Still Sheisty: Part 2 (Triple Crown Publications Presents)

by Baker, T. N.

  "Ummm, smells interesting" He said.

  "I know honey, I wanted to make you some breakfast, but it didn't turn out so great. Maybe we should go and get some take out again. I'm sorry!" Lea said in a disappointing tone.

  "It's all good. Listen, let me kick it with you for a minute." Tucker took Lea by her hand and lead her to the living room couch. "Lea, I've been thinking about just letting Keisha go ahead and take full custody of lil' man. I know he's a handful and with you in school and everything, I just don't feel it's fair to you to have to take care of my son when he's Keisha responsibility." Tucker wanted to see where her head was at.

  Lea's face lit up without smiling.

  "Well honey, you know lil' man is a handful, but I don't mind looking after him. However, I think he does need to be with his mother. He misses Keisha, that's why I think he doesn't like me."

  "Yeah, maybe your right, 'cause I know lil' man can make you wanna to knock the shit out of him sometimes, right?" Tucker chuckled then got serious. "Right, Leanne?" He asked again, looking her dead in the eye.

  "No, I would never do that." Lea answered nervously.

  "You wouldn't, are you sure about that?" "Of course I'm sure, what are you getting at?"

  "I'm getting at the fact that your not the only one that knows how to set up a hidden camcorder. That's right don't look sick in the face now. I saw you! I got you on tape hitting on my son." Tucker lied to get her to confess.

  "Tucker wait hear me out, I can explain that. I didn't even hit him hard, I was just teaching him some discipline-"

  "Lea, just go upstairs, get your shit and get the hell up out of my house. A'ight!" Tucker didn't want to hear her bullshit.

  "Tucker please, don't!" Lea cried. Tucker let out a hard sigh, jumped up from the couch and yoked her up from the couch by her neck.

  "Don't what? You violated when you put your hands on my son and that shit you did to Keisha was foul. Either you gon' get your shit and go, or leave it for the trash, but you better decide quick and trust me when I tell you this is me being nice!" Lea's eyes watered from the tight grip Tucker called 'being nice'. When he let Lea go, she was shook, so shook that she left her all her belongings behind, grabbed her car keys and got the fuck up out of there. She knew she could never be his number one.

  CHAPTER 57

  Epiphany thought about what happened between her and Smitty the entire night. Allowing herself to be in his company again, sickened her. She didn't feel comfortable playing this little game anymore. All type of thoughts started to cross her mind, mainly that maybe she was the one being played. 'Smitty almost raped me a second time last night and Ness tried to kill me, shit maybe their scheming to finish me off'. Finally, thinking sensibly, Epiphany felt seeking revenge this way didn't seem so sweet or safe for her anymore and it certainly wasn't worth losing her life over (for real this time). She eased Smitty's arm from around her, got out of bed and quietly put her clothes on. Before sneaking out, Epiphany gathered up all Smitty's belongings including his cell phone and took them with her. Inside her car she emptied out his pockets: $180 dollars in crumbled up twenties, a Cartier watch, platinum chain with a diamond studded Jesus head medallion, a wallet with nine crisp $100 dollar bills and his license. Epiphany started up her car and pulled off, reaching halfway home she smiled to herself. 'Payback is a bitch!' She stopped at a gas station and tossed the useless possessions--his clothes, sneakers, empty wallet and phone-- in a dumpster.

  Strolling in the house, Epiphany was so excited to see her godson and Keisha together. She picked him up and held him tightly and he patted her softly on her back.

  "Ooh it's so good to see you lil' T. I can't believe how big he got Keisha." Epiphany kissed his cheeks. This was the first time she had seen him since she'd been home from the hospital.

  "I know, they were feeding my baby well in ATL." They laughed and so did lil' T. " E, I thank you for making me realize that my son is my life. So much has happen and part of it was because of my stupidity and the other part, girl you wouldn't believe it if I told you."

  "What?" Epiphany asked.

  "We'll talk later, but since you're finally home for a change why don't you take us for a ride to get some breakfast."

  "Damn, I would love to Keish, but I have to start packing."

  "Packing what, where you going? You just got home.

  "Packing my shit, girl, I'm moving to Jersey with Wild."

  "The music producer?"

  "Um hum, and by the way, where's my parents ?"

  "Damn E, see that goes to show that you ain't never home 'cause you don't never know what's going on. Tiara and Jay when on a three day Gospel cruise.

  "Gospel cruise! Pops must of finally gave in." Epiphany said in shock.

  "Yeah, church is not so bad, you know."

  "Oh God, not you, too, Keish?"

  "Epiphany don't knock getting saved until you try it. Can I use your car while you pack?" Epiphany paused for a moment and wondered how her mom managed to turn everybody holy.

  "Unbelievable," she mumble as she handed Keisha her car keys.

  "Thanks, we won't be long." Keisha took lil' man from Epiphany arms and headed out the door. Epiphany rushed to the basement and started packing. Far in back of one of her drawers, she found some photos of herself, Keisha and Shana from the old days, when their clique was inseparable. 'Now Keisha's a mommy, Shana's married and I'm finally getting out of Southside Jamaica'. Deep down inside she was going to miss her hood, but she vowed she'd never come back there to live. The house phone rang, Epiphany thought about not answering it, but assumed that it might be her parents calling so she decided to pick up.

  "Wright residence."

  "You have a call from "Ramel" at a correctional facility. To decline the call please hang up, If you except dial 5 now," said the recording. Epiphany rolled her eyes and hung up. A few minutes later it rang again, and she excepted the call.

  "Hello, what happen?" Ramel said wondering why the phone cut off.

  "Nothing happened" Epiphany said coldly.

  "Epiphany!"

  "Yeah."

  "Oh shit what up, babygirl? I finally caught up with you. I been trying to holla at you for a while now, but you don't never be home. How's everything; you alright?" After Ramel had move out of her parent's house years back, him and Epiphany did their best to avoid each other.

  "I was until now!"

  "Yo, listen Epiphany, I'm sorry for that foul shit I put you through. Damn you don't know how much that shit fucks with me everyday, especially now that I got a little girl. I hate myself for that nasty shit, I know I violated you in the worst way and you never told on me as many time as you threatened to, you didn't. Hello, you there?" Ramel was uncertain she was there 'cause she had been so silent.

  "I'm here." Tears started to run down her face.

  "Oh, a'ight, just making sure. But listen, that's my time I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry. I love you and please be careful out there on them streets. Oh and between me and you, your pops and I searched hard looking for the nigga C-God. But, don't worry he'll surface one day and word is out in all the jails, so if he get lock up he's finished; dead just like the rest of his brothers." Ramel guaranteed her.

  "Ramel, can you keep your eyes and ears open for this kid named Ness, he was the one that shot me. Oh and a cat named Smitty, he was down with it too."

  "Ness, oh word he was the trigger man! I'm hearing alotta bad shit about that kid. He done already signed his death certifi-cate when he kill that cat from Lefrak. He won't be breathing to much longer, but the other cat, I got you. A'ight, babygirl, I gotta go though please take of yourself."

  "I will and thanks Uncle." Uncle Ramel smiled because in his heart he knew Epiphany's last words meant that she forgave him. She stopped calling him uncle years ago.

  CHAPTER 58

  Shana's heart sunk when the "fat cracker bastard" denied her bail and adjourned her case for thirty days, suggesting that she utilize the time to adjust her att
itude problem. She turned to her lawyer, with a 'do something' look, but Shana(coming up in the court room rolling her eyes and sucking teeth before the judge) made it difficult to do anything. As she was being escorted back to the cell, Shana turned to K.C.

  'Damn, I knew her attitude was gon get her in trouble one day'. K.C. shook his head in disappointment.

  Shana timed K.C. perfectly because as soon as he walked in the apartment she called. K.C.

  "Yo," K.C. answered, rushing over to the phone.

  "Hey K.C.," Shana said.

  "Ain't no 'hey' Shana, what the fuck was all that attitude about, today? Don't you know fucking around with the judge like that, you only playing with your own freedom, dummy. You could have all the attitude you want with them fucking police, but you ain't never s'pose to fucking around with no judge. But, I guess now you found that shit out the hard way, right?"

  "Yeah I guess your right, but they had it in for me from the door 'cause these cops in here already told me how it was gon' go down. That's why I had an attitude." Shana explained.

  "Regardless, you don't fuck around with the nigga that holds your freedom card."

  "Well, do you think he'll let me out on bail my next court date?"

  "Yo Sha, you disrespected a judge in his courtroom. So, I don't know? He might make you wait it out until your sentenc-ing."

  "Damn, I fucked up!"

  "Yeah, that you did."

  "Well I got to go now. I'll let you know my visitors schedule as soon as I know it, a'ight. I love you!"

  "A'ight Sha, I love ya ass too and ay, keep your head up baby girl. Shit'll be okay!"

  CHAPTER 59

  Smitty jumped up out of his sound sleep when the hotel phone rang to inform him that it was check out time.

  "Yo ma, you wanna go get some breakfast." Smitty thought Epiphany was in the bathroom, but when he didn't get a response he got up out the bed to find that she was gone and so was his things. "Damn, that fucking bitch!" he yelled out standing in just his boxers. He became even more vexed when he discovered that his cell phone was gone, too. He needed to call K.C. so he could bring him some clothes, but he didn't know the number by heart. He paced back and forth until he came up with an idea, 'I could call information and see if any Shana Scott is listed. Luckily, she was and the operator gave him two listings.

  'Please somebody be home.' His heart pounded, impatiently awaiting an answer.

  "Hello?" K.C. answered.

  "Yo man, thank God your home!"

  "Smitty?"

  "Yeah man, yo I need you to bring me a pair of jeans and a shirt" Smitty looked around the room to see if his sneakers were gone too. "Oh and some kicks, too, man."

  "Yo, nigga what happened, where you at? K.C. questioned.

  "Man, I'm at the Holiday inn next to Kennedy Airport. Yo, that fucking bitch done robbed me for my shit and bounce on a nigga while I was sleeping. Thank God I valet parked 'cause the bitch probably would of took my car keys, too."

  "Who?" K.C. laughed.

  "Your fucking chick's homegirl. That bitch Epiphany." Smitty was real sour.

  "Yo man, didn't I tell your ass to leave that shit alone? Nigga, see you don't listen." K.C. continued to laughed and rub it in.

  "Nigga. that shit ain't funny, yo, and I bet Shana's trifling ass knew what that fuck was up all along. Where she at 'cause I need that bitch, Epiphany, number again so I can get my shit back."

  "Yo, nigga, Sha ain't have shit to do with that, beside she got her own shit to deal with man. Five-o came, took my baby and locked her ass up. She gotta do thirty days before she could even go back to court for a bail."

  "Word, that's fucked up! But man, you got her cellphone at the crib with you, 'cause I need homegirl's number, now. I'm ready to kill that bitch, man. She played me good, for real!"

  "Yeah I got it, hold up." K.C. searched Shana's phone and recited both Epiphany's house and cell number to Smitty.

  "Good looking out nigga. I'm in room 234, come see me!" Smitty hung up and immediately dialed Epiphany's cell.

  Epiphany had just finished packing when she looked at the time and realized it was almost noon, which meant Wild should be out front shortly to pick her up. The closer it got to noon the more excited she became. Epiphany reached for her ringing cell phone in her purse and accidentally pulled out Smitty's chain, which she thought would be a nice gift for Wild. She grabbed her phone and noticed the screen read blocked. Now normally she didn't answer blocked calls, but she wasn't going to take any chances on missing Wild so she answered.

  "Hello?"

  "Yo, why you play me like that, that was some fucked up shit you did you know that, right?" Smitty said.

  "What? Nigga get over it! What you thought I wasn't gon' remember what you did to me. Well, the jokes on you muthafucka. It was a game nigga, you can't possibly be that dumb to think that I would fuck with you knowing that your boy is the nigga that shot me and killed my boyfriend, or maybe you are.

  'You act like your pussy is gold.' You remember saying that to me the night C-God and Mike stomped your punk ass out. Well, you know what it must be because your stupid ass went hard for it this time. Unfortunately you've been punked, muthafucka!" Epiphany was filled with vindication as she slammed down the hood of her phone.

  Smitty was steaming mad. Epiphany might have thought this shit is over, but this time he was gonna see to it the she pushed up daisies. 'Nobody gonna play me like that and live to tell it.'

  He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for K.C. to bring him some clothes.

  CHAPTER 60

  Epiphany would have felt threatened if Smitty knew where she lived, but since he didn't, fuck him. Right after she hung up on Smitty, Wild called to say he was only fifteen minutes away, "so be ready." For sure Epiphany was ready, ready to put South Side Jamaica, Queens and all it's drama behind her. She wrote three notes for the people she loved.

  Mommy I'm happy to see that you found a home in the church. Try not to worry too much, I'll be fine. I love you, oh and I promise I'll stay in touch.

  Epee,

  Daddy,

  You know your my number one, I love you more than anything. I only hope I haven't disappointed you too much I know you only want the best for me, so don't worry, I only want the best for me too! Try not to let the born again version of mommy drive you to drink. I'm just playing, I'm glad she got you into church. I'll be in touch.

  Love always,

  Epee,

  Hey Keish,

  I was hoping I'd get to see you before I left, I'm gonna miss you. You are my true friend and just because we don't have the same blood running through our veins don't mean we ain't real sisters. Take care of my godson and if you and Tucker don't get back together don't worry, it's his lost. You gotta promise me you'll come visited me soon. Tell Shana I said bye.

  I love you!

  Epiphany

  P.S.

  Keep the car.

  By the time Epiphany finished her last letter her knight in shining armor was outside her house waiting for his princess.

  She took one final look around the house and headed to the door, where Wild's driver met her at the top of the stairs to carry her bags. Off to Jersey they went.

  Keisha pulled up at the house seconds later, just missing Epiphany. She got out the car and opened the back door to take lil' man from his car seat.

  "Hey E, I'm back," she yelled once she opened the front door. When Epiphany didn't answer she put her son down and noticed there were three folded pieces of paper on the kitchen table and one of them had her name on it. She read the letter and tears started to fall. Keisha was going to miss Epiphany and part of her knew she'd probably never see her friend again. Truth be told Epiphany, was good at starting over. Keisha could only hope that she wouldn't be forgotten. She called Tucker and he told her that he and Lea were over, he also apologized for being so fucked up towards her and wanted to know if they could try and make their family work. Keisha was hesitant for a moment, but more than a
ny thing in the world she knew she wanted her family back together. She agreed, but only under certain circum-stances.

  "Tucker we can try again, but not in that house, not after Lea lived in it. I want us to start fresh." Tucker didn't see a problem with starting fresh at all. As a matter of fact when he went to get lil' man from Atlanta he loved it so much he purchased a six bedroom house on the low in hopes that maybe one day they would be united. He didn't tell her that part yet he figured he'd hold on to that bit of information and surprise her with it later.

  "Whatever you want, Keish, I'm with you."

  "Good, now me and lil' man would like to take you out."

  "Sounds good. I'll be there to pick you up in a half." Tucker said.

  "No, we're coming to get you, Epiphany gave me her ride." "Keish, I'm coming to get you. You don't need her car." After everything that went down, Tucker still disliked Epiphany.

  "Tucker, stop it, we're leaving now. You don't have to ride in my new car. We'll switch when I get there, okay baby? It's not a big deal, alright!"

  "A'ight and Keisha I want you to know that I never stopped loving you."

  "Baby, I'm glad to hear that because I still love you, too. I'll see you when I get there!" Keisha said smiling.

  Smitty spotted Epiphany's car pulling out as he turned the corner. Driving his black Expedition at full speed through the block he unloaded six shots from his nine through the driver's side window hitting Keisha. Realizing, all too late, that he shot the wrong girl, Smitty panicked and mashed down on the gas harder, losing control of the wheel, spinning across the street and crashing into a telephone pole. The impact knocked him out. A few of the neighbors witnessed the whole incident and called the police right away. Mr. Swinton, one of Jay Wright's buddies that lived next door, ran over to the car when he heard the baby's frantic cries and removed him from the back seat. Mr.

  Swinton checked his body to make sure he wasn't hit then told his wife to take him in the house away from the gruesome scene.

  In minutes the police and ambulance arrived but unfortunately Keisha was already dead.