Legacy
LEGACY
The anniversary of Ri's death was always the worst day to force myself into the same proximity as my mother. Because of that, I hadn't been around her on this day in five years. Once I returned to the living room with my father's tea, I wanted to stay and sit with him, at least until Raja's body was removed. But my father urged me to leave, probably because he knew my mother would be intolerable if I didn’t.
As I left, Vibe called me up and asked if I wanted to grab a bite to eat at The Luxe Assembly, a private members-only club in the West Loop. I accepted, needing the distraction. The place was swanky, filled with people who looked like money. High ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and sleek, modern furniture screamed opulence.
We ate at one of the many restaurants inside the club. Our table was set with immaculate white linen and sparkling silverware. I recognized a few athletes from the NBA and NFL at nearby tables, enjoying their expensive lunches. The ambiance was upscale and exclusive with servers dressed in sharp uniforms attending to our every need.
"Thanks for the invite, man. I really needed this distraction," I told Vibe as we perused the menu.
He glanced at me, concerned. "What's going on?"
"It's the anniversary of my sister's murder.”
Vibe’s expression washed with sympathy. He knew about Ri's death from the many conversations we'd had. "I'm sorry, bro. That's rough."
I shrugged, trying to shake off the gloom. "It is what it is. But I appreciate you unintentionally getting my mind off it."
“No doubt.” Vibe changed the subject, knowing I needed to focus on something else. "How's the business going?"
I blew out a heavy, frustrated breath. "We're busy, but my partner had to close the Houston branch.” Vibe shook his head, scoffing with more sympathy for me. “Now, I have to get more clientele in Chicago to make up for losing the clients in Houston. Plus, I hate that the staff members in Houston are losing their jobs."
Vibe nodded and took a sip of his drink. "That's tough."
"Yeah, I know. It's just a lot to handle right now. But I’ll figure it out."
"What's up with shorty you had at the event? What was her name? Chantel? She was bad."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "She's good. Had to let her go, though."
Vibe raised an eyebrow. "Why's that? She seemed solid."
I sighed, feeling a bit silly for what I was about to share with a man I hadn't known very long. But I had received professional advice. Now, I needed the advice from another man from my world, from my streets. "She's a good girl, beautiful too, but I'm too focused on Bless to focus on any other woman."
Vibe nodded. "I feel you. So, what's the deal with Bless? What’s stopping you from locking that down?"
Taking a deep breath, I decided to lay it all out. "I put her through a lot when we were together.”
“Yeah, you’ve told me some of the stories.”
“But I never stopped loving her. I always wanted a chance to make it right. When I got back to Chicago, I couldn’t shake the need to get her back. So, I made my move last night. And she told me that our youngest, Riley, might not be mine because she cheated.”
Vibe’s eyes swelled. “Whoa.”
His animated shock made me chuckle. “Right.”
“Now, that’s tough.”
I scoffed. “Ain’t it, though? It’s crazy, but I don't even blame her for sleeping with someone else or hiding it from me. I was doing a lot of messed-up things back then. I just can’t believe she held it in all this time. I feel tricked."
Vibe leaned in, his eyes serious. "What would you have done if she had told you the truth back then?"
"I probably would’ve gone on a downward spiral, never gone to rehab, or I would have relapsed. I was in a bad place."
Vibe nodded. "Sounds like she did what she needed to do for you .”
“I know.”
Vibe sat back, shrugging. “Man, if you understand how it could’ve happened, then you gotta forgive her. She's been loyal, stuck with you through all the mess. That’s rare."
I sighed in response to what I knew was true. "Yeah, I know. It's just hard, you know?"
"Look, bro, women like that don't come around often. If she’s been by your side through all the madness, you gotta hold on to her. Loyalty like that, you don’t just throw away. I get that she had a moment of deception and infidelity, but like you said, you get why it happened. If she never made a mistake like that before, she deserves to be forgiven as much as she has forgiven you.”
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, you're right. It’s just tough, though. Riley … Man, that’s my baby. That’s my heart. All of my kids are, so I can’t imagine one of them not actually belonging to me… biologically , I mean.”
Vibe leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "She belongs to you, blood or no blood. Listen, man, we all make mistakes. If you love Bless and she loves you, that's what matters. Don’t let your pride get in the way. Forgive her, make things right, and move forward."