Chapter 8
KWAMé
Ari wanted to cancel her baby shower. However, I was determined to let it go on. At the last minute, Adrian banded the family together to give Ari a great shower. Minnie and Adrian’s aunts handled the food. The men handled the decorations while the older kids helped.
To accommodate those who received invitations for Ari’s baby shower and still wanted to attend despite the shower being held in another city, we chose to have her shower at a park in downtown Niceville Shores.
Belmont Park was the most scenic park in the city.
Several large tents were erected near the water, decorations ranging from balloon features to backdrops for picture-taking.
There was plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves.
As attendees started to show, something inside me felt relief.
Another part of me hoped her parents and sister showed.
Although, I was still pissed at them for leaving her in jail, ruining her special day would’ve just been all kinds of fucked up.
There was plenty of Bell security here to keep people in check if need be. I just wanted Ari to enjoy herself.
“Hi, Russ!” Ari spoke cheerily, drawing my attention away from those straddling over from the parking lot. Many of them came bearing gifts, which made my heart smile.
“‘Sup, Arielle?” Russ spoke back.
“Nothing much,” Ari replied. Either I was tripping, or Ari blushed hard as hell. Maybe being out in this sun had me seeing shit. “Thank you for everything you’ve done to pull this off for me.”
Russ simply smirked, then shook his head. Either I was tripping again, or this behemoth of a man wore a slight blush himself. He moved off to handle something else while I pointedly peered at Ari.
“What?” she asked, bewildered.
“Girl… Did you see the way he looked at you?” She had to see the way Russ looked at her. No one could miss the spark in his steely brown eyes.
Ari laughed and pointed to her stomach. “I’m carrying a whole baby, sis. That man is not looking at me like that.”
“He is too,” I stressed.
“I know damn well y’all are not just now seeing how Russ is around you,” Bianca approached us and said. “Girl, he was on yo’ ass at Jessie’s party.”
“Sure was,” Coco seconded.
She waved me off. “Enough with that. I’m already recovering from one dog-ass nigga. I’m good on these niggas.” Something over my shoulder caused Ari’s face to frown.
Carli ignored the mug Adrian shot her as she entered the tent where we were setting up the eating area. She had several gift bags in her hands that she placed on the gift table.
“Hey,” Carli spoke lowly.
Ari looked her sister up and down, then mumbled, “Hey.”
“I’m sorry, Ari,” Carli declared. “I wish I could take back how I handled the situation. Every day, I’ve been wanting to pick the phone up and call you, but I figured you wouldn’t answer.”
“You could’ve tried,” Ari mentioned.
Carli’s eyes briefly shot the ground because she knew damn well that was a half-assed apology and excuse. I was going to mind my business, though.
“Daddy and Mama are on their way,” Carli divulged, bringing a soft smile to Ari’s face.
“Really?” Ari asked.
Carli nodded. “They’ve been fighting their parental instincts to show you tough love versus picking you up and dusting you off.”
The sisters giggled through their tears.
“You forgive me?” Carli questioned.
Ari nodded, then opened her arms for her little sister to embrace her. Truly, I was happy for Ari, but I still wanted to beat Carli’s ass. The joy on Ari’s face died at seeing something behind me. She let go of her sister as I turned to see what had her attention.
Glancing across the park, I saw Rod approaching. He wore a scowl that got him stopped in his tracks. Antonias stopped him from moving toward the tent.
“It’s okay,” Ari stated hesitantly. She looked nervous, which I didn’t like in the least bit. The audacity of Rod to show his face after the bullshit he pulled blew me.
Rod mugged Antonias, which prompted Russ to stop Antonias from snatching up Rod.
Rod glared at me, Carli, and the other ladies. “Can I have a minute with my baby mama?”
I moved to the table where the drinks were and picked up a juice for myself. Although the afternoon was settling in nicely, it was warm, and I wanted to keep myself hydrated.
“You just gon’ block my calls?” Rod questioned Ari.
“How did you know to find me here? And why the hell would I want to talk to you? First, you cheat on me. Then, yo’ bitch and her friends show up at my house and attack me. Then, you let me sit in jail.” Ari placed her hands on her hips and glared at Rod.
“Fuck them hoes, bruh!” Rod blasted.
“No, fuck you!” Ari shot back.
Thick tension boiling between Ari and Rod drew Russ.
“Everything cool?” Russ stepped between the two with his back noticeably facing Ari. He nearly towered over Rod, who looked Russ up and down like Russ was stupid as fuck.
“Who the fuck you ‘posed to be? You fuckin’ this bitch?” he barked at Russ.
Ari and I audibly gasped as Russ stepped in Rod’s face with a menacing growl. His handsome face contorted into something dark and sinister. The music still played and, as I discreetly glanced around, I noticed that many were preoccupied and didn’t notice the drama taking place inside the tent.
“Watch ya fuckin’ mouth,” Russ warned Rod.
“Mane, move the fuck out my way,” Russ demanded. “That’s my bitch—”
Russ pushed Rod so hard, his chest nearly caved in.
“I want you to leave, Rod,” Ari announced. “If I would’ve listened to my sister, I wouldn’t have gotten caught up wit’ yo’ ass in the first place,” Ari told Rod.
Rod chuckled. “If you would’ve listened to ya sister? Oh, what? She told you we fucked?” Rod confessed, causing my eyes to bulge out of my head.
“What?” Bianca, Coco, and I had the same reaction. The music drowned out our loud shrieks of disbelief.
Carli’s face resembled a dear caught in headlights. Her mouth moved to tell a lie that wouldn’t spill forth. The ass whooping I wanted to give Carli returned full-fledged.
“Carli?” Ari’s soft voice was filled with disbelief.
Carli looked at her older sister and snapped, “I’ve been telling you about this nigga for months. Yet you wouldn’t listen. I fucked him months ago. Why the hell do you think I’ve been trying to warn you?”
Stunned into silence, all Ari did was stare at the younger version of herself. She and her sister were too close for this not to have shattered Ari’s heart. I saw it in her eyes. Incensed, I stepped to Carli, ready to knock her head off her shoulders.
“Kwamé!” Adrian barked. He snatched me up just as I swung on Carli. My fist connected with Adrian instead.
“Ho!” I shouted at Carli. “I should drag yo’ ass all over this park!”
“Everybody out!” Russ commanded. His voice rose over the music, drawing attention.
“Fuck you! Ari, let’s go!” For Rod to think Ari was leaving with him was yet another sign of audacity.
“No!” Ari shouted. “How could y’all do this to me?” Her tear-filled eyes broke my heart. Carli stormed out of the tent and toward the parking lot.
Having had enough, Antonias yoked Rod up.
The two started tussling, but my brother didn’t tussle—he knocked niggas out.
While he was busy beating Rod’s ass, I tuned in to Russ standing in front of my best friend.
With one hand on her arm and the other using the back of his knuckles, he blotted away some of the tears that fell.
“Stop that shit.” Russ’s tone was low and gentle. “You too beautiful for that. Fix ya face, and I mean right now.”
Ari waved her hands in front of her face to stop the tears from falling.
“The people who need to be here are still here. Fuck er’body else,” he continued.
She nodded and hiccupped as she tried to fight the emotional current rushing through her.
“You look good as fuck, and you smell even better. Don’t let a couple of sorry muhfuckas ruin ya day.”
The baby shower hadn’t even started yet, and Rod and Carli nearly ruined the vibe.
Ari sniffled, then chuckled. “Thanks.”
Adrian practically had to drag me out of the tent, even though I wanted to ear-hustle on whatever else Russ was lowly saying to Ari. He kept touching her, too.
“Shit!” Maddie exclaimed, garnering several pairs of eyes. “My water just broke!”
All hell broke loose again. This time for a different reason.
Hours later, after putting Jessie down for the evening, I undressed to prepare for a shower.
After Ari’s baby shower commenced, everything went well.
Her parents finally showed, which put her in a better mood.
Like she initially forgave Carli, she did the same with her parents.
I wasn’t sure how she and Carli would move past Carli and Rod’s transgressions, but I prayed my friend found peace about it.
After the baby shower, most of the family gathered at the hospital to see Baltimore and Maddie’s baby. Baltimore Junior was a baby doll and was fully welcomed by his older siblings. Maddie was a gem and deserved every blessing she had coming her way.
While I waited for the tub to fill, I checked my phone. The last thing I had time for today was my phone. I was perturbed to see a missed call, then a text from DeAnna Humphries.
Dr. Humphries: Call me when you have a chance.
It was a simple message, but I wasn’t too excited to see my interim replacement’s call or message. Checking the time of her call, it was hours ago while I was still at the baby shower. Now, it was late, and I was too exhausted to discuss business.
I replied to my mother’s text message, turned my phone screen off, then climbed into the tub. I’d reluctantly deal with business tomorrow.
I rolled over at the sound of my phone ringing. Ari’s baby shower wore me out yesterday, and after cuddling up with Adrian, I didn’t remember falling asleep. The renewed energy I felt quickly dissipated after seeing the number on the phone screen.
“Hello?” Concerned, I answered Dr. Lewis’s call. The director of the NBA’s health and wellness department wasn’t calling unless there was a major issue.
“Hey, Kwamé,” she replied. The defeat in her tone caused me to sit up.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her.
She sighed heavily. “Hell no. I need you back.”
My heart dropped. I wasn’t ready to leave the farm. “What? Why?”
“DeAnna was attacked early this morning. It’s not looking good.”
Fully alert, I gasped in shock. DeAnna had texted me yesterday, and I was too exhausted to call her back. “What the hell happened?” I sat on the edge of the bed and steadied myself. My heart was racing a mile a minute.
“All I know is that the police are investigating it as a robbery.” Her voice broke. “They beat her so badly.”
I understood Dr. Lewis’s emotions getting the best of her. Dr. Lewis had known DeAnna for years and treated her like a little sister. My eyes misted over, thinking about how terrible she must’ve felt.
“An announcement is going out later this evening. We need to have you ready to go when that happens.”
Gulping past the clog of unpreparedness, I said, “Okay.
“The last client she saw the evening before was Damon Brooks.”
My heart stopped. “Who?”
“Damon Brooks,” Dr. Lewis repeated as if she couldn’t feel all the blood draining from my body. “He’s one of the few people who know, and he’s taking it really hard. He’s already requested to see you as soon as possible.”
“Wait—”
“He’s expecting to see you right after the game tonight. Your seats are reserved, and a car will be waiting for you.”
Things were moving so quickly, my head spun. “I don’t need the car. And I’ll skip out on the game.”
“No, you can’t. You need to be courtside just in case anything happens mid-game. Emotions are high right now.”
Reluctantly, I mumbled, “I’ll be there.”
After hanging up with Dr. Lewis, I sat on the side of the bed, hung my head, and shed a few tears. I wasn’t ready to leave this little life I’d created in the little time I’d been back at the farm. I wanted the rest of the time I had with Adrian to spend just with him, no work included.
“What’s wrong?”
Adrian entered the room wearing a frown on his face.
Sighing heavily, I stood from the bed, wiped my tears and said, “I’ve been called back to work.” I gave him the information I knew.
“Aight, let’s pack and we can go,” he stated.
“We?” I questioned.
“Yes. You need me there wit’ you, and I’m not letting you go by ya’self.”
Just that quickly, some of the nerves taking over my body mellowed. Then, I remembered I had to face Damon Brooks. If I never had to do that again for the rest of my life, I would’ve been a happy woman.
Just two hours later, on the ride to Atlanta, I received a text from Dr. Lewis.
Dr. Lewis: DeAnna didn’t make it.
My heart broke for DeAnna. I hoped whoever hurt her faced the worst kind of death for what they did.