Page 30 of Certified Pressure 4
“Where she at?” I asked.
Pluto smiled. “Toni probably got her. She told me she would be helping me out.”
Sure enough, when we got downstairs, Zurie was sittin’ at the counter in the kitchen while Toni Roc was cookin’ up a big breakfast. Kay’Lo was right behind her with his arms around her waist while she flipped pancakes, and a blunt hangin’ between his fingers. They looked like they owned the whole moment, just laughin’ and vibin’.
I shook my head. “Aye, ‘Lo, nigga you don’t need to be all hugged up in front of my kid.”
Kay’Lo looked back at me with that slick smirk. “Man, Toni my woman. I’mma love on her whenever I feel like it.”
Pluto laughed, and Toni giggled too, not even turnin’ around. “Pressure, let them live,” Pluto said.
I sighed, smirkin’. “At least put the damn blunt out, bro. My lil’ girl right there.”
He laughed, takin’ a last hit before tappin’ it out in the ashtray. “A’ight, a’ight, nigga. You happy now?”
Toni flipped a pancake onto a plate and looked over her shoulder. “Y’all leavin’?”
Pluto nodded. “Yeah, we got an appointment. You mind watchin’ Zurie for a few hours? We was going to take her but…”
Toni turned, wipin’ her hands on a towel. “Girl, of course. That’s my lil’ homegirl right there. We gon’ chill. Ain’t that right, Zurie?”
Zurie grinned and nodded, her mouth full of syrupy pancakes.
“Thank you,” Pluto said, meanin’ it.
“It’s never a problem,” Toni replied, smilin’. Kay’Lo kissed the top of her head, and I just shook mine. Them two was wild as hell, but I loved ‘em. They brought life to the house.
Me and Pluto headed out. I carried the bag while she held Prestyn tight to her chest. When we stepped outside, the cars was lined up, and the air warm with that Trill-Land breeze. I opened the back door for her, helped buckle Prestyn in his car seat, then got in on the driver’s side.
Pluto sat in the back with the baby, holdin’ his lil’ hand while I started the engine. “You good back there?”
She smiled, her eyes soft on our son. “We good.”
I nodded, grippin’ the wheel with one hand. The city was wakin’ up around us, palm trees swayin’ and sunlight bouncin’ off the glass towers. The shit felt good.
And as we rode toward my therapist’s office, I couldn’t stop thinkin’ about how far I came, from livin’ wild with nothin’ to lose, to havin’ everything I ever wanted in the backseat.
I had my woman, my son, my daughter, ‘cause that was what Zurie basically was, and my family.
That’s all that mattered.
The Laurent Therapy Center
When we finally pulled up to the office, I stepped out and opened the back door, lettin’ Pluto and my lil’ man out. The buildin’ was clean, modern, and quiet as hell, with a big-ass glass front that made it look more like a spa than a therapy spot. The smell of lavender hit me the second we walked inside, and I ain’t gon’ lie, it was peaceful.
Dr. V.’s assistant smiled when she saw us and told us to go right in. I nodded and held the door for Pluto as she walked in with Prestyn in her arms. Dr. V. looked up from her desk and that warm smile of hers spread quick. “Well, look who it is,” she said, her eyes lightin’ up. “And this must be the family I’ve been hearing so much about.”
Pluto smiled soft, and I could tell she was a lil’ nervous. “Hey,” she said politely.
Dr. V.’s eyes landed on the baby, and she gasped. “Oh my goodness, he’s gorgeous. Look at those cheeks.”
I smirked. “You wanna hold him?”
She blinked, surprised. “Can I?”
“Yeah, go ‘head,” I said, watchin’ Pluto hand Prestyn over.
Dr. V. cradled him like she been waitin’ for that moment all her life. “You’re gonna give me baby fever,” she said with a laugh. “He’s so peaceful. I can already tell he’s loved.”
