by Baker, T. N.
Tanya knew that some shit went down, but she didn't know any details and she also knew not pry. Before saying goodbye, C-god promised to try and meet up with her soon to explain everything, but not once did he mention their son.
CHAPTER 18
The news about Malikai really devastated Epiphany. As far as her memory was concern, she thought they had never stopped seeing each other. She recalled the weird dream she had when she was in the hospital. Over and over, she questioned it's meaning. 'Was Mali saying goodbye.'
On top of that, Epiphany had to get use to living with her parents again--something she hadn't done since she was 18, which was almost five years ago. It hadn't even been a full week yet and already they were driving her up the walls with the questions: "Epee are you okay?", "Do you have your pump?",
"Where are you going?"
"If you guys would have paid this much attention to me growing up I could've avoided a lot of trouble." She'd constant-ly say. Her dad wasn't that bad, but Epiphany could barely pee in peace without her mom breathing down her back. The only time she did manage to get some peace was when Tiara left for church, that is, after she failed to convince Epiphany to tag along. Epiphany could not believe how involved her mom really was with the church thing. She was still giving Jay the cold shoulder for his determination to find C-God Jay was beginning to think she had another man because he always thought church was only on Sundays, whereas his wife was faithfully attending every Sunday, Wednesdays and Friday evening service. It got to the point where he would smell her panties once she took them off, just to make sure they didn't have a sex or latex scent.
"Alone at last," Epiphany sighed relief. It was one of those evenings when Tiara had church and Jay happened to be out in the streets. Epiphany hadn't fully recovered yet, but she needed to go back to her place, she had to, in search of some answers.
She grabbed her cellphone and car keys and out the door she went. Once she reached her apartment, she instantly spotted a 'for rent' sign in the window. She got out the car and attempted to use her key, but the didn't work. She walked around to the side of the two family house and peaked through the her bedroom window, it was empty from what she could see. "Where the fuck is my shit." She screamed as she walked back to her car.
Epiphany grabbed her cellphone and dial the number on the 'for rent' sign.
"Hello?" a man's voice answered.
"Yes, is this Mr. Raymond?" She was obviously aggravated.
"Ahhh, yeah. Who am I speaking with?" Mr. Raymond responded back.
"This is Epiphany Wright, I was renting your 1st floor apartment over here off of Guy R Brewer Ave. and I need to know where my stuff is."
"Well young lady, I don't know where your stuff is, but I do know that a gentleman claiming to be your father paid me the remaining balance of your lease and took your belongings with him."
"Oh, okay then, thanks." Epiphany hit the end call button on her phone. She sat parked in front of the house staring off into space when suddenly a quick glimpse came to her. She saw Malikai's truck pull up in front of her apartment, then he was sitting on her couch. What Epiphany saw next caused her to have an asthma attack. She saw herself standing in front of Mali, pointing her gun at him and in one last flash the gun went off.
Wheezing and gasping for air, she searched the car for her asthma pump, but only found a brown paper bag instead. With tears pouring down her face she quickly placed the bag over her mouth, then inhaled and exhaled until she gained control of her breathing. "Oh my god, I killed him" she whispered.
Epiphany replayed Mali's murder in her mind for days, but it just didn't make sense to her. "If I killed Malikai then who shot me? Was it in self -defense?" The same two questions kept popping up in her head. She couldn't eat or sleep since her revelation, she needed answers. If her father was the last one in her apartment she felt it was time to ask him some questions.
"Daddy, listen. I really need to talk to you."
"What's up Epee?" Jay Wright responded.
"Are the police trying to find out what really happened?"
"I doubt it, as far as they're concerned your friend is just one less nigga they got to worry about. The truth will surface sooner or later and when it does I'll take care of it, meanwhile don't stress yourself out Epee."
"But Daddy, you don't understand, I need to know what happened." Epiphany said slightly raising her voice.
"Epee, look I don't know what to tell you. I tried to warn you about the company you was keeping, but you didn't want to hear it."
"Daddy did anything look suspicious in my apartment, like my locks? Were they broken or anything?"
"No, besides the blood stained couch and a busted up stereo nothing was out of place."
"My gun Daddy, the nine you gave me, was it still in my closet? Epiphany continued to question.
"Nah, I ain't see no gun."
"Do you think the police found it?" Epiphany asked.
"Hell no, you kidding me. If so, they would've had a field day prosecuting you, especially since you're my daughter." Jay Wright said, checking his Rolex for the time.
"Epee look, I have to go and take care of something, you gon be a'ight?"
"Yeah, I'm cool." Epiphany answered disappointedly. Her father's answers weren't much help.
CHAPTER 19
"I feel so stupid. I can't believe Tucker just fucked me and left without saying a word, like I'm some whore off the street or something." It was day two since they hit skins and still no Tucker insight, not even a courtesy call. Keisha tried reaching him on his cell, but after leaving several messages, she gave up.
At that moment, there was only one word to describe how Keisha was feeling-- played. 'If this is Tucker's way of making me feel like shit on the bottom of his shoe, well damn it, he's done it.' Tears began to run down her face and the feeling of loneli-ness came over her. 'Maybe he's seeing someone else,' she thought. 'All the signs are right in my face; he won't answer my calls, he can't be living out of a hotel all this time and he fucked me with a condom. I guess to keep from bringing my scent home to his new girl. That has to be it." Keisha cried out, her assump-tions made everything seem all too clear. She got out of bed and started packing all of Tucker's belongings. "If you want to be with somebody else that's fine, but you won't do it here," she screamed out, while throwing all his things into garbage bags.
"I'm done with the apologies and making an ass out of myself over and over again." Keisha struggled as she dragged the bags down the steps and left them by the front door. Then, she dialed Tucker, who of course didn't answer. "Tucker this is Keisha and since you haven't bothered to return any of my calls, don't. Just come and get your stuff, it's already packed and waiting by the door. So the hard part is over. Goodbye." Keisha exhaled as she plopped down to the floor and new tears began to fall replacing the dry ones. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, but all she kept asking herself was, "Damn, how could I be so stupid?
Why did I do it? I know he's not coming back." Still holding the phone in her hand she decide to call and check on her son.
"Hello?" answered her grandmother.
"Hi Nana, it's me Keisha."
"Hi Keisha, baby, how's things up that way?"
"Fine, is my mother around?"
"No honey, she took the baby to the park. Keisha he is so precious."
"Thank you, I miss him so much, but I'm gonna a need a little more time to myself, so can you please tell her to call me when she gets back?"
"I sure will and listen honey I heard about them problems you having up there with that man of yours. Don't let him get you down -you hear? I'm praying for you. And don't be no fool, you make sure you putting away some of that money he got - you hear me? Take as much time as you need, don't worry about this beautiful little boy of yours, he's being well taking care of-you hear?"
"Thanks Nana."
"Alright now baby," said Nana, before hanging up the phone.
CHAPTER 20
Shana was tight ab
out having to pay Smitty that kind of hush money. Besides, she was starting to wonder if it was even worth it. K.C. didn't even bring his black ass home last night and yet she was paying his right-hand man a cut of the money she made.
Shana wanted to get her mind off the stress in her life, she needed to throw on her 'fuck him dress', head to the club, get her drink on, dance and just have some fun for a change. She called Keisha to see if she was down. Clubbing was something Keisha hadn't done in years, so it might help her get her mind off Tucker.
"Hello?" Keisha picked up after the fifth ring.
"Damn Keish, I was about to hang the fuck up, what you doing?"
"Nothing girl, just finished surfing the net for a job and waiting for Tucker to come and get his things?"
"Job, what you talking about? Tucker's moving out?"
"He needs to, I packed all his stuff and told him to come get it, so that means I'm going to need a job, so I won't go through the money I've been saving."
"Shit is that bad, huh?"
"Yep, I'm only fooling myself thinking he'll take me back. It's obvious he don't want to be with me anymore, so I might as well face it."
"Did he say that?"
"No, but his action say it. I can't even be mad at him because if he did what I did, I probably wouldn't want him neither."
"Keish, you know what your problem is, you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out the house and have some fun. Fuck that nigga, let's go out and get our club on or something girl, do you for a change."
" I don't know," she said hesitantly.
"Keisha, what you mean you don't know? The baby ain't there and neither is Tucker. So come on, let's have some fun, PLEASE," Shana said putting the beg on. Keisha sat on that thought a few moments longer, it was time to get out, have a little fun and focus on doing her.
"Alright I'm down, let me see if Epiphany wants to come too."
"Epiphany! Do you think she's well enough to go to a club?" Shana asked.
"Yeah she's good, it'll be like old times, just the three of us."
"Cool, I'll check back with you around ten o'clock."
"Just come over." Keisha hung up with Shana and dialed Epiphany.
"Praise the lord," answered Mrs. Wright.
"Ahhhh, h-e-l-l-o?" said Keisha.
"Yes, who would you like to speak to?"
"Mrs. Wright."
"Yes."
"Oh hi, is Epiphany there? It's Keisha."
"Hi sweetie, hold for a moment okay? Epiphany, Keisha's on the phone," she yelled.
"Hello?" said Epiphany, picking up the phone.
"Hey girl, what's up?" Keisha asked.
"Girl, my moms is driving me nuts."
"Why, what's wrong?"
"She done went Christian crazy. Every five minutes she's talking about God or trying to get me to go to church with her.
She even bought me a bible and get this, she plays church music all fucking day now."
"Well, what does your father say?" Keisha asked.
"What can he say, she ain't even speaking to him, for whatever reason. But, I'm guessing it has something to do with her new found religion. And that's not even the half of it, she told me that the name Epiphany meant some type of celebration for Christ."
"What?" Keisha questioned in disbelief.
"Yes girl, that's it for me. I have to get the hell out of here, she's too much for me. I'll never get my memory back living here." Epiphany laughed.
"I got an idea, why don't you come stay with me?" Keisha suggested.
"Are you serious? What about Tucker?"
"I packed his stuff, girl." Keisha said in a disappointed tone and sucked her teeth before continuing. "Besides it ain't like he's ever here anyway, so he might as well take his belongings with him, right? Anyway don't worry about him, just come on, okay?" "Check you out, finally putting your foot down. Even thought you did wait until you fucked up to do it, but at least you doing it. Anyway we'll talk about it when I get there."
"No, we'll talk about it tomorrow 'cause me, you, and Shana hanging out tonight."
"Oh, for real. I'm with that, I'll see you in a minute then."
CHAPTER 21
Epiphany was so anxious to move out of her parents' house, that she didn't put much thought into her decision to move with Keisha. All she knew was she wanted out and wasn't quite ready to get a place of her own just yet. Epiphany also knew that even though she was grown, her Mom would make a big deal about her leaving, so she decided that easing her way out would be her best move. 'I'll just pack enough for a few nights, tell them I'm chilling with Keisha for a few days and then gradually get the rest of my things,' Epiphany thought as she plotted out her plan. She packed fast and did just that, she told her parents it was only for a few nights. Tiara was uneasy about her spending the night out so soon after what had happened and bearing in mind her condition, just as Epiphany expected her to her to be. She already had her, "I'm 22 soon to be 23, which means I'm not asking permission, I'm just letting you guys know where I'll be" speech prepared.
"Baby she is grown, besides it's only for a couple of nights." Jay Wright assuring Tiara that Epiphany would be fine. It was a done deal, Epiphany was out the door and in her car as soon as she said her rushed goodbyes. She turned on the radio and blasted Hot 97 all the way to Keisha's house. Keisha rushed to the door, kicking Tucker's bags further to the side to make room for Epiphany to enter.
"Hey girl!" she screamed full of excitement as they rocked side to side hugging each other tightly.
"Thanks, Keish, for letting me chill here."
"Girl please! Don't even mention it, you know your like a sister to me, so cut it out and get in here. Shana should be here around ten."
"Damn, what's all this?" Epiphany asked referring to the bags by the door.
"Tucker's stuff. What you thought I was playing? I think it's really over between us 'cause he don't act like he feeling me at all."
"Keish, he's probably just wants to make you suffer for a little while, that's all."
"Oh, so I guess that's why he fucked me the other night, fell asleep with his back turned and then got up and left and hasn't spoke to me since."
"Shit at least you got some, I can't even remember the last time I had some dick. I just hope for your sake you put it on his ass and fucked him good, 'cause if you did, he ain't going nowhere," laughed Epiphany.
"You know I did girl!" Keisha said wondering if her sex was as good to him as his was to her. "Come on let me take you to your room 'cause we need to be getting ready."
CHAPTER 22
The trio was back together again. It had been a while since all three of the girls hit the club together, so of course they had to represent. Epiphany was dressed in an all black halter top cat suit by Sean John (Not the Sean John hood shit you find in Monies or Macy's, this was P.Diddy's exclusive runway shit-ONLY for the grown and sexy). She wore her hair straight back and it flowed nicely down her back. She applied a glitter gloss to her lips along with an earth tone eye shadow that complimented her slanted eyes. After all her last minute primping, she slid her freshly French pedicured feet into her Gucci sandals and was ready for whatever. Keisha was dressed a little too conser-vative for Epiphany's taste-- a knee-length Chanel skirt with a buttoned up blouse by Donna Karen. Sister needed some serious help.
"Oh hell no, you ain't going with me looking like that. We're going to a club not a fucking job interview." Epiphany snapped.
"I know, but I don't have nothing else to wear." Keisha whined. Epiphany dug down in her bag and pulled out a fitted little dress by BCBG.
"Here put this on," she said throwing it at Keisha. The dress was a little too short and sexy for Keisha ,but she didn't want to hear Epiphany's plain Jane jokes, so she decided to just rolled with it. Epiphany took care of her hair and make-up and Keisha threw on some Stiletto mid-way calf boot from Aldo to at least hide some of her legs. Shana arrived at a quarter past ten. She was looking cute as well, wearing a black and
white sheer shirt that hung off her right shoulder, black stretch boot-cut pants and a pair of heels. She wasn't really into all that name brand shit, to her it was the person that made the clothes not the other way around. So while chicks were out there trying to keep up with the Jones' (like her mother, Ms. Pat, would say)--spending three or four hundred for an outfit--Shana's cost about eighty bucks and she still looked good. Epiphany was glad that both of her girls finally had their own rides now, but she got a little jealous when Keisha volunteered to be the designated driver with her brand new, fully loaded X5 with spinners.
"Keisha, when did you get this." she asked.
"Oh Tucker bought it, but he gave it to me right before all the drama started, why you like it?"
"Yeah it's a'ight, but he should of got you the silver one though." Shana rolled her eyes noticing Epiphany's hateration, but kept quite about it because she was determined to have a good time tonight. The girls made it to Club Suede around midnight. They headed straight for the bar. The club was kind of empty at first, but didn't take long to fill up with all kinds of people; black, white, Asian, you name it and they were up in there partying it up. Suede was also a well-known hang out spot for the baller/celebrities. That particular night, P. Diddy and his entourage was up in there along with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, who danced the night away in the VIP section.
Epiphany, of course being the diva she only knew how to be, wanted nothing less then VIP status, plus she wanted Puffy to noticed her and how good she looked in his Sean John design.