After discussing all of the details and the activities they wanted the kids to do at their youth center, their meeting came to an end two hours later. Hearing their sisters voice on the other side of the door, Ramsey’s mind went back to his party and the nigga that Ryan had came with. Something in his gut was telling him that something was off about that nigga.
“Yo, bro. I don’t know why I feel this way but I don’t like Ryan’s new dude.” Randall confessed.
“I was just thinkin’ the same shit. He seems to be into her and whatnot but it’s just somethin’ about that nigga I just don’t like. On top of that, he looks familiar as fuck.”
“Yeah he does. I usually never forget a face but I can’t place his for shit. I don’t think he lives in Philly though.”
“We need info on that nigga like yesterday, bro.” Ramsey stated through gritted teeth.
“I’m on it.”
Ramsey chilled at the shop until it closed. He showed love to his twin, sister and Tiffany before hopping in his car and heading back home. As he drove down the expressway, he couldn’t stop thinking of Ryan’s new boyfriend. It was killing him that he couldn’t remember where he had seen him at but he knew that he had seen him somewhere. Ramsey was happy that his sister had someone she thought was special in her life but he wouldn’t hesitate to drop that nigga where ever he stood if he brought harm to his loved ones.
49
Three Months Later…
Amelia stared at herself in the vanity mirror as she applied her make up for the evening. After the death threat she received a couple of weeks before the New Year, she didn’t waste any time relocating to a city. She resided in Norfolk, Virginia, a place where no one knew her or what she was about, which was what she needed. Amelia wasn’t sure who wanted her dead but she wasn’t going to be a sitting duck in a city where people knew where she laid her at. Whoever wanted her dead would have to hunt for her.
As she put the finishing touches on her makeup, her cell phone began to ring and she knew who was calling her. Getting up from her vanity, she walked over to her night stand snatching the phone up and answering it.
“Yo.”
“I’m in an all -black Buick with tinted windows. I’ll be parked at the corner of your block in ten minutes.”
“Aight.”
Amelia tossed her phone on the bed and finished getting ready. Dressed in a pair knee high red bottom boots, a fitted black wrap dress with gold accessories, she put her blonde and black hair in a high bun before putting on her trench coat placing her phone and keys in the pockets of the coat. She flipped off the lights in her condo on her way out the door. Walking down the street to the awaiting car, an eerie feeling suddenly swept over her. Looking over her shoulder, she didn’t see anything unusual but she walked quickly to the car jumping in seconds later.
“You good?” Amir, her escort partner, quizzed.
“Yeah. I’m good. So, who’s the couple we’re goin’ out with tonight?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Fredrickson. They’re black couple in their forties and from my understandin’, they both have wild imaginations. They want us to have dinner with them tonight and if things go well, we’ll split up, entertain their sexual fantasies, get our money and bounce.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s do this.”
Amelia and Amir crossed paths while she was dining alone at a nearby restaurant, two weeks after she got settled in her two bedrooms, two-bathroom condo. He approached her table and his light gray eyes and smooth baritone voice captured her attention. His cinnamon colored skin and athletic build is what made her lust for him and after the hour-long conversation they encountered, it wasn’t long before they were rolling around in her sheets. After fucking each other senseless all night, she learned that he was an escort. Amir complimented her on how crazy her sex game was and suggested that he joined the team. Fucking for money was all she knew but when he informed her that some on the clients were white and married couples, she felt uncomfortable. After her first sexual experience with white man, it turned out to be better than some of her sex sessions with black men. Once she got over that hump, nothing stood in her way and the money she made was worth all the weird shit she had to do to get it.
As Amir maneuvered through the streets to their destination, Amelia’s attention was focused in the rearview mirror. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following them. She didn’t see any suspicious looking cars following behind them so, she couldn’t understand why she felt that way. She never thought that she was being followed before that night and the fact that she felt that way was beginning to bug her.
Amir pulled up to the Monastery Restaurant, an expensive European restaurant in Norfolk, just before Amelia’s thoughts got the best of her. Parking in the space near the entrance, Amir hopped out the car rushing around to the passenger side to assist Amelia. Walking arm and arm into the fancy establishment, Amir gave the hostess the name of the people they came to see and she escorted them to the table where the Fredrickson’s were sitting. Approaching the table, Amelia relaxed when she saw how handsome Mr. Fredrickson was. Her juices began to flow immediately as they greeted each other before Amir helped her with her chair. Once they were seated, Amir and Amelia played their role of couple to a tee as they shared made up stories of how they met and how long they’d been together.
Amelia was enjoying herself so much that the nagging feeling of someone watching her subsided. The wine she sipped had her feeling good and Mr. Fredrickson’s hand on her thigh made her feel even better. Amelia openly flirted with him and no one seemed to mind because Amir was flirting with Mrs. Fredrickson who seemed to be enjoying it. After they filled up on shrimp, steak, potatoes plus dessert, the couples were ready to for the second part of the evening.
After two hours of role playing and out of the ordinary sexual positions, Amelia walked out of the Marriot Hotel ten thousand dollars richer. Amelia jogged over to the car where Amir was waiting with the car running. She jumped in the car and he pulled off.
“Damn girl, you were up there an hour longer than me.”
“Yeah. Every time I thought he was finished, he tapped my ass lettin’ me know he was ready to go again. His ass finally got tired and collapsed after our last round. He had the money sittin’ on the nightstand when I came out of the bathroom.” She fanned herself with the money.
“I told you, girl. That pussy you got is somethin’ serious.” He chuckled.
“I know this.” She responded cockily. “Why were you finished so early?
“After two rounds, she couldn’t take anymore. Put that ass out like a light.”
Amelia couldn’t help but laugh. She knew Amir’s sex game was the truth and knew he was telling the truth. If he wouldn’t have knocked her ass out after two rounds, she wouldn’t have believed it herself. They made plans to meet up with each other in a few days just to chill with each other. Amir parked at the end of the block and they hugged each before she got out the car and quickly walked to her condo.
Unlocking the door, she walked down the hall to her bedroom flipping the switch for the lights. Amelia walked over to the closet and stripped down to her underwear. She walked over to her dresser pulling out an undershirt and when she looked in the mirror, she screamed at the sight of Benjamin standing a few feet away from her with a smug look on his face and gun in his hand.
“Benjamin...wh…wha….what are you doin’…here?” Amelia stuttered.
“You thought just because you moved to another state that I was goin’ to forget how you played me? That last conversation we had burned me up and for me to be dissed by a thot is outta of the fuckin’ question.” He stated through gritted teeth.
“Please Ben. You don’t have to do this.” The tears streamed down her face.
“Fuck you bitch.”
Benjamin pulled the trigger sending two bullets flying into Amelia’s chest, which sent her body crashing to the floor. Amelia felt her life slipping away as her blood spilled out onto the carp
et. She had never prayed before and with her life about to come to an end, she decided to say a silent prayer asking God to forgive her of all the wrong she’s done the sins committed. As Benjamin stood over her body, he pointed the gun at her head and ended her life instantly with a shot to the head.
50
It was close to quitting time for Cashmere at the bookstore and she couldn’t wait to get home to her husband to be and child. She was only a few weeks away from her due date she couldn’t wait for her baby girl to be born. Her stomach was huge and it was becoming more difficult for her to drive and her back was always aching but that didn’t stop her from being at the store every day. Ramsey didn’t like her working so much but agreeing to be on bedrest for the last week of her pregnancy, he eased up a little but that didn’t stop him from FaceTiming her every chance he got to make sure his woman was cool.
“Boss lady, I see you got a new shipment of books in the back. You mind if I take a look at them.” Ashley, her manager, beamed.
“Go head girl.” She laughed.
Cashmere continued to laugh as she watched Ashley skip to the back. Ashley was a regular customer of hers who spent hours reading the books that she carried. She would be waiting for the store to open and wouldn’t leave until the store closed. After putting up a help wanted sign about two months ago, Ashley showed interest and being as though she knew all the books like the back of her hand, Cashmere felt that she was a perfect fit for her store. Learning that Ashley was ending her sophomore year at Drexel University, she figured that she would pay her on a weekly basis. Cashmere knew the expenses of college and she didn’t want her to have to worry about money.
A few minutes later, Ashley came from the back with her arms full of books and dropped them on the counter. She was an avid reader that loved urban fiction novels. Cashmere rung up her books, placed them in a bag and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Boss lady.” She beamed. “Now I have enough books to last me through the week.”
“Let me know what you think of the books, hun.” She smiled.
“You know I will. See you tomorrow.” Ashley waved good-bye.
Cashmere swung her pocket over her shoulder with her keys in hand as she headed towards the door of the shop turning the light off on her way out. Locking up the store, she walked to her car that was parked in the middle of the block and was shocked when she saw Darren leaning on her car. She hadn’t seen or talked to Darren since he brought her lunch at the books store months ago. Cashmere placed on him the block list on her phone so he wouldn’t be able to call her and he didn’t reach out to her through Facebook at all. So, to see him leaning against her car only angered her.
“Darren, what are you doing here?”
“Look, I need to talk to you, Cashmere.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about?”
“I just want to apologize for what I said the last time I saw you. I was wrong for calling you stupid because you wanted to get back with your daughter’s father. I was pissed because I finally thought I had a chance to be with you and it was taken away from me. I couldn’t go on with you not talking to me. So, I figured that this apology would open a line to communication again. I miss talking to you.”
“Look, Darren. I appreciate the apology but as far as that other shit, you can forget that. I’m engaged and I don’t need nothing or nobody fucking up what I got going on.” Cashmere flashed her ring finger.
The hopeful expression displayed on Darren’s face quickly vanished at the sight of her ring finger. Feeling defeated, Darren ran his hand over his face before placing them in his pocket.
“Congratulations, Cashmere on everything and I wish you nothing but the best. I’ll see you around.” He walked off with his head down.
Cashmere watched him for a few seconds as he walked down South Street disappearing into the crowd of people. Once he was out of sight, she jumped in her car and pulled off into traffic. As she drove down the expressway, Cashmere briefly thought about the conversation she had with Darren and how harsh she was to him. The look of hurt that was displayed on his face when she told him that she was engaged was stuck in her mind for a moment. She began to second guess if she was making the right decision or not. Her thoughts then shifted to Ramsey and how he had been spoiling her since he came home. Cashmere smiled as she thought about how much he had changed and proving to her how serious he was about them getting married.
Parking in her garage minutes later, she grabbed her bag and waddled into the house from the garage door and saw Renee in the kitchen.
“Get on in here bride to be so we can start plannin’ this weddin’.” Renee greeted her with a hug before guiding her into the living room where her mother, Ryan and Tiffany were waiting.
Cashmere smiled when she saw Cassi sitting on the floor playing with her toys.
“There you are. I was just about to call you to see what was takin’ you so long.” Her mother stood to hug her.
“I got held up for a minute but I’m here now.” Cashmere hugged her girls before sitting in the reclining chair. “Where’s Tamia?”
“I called her three times and she sent me straight to voicemail.” Ryan responded.
“Same with me.” Tiffany chimed in.
Cashmere pulled out her phone to call her sister and the call went straight to voicemail.
“My call went to voicemail too.” She shook her head. “Is it me or has Tamia been acting a little distant and short lately?”
“I thought it was just me who noticed. I thought I might’ve been tripping.” Tiffany chuckled.
“It’s like her attitude just changed out of the blue. Nick must have that ass whipped.” Ryan joked.
“Cassandra, can you help me in the kitchen.”
“Sure, Renee.”
After Cassandra left the room, Cashmere noticed the sad look on Tiffany’s face and couldn’t ignore it.
“Tiffany, are you okay?”
“I’m trying not to let this shit get to me but it’s eating me up inside.” She sighed.
“What’s going on?”
“Some girl came into the shop a few weeks ago claiming that Randall got her pregnant.”
“Stop lying!” Cashmere shouted.
“I don’t believe that shit for a minute.” Ryan shook her head.
“I don’t want to believe it either and Randall seems confident that he never seen the girl before in his life and he promised me that he was going to get to the bottom of it. I don’t have any doubts that he’s been unfaithful but something about this whole thing don’t sit right with me.”
“Try not to think about it, Tiff. What’s done in the dark will always come to the light.” Cashmere reassured her.
Seconds later, Renee and Casandra walked back into the living and the wedding planning begun. Cashmere wanted a Fall wedding so the after she had the baby, she had time to work off her baby weight so she could look good in her wedding dress. They discussed the color theme, reception venue, music and the dresses for the bride maids. When everyone was in agreement with the wedding plans, they ate dinner a couple of hours later. Renee, Ryan and Tiffany left after they help clean up while Cassandra stayed behind. Cassandra placed Cassi on her hip following Cashmere up the stairs. Cashmere walked to her room while her mother got Cassi settled her room. Kicking her shoes off, she lifted herself onto the bed and got comfortable lifting her shirt to expose her pregnant belly. She flipped through the channels and found The Bernie Mac Show.
“Cassi is out like a light.” Cassandra announced as she entered the room. “She is the most precious thing.” She sat beside Cashmere on the bed.
“Yes, she is.” Cashmere smiled.
“Cash, baby. I’m glad that you’re letting me a part of your wedding.”
“Aww mom. Stop it.”
“I’m serious.”
“I’m glad to have you here.” She kissed her mother on the cheek.
“Have you talked to your dad?”
“Not yet. Tamia ga
ve me his number months ago but I haven’t built up the nerve to talk to him yet. He’s called me every day for the past week but I never answered. I just listen to the voicemails.”
“I know how hard it is taking that first step because you don’t know what the outcome is going to be but it’s not like you don’t know everything that happened. You know the reason behind why he walked out of your life and you know about your sisters. All the secrets have been exposed. So, what’s holding you back, baby?”
“I don’t know mom. I’m just scared that he will reject me.”
“I don’t think he’s going to do that. He talks to Tamia and your other sister all the time and he wants the same connection with you to.”
“How do you know that?”
“Me and Charles talk a few times out of the week. He’s been calling you to invite you to dinner that’s he’s having next week at his house. Charles wants all of us there so we can put everything in the past and start fresh. So, the next time your father calls, answer the phone Cashmere.”
“Fine.” She sighed.
Cassandra kissed her daughter good bye and walked out of the room. When her mother walked out the room, Cashmere grabbed her phone and was about to call her father but an incoming call came through from Tamia. She answered the phone prepared to cuss her sister out for being M.I.A but after hearing laughter in the background, she decided to listen.
“Tamia, thank you for comin’ shoppin’ with me. I can’t believe you missed Cashmere’s wedding planning meeting to help me pick out an outfit for the dinner at Dad’s.”
“Your welcome but I know Cash is going to be more than pissed with me. I know her and the other girls have noticed how distant I’ve become and now Cash is going to think that I don’t support her or her wedding.”
My Other Baby Mama Box Set Page 23