Chapter 12 PRESSURE MENSAH
Trill-Land, Jungle Estate
The following morning…
I laid in bed wit’ Pluto, her leg thrown across mine, her hair all messed up from last night, and my lil’ man stretched out on my chest sleep.
The mornin’ light was slidin’ through the curtains, soft and warm, hittin’ Pluto’s skin just right.
She looked peaceful, but I knew what it was.
I had her clingin’ on me hard last night.
She had been extra sweet ever since, kissin’ on me, and holdin’ my arm tight like she ain’t wanna let go.
This woman loved me for real, and I felt it every time she breathed on me.
Prestyn’s lil’ body moved with every breath I took, his tiny hand restin’ right over my chest. I kissed the top of his head and rubbed his back, listenin’ to them soft lil’ baby sounds he made while he dreamed.
Pluto moved beside me and kissed my arm again.
Her voice came out low and sweet. “We was supposed to wait another week, Pressure.”
I turned my head and looked at her. “That pussy worked just fine, baby. You good.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to hide her smile, but she couldn’t. That was my girl. She acted tough, but I knew how to melt her every time.
I kissed Prestyn’s head again and leaned back, thinkin’ about how wild life done got.
I used to wake up with guns on my nightstand and demons on my mind.
Now I’m wakin’ up with my son droolin’ on my chest and the woman I love cuddled up next to me.
It was crazy how God could flip your whole story when He was ready for you to grow up.
I glanced down at Pluto. “I got therapy in like two hours,” I told her.
She raised her eyebrows. “You going today?”
“Yeah,” I said. “And you comin’ wit’ me this time.”
She blinked, lookin’ kinda surprised. “You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I said. “I want you to see how I’m workin’ through this shit, and see what’s in my head. You part of me now, so you gotta be part of that too.”
Her lips parted a lil’, and she rubbed my cheek, lookin’ at me like she was tryna see my soul. “I’m proud of you,” she said softly.
I nodded, glancin’ from her to Prestyn. “You, him, and Zurie… y’all make me wanna be better. For real. Not just talk about it, but be that.”
She smiled, then leaned over and kissed me slow before gettin’ up. I watched her walk to the bathroom, her messy hair swingin’ a lil’ bit. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at me wit’ that half-smile that always do somethin’ to me. “I’ll get him dressed when I finish up.”
“Nah, I got him,” I said, already sittin’ up.
Prestyn started movin’ again, his lil’ face scrunchin’ up before the cries came out. I picked him up quick and kissed his cheek. “Aye, lil’ man, chill out. Daddy got you.”
He ain’t care. He screamed like the world was endin’, but I ain’t even get irritated. I laid him on the changin’ table and started undoin’ his onesie. “You dramatic like yo’ mama,” I said, laughin’ low. “You only five weeks old and already loud.”
Pluto had just walked in the bathroom but stepped right back out when she heard me.
“I’m dramatic?” She asked, liftin’ her brows.
“Hell yeah, you is.”
“Pressure Mensah, you put the D in dramatic.”
I glanced up at her and smirked. ‘Yeah, a’ight.’”
When she walked back in the bathroom, I focused on Prestyn. He kicked and waved his arms while I cleaned him up. His face was red, but I kissed his forehead and kept talkin’ to him.
Once I got him clean, I pulled out this lil’ Dior baby fit I bought. It was soft blue wit’ tiny white letters, and even the socks had the Dior logo. My boy was fresh before he could even crawl.
When Pluto came back out, I was holdin’ him up in front of the mirror, showin’ him how fly he looked. She laughed when she saw us. “You dressin’ him like he about to hit the runway.”
“He gotta represent,” I said, smilin’. “He Mensah blood. We don’t do basic.”
She shook her head, still smilin’, and reached for him. “Give him here, you know he hungry.”
I handed him over and watched her hold him close to her chest. It still messed me up sometimes how natural she was wit’ him, like she was born to be his mama.
I went and brushed my teeth, washed my face, and jumped in the shower real quick.
When I got out, I brushed my waves, sprayed a lil’ oil sheen, and pulled on a clean white tee, cargo pants, and my chain.
When I came back in the room, Pluto had Prestyn burped and full. She looked too damn good holdin’ him, her skin glowin’ and that fitted two-piece settin’ off her curves. I grabbed the diaper bag while she adjusted his blanket.
We walked out together, her holdin’ Prestyn and me carryin’ the bag. On the way to the elevator, we stopped by Zurie’s room, but her bed was empty.
“Where she at?” I asked.
Pluto smiled. “Toni probably got her. She told me she would be helping me out.”
Sure enough, when we got downstairs, Zurie was sittin’ at the counter in the kitchen while Toni Roc was cookin’ up a big breakfast. Kay’Lo was right behind her with his arms around her waist while she flipped pancakes, and a blunt hangin’ between his fingers.
They looked like they owned the whole moment, just laughin’ and vibin’.
I shook my head. “Aye, ‘Lo, nigga you don’t need to be all hugged up in front of my kid.”
Kay’Lo looked back at me with that slick smirk. “Man, Toni my woman. I’mma love on her whenever I feel like it.”
Pluto laughed, and Toni giggled too, not even turnin’ around. “Pressure, let them live,” Pluto said.
I sighed, smirkin’. “At least put the damn blunt out, bro. My lil’ girl right there.”
He laughed, takin’ a last hit before tappin’ it out in the ashtray. “A’ight, a’ight, nigga. You happy now?”
Toni flipped a pancake onto a plate and looked over her shoulder. “Y’all leavin’?”
Pluto nodded. “Yeah, we got an appointment. You mind watchin’ Zurie for a few hours? We was going to take her but…”
Toni turned, wipin’ her hands on a towel. “Girl, of course. That’s my lil’ homegirl right there. We gon’ chill. Ain’t that right, Zurie?”
Zurie grinned and nodded, her mouth full of syrupy pancakes.
“Thank you,” Pluto said, meanin’ it.
“It’s never a problem,” Toni replied, smilin’. Kay’Lo kissed the top of her head, and I just shook mine. Them two was wild as hell, but I loved ‘em. They brought life to the house.
Me and Pluto headed out. I carried the bag while she held Prestyn tight to her chest. When we stepped outside, the cars was lined up, and the air warm with that Trill-Land breeze. I opened the back door for her, helped buckle Prestyn in his car seat, then got in on the driver’s side.
Pluto sat in the back with the baby, holdin’ his lil’ hand while I started the engine. “You good back there?”
She smiled, her eyes soft on our son. “We good.”
I nodded, grippin’ the wheel with one hand. The city was wakin’ up around us, palm trees swayin’ and sunlight bouncin’ off the glass towers. The shit felt good.
And as we rode toward my therapist’s office, I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about how far I came, from livin’ wild with nothin’ to lose, to havin’ everything I ever wanted in the backseat.
I had my woman, my son, my daughter, ‘cause that was what Zurie basically was, and my family.
That’s all that mattered.
The Laurent Therapy Center
When we finally pulled up to the office, I stepped out and opened the back door, lettin’ Pluto and my lil’ man out.
The buildin’ was clean, modern, and quiet as hell, with a big-ass glass front that made it look more like a spa than a therapy spot.
The smell of lavender hit me the second we walked inside, and I ain’t gon’ lie, it was peaceful.
Dr. V.’s assistant smiled when she saw us and told us to go right in.
I nodded and held the door for Pluto as she walked in with Prestyn in her arms. Dr. V.
looked up from her desk and that warm smile of hers spread quick.
“Well, look who it is,” she said, her eyes lightin’ up.
“And this must be the family I’ve been hearing so much about. ”
Pluto smiled soft, and I could tell she was a lil’ nervous. “Hey,” she said politely.
Dr. V.’s eyes landed on the baby, and she gasped. “Oh my goodness, he’s gorgeous. Look at those cheeks.”
I smirked. “You wanna hold him?”
She blinked, surprised. “Can I?”
“Yeah, go ‘head,” I said, watchin’ Pluto hand Prestyn over.
Dr. V. cradled him like she been waitin’ for that moment all her life. “You’re gonna give me baby fever,” she said with a laugh. “He’s so peaceful. I can already tell he’s loved.”
Pluto smiled. “He definitely is.”
Dr. V. looked up at her. “Hi Pluto. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Pluto tilted her head with a grin. “All good things, I hope.”
“Of course,” Dr. V. said warmly.
I leaned back on the couch, watchin’ the two of ‘em. It felt good, seein’ my world sittin’ in one room. A year ago, I couldn’t even picture myself in therapy, let alone bringin’ my woman and my son into it.
Dr. V. finally handed Prestyn back and gestured for us to sit. “It’s good to see you, Pressure. It’s been a while since our last session.”
“Yeah,” I said, settlin’ into the chair beside Pluto. “Been meanin’ to come back. Life just… been movin’ fast.”
She nodded, foldin’ her hands in her lap. “I can only imagine, but the phone calls have been good enough. How are you feeling? Physically and emotionally?”
I glanced down at my son, who was starin’ up at me like he already knew what I was about to say. Then I looked at Pluto. Her eyes were soft, and patient. I kissed her cheek, then kissed Prestyn’s forehead. “I been good,” I said. “Blessed. I’m just happy to be alive.”
Dr. V. smiled. “You look like it. You’re glowing. How’s the healing process going?”
I shrugged. “I’m cool. I been doin’ the treatments, takin’ my vitamins, eatin’ right. Been workin’ out some too. Honestly, it don’t even feel like I got shot.”
She smiled faintly. “That’s good to hear, but sometimes the physical healing happens faster than the emotional part.”