Page 50 of Honey's Special Roux

“Excuse my language, but fuck that tour, Mama. Y’all need me more. I need to be there to make sure everyone treats my favorite lady right. I know you’re staying strong for the family, and you need me there.”

“Thank you, Honey.”

I wanted to ask her how she was doing. I wanted to see where her mental was. Instead, I told her I loved her and ended the call after promising to keep her updated on the travel plans.

My mind raced. My heart ached. My spirit was heavy. How would I live without the woman who had been there throughout my entire life? How would I live without the woman who’d taught me everything I knew? How would I accept the fact her physical form would no longer be a plane ride away?

Tears continued to pour from my eyes. How would I tell my son his great grandmother was gone? My boy was very intelligent, but his concept of death was very childish. In moments like this, I would call my granny, but she was no longer here.

Instead, I called Jenifer. It was nearly midnight back home, but she would answer. She always answered.

As expected, the call connected.

“Hello?”

“Jen…”

“Shh. I know, boo. I’m here.”

My eyes shut while my lungs struggled to inflate. I clutched my chest. “She’s really gone.”

“She’ll always be in your heart, though. You know she wouldn’t leave you without making sure you were straight.”

“I feel so broken.”

“It’s going to hurt for a while, maybe even years. Grief is a bitch, but you’ll be all right.”

It took a while for me to calm down. When I did, I stood up from the floor and grabbed a bottle of water. I went up to my room and sat cross-legged on the swivel chair at my vanity. My face was red and puffy from crying.

“Are you better?” Jenifer’s voice brought my attention away from my reflection in the mirror.

“For the time being. Do you work tomorrow? I would love it if you picked us up from the airport. I want to take my time getting back to that side of town.”

“I got you, boo.”

“Thank you, best friend.”

“Always. I know it might be hard, but try to get some rest, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

“Good night, Honey.”

“Night.”

The call ended, which left me alone with my thoughts. I sipped my water and built up the courage to stand on my feet and wash away the stress of the day in a hot shower.

Granny Janie, you really fucked me up with this one.

The air slappedme in my face as I stepped out of the gated doors of the prison. Six years down on my ass. Six years away from my life, away from my loved ones, away from my first love. The day I went down, I felt my world fall because Honey dropped off the face of the Earth. I hadn’t seen her since the night she visited me at the prison after my sentence hearing.

I sat behind the glass and held the phone in my hand. Honey’s eyes were red, and tears stained her cheeks. She’d gotten thick over the course of the trial. Her hips were wider, her face was rounder, and her titties were the juiciest I’d ever seen.

“Hey,” I said in a low tone.

“I can’t do this for fifteen years, Marquise. I can’t hold you down in prison. My life can’t stop because yours did.”

My chest tightened as I struggled to inhale a good breath. Of all the things she could have said, why did she say this? “Wait… Baby, what about our engagement?”

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