Page 55 of The Nanny and the Don
“Vincent Gamble, nice to meet you in person.”
“Level with me. What are we looking at? I’ve had my sister’s children for two months now. I need to know if I need to make long-term arrangements. Her son needs to be starting school in the fall.”
“According to your sister, she was living with a gentleman friend that she’s been seeing for the past year when the police raided him. She states that she was aware of his illegal business but never took part in it. I’m going to leave that part out. I have a strategy that will bring her home to those kids by the start of the school term.”
“I’m holding you to that, man.”
“I’m headed over to file some paperwork with the D.A.’s office. I’ll give you a call when I hear back from them. It might take a couple of days.”
“All right. Let me know how it goes,” I said before heading into the building.
After damn near being stripped searched, I was cleared to go to the back where me and a group of people were herded into the visitation room. I strolled into the dingy room filled with stale air circulating through the vents and flopped down in the tiny plastic chair.
It was disheartening to see the mothers with crying children sitting in their laps on either side of the tables. It must have been hard for these women to let their children see them locked behind bars, but it had to be even harder to be away from them. I had mixed feelings about bringing King and Evie to see their mama. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to be away from them much longer.
My heart stopped when the prettiest girl came wandering into the room, looking around apprehensively. She had put on a little weight since I’d last seen her, which was a good thing. Her hair was in tiny little locs that fell to her shoulders. Angela looked so much like our mom when she was healthy that it caused a lump to form in my throat. I stood to my feet, tempted to meet her halfway. I didn’t want to yoke anyone up for putting their hands on me, so I refrained from moving out of my spot. Instead of running to my sister, I stayed in place until she was standing in front of me.
“I’m so sorry,” she cried as I pulled her into my arms.
I held her and kissed the top of her head as she wept silently. “You named your daughter after mom,” I mentioned.
“She’s so sweet right. Nothing like me at all.” She laughed as she backed up and took her seat. I got as comfortable as I could in the toddler chair across from her.
“She’s a firecracker like you.”
“How are my babies?” Angela asked.
“Better than I expected to be. I have someone to help with them. I don’t know shit about taking care of kids.”
“You never had kids?” she asked.
“Nah, never figured it was for me.”
“Monique—”
“Never came back.”
“I always figured she would come to her senses and realize that she gave up the best thing she ever had.”
“Even if she did, I wouldn’t have taken her back. Not only did she leave me, she killed my child. She’s lucky she’s still alive,” I vowed.
“I get that. Sometimes I feel the same way about myself.”
“No matter how angry or hurt I was, I could never bring myself to hurt you,” I told her what she already knew.
“I fucked up brother. I was in such a dark place when I did that shit. I let Carlos drag me into his world and get my head all messed up. I left him about two years after we left. I was doing so good and getting my life together. I went into a rehab program and got clean. That’s where I met King’s daddy. Things were good for us until he started back using. He overdosed and that sent me into a spiral of depression and suicidal thoughts. I was sleeping around with anybody with a bottle of liquor or some pills. I don’t even know who Evie’s dad is for sure. None of the men I dealt with at the time are worth searching for. I just want to get better for my kids,” Angela explained.
“I’m going to make sure you do.”
“Just take care of my babies until I can get back to them.”
“I got you a lawyer, Angie. I’m bringing you home. I want you to come back.”
“After what I did?” she questioned.
“Even if I was still pissed about what happened, I’m too attached to the kids to let them go too far. I have a house not too far from mine that I want y’all to live in.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
