Crush grinned. “It’s hot as hell’s soup kitchen out here, Hunter. I like my hair braided so it don’t sweat out. You should understand that, right? He pointedly looked at her hair. “Now back to your hair.” His eyes slid to Usher and back to her. “So I’m just wondering if when things get intense between you two, if Usher has to be careful not to pull your hair too hard.”
“Excuse you.” Hunter feigned offense.
Laughing, Usher embraced his wife's waist. “Man, I can't tell a lie. Everything on my baby is real; we don't do the fake stuff. Period.” He kissed Hunter's neck.
“I can see why, man.” Kane connected with Tyler's eyes as she smiled timidly. “It's not like they need it or nothing.”
“Amen.” Barrington and Usher said in unison.
“Hold up now,” Crush patted Journey's legs. “Journey didn't miss out in the better-than-blessed department, either, 'cause my baby is fine!”
Journey laughed. “Thank you, baby boy.” She kissed his head. “And Miss Tina is a beautiful woman too; look at that hour glass body she’s working with.”
“Here, here!” The others agreed while Tina could only look down, embarrassed.
“Here, Journey.” Hunter offered her a cup of punch.
“No thanks, Hunter. I'm not thirsty.”
“Honey, that's good, because this is just to wash down that mouthful of oily hair you just tasted from slick-head's scalp.”
“You got jokes, Hunter,” Crush said, laughing. “Girl, I wash my hair every day, thank you.”
Everyone laughed as Hunter and Crush continued to trade playful insults.
A few hours later, Imani's welcome home party was still going strong. The men were off playing a fierce game of basketball, and the women were lounging in the front yard.
“Oh, I don't even believe this.” Tina shielded her eyes with one hand while looking across the expanse of Barrington's yard.
All the women stopped what they were doing and followed her gaze.
Journey's mouth fell open as her anger began to build. “What is she doing here?” she hissed.
“Let's just find out,” Linda said and started out to meet the young woman.
Perri stood frozen in place, too stunned, shocked, annoyed, and downright angry to make a move.
The young woman unashamedly pranced toward them, her protruding belly leading the way.
“What are you doing here, girl?” Linda demanded when she met her.
“Isn't it obvious?” She rubbed her belly. “I'm here to see my baby's daddy.” Nia laughed at her own pun.
“Oh, you got jokes, Huh?” No one even saw Perri coming until she was right there, up close and personal, in Nia's face. “Well, let me tell you what I got.” She went to swing at Nia but Mattie grabbed her hand, stopping her.
“It isn't worth it, Sugarplum. Imani's home; she's safe, she's sound. Just let the police handle that crazy child standing yonder.”
“Nia, what the hell are you doing on my property?” Barrington stood in front of Perri, bracing his hands on either side of her thighs.
Nia watched the affectionate display in disgust. “I work here. Remember?”
Linda scoffed. “Girl, you done lost your natural mind.”
At the same time, Barrington said, “Not anymore you don't. Nia, you have got to be bent if you think I’d allow you to step one foot back in my home.”
Nia's glance slid toward her ex best friend. “What are you doing here, Tina?”
“She was invited. Unlike you,” Crush stood by his brother's side.
Nia laughed, eying the two handsome men. “What are you, Crush? Your brother's keeper?”
Crush stepped forward. “I'm your worst nightmare if you don't get out of here.”
“Now, now, Crush,” Nia taunted, “is that anyway to talk to your niece's Mum?”
“What the hell kind of game are you playing, Nia?” Barrington demanded.
Nia smiled up at him sweetly before saying, “I assure you, sir, this is no game. My pregnancy is real. And you are my baby's daddy.” She laughed.
Perri stepped around Barrington. “And what you are is crazy, girl, if you think my husband is going to play daddy to that kid.” She pointed at her stomach.
“Think? Is that what you said, Perri, darling?” She shook her head. “'Cause I can just about assure you that Barrington will never turn his back on his own child. Not after the hell you put him through.” She tsked. “Using that sweet child that you don't deserve as a pawn to hurt the man you claimed to love.”
Perri lurched for Nia, but this time, it was Bobby who picked her up and held her as she continued to struggle in his arms. “She's not worth it, baby.”
“I want you to get out of here, Nia!” Tyler ordered. “While you still can.”
Nia laughed. “I doubt anyone here is going to risk hitting a pregnant woman.”
“Knock it off, Nia.” Barrington warned.
She watched Barrington’s lips as he spoke. Nia could just about imagine his lips . . .
Raising her head defiantly, she reminded him, “I don't take orders from you since according to you I am no longer employed here.”
“Which means you're trespassing, so leave,” Hunter got directly in her face.
Amused, Nia tried to stifle a smile. “What's this? A family affair?”
“Thanks to you, it's a family reunion,” Tyler said. “And we were having a wonderful time before you so rudely showed your face here.”
“Which,” Kane joined Tyler's side, “is just downright stupid considering you're a wanted fugitive.”
I take it you must be Barrington's infamous cousin I've heard so much about.” Nia's emerald green eyes roamed him up and down. “You are a handsome thing.” She grinned and said, “Did you know your cousin wanted me to consider going out with you? I guess now you can thank your lucky stars I refused the offer.”
Kane rolled his eyes. “Sweetheart, you're not even in my field of interest. And as far as being lucky goes, I'm a star player on God's team, which automatically means I'm fortunate. Luck is for amateur players like you, who star on the devil's crew.”
Having understood sports humor, Crush, Bobby, Usher and Barrington laughed.
“Oh, you've got jokes.” Nia tilted her head. “In addition to being handsome, you're a funny man too, I see.”
“B, why don't we just call the cops?” Kane said, waiting for his cousin to give the cue.
“Oh, now, Mr. Kane, you wouldn't really go putting an expectant woman in jail, now would you?”
Barrington's temper went into overdrive. “Nia, the only thing you should be expecting is to have the book thrown at you. What the hell were you thinking pulling a stupid stunt like kidnapping my daughter?”
“That's what we'd all like to know?” Mattie folded her arms.
Ignoring everyone but Barrington, Nia said, “What I did, sir, I did for you.” She nodded toward Perri. “That woman kept the fact that she was even carrying your child from you for the entire time she was pregnant. What do you call what she did to you?”
“Whatever I did or did not do to him is none of your business,” Perri hissed.
“And apparently, Perri, you thought it was none of his business either. But maybe if you'd thought about someone other than yourself, you'd have known what a blessed woman you were to be carrying his child.”
“I will hurt you, you stupid wench.” Perri lurched for Nia, just to be picked up once again by Bobby.
“Stop it, Perri,” Bobby spoke firmly. “Honey, she's just not worth it; think of Imani, sweetheart. She needs you; remember that.”
Nia stepped back and looked at Barrington. “You talk about me being a criminal. Your wife can't even control herself.”
“My wife, Nia is none of your business. And neither am I. Got that?”
“What I've got, is your child,” she placed a hand over her belly, “in my womb.”
“A child you obviously care nothing about, other than to use it as a pawn
to snag the supposedly father—who by the way, had no involvement or say yet again in the life of his children.” Barrington regretted the words the moment they slipped past his lips. He could feel Perri's eyes boring into his back.
Shocked by her husband's last remark, Perri could only stare at Barrington.
Celebration danced in Nia's emerald green eyes. She taunted her opponent, “Sounds like your husband hasn't forgiven you after all, sweet Perri.”
Barrington gripped Nia by the shoulders before he knew he moved. “Shut up, Nia. Don't you say another word to my wife, or I promise you, you will not like me very much afterward.” Without releasing his hold on Nia, he glanced back at Perri. “Baby, I did not mean what I said as criticism toward you. I have forgiven you, and you know that for yourself. Don't let Nia shake your faith in me or in us.”
Tears streaked Perri's face as she could only stare at the man who was supposed to be her husband, protector, defender. Her eyes lowered and with painstaking horror, she watched his hands. They were on her! It wasn't her—his wife—he was holding; it was Nia—his ex housekeeper and now, mother to his other unborn child. Feeling sick to her stomach, Perri turned her back and without warning, started throwing up.
“Looks like I win by default after all, Perri. I mean your husband's hands are on me. Didn't you see?” Nia grinned wickedly.
“Let me at her.” Hunter went for Nia but Usher grabbed her forearms.
“This heifer is asking for it.” Tyler went for Nia but Kane blocked her path.
“Get out of my way!” Hunter and Tyler screamed at Usher and Kane, neither of which was about to budge.
Barrington couldn't recall ever feeling so angry, not even when he found out about Perri's deception. “I told you to shut up, Nia. And lay off my wife,” he warned for the last time. “Don't you make a mistake and think I'm holding you for you. I'm only holding you to keep my wife and sisters' out of jail, and nothing more. You hear?” He swore to himself if he could just make himself forget it was wrong to hit a woman . . .
Nia was crestfallen, realizing that what she saw in Barrington's eyes was pure contempt. Contempt meant solely for her. She'd never seen him look at anyone the way his beautiful yellow-green eyes were now boring into her—like he could smash her to smithereens with just one slip of his self-control. She blinked back tears.
Tina graciously intervened, “Nia, please. I know there's still some good left in you, so please, Nia, just go. You've hurt enough people already. Most of all, you've taken two helpless victims: Imani and your own unborn child.”
“Nia, I want you off of my property and out of my family’s life forever, or I swear, I will have you arrested and brought up on charges of kidnapping.” Barrington dared her to challenge him. “Tina, take her anywhere but here.”
“What?” Perri shouted. “Barrington, tell me you're not serious. You can't be letting that woman just walk out of here like she didn't do anything wrong. She stole our daughter for crying out loud.”
Barrington went to his wife, taking her hands within his own. “Baby, she can't hurt us anymore; let's just be grateful for that.”
Perri snatched her hands from his, not caring about the hurt that flashed in his eyes. “You be grateful! I want justice!” She flung her gaze at Nia. “I'm calling Chief Morris right now,” she announced.
“Perri,” Barrington pulled her to his chest, refusing to let her go, though she struggled against him with all her might. “Please, Perri, she's pregnant . . . maybe with my baby—”
“What are you saying, Barrington?”
“I don't know,” he admitted.
“Do you even hear yourself?”
“Yes. I can't explain it, Perri, but if I'm responsible for another baby, I can't . . . I have to know the truth. I have to, Perri. Please understand, Perri. Please?”
“I don't understand any of this.” Perri sniffled.
“I know, baby. But if Nia is carrying my child and we send her to jail, what then?”
“She get's prosecuted, exactly as she deserves. And we get justice.”
“And what becomes of her baby?” he challenged, hating the hurt in her eyes. “No matter what, Perri, the baby Nia's carrying is innocent.”
“And so is your daughter, Barrington. But that didn't stop Nia from stealing Imani and taking off to another country with her, now did it?”
“Perri, please, let's just wait until she has the baby.”
“And then the baby will still be without its mother. So why wait?”
Imani woke up crying.
Perri said to her husband, “I don't believe you're doing this,” and walked off.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two weeks later, Perri still wasn't speaking to Barrington, even sleeping in the guest bedroom—when she wasn't spending the entire night in Imani's room for fear that she might get nabbed by that certifiable Nia. Perri swore if she never saw that woman again it would be too soon.
Today was the day Perri finally worked up the courage to confront her husband about the status of their marriage and their family as a whole. Figuring the best way to get it over with was just to do it, she said, “Barrington, I think it's best if we separate, at least until our baby is born.” There, she'd said it.
“Perri, you can't be serious.” What was she thinking?
“I am serious, too, Barrington.”
“Perri—”
“Barrington, I'm about to enter my third trimester.” She cradled her belly. “I can't bear anymore stress from the strain of our relationship, period.”
“No, Perri, stop it,” Barrington ordered. “You do not get to put a period where a comma was meant to take up space. You do not just get to announce a separation and have that be the end of it. I mean, come on, Perri, don't you think we should discuss this?”
“Barrington, please, okay?” Perri shook her head. “You could say some things and I could say some things, but nothing, and I do mean nothing, is gonna change our situation. I think Nia should be in a jail cell if not up under it, and you don't. End of conversation.”
“No, Perri, this is not the end of anything between us.” Barrington laughed but it held no humor. “Perri, don't you see what you're doing here to us and our family?”
“I'm not doing anything here except trying to keep my sanity; I'm trying my level best to keep it together as best as I can. Instead of thinking about yourself, why don't you try being me, Barrington. For once, put yourself in my shoes. I think you'll find I'm being extremely gracious considering everything I've been put through because of that madwoman Nia.” Perri scratched her scalp. “You refusing to let justice prevail is not helping our marriage at all.”
“Perri, I'm just trying to do the right thing. I don't have a precut blueprint as to how this uninvited drama is supposed to play itself out. But, baby, believe me when I assure you that I am thinking of you, how you feel, and I am trying to do what's right for all of us.”
“And in your eyes the right thing represents letting Nia off the hook scot-free? No bid to serve. No suspended sentence with parole. No justice. No nothing. So, how do you think I'm supposed to feel about that? And I'm asking not just as your wife, Barrington, but also as a human being, period.”
“Perri, how many times have you told me that God is able to take care of folks far better than we can?”
She glared at him. “Don't you do that; don't you dare take something totally unrelated I said and use it against me in said case.” Perri raised her chin. “I won't stand for it, Barrington. I will leave you standing here talking to yourself and I will not even think about hearing another word you have to say anytime soon.”
Knowing he'd pushed too far, but also that it was too late to backtrack now, Barrington said, “But don't you see, Perri, that's exactly what I need you to do.” He wanted to kiss away the hard frown lines in his wife's face. “I need you to listen to me and even if you don't understand it, I need you to hear me out on this issue.”
“You hurt me,” Perri
accused.
“And now you're hurting me,” Barrington shot back.
“Barrington, I'm trying to find a place in my heart to forgive you. And more than anything, I don't want to hurt you anymore.”
“Then don't. Okay, Perri? Just don't. It's just that simple, baby.”
“It's not that simple; our circumstances are anything but simple, Barrington.”
“Why can’t it be that simple, Perri?” he wanted to know.
“Because it is just too hard for me, Barrington,” she shook her head, “I don't think you realize just how hard this is for me. But it is, okay? It's just hard; too hard to keep dealing with in my condition. I don't need any more aggravation in my spirit and I don't need any more complications in my already too full of disappointed life.”
“And that's what I represent to you, Perri, aggravation and disappointment?”
“I'm just saying, Barrington, we need a break.”
“I don't need a break, Perri. Stop trying to speak for me.”
“Okay, fine. I need a break then. Okay?”
“And I don't get a say?”
“I need time, Barrington. Please give it to me.”
“And if I don't give it to you, Perri?”
“I'll take it anyway.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I don't need your permission, you know. I'm just being polite by asking.”
“Then why ask me for something you plan on taking anyway, Perri?”
“Because, Barrington, together, we've still got kids to consider.”
“But you're not really considering them, are you, Perri?”
She snorted. “I won't even dignify that ignorant comment.”
“Because you can't,” he accused, resenting her selfish attitude.
“No. It’s because you're wrong. You're hurt, Barrington, and you're mad because you can't have your way.”
“You mean like you want to have yours, Perri?”
“The only thing I wanna have is peace, and right now I can't get that by being here with you.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings.”
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