27
Trudy’s eyes were closed but she heard voices around her.
Something was covering her face, but she was too tired to see what it was.
Machines beeped every few seconds, letting her know that she was in the hospital.
She was alive and so grateful to God for that alone.
She just knew that she was a dead woman but her life was spared.
“Most of the cuts on her arm are defensive wounds and only a small portion of her lung collapsed from the other stab wounds. We’ll continue to monitor her condition with a series of x-rays until the excess air is completely absorbed and her lung has re-expanded.
It could take a few weeks but I’m confident that she’ll make a full recovery.”
That was doctor talk, but Trudy was curious as to who he was talking to.
Her body felt weighed to the bed but she finally mustered up enough strength to open her eyes.
She blinked a few times until everything came into focus.
Of all people, she wasn’t expecting to see Melvin sitting there speaking to the doctor.
There was an oxygen mask on her face and her arm was bandaged.
Her body felt like fireworks of pain was shooting throughout it but she was grateful to be above soil.
“Melvin,” Trudy managed to mumble weakly. Her throat was dry and felt like she had swallowed a few needles.
“Hey there, Mrs. Latimer. I’m sure you’re feeling pretty sore right now, but I’ll get the nurse to get you some pain meds in a minute. You’re a lucky lady.”
Tears fell from Trudy’s eyes, as her doctor told her everything that was wrong with her.
It sounded worse than it was, but her heart was broken that it happened at all.
Her only son tried to kill her and that hurt worse than any physical pain that anyone could ever inflict on her.
She had been in the hospital for two days and there was no telling where Trenton was.
“Thank you.” Melvin stood up and shook the doctor’s hand once he was done talking. He left the room soon after, leaving the two of them alone.
“Where are the girls?” Trudy asked, trying to make small talk. It felt weird being alone with him, and she really didn’t know what to say.
“Nothing has changed with me or them. Just be thankful that I came to the house for the rest of my things. You could have bled out and died.”
“Thank you.”
Trudy wanted to say more but she decided against it. She assumed that her husband and kids would have at least put their differences to the side at least for a little while. She almost lost her life but holding a grudge was obviously more important.
“I called your family and they should be here any minute now. Melissa went to pick your mom and sisters up from the airport. I suggest you be honest and tell them everything. I’m not gonna be here and I’m sure they’re gonna be wondering why.”
Melvin had already told his family, so there was no need for her to keep hiding it from hers. His lawyer was already working on having her served with divorce papers.
“What about Trent?” Trudy asked, more out of fear than concern.
“Wow. You almost died and you’re still worrying about what’s happening with the person who almost killed you.”
Trent’s picture had been posted on every news station and paper.
He was considered armed and dangerous, as well as mentally unstable.
Trudy’s worst fears had come to fruition and she could no longer pretend.
She wanted so badly for people to think that he was normal but, now, the entire world knew that he wasn’t.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Was he arrested yet?”
“No, but they’re looking for him. He took your car, so there’s an all-points bulletin out on it. I had to put a freeze on the bank account too. I guess he took some checks or cards and withdrew some money. I suggest you find somewhere else to stay when you get released.
Going back home is not the best idea right now.”
“I can’t believe he did this to me,” Trudy cried.
“I don’t know why when I told you that he eventually would.”
“You were right, okay. Can we please not do this right now?”
“I’m leaving so we don’t have to.” Melvin walked out of her hospital room without a second thought or backwards glance.
A few seconds after, her room door opened and her mother and two sisters walked in.
“Oh, baby. How do you feel? We got here as fast as we could.” Trudy’s mother rushed over to her bed and embraced her. She could tell that she had been crying because her eyes were red and swollen.
“A little sore but I’ll be okay. My mouth is so dry.”
Trudy’s sisters hugged her before one of them grabbed the hospital cup that was on the tray. She rushed out of the room in search of some ice and water. When she came back, she helped Trudy sit up to drink some. She almost drank it all but she felt so much better when she did.
“Why would Trenton do something like this? The last time we talked, you said he was doing better. According to Melissa, he’s gotten worse. I didn’t know nothing about him getting beat up and catching seizures.”
“And why isn’t your husband and daughters here? We just saw Melving getting off the elevators and walking to the parking lot. What’s going on, Trudy?” one of her sisters asked.
“A lot.”
Trudy sighed as she prepared to have a difficult conversation with her family. She’d pretended long enough, and it was draining. For once in her life, she was about to tell the entire truth, no matter how bad it made her look. Perfection wasn’t realistic and pretending was doing more harm than good.
“Bitch, he got crazy people eyes. Sam was a fucked up mother but I ain’t never tried to kill the bitch.” Cash frowned as she read the article about Trent that was posted in the paper.
“I’m not even surprised. I remember how his daddy used to be going on and she would be coddling him like a baby. Now that I think about it, she tried too hard to make him seem normal,” Amina replied as she fed her baby girl a bottle.
She and Fonzo had finally moved into their house and they had a small gathering earlier that day to celebrate.
Just about everyone had gone home, but Clover, Cashmere and Iva were still there.
Diva was almost done cleaning up and the men, including Cash’s husband, Montez, were sitting out back smoking.
“I know you don’t really like talking about the Trent situation, sis, but I have questions,” Clover said.
“Girl, fuck Trent! You can ask me whatever.” Amina was over letting somebody else have control over her feelings, especially a nigga that she wasn’t with. God had blessed her with an amazing husband and beautiful daughter. Trent and nobody else was gonna steal her joy. She refused to let them.
“How did you and Trent even meet? No offense but you don’t really go anywhere. Well, you do now but not before.” Amina was a homebody and she admitted that herself.
“No offense taken. But you know what happened with my brother being killed and stuff. I had a rough time coping with his death and I started seeing a therapist that just so happened to be Melvin Latimer.”
“Bitch, I know you fucking lying! That must be the only way he can meet women. You know his mama was my divorce lawyer. His retarded ass probably can’t meet women any other way.” Clover was shocked but it all made sense to her.
“Girl, ain’t no telling how many other victims he got out there. The nigga ain’t that slow to still be on the run and not get caught,” Cash noted.
“I wonder what happened to make him snap on his mama. She used to be his biggest cheerleader. I would have thought his daddy would have been the one that he tried to kill first,” Amina replied.
“I don’t know them as well as you do. We had a lil brief fling but it wasn’t that deep.” Clover shrugged like it was nothing.
“It wasn’t that deep to you,” Cash clarified.
She remembered having a psycho on her hands when she was younger.
Rio was dead and gone now but he was a certified nut.
Crazy thing was that he had a girl at the time that he was chasing after her.
Now, him and his girl were dead and his mother was left to raise their son.
From what she heard, he was an honor student so maybe that was for the best.
“Well, he can’t run forever. He’ll either end up in a body bag or in a cell right next to his cousin,” Iva said.
“Bitch, how? Caprice is in a women’s prison,” Clover laughed.
“We don’t know that,” Iva replied, making them all giggle.
“Girl, Trent might be out of town somewhere. His mama is not from here so ain’t no telling.” Amina shrugged.
“If a nigga try to kill my loved one, he damn sure better not run to me for help. Then, he’s in his mama’s car. He’s gonna get caught sooner or later,” Clover replied.
“He sure is. It cost money to run,” Cash chimed in.
“Give her to me, Amina. Me and Kardi are gonna give her a bath and put her to bed. Everything is all cleaned up. I’ll bring you the baby monitor before we leave.” Diva walked into the room to get the baby.
“Thanks, Diva.” Amina happily handed Alexus over to her grandma. Her baby had amazing grandparents on both sides and she was grateful.
“Are you gonna do a gender reveal when you learn the sex of your baby, Clover?” Cashmere asked.
“Probably not. I did all of that with Kardi. But knowing Diva, I might not have a choice.” Clover rolled her eyes.
“Chile, my brother-in-law is back in Georgia with Kimber. My husband said that nigga is in love,” Cash laughed but she was happy.
Tru and Kim seemed to be just what the twins needed.
Her mother-in-law loved both women, especially because they seemed to keep the twins in line.
They were always over there for Sunday dinners.
Although she wasn’t a big fan of her sister-in-law, Bria, she was cordial with her for the sake of her husband and children.
“I know, girl, my auntie loves him to death. I’m happy for my cousin.”
Clover was shocked when her cousins who had befriended Caprice congratulated her on her pregnancy.
They did it under a post that Dash had made but they tagged her in it.
She wasn’t trying to be besties with them or nothing but she was willing to put the past behind them for the sake of their grandmother.
She was about to be the mother of two and she was good on all the bullshit.
She and Dash weren’t back together but even they were getting along better.
They saw Sade in the mall a few weeks ago and she nodded at them in greeting.
Clover didn’t have anything against her and she never did.
Sade didn’t owe her loyalty and she didn’t expect it from her.
She seemed to be in a better headspace though.
Maybe having Caprice out of her face was exactly what she needed.
“Girl, I’m sleepy. Monty is about to get left.” Iva yawned.
As if on cue, Dash walked into the room and right over to Clover. “You ready to go, Lucky?” he asked while rubbing Clover’s barely-there belly.
“Yeah, I’m ready. Kardi is helping Diva with the baby.”
“She’s gonna be such a great big sister.” Amina smiled.
Clover smiled too because she knew that it was true. Kardi was so excited to be a big sister. Just like she did with Amina, she wanted to be under her mother all the time. She asked a million questions that Clover answered as best she could.
Once Diva and Kardi were done, Amina and Fonzo saw all their guests off. Clover and Dash drove in the direction of their home, not noticing the dark green Lexus SUV that was following right behind them.