Chapter Twenty-seven
Three days went by, and before I knew it, my punishment was over. I didn’t know if Cash was actually serious about the restriction, but I damn sure didn’t want to take any chances. Trina called a few times to see if I was up for shopping, but I declined. I told her I was cramping and to go without me.
Truth was, I didn’t want anybody to see my swollen lip or the sensitive mood I was in anyway. My mind was all over the place, and I kept replaying the situation over and over. It was baffling to me that I wasn’t able to throw Cash the deuces. Normally, I was always in control, but ever since the other night, I’d felt weak and helpless. It was so easy to see people in abusive situations and talk shit about how weak they were or how I would act differently. However, when I was placed in that same situation, I didn’t know what to do.
Ring. Ring. My cell phone blared and grabbed my attention. “Hello.”
“Hey, Chanel, I was wondering if you were busy,” my sister said.
“No, what’s up?” I hadn’t spoken to her in a while, so I was shocked. She was upset about my moving in with Cash, but I guessed by now she was over it.
“Me and Deon wanted to catch a play at the Aronoff tonight, and I wanted to know if you could watch Deona?” Kristian asked in a hopeful tone.
“Yeah, I don’t mind, what time?” I looked down at my gold-face Burberry watch. It was only three in the afternoon, and I wanted to make sure I still had time to make it to my nail appointment with Bre’.
“Around six. The play starts at eight, but we wanted to grab some dinner beforehand,” she explained.
“Okay, no problem. I’ll be there, K.” I was actually happy to see my niece. She definitely knew how to put a smile on her aunt’s face. “Make sure her little butt has been fed, bathed, and given something to make her sleepy.” I laughed and she did too. It was a joke, but I wouldn’t mind if Kristian did slip her a Mickey. Deona was a load of fun. However, she could go all night. I was only in the mood to play for two hours max.
“Fed and bathed yes, but no meds! Her aunt will have to actually play with her and make her sleepy.”
“Yeah, yeah.” My line clicked. It was my mom. “Hey, K, let me hit you back. This is Porscha.” I listened to my sister grunt, and I clicked over. “Hey, you.”
“Hey, you, my ass. Where you been?”
“Dang, ma! What happened to ‘Good afternoon’ or ‘How is your day?’ Just straight to the point, huh?” I rolled my eyes.
“You know that’s the only way I roll. What are you doing today?” She sneezed in the background.
“Bless you. I’ve got an appointment to get my nails done, and then I have a date with Deona. Kristian and Deon are going to some play.”
My mom smacked her lips as I grabbed my keys to lock up. Cash had been gone since six this morning, and I was happy. Although he’d been real calm since the other morning, I made sure not to trigger him, by staying out of his way. Even though he had been coming in much earlier, now it didn’t matter. If his ass left home and didn’t come back for a week, my ass still wasn’t going to say shit.
“It would be nice if you treated your mama to a fill-in and a pedicure.”
“I would if you were here,” I lied. Today I needed some me time.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m in town this weekend, huh? So what time are you picking me up?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes, instantly regretting that I had even told her about my plans. Don’t get me wrong, that was my ace, but I kind of was looking forward to relaxing by myself today. “Be ready in fifteen minutes,” I said before hanging up. I knew she was staying at the Marriott nearby, like always.
After ending the call with my mom, I called Cash, who answered on the third ring.
“What’s up, baby? Are you okay?”
Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? was what I wanted to say. Instead, I just said, “I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know I’m going to get my nails done with my mom, and then I’m going to watch my niece for Kristian.”
“Oh, okay, that’s what’s up. But I need you to take them baby gifts over to the baby shower today for me. I won’t make it in time for the gift part.”
Hell no! Why does it matter when the chick gets the gifts as long as it’s before the baby is born? That was what I wanted to say, but again I just replied, “Okay.”
Before I pulled out of the driveway, I went back into the house and retrieved the gift bags. I glanced at the clock and was glad that the shower location was only about eight minutes away. After picking up my mother, I would’ve been late to my appointment if it was any farther.
As I drove to the location on the GPS, my mind was in overdrive. Lately I’d become really nervous and anxious about everything. My confidence was still there, but my light had been dimmed. The zest I’d once had for life wasn’t there anymore.
After pulling up to the location, I had to park a few houses down because the block was packed with cars. Grabbing the bags, I headed toward the sound of music, which was blasting from the backyard of a house in the middle of the block. The house was covered with storks, bottles, and teddy bear balloons. Streamers decorated the fence, and there was a sign on the lawn that tripped me out. It said WELCOME, BABY CASHUS.
“What the fuck?” I mumbled under my breath. Why in the hell would she name the baby after my man and not her own baby daddy? I asked myself. Maybe because he is a bum, I answered myself quickly. I reasoned that there was no need to curse a baby with a bum’s name, so I guessed I didn’t blame the poor girl.
The backyard was full of guests, and everyone got notably quiet upon my entrance into the yard. I scanned the crowd for Yoyo, who must’ve spotted me first, because she ran up to me. “Hey, girl, what brings you by?” She smiled awkwardly.
I held up the bags. “Cash can’t make it, so he sent me.” As I spoke, the woman I assumed was Hazel waddled over toward us, looking pissed off.
“That’s right! Go handle that shit, Hazel!” a blond chick yelled from the back of the yard.
Handle what? I wondered to myself.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She looked like an overweight Robin Givens, gap, complexion, and all.
“Who in the hell are you talking to?” I really wanted to know. This bitch had me completely fucked up.
“I’m talking to you, bitch! You don’t got no kind of respect coming up in here on my day. You just had to come and cause a scene, didn’t you?”
Other guests were beginning to stare.
“You don’t even know me, so I suggest you calm down. I’m bringing gifts from Cash. You know, your baby’s godfather.” I smacked my lips. Hormones had this chick bugging. I would hate to lay her pregnant ass out, but I would if she kept talking.
She looked like I said something wrong, and a few guests began to chuckle. I looked at Yoyo, who looked apologetic.
“Look, Chanel, I don’t know why Cash would have you come here or lie about the baby, but this is his child.” Yoyo pointed to Hazel’s belly.
“What?” I needed clarification.
“Baby Cash is Cashus Jr., dummy!” Hazel spat.
“You know what?” I shook my head, completely pissed that this nigga would send me into the lion’s den without warning. “Well, congrats anyway. Here are your gifts. I hope you have a healthy, happy baby.” I dropped them to the ground and stormed out of the backyard toward my car.
I wasn’t pissed that he lied about the baby. She was obviously pregnant before we got together, but why would he set me up? I went over there looking like a damn fool.