Page 69 of No Remedy for Love

“Ok, we won’t be here too long.”

“And she don’t want nobody else in her house.” Blaze made the comment as his eyes connected with Reanna’s.

“Boy bye, Nana ain’t say no shit like that.”

“Yes I did. I’m not in the mood for no company right now. And I don’t want her here anyway. Blaze got a girlfriend and I don’t want no drama.” Ms. Bertha caught her breath longenough to co-sign what her grandson had just said. Blaze really wanted to go off, but his grandmother’s wellbeing was more important than cursing his sister and ex-wife out.

“Really, Blaze! I don’t give a fuck about your new bitch. I got a man!” Reanna snapped in anger and embarrassment.

“Nah, disrespecting my grandmother is what you not gon’ do.” It took everything in Blaze to not go in on Reanna and the horrible attire that she chose to wear. The short dress that she had on almost made her look like she had a disability with those tiny legs and huge ass on full display.

“Come back another time, Blaire. I need to go lay down for a while. And come back by yourself.” With those parting words, Ms. Bertha slowly made her way into the house with Blaze following close behind. The slamming of the door behind them had Blaire seeing red.

“Girl, I almost forgot who your grandmother was and cursed her old faking ass out. I wish the fuck I would ever step foot in her house again.” Reanna was enraged and so was her friend.

“Girl, my Nana don’t care about no shit like that. Blaze put that in her head. And, as usual, she does whatever he tells her to. My mama said they can’t even talk to their own mama without him being in the room and he had the nerve to want his new bitch in the room too. Talking about she knows more about Nana than they do. But they got something for his ass. My auntie is getting a lawyer. She said that what Blaze is doing is a form of elderly abuse.”

“Abuse! Now, we might be almost divorced but even I can’t give him that charge. He’s never laid a hand on y’allgrandmother. Hell, he barely raises his voice in her presence. That’s a far reach to say that he’s abusing her.”

“Not physical abuse. It’s more like emotional and psychological abuse. It’s almost like she’s his puppet and he’s pulling all the strings. My auntie said that my Nana has life insurance, but he better not be the beneficiary. Not when she got eight kids and multiple grandkids.”

“Who else is it gonna be? I’m more than sure that he’s paying for it. Hell, he pays for everything else. More than likely, his new bitch is making him do everything that he’s doing. I don’t blame your mama and aunties though. Nobody else should be making decisions for your Nana but them.”

“Exactly but I’m about to call my auntie Flo. This is just gonna be another piece for her to add to the puzzle.”

Blaire called her mother and told her to call her sisters on three-way. Reanna was cracking up as she listened to the women react to what Blaire had just told them. They were talking about dragging Blaze’s new girlfriend out of the house and changing the locks on him. Admittedly, Reanna didn’t agree with everything that they were saying. She saw firsthand how Blaze cared for his grandmother since none of them ever cared enough to do it. She didn’t know what changed to make them want to step up, but that was good for his ass. He neglected her and their marriage for Bertha and now, it seemed that it was all done for nothing. She would have been the first one to have his back a few years ago. Since they were almost officially divorced, she didn’t give a damn about him or whatever karma came his way.

“Congrats my dude. My divorce was mutual but I’ve heard some horror stories in the past,” Vinnie said as he lifted his drink in the air to toast with Blaze.

His divorce became final the day before he wanted to take Remi out to celebrate. Tracy and Vinnie asked to tag along, and the four of them had been hanging out since earlier that morning. They started out with brunch, indoor golfing, bowling and they were ending their night at the rooftop bar puffing on the expensive cigars that they’d purchased nearby.

“Man, I feel like it’s my second birthday. I kept my word and paid the bills up for six months until the divorce was final, and I’m done. Future was right, life really is good.” Blaze knewthat Reanna had moved out of the apartment because he got a call from the leasing office to come pick up the deposit check. Thankfully, she wasn’t petty and tried to ruin his credit by destroying the condo.

“That’s what’s up. Leaving is one thing but leaving with a clear conscious, knowing that you did everything right, is a real flex.”

“The real flex for me is not having kids to share with a muthafucka that you don’t even wanna be in the same room with.”

“And on that note, I hope your ass is on some birth control, Remi. You and Blaze be getting it in,” Tracy said as she puffed on her cigar.

“She don’t have to be. I don’t mind having a few point guards on my team,” Blaze replied with a wink.

“You can put away your coaching whistle for now, boo. Hell, I feel like you just officially became mine yesterday.”

Remi held off on letting Blaze meet her family until his divorce was officially final. He respected her wishes but, now, he was ready to meet his new in-laws. Lollie and Marva were so excited and they wanted everything to be perfect. They were on a cruise but they were putting together a dinner to welcome him in. Surprisingly, that was Viola’s second cruise that she’d accompanied them on and she was just as hooked on the boat as they were. She too was excited and looking forward to meeting Remi’s new man.

“I was yours the first day we met. You damn sure wasn’t in a hurry to leave,” Blaze laughed, even though it was true.

“I sure in the hell wasn’t. A bitch was in full lust mode.”

“I’m just happy to see my sister genuinely smiling again.” Tracy was overjoyed that Remi had finally gotten Mav out of her system. If she was being honest, she was happy that Kiva left his dog ass alone too. That was some boss bitch shit that her and Remi did and she was happy with the outcome. Mav had been advertising for a new stylist to rent out the salon part of his shop since Kiva left. Word around the hood was that his shop wasn’t doing nearly as well as it used to.

“It’s good to see that you and Vinnie finally got it right too,” Remi replied.

“Shit, you ain’t never lied. I never in my life met a muthafucka that got mad when their nigga had their back.” Vinnie gave Tracy a knowing look.

“Please don’t get him started. We’re good now and that’s all that matters.” Tracy rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Well, cheers to our first double date.” Remi held her glass out in the middle of the table.

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