Sleep No More (Sleeping In Heaven, Waking In Hell Book 2)

by Forever Redd

  “Excuse me?”

  “Bitch, gimme the goddamn phone.”

  Hailey handed over her Galaxy Note 3 and I placed the call to the only number I had committed to memory.

  “Hello?”

  “Providence hospital, room 423,” I said and released the line.

  I returned to the informal meeting as a red headed nurse wheeled my babies into the room. I was practically grabbing Serenity from her glass bassinette before Red Head even stopped moving. I just politely smiled to the nurse and told her I missed them. The nurse also informed me that we were a little loud and needed to bring it down to avoid disturbing other patients. Normally, visiting hours would have been over, but the maternity ward differs a little and no one really enforced that rule. I would assume, for most people, this was a joyous occasion and people are likely to be in and out, or even spending the night. As the nurse checked my vitals and asked a few questions about my current pain level, I laid back and allowed her to do her job. I welcomed the distraction, I needed something to take my mind off my present situation. My life had become a nightmare in the course of twelve hours and got worse when the phone rang…Jody.

  3

  Jody

  “Victoria think somebody playin’ wit her ass. She done called me from two different numbers and both times she let that ass write a check guaranteed her ass can’t cash,” I said to no one in particular. “And she gon’ go so far as to not answer the phone? Oh yea, she want some problems.”

  I decided to go through my text messages while my mind was on it and all those shits from her were about my kids? Oh yea, that’s her ass, I thought. She should have known to not stop calling. What the fuck was wrong with her? And to think, people thought I was crazy. I accelerated my speed to about ninety and tore I-20 up. When I made it to the hospital, I found a park directly in front of the door and I ran inside. A fairly nice looking chick sat at a rounded desk close to the door. She was just hanging up the phone as I approached.

  “Can I help you, Sir,” she asked with a warm smile.

  “Uh, yea, ahem. Yes you may, Sweetheart. My wife just had our babies, and I am already late. I am a truck driver and just got off the road. Missed the entire thing. I could just kill myself.”

  “Oh my, how exciting. What’s her name? We have got to get you to those babies?”

  “I call her my sunshine, but she would be listed as Victoria White.”

  “Aaaww, that is so beautiful! Mr. White, I could only hope that one day someone would say such beautiful things about me. Your wife is in room 423.”

  “Oh, thank you, Love. I am certain the one you need is out there, but you are never going to find him. He will find you,” I said with a flash of the disco ball inside my mouth.

  “Ya think?”

  “I know. Precious gems are found. They aren’t on display for the world to see. You have to find them, clean them up, and then present them to the world.”

  “Mr. White,” she blushed. “That was so sweet. Thank you.”

  “You are more than welcome, Sweetie. All you have to do is speak it into existence…Say you want it.”

  “I do, I really, really do. I want it.”

  “I know you do. I can see it in your eyes,” I said as I adjusted my dick. “Let me get on to the family. Enjoy your day, Ms. Alexandria.”

  “How did you…never mind, name tag. Sorry. Congratulations on the babies Mr. White!”

  “Please, call me Jody,” I said as I walked away from the desk and toward the elevators. Easy pussy. She just might see me again, I thought.

  I made it to the fourth floor and followed the signs to room 423, prepared to see my kids and fuck Victoria up if need be.

  I pushed the door open and my jaw hit the floor. What the fuck is going on here, I thought. How the fuck, where the fuck, what the fuck? Stuck on stupid was an understatement, I was frozen.

  “I guess I will start the introductions,” Victoria began. “Rosita, Hailey, this is Jody, my husband. Jody, this is Rosita, and her friend Hailey. Do you happen to know these chicks? They seem to think they know us.”

  “Baby, I don’t know what they have told you, but at least let me tell my side of the story. Can we do this alone?” I asked.

  “No, we cannot. I want this out in the open, over, said and done, now!”

  I paused and took a long look at Rosita. I dared that bitch to go against what I said. “At the bachelor party, I met Rosita. Things got out of hand. I was fucked up, Ma. When…” I stopped talking as my eyes became moist. “I can’t do this. I can’t, Baby. I fucked up. I know I fucked up, and I am so sorry. Please forgive me. You gotta believe me.”

  Yea, I broke down. I laid my head in my wife’s lap and cried. She was a sucker for a man that wasn’t afraid to cry. It had always seemed like men were too proud or too strong to shed tears, but when one did, he was usually in genuine pain and that got her. I knew it would break her down and it hurt her to see me hurt, but I knew I was going to have to admit it. Say I did it.

  “No Jody, we can’t let that be just that. Look at me…look at me. What are you sorry for, how did you fuck up?” She asked.

  “I am sorry I fucked wit this chick. I shoulda been able to control my dick. My love for you is stronger than that. I swore I would always be loyal to you and I betrayed you. I’m sorry, Ma. I don’t know whea my head was at.”

  Rosita sat with a look of defeat as I poured my heart out to my wife. Never once did she speak, she didn’t interject, she just sat and stared.

  “Tell her, Jody,” Victoria said while nodding in Rosita’s direction. “Tell her you fucked up and how this will never happen again.”

  “Rosita, it was fun, but it was nuttin more than a fuck. I got a wife and kids to think about and you dead ass wrong for comin’ up here with my old lady and this dumb shit. You know you need a beat down for this disrespectful shit. Matter of fact, kick rocks hoe.”

  Rosita stood, grabbed her purse, mumbled a sad, “I’m sorry,” and she and Hailey walked out of the room, and hopefully out of our lives.

  I had no clue how that had happened. Where did she even come from? I really didn’t wanna lose my wife, but if I had to, it would be behind something I actually did; not because some hoe forgot her place. I had to make a mental note to handle that shit on another occasion, but it would be handled. Once Rosita and her tag-along left the room, Victoria poured her heart out to me.

  “You know, you one disrespectful ass nigga. Explain to me how you can lay with me every night and lay with your bitch whenever, like you right? I have held you down from the moment we met, up until now. Never did I step out, never once did I want to, Jody. I took my vows seriously and I did the same when you spoke yours. There is nothing you can say to ease the pain that you have caused me right now, and on top of that, where were you? I have been here, just given birth to your children, and where were you? I had to lean on the nurse for support because you weren’t here. Is there a place that could have been more important than being with your wife and brand new babies?”

  “You right about everything you said, Ma. But last night, I was with Leon at the house chillin’. I had some drinks and something to smoke, then I passed out. When I realized the time, I jumped up and came here. I am so sorry I wasn’t here for you, Ma.”

  “I don’t believe that, Jody. You was just drinking and passed out?”

  “I was, Ma. You want me to call Leon, and you can ask?” I knew good and damn well she wouldn’t ask Leon. That was my dude, not hers.

  “No, I don’t want to ask Leon. I will ask Karley.” She signaled me to get the sleeping twins while she reached for the phone.

  “Karley, I’m sorry to bother you, but I am at the hospital. I just had the babies and I didn’t want to disturb you. Can I ask you a question real quick?”

  Karley cleared the sleep from her throat, and replied, “What the hell? You had the babies and you just now calling? I am getting up from my nap right now. I am on my way. I can’t believe you just now cal
ling. What the hell were you thinking? Oh, of course I can answer. What’s wrong, Sis? Are y’all ok?”

  “Yea, we good. Question, was Jody at your house last night, up until about an hour ago?”

  Karley gave and irritated sigh, as if to say, I know you ain’t wake me up for this dumbness. “Yea, he was here. Why, what’s up?”

  “Oh, yea, everything is all good. I was just making sure.”

  “What she say, hhhmmm?” Jody asked, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  “Jody, please get the fuck out my face. I don’t give a good got-damn where you were. That doesn’t excuse the fact that you weren’t where you should have been. It doesn’t change the fact that I was just disrespected by your hoe, so please just get the fuck out my face.”

  I can’t lie, I was shocked. I was going to say something, but I thought better of it and got the fuck on through. I knew if I went there with Victoria and her big balls, I was gon’ have to remind her who wore the pants in our marriage.

  ************

  Victoria

  I had another hour or so before the nurses came back in to check everything, so I took the time to break. I fell apart. I cried for the infidelity. I cried for the betrayal. I just cried. There had to be a way to put us back together. I knew it wasn’t my job to do, but I was going to try. I knew marriage wasn’t easy, nor was it for everyone. When they fell, you had to pick them up. When they hurt, you had to hurt, too. When they were happy, you had to smile with them. Unconditional love required that of you. Your friends became their friends. Your family became their family. It’s all for your spouse, not you.

  When I got married, I wanted to be all inclusive, like a vacation package. I wanted everything to be surrounded by my husband and me. We were supposed to be a power couple, and we were supposed to take over the world. I knew that seemed crazy, a grown woman thinking such a thing is possible, but who didn’t want that? Who didn’t want to have health and strength, success and love? I thought everybody did. I thought about my life and then I thought about my babies. I first looked to Serenity, she was so beautiful. Her pecan tan complexion complimented her big brown eyes, just like mine did for me. She had a mane of curly jet black hair and a dimple in her chin, just like Jody. Serenity stared right back at me, it was if she knew Mommy was going through the motions. She just chilled and peeped the scenery. Sincere was almost the exact opposite of his sister. He was high yellow, with practically no hair at all. His eyes were a little less wide and it was hard to tell the color. He too had that damn dimple, Jody’s trademark.

  I couldn’t wait to watch them grow. I wanted to mold them into strong minded people. I wanted them to be smart, respectful, and resourceful. That was going to be extremely difficult since I didn’t know how I was going to fix things between the daddy and me. I wasn’t any of those things at the moment, so how was I going to teach it? I had to suck it up and get myself together. Men came and men went, but being a mother to these kids was here to stay. I took a deep breath and scooped Serenity from her makeshift bed.

  “Lil Mama, it’s gonna be hard, but we gon’ make it do what it do. You got me, little girl?” I spoke to a sleepy Serenity like she understood. I just needed a nonjudgmental ear. My voice soothed my baby girl to sleep and my thoughts became my personal sandman. Lying in that hospital bed, I found my avenue. I found my way out. I found the love I wanted, in my babies.

  After all the commotion in my room earlier, the doctor prescribed an Ambien to help me sleep. I had popped the tiny pill in my mouth and kissed the twins before the nurse wheeled them back to the nursery. Within a matter of minutes, I was asleep. Back in my element, my own zone. I was away from reality once again. Sleep became my escape. Every time I visited this paradise, all my dreams came true. My life was picture perfect. It was live art in my mind, and it was one hell of a picture too. Jody was my Picasso. My mind was the brush and my body, the canvas. That’s where he painted all of his shit. When his day was perfect, he painted the sunshine. If the day was stormy, his picture was dark. My body wore each picture and every day. It pained me to admit it, but I paid more attention to the pictures than I did the canvas.

  “Ya know Baby, marriage is hard. Henry stepped out on me, so they say, but I held strong. That man took care of his home; me nor my children ever wanted for anything, or went without. I loved him and he loved me. We all fall short sometime, but you have to decide, is your love for your husband strong enough for you to get over it? In no way am I saying he wasn’t wrong and he was very disrespectful, but y’all young, Baby. Give him another chance. You can have your dream life, if you just believe. Believe in the power of prayer and the power of love. You got those youngins to think ‘bout now, it ain’t just you no mo. Give them babies a home, give them their parents. Give them the life that you want them to have, Baby. Forgive him.”

  “Grandma? Grandma!” I reached out to give my Grandma a hug, but I couldn’t. She was gone. I could smell her perfume and practically feel her breath on my cheek. When I opened my eyes, it was daylight and my grandma was nowhere to be found. She came to me, I thought. It was just a dream, but I felt refreshed, I felt like I could breathe again. It was like a weight had been lifted off of my chest and all I needed was for her wisdom to help me lift it.

  I walked into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and thought, Damn, I look like hell. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, in hopes of removing some the bags from under my eyes and cure the yuck-mouth that had accumulated throughout the night. Since I was feeling a little better, I decided to hop in the shower too. I was a woman on a mission. I had a household to put back together and little people that needed me. It was a new day and I was going to make the most of everyday from there on out.

  ************

  Jody

  I was up bright and early. I had showered, shaved, and dressed in some freshly pressed True Religion jeans, red and white striped Ralph Lauren button down with a red RL V-neck sweater. Completing my fit was a pair of RL boots to match. I pulled my locks back and threw my Gucci frames over my eyes. I was doin’ the damn thang, lookin’ smart yet rugged. I stared at my reflection for what seemed like forever and I told myself I was gon’ make a change. That being said, I grabbed my phone and left the house. I knew I had some time before the doctor made her rounds, so I had some time to spare. I was on a new kick, the be a better man flow, I thought about stopping to pick up a little something to bring a smile to my wife’s face. Flowers would eventually die and the last thing I wanted to show a new beginning was something that would kick the bucket on its own. I was stuck, so I called Leon.

  “What’s up, Bruh?” I asked as soon as Leon answered the phone.

  “What up? You on yo way to pick my sis up, ain’t you?”

  “Yea my nig, I’m headed to get her now. Aye man, I fucked up big time doe. It’s a long story, but let’s just say lesson learned. It’s a chance she gon’ leave me, Bruh. I caint let dat happen, you feel me? I think I would die wit out her.”

  “Leave all that hoe-ish shit alone and grow the fuck up, man. This shit don’t make no sense. That girl eat, sleep, and breathe yo ass. I can only imagine what she going through. So what you gon’ do to make it right, Bruh? You know I got you when it comes down to getting on the right track, but I’m out. I am not gon’ lie to her no more. I am not covering for yo ass, don’t include me in shit.” Leon was hot, but he meant what he had said. He would do anything to help out, but the rest was a no go.

  “You right, Bruh. This time, I’m cool on all that extra shit. I done got it out my system and I’ma do right by her, just watch. I’ma even take this medicine,” I said proudly, and full of determination. “I need you and Karley to do me a favor though, a big one. Go to the house, you know whea the key at, and hook it up for me. Karley knows what V likes. She did it after the wedding and my Lil Mama loved it. You know I’m not good with all that romantic shit. The nursery is finished, so nothing needs to be done in there. Just do sumn nice, sumn that will make her feel good, ya f
eel me, please?”

  “Aight Homie, I got you, but I gotta know, why is it I’m doin’ this when you knew yo wife and babies were coming home today? What you had going on last night that was so important you ain’t do shit for them?”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn’t think Leon would ask me that. “Well, after me and V had our dispute, she kicked me out her room. I went out to the spot in Georgetown and parked. Man, I was so fucked up, I slept in the car out there.”

  “Damn Bruh, say word.”

  “Word. Aye man, lemme get off this phone so I can get through this traffic. I really appreciate y’all getting me out this jam, again.” I ended the call feeling more confident than I had when I got in the car.

  I pulled the Dodge Magnum into the parking lot of Providence Northeast Hospital and killed the engine. With a long sigh, I released the inner demons that were now coming into plain sight. “Lord, I don’t be tryna do this often and I know I’on come to you as often as I should, but dis time, I really need ya. I messed up, a lot. I know Victoria was a blessing and I am so lucky to have her in my life. The last thing I wanna do is run her off. Lord, if you give me another chance to make this right, I’ma do better. I’ma treat her like the precious gift I know she is. Please God. Amen.”

  I walked through the double doors with very little bop in my step. I needed to make shit right with my family, so there was no need for me to hold my head up. Out of all the chicks I had been with, Victoria was the only one I could actually say truly loved me. My mama was the only other woman that I could say loved me more than Victoria. This shit really was tearing me up. Hell, I knew it was my fault, in a way. It started with them damn pills. Now that was my mama’s fault, and my old man wasn’t even man enough to stop that shit.

  Fuck him. You ain’t need him no way.

  “Excuse me, what you say?” I asked the man standing next to me waiting on the elevator.