Chapter 7
seven
Nyna
They just made it to the restaurant before cut off time.
Most of things she packed in her great escape were essentials – underwear, t-shirts, leggings, shorts, sweats and hoodies.
She was also sure to leave with all the things that weren’t going to have her in court battling it out over a Birkin.
For all she cared he could’ve gifted her bags to the next bitch.
She left with her peace and the sanity and will he attempted to break.
DJ caught her frustration as she rummaged through her bags for something suitable to go out in.
He talked her into getting dressed and stopped at a boutique in midtown.
While she tried on clothes he waited patiently, handling last minute car show details before the event at the end of the week.
When they walked out of the store there were eight bags in tow.
It wasn’t the fact he could buy it without jacking a car or moving product in a quick play.
It was the fact that he once again saw a need and didn’t bat and eye at fulfilling it.
Nothing made you appreciate your blessings than the absence of it.
“How many car shows have you done?” Nyna asked as the waiter brought over her black and blue chopped salad. DJ ordered the steak sandwich with fresh cut fries.
“We did a little spotlight at Lucci Day but now Daysha has turned it into a huge event. This is the first one we’re doing that’s this big.
We got collectors and entertainers from all over the country either shipping their shit over or coming in it.
The Crystal Ball is the venue and everything is set by tiers.
Classics, remodeled old schools, hot rods, new school, low riders, trucks, bikes all of it. Family friendly so no gang bullshit.”
Nyna watched him talk taking every word and enjoying how he came alive when he talked about cars. “I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t start that shit, you gave me the vision. I should be thanking you for real,” DJ said with a smile. “But thank you.”
“It’s nothing. The world always seemed so much bigger when you started talking about your dreams. It was like space to me, I could get lost in it.”
“You know that’s some shit that always made my chest tight. It also was a dead giveaway in hindsight,” DJ shared. “All the signs that you were in love with my gangsta ass was right there.”
Nyna laughed and rolled her eyes. “Focus, D.”
“I don’t want you lost in me. I want you to love and support me yes but I don’t want it to cost you your dreams. You were supposed to be managing niggas. Telling them what to do and how to do it. Telling them to jump and they were supposed to ask you how high,” DJ said.
Nyna nipped her lip. “I applied for some assistant management positions. I don’t know if I’m going to hear back. I have the degree with no experience. So, I’m trying to figure out the next move.”
“The next move is that you don’t depend on someone else to see you.
You see yourself and sell that. That’s the product.
You were right you could finesse a nigga out his car and you finessed me out my heart.
Which means you can sell a kid a dream about getting the fuck up out the neighborhood,” DJ shared.
“A few of us ex-gang banging niggas started a travel league. We got five clubs for basketball, Jahlil Savage is a sponsor and hosts a summer camp for it. And eleven clubs for baseball. We reached across the line to Noble Paulson, Jr. to sponsor that. The scouts start looking at these kids around 16U lowkey ad following them. The thing is none of these parents or kids know a bad deal. They just know they’re getting the fuck up out the hood but get locked into some three-sixty contract like most of the old players Oceania Hawks got locked into years ago when Brody was there.
They fought for their lives to get out that shit.
These kids need someone like you who isn’t going to take advantage of them or hijack their careers. ”
Nyna looked at him oddly before asking. “You’re going to trust me with that?”
“Baby I trust you with my life. Literally and figuratively. And I know you don’t need to anywhere you’re fighting to be seen. I see you, I hear you, I got you.”
Nyna bit her lip and conceded without push back. “Okay.”
“Uh uh what you thinking about?”
“Oh nothing,” she shared with a sly smirk.
“Nah it’s something,” DJ spoke.
“Wondering if Big Mama is going to be at the house and if I could get away with being grown,” she shared with a soft giggle.
“Since you said that, I want to show you something when we leave here.”
After lunch, the walked up the street pass the shops to the car to walk off their lunch before driving into the valley.
The subdivision was perfectly placed between the neighborhood and his shop offering them an equal commute to both.
Nyna trailed him to the door and watched him open it and let her roam inside ahead of him.
“I bought this a year after you left. After I got into a shootout and got hit. Big Mama let me bleed all over her couch and changed my bandages, fed me, prayed for me, and stuck right by me while I recovered. Even on the days I thought dying would be easier. At night when she fell asleep I’d imagine what our life would look like, you know if we were all still here.
How’d we need extra bedrooms for those game nights that went on to four in the morning.
A big dining room for our expanding family.
A living room big enough for our children to grow, a back yard for them to run around.
I found it and I bought it. I was in a haze but I knew that eventually I’d have you to make it a home.
I even tried to spend a night here but it was lonely so I went back to the neighborhood,” DJ shared as Nyna sauntered around the foyer taking it all in.
“You bought a house for me?”
He nodded. “Would you judge me if I said you got a ring back at my spot?”
“I’d blame it on grief because I drove past a bridal shop and tried on wedding dresses so I could feel the joy Veya said it would be. I find it funny how they called it and they’re not here to see it.”
“I’ve been going to church with Big Mama for a minute. I believe they see it. I believe they’re all around guiding us back to each other. It’s got to be the only reason we’re standing here now.”
Nyna stopped looking at the house and focused on him. “Don’t think I’m crazy when I say this.”
“Never,” DJ assured.
“I didn’t sleep much, especially the last six months.
But maybe a week ago I actually went to sleep and for the first time in years I dreamed of Veya and we’re standing in a house just like this and she smiled at me and told me it was time to get up and go home.
I told her I was home and I didn’t know what she talking about and she said don’t let your heart die because it’s broken, go home.
I was done with everything before but I was still there.
I don’t know maybe too embarrassed to face this head on.
But when I woke up, I was done. I’ve been craving home and wanting you since the moment I left and foolishly I didn’t turn around.
This is just confirmation of what I’ve wanted for as long as we’ve been in this orbit.
I’m home with you. I’m safe with you. I’m protected and loved with you,” Nyna paused to catch her breath and wipe her face.
DJ quickened to her to cup her face and her held on to his forearms. “I’m so sorry for leaving.
I won’t do it again. I promise. I love you DJ and I don’t want life without you anymore. ”
DJ kissed her lips and pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m not letting you leave me again.”
Nyna laughed through the tears. “I love the house.”
“I knew you would. Want the rest of the tour?”
“Yes, please.”
After the tour of the house, the quickie in the kitchen and the plans to have furniture delivered after Nyna decided what she wanted, she was back at Big Mama’s.
She sat on the couch, her hair deep conditioning underneath a shower cap.
DJ had gone to handle some last minute details with a promise to be back at the house for dinner with her and Big Mama if she were back.
“Mm mm mm,” Big Mama hummed on her way in the house. She locked the door dropped her bag and roamed deeper into the house. Spotting Nyna on the couch she stopped humming and asked, “did you send him away?”
Nyna laughed. “No.”
“Oh she laughs,” Big Mama said with a smile. She sat down and took the brand new phone from her Nyna’s hands. “Oh furniture. He took you to the house?”
“He took me to the house. I dreamt about the house. Veya was there,” Nyna shared.
“She might be here in flesh but her spirit is still around guiding us. Watching. There was many nights I was on my face praying that God brought you back home. Safe and sound. It’s a prayer that had gone unanswered for a very long time.
I’ve come to terms that your mother isn’t coming back.
I don’t know where she is, if she’s even still on this side with us.
But I prayed that God sent me back my blood.
I got you back and I know you didn’t come back just for me.DJ needed you, too.
When DJ told me about the house, he wanted me to move in with him.
I didn’t have issue with that. I’d have a whole space in the back but I knew you needed to be in there before me.
To feel it and make it your own. That’s what I want you to do.
I want you to make it home. I want y’all to make love and have all that nasty sex all over everything.
And before you say Big Mama don’t forget I was young once too.
You need that time with your man before people come into your space.
You need that time to connect, to argue, to make up, to just be in love with you two and not worry about the outside noise.
When you’re ready for me to guide your through pregnancy and birth, and raising, and all of that.
I’ll be there, I promise. I won’t leave you anytime soon so don’t stay here because you’re scared of that or even giving you heart away again.
I can assure you, you are in good capable hands because I saw to it myself.
The past is the past and we can’t erase it or do it over, it’s done.
But your future for yourself and with him is bright. ”
Nyna rested her head on Big Mama’s shoulder. “You’re right. But you said all of that because you want Deacon Morris on a regular. DJ has been cramping your grown folks time.”
“Oh girl yes!” Big Mama huffed. “I messed around and gave him a key never got rid of him. Don’t get me wrong I love the boy like he’s my own and I know why he needed to be here. But your home and I need you to please take him.”
Nyna laughed. “I’m telling him what you said.”
“Tell him. I’m not afraid of not a nigga you hear me?”
Nyna continued to laugh. “I hear you. I’ll be in your space a couple more days.”
“Nyna this will always be your home. This where I raised you and your sister. Whenever you need to come be replenished it’ll be here.”
“I love you, lady.”
“I love you, baby. And I’m proud of you for waking up and choosing you. But if you ever let a nigga put his hands on you again you’ll have to fight me and then I’m taking you back there to whip his ass.”
“I hear you.”
“And quiet is kept, he might not make it to that game tonight. When you see your man go ahead and get on your knees. I’ll have my TV turned up.”
“Big Mama,” Nyna said with a gasp lifting her head.
“What did I say? Huh? Feed him, suck it, and ride it. Talkin’ about Big Mama.
Girl I had your grandaddy climbing these walls trying to get to me and when he caught me again, ohhh wee.
This is why you need to move on in. Let him fold you up and turn you every which way but loose.
That’s a man, protects you even when you’re not around.
That’s a man that stands on his business. ”