Page 73 of Royce
“You want this underground, or this is fine.”
“This straight. Don’t let nobody in my house, My Baby. I ain’t up for all that bullshit right now.”
“I’ll handle it. Go ahead upstairs to the room, I’ll be there in a minute.”
“I’m cool. I’m ’bout to hit the theater room and enjoy my kids.”
“Baby, I got them. You can?—”
“I said I’m cool, Ma, just give me my kids. Aight?” He cut me off standing on what he said before.
“Alright. I’ll go and start dinner then.”
He finally released my hand and stepped out the car. He got both Essence and CJ out the back and went inside to do exactly what the hell he said he was gon’ do. I texted Iris before heading inside letting her know where his head was at. She sent a thumbs up back. He wanted privacy so they had to respect it.
With him shutting down only asking for the kids, I knew this was going to be a process. Getting him back to normality wasn’t going to be easy at all. I was down for it though. Through thick and thin, for better or worse, sickness and in health. That was what a marriage was all about and even though I never had a chance to exchange those words to him, I still planned on upholding that vow with everything I had in me.
He was there for me when I never asked him to but because he saw me as a person of value in his life, he never swayed. I was a priority in his world giving me a reason to feel cherished. How could I not return that same love and dedication to him? I wasn’t leaving, I wasn’t folding, and I for damn sure wasn’t changing. He was consistent in getting my love so I was going to be consistent in being the person he could depend on.
Nineteen
Royce
Losing Aunt Rhema hurt, but losing Mama Rose broke me in two. It had been two weeks since she passed, and I still hadn’t been able to deal with the family. Went through the funeral and didn’t say a word to my folk. I had so much anger and blame to place that I avoided everyone. The only people I wanted close to me was my wife and kids. They seemed to be the only ones giving me peace.
“Hey baby, I brought you some breakfast,” My Baby voiced walking through the home office door. I hadn’t had an appetite since I left the nursing home, but she brought me a plate of food three times a day.
“’Preciate it. Where my babies?”
“In the theater room. CJ’s watchingCarsfor the umpteenth time and Essence is in her swing watching with him. Your mother called and said Yonnis is on his way over to the house to read Mama Rose’s will. Are you going?” she inquired as sauntered around the corner of the desk. She took a seat on top of it to my right. I could smell her soft perfume instantly.
“I really don’t give a fuck about it. She don’t owe me shit, and I don’t care to take anything from her. She can give it to whoevershe feels deserve it, but I’m cool,” I responded meaning every word I said.
I wasn’t pressed to inherit a damn thing. I loved and took care of her because I wanted to. She got anything she wanted out of me plus more. I didn’t spare a dime when it came to her. I didn’t need her to pay shit back tenfold. I was good off all that.
“If you care to hear my opinion, I think you should go. Ain’t no telling what she put in that will. I know you don’t care to take anything, but it could legit be more than just her giving away her life’s earnings. Plus, you haven’t given your family any time since she passed. Maybe seeing them could bring you a little joy.”
“I doubt it, but I’ll go. Ain’t none of them go see Ma the way I did. Hell, if it was up to me, I’d write off all that shit to my kids. I was the only one doing any and everything for her. Pops really ain’t shit now that I think about it. Him and Uncle Ryan had everything to do but be there. They a fuckin’ joke in my eyes,” I answered.
That anger had yet to subside and most of it was targeted toward Pops and his brother. They were her only living kids and gave her lil’ to no time. They didn’t deserve her if I was being honest. She lit up whenever she saw me thinking I was my Pops, and hisbusyass couldn’t give her more attention. I was furious. I couldn’t cap.
“Don’t be mean baby. We ain’t got to stay long. Let Yonnis read what he has to and we can come back home or take the kids to the park if you want to get away from the compound.”
“I’m with that. Let me know when he gets here and we’ll walk over.”
Nodding, she leaned over and gently caressed my face before pecking my lips. She’d been here for a nigga emotionally and that alone made me want to give her the world. She knew how to reciprocate actions and that meant everything to a nigga.Most women were self-centered, but My Baby knew how to love beyond herself. That was all I wanted from my woman.
She finally stepped into her place as my wife and was doing the damn thing. It was no more I or my from her, everything was we or our. It felt damned good having her by my side, I couldn’t lie. Never had shame when it came to a damn thing I did even down to showing vulnerability. She saw that side and comforted me in my time of need. I couldn’t thank her enough for it.
She got a call from Cojak’s people about his death, and she played that shit off so good, I laid dick twice that night. She gave his folk Oscar winning tears and dried her face as soon as the call was disconnected. Much like his broke ass, they wanted to use My Baby for her money. She kindly declined, gave her condolences, and blocked they ass. Klarity handled that shit exactly how she was supposed to.
Looking at the tray, I bypassed the hearty meal and picked at the grapes that sat in a bowl to the side. I wasn’t hungry but would put something on my stomach to keep her from worrying. I went back to answering the many emails I left unattended for the past two weeks. Business didn’t stop regardless of what I had going on. The Oath still had things to do, and the streets were still thirsty. Being the head was never easy.
Thirty minutes had passed by the time I finished, and it made good timing. My Baby was yelling out about Yonnis seconds later. I released a deep breath of annoyance. I was over the shit before it even began.
“Knock, knock.”
Looking up, I saw Heidi crossing the room with a small smile on her face. She had her times of disappearing then resurfacing. It scared me when she did it, but I understood why she did it. The things she been through granted her those moments. With her being back in town, I was grateful to have her support aswell. Her and Klarity’s presence could heal the most broken men.
