Chapter 4
MADDIE
After leaving the salon, Cooley steered the sedan to the store. By the time we got there, Jahdi and Stacy were waiting for us. Jahdi was a newer face and worked the night shift. So far, I liked him. They each brought their own truck as if I was about to purchase the entire store.
Heir and I walked the aisles, picking up everything we needed for the baby. Cooley even added stuff to the cart. When we got to the cribs, he chose it along with a rocking chair, dresser, and changing station. He also picked up a baby monitor set, humidifier, stroller, and car seat.
Finally, I had to ask, “Do you have children?” Heir and I both looked at him curiously.
He grinned. “I can’t shop for my lil’ baby client?”
His question effectively shut up me and Heir. We didn’t make a peep or question him again. Neither did we bat an eye when he swiped his card to purchase all the shit we bought. Three stores later, I was sure we’d put a dent in Cooley’s wallet.
Both trucks were loaded down with furniture, diapers, clothes, paint, toys, and too many miscellaneous items to name as we headed back to Bell Estates. Shopping for Genesis carried us well into the afternoon. Genesis had everything from a crib to pacifiers.
Back home, Cooley, Jahdi, and Stacy unloaded the trucks and carried everything inside to Genesis’s room. At first, I considered giving Genesis DJ’s old room. Instead, I opted to give him one of the guest rooms. I would make it personal, just for him.
I entered the room and inhaled a deep breath. Cooley appeared at the door, stopping my heart in my chest. He’d been patient and considerate today.
“What do you think you’re about to do?” he asked.
“Paint,” I replied, looking at the clean but dowdy light gray walls.
“No, you’re not. We’ll handle the room. You go rest or something.”
“But—”
“Maddie,” he interrupted with a half-smile. “I’ve got this, aight. Go kick ya feet up.”
Not even upset, I pranced toward the door. Cooley stuck his arm out, blocking my exit and bringing our bodies together. My body up against his caused an earthquake inside of me.
“You’re used to me working for you, so I understand ya hesitation to following my orders,” he said. “However, as you get to know me, you’ll see how easy it is to let me lead you. Aight?”
I couldn’t speak, so I nodded. His arm swept seductively across my body as he freed me.
I offered a wobbly smile to Jahdi and Stacy as they climbed the stairs, carrying more stuff.
Doing as Cooley said, I went downstairs to do something productive.
I told myself that it was time to renovate the house, and I meant that.
For the next hour, I walked through my house noting everything I wanted to upgrade or change.
With it just being me and Heir in the house, having the men upstairs hard at work getting Genesis’s room ready, I laughed at Toast having a tantrum every time the noise got too loud. I for one welcomed the noise.
By nightfall, Heir and I sat at the table to enjoy takeout. This was another thing Cooley paid for. Absently, I wondered if he was the one who paid for my hair appointment. I chuckled, already knowing the answer.
“We’re bringing a baby home soon,” Heir said. “Are you ready?”
Smiling, I replied, “I am.”
She returned my smile. “Me too.”
Her eyes shifted a little, prompting me to ask, “You okay?”
She nodded. “I just… I want to talk to you about something.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’m all ears.”
Heir blew out a deep breath and said, “I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do it, but I think I need to. I want to go back to school.”
On the inside, my heart burst with excitement. On the outside, my eyes watered.
“Heir, baby. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while.”
Relieved, she smiled. “You’re not upset? Especially since Genesis will be here?”
“Of course, not, baby girl. I’m so proud of you for going down your own path. I will never, and I mean never, stop you from doing so. No matter what I have going on, don’t let that keep you from living your life. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she stated as she wiped her eyes. “I was so scared to tell you,” she confessed with a giggle. “But if I’m going to get out of this funky state I’m in, I have to find some normalcy. School was my normalcy away from Bell Estates.”
“I understand,” I assured her. “I’d rather you find you than to lock her away. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t, Mama. I promise.” She went back to eating and seconds later added, “Besides, you and Cooley need some space to do grown folks’ stuff.”
Outdone, I burst out laughing. Finally glad that she was able to slide Cooley into the conversation, Heir threw her head back and cackled. It was a sound that swelled my mama’s heart with joy and pride.
After Heir and I cleaned the dishes, she retired to her room. I poured myself a glass of wine and retreated to the patio and tried not to venture upstairs to check on Cooley. Jahdi and Stacy were on shift, so that left Cooley by himself.
Now that I was bringing Genesis into my home, my focus shouldn’t have been on what was potentially budding between me and Cooley.
High hopes for a healthy relationship were crazy considering my position and past. Still, as I sipped my wine, I couldn’t bring myself to not think about Cooley and whether he was up those stairs thinking about me.
It was close to midnight when I finally broke down and checked on Cooley. I walked into the room stunned to see that it was almost complete. Three of the walls were painted pale green, and one wall was blue. Someone had painted a mural of sea animals on the blue wall, making my mouth drop in awe.
“Who did the painting?” I asked.
“Jahdi,” he stated. “He surprised the fuck out of me too.”
We both chuckled.
“I know you wanna stand there and ask to help. I’m gon’ tell you no, so gon’ and go to bed, lil’ baby.”
Giggling, I said, “I wasn’t about to ask if I could help. I was just checking on you. Did you eat?”
“I’ll eat when I’m done. This is the last thing to put together.”
He was right. All the furniture was put together and centered far enough from the walls until the paint completely dried.
“It looks amazing in here,” I praised.
“Thanks. Now go to bed.”
Chuckling, I said, “Good night, Cooley.”
“Night, mama.”
As I walked away from the door, I smiled hard as hell. Cooley was working on that room as if Genesis was his own son.
Thursday arrived, and I realized I wasn’t prepared to face the Graces.
My mind had been wrapped up in Cooley. He worked well after midnight to ensure Genesis’s room was perfect.
He dusted, vacuumed, organized Genesis’s clothes, stocked Genesis’s closet, and everything.
I didn’t have to lift a finger. Smitten by how he took charge, I was lost in his world.
Here I was today, gulping every five minutes just to release the clog in my throat. Seeing Gensen again caused a twinge to squeeze my heart. She and Genika looked almost identical. With haughty expressions, the Graces didn’t even speak as we entered the courthouse.
That was fine with me. My focus shifted to Genesis, whose pouty lips and red eyes looked as if he’d just finished crying.
He appeared well taken care of, but my mama’s spirit caught on and latched onto the fact that he wasn’t being loved.
Eager to get this over with, the nerves I possessed on the ride here fled.
Adir, Dothan, and Cooley flanked me and Heir as we entered the courtroom where our case was to be heard. Ten minutes into waiting for the judge, Genesis began to cry. Glancing over at the Graces, neither attempted to calm him. Gensen appeared bothered and even rolled her eyes at him.
Dothan’s hand stopped me from standing.
“Relax, Auntie. This won’t take long.”
The entire time court presumed, Heir and I were distracted by Gensen being frustrated with Genesis. I could barely keep up with anything that was said. Inside, I was seething.
“In the case of Baby Boy Bell, the court hereby grants guardianship to Madelyn Denise Bell. Also, the court hereby orders Baby Boy Bell’s name change to Genesis Bell effective immediately. Court will reconvene in sixty days to finalize adoption status.”
As soon as the gavel came down, I rushed over to get Genesis from Gensen.
Again, neither of the Graces said a word.
It was fuck them, though, as I took Genesis into my arms. For a second, his lip curled as if he wanted to cry.
Seeing how wet his face was and how runny his nose was, I glared at Gensen.
“We wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for yo’ triflin’ ass husband,” Gensen quipped. With Adir, Dothan, and Cooley surrounding us, Heir and I couldn’t smack the fuck out of Gensen if we wanted to. Her young ass was pushing my buttons, though.
“Get yo’ ass out my mama’s face before I rearrange yours,” Heir warned her. “Don’t make me find you, ho. I’ll do you worse than Coco did.”
Heir’s comment caused Adir to chuckle. Shaking my head, I ignored Gensen and snuggled my face to Genesis’s. A feeling I couldn’t explain overtook me. I knew it was love, but it was something deeper.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I whispered gently. It was then I recognized that the Graces didn’t bother bringing a diaper bag, bottle, or anything. They were truly pieces of shit.
Now that I had Genesis, they didn’t matter.
He would never have to worry about them again.
He was in the arms of a woman who would love him unconditionally.
As I snapped a photo of me and Genesis to send to my mom and sisters, I figured this was as good a time as any to announce the news.
Regardless of how anyone felt about my decision, I would do whatever I could to protect Genesis from the whispers of those who wouldn’t understand. I put that on my life.
That evening, as I was on the couch talking to my sisters on a three-way call and feeding Genesis, I was surprised to get a security notification alerting me to a vehicle pulling into my driveway.
Seeing my mother’s silver Mercedes on the screen caused instant knots to form inside my stomach.
She hadn’t responded to my picture of me and Genesis, so I assumed she was disgusted by it.
“Hey… Mom just showed up,” I said to them.
“Bye.”
“Bitch, I know you lyin’.”
My sisters spoke at the same time. Nati, the baby, hung up before I could respond. Her mouth was too slick, so bye was all she gave me.
Kara stayed on the line and added, “You better not let her be mean to that precious baby.”
“You know me better than that,” I replied. Already, I was willing to protect Genesis with my life.
“Call me if you need me,” Kara said.
“Will do.” I hung up and felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Sherma March was hard most of my life. My father wasn’t the type to put his wife in her place, so her behavior just got worse over the years. It was so bad that my younger sisters didn’t even fuck with her. As soon as they stepped into adulthood, they cut our mother off.
“Grandma’s here,” Heir stated as she came down the stairs. The sour expression on her face spoke volumes. She didn’t bother answering the door either. Instead, she took Genesis from me and went back up the stairs.
Standing from the couch, I took a fortifying breath and went to answer the door. My mother wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, and her presence here was questionable. However, unlike my sisters, I was determined to have a normal relationship with the woman who birthed us.
I opened the door to my mother standing on the other side with two suitcases beside her.
“Where’s my grandbaby?” she asked. No hello or anything.
“Come in,” I stated. “He’s upstairs with Heir, eating.”
She walked inside and glanced around like she hadn’t been to my house before. “Oh… Well, I’m going to put my things in the guest room.”
“Where’s Dad?” I questioned because she was alone.
“On a business trip with the church. He has several conferences over the next few weeks, so I figured coming to spend some time with Genesis would be good.” She eyed me as if I was about to tell her that she couldn’t stay. That was all she would need to cause a ruckus in my driveway.
“Okay,” I answered. “I’ll help you put your things upstairs.”
Just weeks ago, my parents were here attending Duval and DJ’s funerals. Nothing seemed odd in their world. The fact that my mother was back on Bell Estates property in such a short time gave me concern. Something was up with her, and it had nothing to do with Genesis.