by Faith
“Sissy?”
“Tamar, what’s going on?”
“I’m at the hospital with Mama. She got into an argument with Mrs. Blanks and her wrist is fractured, but she made a call and told them that she had been attacked. She said she was calling out the big dogs for this one. She’s buggin’, we didn’t sign up for this. She already told Damien to kill that Denard dude.”
“What? He killed him?”
“No, not yet, but she’s crazy. You need to warn the Blanks what she’s up to. She’s out for blood now, sis.”
“I can’t worry about them, I need to get you away from her. Can you get away now?”
“I don’t have that much money on me.”
“Do you have enough for gas, because you can meet us?”
“Us?”
“Yeah, Delilah is with me.”
“How?”
“Tamar, we can go over all of this later, just get out of there while you have a chance.”
“Ok, I’m leaving now.”
“Meet us at Skippy’s Diner. I’ll text you the location.”
“Ok, I’m on my way.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“What’s going on?” Delilah looked confused.
“Tamar is going to meet us here. Let me text her where we’re at. She said Red Eye.”
Delilah shook her head, her mother was bat shit crazy and they all knew it. “Do you think it’s was a good idea to tell her where we are? What if it was a set up?”
Jezebel hit herself in the forehead. “Ah, man, I didn’t think about that, but Tamar wouldn’t cross us. She’s under mama’s thumb the most, but she wouldn’t cross us, would she?”
“She never has before. It’s always been us against her, but we both know mama can be convincing.” Delilah hoped she was wrong.
“Damn!” Jezebel sighed. “Oh well, we will see. I just want to go somewhere peaceful and have my baby. Mama is not going to kill this one.”
“I understand, I know how it hurt you to have all of those abortions.”
“Tamar said I should warn Mud, but I don’t care about those people, I only care about us three.”
“So, Denard survived, huh?” Delilah looked nervous.
“Yeah, and evidently Mama told Damien to kill him. Sis, what really happened that day?”
“It’s all a blur, and I’m being serious. He was a nice guy, even though he got on my nerves, but when he told me to leave, something went through me. You were acting all nasty, Mama and Tamar were locked up, and I knew he would be there for me, but then he was turning his back on me, too, and I snapped. I don’t even remember stabbing him, I just saw red.”
“Wow, well, this farm house I got is in the middle of the country, we should be safe there.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Yeah, me too.”
The sisters sat the diner for forty-five minutes waiting on Tamar, hoping that it was not a set up. They were happy to see her arrive alone. The sisters embraced.
“Look, we need to get out of here. Mama is going to be enraged when she notices I’m gone.”
“I’m just glad we’re together,” Jezebel said.
“I still say you need to warn the Blanks,” Tamar suggested.
“And, say what? My mama is crazy, I don’t know what she’s going to do, but be careful?”
“Umm, yeah, she already sent Damien to shoot them, he missed, though. Well, Mud got hit, but since he was aiming for all four, he missed,” Tamar said.
“Wait, what happened? Mud was shot?” Jezebel couldn’t believe her ears.
“Where have you been? You didn’t see it on the news?” Tamar asked.
“I even saw that on the news,” Delilah added.
“Y’all know I don’t watch the news. Is Mud alright?”
“I assume, I haven’t heard anything else about it,” Tamar said, going in her purse and popped a pill.
“I thought Mama took you off your meds?” Jezebel asked.
“She did, but Damien went and got me another prescription. You know him and Mama have a love hate relationship. They argue all the time, it’s crazy.” Tamar took a sip of Delilah’s drink to wash her medicine down.
“We need to go because they are already looking for Dee, and the hospital will be looking for you and me, too, for that fact, so let’s roll.” Jezebel paid the bill and they left the diner to find safety at the farmhouse.
________
The brothers sat in a café downtown. They had just left the police station where they were questioned again about the shooting and informed that the casings found at the scene matched another shooting of a male prostitute.
“Can you believe they think one of us is on the down low?” Mud asked.
Junior looked around the table. “Are y’all, because you know I’m not.” They laughed at him.
“It’s not me, I loves the poon poon,” Mud added.
“Come on, Edem, you can tell us that’s why it took you so long to get the poon poon,” Eddie teased.
“Yeah, right!” Edem laughed. “I loves the poon poon, too.”
“Now that you know how good it is, do you regret waiting?” Junior asked.
“No, sir. Now I see why y’all act a fool over it, but I’m so glad I waited. I’m gone off of my wife. I love loving her, I love making love to her, I love being with her.” Edem’s smile said everything.
“Spoken like a newlywed,” Junior said.
“Well, what’s going on with you and Lacey? You still running up in Sheila, man?” Edem asked.
“No, I have been behaving, Edem, but Lacey has changed.”
“How?” Eddie asked.
“I think she may have somebody on the side.” The brothers laughed at Junior.
“I’m serious!” Junior got irritated.
“Junior, why do think that?” Edem shook his head at his brother. He knew good and well Lacey wouldn’t do that.
“She’s different. During the day she always off somewhere, she’s secretive now, and if I asked her about her day she’ll just say productive. She’s keeping something from me.”
“Yeah, that sounds like she’s having a torrid affair,” Mud teased.
“Why do I even bother with y’all?” Junior snapped.
“We’re just messing with you, my dude, chill out,” Mud responded.
“Leave your brother alone, he’s just paranoid because of all the dirt that he’s done to Lacey. But, you know as well as I do that Lacey is not like that,” Edem told him.
“Well, something is up, that’s all I know.”
“Have you tried asking her? What is wrong with y’all? Take the time out and communicate with your wives. It’s not that hard,” Edem said.
“Oh, shut up, newlywed,” Mud said.
Mud’s phone went off. “Hey, babe. Lacey? I’m on my way.” The brothers stared at him.
“What about Lacey?” Junior became nervous.
Mud stood up. “We got to go, that was Lacey calling from Tricia’s phone, she’s in labor!” The brothers quickly got up and paid the bill to head to Women’s Hospital.
________
Mud arrived just in time. Within five minutes of his arrival, Tricia was crowning. Lacey coached her as Mud watched his wife’s body open up and give life to their son.
“It’s a boy!” the doctor said. “Daddy, would you like to cut the cord?” She handed Mud the scissors, and he cut the cord.
“He’s big, Tricia.” Lacey kissed her forehead.
They laid Edmund Jr. on his mother’s chest. Tricia looked down at her son, and he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. In that instant, in that moment, Tricia knew what unconditional love truly felt like. Tears filled Mud’s eyes.
“Mud, are you crying?” Lacey called him out.
Mud wiped his face. “Nah, I just got something in my eyes,” Mud lied. “Baby, you did good.” Mud kissed Tricia on her lips.
“I’m going to let you all bond and le
t everyone know,” Lacey said, exiting the room.
Tricia looked up at Mud, smiling. “We are somebody’s parents, can you believe it?”
Mud laughed. “Hey, Lil Man, it’s your daddy.” At the sound of his voice, the baby opened his eyes and saw the world for the first time.
“Baby, did you see that? He responded to your voice.” Tricia was so excited.
“That’s my Lil Man.” Mud finally felt complete for the first time in his life.
Nothing else mattered to him but doing right by his family. He could hear his father speaking in his heart. “Boy, you will never know how much I love you until you have a son of your own and the,n Mud, you will get it, and everything will make sense. I promise you that, son.” Mud lifted his son out of his mother’s arms and wept. The hardness and anger that surrounded his heart for so many years melted away from one touch, the touch of love that came from his first born son.
Chapter 22
Junior’s face was buried between Lacey’s thighs. As his tongue performed miracles on her clit, Lacey squealed out in pleasure. His tongue invaded her cave and devoured the sweet nectar pouring out. Lacey enjoyed every bit of it, and she grinded into his face, grabbed his head, and pushed his face further into her. Junior loved it when she responded that way. He sucked on her pearl until he felt her body tremble. Lacey screamed out his name, and he smiled at the sound of the orgasmic call of his wife. After he slurped up the last drop of her, he mounted her, but Lacey told him to flip over. Junior was shocked, but did as he was asked. Lacey, in turn, mounted him. She eased down on his shaft, and then started to slow grind on him. The way she moved her body made him throb inside of her. They stared into each other’s eyes and Junior saw something he had never seen before. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but she was different. She even made love to him different. Lacey rode him like a pro. He watched as she switched from a sensual slow grind to bouncing up and down on him. Lacey pinned his arms down as she took complete control over him. Their moaning grew louder and louder as they experienced each other in a different way. Junior flipped her over and mounted her again. Putting her legs up on his shoulders, he needed to remind her who her kitty belonged to. As he punished her kitty for all the wrong he thought she did, Lacey threw it back on him, thrust for thrust.
Who is this woman? But, damn, she felt good.
They both slept good that night. The next morning when Junior got dressed, he headed downstairs to ask Lacey to spend the day with him, but heard the garage door opening. I know she’s not leaving. Junior grabbed his keys and wallet out of the tray, and jumped into his truck to follow her.
“Ok, Lacey, I’m on to you. Yeah, let’s see where you’re going.” Junior talked to himself as he followed his wife through the city. Lacey, unaware that she was being followed, pulled up in front of a building and went in. Junior boldly parked behind her and got out. “Ok, Junior, if she’s with another man, do not kill them,” Junior said out loud before swinging the door open.
Lacey jumped at the sight of her husband standing before her. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Junior walked up to Lacey and the man she stood with. “And, who are you?” Junior grabbed the man by the throat.
“Junior, stop it!” Lacey hit at him.
The man was larger than Junior, but anger could give you extraordinary strength.
“You sleeping with my wife?” Junior screamed.
“Junior, would you stop it!” Lacey hit him in the back of his head with her Birkin bag.
“Oh, you’re protecting your man now, Lacey?” Junior released his grip as a woman appeared from the back.
“What on earth is going on in here? Baby?” The woman walked over to the man to see if he was ok. The man lunged at Junior, and the women had to stand in front of both men to block the blows.
“Junior!” Lacey screamed at the top of her lungs. “I am not sleeping with this man. This is Marcus and Linda. He’s my contactor and she’s my designer!”
Junior looked around the space and realized it was an empty store front. With a dumbfounded look on his face, all he could say was, “Huh?”
“This is my place. I bought it with my own money, and I’m starting a non-profit organization called Still Rising. These good people are helping me get this together.” If looks could have killed, Junior would be dead.
Embarrassed, Junior reached out his hand to Marcus. “My bad, I thought my wife was creeping around, you know, so when I saw you two together, I lost it.”
“Marcus!” Linda hit her husband, making him shake hands with Junior.
“Once again, my bad.” Junior felt so stupid.
“Aight,” was all Marcus could muster. He was mad as hell.
“Marcus, please, forgive my husband for being so stupid and immature. I would still love for you to work with me, and I love the vision that you have for this place,” Lacey pleaded. Linda nudged Marcus.
“We’re good, Lacey.” Marcus eyed Junior.
“Lacey, why didn’t you tell me about this new venture, you know I would have helped.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you, Junior, I wanted to do something of my own. I needed to do me.”
“Oh, ok. I guess I owe you an apology, too. I’m sorry I thought the worst and I overreacted.”
“Yes, you did, but I forgive you. You’re a mess, but you’re my mess,” Lacey said, remembering Mama Eloise’s words.
For every mountain
You brought me over
For every trial
You’ve seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah
For this is give you praise
Lizzie sung the solo as the choir joined in. Mama Eloise looked on, having a proud mommy moment as usual.
“Does anyone have a testimony they would like to share? “ Junior asked after the choir finished singing.
“I do.” Deacon Denard stood up.
“Come forward, Deacon.” He walked up to Junior and took the mic.
“Bless the Lord, church. I have been widowed for many, many years. And, as much I love the Lord, that loneliness has put me in some compromising situations but God. When I was laying on my floor bleeding to death, I called on Jesus. That’s all I could do and God sent an angel, my Maria. I was so ashamed of the things that I had done. Their father was one of my best friends. Shoot, I ‘member before y’all were born, huh, Eloise?” Eloise nodded her head. “Your daddy would be proud of the work you boys are doing, you girls, too, and when I felt like giving up, you boys, all four them, didn’t judge me. Nah, they didn’t, they listened to me pour my heart out and they told me we would get you through this because we are family. I love y’all, I really do, and I appreciate you all, not just as my pastors but also as my friends. I love First Assembly, this church is more than a church; it’s a family. I will never be able to thank all of yous’ who have been there for my sister and me. I just love y’all.” Deacon Denard teared up.
“Aight now, Deacon, don’t get me to crying to,” Junior said, taking the mic back. Deacon Denard hugged Junior and went back to his seat.
“Anyone else have something that they want to share?”
“I do.” Someone Junior didn’t recognize stepped forward, walked down the aisle, and grabbed the mic out of Junior’s hand. “Touching testimony, Deacon, but I have had a different experience with the Blanks family. I have stood in the shadow all of my life and it stops today. I am here, First Assembly, to claim my birth right. Although your dear mother tried to kill me, here I am.”
Junior tried to grab the microphone, but to no avail. “And, who are you?”
“I am the child of Lilith Harlot and Edwin Blanks Sr. I’m your brother.”
________
Damien and Lilith sat in his apartment going over plans for the Blanks when the police banged on the door. They heard them scream, “Open up, it’s the police!” for all the neighbors to hear. Damien calmly opened the door. The police pushed
him to the side, guns drawn, and handed him a search warrant.
“What are you looking for?” Lilith screamed.
“Where are your daughters?” one of the officers asked.
“They’re not here. How the hell should we know?” Damien spat. An officer threw him again the wall and searched him. “You think my sisters are in my pocket?”
“You have a lot of mouth on you, don’t you?” Take him down to the station to see what he has to say, since he wants to talk so much. Damien fought the officers, but he was no match for them.
“Now, let’s try this again. Where are your daughters?”
Lilith put on her game face. “Officer, I don’t have a clue. I have lost all control over those girls. I really don’t know.”
“Well, we’re going to need you to come down the station with us to answer some questions.”
“No problem, but I would like my lawyer to meet us there.”
________
The Harlot sisters worked as a team to get the farm house in living condition. They scrubbed every inch of the place and decorated it modestly, except for the beds. Jezebel was insistent that they bought good, comfortable beds.
Jezebel laid in her bed staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out their next move. Tamar and Delilah entered the room. “What’s wrong?” She sat up.
“We decided that we are going to warn the Blanks about Mama,” Tamar said.
“Are you insane? Both of you are probably wanted right about now, I said no!”
“You said no? You act just like her, it’s either your way or the highway. How many people are we going to let her harm? Getting money is one thing, but people die around this lady,” Tamar told her.
“Look, I will call Mud, if that will make you feel better. But, what are they going to do, watch their backs until she strikes?” Jezebel asked, pulling out her phone.
“Hey! If they blow that church and kill your baby daddy, you will not get a dime because there is no proof that’s his baby. That’s all I’m saying.” Tamar knew that would entice Jezebel.
“Wait, what? They are going the blow up the church?”
“Ugh, yeah!” Tamar said as if they already knew.