Chapter 11
“Anybody home!” I yelled, walking into my parents’ house.
I immediately heard the heavy footsteps upstairs, followed by their pounding as my little brothers came running down. I opened my arms to them, and they damn near knocked me over.
“I take it you’re happy to see me,” I said, squeezing them.
“Yes!” Damaris said, kissing my cheek.
Kilow followed suit. “Damaris has been getting on my nerves, Shar. Please take him with you.”
My brother punched him in the arm. “You get on my nerves too, punk.” He turned to me. “Rina, I need some money.”
“Well damn, Damaris! Can I get in the door good before you run my pockets? What happened to the money Maceo gave y’all last week?”
“I spent some and saved the rest.”
“Then spend what you saved.”
“Then I won’t have anything saved.”
“So you wanna spend my money so you can save yours?”
He shrugged. “I mean, technically, wouldn’t that be me spending Maceo’s money?”
I scoffed as Kilow died laughing. “Oh, you think that’s funny? Watch I don’t give y’all another dime, and I’m gonna tell my man not to give you anything either.”
That wiped the smile from their faces.
“Quit playing, Shar,” Kilow pleaded.
“Nah, it ain’t my money, right? Bet.”
I headed into the kitchen with them on my heels, pleading their cases. My mama stood at the stove, shaking her head. She was used to our back-and-forth.
“Mommy, please get your two broke best friends,” I said, going over to hug her.
She laughed. “Nobody told you to spoil them.”
She was right. Even before I had a man, I spoiled them. I didn’t make a lot as a CNA, but I’d been hustling since I was fourteen, and I knew how to save a dollar. All throughout high school and college, I did hair and nails. I babysat and house sat. My daddy spoiled me, so I spent his money and saved my own, much like Damaris was trying to do to me.
“They are my babies,” I said, shrugging. “Even if all they do is use me.”
“People only do what you allow, baby. Kilow, Damaris, go sit your asses down somewhere and stop begging like me and your daddy don’t give you money. I know one thing… that homework better be done.”
They retreated and ran back upstairs. Cicely Gladden was a small woman, and her bark was nothing compared to her bite. She didn’t play, and we all knew not to push our luck with her.
“Where’s Daddy?”
“Working late.” She glanced over at me as she seasoned whatever she was cooking. “He told me you have a new job.”
“Yeah… I do.”
“Baby. You know I love Maceo, and I don’t judge, ’cause look where I came from. But your father and I worked hard to provide you and your siblings a life where you didn’t have to fall into some bullshit to make ends meet.”
“I know, Mommy.”
“Then what the hell are you doing working for the Dillingers? I know they have legal ventures, but I also know the other side of them that ain’t so clean. You don’t have that much power… especially as a nigga, without getting your hands dirty. I don’t want you doing that.”
“I’m not doing anything. I’m just a driver.”
“A driver for what?”
I sighed. “The people they help. I drive them to safety and get them settled in. That’s it.”
“And just what are they in danger of, Sharina?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss.”
“You’re not at liberty to discuss? Okay. Watch me break my foot off in yours and Maceo’s ass. Where is he?”
“Out of town. He should be home tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that convenient. When he gets back, I want to see him, and tell him I’m not fucking around. He better have his big ass here the second he touches down in this city. Don’t make me have to drive over to that compound to come see about him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She capped her seasonings and placed them back before turning to me and opening her arms. I didn’t hesitate to go into them. This was a normal routine anytime she fussed at one of us. She would always follow it up with love. We knew not to take her words lightly, but we always appreciated the love.
“Now, how is my niece and my great niece?” she asked, referring to Salima and Darlyn.
“Both are good. Darlyn is getting so big! I love that they are right next door now.”
“Must be nice. Tell my niece if she doesn’t bring her and that baby to see me, I’ma get in her ass too.”
“Let me call her.”
I pulled out my phone to FaceTime Salima. The call rang twice before she picked up.
“Hey, boo.”
“Hey, wifey. Where is my baby?”
“Damn, Shar! You are just like my mama. She doesn’t even call for me anymore. It’s always about Darlyn.”
“Girl, put the baby on the damn phone,” my mama said, snatching it from me.
“Hey, Auntie, with your fine self.”
My mother blushed, then went right back to her shit talking. “The baby, Salima.”
“See, you’re lucky I respect my elders ’cause I would have hung up on you.”
“You ain’t too old for me to tag that ass.”
They shared a laugh as I heard Salima moving around. She got on the floor to where Darlyn was enjoying tummy time.
“Hi, precious!” my mother sang. Darlyn looked toward the phone and grinned as she reached for it. “Oh, Salima, she’s beautiful. Look at those cheeks. She reminds me so much of you when you were a baby. Just round.”
“Auntie, did you just call my baby fat?”
“She’s a butterball. Don’t worry. Once she starts walking, she will slim down. For now, enjoy her looking like the Michelin man’s baby.”
“Mama, please!” I said, cackling. “Leave my juicy mamas alone. She gives good cuddles.”
“Salima, when can we keep her for a night or two? I know you and that husband of yours could use some privacy.”
“You can keep her this weekend, Auntie. You’re gonna have to share it with my mom, though. She asked for her on Friday.”
“That’s fine with me. Paul is going to spoil her rotten. You know that man had the nerve to ask me about another baby not too long ago?”
I fell out laughing. “You know Daddy said y’all don’t be bumping uglies, y’all be fu?—”
“I know you better watch your mouth just like he better stop telling all of our damn business.”
Salima laughed. “It’s okay, Auntie. I hope it’s still like that when we get older.”
“A word of advice from someone who’s been married a long time: It gets better with age. Now, you might not be all that flexible, but there is a lot you can still do to please each other.”
I cut her off. “Okay, Mommy. We don’t want a sex ed class. I don’t need that visual. I literally told Daddy that on his birthday.”
My mother rolled her eyes. We talked to Salima and Darlyn for a little while longer while my mom finished dinner. By the time she’d plated everything, my father was walking through the door. As always, I turned on some music and started dancing with him. It didn’t matter how tired he was, when he saw me, he always saved me a dance. Kilow and Damaris came back downstairs and joined in with us.
Right in the middle of the kitchen, the four of us started doing the Kid-N-Play dance to one of their songs. My mother watched, shaking her head and laughing. I lived for moments like these. It took me back to my childhood, back when life was simple, and I was happy without a care in the world. This was the type of shit I wanted with my own kids one of these days.
I thought about what Maceo promised me after we were done with the next few missions. Marriage. Kids. Traveling together. Just living and being happy. I couldn’t wait for that.
After leaving my parents, I headed for home. I had to make a quick stop to get gas because if I didn’t, I was going to be on the side of the road. I decided to stop at The Fill Station. It was one of those huge gas stations that doubled as a convenience store. They carried all types of shit. You could get gas, shop, and grab some of the best food all in one place.
My guilty pleasure from here was the store brand beaver nuggets. They were sweet corn puffs, and I was addicted to them. I had it so bad that I made Maceo order them for me by the case. Even though I had some at the house, I always stopped to get a bag whenever I was near here.
As I got out to pump my gas, I surveyed the parking lot. Per usual, it was packed. As I looked around, my eyes landed on someone familiar. It was the guy Charity introduced to me as Blane. Even now, seeing him sent a chill up my spine, the same as it had three days ago. He was driving a nice ass black-on-black Rolls Royce Cullinan that looked like it was fresh out of the factory.
I hid behind the gas pump and watched as he rounded the driver’s side and opened the door. Charity got out, looking as fly as she did at the restaurant, and they headed into the store. I quickly finished pumping my gas and headed toward the building. Discreetly, I took a picture of the license plate before walking inside.
As I made my way to the aisle that had the beaver nuts, I made sure to stay out of their eyesight. They were standing in front of the beverages, talking low. I tried to get closer so I could hear without being seen.
“You need to do what the fuck I asked you to do,” he said to her in a gruff tone.
“I told you, I need time. It’s not that easy.”
“You wouldn’t be doing shit you ain’t used to doing.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter. It’s too soon, and I’m not talking about that shit here.”
She stormed off, leaving him standing there looking after her. What had he asked her to do? Maybe I was tripping. Maybe he was just her trick, and she was selling pussy. Maybe he was her pimp or some shit. Even thinking that sounded like bullshit. They were way too comfortable with each other for people who claimed to have just met. I decided right then that I was going to have to enlist Jaeda to help me. She hated keeping secrets from her family, but she was going to have to suck this one up.
Turning around, I grabbed my beaver nuggets and walked to the end of the aisle. As I went to turn the corner, I ran smack into this bitch.
“Sharina,” she said, offering a smile. “I keep seeing you everywhere. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were following me.”
“I’m glad you know better then,” I answered, returning the smile. “I stopped for gas.”
“I see. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“How’s Maceo?”
I felt my jaw tighten. “He’s fine too.”
“Does he come by the cleaning company often? I’d like to treat him to lunch one day. You know, as a thank you. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
Did this bitch just invite me to lunch with my nigga?
I’d been trying to keep it cute with her, but she was about to see a side of me she wasn’t expecting. Sharina Gladden from Platt Street was about to make an appearance.
“Charity, I think you have me confused with a bitch that would play with you like that.”
“Excuse me?”
“My man isn’t going to lunch with you, and neither am I. I don’t know what type of weird shit you’re on, but I don’t like it. This is three times now that you’ve asked me about my man. We aren’t going to make it a fourth. You have that big nigga from lunch. Play it safe and stick with him, girl.”
“I was just trying to be nice,” she said, evenly.
“No. What I think you’re trying to do is fuck my man, and that, my dear, would get you fucked up. Rescued or not, I don’t play with you or any bitch like that.”
She glared at me, seemingly trying not to go off. Little did she know, I would whup her ass all up and through this gas station.
“I didn’t take you for an insecure woman,” she said.
“Insecure? Baby, I’m confident in every sense of the word. I just don’t play about what’s mine.”
She smiled. “Well… if it’s yours, then you have nothing to worry about, do you?” Blane walked over, and she slid an arm around his waist. “Have a good day, Sharina. I’ll see you around.”
I glared after her as she walked off. The bitch had nerve; I’d give her that. She wanted Maceo, and she seemed like the type of bitch who would try me, just to prove a point. I hadn’t put hands on anyone in a long time, but if she kept it up, she was going to bring the bitch out of me.