Chapter 15 #3
My heart broke for my bestie. She loved her parents, even through all of their rules and strict ways.
“Maybe they're just upset. They need time to cool down.”
“Nah… They done, and so am I, friend…” She dropped her head, and I knew she was hurting over whatever had happened during the weeks she’d been away.
“I cut up so bad on them people. Mama Cathy called to let them know what had happened to you and offered for me to ride to the hospital with her. My mama had the nerve to hang up in her face! I ran out of that room so fast, I nearly took her fingers off, snatching the phone, but I didn’t get a chance to call Mama Cathy back before they grabbed it from my hands.
We got into a screaming match, of course, and she and my daddy basically strong-armed me into my room.
“Them people locked me in there like I was an animal for days. Well, they didn’t lock me in because I was allowed to leave the room, but they guarded me like I was incarcerated, friend.
I couldn’t leave the house, and you know my mama can’t cook so I’ve been eating straight bullshit.
Those days I was confined to the room, I realized their ways ain’t the word of God.
Those people are evil, and most of them hoes that call themselves serving be fucking the pastor.
“The church my parents are so wrapped up in ain’t of God.
Them people were calling all day for prayers about me, but she couldn’t offer your mother not one ounce of hope.
You could have died, Calista, and they didn’t even let me at least come see you…
Nah. It’s a wrap with them people until they realize the church is steering them wrong.
And when I find that hoe from the hospital that called my parents, I’ma beat her ass and report her. She violated HIPAA laws.”
I shook my head, not completely shocked since I’d heard the stories over the years about the church.
Blayke’s parents had always been a piece of work.
They made her high school years a living hell.
She could hardly do anything and found herself sneaking and climbing out of windows to be able to do simple stuff like going to the movies and the skating rink.
I wanted to go on our senior trip, but since her parents wouldn’t allow her to, I opted not to go either.
They took their religion to the next level, but they were still her parents, and I knew, despite it all, she loved them.
“So… What now?” I asked as Blayke reached over and tucked a fallen piece of hair back into my sloppy bun.
“I’ma live my life my way. I may finish school… I may not. If I do, I might have to suck a lil’ dick to get my tuition paid, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”
Blayke placed her palm on the side of my face.
Her familiar scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom was comforting.
I missed my best friend so much while learning how to be a mother, and I was so happy she was here.
Whatever happened next, we would get through it together.
And if she wanted to finish school, I was going to make sure she didn’t have to exchange sexual favors with a man to do it.
“If I have to keep the baby while you go to class, that's what I’ma do. I ain’t have no real passion for being a nurse. I just wanted to be at the same hospital as you, ready to check a hoe if she got beside herself on my doctor bestie.”
“A patient?”
“A patient, a coworker, the cafeteria lady, or a damn hospice patient… It’s whatever for you, pookie. I just wanted to work with my bestie and buy me a cute lil’ Benz and lease a high -rise in the city.”
I held my side, remembering this time that if I laughed too hard, my bruised ribs would ache. “Ohh, I can’t laugh, Blayke.”
“I’m sorry. Let me stop. Got my bestie all banged up on her birthday. You still pretty, though.”
Knock, knock
“Food is ready, and yes, I already ate.” Glow was patting Baby Leader on the back.
“Ahhhh! My babyyyy!” Blayke hopped up with her hands out.
“Nooooooo.” Glow backed up. “You need to clean them hands, Preacher Kid.”
Blayke reached into her crossbody bag, used the sanitizer she pulled out to sanitize her hands, and was back on Glow with her hands out.
With a pout, Glow passed the baby to a cooing Blayke. “Ohhh, bestie! She is just so damn pretty.”
Adjusting myself in my seat, I gnawed on my bottom lip as I watched my best friend cry while peering at my baby. She was holding her as Rafiki had done with Simba in The Lion King. Baby Leader’s eyes were closed while tears glided down Blayke’s cheeks.
“Preacher Kid, you’re looking slim,” Glow said with that look in her eyes as she scanned Blayke’s body.
When she noticed me glaring at her, she cleared her throat and wore a fake smile.
“Pearla just came by, sis. Says she wants y’all to come next door a little bit later.
Fresh air will do you good. So, Preacher Kid, help your friend get dressed after breakfast.”
Glow closed the door, rolling her eyes at me, and I couldn’t do anything but shake my head at her.
Just possessive and obsessive. I made a mental note to pray for Glow later.
I was hoping that with everything out in the open about her condition, she would be forced to do better, especially with Tunan around now.
“Who is Pearl?” Blayke said, pulling me from my thoughts.
I shook my head at her tone. “See, you and Glow are just alike. Jealous!”
“And issss! Now, who the fuck is a Pearl?”
“It’s Pearla.” I giggled softly. “And she's nice. Our sisters are friends.”
“And she lives next door?”
“No. Glow’s best friend owns the townhome next door. They are all… related, so I’m guessing Pearla is hanging out over there today. She’s cool, Blayke. She has two other friends too—Mahzeyah and Bella. I haven’t met them in person yet, though.”
“I've been gone a few funky-ass weeks, and you've already replaced me.”
“Never! We don’t have to go if you’re not comfortable.”
We sat in silence while Blayke stared at Baby Leader. I watched her, wondering if I looked the same way when I stared at my daughter. I still couldn’t believe I was a mother and didn’t know anything until the night we got to the hospital for Baby Leader to be born.
“Our babies would’ve been born around the same time. You think we got pregnant the same day?”
Blayke used her shoulder to swipe the tears from her face, keeping her eyes on my baby girl.
“No telling. Our periods are synced, so that means we ovulate together.”
I let silence fill the air because I knew my best friend was in her feelings. After a few seconds, she began to smile again.
“I’m glad she's here, friend, but I don’t regret the abortion I had. Look at my life now, Glee? I don't even have a place to live.”
“Blayke, you do have a place to live. And you don’t have to babysit for me while I go to class. You can still go to school if you want. You don't need your parents. We will figure it out together.”
“And that’s why I love you.” She looked up from my baby and smiled at me. “I can’t believe you named her Leader. It's fitting because… Whew.”
“I know… I think it fits her perfectly too.”
“That baby mama gone die. She wanted to name their son Leader.”
“How you know?” I asked.
“Emperor’s pillow-talking ass. That no-good-ass negro!
” She scoffed. “Anyways… She wanted to name him Leader, but Leader said that name was for the child who came from his wife. So, the bitter bitch went and named him after the dead daddy. I really want to find that hoe and rub this beautiful baby in her face. I know it's childish, but we owe her, especially after she burst our bubble of happiness and made us look stupid in that Walmart. I think about that shit so much, and I’m mad I didn’t beat her ass. ”
Blayke nuzzled her nose in Baby Leader’s neck. “Who got the last laugh now, baby girl? Ain't that right, lil’ mama? Old-ass baby mama gone be big mad!” Blayke’s crazy ass laughed.
Now knowing Leader’s wishes, I shouldn’t have named my baby Leader, but it was already done.
I couldn’t afford to complain about anything that was set in stone.
He’d probably be upset about the name, but it didn’t matter.
Nothing really mattered anymore. Leader would spend the next ten years of his life behind bars, and I’d be free, raising his daughter.
“Do you still love him?”
Blayke had now placed Baby Leader on her shoulder and was rubbing circles around her back and sniffing her hair. She smelled so good. I was addicted to her scent.
“Emperor?” she asked with a frown, but as soon as it appeared on her face, it vanished. “I have love for him. I feel like a part of me will always have that love for him because he was my first. But I don’t love him. I actually hate the fuck out of that scallywag-ass nigga.”
“Blayke!”
“What? I’m deadass serious. That nigga is a buster, literally! That abortion hurt like hell.”
“So that’s why you hate him? The abortion?”
“No. I hate the nigga because…” She paused as if she were searching for the right words while still cradling Baby Leader.
“I hate him because I feel like he only paid me dust because I was a virgin. I was only something new to him. A new girl in the city, hot in the ass and ready to rebel against her parents in any way she could. He sniffed that shit out like a bloodhound.”
My stomach churned at her words. “You think he used you?”