Page 39 of Soft On Her
“Fucking pitiful. Money, power, and a big dick, yet you still have to blackmail a bitch into marrying you! There’s a reason you can’t get a bitch to love you,” Deja continued talking shit.
“Well, killing the doctor wasn’t a part of my plans. I’m going home. Levi, you fix everybody else’s mess, so I’m sure you can figure this out,” I announced, walking towards the exit.
“Yeah, I’m out too. The clean up crew can bitch you out for the third untarped body of the night,” Terrel informed him.
My heart raced in my chest, and my palms became sweaty as we pulled onto the familiar street that led to the Harris family estate. Uncle Mitch’s driver rolled the window down as we approached the security booth to confirm his identity before we were granted access to the property. The wrought iron gates opened inward, and we slowly drove down the street. A lot had changed since we drove off this street nine years ago.
There used to be five homes on the estate, but now there were seven. The houses had been repainted to various shades of grey and cream. Every driveway had different cars from the last time I was there.
“That’s my house,” Mikel pointed at the new house on the left side of the road. “That’s Sameer’s house.”
Sameer was Mikel’s younger brother. He was sixteen when I left. “He has his own house already?”
“Own house and a wife and three kids. He married Trina,” Uncle Mitch explained.
“Awwww, his high school sweetheart. I don’t know why I’m surprised,” I bubbled.
We pulled into the circular driveway that was connected to the home my grandparents used to reside in. The front door swung open before we came to a complete stop, and my family poured out of the front door. Uncle Mitch’s wife, Shakeena, had an infant on her hip. I assumed that was Mikel’s daughter he mentioned. My cousin Sameer, his wife Trina, and a slew of other distant relatives approached the truck. Sameer pulled the door open and practically drug me out of the car. He hugged me so tight, I stumbled out and he caught me.
“God damn Sameer. You going to kill her when we just got her back?” Uncle Mitch scolded him.
“I’m just happy you’re home, Milani. We all missed you,” he exclaimed, hugging me again.
I held him close, scanning the tearful faces of my family over Sameer’s shoulder. Within a matter of seconds, I was sobbing again, thankful to be home, grateful for that moment. Uncle Mitch laid everything out for me and answered all the questions back at the warehouse and showed me proof of everything. I didn’t need to see proof; his word was enough for me, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
“My God, Milani. The beautiful woman you have grown into,” Aunt Shakeena complimented, spinning me around so she could get a good look at me. “We are so happy to have you home.”
“Alright, everybody, give Milani space to breathe,” Uncle Mitch shouted over the chatter, waving so everyone could step back.
“It’s okay, Uncle Mitch,” I assured him. “I want the introduction to the new additions to the family. I’m assumingthat’s Mikel’s daughter Jessie,” I cooed, smiling at the baby Aunt Shakeena was holding.
“Yep, and that’s my wife Jericka,” Mikel pointed to the unfamiliar woman behind her.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I waved.
“Oh, girl, give me a hug. I feel like I already know you as many stories as Mikel has shared about you,” Jericka expressed, pulling me in for a hug.
That went on for a few more minutes before we went inside. My family had a feast fit for a seafood loving queen inside. Snow crabs, pastas, fried grouper, and anything else they knew I loved was prepared and positioned over warmers. We got washed up and sat down at the table.
The door kept swinging open as members of the Black, Newton, and Ellis families trickled inside. I was bombarded with gifts, hugs, and the constant murmur of how much I’d been missed, how worried everyone had been. Hugs lingered a little too long, and their tearful smiles were full of optimism. I welcomed it all, grateful and overwhelmed. On the drive over, I thought being on the property without either of my parents or grandparents would make me an emotional wreck. However, there was so much love in the room that I pushed all of that out of my mind and enjoyed my family and their associates after nine long years.
I sat at the table next to Uncle Mitch when I finally had the chance to eat. He finished his food just before me and disappeared. Everyone who remained in the dining room sat around reminiscing on times before my mother flipped my life upside down and removed me from everything I’d ever known. Some of the wives excused themselves to put the kids in bathing suits, leaving only those I was closest to in the dining room. When Uncle Mitch returned, he sat a black folder on the table in front of me, my name engraved in gold across the front.
“What is this?” I questioned, slowly opening the folder.
“Your father’s assets. When everything happened, we did revoke your mother’s access to the accounts, but we put everything in your name,” he detailed.
“What? Are you guys serious?” I sputtered, reading the zeros at the end of the bank account. My eyes swiveled to meet my uncle’s gaze.
“Every dime, property, and business is yours. Part owner in the distillery, all of the real estate your father owned was maintained and renovated as needed. I always had faith we would eventually find you,” he leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead.
“Thank you, Uncle Mitch,” I beamed, hopping from my seat to hug him.
“It wasn’t all me. Mikel and Sameer kept up your properties over the years. It was a joint effort.”
“Thank you, Sameer and Mikel!”
“We always got your back, cousin. Forever and ever,” Mikel promised.
