Page 43 of Bern and Isley
“I know Bern and Cynthia will love on you in my absence. That young man has always had a heart for you. So knowing he’s by your side makes my decision that much easier. You’re going to be just fine, Isley B.”
“But it’s not going to be the same without you here.”
“I know, baby, but I’ve been a burden on you long enough. You’ll never admit it, but it’s time to explore your dreams. Live life. Travel. There’s more to life than being a caregiver, Isley. You’ve spent more time taking care of me over the years than I did raising you.”
Everything she said was true, but I still didn’t want to accept the fact that she was moving. Aunt Fee was a second mother to me. And even though I was critical of her coddling her son, she’d always been good to me and treated me like I was her own. So many changes were happening and it was beginning to feel a bit overwhelming. Bern and I had entered into a romantic stage, I was getting ready to open my salon suite, and Aunt Fee was going back to her roots in Arkansas. There was a lot going on, but I was holding out hope that everything would work out for the best.
“I’ll takeyou to visit her next month if you want.” Bern held me tightly as I watched my Uncle Jack’s truck pull off.
I cried all week while helping Aunt Fee pack her belongings for the move. I had also spent all week finding her new health providers and signing releases to get her medical records transferred to the clinics she would be going to. I was emotionally exhausted from it all.
I wiped my tear-stained face. “She’s the only family I had here.”
“I’m your family,” he reminded me. “My mama is your family. We’re not blood, but you know how we both coming behind you. Don’t you?”
I nodded.
“I know you’re going to miss your aunt. But this new season is all about you, baby girl. I know your emotions are all over the place, but you’ll see it soon enough. In the meantime, you know my shoulder is always here for you to lean on.”
I smiled faintly. “You’re right. And I thank you for that.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I slid it out and was confused to see the police department’s number displayed on the caller ID.
I answered the phone and nearly fainted when I realized who was calling me.
“Snow? What the hell? What are you doing locked up?”
“I’ll explain later, but can you come bail my ass out?”
“I’m on the way.” I hung up the phone.
“What the fuck?” Bern asked with raised brows.
“I need to go.” I grabbed my keys from my pocket. “I’ll be back.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“No thank you… I got it.”
I made it down to the station in no time and was able to locate a bail bondsman to get my girl out. I knew Snow would be good for taking care of the fees later. After a couple of hours, she was released.
“So girl, spit it out… why the hell did you get locked up?” I asked as soon as we got into my vehicle.
“Well, you remember ol’ girl who shorted you on her hairstyle and claimed you fucked her cousin’s man?”
“Yeah, that broad Braylah. What about her?”
Snow pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “She’s Unique’s cousin. Nique told Braylah you were fucking with Bern. Apparently, they came up with a plan for her to schedule a hair appointment with you then attack you after you finished. She was planning to get a free hairdo and whoop your ass. But when Marshall showed up unannounced, she decided she would just short you on your money.”
“Wow.” I didn’t even know what to say after that. Those hoes had plotted against me for something that hadn’t even happened yet. “How did you find out?”
“That hoe Braylah ran her mouth to the wrong people and it got back to me. So, I’ve been plotting on her ass ever since I found out. Well, this morning the stars aligned because she was at the gas station at the same time as me. She was struggling trying to put air in her tire, so I took that as an opportunity to go over there and wear her ass out.”
“Why didn’t you beat her ass then leave so you didn’t get arrested, Snow?”
“Well, as luck would have it, there was an officer driving past when the shit happened. So, I was caught, sis. But that’s the gist of everything.”
“I don’t see any scars or marks on you, so I assume she didn’t get any licks in.”
