Chapter 29 #2
I couldn’t imagine the turmoil of constantly wondering what if, but helping Evina would put my own family in jeopardy, and I wasn’t that selfless.
“I don’t know why you keep asking me questions about your husband. For the last time, I don’t know what happened or where he is.”
A partial truth. I wished Lorenzo the hell he deserved, so it never occurred to ask Tre what happened. The less I knew, the better, and he never volunteered any information.
“You were the love of his life!” She blurted out in haste as the door opened and Sloane stepped inside, “It pains me to admit it, but it’s the truth.
I saw it every time you popped up at an event or on television.
I just know he wouldn’t have run off without seeing you first. Which makes me believe he’s-,” Evina couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence, but I knew what she meant.
“Your husband and my ex aren’t the same man.
My ex is a monster that doesn’t love anyone, not even himself.
My ex beat my ass because the sky was blue.
My ex isn’t a noble husband and soon-to-be father who deserves my energy.
I honestly don’t give a fuck where he is or what happened, so stop asking. ”
Shouldering past Evina, I left the bathroom, returning to my seat with Sloane behind me. She gave me a look of concern, lowering back into her seat, but didn’t press the issue. Instead, she directed her energy to jumping into the conversation to annoy everybody.
Even in death, I couldn’t escape Lorenzo.
My hand instinctively landed on my stomach, eager to forget all the day’s stress and have dinner with my man.
Sloane was mid-rant and still managed to catch me from the corner of her eye, bringing me back to the reality that only a small group of people knew this baby existed.
Adjusting my posture, I crossed my legs and suffered through until Zora dismissed the room. After a brief conversation with Zora Taylor, Sloane and I left so I could drop her off and enjoy lunch with Daige.
“Why are you looking all sad?” She asked in the car.
“I’m not.”
“You are, and I hope it’s not about Evina. Don’t let her get to you. Sometimes karma hits you, and sometimes it hits the people you love. That’s the game. Hell, Treason, did her and that kid a favor.”
“Did you just give him a compliment?”
“That’s what you took from what I said?” Sloane cut her eyes. “He did something for you that I didn’t. I’m sorry.”
“Wow, that actually sounded genuine.”
“I am, so don’t ruin the moment by pissing me off.”
“Thanks, Mom .”
I stopped calling her Mom when I was fifteen years old. We fought, and as usual, it felt like I was the adult and she was the child.
When you start acting like a mom, I’ll start calling you one!
That almost led to a fight, Sloane pinning me against the wall before she stormed out of my room.
“I know I messed up. I wasn’t soft. I wasn’t sweet, but I was always there.
You never went through any of it alone. I love you and Rayven, even if I don’t know how to show it.
Now you’re about to be somebody’s mama. Love that baby softer than I loved you, but don’t you ever let the world teach them before you do. ”
“Old age is making you soft,” I snickered.
“No, it’s you making me a grandma,” she frowned at the word, her red lips pursed. “I have to be all wise and nurturing now.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Nobody’s making you be Grandma.”
“Please, and give Inez one up on me. I think not,” Sloane scoffed.
I chuckled because Sloane wasn’t as against this baby as she pretended. She was scared that I’d end up raising it on my own, just like she did with Rayven and me. She was twisted for reasons I didn’t care to know, but she was trying. For now, at least.
“It’s not calling me Grandma either. I’ll come up with my own name.”
“You’d better hope Gummy Bear calls you anything, you keep pissing off its father.”
“Please, that baby will drive you nuts, you’ll be begging to drop Gummy Bear off,” Sloane smirked.
I didn’t know about that, but I was curious to meet Grandma Sloane .
Dropping her off at her hotel, I was sure Jaleb paid for, I drove home to change.
I convinced Daige to play tennis with me to blow off some steam after that pointless meeting, but twenty minutes in, she regretted being such a supportive friend.
“Damn girl!” she yelled, jumping aside, otherwise my overhead smash might’ve taken her out.
“What?” I huffed, resting my hands on my hips.
“There are perfectly air-conditioned boutiques we could be in right now, spending money to heal your anger. Instead, yo’ ass wanna be out here like Coco Gauff!”
I served anyway, Daige yelping as the ball zipped past her.
“Alright now!” she called out, letting the ball bounce off the fence. “Do I look like Serena Williams to you?”
“You have her body for sure. I thought you’d be more athletic,” I joked, walking across the court to the bench.
“This body is for show and to look good on vacation. That’s it!” Daige replied with finality.
“Alright, Venus , we have a lunch reservation,” Daige joked.
I scooped up my belongings and followed Daige to The Griot Room.
It was packed with wealthy guests waiting to enjoy small plates and wine pairings designed around West African, Caribbean, and Gullah Geechee cuisine.
Daige Hampton didn’t do lines, so we were immediately escorted to a prime table, apparently reserved just for her and Abdul.
“Damn, I didn’t know you had it like that !”
“Money rules everything around here, and Abdul has a lot of it,” she said in a casual tone, waving her hand. “Now spill it. What the hell’s been going on with you?”
“What’s not going on?” I groaned.
“We need a drink before you start.”
“Oh yeah, I’m pregnant, so I can’t.” Daige’s eyes ballooned, so I rushed my finger to my mouth before she yelled something I couldn’t take back. “We haven’t announced it or anything.”
“Congratulations! How far?” she mouthed.
“Fourteen weeks. With all the negative press after they tried to pin Lorenzo’s disappearance on me, we’re doing some stupid docuseries. That’s why my mom is here. Oh, and Treason’s ex-girlfriend is producing it.”
“Damn lil’ baby. I see now I have to keep an eye on you. I go on one vacation with my man, and all hell breaks loose.”
“Oh, so all this is your fault?”
“I guess so. Why didn’t you tell me your mom was Thee Sloane Bishop?”
“Why would I?”
Daige shrugged, “No need to be ashamed. She isn’t any different from the women in the Women’s League. Do you really think Paula would be with Jeremy if he weren’t rich?”
“Hell no.” Jeremy wasn’t a looker. In fact, he was the opposite, and his net worth was the only thing attractive about him.
“Exactly. Are you excited at least?”
“Sometimes, but it’s so much going on. Everything is about the campaign or election. He’s so,” I paused, trying to find the right word, but Daige finished my sentence.
“ Distant ,” she smiled, snatching the word from my lips. “He’s physically close but mentally somewhere else.”
“How do you know?”
“Men aren’t complex creatures society wants us to believe,” Daige paused as the waiter approached, taking our order and leaving with the menus. “Don’t start letting those pregnant hormones make you think this is bout Danielle either. He’s just balancing a lot right now.”
Treason had become a shell of the man I knew. I’d even taken his favorite pen, and he hadn’t yet noticed. This had to be deeper than stress, making me believe that Danielle’s lingering presence was part of the problem.
“It’s not rocket science, Navie. When somebody is drowning, you don’t yell for ‘em to swim. You get in the water and help. He might not have the language for his pain, but I’m sure he knows you’re worried. He can’t see the trees from the forest right now.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?” I asked because she seemed to have all the answers.
“Nothing because it’s not your job to fix him. When the world gets too heavy, Snoopy will find his way home. Then you, be present. Remind him he doesn’t have to be perfect. You are his peace, reflect that and remind him who he is.”
Growing up with Sloane, it all felt the same. She never did any of those things. She just pushed forward, as if pain and disappointment didn’t exist.
“How’d you know it was safe with your husband?”
Daige wiped her hands on a linen towel, “I didn’t at first. I tested him without even knowin’ it. Waiting for him to snap, but he never did. Well, he did once, but I deserved that one. He didn’t try to fix me because he didn’t see me as broken. Only I did.”
I wiped a tear before it fell, while Daige pretended not to see it.
I laughed under my breath, shaky. “You’re going to mess up my makeup in front of all these rich people.”
“Fuck them,” Daige frowned, “But I get it. Did you find something to wear for the yacht party?”
“I completely forgot with everything going on.”
“Then I guess we’re hitting some perfectly air-conditioned boutiques after lunch to go shopping. You and that bump will be on that yacht.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, now you’re being cute, ma’aming me? I am not that old.”
“Of course not. We’re like age gap siblings. Mama had no business having me, but here I am.”
“I’ll take it, but sister to sister , I’m in charge of the baby shower!”
“You can have it.”
I focused on the glazed carrots I had been stabbing for the last fifteen minutes.
I covered the check as a token of appreciation for the free therapy session.
We left all the heavy conversation at the country club and enjoyed an afternoon of shopping.
Daige threatened to disown me if I didn’t come, but I was looking forward to it.
The details she shared sounded like a good time that Treason and I both needed.