Parking in the back, Ramsey spotted Nick and Manny before he got out the car. Ramsey greeted them with a handshake and they waited a few seconds for Randall to pull up. After he locked his car doors, they followed him inside the shop. One of his barbers was finishing up with a client when they entered. The barber spoke to everyone before he left and before the men could jump into a conversation, Nysir walked through the door with a smile on his face.
“Wassup, y’all?” He gave all of them a pound before sitting in Randall’s chair.
“Nothin’ much,” Ramsey answered with a straight face.
“Did an Uber just drop you off?” Nick questioned.
“Yeah, man. Motherfuckas shot my fuckin’ car up a few days ago,” he expressed with anger.
“Get the fuck outta here,” Manny said in disbelief.
“I lie to you not. I was comin’ from the club at like three in the mornin’, and on my way home, I turned down this side street where my homie told me to meet him at. As soon as I turned on the block, these niggas lit my fuckin’ car up. I shoulda known somethin’ was up because I hadn’t heard from that nigga in months,” Nysir explained.
“Why did y’all stop talkin’?” Ramsey questioned.
“Because I smashed a bitch he was fuckin’ a while back. That nigga been in his feelings about that shit since then. It wasn’t like she was his wife. Amelia didn’t have loyalty to anybody. Not even her homie, Baylynn.”
“Damn, you smashed Amelia, too?” Nick quizzed.
Nysir nodded.
“I used to fuck her, too, from time to time.” Nick shook his head.
“You know shorty dead now. I heard that Benjamin, the nigga who had my car shot up, found her ass in Virginia and killed her.”
They all looked at each other, but didn’t speak.
“Do you know if he was involved in the shit that went down with my wife and her sisters?” Ramsey tried to hide his anger that was growing.
“I heard that he was braggin’ about puttin’ some chick in a coma and how his squad ran down on Baylynn and shot her and how he’s gonna avenge the death of the nigga who tried to kill come chick named Tamia.”
“Where does he hang out?” Manny asked.
“Last I heard, he was stayin’ in Norristown with some dude and his bitch. She’s pregnant.”
The mention of a pregnant bitch made Ramsey’s blood boil because he knew Nysir was talking about Phoenix.
“How do you know all of this?” Nick gave him a sideways glance.
“I’ve been lookin’ for this nigga since I heard what I just told y’all and that was weeks ago. I want to help y’all find the niggas who did this. Ryan was devastated about Cashmere and I wanted to bring her pain to an end. Yeah, I know I fucked Baylynn in the past and even though Ryan left me, I still love her. That nigga B just tried to kill my ass, so I have a problem with him ,too. I just wanna be there when shit goes down,” Nysir confessed.
Ramsey looked at the expressions on his family’s faces to see if they were buying this nigga’s story. When Randall nodded, that meant he trusted him and that he believed Nysir was telling the truth.
“A’ight, nigga. You can be a part of the plan, but if we find out you ain’t keepin’ it a bean with us, ya ass gonna end up like the rest of them motherfuckas. Understood?”
“Understood.”
Ramsey nodded before saying bye to his family as he walked out the back door. Jumping behind the wheel, he brought the car to life, drove out of the lot and headed home. He pulled into the driveway a half-hour later and killed the engine. Ramsey took a few deep breaths before he got out the car. He saw that his mother was still there and that made him feel a little better. As he entered the house, he heard his mother and Cassi playing in the living room. Closing the door behind him, Ramsey walked into the living room and smiled at them playing on the floor.
“Hey, y’all.”
“Hi, Daddy!” Cassi ran over to him, hugging his legs.
He picked her up, kissed her cheek, then placed her back on her feet.
“Where’s Cash?”
“She’s upstairs with the twins,” Renee answered.
Ramsey ran up the steps by twos and found Cashmere in the nursery. She had just placed them in their crib. He stood in the doorway, watching her stare at the babies with a smile on her face. When she saw Ramsey, she walked over and kissed him before closing the door. They made their way downstairs and went into the kitchen. They both took a seat at the table and before Ramsey could speak, Cashmere spoke first.
“Ramsey, I’ve been thinking about what you have to talk to me about and I am clueless. So, can you please tell me so I can stop stressing?”
He grabbed her hands and stared into her eyes before he spoke.
“Cashmere, when I was in prison, I slept with this chick my last night there who is a CO. A few months after I got out, she went to Randall’s shop, thinkin’ he was me, and caused a scene, talkin’ about she’s pregnant. I went to a doctor’s appointment with her about two months ago and she was too far along for me to be the father of her child. I know I shoulda told you all of this sooner, but I didn’t know how. That was the only time I fucked up while I was in there, and since I’ve been home, I’ve been on the straight and narrow. Please forgive me, bae.”
Ramsey continued to stare into her eyes, and when he saw that her eyes were becoming glassy, Ramsey knew he had hurt her yet again. The tears rolled down her face as they continued to stare at each other. Ramsey waited for her to say something, but she didn’t.
“Baby, say somethin’, please.”
Cashmere’s face was soaked with tears. Without saying a word, she got up from the table and ran upstairs. Ramsey was hot on her heels, but she was too fast. Cashmere reached the room before he did, slammed the door in his face, and locked it.
“Cashmere, open the door so we can talk about this! I know I hurt you, bae, and I’m sorry.” He banged on the door.
“Cashmere!”
Ramsey banged on the door a few more times, trying to get her to open it, but to no avail. Feeling defeated, he went downstairs and joined his mother and daughter in the living room. He flopped down on the couch and buried his face in his hands.
“What’s wrong, son?”
“I fucked up…again,” he sighed.
74
Besides her mother, weed had been Baylynn’s best friend since the fight between her and her sisters. The only time she left the house was to drop Brandi off at daycare and go to work. After she picked her daughter up at the end of the day, she didn’t do shit but chill, smoke and eat. Baylynn was in her feelings something heavy, and no matter how she tried to shake them, she couldn’t. She didn’t realize how much her sisters meant to her until she thought about the changes she’d made to fit in with them. She thought back to when Tamia first reached out to her and how she brought Cassi with her whenever they met up so the girls could spend time together. Tamia had risked her relationship with Cash so they and the girls could have one. Baylynn couldn’t do anything but respect her for that. When she analyzed the situation they were involved in, she thought about how Tamia had gone against her own mother to save a couple of strangers. They had only known each other for a few months, and regardless of the outcome, Tamia was still riding with them through everything. Tamia was far from a punk in her eyes. To Baylynn, her sister was a real one.
Although Baylynn and Cashmere had bad blood between them before they found out they were family, she thought about how much she admired her. If it wasn’t for her, Bay probably wouldn’t be the woman or mother she was now. She lowkey envied Cashmere for the life she had. She had a successful business, a husband who adored her, beautiful children and she was an amazing mom, but when she stopped hating her and decided to follow in her footsteps, Baylynn started to see herself in a new light. Baylynn always viewed Cashmere as an uppity bitch and thought she was all bark with no bite, but after the fight they’d had, her sister had her singing a different tune. Baylynn walked
away with a black eye and busted nose. She was pissed off at first that her face was fucked up, but Baylynn liked the fact that her bougie sister was nice with her hands. After thinking about all the positivity Tamia and Cashmere had brought into her life and how real they were, Baylynn knew she had to make things right with them, she was just too prideful and stubborn to make the first move.
It was Thursday afternoon when Baylynn clocked out of work, and she couldn’t wait to leave. After saying goodbye to her co-workers, she darted towards the elevator with her jacket and purse in hand. Pushing the button for the lobby, Bay waited for the doors to close. She reached in her purse for her phone and checked it to see if she had any messages. She had a text from her mom and a missed call from Manny. When the doors opened, she headed towards the front door, waving bye to the receptionist. Baylynn walked across the parking lot and unlocked the doors with the remote. She tossed her jacket and purse in the passenger seat before slamming her door shut. Before she could put the key in the ignition, her phone began to ring. It was Manny calling again.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Wassup with you?”
“Nothin’ much, just gettin’ off work.”
“Cool. I was just callin’ to let you know I’m about to pick Brandi up from daycare. I haven’t seen her in a while and wanted to keep her for a few days. Is that cool with you?”
“Yeah. That’s cool. Do you want me to pack her a bag or somethin’?”
“Naw. I’ma go shoppin’ for her when I pick her up. I feel like I need to have clothes and stuff for her at my crib. I just got settled in my new place and I got her room set up and everythin.’ You can come by and see it when you’re ready. I’ll text you the address.”
“Okay. Just call me before you put her to bed so I can tell her goodnight.”
“No problem. Talk to you later, ma.”
“A’ight.”
Baylynn placed her phone in the cup holder and started the engine. She pulled out of the spot, driving slowly through the lot before she turned into the street and headed home. As she maneuvered through the streets, Baylynn couldn’t help but smile. Even though she and Manny weren’t together, he didn’t let that stop him from spending time with Brandi. Baylynn wasn’t like most chicks who kept the child away from the father when shit went sour because she didn’t want Brandi to be hurt in the long run. As much as she loved and missed Manny, she wasn’t going to beg him to be with her. All she could do was give him his space and allow him to take care of their daughter.
Arriving home minutes later, Bay noticed her father’s car parked in front of her house. She parked in front of the garage and grabbed her things before getting out of the car. Walking onto the porch, she heard her parents screaming at each other inside the house. She opened the door, quickly stepping inside and closing the door behind her so the neighbors wouldn’t hear what was going on. Baylynn saw Cassandra standing between Fateema and Charles, trying to keep them apart as they continued to argue. She walked over to them and when her dad noticed her standing there, he hugged and kissed her cheek, which silenced the argument. Hugging Fateema, then Cassandra, Baylynn stared at all of them before she spoke.
“Why are y’all in here actin’ a damn fool?” She placed her hand on her hip.
“Where’s Brandi?” Fateema quizzed.
“She’s spendin’ a few days with her dad. Now, someone answer my question.”
“Ya father came in here accusin’ me of somethin’ I didn’t do.” Fateema rolled her neck.
“I’m tired of you lying, Fateema. You’re the only one capable of some shit like this.” Charles began to pace the floor.
“What happened?” Baylynn questioned.
“Oliva was arrested one day last week for killing Simon and Charles thinks someone else killed him and that somebody is trying to frame her,” Cassandra explained.
“What the fuck?” Baylynn shouted.
“I admitted that I was there the day they arrested Olivia, but I never stepped foot inside that hotel. I didn’t even know what room they were stayin’ in. I’ve been stalkin’ they asses for a while now, but I never approached them,” Fateema stated.
“Fateema tried to convince me that she saw Tamia walking out of the hotel and hopped into this black Range Rover and that they drove away minutes before the cops arrived,” Charles dismissed her with a hand wave.
“I know what I saw, Charles. I wouldn’t lie to you, but ya ass don’t wanna believe that she killed that man,” Fateema shot back.
“Because I know my daughter. She wouldn’t kill a damn roach, let alone a fucking person.”
“Have you called Tamia, dad?”
“She won’t answer my calls or Cassandra’s. Can you try to call her?” Charles asked with a gleam in his eye.
“I don’t think she’s gonna answer my calls, either. Me, her and Cash got into a fight last week and I haven’t spoken to them since,” Baylynn confessed.
“I was about to ask you what happened to your eye,” Cassandra pointed.
“Yeah. That’s the work of ya daughter,” Bay smirked.
Cassandra nodded.
“Have you tried to call Nick? He might know somethin’.” Baylynn took a seat on the couch.
“I forgot about him. I’ll call him when I get home. I still believe Tamia isn’t capable of something like this, but I’ll find out sooner or later.” Charles headed for the door.
“Did she get sentenced yet?” Fateema quizzed.
“Not yet, but they might give her a long bid. She took the rap for the murder,” Cassandra answered.
“Wow!” Fateema and Baylynn gasped in unison.
“See y’all later.” Charles opened the front door.
Cassandra waved goodbye before closing the door behind her. Fateema sat next to Baylynn, lost for words, and so was Baylynn. She didn’t know what to think about what her father and Cassandra had just told them. She felt the same way as her father. Bay didn’t think Tamia had the guts to catch a body, either, but she also believed her mother. If Fateema said she saw her, then that was what it was. But, Baylynn couldn’t understand why she was there to begin with. Searching for her phone, she called Tamia and waited for her to answer, but her call went straight to voicemail. Baylynn didn’t have Nick’s number, so she couldn’t call him.
“This shit is a mess,” she sighed.
“Who you tellin’? The last time y’all saw each other, did she say anythin’ to you about her mother before the fight broke out?”
“No, but I said somethin’ about theirs.”
“What?”
“I called her mother bitter and I called her a coward. I said they were just like their mothers. Cashmere said I’ll always be known as a thot like you would be known as a prostitute. I started everythin’ because I blamed Cash for fuckin’ up my relationship with Rams. Tamia was keepin’ it one hundred with me and I couldn’t take that shit. That’s why I made the comments about their moms, not thinkin’ that I was just like mine.”
“Yeah, you and your sisters do resemble y’all mamas,” Fateema chuckled.
“But your words coulda had somethin’ to do with why Tamia was there. You called her a coward for what she did and you didn’t think about all that she was dealin’ with at the time. She probably went there to prove that she was anythin’ but a coward to earn ya respect. If she did kill Simon, she probably didn’t have a choice, bein’ as though that nigga tried to kill y’all.” Fateema got up from the couch and went into the kitchen.
Baylynn continued to sit there and guilt began to sink in. She tried to convince herself that her words had nothing to do with Tamia going to see her mother and that the situation Tamia might be involved in wasn’t her fault, but it didn’t feel that way. Bay thought about calling Cash to find out what happened after she left, but she decided not to. The best way to deal with a problem was to handle it in person, and that was what she was going to do.
75
Since Ramsey’s confession, Cashmere had stay
ed locked in her room. For the past few days, all she did was cry, and when she wasn’t crying, she thought about doing all sorts of things to Ramsey. Cash couldn’t believe he had fucked a bitch while he was locked up. She thought back to how stressed out she was, worrying about his ass while he was in jail, and how she lived by the phone, waiting for his call every day. Cashmere also thought about how she never missed a visitation day and how everyone pulled together to get him out of prison. Pregnant and all, she held him down through the short amount of time he was in there, and for him to fuck another bitch while she remained faithful, was like a slap in the face to her.
Cash went back and forth about if the baby was really his or not. His words played in her head repeatedly as she debated with herself about if he was telling her the truth. She wanted to believe that the baby wasn’t his, but Cashmere wanted to be sure. The thought of her husband possibly having another baby mama pissed her off and broke her heart, but she was going to find out the full story before she gave him a case.
The sun was shining brightly through the blinds, but instead of waking up, Cashmere pulled the covers over her head. She figured Ramsey was still there since he hadn’t knocked on the door to tell her he was leaving so she could look after the kids. That was the only time she left the room. When he came home, she went back into her room and locked the door. Seconds later, her phone chimed, indicating that she had a text. She felt around for her phone on the nightstand until she found it. She had a text from Ryan and a text from Ramsey. Cashmere read the message from Ramsey first.
Ramsey: Ya mom and grandma are at the crib. I had to step out a little early to meet up with the fellas. I know you ain’t fuckin with me right now but just know that I ain’t goin’ nowhere and whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen. I love you even if you don’t believe that.
“Whatever, nigga.” She rolled her eyes at his text and didn’t respond.
My Other Baby Mama Box Set Page 36