"Fuck it, he can join that nigga, Trim, Thirteen feet under."
"Don't mention that nigga in my house," Seven said. "Give him some more time."
"Well Nephew, as you know, there is a time difference between here and the Islands. His time may not be as long as he thinks."
"If he ain't got it, he ain't got it. It ain't like I'm hurtin' for it. Let it go," Seven told them.
"Let it go?" Six asked incredulously. "You serious?"
"Yeah, I'm serious. Let it go."
"You want me and Shep to handle it?"
"No, I want you to let it go, like I said."
"Alright," Six relented reluctantly. "But why?"
The room was silent for a moment.
"Bari, that's why, my nigga, and I'm gon' leave it at that."
"I understand, Dog," Six said.
"What does the beautiful an-gel have to do with any of this?" Shep asked.
"She has everything to do with why I'm choosing to do what I'm doing. I don't like the way she looks at me sometimes. Ever since that shit with that bitch, Trim, she ain't looked at me the same. She's scared of me, and that ain't nothing for no real nigga to be proud of. I don't like that shit."
"How would she know?" Shep asked.
"I'd know," Seven replied. "And I don’t wanna discuss it anymore. My baby comes first, always."
I went to the kitchen and sat at the table, sipping a glass of cranberry juice.
"I was looking for you," I said, when Seven came in followed by Six and Shep.
I stared at Seven for a long time. He stared back.
"Alright, Bari. I'll get back," Six said.
"Have a wonderful night, beautiful an-gel."
"Thank you, Shep. Bye Six, tell Gooch to call me."
"A'ight."
"Come here, baby," Seven said, pulling me up by my hand.
He led me to the living room where he sat down in a chair. I sat on his lap and buried my face in his neck. His dreads hid my face.
"Look at me, Bari." I reluctantly did so. He looked into my eyes for a long time before he spoke. "I want us back to the way we were. I don't like this shit. Don't get me wrong, I'm cool. I love you. I'm happy and all that. But you, baby ...you're not. You fear me. I'm not cool with that. Regardless of what I say, Bari, I'm not alright with the way some things went down. I don't usually regret shit that I do, but I regret that. Not because I give a fuck about the bitch, Trim, but because it changed how you look at me, and I can't stand that shit. I don't want my baby to be afraid of me. Now, don't get me fucked up, Bari, you know how I react to certain things, but being aware of how I'II react and being afraid are two different things. Do you understand?"
I nodded, “I understand, Seven."
"Baby, I'm gon' always do what I got to do to protect you. Know that. But I don't want you walking on egg shells and shit around me, and the fucked up part about it is that you thought I didn't know. That kind of fucked me up inside. That's why I'm talking to you about it. You know when you was high on them pills and asked me if I shot you? I thought I was gon' die. That shit hurt me, Milkshake, and that's when I really knew. You opened your eyes and saw me there and almost fell off the damn couch. That shit ain't cool. I love you, and I would never hurt you."
"I believe you, baby. I miss us, too, and I’m not going to deny anything you said, Seven. It's like sitting around waiting for a time bomb to go off."
"I know, Milkshake, but you don't have to worry about that kind of shit no more. I promise.”
Chapter 48
“Hello?”
“Young Bari! It’s Maja!”
“Well, thank you for identifying yourself. I never would have guessed."
His laugh carried over the phone line.
"Make your jokes, Bari. Today I am leaving for the Islands, and guess who is going with me?"
"Birdie?"
"Yes! And guess who else?"
"No way!"
"Yes way, Young Bari. My friend Meestake is coming to the Islands, and he's bringing his bride-to-be."
"I'm mad at you, Major," I said. "You didn't even tell me."
"I'm telling you now. So pack a bag, Young Bari, and come away with Old Maja." He laughed. "Put my son on the phone, and I'll tell him that you are going with us."
"He's not here, Major."
"Well, where is he?"
"He went somewhere with Shepard."
"I'll call him," he said. "Surely he wants you to meet the Grands, and while we're there, I'll decide if I want to leave you with Uncle Teodore."
"Uncle Teodore don't wanna see me, Major."
He cracked up at that.
"I will call you back, Young Bari, and don't tie up the line with your girl talk."
He hung up. I smiled. Major was an awesome man. I was excited and depressed at the same time. There was no way on God’s green Earth that Seven was going to let me go, but I held out hope anyway. The last couple of weeks had been fairy tale-like for us. I was more in love with Seven than I had ever been.
I thought about last Saturday night when we met Gucci and Six, Uncle Meestake and Marion, Major and Birdie, and Mandro at a Jamaican club that Major liked to go to. The club was the bomb. We danced all night, went home and did a sexy dance of our own. The ringing phone jolted me back to the present.
"Hello?"
"You talked to Major?" Seven asked.
"Yes, I was waiting for him to call back."
I crossed my fingers.
"You wanna go, baby?"
"I'm going?" I asked excitedly. "I can't wait."
"No,” he said. My heart sank. "We're going, Milkshake."
"Are you serious?"
"Bari, you can't take forever to pack, baby. You have three hours to decide what you wanna take and leave some shit in the bedroom," he joked.
"I love you, Seven. Thank you."
"I love you too, Milkshake. Now, go pack.”
"What about your stuff? You want me to do it?"
I knew he didn't. I'd pack him two months’ worth of clothes when we'd only be gone a few days.
"I'm almost home."
I started laughing.
"How long will we be gone, Seven?"
"Four days."
"Wow," I said.
He laughed.
"I'll be home in twenty-nine seconds."
He ended the call. I called Major.
"Oh, now you love me, huh, Young Bari?"
"Thank you, Major. Do we get our tickets at the airport, or should I call ahead?"
"It's all taken care of, know-it-all, and does Old Maja need to remind you that you are not old enough to make an airline reservation?" He joked.
"Oh yeah. Well, maybe you can use your Senior Citizen Discount to get us a cheaper fare."
"No! Young Bari, that was the worst of the worst! Uncle Teodore will surely assign you to the worst hut on the property!" He laughed heartily. "I'm glad you are coming, Bari. I can't wait for you to meet the Grands. Jamaica is like a whole new world."
I hung up the phone with Major and ran up the stairs. Seven called out my name.
"Come on!" I yelled down to him.
He started laughing.
We were almost done packing when I held up a black Chanel thong bikini. He nodded. I jumped up and down excitedly, making him laugh.
"Did you tell Gucci you're going to the Islands?"
"She's mad. She wants to come, too."
"Why can't she? You want me to call Six?"
"No, it's okay. Gucci talks a good one, but she can't be away from Six for that long."
"Okay, you ready?"
I nodded. Seven picked the suitcases up off the bed and shook his head at me.
"That's not a lot, Seven."
"What's in that suitcase?" He asked, pointing to the smallest Gucci bag on the bed.
"Swimsuits and bikinis," I stated and slung it over my shoulder. "I have to call Gucci one more time!"
I dived onto the bed and snatched up the phone all in one flying le
ap.
"Bitch, bye. I'm a miss you so much! Take some pictures for me."
"I will. I love you, Big Sis."
I heard Six's voice in the background, "Who you talkin' to?"
"Don't talk to me!" She told him. "Bari and Seven are going to Jamaica, and I have to stay here and watch a clown do his walk all over the damn house. I can’t stand you, Six!” She raved dramatically.
“Bari, y’all going to the Island?" Six asked, taking the phone from her.
"Yes.”
"Why you got a 'tude with me? I didn't even know."
“You didn’t ask. And Seven was gonna call and see if you would let Gucci go, but even if you said yes, she wouldn't go."
"'Cause my Boo can't stand being away from this shit," he joked. "Put my nigga on the phone."
I held out the phone to Seven.
"Y’all might as well roll, too. Business will take care of itself. As much as I pay them fools, they bet' not let shit get out of hand...Alright...I got y’all on this one. Bari can make it up to me later," he said, watching me bend over and pull a camera bag out of the bottom drawer of my dresser.
"Thank you," I mouthed to him. "Oh! Tell Six to ...never mind." I took the phone from Seven. "Put Gucci on, Six."
I waited impatiently for her to get on the phone.
"I'm packing!" She laughed excitedly. "I love Six!"
"Give it up for thirteen!" I said. "Gucci, now that you're coming too, you know what to bring right?" I asked, looking at Seven watching me suspiciously.
"No, what?"
"Bitch, damn. The set. The match. The Michael Kors."
“The Michael Kors what?" Seven asked.
I ignored him.
"Oh! Okay. Oooh damn, I don't know if Jamaica can handle that, Bari," she laughed.
"They don't have a choice. See ya in a little bit."
Chapter 49
I couldn't believe my eyes as we came to a stop in front of an enormous mansion. I blinked quickly to get my eyes adjusted to the dark. When we got to the door, a man with thick red dreadlocks flung open the door and pulled Major into a tight hug. He held him at shoulder length and then kissed his cheek. He did the same to Birdie, then shook hands with Mandro and Shep.
"King Seven," he said. "You ave returned."
"How you doin', Uncle Simmeon?"
Seven pulled the man into a hug.
"This man has no dreads?" He asked, looking at Uncle Meestake's short natural. He was introduced to my uncle and Marion. "Six! What are you doing on my Island? Surely my brother could use another worker in the fields," he joked, shaking Six's hand. "An ooo, is this woman who was cursed so badly dat she ended up wit’ someone like you?"
"Naw, Uncle Simmeion, " Six said. "That's Seven's cursed woman. This one is mine," he introduced Gucci to the man.
"Den ooo is dis? My nephew Maja as no more children besides King Seven and da Bad Seed."
I stepped from behind Seven. A look of fear and confusion showed on Simmeon’s face. He gasped audibly.
"Uncle Simmeon, this is my girl, Bari. Bari, this is my Uncle Simmeon. This is my grandfather's, Uncle Teodore's and Mandro's brother."
"Ave da Grands seen dis girl?" He asked.
Seven shook his head. Uncle Simmeon said something to Seven in Jamaican. Major agreed. Seven seemed to think about it for a moment, then nodded his head and followed it up with something in Jamaican.
"I felt it also, nephew," Mandro said to Seven. "But kept it to myself."
"What's wrong?" I asked, looking up at Seven.
"Nothing, baby."
I didn't believe him.
"I tink we should prepare da Grands before day see er," Simmeon said.
I had an uncomfortable feeling. I looked at Gucci.
"Biiitttccchh. I think they gon' sacrifice yo' ass to a volcano or something," she whispered. "Quick, tell 'em you ain't no virgin!"
"Shut up," Six told her.
I could tell he was trying to keep from laughing. When I looked up, they were all looking at me.
"She's an exquisite an-gel, isn't she, Uncle?" Shepard asked.
I moved closer to Seven. They were scaring me. I wasn't working in no damn fields for nobody, so if that's what they were planning, they could forget it.
"Y’all scaring her. Quit staring at her like that," Seven said.
"What are they gonna do to me? These Grands. Are they gonna put me out of their house? What is it? What was he talking about, Seven?"
"You look like somebody, baby. That's all."
"Who?"
"Major's sister."
"Major doesn't have a sister. He's an only child."
"I know, baby. She died a long, long time ago. She was a kid when she died."
"Then how do they know I look like her?"
A chill crept up my spine.
"Her spirit lives here, Milkshake." I had my hand on the doorknob, with Gucci right behind me and was about to take off when Seven grabbed me. "Don't be scared baby. It's not like you think."
"I'm not living with no ghost," I informed him.
"Hey, Young Bari," Major called. "What ever happened to Ray Parker Junior and the Ghostbusters?"
"Major, shut up," Birdie ordered. "Now is not the time, and Bari probably has no idea who you're talking about."
"Come ere, Young Bari, let old Maja share a story with you."
He walked me through an enormous living room and over to a mantel. I gasped. I was looking at a girl identical to myself.
"This was Old Maja's baby sister. She was taken from the Grands at gunpoint by one of the field workers. She wasn't gone an hour before her body was found by the searchers. She was six years old."
"But I don't understand, Major. How do they know that this is what she would look like?"
"Her spirit shows itself to the Grands all the time. The painter that did this portrait did it on the Grands description alone. They said it was a perfect match."
"What do you think, Milkshake?" Seven asked, coming to stand next to me.
"She looks just like me," I whispered.
"Sho'll do!" Gucci confirmed, walking in with Six.
She stared up at the enormous painting, then poked my arm.
"What are you doing, Gucci?"
"I was seeing if my hand would go through you. I learned that from Patrick Swayze in that movie Ghost."
"What ever happened to Patrick Swayze, Young Bari?” Major asked.
"I don't think he made any more movies after that." Gucci answered. “Oooh, Major, remember the part when Whoopi, well Ida, was at the bank, and ..."
"Cut that out,” Seven snapped. “Y’all scaring my baby."
"So uptight. Too uptight for Maja," Major mumbled. "I'm only trying to humor Young Bari and ease her fear."
He said something to Seven in his native language.
"You're right, Dad."
"I am going to speak to the Grands," Uncle Simmeon said.
"I don't think you should,” Seven decided at the last second. “They gon’ come running down here like the house is on fire and scare the hell outta Milkshake. Major, why didn't you think of this before we left the mainland?"
"Oh, blame Old Maja. Why not Shep? Why not Mandro? Even Birdie? Always Maja. It's good for Young Bari to meet the Grands. Now, enough of this talk. Everybody go get settled in and be at the big table for dinner in one hour. The Grands will see Bari when the time is right."
Simmeon walked us through the house, assigning people to their rooms. There was only Major and Birdie, myself and Seven left. When he opened the door of Major and Birdie's room, I couldn't believe my eyes. I've seen small houses the size of this room, I thought to myself. It was beautifully decorated with giant paintings of the Island.
"This is so pretty," I whispered.
"Aw, Young Bari, this is Old Maja's room. The Grands have never changed my side of the room. Birdie messed up this side with nonsense.”
"Your side?" I asked in confusion.
"Follow me." He clapped his
hands and did a Jamaican dance as I gazed at the life sized posters of Bob Marley in concert. Birdie shook her head in disgust. "Look at this, Bari!" I followed him through the room and gasped at the sight of the indoor pool and hot tub. "Now, this is a room, Young Bari! Why do I need pictures of the Island when the Island is right here?"
I followed Seven out of the room and left Birdie mad dogging the back of Major's head as he walked out with us.
"Dis will be Bari's room," Simmeon announced when we stopped at the next room.
"What do you mean 'Bari's' room?" Seven asked. "She's staying with me."
"In the same room?" Simmeon asked.
"Now Simmeon," Major began. "You know King Seven can do no wrong in the eyes of the Grands."
Simmeon nodded and shook his head.
“Why do they call you King Seven?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you why, Young Bari, because the boy thinks he’s the king of the Island. He thinks he is royalty, and all the creatures, people and plants on the Island are here to serve him. When we come to the Island and bring Seven, the Grands act like Jesus himself is visiting Jamaica," Major answered sarcastically.
"He's jealous, Milkshake."
"See what I mean. He woos the Grands with his tales of nonsense. I wouldn't be surprised, Young Bari, if he purchased a purple heart at the airport gift shop and brought it to show them."
Seven laughed.
"He's a hater, baby."
"Maja, tell da pretty lady about ow King Seven wouldn't eat when ee came to visit unless da Grands allowed im to wear is king's hat," Simmeon chimed in.
Seven blushed and laughed.
"He knows it's the truth, Bari!" Major said.
"Come on, baby."
Seven opened the door to the room.
"I don't want to disrespect anybody, Seven. If your grandparents don't approve of us sharing a room then it's not gonna kill us. It's only for a few days. This is their house."
"They ain't gon' trip on me, Milkshake. They love me."
"See what we mean!" Major yelled.
"Aha!" Simmeon said, pointing at Seven.
Seven closed the door. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
"Bari!"
"Yes, Uncle Meestake?"
"Bari, please, tell ya uncle you brought some Pepto Bismal."
Crazy In Love With A Thug: Bari and Seven Page 24