Page 57 of Don't Kross Me
Just when he came up on something, he hit another dead end. This shit was beginning to feel like a tired-ass game of cat and mouse, and Kross was close to losing his fucking mind. Thedeeper he dug, the darker and more twisted shit got. Whoever was behind those text messages was obviously the other nigga in question for Aniyis’ paternity and the one who knocked Cassie off. Kross was on the right track, and he was going to stop at nothing until he got to blow that motherfucka’s head off.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Remedy taped up the box before sliding it over to Melo so he could label it with a marker. She had finally gotten around to helping Melo and her mother pack their things up so they could move into the housing unit that was operated by Raquel’s non-profit, Grace Haven. Kross made sure everything was handled with care and connected Raquel with Remedy so they could discuss all the details. Remedy made it clear that she only needed the unit for about a month until she found more permanent housing for Melo and Ava, but Raquel was kind enough to let her know that they could stay as long as they needed.
“It’s a really nice spot, Melo. Y’all have your own kitchen space, entertainment room, and even laundry area. You guys will be comfortable,” Remedy continued to praise the duplex, hoping to get some sign of happiness out of her little brother.
The same bleak look that Melo had walked around with since Deno passed remained on his face. “It’s a fucking shelter, Remedy,” he murmured, uninterested.
“It’s not a shelter.”
“Yes, it is. Ma had to do a fucking drug test to even get accepted,” he scoffed.
Remedy rolled her eyes at her brother’s off-putting attitude. He had been giving her hell since finding out where she was temporarily relocating them. She tried her best to be patient, but Melo was pressing every button she fucking had.
“You’re lucky they didn’t have to drug test you or we would’ve lost that spot. Be fucking grateful, Melo. You walked around here miserable because of Tone and talked about how bad you wanted to get out of here. Now that I’ve made something happen for you and Ma, I don’t even get so much as a thank you.”
“You want a thank you for putting us in a shelter, Remedy?” He twisted his face up at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. “Man, if Dad were alive, shit would be so much different.”
“He’s not, Melo, but you know who is here? Me. I’m making shit happen with the little resources I have. I don’t have nobody to lean on like you have me to lean on. If I don’t figure shit out, then things don’t get done. I understand this is not the nice apartment I promised you and Ma when I said I had a plan, but shit happens. I’m fucking trying, ReMelo. All I’m asking is for you to meet me halfway,” she stressed with frustration weighing heavy in her tone.
Another scoff aired out of him as he tossed the marker onto the table, indicating that he was done helping her pack. “You don’t think I’m meeting you halfway? I take care of Ma all fucking day. I make sure she gets her meds. I make sure she takes a decent shower, washes her hair, eats and whatever the fuck else she needs to do. I stopped going to school because I need to make sure she’s good 24/7 because you can’t last more than twenty minutes without triggering her. Don’t tell me I ain’t been meeting you halfway when I been holding shit down with Ma since Dad died while you’re out here getting fucked.” His words punctured her heart like bullets from a smoking gun as he pointed to the hickeys that were fading from her neck.
Kross marked his territory the other night, and as taboo as hickeys were, a part of Remedy felt liberated when she decided not to cover up the blemishes. She was finally doing what made her happy and served her, and she wasn’t about to let anyone judge her about it, not even her angry-ass, ungrateful little brother.
Before she got a chance to think rationally, her hand went across his face, and the sound of the smack struck a silence within him. He stood over her in height, but the anger that filled Remedy’s eyes brought him down to size.
“Whatever the fuck I do as a grown-ass woman is none of your fucking business! What the fuck you want me to do, ReMelo?! Stop going into the shop and lose the income we make from me cutting hair?! Every home health aide I get her from the State, she runs off! Every fucking problem that’s been thrown in my direction, I manage to find a solution for it, and all you fucking do is complain and be a bratty-ass child! I’m sick of that shit, dawg!”
“Remedy Ariel Harris, why are you yelling at your brother like that?” Ava emerged from her bedroom with a frown seeping into her face.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, she was lucid.
Remedy turned to face her mother, quickly readjusting her attitude. “It’s nothing, Ma. Me and Melo were just playing.”
Ava eyed her children, unconvinced by the excuse, but Melo would’ve much rather lie to her than trigger her to have another episode, so he just went with it. “Yeah, Ma. Me and Rem were just arguing about stupid stuff.” He draped his arm over his sister’s shoulder to act as if they were in each other’s good graces for the sake of their mother.
“Okay. Remedy, how about you come help me in the kitchen while I cook dinner for your father?” She held her hand out to Remedy with a wide-stretched smile.
And just like that, she was no longer lucid and living in the reality she thought was everyone else’s. Remedy pursed her lips to refrain from correcting her mother. Demo had been gone for four months now, and Ava was still holding on and believing he was alive. It was a lot to bear, especially for Remedy and Melo, who were grieving their father terribly.
“Ma, remember you cooked dinner for Dad already?” Melo quickly interjected, afraid that Remedy would let out the wrong thing.
“Did I?” Ava questioned with confusion masking her face.
Melo went to his mother’s side. “Yeah. The lasagna. You stored it in the fridge. We can reheat it if you want,” he offered.
Ava shook her head. “I’m fine, baby. Remedy, just make sure when your father gets home, you have it warmed up for him. And you better leave at a decent time so you can make it back to campus.”
Remedy eyed her mother. She still looked so young and vibrant. She just wasn’t all there mentally. The reality she had in her head was what kept her happy, so they had no choice but to just go with it.
“I will, Ma. How about you go watch some TV?” Remedy suggested, masking her pain with a smile.
Again, Ava nodded, and Melo led her to her bedroom so she could go relax. Relieved that she didn’t manage to trigger her mother, Remedy let out a deep breath while running her fingers through her hair. She thought once she found housing for them that things would get easier, but it didn’t seem like it. She was concerned about how it would be having her mother adjust to a new environment. She was hoping things wouldn’t go too far left so they wouldn’t be forced to find other living arrangements. Despite what Melo was saying, the housing Raquel was providing was a miracle to Remedy and many others. She was sograteful that Kross made it happen for her when she felt like she had nowhere else to turn.
Remedy continued to pack up the boxes and take them out to the U-Haul truck she had rented. After making a few trips back and forth to the U-Haul, eventually Melo joined her and began helping as well. As they carried a few boxes out together, Remedy felt compelled to apologize. Melo was young and still finding his way. As the adult and big sister, she had to give him grace.
“I’m sorry for putting my hands on you, ReMelo.”
