Page 85 of No Remedy for Love

“One fifty sounds fair, if that’s doable for you.”

“Sounds like a plan. How soon can I start working?”

“I’m starting Tuesday, but you can come whenever you want to.”

“Do you have a contract or anything for me to sign?”

“Shit, no, I don’t. This is all new to me, love. Your word of mouth is good enough for me.”

“Okay, well, Tuesday it is. Any specific hours you open and close?”

“I’ll probably get here around eight once I drop RJ off to daycare. Here, this is a spare key so you can come and go as you please. I took everything off the walls and out of the bathrooms, but you can decorate however you want to.”

“Thanks. Do you mind if I come in Sunday to start setting things up?”

“Not at all. That’s what I planned to do as well since my mom will be available to keep him.”

“Yeah, I’ll have a babysitter by then too.” Kiva was gonna let her son stay with Mav’s mother Saturday night to make sure of it.

“Cool, well, I’ll see you then.”

“Come on MJ, it’s time to go.” Kiva grabbed her son’s hand, but he started crying and pulling away. Rashad’s son started crying too when they were heading for the door.

“I know we just met, but do you have anywhere else to be right now?”

“No, just home. Why? What’s up?”

“The boys seemed to have clicked. My son is the only grandchild so he doesn’t get to play with many kids his age.”

“My son is the youngest and only boy so neither does he.”

“I was just thinking that maybe we could take them somewhere to play.”

“Lead the way and we’ll follow.” Kiva smiled.

That sounded like a plan, but both their kids went crazy when they tried to go their separate ways. Kiva agreed to ride with them so she went to her car to get MJ’s car seat. She discreetly took a picture of his license plate and sent it to Nessa and her mother, along with his name. Rashad seemed cool enough, but she could never be too sure. They had barely known each other for an hour so she wasn’t taking any chances.

As soon as Kiva opened her car to get her son’s car seat, her phone rang and Mav’s number popped up. She sent him to voicemail twice, but he called right back again.

“Never mind Mav, I’m good,” Kiva answered, said what she had to say and put her ringer on silent. She got the car seat and was on her way soon after.

“Man fuck!” Mav yelled when another one of his calls to Kiva went unanswered. She had just picked up for him but she didn’t even give him a chance to answer. He felt bad about not getting his son when she needed him to, but it wasn’t on purpose. He went out the night before and accidentally overslept. Mav wasn’t a deadbeat dad and he owed Kiva an apology. He was gonna get his son for the weekend to give her a break. Mav’s head was pounding and the ringing of his phone didn’t help. He was hoping that it was Kiva calling back but he frowned when he saw who it was.

“Nigga, you gotta be special. Ain’t no other way around it!” Mav yelled when he answered the phone for his little cousin, Mike.

“Sorry, Cuz but my nerves are bad as hell right now. That nigga, Nate got locked up last night.”

“The fuck that got to do with me!” Mav moved the phone from his ear and frowned, even though his stupid ass cousin couldn’t see him.

“Man, that nigga said that he needs a stack to get out but I don’t have that much.”

“Again, I ask, what the fuck does Nate being locked up have to do with me? That nigga can rot up in that bitch for all I care.”

“I need help getting that nigga out, fam. If not, he said he’s gonna talk.”

“Talk about what? Is you high or something, fam? You talking mad crazy right now.”

“Nah, man, check it, that nigga took that ride to the Northshore with me.” Mike was talking in riddles, but Mav understood him clearly.

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