ELEVEN

The Denali pulled into the driveway of the Staten Island home and came to a stop. Kola was already staring out the doorway, knowing it was Kamel arriving. As a precaution she kept her pistol close. It was hard to see through the tinted windows, but she was sure everything was copasetic.

The kids were in their bedroom, the family movie Rio 2 occupying their attention. They were fed, bathed, in their pajamas, and ready to go to bed soon. Kola had had a long and eventful day with them. When Kamel wasn’t around, they kept her sane. They kept her company and gave her a purpose. Now, she wanted to spend some more quality time with her man.

It was a calm and quiet night on the block, just the way she liked it. The moon was full and bright. The night dropped over the suburbs like a heavy curtain freckled only by the fewest of stars.

The passenger and driver’s door opened up to the Denali, and Kamel and Maleek stepped out of the truck. Then the back door opened. Kola was shocked to see they had company. She wasn’t expecting to see Apple, but there she was, walking behind Kamel and his personal bodyguard.

Kola smiled, happy to see her sister. Finally, they were together again. She’d been worried about Apple. She wondered how Kamel convinced her to come to Staten Island.

Kola was grateful. Apple and Peaches were the only biological family she had left.

The second Apple walked into the house, Kola wrapped her arms around her sister and embraced her lovingly. “I’m glad you came, Apple.”

“So this is home now,” Apple said, looking around.

“It is. It’s safe for now, until we find something more permanent and secure,” Kamel chimed.

“Where’s my daughter?” she asked.

“She’s in the bedroom with Sophia and Eduardo Jr. watching cartoons.”

“I need to see her. I miss my baby. Peaches!” Apple called out. “Peaches!”

Peaches came out the bedroom and saw her mommy. She ran her way with open arms and gave her mother a loving hug that felt like it would last forever.

The siblings were happy to see Apple too. She’d never treated them unfairly. Apple was fun and fond of them. The life she lived on the streets didn’t surface around them. She hugged the siblings too, and it felt good to be around the children.

“I missed you, baby girl,” Apple said to her daughter.

“I missed you too,” Peaches said, sweetly. “I love you momma.”

“I love you more,” Apple replied.

Kola stood close by, watching the reunion with a slight smile. It was good to see her sister developing into a mother to her child.

***

It was a beautiful fall day with the sun bright and high in the sky. The weather was picture-perfect. The sky was blue and limitless.

Apple sat in the lawn chair with a blanket on the back porch sipping on hot tea and talking to her sister. The kids were running around in the backyard, playing with the fallen leaves and having fun like always. Kamel wasn’t home, so Kola and Apple had some quality time to spend with each other.

Apple fixed her eyes on her daughter momentarily; her daughter was the apple of her eye. Peaches was so playful and energetic. Apple wanted her to stay like that forever. She didn’t want her to go through any of the hardship and poverty that she, Nichols, and Kola went through. Growing up, they were poor and abused and had to do whatever necessary to survive living in the ghetto. Denise was never a doting mother to any of her kids and was never there for them.

Apple sighed and took a sip of tea. The sisters were enjoying a moment of tranquility, the afternoon sun in their faces coupled with a mild breeze from the east.

Then an upsetting thought crept into Apple’s mind. Peaches was a beautiful little girl. She didn’t look like Apple, though. Apple wondered if she was starting to look like her father, whoever he was.

Taking her eyes off Peaches and looking at Kola, Apple said, “When she starts asking about her father, what am I supposed to tell her?”

“The truth,” Kola replied.

“Seriously, Kola, you know how much my truth hurts. I have no idea who he is. I was turned into a fuckin’ whore in Mexico, and her father is some damn trick that slipped a nut inside of me while I was drugged and vulnerable.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Apple. Everyone that was responsible for that is now dead.”

The nightmare would forever be burned into her mind and soul. Apple hated to think about that time. Peaches was the only good thing that came out of that tragic season of her complicated life.

“We all been through hell and back, Apple. Look around you and just enjoy a slice of heaven for once. We’re still here, and everyone that came against us is not.”

Apple didn’t respond.

Kola added, “Peaches is a blessing, no matter how you look at it, sis. She’s your future; she’s our future. And when she asks about her father, you tell her the truth. We are a family that doesn’t sugarcoat our history. We came a long way, and nothing is going to beat us. You hear me, sis? Together, we’re stronger than ever.”

Apple sighed again. To her, it was easier said than done. Apple felt she went through more pain and more tribulations than her sister. Kola never had her face scarred. She wasn’t forced to become a prostitute in Mexico, raped, drugged, and beaten. She didn’t have the guilt of Nichols’ death on her soul. Apple had been through so much shit, she could write a best seller, and her book would probably make The New York Times’ list.

The only thing the sisters hadn’t dealt with was doing serious prison time. Fortunately, they had escaped lengthy incarceration. They had to stay low-key and remain smart. They were still wanted by the FBI. One mistake could cost them their freedom.

Apple knew she and Kola couldn’t afford to be locked up. It would put Peaches in foster care, and Apple would rather die than have that happen.

“We just have to stay focused on us and the kids. This is nice right now, but you know we still have threats out there,” Kola said.

“I know.”

Kola always kept it real, and she was forgiving about all that had happened between her and Apple. The past was their past. She was mainly focused on their future together.

“Thank you for finding her,” Apple said.

“You don’t need to thank me again, Apple. She’s my niece, and I love her too. We was going to find her, even if we had to turn this world upside down and create chaos.”

Apple smiled. She raised the cup to her lips and took another sip of tea. The past couple of days were different for her. She had time to relax and think. She was itching to roll up and light up somewhere private. Kola smoked too, but nowhere near as much Apple’s new habit, and Apple didn’t want her sister judging her.

Apple suddenly said, “I went to the grave the other day and saw Nichols.”

Kola sat quietly. Nichols’ death was a painful memory for them both.

“I had to go and see her. I know it’s been a while, but I said my piece and I apologized to her, Kola. It was hurtful, but I knew it needed to be done.”

Kola nodded. “I guess it did.” Kola had been to the grave a few times and spoken to her sister. She felt her humbling presence whenever she stood over her grave. Nichols’ memory made her forgive Apple.

The subject soon went from Nichols to their awkward situation with Mack D.

Kola handed Apple his business card.

Apple quickly saw the name and wanted to tear it up. “What is this? Why do you have his card, Kola?”

“He slipped it into my pocket that night in the warehouse. I just held on to it, just in case.”

“Just in case what? You thinking about calling him? Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?”

“Maybe we can talk to him, see if what he has to offer us is for real, a truce with him. I mean, he was once our stepfather, and he was Nichols’ biological father.”

“And you think that shit means something to me? It don’t, Kola. I don’t trust him at all. I don’t care what he says to us. He’s trifling, and he is not to be trusted. Think, Kola, Jamel murdered his son. Don’t be naïve. That nigga is up to something.”

Kola still thought there was hope with Mack D, and that maybe he was willing to allow the twins back into his life without any repercussions.

“You always been smart, Kola. Don’t start thinking idiotic now.”

“I plan to be careful around him.”

“So you’ve already made up your mind? You can’t be fuckin’ serious, Kola! No! Stay away from that fuckin’ man!” Apple screamed out, causing the children to stop playing and look over in the direction of the sisters.

“I’m sorry for cursing, y’all,” Apple said to the children. “Me and auntie are just having a little disagreement. Y’all keep on playing.”

Apple looked at Kola and felt disappointment. Why was she even entertaining the idea of reaching out to a monster like Mack D?

“Do you remember him, Kola, who he was back then and how he treated our mother? He was a piece of shit back then, and he still is now. He wasn’t even in Nichols’ life; he was just a sperm donor.”

Kola had actually already talked to Mack D. The two had had a decent conversation via phone. He seemed believable, like he had some regret about the past and wanted to make up for it somehow. Kola wanted to believe he was legit with his truce and was willing to take a chance. In some warped way, she was somewhat delighted to have a parent back in her life. Mack D was hood-rich with the right influences. It was a stretch to connect with him, but maybe it was a risk that could save their lives.

The sisters sat outside talking all afternoon. Conversation became intense when they talked about their past and Mack D, but it didn’t boil over. Apple and Kola wanted to do things differently and be different. Fighting and arguing with each other was stupid, so they knew how to talk out their issues and become better women.

Later that evening, Kamel showed up and walked into the backyard to join the sisters and the kids. The minute he set eyes on Kola, his whole face lit up with love. They never got tired of each other. The first thing he did was kiss his woman on the lips.

He said to her, “I missed you, baby. How was your day?”

“Better, now that you’re here,” Kola replied.

Apple sat and watched their love shine bright like the North Star in the sky. What they had together was priceless. She wanted the same thing with Jamel, but he was a lost and chaotic cause. Why couldn’t her man be like his twin brother? Though identical in appearance, they were two completely different men on the inside. She felt a little jealous. Kola always had the good ones—Cross, Eduardo, and now Kamel.

“I’m gonna let y’all two lovebirds be,” Apple said, standing up all of a sudden.

“You leaving us?” Kamel asked.

“I’ll be inside.”

Apple needed to get lifted. She excused herself from the backyard and went into the bathroom, where she rolled and lit up some Kush.