⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀BEBE FLUFFED OUT HER natural curls with the pick she held tightly in her hand. She stared into the bathroom's dingy mirror as her natural reflection faded back. She halted her action to take a look at herself. She almost didn't recognize herself without lashes or long extensions. It'd been so long since she'd seen her natural self and feel good about it. She noticed the weight loss as her clothes hung a bit more loosely off her. It didn't bother her much, she needed to lose some. Besides, maybe it would take the attention off solely her body, she thought. She heard a loud knock on the door, snatching jet from her thoughts as she opened it. One of her sisters ran in past her to use the toilet, already yanking down her pants as it seemed she couldn't hold it.
Bebe then left, allowing her, her privacy. She grabbed the small purse she'd packed and walked slowly up to the living room, seeing Tatiana eating on chips. They made eye contact as Tatiana smiled, "Aww Be' you look so cute!" Bebe felt her cheeks heat in a blush as she chuckled and thanked her.
"Thank you Tat, and thanks again for watching them. I don't think I could ever repay you for all you've done the past month. You are so real for that, fo' everything." Bebe stated heartfelt. Tatiana smiled and nodded.
"You don't have to Be. Your siblings really aren't that bad, they're like my little best friends now. Plus, I'm here for you going on a date. Like you deserve it, fo'real. Go'n have fun girl. Live. You've literally been tied to this house, your job and caring for them most of your teenage years. It's time." Bebe could feel her eyes tearing up as she agreed with a bob of her head because deep down, she felt she deserved it too. Now finally, it seemed she was being blessed with what she deserved. She wouldn't ask for a better friend at this time. Tatiana lifted her body from the couch and grabbed her in a comforting hug, rubbing the sides of her arms. Just as they pulled away, a horn from outside honked.
Tatiana being undoing the looks, ready to get her out to not risk her being late. "Now gone girl. I wanna meet him too." She said additionally as Bebe chuckled, making sure to get herself together before the door open completely. She gave an uncertain look as she faced backward. "Well." Tatiana furrowed her eyebrows in confusion before looking past her, out the door into the car and noticed it was a white woman picking her up. She was taken back some in surprise but she didn't show it because she was in no way judging her decision. "Oou okay! She is pretty! And she better treat you right." Tatiana pointed and Bebe giggled again, nodding.
"She does, really. She made my whole hospital visit so comfortable and welcomin'." Tatiana glanced into her eyes, reading them on the genuineness. It made her smile. She was proud of how far she'd came. She wasted no more time to yell out bye to her siblings before rushing out to the car. Some waved as they watched her and Tatiana held the door open. She waved as well just as the car did a U-Turn and rode out the neighborhood to their next destination. Just as Bebe and Madeline conversed and shared laughs immediately while stopping at a light, the police pulled to the side of a curb coming to a stop as well. Calls in code could be heard on the radio as Officer Weston unbuckled his seatbelt and got his uniform back presentable from being twisted while driving. He glanced at his assistant Officer Pam to see if she was prepared then back at Detective Kenneth. "Ready?"
"Let's go." She agreed as they all hopped out of the vehicle swiftly, shutting the doors closed and went up the gravel of peddles that led up to the doorway. The stopped once stepping onto the short porch. Officer Weston lined his fist against the wooden door knocking as Pam rested her hands on her side, one on her hip and the other on defense weapon—something that became a habit. Detective stood there restlessly, pushing his frames further to his nose. Three knocks later, a loud voice of a woman yelled from the other side, "Who is it?"
"It's um . . Detective Kenneth and the police." The detective responded timely from the side of the Officer and soon the locks could be heard being undone. Tameka cracked the door open and glanced out, taking a good look at all three of the law enforcers on her doorstep. She had animosity towards them as most black Americans did—her feelings were even more valid considering they'd seemingly gave up on solving who'd murdered her son in cold blood.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Shaw correct?" She nodded slowly, suspicious of them still. The detective cleared his throat, noticing the obvious tension before continuing. "We'd gotten a warrant to just have a look around at your son, Latrell's room. As well, I'm sorry for your loss dearly. I, myself, have a teenage son . .I couldn't imagine." Kenneth tried to relate but it meant nothing to Tameka due to his privilege. She furrowed her eyebrows, dismissing his attempt at sympathizing.
"W-what for? Wasn't the case closed?" He nodded in agreement before saying additionally. "It was but we may have another lead. A witness came forward and spoke on what he saw so it is now reopened." That peaked Tameka's attention. She shut the door, undoing the chain lock to open the door wider and allow them in. It was rarely times like these where it was possible for them to get the justice they'd deserved. She couldn't sleep at night knowing her son was gone and an unfair case. Regardless of what they chose to do, she was going to be sure that her son and the baby she didn't know from Adam would fade as a memory. She'd plan to make a difference one way or another.
"His room was the room to the right, down the hall." She directed, standing back as they'd entered her home. Officer Weston was sure to give her a glance of the warrant before proceeding, checking out the surroundings. Many things they did was unintentional but trained and habit, he didn't even know he was doing it until Tameka said something. "The only other person here is my daughter, If that's what you lookin' for." He glanced back at her and shook his head.
"Ah, no ma'am. Just my alertness but thank you for the heads up."
⠀⠀⠀⠀AMOS, KIELCE, AND MELANI all sat at the table quietly. For dinner was Salmon in roasted pepper sauce and penne pasta beneath. Melani recalled Amos mention of having a taste for pasta a few days before and decided to try out this new recipe for him. Though the meal was delicious, the tension was disgusting and very noticeable. "Man, Mel this is so good. Thank you." He cooed, all while his mouth was stuffed. He licked the dripping sauce from his lips as Kielce glanced at him, placing a fork of pasta into his mouth. The sounds of the forks hitting against the plates clacked.
"Yeah, it's great babe. Thank you." Kielce chimed in, glancing over at her. She reverted her attention from downward to Amos and gave a small smile. "You're welcome Am." Kielce furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He'd begin to notice her seeming different, but at the same time, it was no different to any other time she'd be on her period. Moody, grumpy and distant was her usual self at least the first two days. The last three, she could be emotional, clingy, or real nice. It always confused him on how to act. The only thing about this time was, he hasn't seen her pads wrapped and piled in the bathroom trash. He didn't even know for sure if it had started yet.
Amos gave a look between the two as he ate. He tried to mind his business between them, he had his own anyway. But he noticed how weird they'd been the last week or two. He could see it in Melani's face something was wrong and was stressing her out. He knew his family could be a handful at times, but he felt there was something deeper going on in his marriage. Him being away for business, work, or Apryl left him no time to really sit, chat, and catch up with Kielce. He cleared his throat and continued chewing before swallowing.
"Damn, guess me sayin' it don't matter." Kielce mumbled slyly and Melani chuckled, tossing her fork down into her plate and scooting her chair back. He glanced at her with furrowed eyebrows as she walked away from the table. "I can't do this." She said simply as she made her way to the back. Kielce shook his head and turned back forward, taking another bite. Before Amos could speak on it, Kielce got up from his place and headed towards the back of the house but before he could even get to the hallway, she had re-entered and pushed him back some.
"You. .are the most trifling, piece of shit." She said calmly as she stared at him. He blew a breath out, already exhausted on where this conversation might going. "And you wanna blow hard like I'm the problem? Me?" Melani's voice began to crack some. She paused, waving her hands in front of her eyes as he stared at her.
"Mel, what the hell is going on with you?" She wiped her eyes nonstop, trying to stop every tear that would drop. She sniffled hard as Amos scooted his chair back from the table. He didn't know what was going or even how to handle the situation.
" You are. .oh my god, it's amazing. I said I wouldn't cry over this shit or yo' ass but this shit hurts. You don't even care." She cried, staring into his eyes. It angered her that he continued to act as if he knew nothing of what he'd done. "And you actin' like you haven't did shit!"
He continued to stare at her and did a short chuckle. He didn't know how to react to her outburst. "Melani, just talk. What d—" she cut him off.
"Okay. Talk. Okay." She nodded, holding her fist in her opposite hand. "Did you get Yo-yo pregnant, yes or no?" His eyes widened as Amos coughed hysterically as he was in the middle of chewing. He smacked against his chest. It was as if Melani could see Kielce heart drop in his chest. "Hm? Did you?"
Kielce hesitated before answering, "Yo-yo in Virginia, Melani. Y'know that." Melani punched her hand as she turned to the side for a moment. She faced him again and bit down on her lip.
"Really?" He nodded slowly. "So why I just see her at the store the other day? Why do you have to lie to me Kielce, why?" She yelled, stepping up to him. She stared up his body frame. He rubbed his temples with one hand. Amos couldn't believe this and he hated seeing Melani this way and this hurt especially it being his cousin causing the pain.
"Aye, you fo'real? You got somebody else pregnant?" He learned back and rested against the back of the chair, ready to get up when he needed to. Kielce threw his hands up as he looked back at his younger cousin. "Mind yo' business."
"The fuck you mean mind my business? That's family and my family is my 'bidness. Fuck you talm' 'bout?" Amos spat as he shot up out his seat, holding the crotch of his pants while slowly walking up to him. Kielce turned his back to Melani to give Amos his full attention as they stood only a few feet away from each other, but coming the same height.
"My fuckin' wife ain't cho' business, nigga. So nah, you got it twisted. You stayi—" Amos cut him off by saying. "She barely 'bout to be yo' damn wife, witcho' trifling ass bra'. We blood and all but that's fucked up. Ian' cool with that shit. That girl ain't shit but good to yo' ass!" His face read pure disgust as he looked at his older cousin. He started to shake his head slowly.
Both men blood was boiling and rushing. It took everything in them not to lay hands on each other. Kielce scoffed, glancing him up and down before blurting, "You just worry about that desperate bitch you don' cuffed." Both Amos and Melani looked at him in surprise. Neither could believe what he'd just said and what their minds took from the words. Amos stepped back slowly to keep from lunging at him. Kielce looked at them both, poking his tongue in his jaw. "I don't know if the damn baby is mine. Okay?"
Amos shook his head and grabbed his keys from off the counter as he headed for the front door. "Let me get the fuck outta' here befo' I end up beatin' yo' ass up yo own block." He slammed the door behind himself, making the things on the inside wall rattle against it. Melani looked at him in disbelief. Just when she thought her heart couldn't break and sink any further. She only stared. Her eyes were glossy but the tears stopped. Maybe she'd finally ran out.
"You still. .had sex with her. Like. .are you serious? Why don't I mean—" Melani cut herself off in the middle of her sentence and swallowed the large lump in her throat. It was as if she was always pleading, begging, demanding for this man to love her right, for her to mean as much to him as he did to her, for him to simply care and take their vows to each other seriously. Always. Since they first met, she fought for his heart and full devotion nonstop. Now, she was tired, in every form of way. She tucked her lips and shut her eyes closed. She didn't even bother to ask how he knew Amos' girlfriend because it was obvious. She just couldn't bare to look at him right now and as his mouth reopened in meaningless apologies and explanations, she felt sick to her stomach.