Page 75 of Royce
Heidi, Striker, Klarity, and lil’ CJ followed me out the house. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. A nigga just wanted some peace around this muthafucka. I was getting hit with blow after blow and the worst thing about it, it was all coming from family.
“What the fuck is going on right now?” Striker asked the million-dollar question.
“Once you find an answer to that shit, tell me. Find out if that’s the same Bentley. This can’t be no coincidence. Shit, find out what you can ‘bout my lil’ brother, too. Genesis can’t be too far. I know Pops, and he like to keep shit close and on the low,” I ordered.
“You got it. What you ‘bout to do?”
“Go spend time with my fuckin’ family. You welcome to come. My household ain’t got to be around all that rah-rah. I’m still grieving Mama Rose and not letting that fuck shit piss me off even more.”
“I’ll catch up with y’all in a few. Let me make some calls and whatnot to see who these folk is. Y’all be easy,” he said heading in the direction of his crib.
“Baby, are you okay?” My Baby questioned grabbing a hold to my arm.
“I’m cool. You still down to take them to the park? I could go for a picnic right about now.”
“I’m down. Maybe we should skip the picnic and just go on vacation. This is too much,” she suggested.
“I’m with that. I owe you a wedding anyway. Aye Heidi, I know you just got back but you down?” I looked her way, and she was already nodding. “Cool. Hit Striker for me and tell him to pack for Paris. We getting the fuck away from this dysfunctional shit.”
Epilogue
Klarity
“Jesus, please don’t let these tests be positive. Please, please, please,” I begged. I was pacing the bathroom floor as I waited for results. I had Serinity, Heidi, and Mercedees with me. We’d become close and formed a little click. I didn’t think Seri would adjust but she did just fine with no problems. Her and Mercedees was very much alike.
“Look, I know you over there praying and everything but be for real cousin, Royce don’t let you breathe without him. We all know what that shit is going to say,” Seri commented. She was slightly tipsy from the mimosa’s we’d been indulging in.
When I threw mine up, I knew something was wrong. Me and liquor went together real bad so a simple drink like that shouldn’t have caused me to call hurl. Essence was only seven months old. I didn’t need another one right now.
“Honestly Klarity, I think Royce just wants a child shares both of y’all. He loves my babies, but they’re not his if you get what I’m saying. You might not be ready, but he is. If you are pregnant, give him this one and take a real break,” Heidi added.
“I don’t have kids but if I had someone like my cousin, I would give him one. He looks out for y’all and makes sure y’all good. That would be my gift to him,” Mercedees chimed.
I heard the girls, but I couldn’t trust their words. All of them were under the influence. The timer went off and they damn near tackled me to see the results. We all stood at the sink eyeing the many tests.Positive. Positive. Positive. Where the fuck are the negatives ‘round this bitch?
“Congratulations,” they sang in unison hugging me while they bounced up and down. I was not happy.
“Aye, why y’all doing all that hollering in my house mane?” Royce walking in scared the fuck out of us. We all jumped back in fear.
“Dammit baby. I thought you was somebody else,” I said placing my hand on my chest trying to control my breathing.
“Somebody like who? I know you ain’t bold enough to cheat on me in my shit.”
“Huh? No fool. I just wasn’t expecting you to be back so soon. You said you had a lot to take care of so I assumed you wouldn’t be back until this evening. Since you’re here, you might as well be told the devastating news. I’m pregnant,” I voiced rolling my eyes in the process.
“I knew that already. Yo’ pussy be wetter than a muthafucka and yo’ titties done got big as fuck. My mama told me last week ‘bout yo’ lil’ glow and shit. I trust her word so… yeah,” he said smirking.
I shook my head and took a seat on the floor. It was one thing to be a mother of two but now I was about to have two under two. CJ was a handful, and Essence was starting to get a personality. What the hell was I supposed to do with another baby?
Royce came and took a seat beside me. He was a sucka for kids or just a sucka for mine. Either way, he was content with the news and that scared me. I could only wonder how many more this nigga expected me to give him. I wasn’t Kate, he wasn’t Jon, and I damn sure wasn’t pushing out eight kids for him.
“Where yo’ head at, My Baby?”
See, when he came on that soft shit like he gave a fuck about my opinions, all I wanted to do was spoil his ass. I hated that he knew how to get what he wanted so easily. He didn’t care about the girls being present either. He was going to be him at all times and show his communication skills off.
“I’m just taking it in, Royce. I feel trapped though,” I answered honestly.
“Hmph. I don’t even know what that means for a woman. What I can say is I won’t bother you until you’re ready after this one. Give me this one and you can do whatever after that. Tie yo’ tubes, remove the whole uterus for all I give a fuck, but let me have this one. Please.”
I closed my eyes and let my head fall back to the sink cabinets. He said the magic word and now I felt obligated to honor his wishes. After all, this child could finally pull him out that grief and live again. He was still suffering from the loss of Mama Rose. This child could bring a smile to his face again.
“Fine. I’ll give you this one and then after that please let my body rest.”
He extended his fist my way and I dapped him up releasing a soft chuckle. Royce had become a best friend and someone I could depend on. He was overwhelming at times, but I wasn’t regretful about a bitch ass thing regarding him. I would repeat the same events over and over again as long as it was with him. He made a struggled life become a thing of the past for me and mine without hesitation. You didn’t find men like that, especially nowadays. Royce Atkins was irreplicable.
THE END
