Page 50 of Royce
“Nigga you won’t do no time ‘cause I’ll get you off. This is small shit. My thing is, why don’t you just ask the damn girl. You ain’t got to sneak and shit. That girl gon’ lose her shit when she finds out you took it upon yourself to adopt her fuckin’ child.”
“I ain’t trying to hear all that. You got the papers ready or not?”
“Yeah. I’m coming to you or you to me?”
“Meet me at the mall by the house in an hour. I’m gon’ pick up our rings and shit. Can’t get married without them,” I said smiling. In the next forty-eight hours, I’d be married and officially placed as the head of The Oath.
“You fuckin’ crazy. I’ll be there.” He hung up and I tucked my phone in my pocket.
I didn’t mind the name calling. At the end of the day, I was spoiled and knew no one else’s way but my own. Everybody in my life gave me what I wanted, or I took it. Even with me taking it, it didn’t take long for a muthafucka to get on board afterward. This was a piece of cake for me. I was killing three birds with one stone, that was what I called saving time. Why not get it done all at once?
I kicked it with Ma for the next hour I’d spoke on and whether she enjoyed it or not, it was enjoyed on my end. I missed her and would fa sho’ miss her when OG called her home. I hated that the kids wouldn’t be remembered. She was already in a stage where anything new would be forgotten in the blink of an eye.
As bad as I wanted to slow down time, I didn’t think she had much of it left. Her body was just as thin as it wanted to be.She barely moved and her eyes were beginning to look lifeless. I was still trying to prepare mentally but it was hard. I heard this woman’s voice all my life and all my life she pushed me to be the best man I could. It was never gon’ be a time her advice escaped a nigga.
I hated how my family was slow to coming to see her, but it was what it was. She had me and that was all that mattered. Shit, she would be proud to know she had a nursing home named after her. Petals of Rose was all her and my way of remembering her. Not many folk called her by her middle name. Her kids took them R names from her, not Papa G.
Once she fell asleep, I crept out of there. I’d pay her a visit with My Baby and the kids soon. She deserved to meet them even if she was in her last days. I just wanted her to be that angel and light over my kids.
I stopped at Ms. Rachel’s office like I promised her I would. She was still in the same spot, pecking away on her computer. I did a light tap on her door and she looked up with a smile.
“How was Ms. Anita? Did she give you any conversation today?”
“She did and it was good to hear her voice again. She’s sleeping now and content. I was wondering if she’s been eating. She looks thinner than the last time.”
“I assure you Ms. Anita has been eating. She is starting to refuse meals thinking she’d just eaten but we still double back and make sure she’s fed. Her favorite snacks right now are sweet potatoes and yogurt. Her meals are blended as usual, and we try to give her protein shakes in between. She does good with those as well.”
Nodding, I was satisfied with her answer. As long as she was getting the nutrients she needed, I wouldn’t be a pest. I pulled out my wallet and handed over all the blue faces I had on me.
“Buy your staff lunch and anything needed for the building. Put more flowers up around here and play more upbeat music. It lowkey feel lifeless in here,” I suggested.
“I have been contacting a certain flower company, but they hadn’t returned any of my calls. If you can give me someone else, that would be great.”
“Yes ma’am. I’ll email it sometime today. I’ll arrange a caterer to come through within the next week so y’all can have a nice dinner. When I email the flower shop, email me the head count and I’ll go from there. If anything is needed, don’t hesitate to reach out. I got to get up out of here and get to my wife. She just had my daughter,” I bragged.
“Really? Oh, that is wonderful. I had no idea you’d gotten married and had a baby girl. Congratulations to you both. I hope she brings you both many blessings and much happiness. We appreciate you for everything you do around here.”
“As long as I can help, I will. See you later.” I offered a small wave and smile before getting the hell out of there.
The drive to the mall wasn’t too far simply because the nursing home wasn’t too far from the house. Traffic was light and the day was pretty as ever. It was the perfect one to put a few things in order. I pulled up and parked in the back per usual. It was easier to bypass finding a parking space thing.
I entered the building and breezed through the long halls until I was out on the main floor. I took the escalator to the second floor, walked a few store fronts down, and was standing in front of XXIV Carats. I didn’t see Yonnis, so I called him up.
“I’m coming up the escalator now, Royce. You’re impatient as fuck.”
Hanging up, I stepped inside and walked to the counter where Kellz stood speaking to another customer. She glanced my way then back at who was in front of her. It was a smallacknowledgment of my presence. She sent them ‘bout their business a minute later and gave me her attention.
“You look nice. Wanyá has been asking when you were going to host another game night. I’m tired of him coming over to the house using my husband for company,” she complained.
“I’ll throw one soon. What Elon been on? He straight?”
“Yeah, he good. His physical therapy is paying off. Still depressed about tearing his ACL but what can I do besides be there for him. Here’s your order.” She slid the door back on the wall and removed a blue velvet box with white ribbon.
Opening it, the two rings I dropped a quarter mill on was sitting pretty with a small light shining on them. I grinned like a kid in a candy store. These muthafuckas turned out nice as hell and her rock was big as fuck with smaller ones surrounding it. Shit, if she ain’t say yes to me for love, I knew for a fact she was gon’ say yes from this bitch alone.
“I can’t believe you ‘bout to follow through with this shit. It’s called coercion, Royce.” Yonnis finally made it in and the first thing out his mouth was that bullshit.
“I know what the hell it’s called. Why you always trying to stop a nigga from doing shit? Damn you like a muthafuckin gnat at this point.” Yonnis was starting to aggravate the hell out of me. Do what the fuck I paid you to do and shut the fuck up. It was simple.
