Chapter 2
Trina
I was to the point where I’d had enough of Kayla’s attitude. Evelyn’s backstabbing ways, as well, were too much for me to handle. After Kayla left my apartment earlier to go see about Cedric, I politely asked Evelyn to leave. There were times when I felt as if I had the worst best friends ever. I understood that no one was perfect, but this was too much. I was tired of kissing Kayla’s ass, and I always found myself trying to convince her what a good friend I had been. I truly felt as if it wasn’t my place to tell her about Cedric and Evelyn, but I decided to poke my nose where it didn’t belong and let it all come out today. My timing, however, was off. Evelyn was ready to spill her guts, and Cedric had been shot. Now, here we all were, mad at each other, again, and trying to blame each other for why things had turned out this way.
I waited in my car for a while, and right after I saw Kayla leave the hospital, I went back inside. While speaking to Kayla, I’d seen Jacoby on his cell phone, so I assumed he was still inside. Once I had a chance to speak to him, I was going to spend the night in Keith’s room. He was still in the hospital, after being stabbed by Lexi. Thankfully, she was dead, and nobody had to run around searching for the person who was responsible. I was so glad that Keith survived the stabbing incident, and hopefully, Cedric would survive too. No doubt, Kayla was upset right now, but there was no way in hell that she wanted the man she had loved since forever to die.
The moment I entered the hospital, I saw Jacoby sitting in a chair. Another family was gathered in a circle, conversing with a doctor. Seconds later, all hell broke loose. Cries rang out, screams echoed loudly and one lady fell to the floor.
“Noooo,” she shouted. “Not my Rico! I can’t believe he’s gone!”
Several people attempted to help the woman off the floor. She kept kicking and screaming Rico’s name. She then grabbed one young man by his shirt and ordered him, as well as several others, to handle the situation.
“I don’t care what y’all niggas do,” she shouted through gritted teeth. “Y’all find those niggas and do to them what they did to my baby!”
More chaos erupted, especially when one of the family members picked up a chair and threw it. Security was called, and Jacoby and I stepped aside until the chaotic situation cooled down. He told me he still hadn’t heard anything about Cedric, so I walked to the check-in station to see what I could find out. The nurse behind the counter looked as if she didn’t want to be bothered.
“I know you’re busy,” I said, deciding to lie about who I was. “But my nephew and I have been waiting for quite some time to see what’s going on with my brother, Cedric Thompson. Can you please check with someone to find out?”
“He arrived about forty-five minutes ago, and if the doctor hasn’t come out to speak to you, I’m sure it will be soon. As you can see, we’ve had a lot going on this evening. The night is still young.”
To ask for patience, at this time, wasn’t understandable. Forty-five minutes or ten minutes, somebody could’ve come out to say something. For now, our hands were tied so all we could do was wait.
“I’m real worried about my mother,” Jacoby said as I sat next to him. “I’ve never seen her like this. The look in her eyes is cold, and for her to walk out like that was crazy.”
“I know, but she’s been through a lot these past several months. Give her time, okay?”
“I will. I know how she’s feeling, but I feel so bad for Cedric. After seeing him like that, I just can’t get the thoughts out of my head. I hope he’ll be okay.”
“Me too.”
Jacoby updated me on what had transpired at Cedric’s house. And after he informed me of Cedric’s affair with his receptionist, I was numb. No wonder Kayla was so bitter. She definitely had a lot on her plate, and I really wanted to be there for her. I wasn’t sure if she was going to head back to my apartment, or if she was going back to the house she once lived in with Cedric. I asked Jacoby to call her, but that was when my cell phone rang. It was Evelyn. I could barely say hello before she started yelling into the phone.
“You’d better get some control over your stupid-ass best friend. Please tell her that if she put her hands on me again, I’m going to press charges and have her arrested.”
I rolled my eyes. Some people loved drama and Evelyn was one of those people. “What are you talking about, Evelyn? When did she put her hands on you?”
“She just came over here, claiming that she wanted to talk about the baby. Since Cedric is dead, I figured she would offer me some kind of money to help me take care of our child. I don’t know what I’m going to do now, but whatever I decide, please tell her to stop hating because this baby doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
I wanted to call Evelyn all kinds of names for being so foolish, but I didn’t want to waste my time with her. “Can I make a suggestion to you? Do yourself a favor and go see a shrink. If you thought Kayla had any interest in helping you with that baby, you’re crazy as hell. I don’t know what you’re going to do, but please don’t count on any funds from her.”
“Yeah, whatever. I figured you would take her side, like you always do. Meanwhile, I’m the one over here suffering.”
“Girl, bye. I don’t know what you consider suffering, but trust me when I say you don’t know the meaning.”
“How could you say that? I’m pregnant, and now that Cedric is dead, there is no way for me to take care of this baby all by myself. I don’t want to have an abortion, but what else am I supposed to do? Kayla’s life isn’t the only one affected. Just so you know, so is mine.”
Thank God the doctor came out and called for us. Otherwise, I was about to let Evelyn have it.
“I gotta go. I’m at the hospital with Keith and he needs me.”
“I see who your priority is, so go do you. Tell Keith I said hello, and if his brother, Bryson, is there, tell him I said hello too.”
I lied and said I would then ended the call. Jacoby and I rushed up to the doctor who squeezed his eyes and rubbed them before speaking to us.
“For now, he’s in serious condition, but stable. He lost a lot of blood, and all we can do is wait. He’s a fighter, so I’m hopeful that he’ll make it.”
I sighed from relief and so did Jacoby. “Ca . . . can I see my father?” he asked. “Just for a little while. I want to see him. Let him know I’m here.”
The doctor opened the door for us to come inside. We followed him to a space that was divided by white curtains. “Five or ten minutes,” he said to Jacoby. “We want him to rest. It’s the best thing for him right now.”
Jacoby nodded. We moved behind the curtain and saw Cedric lying there looking casket ready. Tubes were in his nose and mouth. Dried up blood was on his face and hands. The sheets had a few blood stains too, and even though he wasn’t dead, he sure did look it. IVs were in his hands and the beeping sound from his heart monitor sounded off. I felt bad for Jacoby who stood there motionless. Hurt was trapped in his eyes, as well as a little fear.
He reached out to touch Cedric’s hand, which looked swollen. “Take care, Dad. Just wanted to let you know that I was here. I’ll be back tomorrow. Hopefully, Mom will come with me.”
To no surprise, Cedric didn’t respond. I reached out to give Jacoby a hug, and after ten more minutes, we left. Adrianne was waiting for him in the waiting area. He said that she would drive him home.
“Be careful,” I said to them. “Let me know if you speak to your mother. I’ll let you know if she calls me.”
With a sad look on his face, Jacoby left. I headed to Keith’s room, looking like a bum in a plain gray sweat suit that was kind of dingy. I didn’t want him to see me like this, but I had rushed out of the house to see about Kayla. A cap was on my head, covering my short, layered hair that needed perming. The only thing jazzy on me was my gold hoop earrings.
I entered Keith’s room and saw him sitting up in bed watching TV. Bryson was there, too. He was talking on his cell phone, but excused himself before leaving the room.
“I thought you were going home,” Keith said with his gown hanging off his broad shoulders. His muscles were exposed, and in a hospital bed or not, my man always looked sexy. “And where is the cake you promised me?”
“I haven’t had time to cook anything. Needless to say, this day has been a day from hell.”
Keith patted the spot next to him. “Come here. Tell me all about it. Based on our conversation from earlier, when you promised to tell Kayla the truth, I take it things turned ugly.”
“More than ugly. Almost deadly.”
Keith cocked his head back in shock. I sat next to him on the bed and began to tell him about the drama between me and my BFFs.