25. Blessing
FLASHBACK —
I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, wincing at the bruises on my neck.
When Seven found out about my new client, he choked me.
It wasn’t the first time he’d hit me, but it was the first time he’d choked me.
His hands were around my neck so tightly my eyes started spotting.
He only stopped when I stopped fighting back.
Messiah would kill him if he knew he was abusing me.
Staying with him seemed stupid, but he promised things would get better soon.
Seven wasn’t always like this—the man I loved wasn’t a monster, but he changed after I took him back.
I had caught him fucking my college roommate.
I believed it when he told me she initiated everything.
My granny always told me that a man would only do what you allowed him to do.
But, leaving the first man I ever loved wasn’t easy.
I jumped when I heard the front door open. Thinking it was Seven, I hurried out of the bathroom and made my way into the living room.
“What the fuck happened to your neck?!” Chanel yelled, immediately pulling me closer to her to examine me. “Did he hurt you again?” Her eyes filled with tears.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned around and went back into the bedroom.
“Blessing what the fuck. You don’t have to keep dealing with this shit! Come on, get your shit. You’re not staying here anymore.” She said, following behind me.
“Chanel, please. I’m not leaving. We’re going to talk things out like always. I’m fine. I promise.”
“But you’re not fine! Look at your fucking neck, Blessing!
This shit is not worth it, babe. When a man puts his hands on you, you leave the first time.
He won’t stop until you’re in a body bag.
I refuse to lose you behind this. You know what happened to my mom.
Please Blessing. You have to leave.” She cried.
Hearing her cry caused my tears to fall again.
I pulled her into me, hugging her tightly.
I forgot how triggering domestic violence was to her.
Her mom was murdered by her stepfather when we were children.
Her situation was very similar to mine, except she didn’t try to leave until it was too late.
“I’m sorry, Nel. I promise I’m going to leave the next time he hits me. ”
“You don’t have a choice, or I’m telling Messiah.”
“I can’t call my brother to fight all my battles. I got it. He doesn’t need to be involved.”
“Fight what battles?” The sound of Seven’s voice startled both of us. We didn’t even hear him come in the house. I pulled away from Chanel and turned to face him. My heart melted when my eyes landed on the gift bags in his hands.
Chanel scoffed, shaking her head. “I’m going to head out. I’ll call you later. Happy birthday, Blessing.” She turned to leave before I could even respond to her.
“I don’t even know why you bring that bitch over here knowing she doesn’t like me.”
“It’s not that she doesn’t like you, Seven. She sees the bruises. She’s not stupid and don’t fucking disrespect her.” I snapped.
“Who the fuck you talkin’ to, Bless? I don’t give a fuck if it’s your birthday. I will break your fuckin’ jaw.” He dropped the bags he was holding and towered over me.
I walked into my grandma’s house, arms full of groceries.
I just returned from Willow Creek with Saint a few hours ago and decided to grab groceries to bring to my grandmother.
I wasn’t ready for our little trip to end, but my man needed to get back to work.
He had conditioning and practice for the next few days.
I was so nervous for him to get back on the field, but I knew my man would kill it.
Although I wouldn’t be able to attend the away game, I planned on hosting a watch party to celebrate.
“Hey Granny!” I greeted, setting the groceries on the kitchen counter. I walked over to the recliner she was sitting in and kissed her cheek.
Her face twisted up as she wiped the spot I kissed. “I don’t know where your mouth has been. Nasty girl.” She put her Sudoku puzzle down and looked up at me, giving me a toothless smile. Her long blonde sister locs were in a bun on top of her head. “Look at you. You’re glowing, Puddin.”
I smiled. It had been a while since she called me by my childhood nickname. “Chanel said the same thing this morning.”
“Mhm. You got that good man in your life, treating you right and showing you what real love feels like. You’d better marry that man. I’m not gettin’ any younger, baby. I want to witness one of my grandchildren get married before I leave this earth.”
“You’re not going anywhere anytime soon. You’ll be here to see me become a wife and Journey walk across that stage. I don’t know about Siah, though.”
She huffed, shaking her head. “You know he’s been hunchin’ on your little friend he got workin’ for him.”
I gasped, taking a seat on the couch. “Nuh uh. He is not messing with Kaia. He wouldn’t cheat on Gia.”
“Oh, you haven’t heard? They ain’t together no more. Haven’t been since before Thanksgiving.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I know everything, Puddin’.” She shot me a wink and went back to her crossword puzzle. I shook my head, ignoring the double meaning. “Have you talked to your therapist about this new relationship?”
“No, Granny. I haven’t seen her in months. I don’t need to anymore, I’ve been fine.”
“Blessing.”
“Please don’t start. I told you I’m fine. You literally just said I’m glowing.” Instead of waiting for her response, I stood from the couch and made my way into the kitchen.
I cleaned her fridge before putting the new groceries away, mopped the floors, and meal-prepped a few meals for her to enjoy over the next couple of days. I made sure to grab some herbs from the garden before I left to meet with Eva, the Realtor.
“So, what do you think?” Eva asked as we stood outside the facility we’d just finished viewing.
“I am in loveee!” I gushed. The building was perfect.
As soon as I stepped inside, I knew it was the one.
The building used to be a gym that was closed down a few years ago.
I could already envision the renovated luxury physical therapy facility.
The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the perfect amount of natural lighting.
“I knew you would love it. I will now submit your offer to the sellers. They should respond fairly quickly. They’ve been wanting to sell for a while now.
Once the offer is accepted, we’ll close on the building, and the keys will be yours.
In the meantime, start looking for contractors and figure out the designs you want. ”
“Sounds good. Oh, while I have you here, I’ve been trying to sell my other home, but there haven’t been any buyers.
It’s been on the market for months. Can you help with that?
” I asked, pushing a stray hair from my face.
I was desperate to sell that damn house.
It held so much trauma and needed to go.
“Of course. We can plan an open house and have it sold before February. Let’s meet once we close on this building and get the ball rolling. I have another appointment to get to, so let me get out of here. You’ll be hearing from me soon.” She gave me a quick side hug before heading to her car.
As soon as I got into my car, I called Messiah. “Siahhh,” I sang into the phone as the call connected.
“Wassup, Sis?”
“I found a space. Eva’s putting the offer in now.”
“Aye, that’s great. I’m so proud of you. I hate how shit played out with your last job, but that shit needed to happen for you to elevate. You ain’t never gotta work for anybody else for the rest of your life. Don’t nobody deserve this shit more than you.”
“Aw, stopppp Siah! You’re gonna make me cry. Thank you, I needed to hear that.”
“Imma come over there in a few. I got something special for you.”
“You don’t have to get me anything, Siah. You’re already helping me pay for the space.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, lil girl. I’ll be over there after I pick Kaia up from class.”
“Are you fucking her?” I asked, remembering what my grandma told me.
He sucked his teeth, “Where you get that from?”
“That’s just what I heard through the grapevine.”
“Naw, you got that from your messy ass grandma. She needs to get herself some business.”
I burst into laughter, “Not too much on my grandma. Now answer the question.”
“We chillin’,” He responded. My phone beeped, indicating an incoming call. I knew it was Saint.
“I’ll see you later. Love you, bye!” I said before answering the call. “Hi babyyyy,” I smiled.
“Hey, gorgeous. How’d everything go?” He asked.
“It went perfectly. An offer has been made. Just waiting to hear back from the seller. I miss you already, Papa.” I pouted, turning my car off after pulling into my driveway.
“I miss you too, baby. I’m so proud of you, baby. Imma spend the night with you tonight since we fly out tomorrow.”
“I knew you would,” I said with a grin. We chatted on the phone until he had to leave.
Today, the team partnered with The Huddle Project.
The organization focuses on mentoring youth football teams. They were taking the entire OCHS football team to buy suits and spend a practice with them.
The team always gives back to the community.
As soon as I walked in the door, I heard little feet padding into the foyer. “Mama!” Sage squealed, running to my legs. I scooped her up in my arms and showered her chubby cheeks with kisses before making my way into the living room. Journey was sprawled out on the couch, scrolling on her phone.
“Hey, sissy.” She said, looking up at me as I took a seat on the other end of the couch.
“Uh, what happened to your lip?” I asked, noticing her busted bottom lip.
“Ask your bad ass daughter.” She retorted, rolling her eyes.
“Sage, did you hit your auntie?” Sage nodded her head and climbed off my lap to lie on top of Journey. “Aw, she’s sorry. She didn’t mean it.”
“Yeah, whatever. Can I take your car to go to Target?”
“You can take the Benz. You’re not driving my brand-new Jeep. What do you need from Target?”
“I just need to get some last-minute Christmas gifts.”
“Okay, don’t be gone too long, and please drive like you have some sense. Love you.” I reached into my purse and handed her my credit card.
“I will sissy. Love you too. Thank you!”
Once Journey left, I put Sage in her playpen and started cooking dinner. An incoming call halted the music I had playing throughout the kitchen.
“What the fuck do you want?” I hissed into the phone.
“Bitch you know what the fuck I want!” Rell yelled into the phone.
“I’m not giving you shit! I already paid you for the job. You won’t see another fucking penny for me.”
“Oh yeah? How you think yo brother gone feel when he finds out you set his right-hand man up? Then you out here runnin’ around with that football player. You better get my money, or you gone be right in the dirt along with your baby daddy.”
I laughed, pacing the kitchen, “Nigga, my brother and the police have both been looking for you. One phone call will end all this shit. So take the money I’ve given you and get the fuck on before YOU end up in the dirt next to that bitch ass nigga.” I spat before ending the call.
He didn’t call back after I hung up. I was so zoned out that I didn’t hear Saint come into the house. “Everything okay?” Saint asked as he stepped into the kitchen, holding a bouquet of roses wrapped in money and a gift bag. “I called your name when I walked in the house, and you didn’t respond.”
My hands shook as I took the roses from him. “Everything’s fine, baby. I was just zoned out. Thank you.” I stood on my tiptoes, repeatedly pecking his soft, plump lips. “I need to get another vase.”