“Well, hello to you too,” I said sarcastically.
“I’m really not in the mood for your sarcasm Kennedi,” she said with an attitude.
“And why are you wearing sunglasses in the house? The sun is not even shining outside.”
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and started to walk away until I heard her crying.
“What’s wrong Tiffany? Did that bastard do something to you? I asked while rubbing her back. She didn’t reply, but I got my answer when she took off her glasses. Her right eye was black and swollen to the point that it was almost closed.
“Oh my God Tiffany! Why do you keep letting him do this to you? You need to leave his crazy ass alone,” I yelled.
“I did leave him, but where am I supposed to go? I gave up my apartment and moved in with him when our office closed,” she cried.
“You can’t be serious right now. My door has always been opened to you. I live here alone, so you don’t have any excuses,” I fussed.
“I know that, but you’re about to have a new baby. I don’t want to impose on you. I just need my eye to heal up, and I’ll probably go back to my dad’s house for a while,” she replied.
“You are not imposing and you know it. I’m in here alone most of the time. I could use the company,” I said honestly. Aside from my mother and Tiffany, I really didn’t talk to anyone. Scott and I never really talk anymore either. He’ll text me from time to time to see how I’m doing, but that’s about all. When Dominic and I were together I tried to form a relationship with his sister, but that never worked. She seems to love Brooklyn, but I don’t think she cared for me very much. At least I won’t feel so lonely if Tiffany comes to live with me.
“So what happened to make him hit you this time?” I asked.
“Kevin and Shannon went to jail two nights ago, and Kyle said that’s it’s my fault,” she replied with her head hanging low. “He was alright until he went to their arraignment hearing this morning and found out about all that they’re being charged with.”
“How in the hell is any of that your fault?” I yelled.
“It’s a long story Kennedi. I really don’t feel like talking about it right now,” she said trying to get away from the subject.
“Well, that’s too bad. You need to tell me everything that’s going on. I don’t trust Kyle’s ass, and I told you that from the start. You’ve changed so much since you got with him.”
“I’m so scared Kennedi. He’s been doing all kinds of crazy shit, and he’s gotten me involved in some of it. He keeps telling me that if I tell anybody I won’t live to see the next day, and I believe him,” she cried.
“Stop crying and talk to me. You know that I won’t say anything. I don’t even talk to anybody besides you.”
“Well, for starters, Kevin and Kyle have been going around robbing people. I swear I didn’t know what was going on at first. He would always tell me to drive, but I never saw what they did when they got out of the car. I always parked a few streets over until they came back,” she confessed.
“Tiffany no, I can’t believe that you got yourself hooked up in his mess. When you found out about it, you should have left him alone and moved out,” I yelled.
“It wasn’t that easy Kennedi. I don’t have a job or any savings. I needed the money then, and I still need it now. He’s been taking care of me since I’ve been out of work. How do you think I was able to give you money and help buy things for the baby? I’ve been looking for another job, but I still haven’t had any luck yet,” she replied.
“That still doesn’t explain the black eye that you’re wearing,” I retorted.
“Two days ago Kyle asked me to drive while he and Kevin did their thing, but the plans changed at the last minute. Shannon ended up going with Kevin while Kyle hit a lick somewhere else. They hit up two areas in the ninth ward, but they didn’t get much from that. Kevin suggested going to the French Quarters, but I was against the idea from the beginning. After Kyle called and chewed me out I finally agreed to go. I told them where I would be when they got done, but after an hour they still hadn’t come back. It usually doesn’t take that long, so I drove around trying to see if I saw them. That’s when I spotted the police cars blocking off the street. When I got out of my car and got a closer look, I saw Kevin and Shannon in the back of one of the cars. Kyle got pissed and said that I left them, but there was nothing that I could do. I’m lucky that I didn’t get arrested right along with them,” she said as a steady stream of tears cascaded down her face.
Now it’s all making sense to me. Tiffany has been having more money now than she had when we were working. I just hate that she got hooked up with Kyle and his mess in order to get it. I hate to see my cousin and only friend in the world go through what she’s going through. Ever since Bryce did her wrong, her life had gone downhill.
“I don’t care what you say you are not going back to him. You can stay here for as long as you like. Don’t worry about the bills because Dominic is going to take care of that. As soon as I have my baby I’m taking his ass straight to court,” I promised.
“I have something else to tell you,” Tiffany said as she looked down and fidgeted with her hands.
“What is it?” I asked giving her my undivided attention.
“Kevin, Kyle, and I are the ones that burned down Bryce’s shop. I know that I was wrong for participating, but he deserved it. He broke my heart, and I haven’t been the same since then. Honestly, I don’t even feel bad about it,” she admitted.
“And you shouldn’t,” I said agreeing with her. “You gave him everything and he left you with nothing. If it weren’t for you, his ass probably wouldn’t even have that shop. Fuck Bryce!”
“So you don’t think I was wrong for helping them?” She asked me.
“No, I don’t and stop beating yourself up over it. He doesn’t care about you so why should you care about him,” I replied.
“It was actually Kyle’s idea, but I couldn’t let them do it without me. I only wish that Bryce and Taylor were in there to burn right along with everything else,” she said angrily.
“And that bitch Brooklyn too,” I chimed in. I’ve never hated a person so much to wish death on them, but Brooklyn is the exception.
We laid around and talked until after four in the morning. Both of us fell asleep on the sofa since we were too lazy to go upstairs. The next afternoon I got up before Tiffany only because my bladder wouldn’t let me sleep any longer. I looked down at Tiffany’s ringing phone and hit decline when I saw Kyle trying to call her again. He’s been calling her nonstop since last night trying to apologize for hitting her. If I hadn’t been there to stop her, she would have answered and been on her way back to him by now. I hate that Tiffany showed him where I lived. I don’t want his rundown looking ass coming to my house looking for her. I would have the police here before he could even ring my doorbell.
After doing my normal hygiene routine, I grabbed the phone book to order me and Tiffany something to eat. I’d been craving pizza for a while, and that’s exactly what I’m about to order. I was about to wake Tiffany up to ask her what she wanted when a sharp pain hit me in my side. It was so painful that I dropped the phone book and held on to the counter.
“Tiffany!” I yelled out in fear and pain. I didn’t want to scare her, but I was scared my damn self. She stirred a little before turning on her side to go back to sleep. I called her name again, but this time louder than before.
“What’s wrong?” She asked as she jumped up from the sofa.
“I’m in so much pain. I think I need to go to the hospital,” I replied through clenched teeth.
“Ok, you want me to call Dominic?”
“No, just help me get dressed so we can go.”
“You’re not going to tell him what’s going on?” She asked me.
“I don’t know Tiffany. I’m in too much pain to think about that right now. Maybe I’ll call Mrs. Liz once I get there.”
She stopped a
sking questions long enough to run upstairs and grab me some clothes. After getting dressed, we walked to her car and made our way to the hospital. Tiffany was driving like a mad woman, and she scared me more than the impending birth of my daughter. I held on tight and said a prayer that me and baby girl made it to the hospital in one piece.
DOMINIC
Since Brooklyn has been inside with the kids for two weeks straight, I decided to take her out for a little while. She never complains, but I know it has to be hard dealing with a two-month-old and a two-year-old all day. David and I have been kind of busy too since we signed on to help the construction company. We’re not complaining either because the money is flowing in. He wanted to take Candace somewhere too so we decided to do a double date. My mother-in-law agreed to watch the kids for a while to give us some time alone. We went to a movie and headed to dinner soon after.
“What’s going on with Kennedi?” David asked. “She should be having the baby soon.”
“She should, but I haven’t talked to her. She doesn’t need to call me until it’s time for the baby to come. She’s still on that bullshit, and I don’t have time for it,” I replied. Kennedi has really been doing too much lately, and I’m sick of it. She told my mama what theme she wanted for the baby, and I didn’t have a problem getting whatever she needed. My wife had gone out of her way to shop and buy everything that she thought my daughter would need. When she was done, she’d spent well over three thousand dollars buying everything in the Minnie Mouse theme that Kennedi wanted. My mama and daddy packed up their cars and took everything to her house that very same night. I didn’t expect her to call and thank me, but I damn sure didn’t expect to see everything piled up in front of my office when I got to work the next morning. She sent me a text saying that she knew that I didn’t pick out our daughter’s stuff, and she didn’t want anything from Brooklyn. Since Brooklyn is my wife, that was just like her saying that she didn’t want anything from me either.
“I can’t believe her stupid ass sent back all the stuff that y’all bought. Especially after we spent our whole day picking everything out,” Candace said. She and Co-Co spent their entire day shopping with Brooklyn, and they were pissed as well.
“I don’t know what to say. I guess I’ll figure out what to buy once the baby gets here,” I replied.
“You won’t be figuring out shit,” Brooklyn snapped. “She had everything that she needed delivered right to her front door. She’s the one that wanted to be stupid and send it back. Since that bitch wants to be petty, I’m about to show her how it’s done. I returned everything and put that money right back into our account.”
“Oh well, the woman of the house has spoken, I guess that’s a wrap,” I said as I continued to eat my food. I can’t even be mad at Brooklyn for how she feels. Kennedi is being a bitch just because she could.
“I know that’s right cousin,” Candace said smiling at Brook. It still amazes me sometimes when I see how much she’s matured over the years. She’s so good with our kids, and our house is always spotless. I can’t recall one time that I didn’t come home to a hot meal. She did all of that while still maintaining her grades in school. She took online classes during the summer, but she’s going back on campus in a few weeks. I’m so proud of her, and I make sure I tell her every chance I get. I couldn’t ask for a better wife than the one I have. When we first met, I didn’t think it would go as far as us being married. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
“Did Nadia leave yet?” David asked Candace.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her since I left the hospital,” she replied.
“She must have thought that she was about to die or something. That heifer was making deathbed confessions like she was on her way out of here,” David laughed.
I was pissed when Candace told us about everything that Nadia had said. I was especially pissed when I heard that Kevin was the cause of Taylor and Brooklyn’s accident. Bryce and Jaden wanted to go find him, but it was too late for all of that. Kevin and his girlfriend made the front page of the paper when they got arrested a few days ago. They were arrested for a string of robberies in the French Quarters and in the uptown area. According to the newspapers, they aren’t getting out anytime soon. The police were even trying to see if they’re responsible for more than the ones that they’ve been charged with. Kyle must be hiding out somewhere because he’s nowhere to be found. Jaden and I even went back to the area where we saw him and Tiffany at a while ago, but that was a dead end.
“Going to Virginia was the best thing for her to do. She’s too stupid to live by herself. She needs to be with her mama,” Candace said.
“Brook, I’m so happy that you married this nigga. He picks the craziest bitches in the world to hook up with. Ain’t no telling who he would’ve brought home next,” David said laughing at me.
I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t have the best track record with women, but that’s all over with now. My marriage to Brooklyn is most definitely until death. I can’t see myself being without her. I miss her even when I’m at work, and that’s only for a few hours. Our chemistry is like magic, and it’s been that way from day one.
“You want something else baby?” I asked Brooklyn. She only had a shrimp salad with lemon water, but that didn’t look like enough to fill her up. She put herself on a strict diet after she had Dominque, but I don’t want her to lose too much weight. She’s right between an eight and a ten and that’s perfect for me. She wants to lose ten more pounds, but I’m not having it. She’s perfect to me, even after having two babies back to back.
“No, I’m good. You can get the check whenever you’re ready,” she replied. I called for our waitress to come over right as my phone started ringing. Brooklyn answered it and passed it to me telling me that it was my mother.
“What’s up ma?” I asked when I got on the phone.
“I’m on my way to the hospital. Kennedi’s cousin called and said that they’ve been up there since earlier today. She didn’t want her to call anybody, but she snuck and called me anyway. That lil bitch is gon’ make me slap her stupid ass one of these days. I don’t have time to be playing these games with her. Her cousin said that she’s about eight centimeters now. She’ll probably have the damn baby before I can get there,” she rambled on.
“Alright ma, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I replied. “I’m riding with David, so I need to go get my truck.”
“Just tell David to drop you off. I don’t want to be up here with them by myself.”
“Okay, I’m coming,” I said before hanging up.
“What’s wrong?” Brook asked once I disconnected the call.
“Kennedi is in labor. Her stupid ass is already eight centimeters, and she told Tiffany not to call anybody,” I replied angrily. When the waitress came over I paid our tab as we all got up from the table. I grabbed my wife’s hand and headed for the exit.
“We can drop you off, and I’ll bring your truck to you whenever you want it,” Brooklyn suggested.
“What do you mean y’all can drop me off? They can drop us off because you’re coming right with me,” I replied.
“Shit, I’m coming too. Y’all know I’m nosey,” David said when we got to his car.
“Let me call my mama and let her know what’s going on. I need to be going to get my own kids instead of going to the hospital while Kennedi has hers,” Brooklyn fussed.
“Just tell her that we’ll come and get them as soon as we can. I really need you there with me,” I said as I gripped her hand tighter.
I listened as Brooklyn told her mother what was going on. She told us that the kids could stay all night if we needed to stay at the hospital for a while. I appreciated the gesture, but that wouldn’t be necessary. There’s no way in hell that I was staying at that hospital all night with Kennedi’s ass. Brooklyn wouldn’t let me even if I wanted to. We stopped at a red light just as my mama called me again.
I blew out a breath of fr
ustration before I answered. “Yeah, ma.”
“I just got here, but she already had the baby. The nurse said that they’ll bring her back to the room once she gets weighed and cleaned up.”
“So are you in the room with Kennedi right now?” I asked.
“No, that bitch had the nerve to ask me what was I doing here. Once I see my grandbaby, I’m taking my ass right back home. Her cousin and her uncle are here too.”
“We’re not that far away. I’ll see you in a minute,” I said before hanging up.
“What happened?” David asked.
“She already had the baby. She pissed mama off and you know she’s ready to leave the hospital. She’s waiting for them to bring the baby back to the room before she leaves though,” I answered.
“What did she name her?” Candace asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t even ask,” I replied.
“You alright boo?” Brook asked while looking over at me.
She could probably see the aggravation written all over my face. I’m really not in the mood to deal with Kennedi and her bitching. That’s one of the main reasons why I wanted my wife with me. She could always calm me down whenever things get too rough. Since Tiffany is up there, I’ll probably have to calm her down too.
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