Chapter 13 #2
The way he comforted her, offering her words of encouragement, was both admirable yet borderline disturbing. Chaney watched along with the others as Sashay went from falling apart to collecting herself as Donovan softly rubbed her back.
“I’m just scared,” she confessed before her eyes landed on Chaney. She kissed her teeth, her lips pinched tightly as Chaney stood. “The fuck, Donovan? Why is she here?”
Once his eyes followed, his heart fell in his stomach when Chaney’s fists clenched. He immediately peeled Sashay’s arms from around him, then walked toward Chaney.
“Baby, you’re ready?” he probed, although Chaney’s eyes peered at Sashay.
“That’s fucked up, Donnie,” one of her aunts spoke. He was already frustrated, but then he got annoyed, especially since he paid most, if not all, of their bills or had at one time. Like Sashay, they were equally upset he’d cut them off financially, short of her grandmother, Granny Paula.
“They only allow family in,” Sashay venomously spat when he reached for Chaney’s hand.
“Maybe you should come back when you’re alone.” A few murmurs from her aunts and cousins mimicked her sentiments, but her older sister, Rakeeda, intervened.
“Shay, you’re doing too much. If that nigga doesn’t want you, move around. We’re better than that. Stop dry chasing his ass. As for Granny, she would want to see him, so now ain’t the time for all of that. Handle this nigga accordingly. You already know how they are when they get some new pussy.”
She subtly sized Chaney up, who stood with a pushed-out lip and one hand hiked on her right hip.
She tilted her head with narrow eyes, silently inviting them to speak directly to her.
She hadn’t fought since Kaleela, but she felt her adrenaline rush as she prepared for war.
All they needed to do was swing first, and the last punch landed would be from her.
“Appreciate that, Sheeda, but Chaney is my family. If Shay won’t allow me to speak to Granny with her by my side, then maybe you can let her know that I came through and that I’m praying for her.”
“I ain’t know he had a sister named Chaney,” another aunt offered, a chuckle following. “Must be a half-sibling or one of those illegitimate bitches’ kids no one wanted to claim.”
“Aunt Tika, that shit was uncalled for,” he spat, tightly gripping Chaney’s hand. “Be the elder I know you to be.” Her cousin Smooches tittered at him for calling her aunt an elder. “What, Smooch? Ain’t she the oldest out here?”
“She is the oldest,” she sputtered.
Smooches didn’t care if he and Sashay were no longer an item.
She liked Donovan, and she was glad he decided to show his love by showing up for their grandmother.
She knew Sashay fumbled when she slept with his homeboy Gucci.
The word traveled through the streets like the crack epidemic, destroying any chance of reconciliation, if there was ever one.
Sashay had tucked that rumor, but since Gucci still hung out with Donovan, she knew her cousin had chosen wrong. Donovan never tripped since he never treated Gucci differently. He actually thanked him for helping him get rid of that dead weight and subpar pussy.
“Whatever you say,” her aunt Tika muttered. “And Shay, fuck him. He chose, so you do you, baby.”
“Yeah. It is whatever I say. Make sure you keep that same energy the first of the month,” he warned her, especially since she’d be the first one to reach out.
Rent, to the tune of one hundred and fifty dollars, should’ve been easily paid, but somehow, Aunt Tika was hustling backward while wearing designer labels she shoplifted from stores.
The more and more he assessed the tangled web Sashay’s bid created, the more he wanted to reverse her conviction and do his own time. That, and he hadn’t forgotten the threat she spewed about snitching one time in the heat of the moment when she found out about Chaney.
He never told anyone, not even Scooter. He just prayed it was a threat she’d never make good on, or he’d have to have her ass lowered in the ground. In the back of his mind, he knew he needed to retain a lawyer because bitches like Sashay never played fair.
“My apologies to your friend, Donnie.”
He paid her no mind as he headed inside the hospital room with Chaney in tow.
Once the door was closed, he took a deep breath before his feet soon led them both to her bedside.
The presence of a breathing machine alone was unsettling.
Still, he wanted to put on a strong face. She needed that. Hell, he needed that.
He slowly sat down next to her bed, then motioned for Chaney to sit on his lap. After what he declared in front of his ex and her family, she felt better, yet she was still somewhat skeptical about being there. It was Sashay’s family, which meant she was still surrounded by a pack of wolves.
“Granny Paula, this Chaney, my future wife and mother of my children.” The entire time that he spoke, a boyish grin played on his face.
“Chaney, this Granny Paula, a woman that will forever have my love and support.” Donovan spoke as if she were alert, but he knew Granny.
She could hear him, and that was all that mattered.
He grabbed her wrinkled yet soft hand and gently squeezed it.
“Baby, you have anything to say to Granny P?”
“Thank you for having me,” she whispered. She then took the same hand he held, softly rubbing her skin. While they believed she was asleep, she slowly opened eyes, then pulled off her mask, revealing a faint grin.
“She’s pretty, Donnie.” Her voice was soft and raspy as she held the breathing mask in her free hand. He almost jumped up when Chaney squealed.
“Don’t, baby. Sit down,” Granny Paula fussed, waving him off.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t I always make a comeback?
” He nodded but took deep breaths as she coughed a few times.
He didn’t feel good, not knowing her prognosis.
He knew he’d have to settle for their time together after the run-in they just had outside.
The moment a doctor entered, he knew they’d be on his or her heels.
“Lungs just acting up. Heart, too, but enough about me. I’m just glad you’re here. I know Shay’s out there cutting up, huh?” she asked, smiling at Chaney.
He scratched his beard, suppressing his words, although his smirk told it all.
“Mhmmm. She’ll be alright. Dang girl got in her own way, ripping and running instead of having her head in her books, getting her lesson. Both of you.”
“Granny, I finished school.”
“You did with my switch on your backside. Me, Mama Genny, and Granny Rene. You listened, but that granddaughter of mine had to get hers the hard way.”
That was one accomplishment while incarcerated. Sashay took advantage of their GED program, which helped with an early release. She took a deep breath and smiled at how happy he looked with his new friend.
“Now, tell me about you, pretty girl.”
A few coughs followed, causing Donovan to sit up and rub her arm. She shooed him away with one hand before he eased Chaney off his lap. After adjusting the pillows, he found the feature on her bed rail that allowed her to sit up.
“No fussing now. I need to know about the new addition to the family.” Donovan looked around like the boogey man was in the hospital room.
If Sashay heard her grandmother utter any future affiliation to Chaney, they’d have to exit that hospital room swinging.
He’d never hit a woman, but he would to protect his girl. “Donnie, please. Go sit down.”
“Alright, now. Baby, Granny P is trying to start a war.”
Chaney went closer to her bed, sitting in the same spot he’d just sat in.
She wished she was closer to her mother and grandmother, but over the years, she resented how she had to hustle and do hair to provide for her family.
She knew they loved her, but not the way she needed to be loved.
Truth be told, she was secretly envious of Sashay, who was surrounded by love, especially her grandmother.
“Well, I’m nothing special,” she spoke, glancing over her shoulder when Donovan kissed his teeth. “I’m not. I do hair. I heard I’m pretty good at it.”
“She’s more than good at it, Granny P. She has celebrities sitting in her chair, and she owns her own shop.
” He was her official hype man anytime someone complimented her about her hair, even her outfits that were usually something she’d put together, creating her own signature looks.
That was why he wanted to put her on when it came to styling him.
He had no issue rocking his cousin’s clothing line, but his girl’s added touch would be the chef’s kiss he needed.
“I’ve had a few local celebrities, but most of my clientele are steady customers who refer new customers.” She glanced at Granny Paula’s soft, gray hair. The texture was coiled and thick with a small bun that rested at the top. She caught her looking and grinned.
“I can do something to yours once you’re released. I don’t mind. May I touch it?”
“Pfft, do what? I haven’t had my hair professionally done since my cousin Caroline’s funeral.
Paid all that money for it to sweat out serving food and cleaning up.
Dang children and grandchildren of mine were too busy partying.
It was a sad time for us since June kept the family together with his jokes and house parties.
Cancer took him out.” She patted Chaney’s hand.
“I won’t trouble you about mine, but it was a kind gesture. ”
“No trouble at all. Donnie can let me know.” He caught on to her calling him the name Sashay’s family called him, mostly the older family members, since everyone else called him by his rap name, Dread Man.
“Why, thank you. This also helps explain the dream I had. A whole school of fish.”
“Dang, Granny. Why it got to be about me?” He chuckled.
“You just said your future wife and mother of your kids.”
“Tell him, Granny P,” Chaney playfully chimed in.