Full Figured 11

by Treasure Hernandez

  “Me too.” Janiyah gave the officer a hug. She felt like she was hugging an older brother who’d vowed to protect her.

  One of the police officers opened the door and made sure Janiyah had her seat belt on before he closed it. He made himself at home in the backseat of the car and fastened his seat belt. She started her engine and headed out of the church.

  When she turned down the street, she saw a white, unmarked patrol car following at a safe distance behind her. She leaned up in the rearview mirror to take a closer look, and she recognized one of Mother Shirley’s sons. Janiyah realized then that God was not slack on His promise, and that He was taking care of her.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  When the phone rang and an audio recording of Donya Mecklenburg reading her novel Resting in Peace played in the background. Janiyah got excited as she rushed to pick up her phone.

  “Hey, girl, how are you?” Donya sang after Janiyah hit the talk button.

  “I’m good. How are you?” Janiyah asked as she lowered the sound on her television. It had been a while since she’d heard from Donya, so talking to her old friend was a welcome change of pace.

  “I’m good,” Donya replied. “I’m calling to ask you if you saw the pictures for the new trilogy I’m launching this fall.”

  “No, I haven’t,” Janiyah answered. She got up from the couch and headed toward her laptop. She flipped open the device. She stared at the picture that was taken a year ago that she used as wallpaper. It was a picture of Gun standing in front of the congregation, smiling.

  “Here’s to coming home soon,” she said as she kissed her fingers and touched where Gun’s face was on the screen. She went to her Internet browser and pulled up her e-mail account. “I’m clicking on the e-mail now,” Janiyah spoke into the phone.

  Next was a moment of silence. Donya had sent her three different emails, each holding a copy of the book covers. The first one was a solo picture of her working behind the register and getting ready to serve someone an ice cream cone. The second was of her and Wadya sitting at the back end of the ice cream store, huddled up in a conversation. The last e-mail had a picture of her dancing with Wadya and H., with the disco ball shining bright.

  “Wow, Donya! These look hot.” Janiyah was excited. She couldn’t believe she was going to be on the cover of her friend’s books.

  “Yeah,” Donya confirmed. “We’re working on the marketing plan now because no one is coming out with an erotic suspense quite like this. We have the Seventies angle going and we have the food mystery. This is going to be a hot series.”

  “When do we get to go on tour?” Janiyah asked as she expanded one of the covers to take a closer look.

  “As soon as you get done having that baby you got in the oven,” Donya suggested.

  Baby? Janiyah hadn’t told anyone about what Mother Shirley had disclosed to her. She wasn’t sure she believed it herself when Mother Shirley had suggested it.

  “What makes you think I’m pregnant?” Janiyah asked.

  “I’ve given birth to two boys,” Donya reminded her. Janiyah had to admit to herself that it had been a while since she had seen Donya’s sons. “I thought you were pregnant when you came to the photo shoot, but I didn’t want to ask. For one, we had so much fun and were enjoying the music and fellowship, and two, I didn’t want to ask you in front of everyone.”

  To Janiyah that made sense. She had heard of Wadya and H., but she didn’t really know them like that. Plus, she didn’t know Willow.

  “What confirmed it was that I dreamt of fishes that same night, and you were the person that came to mind.”

  “So that dream about fishes is true?” Janiyah asked. She’d heard about an old wive’s tale where if you dream of fishes, it’s because someone you know is pregnant.

  “Sometimes,” Donya said. “But seriously, you move differently than you did when I saw you last. I just had the sense that you were. That’s why I stayed so close to you, because I figured you were early, but I wanted to be sure.”

  “I haven’t had a chance to take a test yet,” Janiyah replied. “When do the books come out?”

  “Hopefully January, April, and July. I’m not trying to waste no time getting this trilogy into the hands of my readers. With all I went through with the lawsuits and the starting to build a brand, I’m trying to write and drop books faster than T. Styles,” Donya confided.

  Janiyah nodded her head. She was a fan of T. Styles’ Pretty Kings series and eagerly anticipated some of her other releases. The urban and street titles were one way she got to read about women who weren’t like her, and she found a way to minister to those in the streets by staying on top of the popular reads.

  The doorbell rang while Janiyah and Donya were discussing the Pretty Kings series.

  “Girl, someone’s at my door. I gotta go. I love the pics and can’t wait to see all your success. Love you.”

  “Love you too, girl. Take care of that baby.”

  Janiyah walked to the door and was disturbed to see Tanisha Fresh standing there when she opened it. With all that was going on, the last thing she wanted to deal with was some baby mama drama. After taking a deep breath and quickly counting to ten, Janiyah let Tanisha in. She noticed that Tanisha didn’t have Nia with her, and she hoped that didn’t mean that Tanisha was there to try to start any mess.

  “Oh, girl, this place looks nice.” Tanisha was louder than an underage girl at the playground. “Nia and I should come to visit her father more often.”

  “How are you doing today?” Janiyah tried to be cordial. She figured that would be the best route of action to avoid conflict.

  “I’m here because Montez said for me to get my money and his money.” Tanisha threw her open palm out with the expectation that some cash was going to fall into it.

  “Excuse me?” Janiyah had had just about enough. It was bad enough that Montez was trying to extort her, but to use Gun’s baby mama to aid and abet had crossed the line.

  “Bitch! Give me my money,” Tanisha demanded.

  Janiyah had to shake her head in order to keep from slapping the black off of Tanisha’s bony frame. The nerve of her to call her out of her name in her house. Tanisha looked like the little girl from Hey, Arnold! and Janiyah still couldn’t figure out what it was about her that had made Gun lay down with her and have a baby.

  “You will get your money as soon as I get Gun,” Janiyah fought back. “Did Montez tell you where he’s at?”

  “No, because if he did, I’d be trying to get him for myself. We need to go out on another date,” Tanisha insisted as she continued to use her hands to help her communicate her points.

  “Look.” Janiyah decided to try reasoning with her once again. She prayed that once she’d gotten her point across, Tanisha would take a different route. “I’m giving Montez his money tomorrow. I’ve already called him and told him what I’d need in order for him to get his money. What I need you to do is to fall down ten or fifteen stairs so I can hand you some money too once I can get Montez’s together.”

  “Why can’t I get my money first?” Tanisha whined. “Technically y’all owed me my money before y’all owed Montez his.”

  “Technically,” Janiyah corrected, “we really don’t owe you a dime since Gun has been giving you money since Nia was born. You didn’t complain all those years he was giving you two thousand dollars a month. And don’t get me started on the amount of times he gave you extra because you claimed you didn’t have enough to pay your rent, car note, and power bills. God knows what you were doing with the two thousand Gun was giving you that you couldn’t pay your bills, considering you get help from the government too. And don’t get me started on the weave money, Drake and Trey Songz concert ticket money, and the ‘just because you are the baby mama’ fund that I believe only Gun and I are contributing to. Do you go after your other baby daddies as hard as you come for me and Gun?”

  “No, I—” Tanisha started to defend herself.

  “No is right
.” Janiyah finished her sentence and walked toward the door. “You only come after me and Gun because aside from your other baby daddy Jeremiah, we are the only two who give you anything for the four children you have. Jeremiah and Gun should be able to split the children and put them on their taxes, but that would mess up your welfare dreams.

  “Let me tell you something, and I want this to take root as you walk out of this door: All this craziness you’re doing, this grandstanding, trying to make Gun out to be a bad parent when clearly he’s not the one misusing the system, is making you look bad. And you make every black woman who’s trying to do it with two or three jobs and no help from any baby’s father look bad. You never stop to think about how the way you’re acting affects not only Nia, but the other children you have. Your oldest daughter is twelve, and she’s watching you and thinking this is the way to go.

  “What you need to do is continue in your Work First program, spend the money Gun and Jeremiah give you on your children, and develop aspirations to move out of the projects. You’ll keep more of your money, and your children will grow to love and respect you more.”

  Tanisha shrieked at the idea of not being able to get a word out. Last thing she wanted was for Janiyah to tell her about what she should and should not be doing. Janiyah pointed to the exit, and reluctantly, Tanisha turned to leave. Janiyah was glad that their interaction hadn’t resulted in violence or arguments.

  “Just know that you better have Montez’s money, because I want our man to come home to us safely,” Tanisha warned as she crossed the threshold.

  “I will make sure my man comes back safe to me,” Janiyah said as she slammed the door once Tanisha walked outside.

  If Janiyah never saw Tanisha again, it would be too soon.

  Twenty-three

  The knock on the door had Janiyah on edge. The morning seemed to drag as she continued to lay in the bed.

  “Who’s at the door?” Janiyah asked herself as she placed her feet in her slippers. She grabbed the robe that was on the hanger on her door and rushed out of her room.

  Janiyah wasn’t used to people banging at her door at 7:45 a.m., and she prayed it wasn’t the police telling her the worst. When she got to the door, she looked through the peephole and saw Mother Shirley wearing an all-black Baby Phat velour sweat suit.

  I pray she is well, Janiyah said as she opened the door.

  “Good morning, Janiyah.” Mother Shirley greeted her with a hug.

  “Is everything all right?” Janiyah guided Mother Shirley into the house.

  Mother Shirley made herself comfortable on the couch. Janiyah didn’t notice the tan, tattered leather bag she was carrying until she placed the ugly thing on her coffee table. Janiyah watched carefully as Mother Shirley unsnapped the bag, removed a stack of bills, and placed them on the counter.

  “Seventy-five thousand dollars.” Mother Shirley had a big smile on her face.

  Janiyah was flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe that Mother Shirley was able to get her hands on that type of money before the banks even opened. She picked up a stack of bills and then quickly dropped them like they were hot potatoes. “Mother Shirley, I appreciate what you’re doing—”

  “Good.” Mother Shirley reached over the table and put the stack of bills back into the bag. “My son and I have thought everything out. Today and tomorrow, you’ll make your runs to the banks, just like you would have on Friday. This bag of money will already be at the church. You’ll meet Montez there, give him the money, we get our youth pastor back, and life will go on.”

  “Mother Shirley, that sounds too simple.” Janiyah wasn’t convinced that Mother Shirley had thought this through.

  “It is simple.” Mother Shirley sounded like she’d been insulted. Her mood tensed up, and she had that deep, angry look on her face that pierced Janiyah’s soul. “I know you don’t understand it now, but this is what I’m allowed to say. My son and his boys at the feds have been trying to catch Montez for a few years. They were hoping that they’d be able to get him for good with an attempted murder last year, but Montez’s family is throwing their money around. Montez’s lawyers and his mother’s friends at the sheriff’s office are doing everything possible to keep Montez from paying for his crimes.”

  “But what does this have to do with Gun being kidnapped?” Janiyah was losing patience. She didn’t want to go off on Mother Shirley because she still wanted to ask how she was able to come up with seventy-five thousand dollars so fast. She’d never held onto that much money in life, yet Mother Shirley walked around with them like they were crumpled dollar bills.

  “The feds want to track how Montez is spending this money,” Mother Shirley answered. “When you make the exchange for Gun, all the bills that end up in the bag will have the serial numbers recorded. As he starts spending the money, we’re hoping to find out how he pays for the drugs we know he’s selling, how he’s able to amass this wealth that he’s spending, partying like a rock star.

  “Montez is a trust fund baby, but he hasn’t met all of the requirements to get the millions he’ll inherit from his great grandfather by the time he turns thirty.”

  Janiyah scrunched up her face. She was confused. She didn’t see how a man who already stood to gain it all would continue to live the kind of life she’d heard he lived. Men and women did anything for Montez at his beck and call. The selling of drugs and commitment to crimes was something that Janiyah just couldn’t wrap her mind around.

  “How do you know about all this?” Janiyah finally got the courage to ask. “About the trust funds and everything?”

  Mother Shirley exhaled. She leaned back on the couch and got comfortable. “Montez’s mother, Vanessa, and I used to be friends. Real good friends.”

  “What happened?” Janiyah asked. “Do I need to get some coffee?” Janiyah got up to fix a pot. As the coffee brewed, Janiyah opened the refrigerator and pulled out the vanilla-flavored almond milk. She poured her cup half full before she yelled out, “You want sugar or cream?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Janiyah kept an eye out for the pot as she got a cup for Mother Shirley. Finding one that had the church’s name and logo, she rinsed it out of habit, and once the coffee got done brewing, she poured two cups.

  Janiyah tried not to gasp when Mother Shirley took her cup and chugged it in one sitting. She’d never seen anyone down a cup of coffee like they were taking a shot of vodka. Janiyah slowly sipped hers.

  “Well, I gave my life to Christ right before Montez and my second oldest son were born. I got tired of dealing in the streets and putting my life and my babies’ lives at risk. I gave my life to Christ and found myself a Bible-based church, and I was so excited. I wanted to share my newfound wealth and love for God with my friend. Once I experienced the Holy Spirit and let Him live within me, I wanted to tell everyone. The first person I told was Vanessa.

  “Being a new Christian convert, I thought she’d get it; that she would want the same experience I’d felt and that she’d want assurance of an everlasting life. So, we had lunch one day at Burger King, and I got to sharing my Bible and talking about God, but after five minutes, she stopped me. She told me that she didn’t love God, and that she couldn’t be friends with anyone who did.”

  The last sentence nearly broke Janiyah’s heart. She couldn’t believe that someone would disown their friend just because they believed in God. She remembered how rude she was to Oz whenever Oz tried to talk to her about the good Word. It annoyed her and she wasn’t ready to hear it at the time, but she couldn’t imagine not being friends with Oz just because of her beliefs.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Janiyah replied as she took another sip.

  “Don’t be.” Mother Shirley’s voice hardened. “I learned in all these years that I can’t make everyone love Jesus. All I can do, despite my ministry, is to make sure I love Jesus. When we go out into this world and make disciples, we will always get told no. We put our lives on the line every time we boldly proclaim th
e name of Jesus. And when we do, God rewards us for doing His will.”

  “So, what about the money?” Janiyah was dying to know.

  “What about the money?” Mother Shirley asked. “I am not now, nor will I ever be, a destitute woman. My husband was a good, honest man who made sure we had what we needed to survive. I met him in the church and he accepted and loved me despite my shady past and me having two sons already. God blessed me with a man that went above and beyond to provide for his family. I have money because I do not worship or give credence that a piece of paper is mightier than my God. I use money as a tool to take care of the Kingdom and to accomplish the few things God has asked me to do. I have always been a good steward over what is His, and that is why I have abundance.

  “Before I spend a dime, I pray and I talk things through with Him. I get out of my way, and that can be a challenge. But when I submit to His will, I always do His way, and I’m telling you now, Janiyah, I was told months ago you would need this money—nothing specific in what the money would be for and how the money would be used, because I didn’t know the information then, but I know the time is now, and like I said, this money can be tracked, and good will come out of this.”

  Janiyah felt at ease. It never occurred to her that Mother Shirley had wealth, and judging from outer appearance, she didn’t seem like the type who’d manage money properly. Then again, there were people who had financial wealth who didn’t want to flaunt it because they gave so much away.

  Mother Shirley handed Janiyah the bag, and Janiyah felt at peace.

  “Tomorrow, go to the bank like you would, and make sure you get receipts for your withdrawals. My son is going to be in the finance office, waiting for the cash you will give him, so that he can write you a check back for whatever you withdraw from your accounts. This way, you aren’t walking around with a lot of cash for a long period of time. The church can lock the money up in the safe for a deposit that will be made later, and you and Gun will be able to get rid of Montez once and for all.”