by Tiana Laveen
“Yes, baby, your mother is just getting old is all.” She chuckled.
Tiffany wrapped her arm around her and helped her down the rest of the way. When they hit the sidewalk, she bobbed up and down with her arms in the air as if she were Rocky.
“It’s time to eat, woot woot!” Tiffany cackled, causing her mother to smirk and roll her eyes at her.
“Girl, you can eat anything you want and stay skinny as a rail. I, on the other hand, am trying to watch my figure, so don’t think you’re about to drag me to one of those soul food places you like, with the food cooked in all that lard and grease.”
Tiffany pulled back and looked at the woman in disbelief. “Oh, but Mama, you have to try Oohh’s and Aahh’s! That’s where I’m going to take you. They have the best, and I mean the best, fried fish in this world!” Her mother stepped back as if she’d suddenly smelled a skunk. “What? Fine then. You don’t have to get the fish. They’ve got—”
“No … no, that’s not it.” The woman’s nostrils flared. “I had a dream about fish and you just reminded me.”
Tiffany huffed and rolled her eyes, grabbing her mother’s hand as they walked to her parked car.
“Mama, I’ve had my IUD for five years now. You know I don’t mess around. Besides, I—”
“Isn’t the one you have supposed to stop working after five years? I asked you about this when you and I got into it a couple of years ago and I begged you to never get pregnant because of your lifestyle. You then told me you had that IUD in your uterus, but it is not a lifetime thing, you know.” The woman paused, her forehead wrinkled and a frown on her face. “When was the last time you’ve been to the doctor, girl?”
Tiffany recalled the one who’d come to the hotel to give her a physical and run tests after Phoenix had gotten finished making her life a living hell.
“It’s been a minute.”
They walked side by side, their shoes clicking against the concrete.
“I suggest you make an appointment.” They reached the car and got inside. Tiffany forced a smile, wishing to change the topic, but Mama refused to shake it loose. “Your face is rounder, too, and since you have the metabolism of a six-year-old child, it could only mean one thing: you’re pregnant.”
“Mama! No, I’m not.” She angrily switched the radio on, only to hear the song, “Always be my Baby” by Mariah Carey come through the speakers. At this, her mother slapped her knee and burst out laughing.
“If that’s not a sign from up above, I don’t know what is!”
Tiffany pulled away from the curb, frowning so hard, she was getting a headache.
“Mama, look. Like I said, I’m on birth control and Phoenix and I discussed this. We will probably try to have children in a year or two.”
“Well, what you all discussed and what is going on are not in sync. I suggest you pull into the drugstore on your way to this greasy spoon you are taking me to and pick yourself up a test, dear.”
Tiffany sighed and burst out laughing. “Fine, Mama. To prove you wrong, I’ll do just that. I can’t imagine why you believe in that silly superstition.”
“Call it silly all you want. It holds water.”
“Hope floats!” Tiffany said, poking fun at her mother.
“You better buy a boat then! You were never a good swimmer…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Phoenix sat at his desk in his home office, his eyes strained and weary from the light of the laptop. He rubbed them until they felt raw and burning. On a sigh, he leaned back into his seat and picked up his cellphone.
“Mr. Braxton, there’s a problem with the contract. Please give me a call at your earliest convenience.” He disconnected the call and shot a glance at his Remington 700 rifle that hung on the wall, then at his computer screen. Soon he’d dozed off and hadn’t even realized it until his phone buzzed, waking him and springing him into action. Without looking at the caller I.D., he answered and put it to his ear, feeling disoriented from his brief yet deep slumber.
“Hello?”
“I expected you to have already left.” Rick sighed. “Aren’t you leaving for a few days or did that change?”
“No.” Phoenix yawned. “I am. I take the jet in the morning. Just finishing up some work.”
“Okay, well, uh, I have some bad … well, not sure how you’d classify it, I suppose interesting news would work just as well.”
“All right, I’m listening. What is it?”
“I imagine at this late hour your wife is asleep, but… I’m calling to let you know that Gable Johnson was murdered by a fellow inmate tonight.”
Phoenix’s jaw tensed as he looked towards his halfway open office door. He could see little with the exception of part of the staircase.
“Mmmm, okay. What happened?” He logged into the prison data system to see if there were any updates regarding the matter, anything to gain a bit more clarity before he told Tiffany.
“He’d gotten into an argument with the guy, as far as my understanding goes, and the other inmate must’ve had a shank and stabbed him in the chest, multiple times.”
“Do you by chance have the name of the guy who murdered him?”
“Yeah, hold on a sec here.” He could hear the sound of Rick rustling through some papers. “I wrote it down … Here it is—his name is Kenneth Ferris. He was in for robbery.”
“That name sounds familiar. Anyway, okay, thank you for telling me. I’ll be certain to let Tiffany know.”
“All right, I’ll talk to you sometime tomorrow, correct?”
“Yes, I will check in with you before 6:00 P.M. Goodnight, Rick.”
“Goodnight, Phoenix.”
Phoenix disconnected the call. Running his hand down his face, he rocked back and forth in his seat until he got the gumption to drag his tired body out of the chair. Making his way up the steps, he took slow paces. Partially out of being exhausted, the other half out of the uncertainty of how Tiffany would react to such news. He entered their master suite to find the woman lying sound asleep on her side, her back to him, wearing a silky hot pink negligée that hugged her in all the right places. In the darkness, with the exception of a mellow nightlight, he removed his clothes and placed them on a nearby chair before sliding into bed next to her in his boxer briefs. Nestling up to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Soft bare feet touched his ankles.
“Finally came to bed, baby,” she murmured, barely awake. He kissed the ridge of her ear, then buried his nose into her tresses and inhaled their sweet scent.
“Yeah, need to get some shut eye before I head out.” He was quiet for a while, deciding he’d wait to deliver the news when she was fully awake. But fate delivered a twist…
“Why are you so tense?”
“What?”
“Whenever something is bothering you and you lie next to me, your body is real tense. I can feel it.”
He laughed lightly, enjoying how she could read him. “Well, we can talk about it in the morning. Let’s get some badly needed shut eye. You have that meeting in front of the committee to form the girls’ survivors group tomorrow, and—”
“No.” She shifted out of his grip, turning to face him. “Please, tell me what’s wrong?”
He hesitated and then, on a sigh, he sat up and switched on the nightstand light.
“Baby, Gable is dead. He and another inmate had some sort of altercation and the guy stabbed him. Some inmate named Kenneth Ferris.”
Tiffany’s big, doe-like eyes widened, then narrowed, as if she were playing his words on repeat in her mind.
“Hmmm, interesting.” She punched her pillow so hard, the bed rocked, then she turned and pressed her head back down on the thing. “You better get some rest. You have to get up early in the morning.”
He looked at the back of her head for the longest. Any trace of lethargy left him at that moment. “Tiffany, that’s all you have to say?” he asked dryly.
“He got what he deserved.” She flipped over and faced him
, fire in her eyes. “If it weren’t for you talking to congressmen and senators and hiring me a lawyer that charges hundreds of dollars by the hour, and me keeping records of every fucking thing since I started grade school, I’d be looking at prison bars this very second and fightin’ for my life, every damn day! Most women aren’t like me … and most men aren’t like you.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “He messed with a bull and got the goddamn horns. Nothing more, nothin’ less.”
She flipped back over, and he said nothing for several minutes. But he sat there, thinking, knowing her like the back of his hand. Though she wouldn’t say it, he knew she had something to do with it … and though she wouldn’t say it, she hated that she had to do it…
On an exhale, he turned off the light. “What happened to ‘Revenge is mine, thus said the Lord?” he whispered. He grinned in the darkness as he looked up at the ceiling, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Matthew, seventh chapter, verse seven: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Gable asked, sought, found and knocked. Karma answered. Good night, good riddance. Amen…”
…The next morning
Tiffany stared at the clock. It was 4:12 a.m. She’d tossed and turned all night. Phoenix was sound asleep, but he’d be up in less than half an hour. Getting to her feet, she shuffled to their master bathroom in white, fluffy slippers. Locking the door behind her, she opened her side of the bathroom cabinet and retrieved the First Response pregnancy test. After a long hesitation, she tore the thing open, pulled out the kit, and read the directions.
She’d had it in her possession since her mother’s visit the previous week, but had convinced herself it would be a waste of time. Now though, her period was late, something that rarely occurred. She leaned over the sink and took in her image in the mirror, tracing her collarbone with the tips of her fingers and dragging them down her skin. She looked into her eyes, took notice of her ears, her features … anything to distract her from completing the task.
Come on. Not taking it won’t change anything. Either you are, or you’re not.
On a sigh, she plopped on the toilet, cup in hand, and peed on the stick. Then, she placed her sample on the counter, waiting, her heart beating a mile a minute. Pacing back and forth, she thought about Gable and Kenneth. She hadn’t known that Kenneth was in prison, but wasn’t terribly surprised. She knew one thing though; their fight had been the real deal. Once she’d told Dehaven about what her dear ol’ cousin had done, she’d had no doubt it would be only a matter of time before one of the GDs got a hold of that ass…
She stared at the test from a distance, then drew closer. Real close. Tossing the stick, she washed her hands, rubbed some vanilla and brown sugar lotion from Victoria’s Secret into her palms, tucked her hair behind one ear, and headed back to bed. She fell asleep, and when she awoke, she caught her husband fully dressed in dark army fatigue, various guns on his body, and sliding on one of his black combat boots. Sitting up, she smiled, relishing the sunlight peeping through the window.
“Good morning, baby. I’ll be heading out in about fifteen minutes or so.”
“All right … be careful.”
“Of course.” He came around the bed, kneeled down, and gave her a kiss.
“Phoenix.”
“Yeah, baby?” He left her side and went to a duffle bag he had lying on the floor, placing various items inside.
“I really need you to be careful … like seriously. No unnecessary risks.”
“I am, baby. I always take precautions, don’t worry, all right?” He glanced over his shoulder at her, smiling.
“Good … because you’re going to be a daddy.”
The man froze in his stooped position. After a few moments, he stood to his full height and turned towards her.
“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice barely audible.
“Yes.” She hated but couldn’t deny the goofy smile on her face. Storming towards her, he grabbed her and kissed her all over, making her laugh. Holding her tight in his embrace, he ran his hands through her hair, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“Oh, man! That’s great, Tiffany … How, uh, long? How do you know?” He placed her back down.
“I literally just took a test. My period was late, and it’s never late. My mother told me she dreamt that I was. She is usually right.” She chuckled nervously. “I’ll make a doctor’s appointment. Honestly, because of everything that happened, Phoenix, I forgot that my IUD had expired. I was in jail when it did, so I didn’t think anything of it. I was too busy tryin’ to make sure I didn’t get life in prison.” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah,” he said breathlessly. “I can understand that.”
“So, obviously, I need to get the IUD removed as soon as possible. Don’t want it to pose any risks, like this being a tubal pregnancy, something like that. For the baby’s sake, that’s what needs to happen.”
He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Make sure you go today, okay?” She nodded. “I’ll be hard to reach at times, but if you call and I don’t answer, send me a text, okay? I’ll be looking out for it.”
“Okay,” she said with a smile.
Racing back to his bag, he finished packing. He started walking to the door, then paused. Running back towards her, he picked her up in his arms, and she burst out laughing. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m so damn happy right now.” He crushed her lips in a kiss, then let her go, waved goodbye and headed out the bedroom door.
Tiffany stood there, missing him already. The world felt a bit smaller right then, somewhat more intimate and personal. On a swallow, she picked up her phone and dialed.
“Hi, my name is Tiffany Hale and I’m leaving a message for Dr. Anderson. I uh … I just took a pregnancy test and it’s positive. I also have an IUD implanted in my uterus, so I need to come in as soon as possible … Um, I guess that’s it. Please call me and let me know what time I can get an appointment today. Thanks.”
“I need you over at post three.” Phoenix waved two fingers towards Pete. They surrounded the house and he stooped low, gripping his M1911 in both hands. Victor crawled ahead of him as instructed, while Jacob got on the bullhorn.
“Come out, with your hands up!”
“Jacob, I need you to get low,” he whispered. Phoenix moved on his belly, slithering until he’d gained a couple of feet. The house went black, the lights killed. Pete gave him the signal and he joined the two other DEA agents in the back. “Jacob!” he whispered loudly at the man. “Get down!”
As Jacob turned around, the front door of the house suddenly swung open and a guy emerged with an MP5, shooting at anything that moved.
“Fuck!” Phoenix rolled over to Jacob, the man’s shoulder bleeding, and dragged him behind the armored vehicle. “3, 6, 1!!!! Fire!” A loud ruckus ensued as he secured Jacob behind the car, checked the enemy fire, and got to his feet. Racing towards the house now aglow with the commotion, Phoenix took out his M16, burst inside, and began blasting.
“GET DOWN ON THE MOTHERFUCKIN’ GROUND!” He shot holes in the white walls, then at the targets, getting one in the leg and making him collapse.
“Fuuck you!” a man screamed as he came barreling out from the living room, his gun drawn. He raced towards Phoenix with lightning speed. On a dime, Phoenix turned towards the man and blasted, shooting him multiple times in the head, neck, and chest. Blood sprayed everywhere, the house becoming an instant blood bath. The man fell to his knees and crumpled to the floor, dead in a matter of seconds.
“CEASEFIRE!” Phoenix yelled to his men, spotting a closed bedroom door. Adrenaline pumping, two of his guys covered him as he approached. BAM! When he kicked the door open, a woman screamed. She lay on the fifthly bed, cradling a baby in her arms. Phoenix immediately held up his hand for everyone to slow down. He approached with caution, gun still raised. He’d seen scenes like this before—a person appearing innocent like this woman, and then she brandishes a gun or knife a
nd all hell would break loose. She jumped when another gunshot went off in what sounded like the kitchen.
“Do you have any weapons on you?”
The woman shook her head.
“Put the baby down on the bed and stand up, slowly.”
She did as instructed. Pete raced in front of him and placed her in handcuffs. The house was soon surrounded with cops. Phoenix stood there, looking down at the baby. So small. He walked over to the bed, tucked his gun under his arm, and picked up the child, bringing the little girl to his chest. The baby began to cry, her blue eyes full of pain and confusion. She couldn’t have been more than a couple of months old. Smiling at the infant, he ran his hand softly over her head and kissed her rosy cheek.
“I’m so sorry you’ve landed in the middle of this, baby. It’s going to be all right…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
One year later…
The Hale house was never quiet.
Not with the two dogs she now called her fur babies, not with Phoenix and his work-related temper tantrums, not with Tiffany and her guitar playing, and definitely not with a three-month-old baby boy who cried for milk and cuddling every ten seconds.
But, she wouldn’t have it any other way. Tiffany picked up Phoenix Jr. out of his crib and paced about his room, the walls around her sporting navy blue and white stripes. They’d decorated the space in a nautical theme, peace and whimsy in unison.
The little one was rapidly gaining weight, nursing often, and was such a good baby. Mama and Dad had been to see him several times, and each time, they didn’t want to leave. Tiffany couldn’t say she much blamed them, for her son was the apple of everyone’s eye. Phoenix’s mother and brother had been over often, and she relished the sense of family and community, especially since she didn’t have many relatives left.
“Who’s the big chubby wubby? Who’s the big chubby wubby lubby bubby?” she cooed as she thrust him in the air. His plump little caramel arms were full of soft rolls, his face round and cherub-like, and his head covered in loose, dark brown curls—the cutest thing she’d ever seen. Of course, she admitted her bias. Baby Phoenix smiled down at her, delighted, as she played with him. She still couldn’t get out of her mind how lucky she’d been.