Page 163 of Justice II

“You are insane, but you’re right. I’ll do better. Derrick and Ivan got me home safely. Big Rick got Keenan home…”

“Oh, I know he did. Keenan texted me when he got in.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me,” he said.

“You got cameras in here?” I was paranoid. I started to look around at where they might be hidden.

“Nah. I can just feel you. But did you eat dinner? It’s 8:00. You was at the hospital for a while.”

“I didn’t eat.”

“I’m sending you food.”

“Can you send that short rib pasta from The Grille?” I asked. I was in the mood for some carbs.

“Fine. But don’t do that shit again. Don’t skip meals. And go take your prenatals. There’s plenty to snack on until the food gets there,” he demanded.

“You’re so bossy.”

“Gotta be. I want our baby to be healthy and strong. Did she agree to take the money?” he asked.

“Yeah. So have your lawyers draw up papers and send them to her tomorrow.”

“Aight. I got you. I’ll let you get some rest. I got a little work to handle in the office and promised Dream I’d read to her over FaceTime. I love you, Mel,” he said.

“I love you more,” I said as we ended the call.

Doing as my bossy man said, I got up and headed to the kitchen. I ate fruit and took my vitamins. I longed to be next to him tonight, but I knew I had to be patient.

While I waited for my food, I hit up Aubrey to catch her up on everything. Soon she would be my maid of honor, and I couldn’t wait.

51

Justice

“I knew it! I knew it! When you first walked into Grandma Rita’s house, Justice couldn’t take his eyes off of you!” Serenity exclaimed at finding out Melody was pregnant. Little Sarai was clutching onto the edges of the sofa, taking her uncoordinated steps. My niece was so adorable.

Most of the family had gathered at Prime’s house to discuss some family business. Serenity had come down from New York for a little bit and brought her baby.

“You ain’t know shit.” I waved her off.

“Don’t dismiss her. She was very nice to me when I first came,” Melody said as she reached for a couple of grapes.

“Oh, did he tell you how he threw her out in the rain? Tossed her suitcase and everything. Then a man with fuzzy cornrows came and helped her move,” Rita chimed in.

Everyone looked at her as if she were crazy. It was fuckin’ us up how her mind was getting worse. She just conflated me kicking Melody out with a scene from Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

“Grandma, that was a movie you saw,” Serenity said as she patted Rita’s thigh.

“Wasn’t no movie! He kicked her out! I was there. It was after that white woman boiled the bunny and blamed it on her!” Rita exclaimed.

And now she had thrown in Fatal Attraction.

“It’s okay, Rita. I forgave him. It was a mistake,” Melody comforted.

Zainab shifted on the sofa with a hand on her belly. She was almost seven months now and couldn’t get comfortable anywhere. She and Prime looked at Rita with sorrow in their eyes. We hated to see Rita’s mind going like this. And all we could do was smile and comfort her through it.