,” Brenda said, addressing Liz. “I’m still worked up over that short, fat bastard.”
“That’s okay, Miss Brenda,” Liz said demurely.
Brenda fell silent for a moment, then finally said, “Look, I apologized to Renee earlier, but I want to apologize to you, Liz. And to you, too, Gina.”
“For what?” Regina said as she sat down next to Brenda.
“For being such an idiot, I guess.” Brenda lowered her eyes. “I don’t know what was wrong with me. I didn’t have any business listening in on Renee’s telephone call when she was talking to Liz, and I must have been out of my mind to throw my only daughter out because of whom she chooses to love.”
Brenda looked up at Liz. “I’ve already told Renee that I want her to come back home to me when they let her out the hospital, and I want you to know that you’re always welcome in my house. Anyone who loves Renee is welcome in my house.”
“Thank you, Miss Brenda,” Liz said with a smile. “I really appreciate that.”
Regina put her arm around Brenda’s shoulders. “You know I really love you,” she whispered in her sister’s ear.
Brenda shrugged. “And I want to apologize to you, too. I said some really foul things to you.”
“That’s okay.” Regina gave Brenda a little squeeze.
“No, it’s not okay,” Brenda said, shaking her head. “I gotta tell you something, sis.” Brenda took a deep breath and looked away from Regina. “I think—no, I know—that I’ve been jealous of you for years now. And not because you’re successful or anything, but because of your relationship with Renee. I’ve always felt like she considered you her mother, and I was just someone she had to live with.”
“Oh, Brenda . . . ,” Regina started.
“I told her she shouldn’ta felt like that,” Renee interjected.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did,” Brenda said miserably. “I mean, you were really the one who raised Renee. She barely even knew I was her mother until you were shot and she came to live with me when she was six. And I’ve tried to make it up to her . . .”
“You have, Mom!”
“. . . but she and I never formed the bond that you two have. I thought that maybe after Camille was born, you and Renee would become more distant, but you didn’t.” Brenda let out a deep sigh. “But that’s understandable. You were her mother for the first six years of her life while I was out running the streets. I can’t erase that. I shouldn’t have wanted to. And I sure shouldn’t have been jealous.”
Regina sighed. “Shoot, now I guess I have to apologize, too.”
“For what?” Brenda looked at her quizzically.
“Well, I said some pretty wicked stuff that night to you, too, remember? And also . . .” Regina hesitated. “And also, I know sometimes I overstep my bounds when it comes to Renee. But, you know, it’s hard sometimes to figure out how much I’m allowed to do as an aunt and at what point it becomes me acting like I’m her mother.”
“Aww,” Renee said with a grin. “You two just love me so much.”
“Oh, shut up, Renee,” Brenda said with a laugh.
Regina gave Brenda a nudge. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
“Anyway,” Regina said, turning to Renee, “what’s your prognosis? Are you going to live?”
“I still got a lotta pain, but the nurse comes in with medication every couple of hours, so it’s bearable. And my arm and leg itch under the casts, so that’s uncomfortable. But the doctor said I might be able to get outta here in about two weeks.” Renee sighed. “I can’t wait. The food here sucks.”
“What about your eye?”
“A doctor came and looked at it this morning. He said it was a scratched retina and it’ll probably heal itself with no damage.”
Regina shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Listen, I guess you
and Liz need an explanation about why Robert did what he did—”
Renee cut her off. “Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you. Aunt Yvonne was by here about an hour ago. She told me about Uncle Robert.” Renee wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I’m gonna call him uncle anymore.”
“I don’t blame you,” Regina agreed.
“Anyway, she was real beat up, too. And she told me they locked him up. The police were here, too, and they took me and Liz’s statements. I hope you know I’m pressing charges. How do I do that, anyway?”
“You can talk to Uncle David and Uncle Charles when they get here. I’m sure they can tell you.” Regina shook her head. “You know, I came over here thinking you’d be moaning and groaning in pain, and here you are all cheery and talking up a storm. It must be nice to be eighteen.” Regina turned to Liz. “You know what? I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask how you were feeling.”
“I’m doing fine.” Liz touched her bandaged head. “A little bit of a headache, but nothing two Tylenol don’t take care of.”
“Fuck some Tylenol,” Puddin’ announced as she strode through the door, followed closely by Tamika. “Let me know if you ever need any real drugs, girl. I’ll hook you up.”
“Hey, Aunt Puddin’!” Renee exclaimed. “I bet my drugs are better than yours. They’re giving me morphine.”
“Aw, isn’t that cute?” Puddin’ chuckled as she bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “A fledgling junkie.”
“How you feeling?” Tamika said when it was her turn to kiss Renee.
“I’m okay. Well, you know, not exactly okay, but I’m okay,” Renee answered. “The doctors said I might be able to go home in about two weeks.”
“Hi, Miss Tamika. Hi, Miss Puddin’,” Liz said meekly.
Puddin’ gave her a nonchalant nod, but Tamika walked over and hugged the girl.
“How are you feeling, Liz?” Tamika asked as she caressed the girl’s face.
“I’m doing really well, thanks.” Liz looked up at her with a bright smile.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Listen,” Tamika said slowly, “you live in the Bronx, don’t you?”
Liz nodded.
“Well, I was thinking. I know you’re going to want to spend every waking minute in this hospital with Ray-Ray, so since I only live a few blocks away, why don’t you stay with me for a while? David and I have plenty of room, and that way you don’t have to be traveling the subway late at night to get home, or wasting money on cabs.”
Regina couldn’t believe her ears. Why would Tamika . . . and then it hit her. Tamika had remembered what she herself had forgotten—Liz’s father. Tamika obviously thought him an unfit, or at least an unstable, father.
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose, Miss Tamika,” Liz was saying.
“It wouldn’t be an imposition at all. David and I have plenty of space. You can even have your own room.”
“Ooh, Aunt Mika, that would be so cool,” Renee said excitedly. “Liz, you gotta do it. That would be so cool!”
“Yeah, that does sound kinda cool.” A grin slowly appeared on Liz’s face. “I’ll just go home after visiting hours tonight and let my father know and pack up a few clothes.”
“Tell you what,” Tamika said, giving the girl another hug. “David will be here any minute now, and I’m sure he won’t mind driving you home and bringing you back.”
“Tamika, that’s nice of you to offer and everything, but you don’t think her father would mind?” Brenda asked.
“Give him a couple of drinks,” Puddin’ exclaimed, “and he probably wouldn’t even notice she’s gone.”
“Puddin’!” Regina said as a warning, but it was too late. Liz’s face reddened, and she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, her eyes downcast as she fidgeted with her pocketbook.
Brenda leaned in close to Regina’s ear. “Oh dang, something’s going on here, huh?” she whispered. “I didn’t know, or I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“You couldn’t have known,” Regina whispered back. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“I guess you met Frank last night?” Liz said in a small voice. “He’s not really as bad as all that. He just like to get his drink on every now and then. He’s usually pretty harmless.”
“Liz,” Renee said softly, “I can’t get up and hug you right now, so why don’t you come here and hug me?”
“I’m okay, Ray,” Liz said, still looking down.
“Stop lying and come here.”
Liz shook her head.
“Okay, then,” Renee said, and struggled to sit up. “I guess I will have to go over to you.”
“Renee!” Regina and Brenda said simultaneously as they jumped from the windowsill and rushed over to her.
“I’m fine,” Renee said, but she grimaced in pain and fell back onto the bed. “I’m fine. Just let me catch my breath.”
“Just lie down, Ray.” Liz walked over and took Renee’s hand. “I’m right here.”
“Listen, you can’t pay Aunt Puddin’ any mind. She’s just insensitive and mean sometimes,” Renee said, squeezing Liz’s hand. “Isn’t that right, Aunt Puddin’?”
“Well . . . ,” Puddin’ started.
“She’s just insensitive sometimes,” Renee continued. “But you’ve got to learn to ignore her like everybody else does.”
“Girl, you’d better watch what the fuck you say—”
“Why, Aunt Puddin’? You don’t watch what the fuck you say,” Renee said without looking at her. “You say whatever comes into your head without stopping to think how other people are gonna feel about it. Why should you be the only one?” She squeezed Liz’s hand again. “Like I was saying, Aunt Puddin’ is insensitive, but she isn’t really mean. Or she wasn’t trying to be right then.”
“It’s okay, Ray,” Liz said grimly. “She was right in what she—”
“No, she wasn’t,” Renee interrupted. “She had no place saying that.”
“But just so you know,” Liz said with tears in her eyes, “like I said before, Frank like his drink, but he’s never been abusive. So please don’t feel sorry for me or that you have to protect me. Not from him. He really does love me.” She turned to Tamika. “I would like to take you up on your offer, but not to get away from Frank. Just so I can be nearer to Ray.”
“Sure, honey,” Tamika said. “And you don’t have to go back to your father’s tonight to get your clothes. I’m sure I have some clothes you can wear for a while.”
“Liz is too tall and skinny to wear your clothes, Aunt Mika,” Renee said cautiously. “Maybe Aunt Puddin’ can loan her some of her clothes.”
Puddin’ snorted. “Yeah, I got some shit you can wear. But, Ray-Ray, if you ever try to play me again, I swear I’ll forget about the beat-down you already got and I will jump in your shit, hear me? And Gina’s, too, if she gets in the way.”
“Yeah, not fucking likely,” Regina said with a harsh laugh.
“And you’d have to come through me, too,” Brenda added dryly.
“Yeah? Well, ain’t neither of you ain’t saying shit I can’t handle,” Puddin’ growled. “I’ll—”
“Y’all don’t need to fight. I ’pologize,” Renee said quickly.
“You just oughta,” Puddin’ snapped. “I love you like you was my own blood, and I think I proved that a bunch over. If I said something outta line, then I apologize, but—”
“You just oughta,” Renee said lightly, causing everyone—including Puddin’—to laugh.
“Well,” Puddin’ said, “I ain’t mean to hurt your feelings, Liz, okay? I was only trying to make a joke. We cool?”
Liz smiled and nodded just as the nurse walked in.
“Good evening, Miss Harris. Evening, Harris family. Everybody doing well?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she began to check Renee’s vital signs. “Are you experiencing any pain, dearie?”
“No, but I am a little sleepy,” Renee said with a yawn.
“Why didn’t you
say something, baby?” Brenda kissed Renee on the cheek. “I’ll put everyone out so you can get some rest.”
“Mom, you should go home and get some rest, too. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“No, I don’t mind staying,” Brenda protested.
“Mom, I’ll be all right! Go home.” Renee yawned again. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“Well . . .” Brenda hesitated. “Well, okay. But I’m going to stay over at your Aunt Regina’s house tonight instead of going all the way to Queens. So if you need me, just call and I’ll be here in a few minutes.” She looked at Regina. “You don’t mind me staying over, do you?”
Regina waved her hand at her sister. “Girl, please. You know you don’t even have to ask.”
“Hey, Mika,” Regina said as they walked out of the elevator and into the lobby. “What was it that guy wanted to talk to you about? What’s his name, Spider?”
“Yeah, I was going to tell you about that,” Tamika said in a low voice so that the others, who were walking ahead of them, wouldn’t hear. “He said that he heard we was having a little trouble and that he was glad my people straightened it out, but next time we run into a problem we should let him know ’cause he’s got some juice, too.”
“Oh really?” Regina’s eyebrow shot up. “So did you ask how he heard about it?”
“Yeah, but he got vague on me—you know how they get—and just said he heard something about it on the street.”
“And he said it was your people that straightened it out, huh?”
“Yeah, but then when I was leaving, he told me to tell my uncle that Spider said hello.”
Regina’s stomach sank. Little Joe had introduced Puddin’ as his niece when he was defending her at the Rob-Cee listening party; it was a safe bet he was calling himself Tamika’s uncle now. There was no use in trying to make believe he hadn’t gotten himself involved. The only question now was just how involved. Before she could ask Tamika anything else, she saw David coming through the hospital doors.
“Hey,” he said after he gave Brenda and Liz a hug and kissed Puddin’, Regina, and Tamika on the cheek. “Visiting hours are over already?”
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