Coming For What's Mine

by Edwina Fort

  Needing a serious rush of feel good, I found myself at Nola’s Gardens, the best nursery in all of D.C. There is nothing that made me feel better than going through inspecting the plants, the stems, the roots, and the soil. Nola’s Gardens was so big one could get lost. I even sat Ayana’s stroller up so that she could look as well.

  I’m telling yall, I know this is my child, because the whole time we were there she did not fuss or cry once. She didn’t even go to sleep. She stared wide-eyed at all the plants.

  By the time we left, I had spent a great sum of money, so much money that Nola had sent a three-man team with their company truck to my house with all the plants and supplies I ordered for my greenhouse and research.

  I had days’ worth of work ahead of me. My spirits had past lifted, they were now vibrating with anticipation. I ordered tables, garden boxes, bags and bags of soil, compost, and peat moss. I had over fifty plants that I couldn’t do without. I even ordered a sprinkler system for the ceiling that will water the plants in a rain simulation.

  Over the next few days, I buried myself in the work of getting my babies secured in their new home. I got so involved with the greenhouse I had completely forgotten about furniture for the rest of the house. I didn’t remember till Jo called to check on me and tell me his trip was going to take longer than he’d expected.

  “How is furniture shopping coming?” his deep voice seeped out the phone.

  “Furniture?”

  He chuckled. “Furniture, you know, couches and tables, dressers, that kind of thing.”

  “Well, about that. I’ve been a little busy with the greenhouse. Kind of forgot about furniture.” I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking I may have a bit of an addiction when it came to plants.

  “Stop chewing on your lip.”

  I laughed. “How did you know?”

  “I know you.”

  “Well, if you knew me that well, you might have thought twice before giving me a credit card and a greenhouse.”

  “I could think of worse addiction than plants. However, you have to buy furniture, so please call Albert and let him take you shopping.”

  I exhaled, not wanting to leave the house. With so much stuff still yet to do in the greenhouse, the thought of spending hours shopping for furniture sounded like torture.

  “Okay.” I told him reluctantly.

  “And Journey, no more plant stores until you get the things you need to have a functioning house.”

  “Bossy much?”

  He chuckled. “I’ve heard it said a time or two.”

  After I hung up with him, I called Albert and set a time for him to come and pick up Ayana and I in the morning. Albert was a breath of fresh air. He was the grandfather everybody dreamed of having. As soon as I walked out the house with Ayana in her car seat, he hurried to help me.

  “Allow me, my dear. And how are you today?”

  I smiled at him. “I’m good, how are you?”

  “Excited! You called and got this old man out of the house. There is nothing I like more than furniture shopping.”

  I would find out that there is nothing Albert like doing more than anything he was doing at the time. Midday when we stopped for a break, he said:

  “There is nothing I like doing more than stopping for a cool glass of lemonade on a warm sunny day.”

  And when we went curtain shopping:

  “There is nothing I like doing more than shopping for curtains.”

  We ended the day at Best Buy, where I purchased a flat screen television. Albert was in his element here.

  “There is nothing I like doing more than shopping for new toys.” Indeed, he spoke the truth. I was just going to get a little 22inch because I barely watched television. If I did at all, it was either early morning news or late-night news. However, Albert would have none of that.

  “Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of a 72inch. You haven’t lived unless you’ve experienced the theater effect on your very own couch.” I frowned.

  “I don’t know, Albert, that’s pretty big.” He waved that away.

  “Nonsense…72inches is tiny compared to what I have at home.”

  “What do you have at home?” He looked at me with a devious look.

  “105 inches!”

  My mouth dropped. “Oh, my goodness! That’s ridiculous.” He looked up surprised.

  “What?” I asked.

  “How did you know? Ridiculous is my middle name.”

  Albert had me laughing from the time he picked me up till the time he dropped me off. He told me he was Joseph’s driver when he was a boy, then he went on to tell me all the crazy things Jo used to do. He said once when Jo was twelve, he tricked old Albert into eating a ghost pepper, and then proceeded to tell his parents Albert was having a heart attack and that he had to rush him to the hospital so that he could get out of school.

  I was crying laughing when Albert told me that story. He said the whole time he was trying to tell Jo’s parents that he wasn’t having a heart attack and that the little bastard had tricked him into eating a ghost pepper, but his mouth was on fire and the only thing he could do was wheeze while calling on the Most High for help. He said the whole time, Jo was pushing him out the driver seat and into the passenger seat, while telling his parents, who were busy suggesting he call the ambulance that it was no time, because Albert was dying.

  Once he got his parents off the phone, he gave poor Albert a carton of milk, apologizing for using him like that. He said however, they had an amazing day after that. They drove around the city and got into all they could.

  It sounded like Albert and Jo were pretty close. He spoke of him like one would do his son. He was proud of the younger man’s accomplishments, including Ayana, who he gushed over the whole time. When he dropped us back off at the house, I invited him in for dinner.

  “Oh no, I can’t take advantage of your kindness like that. I will just go on home and see what kind of canned goods I can rustle up.” I couldn’t help but laugh at him. He spoke of Jo being a character when he was younger, watching this old man perform, I knew where he got it from.

  “Please, Albert. I insist. I’m not making anything fancy, just grilled chicken salad. But that’s a lot better than canned goods. Plus, I’m going to need help setting up that ridiculously big television you talked me into buying.”

  His head popped up. “You know, you may be right. Well, if you insist.”

  As I prepared dinner, Albert worked on getting the television all set up in the living room. The stand I’d purchased for it was going to be delivered with the rest of my furniture on Wednesday. So, he set it up on the floor and insisted we eat our salads in front of it.

  However, I nearly choked on my first bite when he turned on the tube and Jo’s face appeared on the screen.

  “Oh my God, that’s Jo!” I nearly yelled. Chuckling, Albert turned it up.

  It looked like the footage was from earlier in the day. Jo and his father were being interviewed by a bunch of reporters at what looked like a campaign rally.

  “So, what’s it going to be, Mr. Warren? By your father being the first African American to hold the senator seat for Florida and a 10-year incumbent, it’s safe to say the Sunshine State loves and trusts your family. Some say you’ll have the Senate seat in the bag should you choose to run.” A very attractive news reporter said clearly flirting with him. She looked at him with very inviting eyes.

  He smiled down at her before he waved a no no finger at her, as if to say, he sees what she’s up to.

  “Right now, I just want to focus on my retirement from the Bureau, it's going to be tough walking away from people I’ve come to look at as family.” Jo’s mother was right, he displayed a natural charm that made people feel safe. Both of his parents stood next to him looking at him with all the pride they felt. In both of their eyes was the assurance of the continuation of their legacy in Joseph.

  “And what are your plans after retirement? Can we expect your announcement then?” The
reporter was diligent. Jo wasn’t ruffled a bit, he chuckled.

  “We can expect for me to continue to serve my father and the people of this great nation. Thank you very much.” And then with his hand on his mother's back, he moved on. A representative from their office told the many reporters that they were accepting no more questions.

  Albert turned the television back down.

  “Wow…” was all I could say.

  Albert sighed. “He doesn’t want to do it.” Shocked, I turned to look at him.

  “What do you mean? His mother said he’s been born and bred to become the next president.”

  “And he has been. But it doesn’t mean it’s something he wants to do.”

  “Can you explain?”

  He rested his back against the wall, we sat on two big pillows we had picked up from Target today.

  “Jo was a war hero. The boy had too many metals for his uniform. He and his team did the missions nobody else would do. You know, the real nasty stuff. And he loved it. He thrived in it.” He shook his head. “I know that sounds bad, but you have some folks that’s born warriors. That’s Jo. The Navy hated to see him go. But the powers that be decided it was time for him to move on in his path to the White House. He hates all the refinement. Always has. But his parents have forced it on him since he was a small boy. He knows his duty and he’s going to do it. But he doesn’t want to.”

  Well that would explain why he defeated my brother so easily. Rome was feared everywhere he went. Jo didn’t even break a sweat taking him down. It’s like that agent told me back at my house, they had put a suit on a goon.

  “What does he want to do?” I asked curious.

  “He likes being an agent. He likes the danger, the thrill of the chase. But apparently that’s not his destiny.”

  I thought about Albert’s words well into the night. I couldn’t imagine being forced into becoming something I didn’t want to become. I loved plants, always have since I was a little girl. And my family has been nothing but supportive of me and what I love. The rich operated differently from normal folks. People think they are happier because they have so much money, but I didn’t agree.

  Poor Jo, he must be miserable inside.

  Over the next few days, several things happened. Albert took me to my doctor's appointment and was even kind enough to sit in the waiting room with Ayana during my visit. I left there with birth control pills and literature about them. Now my only challenge would be remembering to take them every day. I was horrible with stuff like that.

  The places I had gone to order furniture began delivering it. I was pleased with my selections. In keeping with the rustic feel, I had decided to go with a rustic, Afrocentric country farmhouse look and in the end, I thought it was beautiful.

  Albert came over and helped me hang my curtains. Although they were in the design of the African Mud cloth, they were cream and sheer. I chose sheer because the trees that filled both the front yard and the back were just too beautiful to block out. Plus, when I opened my windows I loved the way the curtains looked blowing in the breeze.

  Albert also helped the delivery men and I arrange the furniture where I wanted it to go. When everything was done, he and I sat back and enjoyed some Chinese take-out at my brand-new kitchen table. That’s when he told me about his wife and for the first-time since knowing Albert, I was sad instead of deliriously happy.

  “My wife died three years ago and I feel as if I’ve lost half of my soul. I’ve been sitting around the house lost with no true purpose. That’s why I was so glad when Jo called me, assigning me as your driver.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. If you don’t mind me asking, how did she die?”

  He shook his head. “Naw, I don’t mind. Breast cancer. We had fought it for many years till finally it got the best of her. Jo had made sure she had the best doctors. In the end, it was in God’s hands though. It doesn’t matter how skilled the doctor is. When God calls, what man can tell him nay?” I reached across the table and took his hand.

  “That’s what my mom said when my dad died. She grieved many years, but she said she found peace when she realized that everything is in the Heavenly Father’s hands and it was vain of man to assume differently.”

  He looked at me and nodded. “Telling God how you want to do things. Vanity at its finest.”

  He and I talked for a little more before he went home. Ayana and I spent the rest of the night working in the greenhouse. I had brought her a little swing that I sat her in and she was content to watch me work.

  I had this little pause moment that I did every day either before I started my day or at the end, sometimes both, where I took a spray bottle mixed with water and my essential oil blend of Lavender, Lemongrass, and Frankincense and I sprayed it in the air, letting the mist caress my face. And for just a moment, I stopped and thanked the Most High for allowing me to be.

  In that moment, all my worries fell away and I felt free, it was a time where I connected with my creator and just partook of his energy. Now, thanks to my new sprinkler system that had a mist setting, my plants could also participate in my pause moment, something I’d discovered years ago they enjoyed.

  After laying Ayana down for the night, I mixed my blend and added it to the system. And then I just stood as the gentle fragrant spray caressed my face and hair. I opened my arms feeling like I could fly. In this moment, there were no worries, only the truly important thing mattered, the Heavenly Father’s breath that he gifted to me.

  The next day, Jo came home.

  Chapter Six

  I’ll Never Let You Fall

  Journey

  Completely clueless to the fact that Jo was going to make an appearance today, I began my day like always… In my greenhouse. However, by noon I realized that I was just too tired to do any serious work. Last night, after I finally drifted off to sleep, my little buttercup’s inner alarm went off and she woke me right back up.

  I ended up staying up most of the night with her. By the time I got back to sleep it was morning and Ayana was back up an hour later.

  Goodness, mommy hood was a sleepless endeavor.

  Anyway, by the time I got her down for her nap, I decided I was going to have some well- deserved needed me time. I started by taking a long hot shower, after which I found myself standing in the mirror looking at the horror show that stared back at me.

  I looked haggard. The sleepless nights were taking a toll on me. My skin looked dull and my locs needed a fresh twist like nobody’s business. Even the nail polish was chipped on my nails. There were huge bags under my eyes.

  “Shame on you, J. If your mama could see you now she would get on you.” I told my reflection. And it was true. One thing my mother did not tolerate was neglection of one’s self. If she saw me now she would nag me to death until I got it together. It was her voice I heard in my head when I began to moisturize and then re-twist my locs.

  I pulled them up into a high messy bun on top of my head and then I moisturized my skin really good with cocoa butter. When I was done my skin had its natural glow back. There wasn’t much I could do about the bags underneath my eyes outside of getting some sleep.

  But to make myself feel a little prettier, I bypassed my nightgown for one of my long slender skirts that could also serve as a halter dress. It was my sky blue and purple skirt. I loved it because the material was very soft against my skin. When I was done I painted both my finger nails and toe nails purple to match my skirt. When next I looked at myself in the mirror I was a far better sight than before.

  I was going to climb up in my bed and take a nap, but I decided against it. The weather outside was perfect. It was one of those days where it wasn’t too hot or too cold, just right there in the middle. There was even a gentle breeze that caused my back yard to become a work of art as it caused thousands of Sakura petals to litter the ground.

  I took a blanket out back and spread it over the petals. Then I lay on it and turned on my back so that I could stare up at the
weeping branches as they blew beautifully in the wind above me. A few were so long that they caressed my skin. I closed my eyes enjoying their gentle touch. But it wasn’t long before they lulled me right to sleep.

  Joseph

  “Open the gate.” I spoke to my car feeling starved for the sunshine I knew awaited me on the other side.

  “Welcome back, Mr. Warren.”

  It felt good to be back. The last seven days had been pure hell for me. I didn’t intend to be away so long. I felt like a kid that had just gotten the toy of his dreams and before he could touch it or play with it, had been forced to put it away for a while.

  The only thing I could think about was Journey. Her beautiful hair and skin. Her firm, upturned breasts. Her thick thighs and curvy butt. I found myself gazing off into space imagining how it will feel when I slide into her soft heat again.

  Of course my parents and the whole damn Democratic Party were not happy at my distracted mind. They all wanted me to officially announce that I was running for my father’s senate seat, but I would not. I had already announced my retirement from the Bureau, they will have to be happy with that.

  Truth was, I was still undecided. I had been reared my whole life to fill this role, but it wasn’t for me. Although I wore the suit, I felt suffocated in it. There was a rage inside of me that was only soothed in two ways. The first I knew well, the second had been a surprise to me.

  All my life I knew that something was seriously wrong with me. By some strange freak of an occurrence, I had been born for violence. And no matter how much I told myself something was wrong with that and that I needed to change, I couldn’t. It’s like I didn’t feel alive unless I was in the middle of conflict. I lived for the ferocity.

  Much to my parents’ dismay, the thought of sitting in an office and becoming this public figure made me feel ill. I thrived behind the scenes. When I left the Seals to join the Bureau, it had been tough because I didn’t see nearly as much action as I saw with my brothers in arms. But luckily my Director, who was also a close friend of my family had seen this restless energy in me early and put me on the more vicious cases to soothe the need in me.