A Trillion to One

by Chenell Parker

  “Give me a minute Love. My nerves are bad as hell. I can’t be in the house with all females. I’m already outnumbered,” Trillion said, making everybody laugh.

  “Man, pop the damn balloon before I shoot it,” Blue threatened.

  “Shut up Blue. Y’all know he really wants a boy. Let him take his time,” Jackie fussed.

  “Five minutes, I promise. I just need to calm my nerves right quick,” Trillion said as he walked away towards the front of the house.

  Amore already knew what that meant, so she grabbed a bottle of water and sat down. When she saw Blue and Rod follow him outside, she knew that they were about to go talk shit and smoke.

  “I can’t wait until me and my hubby have us a little one,” Chanell said as she rubbed Amore’s stomach.

  She and AJ went to the courthouse three months ago and made things official. They were in the process of closing on their first home and she couldn’t be happier. She moved her shop to a bigger location and business was better than ever. Dallas was doing a great job of helping her out while taking business classes at night.

  “I’m ready too baby. As soon as we get settled into our house, you can toss them pills,” AJ replied.

  A lot had changed over the past few months but they were all good changes. Besides AJ and Chanell getting married, Azra and Dallas were still going strong. They now lived in the penthouse that Amore and Trillion moved out of. Claire ended up giving Trillion the entire building, claiming that she was getting too old to deal with it. She wasn’t even sixty years old, so he knew that it was bullshit. She was still trying to make up for all the mistakes that she made in the past but that was a done deal. She was always throwing her money at everybody thinking that it could fix whatever was broken. Trillion still took the girls to see her every Sunday but she had never been to their house. They did let her keep the girls overnight a few times and they loved going over there. Claire spoiled them and she was ready to spoil the newest addition too. Trillion wasn’t trying to deny her a chance to get to know her grandkids but he couldn’t wait until his kids were old enough to go visit her on their own.

  Meadow was cleared a few weeks after Viper’s murder. They didn’t even investigate it too much and the case was closed not long after it happened. Things had gotten a little better for her and her family but it was nothing like it used to be. Thanks to Trillion’s help in promoting for her, she was able to quit working and open her boutique back up. She got an even bigger place and had two ladies working for her. She was always sold out but she wasn’t complaining. She had finally started to date again and she was enjoying life. Meadow learned her lesson the first time around and she swore to never turn her back on her family again.

  Ms. Ruby didn’t even waste her time giving Viper a funeral. She had his body cremated and moved on. She let Stacy donate everything in his apartment to the people in the shelter since she couldn’t do anything with it.

  Skip was hurt but he tried to warn Viper more than once. He reached out to Amore to make sure that she and her cousins were straight but he knew that his boy brought it on himself.

  Leah was just as crazy as ever and she had the nerve to call Trillion from prison. Amore gave him the okay to talk to her because he had a few things that he wanted to get off his chest. She still didn’t think that she did anything wrong. That was all the proof that Trillion needed to know that she should have been medicated. She swore that her mother turned her into the person that she became but she needed some serious help. Sadly, Abby had a massive heart attack and passed away at the facility that she was in. Although she solved the mystery about Jade’s death, she was just as responsible as her daughter was. Had she said something years ago, she could have saved Trillion a lot of heartache and worry. He would have stopped looking for a baby that wasn’t even lost. Trillion ended up selling the house that held so many painful memories and moved on with his life.

  Since Viper was no longer a threat, Ciara moved back into the same apartment complex that she lived in before. She tried to renew her friendship with Meadow but she wasn’t interested. Her family didn’t fuck with Ciara and Meadow didn’t want to either. Ciara hated Amore but it was nothing but jealously. She wanted to be like her cousin and Meadow saw that for herself. Ciara had even started dating a white boy but he was nothing like Trillion. He was a bum who couldn’t even keep a job but she was in love with him.

  “Come here baby. What’s that you’re eating?” Amore asked when Trinity walked over to her. She was a busybody and got into everything. She hadn’t been walking very long but she got around good enough.

  “That’s chicken,” Gary said when he walked over and picked Trinity up and sat down. Tristyn walked out of the house frowning and Amore already knew why. She was holding her teacup Yorkie as she made her way over to Amore.

  “When are we gonna find out about the baby? My daddy is taking too long,” she whined as she stood in between Amore’s legs and laid her head on her chest.

  “I know baby but it won’t be much longer,” Amore assured her as she rubbed her back.

  It was crazy how Tristyn never even asked them about Leah. To say that she’d stayed with Leah for most of her life, it was like she didn’t even exist to her anymore. Now, it seemed as if Amore was the only mother that she knew.

  “Where is that boy at? This is ridiculous. We’ve been here for hours and still don’t know nothing,” Gary fussed.

  “He’s getting on my damn nerves. It’s not even that serious,” Amore fussed.

  “He’s out front,” Jackie said.

  “I’m going get his ass. I’m tired of waiting,” Gary fussed as he got up with Trinity in his arms. It was crazy how spoiled Trinity was behind him but he loved it. Tristyn was spoiled behind Amore, which was one of the reasons why Trillion wanted a son. He wanted his first son to be spoiled behind him.

  “Why can’t y’all just tell us Jordon? We won’t say nothing to Trillion,” Stacy said.

  “You know I can’t do that Ma. I gave my word,” Jordon replied.

  “What about you, Erica? You know too,” Stacy noted.

  “Nope, I can’t do it. All he has to do is pop the balloon and the answer will be revealed,” Erica pointed out, right as Trillion and his brothers were walking back to the patio. His eyes were low and red and he looked high as a kite. Amore laughed at Gary, who was walking behind him fussing.

  “This don’t make no damn sense. Either you pop it or I will,” Gary threatened.

  “Don’t make me put you up out of my house bruh,” Trillion said while looking at his father.

  “I dare your ass to even try,” Gary shot back.

  “Don’t rush him Gary. He’s nervous,” Jackie said.

  “I don’t know why. It’s either a boy or a girl and ain’t a damn thing that he can do about it. Now, pop the damn balloon and stop stalling,” Gary fussed as he handed Trinity over to his wife.

  “You ready Love?” Trillion asked Amore as he helped her up from her chair.

  “I was ready a long time ago,” Amore answered with a roll of her eyes.

  Amore stood next to him as their family and friends gathered around. Chanell and Dallas had their phones out recording something for Trillion to post on his page.

  “On the count of three!” Erica yelled out right before she started to count.

  When she got to three, Trillion stuck the huge pin into the balloon, making it pop. When the blue confetti spilled out of it, he went crazy and so did his father and brothers. Trillion jumped into his father’s arms as they cheered like they’d just won the lottery. Amore was happy that he was getting what he wanted because she really didn’t care.

  “Hell yeah! I’m finally getting my boy!” Trillion yelled when he walked over and kissed Amore.

  “Yes and I’m happy,” Amore replied with a smile.

  They spent the next few hours relaxing until it started to get dark. Erica and Amore’s cousins helped Jackie and Stacy clean up so that they wouldn’t have to. Jackie gave t
he girls a bath before they left and Amore was happy for that too. Once she and Trillion saw their guests off, they took a shower and watched a movie with the girls. Both girls fell asleep halfway through the movie and Trillion put them in their beds. He and Amore sat on the balcony outside of their bedroom and chilled. Amore sat on his lap as the cool breeze of the night caressed their skin.

  “Damn Love, you just don’t know how happy I am.” Trillion smiled as he rubbed her stomach.

  “I’m happy too. Have you thought of a name yet?” Amore asked.

  “What do you mean? I want a junior. What, you don’t like my name or something?” Trillion asked.

  “I love your name. I just didn’t know if you wanted him to be named after you or not. I mean, you’re not named after your father,” Amore pointed out.

  “Yeah but that was all on my mama. He said he wanted me to have his name but she refused,” Trillion replied.

  “With her evil ass. I would never do that to you.” Amore frowned.

  “I know you wouldn’t. That’s just the way she is and the way she’s always been.” Trillion shrugged.

  “After what she did to you, I’m surprised that you even go around her at all. Gianna had a habit so I knew why she did me the way she did, but your mother didn’t have any excuses,” Amore said.

  “There are no excuses, no matter what the situation is. Being on drugs didn’t give your mother a pass to neglect you. She just chose the dope over her only child. Just like my mama let her hate for my father ruin her relationship with me. I can’t even lie, sometimes I want to say fuck her and stop bringing my kids over there. But it’s more about them than me. I never really got to know my mother’s side of the family because I was never around. I don’t want to do that to them though. If they get older and decide not to go around, then that’s their decision. I just don’t think it’s fair for me to decide if they should have a relationship with her or not. And truthfully, she’s never done anything to hurt my kids,” Trillion rambled.

  “I agree. She loves them and I can see that myself,” Amore admitted.

  “Yep and I love you,” Trillion said.

  “I love you too baby.” Amore smiled.

  She thought back to the first day they met at the casino and smiled. Trillion was not at all what she expected but he turned out to be everything that she needed. Amore learned a lot from him and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Before Trillion, she had never even had a bank account or a driver’s license. She was dumb to a lot of stuff, which was why she had no problem letting him lead. Even still, Trillion never made her feel ashamed for her lack of knowledge. He simply explained things to her and helped her get on track. Now, she was a successful self-published author, wife and soon to be mother of three. Life was good and she knew that it would only get better. Amore now knew that her past was necessary to get to her future. She didn’t mind going through the fire if it meant that she would come out shining. After all, a diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.

  “A re you sure about this baby?” Amore asked as her finger hovered over the send button on her Mac.

  “Yep, send it,” Trillion replied as he tossed the plush football back and forth with his son.

  Just like his daughters, TJ was his twin. Trillion had him spoiled but he wasn’t a crybaby. They never had trouble when it was time to leave him with someone because he never cried when they did. He’d just turned a year old two months ago and he’d been walking since he was ten months old. Everybody thought that Amore was pregnant again since he moved so fast but she wasn’t letting that happen again no time soon.

  “Come read over it again to make sure it sounds alright,” Amore requested.

  “I read over it three times already and it’s perfect,” Trillion said.

  “I don’t know baby. I just don’t want to seem difficult or arrogant,” Amore replied.

  “There’s nothing difficult or arrogant about you. Stop doubting yourself. They called you, not the other way around,” Trillion reminded her.

  “I know but I still think I’m asking for too much,” Amore said.

  “If they don’t accept your counteroffer, then fuck it. You ain’t hurting for no money anyway,” Trillion replied.

  Amore had become a hot commodity since she wrote her first book series based on her life. Her books were doing some serious numbers and she had a solid fan base. Her standalone that told the story of her and Trillion’s relationship did better than them all. People were nosy as hell, so Trillion knew that was the reason why. Stacy asked her to come speak at the halfway house that she once lived in and she jumped at the chance. Trillion recorded her and put it up on his page. Since then, she’d been receiving calls from other places that were willing to pay for her to do the same thing. Just recently, a battered women’s shelter wanted her to come speak to a group of women who they were charging admission to attend. The event had been publicized quite often and they were expecting a huge crowd. They offered Amore a decent amount of money but Trillion knew that it wasn’t enough. He’d done his homework and what they offered was nothing compared to the profit that they were taking in. Amore was always second guessing herself but he wasn’t about to let her get played. He knew her worth, even if she didn’t. Amore Yates was going to be a name that everyone remembered.

  “Okay, I’m sending it,” she said, pulling Trillion away from his thoughts.

  “Good, now just wait,” Trillion replied.

  “Ma, I’m hungry,” Tristyn said when she walked into the family room.

  “Okay baby. I’m about to fix something for y’all in a minute. Do you want a sandwich until dinner is done?” Amore asked.

  “Yes, please,” Tristyn replied politely.

  “Mommy,” Trinity said as she handed Amore her spill proof cup.

  “Do you want some juice?” Amore asked her.

  “Yes,” Trinity replied.

  Amore loved that the private school and daycare that her girls went to was teaching them the proper manners. She and Trillion did the same thing at home but she was happy that it was reinforced at the school too.

  “You need some help Love?” Trillion asked her,

  “No, I’m good,” Amore replied.

  She fixed a sandwich for Tristyn and Trinity to share until dinner was ready. Trillion took the kids outside to jump on the trampoline, so they wouldn’t be in her way. About two hours later, they were all sitting down eating dinner. Afterwards, they cleaned up the kitchen and got the kids ready for bed.

  “Let’s watch a movie,” Trillion suggested as he and Amore lounged on the sofa.

  “Pick one,” she said while passing him the remote.

  Amore was busy texting Chanell and Dallas in their group chat. It took way longer than they expected but Chanell and AJ were expecting their first child in four more months. They both wanted a boy and that’s what Chanell was having. Dallas and Amore were in charge of the baby shower but Chanell was taking over. She had too many demands and they were getting sick of her. Meadow’s new man owned a nice event hall and he was letting them use it for free. Chanell picked out her own menu and even hired someone to decorate for her. She was acting like a pregnant diva and getting on everybody’s nerves.

  “Come on Love. This is our time together. No phones,” Trillion fussed.

  “Wait baby, let me tell Chanell’s disgusting ass one more thing,” Amore replied.

  “What’s the problem this time?” Trillion asked.

  “She’s bitching about her baby shower cake. I know she’s gonna criticize whoever we get to do it. She needs to just do the shit herself. That’s the only way she’ll be satisfied,” Amore argued as she typed away on her phone.

  “Let her have her moment. They tried for a long time to get their little one. I’m trying to get me another one,” Trillion said while kissing her neck.

  “Nope,” Amore replied with a giggle.

  “What you mean, nope?” Trillion frowned.

  “Just
what I said. Don’t even start Trillion. We talked about this already,” Amore huffed.

  “Yeah but you didn’t say no. You said not right now. You told me that we could try again when TJ makes two years old,” Trillion reminded her.

  “I know baby and we still can. I got pregnant back to back and I need a break,” Amore replied.

  “I understand that Love. You didn’t marry an insensitive man,” Trillion assured her.

  “As much as you stay sick, I don’t know why you even want more kids,” Amore laughed.

  “I know but it’s worth it,” Trillion replied right as Amore’s phone chimed, alerting her of an email. She was anxiously waiting to hear back from the shelter about her counteroffer, but they hadn’t responded yet. Hours had passed with no word and Amore was giving up. She didn’t regret doing what her husband told her to do though. Trillion knew how to handle business better than she did and he never told her anything wrong.

  “I guess my counteroffer was too much, huh?” Amore quizzed as she looked over the email that she had just received from Amazon recommending a book for her to read.

  “If you ask me, it wasn’t enough. And like I said before, if they ain’t with it, then fuck em,” Trillion snapped, right as her phone chimed once again.

  “Oh well, I guess I spoke too soon.” Amore smiled.

  “Why? What happened?” Trillion questioned.

  “They’re giving me more than I asked for. They said that they’re almost sold out of tickets and they expect a big crowd,” Amore said excitedly as she read the entire email to him.

  “They know what’s up. I keep telling you not to confuse what you’re being offered with what you’re worth,” Trillion replied.

  “Yep and you’re always right. Fuck it, I’m giving your sexy ass another baby whenever you’re ready,” Amore said, making him laugh.

  “I know you don’t mean that so I won’t hold you to it,” Trillion replied.