Chapter 19
I finally made it back to my parents’ place. All I wanted to do was lay down and take a quick nap. I needed a second to breathe and decompress from everything I had been dealing with the last couple of weeks. Charlie was back in school, which I was happy for. She needed something to focus on other than the shit her mother pulled. Not to mention, I had gotten her into therapy. She was having her second session this week.
My insurance was beating me upside the head by paying for her to go. That’s what happens when you work for yourself. The prices on insurance just don’t look the same as when you work at a nine-to-five job. I hadn’t been back to the shop since everything went down. I planned to go over to the house to take a survey of the complete damage. I was certain I wouldn’t be able to live over the shop anymore. If I was being real with myself, my time of staying there had come and gone a long time ago.
When Charlie was a baby, it was cool and convenient. But as she got older, I was feeling as if this wasn’t the best environment for her. Not to say I allowed crazy shit to go on in my establishment, but you couldn’t control the situation entirely when someone walked in. I released a breath and drifted to sleep until the doorbell rang.
“Benny, answer the door!” My mother yelled from the top of the stairs.
I groaned and swung my fist at the air before getting off the couch.
“Aight’.”
I glanced through the peephole to see Jordan pacing on the porch. I pulled the door open and stepped aside so he could come in. He dapped me up and glanced up at my mom, who was still standing at the top of the stairs.
“Hey, Ma. How are you doing today?” he asked her.
I shook my head and made my way back to the couch to lie down so they could talk. I wasn’t there long before Jordan pushed my feet from the couch so he could sit down. I groaned and sat up.
“You could have sat in any of those chairs, but you needed to be over here. What you doing out this way? You the most in the NBA, but never there nigga I know.”
Jordan chuckled but stopped, looking back at me with a frown.
“Man, why didn’t you tell me what happened with Tierra? I had to find out from other folks?—”
I shook my head before interrupting. “Other folks, huh? You mean Shirah?” I asked.
“Does it matter?” he asked.
I looked over at him, and he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees.
“Nah. It never occurred to me to reach out. I was too damn concerned about my baby, man. She hasn’t been right since all of this happened. I will never get the look of stark fear I saw in her eyes out of my head. I’ve never felt so weak in my entire life, but that day showed me what I was made of.”
Jordan reached over and gripped my shoulder to get my attention.
“No, that showed what Tierra was made of. To go as far as she did to cause any moment of fear being in lil’ bit’s eyes is enough. You can’t blame yourself for the actions of someone else.”
I’ve heard this repeatedly, but none of them experienced it.
“I hear you.” I responded.
I didn’t want to keep going over this situation. Although it was new to Jordan, I had been dealing with the aftermath for two weeks now. I released a sigh and stood, then looked over at Jordan.
“Since a nap isn’t something I’m going to be able to get, you might as well come with me to clean up the mess from my place. I haven’t been back over there since the incident.
Jordan’s eyes widened, “You haven’t checked on the shop, either?” he asked.
“That’s the only thing I’ve been around those parts to do. You coming?” I asked.
Jordan nodded then stood to follow me out of the living room. We said our goodbyes to my parents. It took a minute because I had to talk my mom out of coming. She was convinced she needed to be there, even if it was just so she could help clean up. I love her to death, but this was one thing I was cool to do without her. She had already done so much for Charlie and me.
The drive to the shop was a short but silent one. This was the first time that Jordan didn’t feel the need to say anything. Usually, he was the most talkative out of us. I pulled around back and parked in the designated space for me. The side doorknob to get to the stairs of my place had been repaired. It was one of the only things I made sure was done, I didn’t want to come back to find everything stolen out of here. I reached into my back pocket for the key, and hesitated before finally unlocking the door. Still, Jordan hadn’t said anything or rushed me.
We jogged up the steps to open the door to my place. My hand stayed still on the knob for a moment before I pushed it open. This doorknob was still jacked up so I didn’t need to pull out my key for it. I slowly walked inside as that day became clearer to me.
“Damn.”
I glanced behind me at Jordan whose eyes had gone wide and was now surveying the place.
“I knew Tierra ass was crazy but not this crazy.”
I nodded. That was the problem. I felt the same way and had given her too many passes for the shit she did. It wasn’t out of love but for my daughter, she was the only reason I never pushed that Tierra stay away from us. But now after all this, my daughter would forever be the reason I couldn’t allow people to get off free after treating her any kind of way. Even if the person birthed her.
“Yeah. It was something different about her that night. I could tell that she had moved on from just drinking and pills. The shit she was on that night was the hard stuff.” I told him.
I leaned down and grabbed one of Charlie’s dolls from the floor.
“You think she on crack or something?” he asked.
I shrugged, “I’m not too positive but she has never looked or acted that deranged. She did mention that the night before, she watched Willow and I come in. She was stuck on that. I don’t know why that woman believes we’re going to be anything more than co-parents and not even that anymore.”
Jordan walked around me and went into the kitchen for a moment, before walking out with a broom and a couple trash bags. He removed his jacket and placed it onto one of the bar stools, then rolled up his sleeves and started to clean.
“It ain’t much you have to say to make someone believe some shit that they want. But you coming or nah? This yo’ spot.” he said with a smirk.
I shook my head and then stood to place Charlie’s doll onto the counter.
“Man, watch out.” I said with a laugh.
I walked around him to grab the whole box of trash bags. We were going to need it.
For the next few hours, we got rid of all the broken TVs, and anything Tierra broke, which was basically the entire house. I don’t know what was on her mind when she came in here fucking everything up. It was as if a switch went off. She broke the legs on my tables, ripped up curtains, and tore Charlie’s room to shreds. I was going to have to buy all new furniture messing around with her.
I glanced down at my watch, and it was almost two in the afternoon, which left me with a little bit of time to get in the line at Charlie’s school to pick her up. They got out at 2:30 and when it was time for pick up, the line was usually wrapped around the building and down the street. I can’t front and say they didn’t keep that line moving, though. It was a seamless process, although it looked bad.
“Aye, I have to pick up Charlie. You coming?” I asked.
“Hell yeah. After you overworked me, I need to get the hell up out of here. Then, you can drop me off to my car.”
I nodded and then grabbed my keys. He followed me back to the car and we made our way to the school.
“I been meaning to ask you. Did you get Charlie into therapy or anything? I can only imagine how scary that shit was to her.”
I released a sigh and nodded. “Yeah, it was the first thing I did. Man, she was having terrible nightmares, waking up screaming for me. It had gotten to the point where I needed to sleep with her every night. I knew then that it was necessary. But the cost of keeping up with that and now seeing I need all new everything… I’m gone need to get back to booking a few sessions.”
“I’m glad you got her the help she needed.” he said while texting.
Then his phone rang and he answered almost immediately.
“Yes, I authorize you to transfer that amount. Mmm hmm, I’m aware. Thank you.” he said to whoever was on the phone.
I continued driving until we finally made it to the pick up line. Since the kids hadn’t got out yet, I placed my car in park. I decided to check my phone and I had a bank notification for a transfer. I didn’t need to guess anymore what Jordan had done.
“You didn’t have to do that. I’m sending it back the moment I get back to the house.”
Jordan frowned and leaned back in the seat.
“I definitely had to do that. I had it to do. You, Charlie, and your parents are the only family I have. Not to mention, I have millions at my fingertips. You didn’t ask me for the shit and I don’t expect you to give it back. So, don’t send shit back. Charlie is my goddaughter and you’re my brother. You didn’t allow me to be there for you when it happened so allow me to do this. It’s more for me than it is for you.” he said then gripped his chest.
I wanted to turn him down but I also knew what we meant to him. It was rare he got this serious, so I nodded, reaching my hand out to dap him up.
“Thank you, man. I don’t know how much you sent but I’m grateful?—”
“A million.” he interrupted.
I looked over at him with wide eyes, I opened my mouth to say something and he shook his head.
“Put some away for Charlie for College or something,” he said. “But, you need time to get back on your feet. Shit, maybe even find a new spot.”
I nodded because he was right. I didn’t need a million but I also knew I needed to accept it. My eyes welled up with tears, I thanked God. He knew what I needed more than I did and sent it by way of someone who I couldn’t turn away.
“Thank you, man. I don’t know what else to say,” I told him.
“Shit, all you got to tell me is that you gone have a little spot for me in the back of your new place,” he said with a smirk.
I laughed and shook my head, then leaned across the arm rest to give him a hug.
“That was a given,” I replied.
* * *
We pulled up to my parents’ place so Jordan could grab his car. I knew without a doubt he was planning on pullin’ up on Shirah, but that wasn’t my business. He promised Charlie he would spend a full day with her this weekend. It was the only way she let him out of her sight. I turned around in my seat, not wanting to go in the house for the day just yet.
“Charlie, you want to go get ice cream with daddy?” I asked.
She put her finger to her chin almost like she was thinking about it. She was such a silly little girl. Then, she tilted her head to the side with a smile.
“Only if Ms. Willow can come.”
I shook my head because this child was on the verge of being more crazy about Willow than I was. Which said a lot because since she had been back in town, all I could do was think of her. It didn’t help that now I knew the kind of power she held between those thick ass thighs. She was unlike any woman I had ever come across, good pussy and a heart like no other to match was a dangerous combination. But, baby had it.
“Alright, I’ll call her but no pressure from you, little lady,” I told her.
Charlie danced in her seat. I turned around then grabbed my phone to give her a call. It rang for a little while before her sweet voice came through.
“Hey, Benny,” she answered.
Before I could respond, Charlie was yelling from the backseat.
“Hi Ms. Willow! I’m here, too.”
I laughed and shook my head. “My bad, I was going to mention you were on speaker. But little Miss Charlie couldn’t wait to speak. How you doing today?” I asked.
“Hi, Charlie, and I’m good! You sound like you’re out and about, where you headed?” she asked.
“We’re going to get ice cream but only if you come, so will you come pretty please?” Charlie asked from the backseat.
I glanced over my shoulder with a lift of my brow. This child knows she didn’t understand a thing about patience.
“My bad, Willow. I don’t want you to feel pressured. But we would love for you to come, only if you’re free,” I spoke up.
She giggled on the other end and then cleared her throat. “Of course, I want to go. Who is turning down ice cream in this kind of weather? Not to mention, I will have the best company in the world.”
I couldn’t help but to smile as Charlie cheered in the backseat like we had won a national championship or something. But, if I was being real, my inner self was celebrating just as much. I loved being around Willow, it just felt so natural. Almost as if we fit like the pieces to an intricate puzzle.
“Cool, we didn’t do bad ourselves by inviting you. Can you be ready in the next ten minutes? We’re already in the car.”
“I’m already dressed.” she replied.
“Cool, be there in ten minutes.”
We ended the call and Charlie squealed as I backed out of my parents’ driveway. She talked the entire ride to Willow’s parents’ house about how excited she was and how she couldn’t wait to tell her about her school day. It was our routine on Fridays for Charlie to give a full assessment of how her week had gone. It cracked me up to hear her talking about the things that happened. These kids were like small grown-ups.
We finally pulled up in front of Willow’s parents’ place and she was already waiting outside. Since that day she’d gotten her hair wet, her curls had been on full display every time I saw her. They served to enhance the beauty that was already there. I got out of the car to open the door for her and placed a kiss on her cheek.
“You look beautiful.” I told her.
I took one more look at her from top to bottom, loving the way her orange sundress caressed her curves before jogging back around to the driver’s side. As I was getting inside, Charlie was talking a mile a minute. I couldn’t help but laugh as I put on my seatbelt then backed out of the driveway.
Charlie hadn’t slowed her talking down until she realized we made it to Dip hopefully, we can keep you and your family coming back. By the way, you three look beautiful together. I love to see it!” she commented.
Willow looked back at me with a smile and I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my front. I kissed her cheek before ushering Charlie forward. Aubree began telling us about all the flavors they had, the different holder choices, and toppings. She had my baby’s head spinning.
By the time she finished, Charlie ended up getting a mermaid bowl. Which was a mixture of green apple, blueberry, and bubblegum pink flavored ice cream with pearl candy on the top inside of a seashell looking container. I went simple and got butter pecan on a cone, and Charlie convinced Willow to get the same thing as her so they could be twins.
Once we all ordered, we made our way outside, since the ice cream shop was near a park. We found a free picnic table and ate while laughing and talking. Charlie had eaten most of her ice cream before I allowed her to play for a bit.
“I see Charlie is doing better.”
I nodded and looked over at Charlie as she played on the slide with another little girl.
“Yeah, I think the therapy sessions are working. Obviously, it’s only been a few sessions, but she can already sleep through the night. I figured I should take my wins where I can get them. I went by my place for the first time today with Jordan.”
She leaned forward and reached out to take my hand in hers.
“How was it? Outside of the obvious, because I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”
I nodded and released a breath. “Yeah, we got the place as clean as we could with the time we had. I think I’m going to send someone in to finish. It might be time to look for a new place. I would love to say it’s for the good of Charlie, in part it is, but it’s also for me. I’m ready for more and that place kept me complacent. It was cool for the time I had it. But now, with new things happening in my life, more space is necessary.”
Willow smiled, then turned her back to me so she could lie back against my chest.
“You might be right, but I hate the way you had to come to that conclusion.”
She tilted her head to the side to look up into my eyes, then placed a hand on my cheek. I leaned in and placed a delicate kiss against her lips. No hurry, I just wanted to feel her lips against mine.
“Same.”
We left it at that and enjoyed the nice weather while watching Charlie be a kid. An hour had gone by before Charlie rushed back over to us. I could tell the sun had depleted my baby of all her energy. So, we grabbed the mermaid bowls and put them in a bag. According to Willow, they could use these again since they were nice quality bowls. I carried Charlie back to the car and strapped her into her car seat. By the time we were back on the road, she had fallen asleep.
I pulled into Willow’s parents’ driveway, parked, then got out to open her door. She placed her hand into mine as I helped her out of the car. I lightly gripped her chin, then leaned in to kiss her again. If this is what it felt like to have a family, I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else. But, I knew it was too early to mention that to Willow, although we had talked a little about where she stood with her situation.
I hoped it was with me.