Chapter 7
Seven
Even in the midst of her deep sleep, Irish couldn’t shake the sound of the annoying bell.
She’d heard it and prayed for it to go away.
When it didn’t, her eyes fluttered open as she looked around her bedroom.
She’d stayed at the hospital for most of the night with Cali.
Consoling her had been her main objective until Cali told her to get some sleep.
Irish glanced at her phone and noticed it was a little after eight in the morning, which meant she had only slept for two hours.
Snatching her robe from the foot of the bed, Irish put it on and stomped toward the front door. Pulling the door open, she noticed her little sister, Ivory, standing on the porch.
“Girl, I’ve been calling you and ringing the bell for like ten minutes,” she complained. “Were you sleeping?”
Irish gawked at her. “What you think? Where is your key?”
Ivory shrugged as she breezed through the threshold. Closing the door, Irish folded her arms over her chest.
“I think I may have lost the key. Can you get me another one?”
Irish rolled her eyes as she plopped down on the sofa and removed her Crocs. Ivory was her younger sister by thirteen years. She went to college in Miami so she could become a physician assistant. Irish had practically raised Ivory, so when she did come back home, she always opted to stay with her.
“I literally just got in two hours ago. I’m so tired.”
Ivory angled her head. “Why?”
“Cali’s husband was in a terrible car accident. I was at the hospital with her most of the night.”
“Oh, no, is he okay?”
Shaking her head, Irish answered, “No, it doesn’t look good.”
The thought of Rio’s condition made her stomach sour. It was going to take an act of God for him to fully recover.
“Damn, that’s fucked up.” Ivory stood and went into the kitchen. “Sis, you need to go grocery shopping. Hey, where is Jovanis? His big mouth would’ve been out here trying to roast me.”
“Oh, he’s probably at the gym,” she lied. “How long are you staying?”
She entered the kitchen. “Just the weekend but… I wanted to come talk to you about something.”
Irish braced herself for Ivory’s talks. She was such a free spirit that Irish could barely keep up with her and all of her grand ideas.
“What?”
Ivory came back into the living area with a bottle of water in her hand. She sat down and expelled a deep breath. “I got pregnant.”
The room was so quiet that the ticking of Irish’s grandfather clock sounded like a drum.
“Pregnant?” Irish repeated stunned.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t keep it.”
She gaped at how casually her sister had delivered the news. “Ivory, you got an abortion?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged before taking a gulp of water. “I wasn’t about to have ol’ boy’s baby. I got shit to do.”
“Well, then you need to get on birth control then.”
“Hell no,” she griped. “Do you know the damage birth control do to our bodies, Irish? No way.”
“Well, what do you think sperm does to our bodies, genius?”
Ivory simpered. “Ruin our lives.”
Irish smacked her lips at her high-pitched cackle.
Ivory thought life was a joke but at nineteen years old, she couldn’t blame her.
She wished she had the luxury to live life carefree at that age.
Back then, Irish was too busy being a mother to Ivory.
She didn’t regret it one bit, but she often pondered on how life would’ve been for her if they had a reliable mother.
“Look, sis, everybody ain’t blessed with a husband that loves them so dearly,” she spat sarcastically. “You got all the answers because you have a great husband. Shit, come back to the ghetto and see how weak these men are in the dating pool.”
Irish snorted, contorting her face into an annoyed expression. “You don’t think I know this new batch of men are trash? That’s why I’m telling you to get on birth control if you’re going to be having unprotected sex.”
Ivory kicked her feet up on the couch, getting cozy on the plush leather. “Believe it or not, I don’t have unprotected sex. I just so happened to slip up with this guy though. Don’t worry, it won’t be happening again. I promise.”
Irish wanted to believe her, but she knew how sound decisions evaporated in the midst of heated passion.
“Yeah, you better not. So, you're only staying for the weekend? You can’t stay longer?”
Ivory shook her head. “Nope, I can’t so make time for me, sis.”
Irish smirked since spending time with her sister was always a great treat. They had an endearing relationship despite their age difference.
“I got you.”
Walking back to her bedroom, Irish grabbed her phone and dialed Jovanis’ number.
“What’s up?” he answered groggily. He too had spent most of the night at the hospital before he dropped Irish off at her car and went about his way.
“You were still sleeping?”
“Hell yeah,” he groaned. “But I’m ‘bout to get up. What’s up? You heard anything ‘bout Rio?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ll probably call Cali and see how she’s doing. I called to let you know that Ivory was here so maybe you should come home for a couple of days. She’s only staying the weekend.”
Irish even had to play her dutiful wife role in front of Ivory. She had no clue about their arrangement. She only assumed that they were this great couple or as Ivory put it, couple goals.
“Oh, yeah. Her lil’ sassy ass gon’ milk us dry before she leaves.”
Irish tittered. “You know she is. That’s all she know how to do is use her baby doll eyes to get what she wants from us.”
“Lil’ charming ass.” He snickered. “But I got you, Irish. I’ll be there after I take care of business.”
“Okay.”
“Yep.”
Irish’s thoughts instantly traveled to Noble when Jovanis hung up.
While at the hospital, she thought of him and ruminated over their kiss.
She wished she could live in that moment all over again.
The feel of his lips and the taste of his tongue had caused her to develop a sudden yearning for Noble.
He hadn’t reached out and neither did she.
Figuring he had to get things in order due to Rio’s accident, Irish gave him space, hoping it wouldn’t be long before she was in his arms again.
The beeping sound of the heart monitor had quickly become white noise to Cali.
A week had passed since Rio’s accident, and things weren’t looking great.
His injuries were massive including trauma to his head.
Doctors gave her a bleak outlook on his diagnosis, stating if he were to survive that he wouldn’t be the same man that she was accustomed to.
Despite that, Cali and Ruthia couldn’t bear to take him off life support.
There was this hope she possessed that had formed overnight. Cali didn’t think Rio would give up on life. He was a fighter, always one step ahead of his enemies. She was certain he would come out of this; he just needed time to heal.
“These are beautiful,” Ruthia noted, sitting the gorgeous flower arrangement on the stand.
The room had quickly mirrored a flower shop with all kinds of get-well-soon bouquets.
Although the smell was lovely, it couldn’t mask the overwhelming scent of death.
It loomed over Rio, prompting Cali to be haunted with a crippling anxiety.
Not only due to his condition but her betrayal.
He had been suffering while she had been planning their marital demise.
Cali didn’t think she would ever forgive herself for that.
“I know he’s going to make it through this,” Ruthia declared with so much hope laced in her tone. “My boy is a fighter. I know this isn’t the end for him.”
She had been so positive between her crying fits. Ruthia was a woman of God in spite of Rio’s reputation in the streets. Praying over him, speaking life, and spreading holy oil over his forehead had been her remedy to stay sane.
“I hope so,” Cali muttered.
“No, baby, you gotta have faith. Don’t be scared to say that he will make it through this. There is so much power in the tongue. Declare that he will recover in the name of Jesus.”
Cali nodded just as her phone rang. When she saw that it was Braye, she sent his call to voicemail.
He’d been calling, wondering about her whereabouts and why she hadn’t returned his calls.
Her mental and emotional capacity was at the maximum.
Talking to him would send her over the edge, and she needed to be strong for Rio.
For now, Braye would have to be put on the back burner until Rio came out of his coma.
“Girl, your phone has been blowing up all morning. People must be calling to see about Rio.”
No, it’s my side nigga calling because I haven’t responded to him.
“Yeah, the family is worried,” Cali lied, getting up from her seat.
She walked over to the side of Rio’s bed and stroked his contused cheek.
So many cuts and scratches had marred his beautiful brown skin.
She fixed his wicks before kissing his cheek.
Resting her forehead against his temple, she prayed for some kind a miracle.
A sign that Rio would come out on the other side of this.
“I remember the day Rio came to me and said he was getting married.”
That jolted Cali out of her pity episode as she peered at Ruthia. A subtle smile was on her round face as her mind traveled down her memories.
“I thought he was crazy when he said he didn’t know you. He said something about doing a favor for your father. I didn’t agree but when I saw you the day of the wedding, I knew he had made a great decision.”
Cali’s brows rumpled. “How so?”