5 #4
“Hey, mommy! Look what I got!” Kardi was excited as she ran into the nursery at full speed. She was waving a paper in the air that she handed to her mother.
“Student of the month! Aww, I’m so proud of you, baby. You’re so smart.” Clover pulled her baby into a hug and squeezed her tight.
“That’s what my teacher said. CJ got an award too,” Kardi said, speaking of her best friend since kindergarten.
“I’m proud of CJ too. Me and her mom are gonna have to do something special for y’all.”
“Grammy said she’s gonna take us to the nail salon tomorrow, but you have to ask her mommy first.”
“Okay, baby, I will,” Clover replied right as her cousin, Kimber, and Diva walked over.
“Can I go see the babies, mommy?” Kardi loved to play with the smaller babies whenever she visited the nursery.
“Yes but remember not to be too loud. Some of babies might be asleep.”
“Ok.” Kardi skipped away to the back of the building where the babies were.
“How did it go, cousin?” Clover looked over at her cousin.
“Horrible! I’m never gonna find a job.” Kimber flopped down in a chair and sighed.
Her thick country accent made everything that she said sound comical.
A month had passed since Clover’s family came down for Kardi’s party.
Kim stayed the entire week with her sisters and some of their other cousins but she had made a few decisions in that short period of time.
She was tired of the country life and decided that she wanted to start a new life in New Orleans.
Clover was overly excited to have one of her cousins living there permanently.
Kim’s mother, Sabrina, was happy for her but she was also concerned.
She trusted her daughter to make good decisions but she didn’t want the fast paced life in New Orleans to do to her what it had done to Shantel.
Her sister and brother-in-law both lost their lives due to drugs and she didn’t want her daughter to get caught up.
Selling and using caused their demise and shattered two families.
Although Shantel met Diva when she moved there, she quickly became family.
Between her, Hank and Clover, she knew that Kimber would be in good hands.
“This is the most impatient bitch on the planet.” Diva shook her head.
“I’m not trying to be but it’s hard. This place is so big and overwhelming.”
Kim was born and raised in the country. She had just transferred her credits to a school in New Orleans, and she thought she was gonna pass out when they took her on a tour of the campus.
It was huge, and she felt like she was walking forever.
Everything about the city was fast paced and would take some getting used to.
“Girl, New Orleans is small as hell. I guess it does seem big to you coming from a small place like Riverdale though.”
“I don’t know what you’re going crazy for. Hank said that he got you financially and Diva is loving the company. All you need to focus on is going to school,” Clover said.
“No way, Clover. I appreciate everybody but you already know how I am. I have to pay my own way and my mama would die if I didn’t. I still plan to pay my portion of the bills at home too.”
“The fuck kind of job are you trying to get. Doctor?” Diva rolled her eyes dramatically.
She loved her best friend’s family to death, but they were slow as molasses in the winter.
Kim was going to school to be a respiratory therapist and she would be finishing up her degree in New Orleans.
Hank grew up with her parents, so she was family to him.
He told her that he had her for whatever she needed, and she was still stressing about finding a job.
“Can we go to Dot’s Spot tonight, Clover? I need a drink or four.” Kimber let out a dramatic breath.
“Oh no, not another Shirley Temple.” Diva looked at Clover and frowned.
“Bye, Diva!” Clover held her stomach as she doubled over with laughter.
“Girl, let me get my baby and get up out of here. Don’t forget to ask CJ’s mama about the nail salon tomorrow. Tell her nothing dramatic, just a little mani/pedi.”
“Okay, I’m probably gonna see her tonight at Dot’s.” Once she saw her daughter off, Clover got prepared to close up for the night.
“Do you need me to help with anything, Clover?” Kimber asked.
“Yes, cousin. I’m gonna make sure all of my little babies are dry and cleaned up. Give my bigger babies their afternoon snacks, please.”
“I’m on it.” Kimber removed the blazer that she had on and got right to work.
She was so proud of her cousin and all that she’d accomplished at such a young age.
She was praying that moving to New Orleans was the right move.
She also prayed that her new city bought her as much luck as it did her favorite cousin.
Later that night, Clover and Kim were showered and dressed down for a relaxing night at Dot’s. Clover’s girl was gonna meet them there and she wanted to make sure she was there already. It was early, so she got them a good table close to the bar.
“What’s up, sis? My potnah got on it and I’m linking with his people tomorrow.”
“It’s about damn time. But if that doesn’t work out, my girl said she’ll be happy to talk to her husband for you. Just let me know.”
“Yeah, I will. Dude sounds legit, so I think it’ll be cool. It’s up from here.”
“Congrats, bro. I’m so happy for you.”