Page 17 of Dr. Bell

“It’s not,” I mumbled.

“Look, I’on know you, aight. And I’on feel comfortable talkin’ to you about shit.”

“Aight,” I conceded. “Since you don’t wanna talk, you gon’ listen.”

With an attitude, he stood from the chair, and uttered, “Fuck this shit, bruh.”

“Sit yo’ ass down!” I lowly but sternly barked.

“Don’t talk to me like that, bruh!” His voice escalated.

“I talk to you any fuckin’ way I want to. You gon’ sit yo’ ass down and listen to what the fuck I gotta say to yo’ ass.”

He mumbled something under his breath that I didn’t catch. However, his feet didn’t move from the spot he stood in.

“Sit. Down. If I repeat myself again, we gon’ have problems.”

Reluctantly, he propped himself against the edge of the chair.

“Do you pray?” I asked him.

“What?” His face reflected the confusion he felt.

“If you canwhatyou heard me just fine.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Answer the question.”

He shook his head, and I could tell he was trying to recall the last time he’d prayed.

“You want me to pray wit’ you?”

Although he shook his head, the way he looked at the floor as he did so told me what I needed to know.

“You sure?” I questioned just to give him another opportunity.

This time his response wasn’t so quick. I took another sip of lemonade, then placed the glass on the countertop. While Quilo did anything but make eye contact with me, I prayed a simple prayer. It was one that I prayed over my sons every single day. From day one, I knew I couldn’t raise them on my own. So, I kept them covered as best as I knew how.

Once I was finished, I said to Quilo, “Taking a life isn’t easy. However, I stand by everything I did tonight. And I stand by you, aight?”

A few seconds passed before he nodded.

“Now, go back to bed. Close ya eyes and go to sleep. You did the right thing.”

His nod was a little more confident as he stood to leave the kitchen. I wasn’t expecting a thank you from him. I didn’t need one. Over time he would learn that he could come to me. Establishing an open door was paramount with Quilo. He had a chip on his shoulder, and a body under his belt didn’t help it.

COCO

Nowthatitwasmorning, I stood outside of Adir’s mansion in awe at the beauty of his land. I’d already walked the entire property line, amazed at how grand this place was. I committed every tree and shrub to memory, smiling at how everything around the property seemed to thrive like nothing I’d ever seen before. In the distance, other mansions were scattered about. Each mansion sat behind a gate. As a matter of fact, there was a gate before even entering the gate leading to Adir’s mansion.

Your house, girl.

I couldn’t bring myself to call this place my house yet. Even though it felt every bit like home. Last night, I slept so well that I didn’t want to get out of Adir’s bed. He’d woken me up with the sweetest smell. Breakfast in bed was something I’d only dreamt about. My past relationships were nonexistent, raising Quilo and working took up all my time.

Chuckling, I recalled telling Haven about this foolishness.

“Girl! What the hell?” she hissed.

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