Prologue Two Stephanie
FOUR YEARS AGO…
“Baby! I’m about to go take my morning walk around the neighborhood!” Aaron called from the living room.
“Okay!” I yelled from the bedroom. “Breakfast will be ready when you get back!”
“I love you!”
“I love you too!”
I heard the door close as I finished taking the curlers out of my hair.
After teasing my roots with my wide tooth comb, I gave it a good fluff.
I smiled at my reflection. After breakfast, Aaron and I were going on a boat ride with a group of friends.
I couldn’t wait to spend the day out on the lake, soaking up the sun, enjoying good drinks and good company.
Later, we had dinner plans. I had my own plans of how we were going end our night. Tomorrow we were spending the day with our grandbabies, and I couldn’t wait to see them… and my annoying ass son.
As though I thought him up, my phone started ringing with a call from Deuce. I rolled my eyes as I walked out of the bedroom. Swiping the screen, I answered the FaceTime call.
“Yes, Stanley?”
He frowned. “Why do you act like that every time I call you, woman?”
“Because every time you call me, you be on that good bullshit. What do you want? I’m about to make Aaron and I some breakfast.”
“Damn, Ma. I can’t just call to check on you and tell you I miss you?”
“I just saw you yesterday.”
“And?”
“Oh my God. I miss you too, Deuce. I can’t wait to see your handsome face.”
His frown deepened. “Well, that wasn’t sincere.”
I sighed as I pulled a carton of eggs from the fridge.
“My first and only child, how can I help you?”
“I didn’t want anything for real. You were just on my mind. Shit came out of nowhere, so I had to check on you, make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, baby. Aaron and I are going on a boat later.”
“Where that nigga at?”
“Taking his morning walk. He should be back for breakfast soon.”
“Oh. Well tell him I said hey.”
I smiled. It had taken a while for Deuce to warm up to me being with any man but his father.
Shit, he didn’t even want me with his father.
These days he and Aaron had a decent relationship.
He’d invite him out for drinks with his brothers and father.
They joked around when he, Salima and the kids came over.
Sometimes he called Aaron to check in, but he didn’t think I knew that.
“I will,” I said. “How are my daughter and grandbabies?”
“They’re good. Can’t wait to see y’all tomorrow. Daryln done asked me what time you coming a million times.”
I giggled. “Let me see my babies.”
“Darlyn! Liam!”
I could hear the pitter patter of their little feet on the hardwood floor, and they ran into the room.
“Say hey.” Deuce turned the camera so they could see me and their faces lit up.
“Hi, Gammy!” Darlyn said, excitedly.
“Gam Gam!” Liam echoed.
“Hi, my babies! Gammy misses you.”
“We miss you too, Gammy. Where’s Papa?”
“Papa went for his morning walk.”
“Oh. Can we stay at your house?” Liam clasped his hands together and smiled brightly. “Pleeeease!”
“Of course you can, baby.”
“Dang, Ma,” Deuce said. “You ain’t gon ask?”
“Boy, I wish I might ask you if my grandbabies can spend the night. They have a whole room here. This is their home too.”
“You always so fiesty.”
“Because you get on her nerves, Stanley,” Salima said, coming into view.
“She had me. She knew what she signed up for.”
Salima mushed his head. “Hey, Mama. How are you?”
“I’m good, baby. About to cook breakfast so Aaron and I can get our day started.”
“You did say you were going on a boat, right?”
“Yes.”
“Ooooo! I know you got a cute bathing suit!”
“I sure do. Remember that one with the cut-out sides I got when we went shopp—”
“Cut out sides!” Deuce exclaimed. He mushed his wife out the way and focused the camera back on him. “Ma, you tripping.”
“Stanley, I am grown, married, and I’m gonna be with my husband. You are the one that’s tripping.”
“Let me call Aaron because I know he ain’t letting you out the house dressed like a hoochie.”
I saw Salima smack the side of his head. “Leave that grown ass woman alone, Stanley. You are always in her business.”
“I’m her business and she is mine.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is it too late to put you up for adoption?”
Salima laughed. “They will give him back. Trust me, some days I want to send him back to you and Senior. But then I think about the way these kids are gonna drive me crazy about him and I reconsider.”
Deuce stared blankly at her. “You real funny, Salima. Ma, I’ma let you go. Enjoy your boat ride and take your gun. Don’t be afraid to shoot a nigga if you have to.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bye, Stanley. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ma. For real. I ain’t wrapped too tight when it comes to you.”
I giggled. “I know. I ain’t wrapped too tight when it comes to you either. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I blew him and my babies a kiss before disconnecting the call. After turning on some music, I got to making breakfast. I settled on something quick and simple: sausage, eggs, and pancakes. By the time I was done, I expected Aaron to be walking through the door like always, but he wasn’t.
“He must have taken the long way,” I mumbled as I stepped on the front porch to look for him.
The unmistakable sound of an ambulance blaring through the neighborhood caught my attention. When it got closer, a frown formed on my face.
“What the hell is going on?” I mumbled
As I made my way down the front steps to the sidewalk, it zoomed past my house and turned onto the next street.
My first thought was Mr. Duncan, the old man around the corner.
He’d been sick for a while, and I prayed he was okay.
It wasn’t until I saw Johnny, his grandson running full speed toward me, did I know that wasn’t the case.
“Ms. Stephanie!” he yelled, frantically.
“Johnny? Baby, what’s wrong?”
“It’s… it’s Mr. Aaron. He passed out.”
“What!”
“He passed out in front of grandpa’s house. I was taking the dog out for a walk, and I saw him. Ms. Stephanie, it’s bad. I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn’t move.”
He grabbed my hand, and we started running. My heart pounded against my chest as I put all power into my legs, trying to make it to my husband. The EMS workers had just hopped out of the ambulance as we neared the house.
“Aaron!” I screamed.
One of my neighbors tried to hold me back, but I fought them off.
“That’s my husband! Aaron! Aaron, baby get up!”
Johnny and his mother wrapped their arms around me to steady me as I watched them work to revive him.
“What’s wrong with my husband! Aaron… baby please wake up!”
For what seemed like forever, they tried to bring him back, but to no avail.
A guttural cry left me as the EMS worker shook her head, making it known that he was gone.
I broke away from Johnny and his mother and ran to Aaron.
Collapsing to my knees, I pulled him into my arms and cried profusely as everyone around me watched.
This couldn’t be life. We’d only had a few years together… how could he be gone?