Page 37 of No Remedy for Love

“Nothing much. What’s up with you? You look aggravated.”

“Man, you have no idea. I love my Nana to death, but she’s stressing me out bad like a muthafucker. And her son was about to get knocked the fuck out up in here.”

Remi was shocked at his choice of words but she didn’t speak on it. Blaze had never had a bad word to say about his grandmother, so it must have really been bad. Hearing him go off about his other family members was the norm. He obviously needed to vent, and she was there to listen.

“What happened?”

“I took her clothes home to wash them and bring some more and found a pack of cigarettes in the pocket of her pants. Like, what the fuck man? I’m trying Remi, I swear I am, but she’s not even trying to meet me halfway. This is the third time that I’ve either found the cigarettes or the butts after she already smoked them, and she keeps making all these damn excuses. She needs oxygen around the clock, and she can’t smoke with it on or she’s done for. That lets me know that she’s turning that oxygen off to smoke, and that’s even worse. Now, she got some kind of infection that has to be treated. Like, as much as it breaks my heart, I’ve already learned to accept the inevitable. This sickness is gonna be what takes her away from me. But I’m only one person trying to do the job of many and the shit is wearing me thin. I just don’t understand how one woman can take care of eight kids but eight kids can’t take care of one woman.”

“Damn, that was deep.” Remi thought back to her father’s siblings, and it was almost the same thing with them. The only difference was that Viola’s grandkids took on the slack of their parents. They loved her unconditionally and made sure that shewas straight. Blaze didn’t even have that. Aside from his cousin, whom he had to pay, he was doing it all alone.

“And my bitch ass uncle came up here talking about some fucking money. I told her to stop telling everybody her business. I guess he heard about her winning at the casino and made his way over here. I told that nigga that she got bills that I have to pay and she ain’t got nothing for him.”

More than likely, it was Zita who told her father about their Nana’s good fortune. He was there bright and early but so was Blaze since he stayed the night. He was his grandmother’s power of attorney, so they couldn’t make decisions for her even if they tried. Bertha had all of her affairs in order, and Blaze made sure of it. His uncle came up there like he was a big dog asking about who was over her finances. Since he was the oldest, he felt like it should have been him. They didn’t think a grandchild should have that much control but it was too late for all that. Blaze was the shot caller, and Bertha wouldn’t have it any other way.

“That’s fucked up.” Remi shook her head in pity.

“My bad love, I just needed to vent. I didn’t mean to unload all my bullshit on you like that.”

“No, that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s necessary. What’s this I hear about you getting your own shop? You didn’t tell me all that.”

“I was just thinking out loud and my Nana ran with it. Nothing is official yet, but something gotta shake soon before I end up in jail.”

“What do you mean? What happened?”

“Nothing really but the nigga that owns the shop where I work has been on one lately. The nigga said it ain’t personal, but I disagree. He made a bunch of changes at the shop and that’s cool, but the shit seems to be aimed at me personally. Me and that nigga had words before I came up here. I just think it’s best that I find me another shop to work in or see about getting one of my own.”

“Mav is all mouth. He ain’t gon’ do shit.”

Remi felt bad because she knew why Mav was acting like a bitch. He kept questioning her about Blaze, but there was nothing to tell. She was feeling the nigga, but nothing was gonna pop as long as he was married. Mav was even more heated because Remi didn’t hook up with him a few weeks prior when she was supposed to. She ended up crashing by Tracy’s house since she was in no condition to drive. Her and Tracy ate and drank themselves to sleep and she forgot all about him. Then, he bitched and complained so much that she stopped answering for him altogether. Mav even questioned her about bringing Blaze some lunch, and she was over it. He was starting to get on her nerves with the clingy shit.

“How do you know that nigga?”

“So… you remember when we first met and I told you that I was in a lil situation?”

“Are you serious right now, Remi? You fucking with Mav!”

“No, it’s not even like that. We messed around before but it wasn’t that deep this time around.”

“You can fuck with him but me having a wife is a problem. I guess your lil rules don’t apply to everybody.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t even worry about it Remi. I ain’t no hating ass nigga, so I’m leaving it alone.”

Blaze was heated to know that Mav already had something that he wanted. He and Mav were always cool and he tried his best to figure out when shit went left. Just then, it came to him like a piece to a puzzle. The basketball tournament seemed to be when everything went left. Mav was cool before he saw him and Remi flirting back and forth. He seemed to be giving Blaze the cold shoulder in the locker room after that. Now, everything was being made clear. He was still confused about a few things though. Remi swore that she didn’t do niggas with wives or girlfriends, but Mav must have been an exception to that rule. He and Kiva were still together the last he’d heard.

Remi rolled her eyes. “But anyway, if you’re serious about getting your own shop, I might have a building that I can lease to you.”

“A building? Nah, I just need a small work space until I can find something permanent.”

“Well, it’s not really an entire building. Have you ever seen the place next to the rec room?”

“The old law firm?” He knew the place very well since he almost lived in the rec room at one time.

“Yeah, so, it’ll definitely need some work done since it’s been vacant for a while but it’ll be the perfect place in the perfect area.”

“Wait, so that’s your spot too?”

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