Chapter 24
“Damn, you look good,” Erys grunted, as Remedy walked past him to give Ernie a kiss.
“She looks good but she’s kissing me,” Ernie teased, kissing her cheek, hugging her tightly, and shaking her. To add insult to injury he winked at his son. “You getting thicker than a than a nigga with a good cookin’ hoe. That thang shakes just like May’s.”
“Get off me, Ernie,” Remedy spoke with laughter, playfully slapping his chest. “You actin’ up before ten o’clock?”
“Aight, old man. Don’t come up missing,” Erys grumbled, welcoming Remedy into his arms.
“Look at you. A hating ass hoe nigga. I know a hating ass hoe nigga when I see a hating ass hoe nigga. Look at him, Rem, you can still see it. You sure you don’t wanna dump him and come back home to me?
” Ernie spoke with a laugh before he blew.
“Ohhweee. You are May’s granddaughter without a doubt.
Look at that. Make it shake, Rem. Just one time. For your twiiinnn.”
Remedy laid her head on Erys’ shoulder and laughed. “I’m going to assume that he likes the aide.”
“Like? I got her up there right now making my bed and drawing me a bath. I don’t know what I like more, the party or this,” Ernie shared, letting a soft smile cover his face as he watched the couple breathe one another. “Erys, where you letting her go with her ass poking out like that?”
“Your eyesight is already going,” Erys started. “You want me to finish the joke?”
“If you feeling froggy, nigga, come jump. Jump, nigga, jump,” Ernie taunted, raising his hands up in the air. “I’ll fight about mine.”
Remedy shook her head in laughter and sighed. “I have a lack of work clothes because I thought I’d be sitting around the house talking shit with you all day.”
“Ah nah,” Ernie said. “You weren’t going to be doing that. I told you a long time ago you were bigger than the program.”
“Ernie, you tried to turn me into a madam,” Remedy said with a deadpan expression.
“I just figured you had some of your grandmother in you,” Ernie shared.
Remedy’s made up face frowned. “May was not a madam.”
“Not entirely. She took care of my hoes and me from time to time. But she had it in her. When her bitch ass son left her there with nothing, I looked out for her,” Ernie continued.
Remedy’s frown deepened. “What are you talking about, Ernie?”
Ernie stared at her a long while before grunting. “Cherie, grab some money out of my top drawer. Make sure you got enough for your errands. Walk your momma to the car, Erys.”
Remedy tried to figure out if Ernie was really having a lapse or if he was purposely changing the subject to avoid any further line of questioning.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to dive into what was and what wasn’t.
But she was going to put a pin in it to return to it later.
There was something there. Something he knew that he was keeping under lock and key.
Erys caught the puzzle settling over Remedy’s pretty face. “You ready? I got your dress in the car.”
Remedy nodded, picking up her phone and purse she’d laid down on the counter to hug Ernie. “You’re driving?”
“Oh, you know I am. I gotta take the pictures like it’s your first day of school,” Erys teased, referencing her telling him nights ago that her pivotal moments were only celebrated by May.
He studied the photo album she rescued from the curb.
Photo for photo and there were a few things that stood out to him.
But like Ernie, some things had to stay under lock and key until the time was right.
Remedy nipped a grin and swayed her head. She headed out of the side door ahead of Erys, leaving the men to share a knowing look before he joined her outside. Erys opened the passenger door to the Mercedes and smacked her ass as she slid past him.
“Ernie is crazy as hell, but you are indeed fine as hell. I got to be the luckiest man in the world,” he spoke, kissing her cheek. “You and all that mouth.”
Remedy laughed and sat in the seat. “You want to strap me in too?”
“Next you’re going to be asking me to carry you in and out,” he laughed at her sarcasm.
“I mean you got a good, wide, strong back. You got it,” Remedy teased with a wink and kiss blown before he shut the door.
Erys got inside and pulled off toward the gate. “Do you know what time you’re going to wrap up?”
“The itinerary says six-thirty.”
“I’ll be outside by six,” Erys assured. “I’m going to hit the studio, see what Desi sounds like for real. Get Jamani handled and I’ll be there.”
“This manager role looks real good on you,” Remedy commented, placing her hand on the back of his neck after his found her pillowy thigh. “Lookin’ like a boss.”
“It feels good. Way different from snatching lives. Shaping them is kind of my redemption,” Erys said with a sigh of relief.
“You’re going to be amazing at it. And don’t let Desi do that soft singing shit that’s popular. The girl can sing.”
“But…” Erys posed.
“But she’s impatient. Fast money has been the way she survived so she’s going to need to fully understand the process of what she’s stepping into. And it’ll be your job to make sure she trusts you. Which I don’t see that being an issue because you have my stamp of approval,” Remedy shared.
“And we all know you only soft for daddy,” Erys joked.
Remedy rolled her eyes playfully. “You and Ernie are two peas in a pod. I can set my watch to both of you.”
“I got the bullshit honest,” he responded, laughing.
The joy that found itself surrounding them was beautiful.
The smiles were automatic when one walked into a room.
They felt each other and leaned in the direction of the other without thought.
They’d found peace in the madness, and it was blooming so beautifully.
Erys took her to breakfast, sure to fill her mind and spirit with encouragement as she stepped into her new chapter.
Remedy did the same, finding the seed that was planted but it needed to be spoken to.
She knew Erys had never experienced fully being in control of his life and his choices.
He went from a broken-hearted boy who was ruled by wayward emotions to a grown man who took orders day in and day out.
Now, he was at a place in his life where understanding himself and how having calmness in and around him shaped who he was made to be.
“Have fun in the studio,” Remedy murmured between kisses. “Tell Desi I said don’t fuck this up.”
“Cut it out,” Erys groaned. “You know I’m thirsty and like my juice.”
“I know, when I get off. Until then, do what you do,” Remedy spoke, finalizing her kisses. “See you later.”
Erys got out of the car and opened her door. “Be great, Mouth.”
“Be good, Franklin.”
He placed one last kiss on her pouty lips before handing her the dress and watching her walk into the warehouse. The further she moved away from him, the more her heart thundered. Slow steady breaths and reminding herself that she deserved to be where she was, eased the anxiety.
Remedy followed the sound of music, leading her to a massive room where Eden was staring at the set full of vibrant colors.
“I don’t know about this,” Eden said to her photographer, before catching a glimpse of Remedy. “Oh, thank God you’re here. Come look at this and tell me what’s missing.”
Remedy hung the garment bag on a nearby rack with other vibrant pieces on it and strolled over to where Eden and the photographer stood.
“Remedy, this is my wonderful photographer, Kimyra. Kimyra, Remedy,” Eden introduced.
Remedy smiled, confidence radiating. “Nice to meet you, Kimyra. What’s wrong with the set?”
“It isn’t full enough,” Kimyra shared with a heavy sigh. “With the dresses and the flowers, it needs to be dimensional and layered.”
“Hold on,” Remedy buzzed, moving across the set to modify its set up.
As she moved about, studying the vibrant flowers against the bright pink backdrop, her mind recalled the times where rearranging her room or parts of the house no one occupied turned into lectures and punishments about her being not being disciplined enough, living in the clouds or in her mother’s words, disruptive and disobedient.
Amazing how she’d believed it for so long, only to be in this position being obedient to her calling, focused and creative.
It was now starting to appear like jealousy more than it was anything else. How unfortunate, that for a portion of black women, their bullying started in the house and when they went out into the world, they were already conditioned for mistreatment.
After ten minutes of rearranging and studying, she looked over her shoulder at Kimyra and Eden, who hadn’t spoken a word since she stopped zipping around. “How’s that?”
“Oh, you’re good. Real good,” Kimyra buzzed. “I know we were supposed to model, but I could really benefit from your creative direction.”
Remedy pushed out a sigh of relief. “No offense, Eden, but I can’t stand taking pictures. My mother forced us to do a holiday photoshoot for every holiday and somehow after wrestling with what I looked like or how I posed, I was always cropped out or put behind something.”
Eden curled her lip. “I know all about fucked up mothers, so I get it. But the dress is yours because you look good as hell in it. Annnndddd if you’re down for it, we’re having a little listening party this weekend at the old Midnight strip club.
Bring a plus one and come meet the rest of the team.
Since you’re going to be the new creative director and all, it might be good for you to meet everyone. ”
“Just like that?” Remedy asked, expecting to have to jump through more hoops or a formal interview process.
Eden snapped her fingers. “I’ve learned something over the last year and a half, follow your gut and that nudge inside of you.
It’ll never lead you wrong. I think you have something special locked away that never really got to come out and grow its wings.
Vibrance is the perfect place for you to spread your wings.
Fashion, music, health and wellness, and all things Trae Way. The position is yours if you want it.”
“I want it,” Remedy blurted before catching herself and taking on a settling voice. “I want it. I haven’t ever wanted anything more than to just be creative and not stuffed into a box of conformity.”
Eden smirked. “I can see it. It’s in your eyes. I know the look all too well.”
Remedy looked back at the set and smiled to herself. “From stripping at Wild Flame to creative director.”
“From stripping at Midnight to influencing and growing an empire with my sister. Something about us Trae Way girls, we can do whatever we put our minds to and no one can get in our way,” Eden shared. “Welcome to the team. I’m looking forward to watching how you take off. One ask…”
“Whhaatt?” Remedy softly drew out.
“Let me feature you as the new CD, please?” Eden responded in the same tone Remedy used. “There’s a rack full of clothes for you to choose.”
Remedy playfully rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
Eden squealed and clapped her hands. “You and I are going to make a great team.”
Remedy smiled without fighting it off or telling herself this would be over before it started. She found an oversized white sweatshirt, let hair and makeup do their thing and was sitting on the redesigned set, owning her space and her power. Her time was now and she was overly supported.