“Mr. Moore, this must be your lucky day. I usually don’t give anyone a pass, but I’m a man of my word. Now, go on and get out my face before I change my mind,” Brody threatened.
Trent put back on his shoes and walked around the corner to the parking garage, where he met up with Marcos.
“My nigga, you alright? I thought you was a goner, my nigga,” Marcos laughed.
“Ain’t shit funny, nigga. Yo ass took off like a bitch,” Trent snapped.
“Yeah, nigga, I have warrants, not tryna get caught off some bullshit,” Marcos said, continuing to laugh.
Without warning, Trent became serious when he confessed, “On some serious shit, man, I miss my fucking girl so bad. It’s been two weeks since I last seen her. She’s not answering a nigga’s phone calls or texts. I keep showing up, and she doesn’t even come to the door.”
“Give her some more time, Trent. She’s hurting right now with all that y’all are going through and her mom passing. It’s really taken a toll on her, but don’t stop showing affection just ‘cuz she’s telling you not to bother her. In reality, nigga, she needs you,” Marcos said, reclining in his seat.
“Aw, nigga, you getting sentimental on a nigga now,” Trent laughed.
“Nah, young grasshopper, I’ve been down that road before,” Marcos said, turning his face to gaze out the window. Trent heard and understood every word that Marcos spoke. He just had to bring his thoughts together before he chanced going over to Kendra’s mother’s house.
Trent dropped Marcos off at home. Once alone, Trent was able to think things through. He drove to a flower shop and picked up some tulips. Then, he picked up some fresh fruit and chocolate- her favorites.
Kendra tried to keep herself busy at her mother’s house, so she didn’t think of her too much, but, as she went through her mother’s belongings and separated them, Kendra’s heartbreak overwhelmed her. She kept those items that had sentimental value and spent most of her day reminiscing. After boxing them up, she gave the remaining items to the Goodwill. As she was going through her mother’s items, Kendra ran across a picture of her father and mother. In the picture, they were all lovey dovey. This was before he was sent to prison on a twenty-five year bid for killing his best friend after his best friend had tried to molest his children and rape his wife.
Chuck didn’t have a family of his own, so he spent all of his time at Amir and Bernice’s house. One Sunday, Amir and Chuck were drinking and shooting dice with a neighbor. They did this every weekend. When there was a lull in the game, Chuck excused himself and went inside. He let Bernice know that he was going to give the girls some money for school.
After what seemed like forever, Mrs. LaSalle realized that he was taking longer than usual, so she went to see what was holding him up. When she stepped in the room, she found Chuck with his pants down. He was trying to force his penis into Nia’s mouth.
At the sight of this, Bernice lost it and jumped on his back. She hollered for Kendra to go get her father. Chuck slammed Mrs. LaSalle on the ground, while a very scared Nia slid under her bed. He, then, dragged Bernice into the bathroom and ripped her clothes off.
“Bitch, since you want to interrupt shit, I’m gonna take it from you,” he slurred as he punched Bernice in her face.
“So, you’re really going to disrespect Amir like that? I thought he was your best friend.”
Frustrated, Chuck spat, “Fuck, Amir. I never liked that pretty-ass nigga anyway.”
Meanwhile, Kendra ran as fast as she could to get her dad. He was standing outside in their the backyard, talking to their neighbor. When she came running up, he said, “Slow down, Ken! Why don’t you have on no shoes?”
“Daddy! Daddy! Nia! Uncle Chuck!” was all she could get out, while huffing and puffing. Tears poured down her face as she tried to explain what was going on in the house. Her father looked at her and then, he told his friend he would catch up with him later. He picked up Kendra and ran into the house. Once inside, he yelled, “Bernice! Bernice!”
When Nia heard her father’s voice, she came from under the bed and ran to the living room.
“Hey, baby girl! Where is your mother and Uncle Chuck?”
Tears filled her eyes as she pointed to the bathroom. He told the kids to walk next door and wait for their mom to come and get them, but they ignored their father and stayed behind. Amir walked into his bedroom and grabbed his sawed off shotgun. He walked to the bathroom door and kicked it open. He saw his wife laying on the floor with a swollen eye. Chuck looked up and saw the barrel pointing in his face.
“Man, I’m sorry. Amir, I…I,” Chuck stuttered hard, getting up off the floor and walking toward the entrance of the doorway.
“How could you, Chuck? How could you betray me like this, huh?”
Amir was heated and had tears in his eyes. The next thing that came out of Chuck’s mouth was so shocking that he couldn’t believe that he even spoke the words himself.
“I really wanted Nia, but this bitch jumped in the way.”
Those were the last words he spoke as the bullets rippled through his chest. The cries of his two little girls broke Amir’s heart. He laid the shotgun on the floor and ran to his babies, hugging them close.
“I’m sorry you guys had to witness this. Murder is never an option, but I will die and go to hell before I let someone harm my babies.”
One of the neighbors who’d heard the shots called the police. The paramedics, police, and fire department all pulled up at once. They asked the neighbors and the kids a series of questions. One of the lead detectives informed Amir that they were going to take him in for questioning.
“We’re going to have to take you down to the precinct, Mr. LaSalle.”
When they cuffed him, Bernice went crazy, screaming, “Let him go!” She clung to her husband’s leg and was dragged behind him as they walked him to the squad car. Amir let her know everything would be okay. An officer approached and asked, “Do you guys have a place to go for the next couple of nights?”
The officer assured Bernice that she and the kids would be okay. Mrs. LaSalle packed herself and her children some clothes. Then, they were driven to a nearby hotel, where they resided for the next two days.
On the day of sentencing, Mrs. LaSalle made sure she was front and center at her husband’s hearing. The judge gave leniency because of the circumstances provided by the lawyer and sentenced Amir to twenty-five years. Mrs. LaSalle was heartbroken. There was no way she could stay away from her husband that long. Every weekend, Kendra, her sister, and mother took the Greyhound to visit their father. Seeing him every weekend helped to ease the pain in their mother’s heart.
Kendra set the picture on the mantel and continued cleaning. After everything was boxed up, she put the boxes in the garage. Kendra knew that all of these events had happened for a reason. She felt it was God that had led her to leave her house that night. She thought about calling Trent, but the thought went away. Kendra went outside to get the mail. As she opened the door, she found Trent standing in the doorway. He startled her. Why is it that, every time I think about him, he shows up? Kendra wondered.
“Hey, shawty. Are you gonna let me in?” Trent asked, standing there with some tulips, a box of chocolate, and a puppy dog look on his face.
Reluctantly, Kendra stepped aside to let him pass. Trent set everything on the counter and took a seat at the bar.
“Ma, I can’t sleep one more night without you. Baby, I know you have every right to be upset. I know I fucked up, but I’m here to right my wrong. You are my foundation, my rock, my wifey. It’s you that I want and need. Those other bitches don’t mean shit.” Trent poured his heart out. He figured, if he was just open about the situation, that it would make it easier for her to forgive him. Kendra didn’t know what to say or how to react. She wanted to slap him for all the turmoil he had put her through, but her mother had taught her to let bygones be bygones.