Page 5 of I Heard It All Before

Chapter 2

After spending all morning and most of the evening getting reacquainted with Asha’s insides, Cam went to the barber shop and the mall to get a new phone. At his request, Asha had him a few new outfits with the shoes to match. All his clothes were still in good shape from before he left, but he wanted to update his wardrobe with a few more items. After they grabbed a bite to eat, Cam drove straight to his mother’s house. He felt bad for not going straight over, but Asha had other plans that he couldn’t turn down.

Once he entered the code on the front gate, Cam proceeded to drive through when it opened. His father had purchased and furnished the home for his mother when Cam was only a few months old. Per Nora, once the DNA test that his father’s wife demanded came back positive, Camden purchased them a home a few weeks later. Nora lived in an apartment with one of her sisters, but he wanted better for his son. Cam didn’t remember his father visiting very often, but he always sent gifts and money through someone else. Cam didn’t remember seeing his grandparents that much either, but they always sent the best birthday and Christmas gifts too. He thought he had it made until he got older and realized that wasn’t how things were supposed to be. His father was there financially, but he needed him there physically. Nora wasn’t supposed to be playing video games with him and teaching him about his male body parts. He needed a man for that, but his father didn’t think he was important enough.

By his teen years, Cam had developed a deep hatred for his father and his entire family. It was so bad that he started to hate the entire race of people that his father belonged to. They were all the same, in his eyes. Had Cam’s mother been a white woman, he was sure that things would have been different. They had to be embarrassed of him and he wasn’t forcing himself on anyone who didn’t want him around. Before long, Cam started running the streets heavily and it wasn’t long before he got mixed up with the wrong crowds. He didn’t want anything that his father offered, so he started getting money the only way he knew how, selling drugs. He made good money and he always made sure to save some of it. But, just like his mother warned him, death or jail were the only two things that were going to come out of his profession.

Thankfully, he was still above soil, but he’d been to jail more times than he could count. Every judge in every parish knew him and they knew his father as well. Cam hated that he was always referred to as the son of the great Camden Blaire. He hated even more that they shared the same name. His mother giving him the same first name as his father was stupid in his opinion, especially since it was the last name that mattered most. His father didn’t even witness his birth, nor did he sign his birth certificate, even after the paternity test came back.

“Baby?” Asha called out, pulling him away from his thoughts.

“What’s up?” Cam asked.

“I talked to Lo a few days ago,” Asha replied while looking at him to see his reaction.

“And?” Cam asked calmly as he drove around his mother’s subdivision.

“He asked about you, and I told him that you were on your way out. He said for you to get at him, so y’all can get back to business,” Asha replied.

“That ain’t happening. I’m done with all that. Sometimes, you gotta know when to walk away. Fuck around and them people gon’ lose me in the system. I got a job and we got some money saved up,” Cam replied.

“A job? That lil shit with Randy is cool, but that ain’t no real money Camden. And how long do you expect that money to last? We gotta think about the future,” Asha argued.

“Who the fuck is we? You ain’t had a job since we met. I was out there all day and night risking my life and freedom, to keep you in Gucci and red bottoms!” Cam yelled.

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy some of the perks too. You wear just as many labels as I do. And stop acting like you did so much time in jail. Those eighteen months was the longest that you’ve ever done. You probably wouldn’t have done that if your stubborn ass would have let your daddy help you.”

“You’re selfish as fuck man. Nigga ain’t been out for a whole day yet and you’re trying to send me right back,” Cam said, shaking his head in disgust.

“Wow, so I’m selfish for wanting us to have money? I’m used to living a certain way and you know that Camden.”

“Cool, if you think it’s so easy, then you do it. You ain’t never been to jail and you don’t have no record. You go risk your life and freedom, so you can keep up with the lifestyle that you’re used to.” Cam shrugged like it was simple.

“If I knew how, I would,” Asha snapped.

“I can show you. Hell, you got brothers and cousins that can show you too,” Cam noted.

“Whatever Camden,” Asha said while rolling her eyes.

“That’s what I thought. You don’t give a fuck about nobody else, as long as you get your way. Those days are over with me. I’m working for what I want or I just won’t get it,” Cam said as he pulled up to his mother’s house and parked in her circular driveway.

When he saw the NOPD patrol car parked at the curb, he already knew that it was about to be some shit.

“How long are we gonna be here? This is your first night home and I don’t wanna spend it looking up in this bitch face all night,” Asha spat angrily.

“I know muthafucking well you ain’t calling my mama no bitch,” Cam said as he cast an angry glare in her direction.

“You know damn well who I’m talking about. I’m talking about your ex-bitch, Courtney. I don’t understand why she’s always over here anyway,” Asha replied.

“This ain’t my house, so I don’t know the answer to that. You can drop me off and leave if you want to, but I’m not rushing my visit with my mama,” Cam replied.

“Drop you off? You must be crazy if you think I’m leaving you here with that desperate hoe. Bitch got a husband and still chasing after another nigga,” Asha snapped.

“Don’t bother me with that dumb shit Asha. I’m not in the mood,” Cam replied as he got out of his truck and walked up to the big two-story home that he grew up in.

Asha powerwalked to catch up with him and grabbed his hand. She needed Courtney to see that she was there and she wasn’t going anywhere. Courtney and Alton got married while Cam was locked up, but she still wrote him faithfully every week. She wanted to visit him, but Asha was always there.

“My baby!” Nora screamed when Cam opened the front door and walked inside. “I was going crazy wondering where you were. I hope you got another phone.”

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