Chapter 13 #2
Rio picked it up but lost his grip soon after. A sharp breath expelled from his nose. Frustration covered his features, making his jaw clench.
“It’s okay, babe.” Cali rubbed his arm. “This stuff takes time.”
“You're improving,” the physical therapist added. “You have to be patient with yourself. You haven’t used these muscles in close to two months. There will be some weakness and resistance.”
Rio didn’t respond. Instead, he sat back on the bed, looking forward. The physical therapist collected everything she had brought with her.
“I’ll be back tomorrow at the same time, okay?”
Cali nodded. “Thank you.”
The woman walked out the door as Ruthia adjusted the blanket that covered Rio’s legs.
“Are you hungry?” Cali asked him.
He shook his head.
“Okay, I’m going to go down to the cafeteria to get some snacks. You sure you don't want anything?”
“…No, I’m straight,” he rasped.
“I’ll go with you, Cali. I could use some hot tea.”
Cali and Ruthia walked out of the room together.
Traveling down the hall, she noticed a Black man step off the elevator.
He was dressed in a standard suit. The spice of his cologne hit her senses as he passed her by.
Before Cali could step on the elevator, she spotted him knocking on Rio’s door before entering.
“Who the hell is that?” she mumbled to herself.
Her first thought was to go back and see who it was but before she could do it, Ruthia’s voice distracted her.
“Come on, Cali.”
Reluctantly, she stepped on the elevator, experiencing a nagging feeling that she couldn’t shake. Now that Rio was out of his coma, she wanted to be a part of his every waking moment.
“Chile, this hospital has truly turned into home.” Ruthia chuckled.
“Tell me about it. I miss my bed so much.”
The elevator doors opened, and they went to get some food. Wanting to take a minute, the duo decided to eat at the table.
“I’ll tell you this, nothing is worse than hospital food.” Ruthia scoffed, forcing herself to eat what looked like slop.
Cali chuckled. “Why do you think I’m sticking to snacks. I’m going to have my mama bring me some food later. I’ll make sure to have her bring you something too.”
“Please and thank you because this is awful.”
Cali finished her bag of chips before wiping the crumbs off her hands. “You know, Ms. Ruthia, I know you were here for Rio, but you helped me through this storm too. Watching you pray and have faith really kept me going because I was on the verge of a mental breakdown.”
She reached for Cali’s hand. “That makes two of us. You were here day and night for my son. You're devoted and I appreciate that because all I ever wanted for Rio was a wife who truly cared about him.”
Suddenly, Cali cleared her throat, praying her guilt would stay away for the duration of this talk.
“Honey, I’ll tell you this. I’m glad he’s up because I’m on the verge of losing my job.”
With a gaping mouth, Cali asked, “Why?”
“Because I’ve missed so many days being here. You know they only wanted to give me a week off.” She rolled her eyes. “How could they expect me to work when my son was in a coma? You know these jobs don't give a damn about nobody.”
“I swear they don't,” Cali added. “Thankfully, I can work remote, or I would be in the same boat you're in.”
“Yeah, well, I’m so behind on bills and don't have any money coming in.” Ruthia pushed her food around with her fork.
“Of course, I’m not gonna lay this burden on Rio because he just came out of a coma.
I can’t beg him after all he’s been through.
Deasia is gonna try to help me but I’m sure she won’t have much since Rio was taking care of her, too. ”
“Ms. Ruthia, I got you.”
The older woman quickly shook her head. “I can’t take from you, Cali. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress like me.”
“Listen, you can, and you will. Rio would be mortified if he knew that I didn’t help you out.
Besides, we got it. Rio ain't no scrub when it comes to putting money up for a rainy day. He was already taking care of you so it’s no big deal.
I’ll make sure your bills and anything else you need are covered. ”
Ruthia had no idea that Rio made so much money with TLM that they had money stashed all over their house. Money would never be an issue because Rio stacked so much of it.
“Thank you so much, baby. I know I keep saying this but you're such a good soul. It’s hard to come by genuine people who have good intentions.”
“Ms. Ruthia, please don't.”
I’m not shit and haven’t been a good wife to your son…
Cali couldn’t take the praises from Ruthia because she was so unworthy of them. If she was aware of how badly she had been betraying Rio, the woman would more than likely despise her.
“No, I won’t stop. You’re a great person, Cali. Rio has never had to worry about you being anything other than his loving wife. When you do right by my child, you’ll be in my good graces forever.”
Cali looked down, noticing her eyes well up with tears. The shame wouldn’t cease. What would it take for the burden of guilt to fall from her shoulders? When would she forgive herself for the damage she had done to Rio?
She sniffed back her tears and forced a smile on her face. “Thank you for your kind words. Are you ready to go back up?”
Cali needed to distract Ruthia before she went deeper into her speech. None of what she said applied to her. She was nothing more than a fraud who had the pleasure of sporting Rio’s last name.
The two headed back to the room. Cali was the first to walk in, remembering the guy who had come into the room before she headed to the cafeteria.
“Who was that that came in here when we left?”
“Somebody came in here?” Ruthia wondered aloud.
Rio shook his head. “…Nobody really… just somebody from the hospital.”
“Dressed in a suit?” Cali quizzed.
“Yeah.”
Deciding to drop the topic, she sat sideways, stretching her arms on the side of his body.
“How do you feel?”
“…In pain,” he grumbled, closing his eyes briefly.
“Well, I’m glad you came back to me.” She caressed his face. “You will get back right, babe. You too tough to be down long.”
There was a half-hearted smirk on his lips before she kissed them. Cali missed everything about Rio and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else except by his side. She laid her head on his chest but hopped up when she realized she may have caused him more pain.
“Did I hurt you?”
“…No, you good. Lay back down.”
Cali resumed her position on his chest, closing her eyes and relishing the tempo of his heartbeat. She had made so many bad decisions in their marriage. The choice to stay was one of the best; it would trump any of her mistakes moving forward.
Noble checked his surroundings while inside his car with Kenji in the passenger seat.
They were meeting Daysha since she was on this side of town.
When Noble picked him up, he took them to their favorite burger place and Sky Zone.
Even though Noble got Kenji most weekends, he made it his mission to see him every day, which was why he opted to pick him up from school.
“Dad, did you know that horses can’t throw up?”
Noble looked at him. “No, I didn’t know that. Why can’t they throw up?”
“I don't know.” Kenji shrugged.
He chuckled at his human replica. “How you going to tell me a random fact and not know why?”
Kenji snickered. “I don't know. My teacher told me.”
“Well, you need to figure out why then tell me, okay?”
“Okay… hey Dad, did you know I’m going to Tennessee for the summer?”
Right away, Noble’s brows rumpled. “The summer? Who told you that?”
“Mama did. She said I’m going to see Grandma and Grandpa for the summer.”
Noble shook his head, attempting to simmer the anger boiling inside him. Being a co-parent with Daysha was exhausting. He either was notified of important details at the last minute or not at all.
“You don't want me to go, Dad?” Kenji asked.
Noble didn’t answer as he watched Daysha pull into the parking lot, bumping Glorilla at an insane volume.
“Come on and don't forget your book bag.”
Noble and Kenji got out the car and walked to Daysha. The music turned down when he opened the back seat for his son to get inside. Once Kenji was in, Noble looked at Daysha.
“Aye, step out the car so I can holla at you.”
He never wanted to be the parent that argued in front of Kenji. Remembering what those nights felt like when Lyra and her husband would argue for hours, he didn’t want to traumatize his son. Daysha got out the car, shielding her shimmering eyes from the sun with her hand.
“What’s up?”
“Why is Kenji telling me he’s going to Tennessee for the summer?”
“Oh,” she chirped. “My parents want him to come for the summer.”
“And?” he retorted.
“And he’s going.”
Noble shook his head before looking over at the constant traffic on Sunset Boulevard. Daysha was insistent on pissing him off. Usually, Noble would eat her punches but today wasn’t going to be that outcome.
“Yeah, fucking right.”
“Excuse me?” She snaked her head.
“You heard me. You don't get to make that kind of decision without me. You ain't no fucking single parent. I’m Kenji’s father.”
“You don't have to remind me of that shit, Noble,” she sneered, rolling her eyes.
“Obviously, I do because you keep trying me like I won’t crash out.” He pointed his index finger at her. “Stop playing with me, Daysha.”
“Oh, fuck you, Noble. You may run those niggas in TLM, but you’ll never run my life.”
“Fuck your life! I don't give a fuck about your life. I’m talking about my son here. Sending him away for the summer without consulting me is the fastest way to get fucked up, Daysha. You know that.”
She was an emotional wreck, and Noble hated that he had to deal with it. Still, this was his mess. He had created this impulsive nature she had adopted and a part of him loathed himself for not handling her correctly.
“So, now he can’t go see his grandparents?”
“I don't mind that, but for the whole summer, though? You expect me to go two and a half months without seeing my son.”
“You know what? Please stop acting like you're father of the year. If you were so concerned about him, you wouldn’t have broken up his family!”
There it was. Somehow, their arguments always led back to this road. This street was called resentment. This had been the place Daysha was stuck at since their divorce.
“So, we back to this shit now?”
“Yeah, because you always act like you're this perfect-ass man when I know the real you. You don't give a fuck about nobody but yourself. It’s always about you, nobody else matters. Now my son has to suffer because you don't want him to spend time with his grandparents.”
“He can spend time with them, just not the whole summer.”
“Why do you care so badly? You’ve been all at Danger Zone with random bitches anyway. That’s your concern, not Kenji. Shit, I thought you would like the extra freedom to be a hoe.”
Noble chuckled, finding her rant to be ridiculous since they had been discussing their son. Suddenly, other bitches had emerged into their conversation.
“So, when did you make the decision to send him?” he quizzed before tucking his lips between his teeth.
She folded her arms over her chest. “A couple days ago.”
He bobbed his head as an epiphany came to him. “Now, I get it.”
“Get what?”
“You got in your feelings ‘cause you found out I was at the lounge with another woman. Then you made the selfish decision to send Kenji to Tennessee knowing it would piss me off. Fucking childish.”
“That’s not true.” Her smug facial expression showcased how much of a lie that was.
“It is and you petty as shit for trying to make me mad.”
“Noble, please let it go,” she stated with exhaustion. “The summer will fly by, so I don't know why you're making this a big deal.”
“You right, I won’t make it a big deal ‘cause he ain't going.”
Her mouth gaped as he walked toward his car.
“Noble don't do that to him.” She followed closely behind him. “I already told him that he could go.”
Opening his door, he turned toward her. “Well, you gon’ have to disappoint him ‘cause you should’ve been an adult and talked to me before you made that choice.”
“You can’t override my decision.”
His smirk was condescending. “You sure, Daysha? I think you be forgetting who you used to be married to.”
“Oh, I try to forget every single day.”
“Well, find your memory ‘cause you know I’ll do everything in my power to make sure he don't go.”
Noble attempted to close his door but Daysha wedged her body in the middle.
“Noble, wait.” The aggression in her tone vanished immediately. “Can you compromise on this? I already told Kenji that he could go. He’s so excited, don’t ruin this for him.”
He scoffed, despising how manipulative she could be. “Now I’m the one ruining it when you be moving on some emotional shit. Stop using my fucking son as a pawn, Daysha.”
“I’m not,” she hissed. “Now can you please consider it? I don't want this to blow up into something that’s bigger than what it needs to be.”
Noble looked forward, silently weighing his options. He could’ve matched her energy and exercise his dominance over the situation. Or he could’ve been civil like he always was with Daysha and compromise.
“He can go but three weeks is what I can do. That two-and-a-half-months shit is dead.”
“A month,” she bargained.
Noble eyed her, prompting Daysha to lift her hand in surrender.
“Look, I just want him to spend time with my side of the family. That’s all. I think a month is good.”
Noble exhaled before licking his lips. “A’ight, a month. Nothing more, Daysha.”
“Okay.” She rolled her eyes and stalked back to her car. Noble closed his door and started his engine. Before he pulled away, his phone rang.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“You still coming?” Nuke asked him.
Arguing with Daysha had made him late for his meeting with TLM lieutenants.
“Yeah, I’m on my way.”
“A’ight.”
Noble took one more glance at Daysha’s car as she drove out of the lot. He followed suit and headed toward the warehouse.