Chapter 2

On the elevator, with hands full of groceries, Smooth wondered what he was going to do. Ever since China went to prison two weeks earlier, all Smooth had done was mope around the house like a sad puppy. He figured he needed to find something to do to keep his mind off of things. Stepping off the elevator and unlocking the door, he stepped inside. China’s pit bull, Zorro, jumped up and down, wanting to be petted. Smooth headed to the kitchen to put the food and stuff away with Zorro following close behind. As soon as Smooth set the stuff onto the counter and bent down to pet Zorro, the phone rang.

“Hello,” Smooth said, picking up the phone.

“This is a collect call from China, an inmate at Lowell Correctional Institution. To accept the call, press zero.”

Smooth pressed the button.

“This call may be monitored and/or recorded. Thanks for using Securus.”

 “Hey, baby!” China said.

“Hey there. I was just thinking about you.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Like how much I love you and miss you.”

“I love and miss you too. It’s only been two weeks but it feels like two years.”

“I know baby, but it will all be over before you know it,” he said.

“Have you seen Roxy or GaGa lately?”

“No, but I’ll go check on them tomorrow for you. Maybe all three of us can come and visit you this weekend.”

“That’d be nice to see you all. I just wish it wasn’t so far away.”

“Babe, I don’t care if it’s 5,000 miles away. I’m gonna come visit.”

“You have one minute left,” the automated voice said.

“I love you and I’ll call again tomorrow.”

“Later, love.”

After hanging up the phone and putting the food away, he grabbed Zorro’s leash.

“Come on, boy!” he called, hooking the leash onto Zorro’s collar, and headed out the door. 

When the elevator door opened, he saw Miranda talking on her phone. Stepping inside, he smiled at her.

“Okay, I will be waiting for your call. Later,” Miranda said into the phone, as she bent down to pet Zorro.

“Hey big guy,” she said.

“How you doing, Miranda?”

“I’m good. How about yourself?”

“Need to find a way to keep busy. I thought about buying a few rental properties as we talked about. When would you be available?”

“Anytime tomorrow. Just call.”

As the elevator stopped, they hugged, said goodbye, and went their own ways.

* * *

“Listen up, ladies, its mail call,” the officer announced. 

“Hamon, Mitchell! Preston, James!”

Hearing her name, China went over to the officer.

“I’m Preston,” she said.

“Here ya go,” he said, handing her two envelopes.

Looking at them as she walked away, she saw that both were from Roxy and both had pictures inside.

“Alright, ladies, it’s time to lockdown for count,” the officer yelled.

China headed to her room to read her mail and get ready for count.

“Hey, China, I see you got some mail,” her cellmate, Rebecca, said.

“Yeah, my sister wrote and sent some pictures.”

“Who’s the sexy brother with you?” Rebecca asked.

“That’s my man, Smooth.”

“He still with you since you’re here?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a lucky girl.”

“I know. Believe me, I know!”