Page 76 of Whatever It Takes
“So, you remember when I went to check on Jour last night?” I nodded, “Well, I walked in on her and Ren kissing. Like making out. They were so deep into the kiss they didn’t hear me come in.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Nah, you lyin’, Bless.”
“I’m not! On my mama, they were in there tounging each other down! Now I don’t know what to do. Do we need to have a conversation with them? I thought they wanted to be sisters.”
“I’ll leave the conversation shit up to you. They were probably just experimenting with each other.” I shrugged. “Or we can just mind our business.” Ren is about to be eighteen soon, and I’m not her parent, so there isn’t much for me to say about what she has going on.
“Okay, I’ll just mind my business until one of them is comfortable enough to tell me. Okay, go cook. I’m about to get Sage dressed to play in the pool.” She gave me a quick kiss and left the room.
The girls played in the pool, my mom and the other women were relaxing on the beach chairs with peach margaritas, while the men handled the grill. I looked around the backyard, admiring my family. Everybody out here wasn’t my blood, but I loved them like they were. These past few months have been a lot for everybody, but we were still here, alive and healthy, and that’s all a nigga could ask for. For once, my mind was at peace.
Once the food was finished, we plated everything and called everyone in the house to eat.
“Before we start eating, I just wanna say how grateful I am for every single one of y’all. Y’all know I ain’t really have no family growing up, but being around y’all filled that missing piece for me. I been working on this mixtape for a few months, and I wanna play a song for y’all,” Dru announced, connecting his phone to the speaker that had been playing music throughout the day.
A smooth beat started before Dru’s voice started rapping over it. I nodded my head to the beat, listening to him spit. His flow reminded me of a mix between Nipsey and J. Cole. When the song ended, the room erupted in applause.
“That shit was fire baby! Ahh I’m so proud of you!” Chanel gushed, wrapping her arms around him. He leaned down and kissed her repeatedly. Dru ain’t never been the type of nigga to show PDA, but Chanel bought that out of him. She was his peace, and I was happy for him. She was exactly what a cold ass nigga like Dru needed.
FOUR MONTHS LATER…
I ranmy hand across the cold headstone before sitting on the blanket I’d laid across the grass. “Hey, Mommy. Hey, Daddy,” I greeted. heart full of something I couldn’t explain. “Y’all babygirl is going to prom tonight.. I wish y’all could see the young woman she’s grown into. She’s so pretty. Looks just like you, Mommy.” I sniffed, wiping a stray tear. “Can’t believe she’s going off to college in a few months. I feel like you just bought her home from this hospital. I’m sorry it’s been a minute since I’ve come to see y’all.. life has just been so good to me.”
These past few months have been amazing. When we returned from Turks, we officially moved into Saint’s house. I kept mine and planned on renting it out instead of selling it. Our home was still under construction, but it was almost finished. Blessed Hands Sports Medicine was set to open in two weeks.After the ups and downs of the hiring process, we were finally fully staffed. To celebrate, Saint took me on a weekend trip to Barbados, and for my birthday, we went to Paris. My passport was racking up stamps. Dru finished his mixtape and was hosting a listening party next weekend. As Messiah promised, he sat down with Adonis and reached an agreement. To keep the peace, he offered him a higher spot on his team. In my opinion, it was a stupid move, but everything had been going perfectly, almost too perfectly. I couldn’t shake the feeling of a disaster waiting to happen.
“I met a man. I fell in love. And it’s real this time. Y’all would’ve loved Saint. Sage loves him so much. I plan on bringing him to meet y’all really soon. Granny loves him too. Got him over there every Sunday, helping her in that garden. He doesn’t even complain. I love him so much. He’s the one. I know he is. My facility is opening soon. Y’all would be so proud of me.” I explained. A small smile spread across my lips as a cool breeze flowed throughout the cemetery. I spent a few more minutes updating my parents on my life before heading home to prepare for this prom send-off.
When I walked into the house, Saint was asleep on the couch with Sage sprawled across his chest. The sight warmed my heart. I pulled my phone from my purse and snapped a few pictures of them before gently lifting Sage. After placing her in her crib, I took her place on Saint’s chest. He stirred in his sleep, wrapping his arms securely around my waist. I repeatedly pecked his lips in an attempt to wake him up. His eyes popped open when I sucked his bottom lip into my mouth.
“Mm. When did you get back?” He asked, caressing my waist.
“Not too long ago. Y’all were in here knocked out.”
“Man, she wore me out. I had to put her ass to bed. Took her ass to the park at the rec center and had to chase her around the entire playground when it was time to leave.”
I snickered and shook my head, “I told you. But that’s your baby so you gone stick beside her, right?”
“Exactly. The decorator is supposed to be here in a few. What time is Chanel bringing the girls back?” He asked.
“She said she should be finished soon. Your mom went to grab the food and drinks. Messiah went to get the rental. How did the meeting go?” Due to a lack of funding, the rec center was set to close soon. So, Saint, Dru, Rome, and Messiah made an offer to buy the building to keep it open.
“It went great. The offer was accepted. We’re going to keep all the employees, but some of the building will need renovations. A lot of the technology is outdated. This shit means everything to me, Bless. When me and Dru were kids, we went to the rec every day after school. Our mamas couldn’t afford the Boys and Girls Club. After I beat cancer, they threw me a big ass party. I swear the whole hood popped out.” He laughed.
“See I told you it would work out. I’m so proud of y’all. Especially Dru. I just wish Messiah would do the same thing and leave that shit behind. I can’t see my brother behind bars or in a grave.”
“He gone walk away when the time is right. That shit was easier for Dru because he’s not the head of the shit. Siah damn near runs the whole city. It’s not as simple as just walking away. Give him some grace.”
I nodded and climbed off of him. “You’re right. I’m about to make sure the girls have everything for tonight.” I didn’t wait for him to respond before I made my way to Journey’s room. Her dress was already laid across the bed in a garment bag. I couldn’t help but tear up. The little bright-eyed baby I watched grow up was about to go to prom, then graduate from high school. Not only was she top of her class, but she’d received a scholarship.
My mind drifted off to the kiss I saw Journey and Serenity share. Even though I told Saint I would mind my business, Icouldn’t. I needed to know what the fuck they had going on. Journey told me they snuck into the liquor cabinet and took a few shots. They decided to experiment, but it didn’t go past kissing. I couldn’t be mad about the drinking because they were 18, the legal drinking age in that country. Shit, I was doing the same thing at her age. Deep down inside, I knew it was more than experimenting, but I was going to let her come to me on her own. She knew we’d love her regardless.
Music flowed throughout the backyard as Journey and Serenity stood in front of the backdrop, taking pictures. I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful they looked.
“She looks just like Eden.” My grandma said, referring to our mother.
I rubbed her back and smiled, “Yeah, she does. I said the same thing earlier when I went to visit their graves.”
“My baby being gone will never sit right with me. My only child is gone. A parent should never have to bury their child.” I could tell her mood had been clipped, and she was about to start her rage ranting. I understood her feelings. We shared the same frustrations, but I had to nip the conversation and stabilize her mood.
