Chapter 5 Jakari #2
I chilled with Journei for another hour, then I told her that I would call her later.
I wanted to spend time with my son, and I wasn’t ready to have overnight company around him just yet.
That was something I had never done. I knew that getting adjusted to living without his momma was hard and confusing, and I didn’t want to further complicate things.
I went into JJ’s room and lay across his bed while I watched him build things with his blocks.
He told me that his GiGi was going to see his mommy.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him any different, so I just let him continue talking.
Since JJ turned three, he was now a talking machine. He never got tired of running his mouth, and in a way, I was thankful for that. If someone yelled at him or spanked him, he was definitely going to run home and tell me.
When it was time to wind down, I gave JJ a bath.
I let him get into my bed and watch cartoons until he fell asleep.
It was something about Diamond passing away that made me want to hold onto him a little tighter.
Normally, I didn’t allow him to sleep with me much because he was a big boy, but these days, I really didn’t mind.
The next morning, I woke him up early to get him ready to run errands with me.
I needed to check on Keith and see how everything was going, then I needed to re-up on snacks, Lunchables, juice, and other shit that my son liked.
I pulled up to Keith’s crib and let my son out of the car.
Keith had his dogs in the yard, so JJ’s bad ass ran right up to them and started petting them.
This was the only lil’ bitty ass nigga I knew who wasn’t scared of shit.
When Keith saw us outside, he came out and greeted us.
Since I hadn’t been getting my hands dirty lately, I had Keith running everything.
He had also started bringing the bread home, so I could pick it up there instead of going directly to the trap.
I was really trying to transition off these streets; I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself yet. The streets were all I knew for real.
“Wassup, my boy? I see you got JJ’s rough ass back. I can’t believe he ain’t scared of them dogs. He’s for sho’ his daddy’s son. Hardheaded! I be telling him to leave the dogs alone.” Keith laughed.
“You know him. He ain’t gon’ learn. How has shit been, though? Is everything straight, and are you keeping them niggas in check?”
“You know I have. Niggas know not to play with me. You better ask about me. These niggas will tell you. Like Boosie said, I’ll pistol whip a nigga for ’bout forty minutes straight. They know better than to try me,” Keith joked.
I laughed, but we both knew he wasn’t lying.
Keith’s ass was crazy. We ran it for a few more minutes, and I let him chop it up with JJ before putting him back in the car and heading to the grocery store.
Keith’s crib was about twenty minutes from Harmoni’s shop, so I decided to ride past it to see if I could catch a glimpse of her.
I found myself doing that at least once a week, but I never had any luck.
When I made it to her shop, I slowly rode past it.
Her car wasn’t parked out front, so I assumed she was off for the day.
I wasn’t expecting to see her because I never did anyway.
It was just the fact that it was a possibility that I could have.
I went to the Kroger store that was located a few blocks from Harmoni’s shop, so I could head straight home afterward.
Once we got inside, JJ started grabbing all kinds of unnecessary junk and putting it into the buggy with him.
I asked him to stop picking up random shit as I took him down the cereal aisle to pick out some.
After he had chosen three different kinds of cereal, I left that aisle.
As I turned off that aisle, I bumped into someone with my buggy.
Before I could fully apologize, the lady turned around, and I noticed it was Harmoni.
She was holding a basket in her hand that was full of fruit and snacks.
Instantly, my palms sweated, and when she realized it was me, she looked as if she had seen a ghost.
“What a small world! How are you, and how have you been, Moni?” I asked with a smile.
When she turned to face me completely, I noticed that she was big and pregnant.
She looked to be around five or six months, and I knew we weren’t broken up five or six months ago.
It had been a little over two months since Diamond died, and I initially found out that Moni was pregnant.
She wasn’t big at all then, but looking at her now, I knew I needed answers.
“It’s only a small world because you are all the way on my side of town, just to shop. I’m good, Jakari. I see that you and your son are too. Take care. It was nice seeing you,” Moni said while trying to rush off.
“Wait a minute, Harmoni. Is there something you want to tell me? You’re looking pretty round for you to be pregnant by your new nigga. How long have you even known this nigga, and how far along are you?” I asked.
“Jakari, gone the fuck on somewhere. I don’t know what you are insinuating, but please believe the only child you have is the one in that buggy unless you hid another one while we were together.
You have nothing to worry about on my end, and I’m sorry to disappoint you.
I wish I could say that it was nice seeing you, but I don’t want to lie,” Moni spat as she walked off.
She placed her basket on the floor and rushed out of the store.
I couldn’t believe she had just read my ass like that.
I wasn’t convinced at all. My gut wasn’t wrong on this one.
That had to be my baby. There was no way she was that far along and that big if it was by Black.
I looked at JJ, and he was unfazed by anything that was going on; he was just ready to beg again.
I grabbed the rest of the things that we needed out of the store, then headed home with Harmoni on my mind.