Page 49 of Certified Pressure 3
Ma gave that calm, polite smile she been practicin’ since she found out Pluto was pregnant. She then got back to talkin’ to her sisters. I could read her like a book though. She was playin’ it cool, but she wasn’t thrilled.
I didn’t let Kash get too comfortable in that circle. “Come on,” I told her, slidin’ my hand into hers. “Let me take you to meet the rest of the family.”
We walked across the yard toward the back where Pops was sittin’ with my uncles, smokin’ cigars, talkin’ loud and laughin’. The whole area smelled like good smoke and money. Pops stood when he saw me, grinnin’. “There he is,” he said. “The man of the hour.”
I hugged him, then greeted my uncles the same way before pullin’ Kash closer. “This my fiancé, Kashmere,” I said.
They all welcomed her warm, givin’ her smiles and a few respectful handshakes. My uncles joked about how I better treat her right, and Pops just nodded, quiet but watchful like always.
After talkin’ with them for a bit about some property investments and golf games, I dipped off to where my younger girl cousins was chillin’. They was all between nineteen and twenty-four, laughin’, drinkin’, takin’ selfies. They screamed when they saw me.
“Pressure!” my nineteen year old cousin, Lexyz said, runnin’ up to hug me. “You look so good, cousin!”
I laughed, pullin’ all of ‘em into hugs.
After introducin’ Kashmere to the rest of my cousins, Zy’Lani, Marli and Journi, and us choppin’ it up for a minute, she actually loosened up with them. My cousins was loud, fun, and real down-to-earth, so it made sense. I saw her smilin’, laughin’, even talkin’ about fashion with one of ‘em. It was good to see her ease up, especially after that lil’ interaction with my mama and aunties.
While they was talkin’, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, looked at the screen and saw Pluto’s name.
My stomach flipped, but I kept my expression calm. I slid my oldest cousin, Zy’Lani one of my Trillium bags, and she lit up. “Thank you, Pressure! You the best.”
I grinned. “Don’t get too damn high before dinner.”
They laughed, and I used that as my out. I kissed Kash on the cheek. “I’mma go check on somethin’ inside. You good?”
“Yeah,” she said, smilin’ at me.
I walked back through the house and leaned against the counter in the kitchen. Then I opened the message.
Pluto:You still comin’ to my appointment Monday?
I exhaled slow, my mind racin’.
Me:Yeah, I’ll fly out Sunday night so I can be on time for the appointment.
I slipped the phone back in my pocket and stood there for a second. I knew I was wrong for not tellin’ Kashmere, but I couldn’t risk the argument that would come with it. Last week, I told her I had a business trip comin’ up, and she didn’t question it. To me, it wasn’t even lyin’. It was me tryna keep the peace.
In my eyes, bein’ there for Pluto wasn’t about no feelings or no unfinished business. It was about my baby.
Ever since Pluto got that CPS shit cleared, and they gave her uncle and aunt temporary custody of Zurie, shit been movin’ better. My lawyers came through heavy. I had lawyers my family keep on retainer for when shit need to disappear quietly. They hit the judge, called in a few favors, and within two weeks that whole kidnappin’ charge was gone. Just like that, it was wiped away.
Right now, Pluto was livin’ back with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Pluto was tryna finalize the adoption and get full custody of Zurie. My lawyers made sure she had everything she needed for that, from the paperwork, the court filings, thepsychological evaluation they make you take, all that shit.She was in the process now, and once the judge signed off, Zurie would officially be hers.
I was proud of her for even fightin’ for it. Most people would’ve folded under that kind of pressure, but Pluto wasn’t built like most. She had a fire in her I couldn’t even explain.
I walked to the window, lookin’ out at my family still laughin’ and talkin’. Kashmere was out there with my cousins, smilin’ like everything was perfect, and maybe for her it was. For me, it felt complicated as hell.
I was livin’ two lives, one with a woman I promised to marry and another connected by blood and fate. I ain’t know how to balance it all, but I knew one thing for sure—when it came to my baby, I wasn’t missin’ a damn thing.
I pulled my phone out again, scrolled back to Pluto’s message, and typed one more line.
Me:Make sure you eat before your appointment, a’ight?
She texted back a few minutes later with a heart emoji and a simple,Okay.
I stared at it for a second before lockin’ my phone.
Somehow, that lil’ word and emoji carried more weight than any conversation I’d had all day.
