Page 35 of Save Room for Us

We stepped off to the side, and moments later, our stuff was ready, so we took it to one of the tables near the window. It was the perfect seat and had enough room for our strollers to park.

“So good. I knew it.” Analicia shut her eyes, chewing on the sandwich and getting me excited to try mine.

“I hope you guys didn’t serve a murderer!” I heard a familiar voice shout, and when I glanced over, I saw Allyson, Cedric’s stepsister.

She had venom in her eyes, pointing right at me. Everyone in the café had their mouths open, some wondering what was going on and others being hit with recognition, realizing who I was.

“Ma’am—”

“She shot my brother who was nothing but good to her, and she is walking around free!”

While I didn’t approve of Allyson’s behavior, I didn’t think she knew of how her brother treated me. I’d only told his fatheronce and never mentioned it again. By saying that, maybe she truly believed I’d made all this up. However, the pictures being splayed all over the news proved otherwise.

“Nothing but good to her? Bitch, did you see the pictures, or are you just as dumb as his big, cowardly ass!” Analicia snapped, shooting up from her seat and seething.

“Ha! How the fuck would you know? Y’all are so close but you knew nothing about her getting abused!” Allyson screamed as I rose from my seat.

“I knew before, you ugly, knock-kneed bitch!” Analicia lied, starting toward Allyson, but I gripped her arm.

It wasn’t exactly a lie, though, because Analicia used to always ask me if he hit me, and I’d tell her no. So, she’d definitely suspected.

Had I not been on trial and under Bashar’s strict orders not to engage with antagonists, especially physically, I would’ve been pounding Allyson’s face in by now. But he told me showing any violent behavior would do nothing to help me. In fact, it could tank my case completely because it would only further prove that I could snap and do harm.

“Hey, let’s go.” I nudged Analicia as Allyson continued to rant about me. When my sister looked me in the eyes, I said, “We have the kids here, and you know I need to stay out of anything else negative.”

Finally, she agreed with a nod, so we closed our food boxes and put them in our stroller baskets before leaving out.

We got the kids in the car, put the strollers in the trunk, then climbed in to eat our sandwiches in there.

After some moments of quiet, she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me before? I know what you said before, but damn, Stazi. We’re close. How could you deal with all that and not even make a peep?”

“Thank God, Leeci, that you don’t know what it’s like to be afraid of a man the way I was afraid. At first, I said nothing because I was ashamed, and then it went from shame to fear, not only for you all but myself. When you have the police coming to your home and not doing anything or telling you they can arrest him, but he’ll be out soon, you start to lose hope, and that’s what happened to me.

“Cedric is a man who would lose his own life to be sure he took mine. So I was scared, ashamed, and felt weak; Iwasweak. I was putting on a mask around you guys, pretending I was good and fine, and it was the only way I could make it through the day, honestly.”

“It’s just some of the stuff that happened is difficult to hear and process,” she admitted. “Especially how my baby came to be,” she added, referring to Sophie.

“Yeah.” I looked off down the street, still holding my sandwich that I no longer wanted. My appetite was rarely around these days. “I hate how she was made, but I’m thankful for her. She was what really gave me the gumption to figure out how to get away from him. She’s the reason I started documenting the abuse through photos, going to the gun range, talking to that traitor ass Jacinta.” I shook my head.

“That stupid whore is gonna get what’s coming to her. Even if I have to do it.” Analicia sucked her teeth, chomping down on her sandwich.

“Usually, I would be all for that, but trust me, Jacinta is gonna learn the hard way. If she believes all of Cedric’s bullshit, that will be her biggest downfall.”

Silence lingered before Analicia said, “I cannot imagine living with someone like that and being in that situation like you did, Stazi.”

“And you won’t ever have to.” I winked, watching her blush at the thought of her husband.

“You’re right about that, even if I’d stayed with Jarrio’s ass because I doubt he can even fight, let alone beat on a woman.”

We chortled loudly, and it felt good. I needed that.

We immediately began shushing each other through snickers, so we wouldn’t wake the babies, but couldn’t help it.

“Poor guy tried to be tough one time in his life. Now he’s sitting up in prison.” I shook my head. Jarrio had never been the brightest crayon in the box, but I at least thought he hadsomesense.

“Right.” Analicia balled up her trash. “How is working with Asiiiifff?” she sang.

“Umm, why did you say it like that?” I started my truck.

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