by Nako
He noticed the various sticky notes and index cards that Money had taped and plastered all over her room.
Friendly reminders for when her memory got fuzzy such as:
Unplug the iron when you’re done.
Turn the television off before bed.
News channel is two.
Stories come on at one p.m.
Remove makeup with wipes on vanity.
Money’s number is 917-456-9840.
He read them all while realizing that his mother’s memory would soon fade away. Completely.
And, it did.
He wiped a lone tear from his face.
“Baby, I can do that now…I’m not in the streets no more. My shit legit and... she don’t even fuckin’ remember me.”
He released his truth and boy, it hurt so bad.
Carmen blinked back tears.
“You do know… it’s not intentional, she can’t help it babe.”
He knew that but still it didn’t make it any better.
“I know my brother mad at me. Carm, he doesn’t visit me no more in my dreams.” He wiped a few tears from his face. Money never wanted to see his mother in a home and that was the first thing he did after his brother’s funeral. He wasn’t in a good headspace at the time. Neezy was seeking revenge for Money’s death and he didn’t have any patience to deal with his momma. It was wrong but at the time, he did what he felt like he had to do.
“I can’t do this shit,” he gave up instantly.
His mom shitted and went right back to bed. She didn’t bother to flush the toilet or properly wash herself up.
She was in the tub, hunched over as he scrubbed her back.
“Ouch,” she winced in pain, although, he knew he wasn’t hurting her.
Tears ran down his face.
Money handled this. He was the one that saw about momma.
He fed her, bathed her, put her to bed.
She lived with him!
Neezy was already fuckin’ up by only bringing her food once a day.
It wasn’t fair and he knew it.
“I want a cat,” she said, randomly.
His patience was thin.
“Alright.”
He told her that to everything she asked of him.
“I’m going to name her Goldie; I love the name Goldie. I always said if I had a daughter I was going to name her Golden…” she shared with him.
He lifted her arm and wiped under there.
“Money, I want some chicken tonight too. Fried with some honey on it.”
Neezy didn’t correct her. She’d called him Money four times this week. He knew he looked like him but damn…
“I’ll cook whatever you want, momma.”
She looked at him and smiled.
Her wet hand touched his hairy chin, “I love you baby boy.”
Although, she thought he was his brother, the affection was still appreciated and needed.
Every day was a struggle. Trying to hold it all together in the wake of his brother’s loss.
“I love you more, Queen.”
Him and his emotions…lately, they were getting the best of him.
She crowded his space, smothering him with kisses.
“No, no, no. Nehemiah, listen to me,” she grabbed his chin.
Wiping the tears away from his sorrow filled eyes.
“He loves you, okay. Your brother loves you so much. He forgives you baby.”
He needed to hear that. He really, really did.
“I gotta do better,” he admitted. Neezy wanted to get his shit together and it started with him buying a big enough house with room for his mother and future family that he wanted to build with Carmen.
One day at a time.
She promised him, “You are doing better. Baby, you turned your life around. I’m so proud of you!”
“All is well and forgiven.”
Neezy asked her, “And what about you?”
He’d been a complete asshole to her lately and he knew it.
Neezy sought her forgiveness.
She smiled at him bashfully, “Oh baby, you know I love you. I’m not going nowhere. Never.”
Twenty-One
If anybody knows, girl you know I know – Drake
Queen Afua’s Sacred Woman, was a staple in her home. She knew it from the front to the back. Her mama heavily followed the principles presented in the book, leaving Carmen no other choice but to do so. Although, she chose Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior, a few of the things that her mom indebted in her as a child, never left.
Many Christians didn’t believe in burning sage, charging crystals and meditating heavily to soft music but she did. She was all about good energy and vibes. She didn’t tune in when people said it was the devil’s work or idolatry. That was another reason why she never made a big deal about Neezy and his strong belief in his ancestors being his angels. She was just happy that they both knew a higher power existed.
Her man didn’t play about his religion and she loved him for that. They were devoted which told her that commitment and monogamy would never be an issue for them. Nehemiah had values. He believed in worth and loyalty. Carmen was going to kiss him goodbye and send him on tour with good faith.
She was praying when Neezy came home, so he backpedaled out of the room. He didn’t return until another hour had passed.
She was laying across the bed with her mother’s journal in hand. Wondering was she ready to really dive into it.
His eyes landed on Sacred Woman and he picked it up.
“What you know about this?”
He’d read it a few times.
The practices were similar to the ones that his religion followed.
“Boy, my momma ain’t play. I been reading it off and on since I was in high school. You see how old it look?”
He smiled, “For real?
Carmen told him, “My mom…was different. She had her whole path of life. She didn’t conform to anyone. That’s what I loved about her.”
Her mother’s journal stared at her and she didn’t know why she was so nervous about reading her mama’s thoughts.
Perhaps, because she knew it was a journal for a reason.
She didn’t want to invade her mama’s privacy.
Or had she left it behind for her to read….
She was so freakin’ confused.
He reached down and kissed her on the lips, “How did everything go with the interior designer?”
Carmen sighed, “Overwhelming.”
Neezy’s management did a great job of trying to make his life as easy as possible. It was important to Juice that he stayed cool, calm and collected. However, she didn’t know who they thought they were…. because, they were regular folks with money.
Carmen liked nice things just as much as the next person. The interior designer showed up…on time, she was thankful for that.
He came with his own tea bags and a small group of people who he introduced as “the squad”.
He had his employees measuring rooms, taking pictures and taping fabric swatches to the walls. Carmen also had to fill out a questionnaire and take a personality quiz. It was a lot. Too much, actually.
“I really wish I had the time to do it myself. I love decorating.”
He didn’t want to ask her what was she so busy doing since the re-launch had passed. Carmen took her imaginary to-do list very serious. Whenever he took a glance of one he would ask, “Babe, replacing toilet tissue is a chore?”
She would ignore his stupidity and of course, men never caught a clue so he would ask again.
“Why not just do it when you think about it…a to-do list is for errands. Not shit like this…look, baby you got on here ‘change strainer in sink’.”
Imprudent shit.
“It’ll get handled. We not in a rush, shit we got a bed and a TV. I’m straight,” he said, casually.
Carmen rolled over and sat up.
“Whew, I’m sore.”
The amount of sex they’d been having lately was crazy.
It’d been hella intense and extremely long. For hours, their bodies would intertwine.
“From THIS dick or the gym?” he playfully asked her.
She rolled her eyes, “Probably both. I need a hot bath.”
“I’m about to get started on dinner,” she told him as she stood up and headed downstairs.
Neezy kicked it by his lonesome until she called his name to come eat.
“Come here real quick,” he shouted back.
She was already sore, and he wanted her to walk all the way up the steps and down the long hallway into their master bedroom?
They’d only been in their new digs for two weeks not, but she was loving the space so far. Minus her legs and back aching.
Neezy decided to keep the loft since it was close to the studio and Carmen made her condo the official headquarters for her business.
He told her that they didn’t have any back-up places to go to. No more running on both of their parts. If they had an issue, the couple planned on doing their best to get it resolved before bed. His main goal was for both of them to stay focused, run up a check and remain in love till the end of time.
Carmen sealed the deal with a kiss, and it’d been ole happy days ever since.
“Yes honey,” she sung as she walked back into the bedroom.
Neezy was nowhere to be found yet she smelled one of Narie’s candles burning and heard one of her favorite new singers, Alex Isley, singing about love being water and air.
Carmen trekked into the bathroom and slowed her roll once her eyes landed on the tub.
Carmen didn’t expect him to draw her a bath.
She whined, “Baby, no. I wasn’t saying it for you to run me one.”
Neezy was the best man in the world.
He was considerate and kind.
She was smitten all over. Being undressed like a new born baby was the most romantic thing ever. He always took his time with her and that was what she loved the most. Even if he had something to do, she would never know. She remained a priority.
The world stopped and started on her time.
It felt good to not be neglected or to feel as if you were only around for a good time.
Carmen wasn’t an afterthought.
She wasn’t a bad habit or a hobby.
They weren’t being held together by a child neither of them wanted or the need to be longed for at night. Money wasn’t their glue neither was financial stability or security.
The history didn’t have to be questioned and the chemistry wasn’t put to any test.
What dwelled in between them was pure, genuine, equally yoked love.
It was affection.
It was adoration.
It was a heap of affirmations come to past.
It was a prayer answered.
A thought manifested.
A vision unfolded.
A dream hoped for.
It was a mustard seed developed into faith.
It was new.
It was the beginning of joy and the ending of sorrow.
Whew, everything about him made her warm.
“You didn’t have to.”
He knew what his bookie needed, and he made it happen.
“I set our plates at the bar,” she explained. Tonight, for dinner they were having seabass, cauliflower rice and asparagus.
“We can eat after, boo.”
He helped her into the tub and then handed her a washcloth.
“I’m going to dim the lights and grab you a glass of wine, do you need anything else?”
She beamed and said, “You can bring the bottle.”
Sis, wanted the whole thang tonight.
He shook his head, “Gotcha.”
The solace was desired, and she was able to leave a lot of unnecessary, heavy thoughts in the drain when she got up.
After her bath, she dried off. Feeling extremely free. Carmen trotted down the steps butt ass naked.
“Baby!” she wanted him right now.
Her bath time was incredible and much needed. She planned on doing that once a week. It was good downtime.
“Yeah?” he was going through one of the boxes. Regretting the decision to tell the movers they would unpack themselves.
“Where are you?” she heard his voice loud and clear, he wasn’t too far away.
“In the den.”
He was looking for his blue basketball shorts so he could shower.
Carmen ate a few mouthfuls of the dinner she made before going to talk to him.
She cleared her throat, feeling confident and sexy.
Not only had she lifted her spirits back up, but he did as well.
She didn’t shy in his presence.
There was no need to cower or feel less than.
His eyes lit up, “Whoa.”
Mommy was lookin’ righteous.
Carmen smirked as she took three steps down into the sunken room.
Neezy already claimed the area as his and she wanted to tell him, “Baby you can have it.”
The only rooms she cared about was the kitchen and her closet.
Both would be off-limits to the designers.
“Thanks for the bubble bath, Mr. Walker,” she cooed.
Neezy shook his head, “I like that lil’ nasty school teacher voice you give me…,” he grabbed his limp penis.
The way them titties was flapping as she grew closer to him let him know that he would be hard in no time.
“Oh really?” she used it again.
Neezy watched her step up to him. Ma was all in his personal space.
“Yeah,” he licked his lips.
Carmen loved when he did that shit, and he knew it.
“What’s on your mind?”
Gone were the blue basketball shorts. The thought was replaced with her sultriness. Her lips. Her button nose. Her eyes.
Neezy was even thinking about her big ass forehead.
He rested his hands on her hips.
“YOU.”
She was one complete concept.
Carmen lifted on her tippy toes; she planted a passionate kiss on his lips.
“What about me?” she loved when he hyped her and made her feel as if she was the baddest woman on the planet.
He chuckled.
“You drunk?” he had to ask because she was barely standing up.
“No!”
He didn’t care if she was.
Neezy smacked her booty, “I don’t care about you going to the gym, just don’t lose this.”
He slapped it again, this time a lil’ harder.
“It’s not going nowhere…you know what they say about a fat ass, don’t you?” she purred.
He shook his head, his lips grazing hers.
“…You gotta hit it from the back twice a week. Keep the cheeks in motion,” she informed him.
His penis sprang to attention and his ears perked up at the sound of that.
“Word?” he could definitely make that happen.
“Yes baby,” she wanted him so bad right now. Her pussy pulsated so loudly that if he merely touched the crevices of her pearl; he would feel the thumping.
“Bend over then,” he commanded her to do so.
Carmen was such an obedient girl.
Never had to be told twice.
When he wanted that ass, he got it literally.
She did some lil’ stripper move that she must’ve picked up from one of the Instagram girls that she followed and bent over. Arching her back as low as she could.
Neezy entered her with ease.
“You got my head and my heart…”
He had to let her know that every chance he got.
She bit down onto her bottom lip, bracing herself for the pain and the pleasure. The pressure increased as he went in and out. The anticipation of an incoming orgasm was what made every stroke worth it. Carmen cumming was an experience.
The way her body shuddered, and her voi
ce changed octaves.
“Baby…you heard me? I’m all yours,” he clarified once more.
“Ohhhhhh,” at his confession she came all over his dick.
This session was deemed as a quickie.
An introduction to what the rest of the night would be.
More like a prelude.
She kissed him as she came down off a sexual high.
“Let me eat and I got you,” she promised him.
Her stomach was grumbling like crazy. She had to eat before she rode him and sucked him until the night fell.
The next morning was her first official day in the office and not only was she dressed to impress but she felt blessed and was looking like it…. or whatever the kids said these days.
She sent her son a morning selfie and her boo since he didn’t see her before he left.
He sexed her all night and when they finally decided to slow it down, he was barely able to peel out of her. The couple fell asleep on the floor and woke up an hour later because Neezy had to pee. He helped her to bed, showered and was out the door.
She was singing to Drake’s “Upset” as she weaved in and out of traffic like a true New Yorker.
“They keep trying to get me for my soul,” she rapped along.
Bobbing her head and smiling at the same damn time. She was happy…and it had nothing to do with that jaw-dropping performance her man put on last night either.
The Showroom was back in business.
As soon as she made herself a cup of tea, she sat down and checked her email.
Six hundred unread messages.
Everyone wanted her business.
She was in high-demand.
“Thank you, God,” she rejoiced as she got comfortable in her office chair and got down to work.
She didn’t take a break until she’d sent invoices, wrote thank you notes to everyone who attended the show and combed through about forty percent of the emails.
Stylists wanted to know when was The Showroom opening, would she have any exclusive pieces that hadn’t been seen yet and most importantly, did the price go up?
Indeed, it did.
Carmen stood up and cracked her neck.
She would need a massage by the end of the week if she grinded like she did today for the next four days.
She called her man and he answered on the first ring, “You must’ve known I was about to call you?” he sounded like he was in a hurry somewhere.