Chapter Fifty

Petie sat in the chair with his burner on the table and watched Patrice sleep. She was all right in his book; he had a feeling that she had touched the material when he checked it, but she told on herself, which earned her some stripes. He had acted like he didn’t know, hoping she’d tell him before he went ballistic, and she did. She had proven herself trustworthy.

Petie gave Patrice money to go shopping, and she came back with all the right things. He liked the dread wig she had bought; it would definitely give him a different look. She had covered bases that he hadn’t even thought of.

Roz came through with all the ID Petie needed. He now had a new birth certificate, social security card and photo ID. She had done right by him, so he gave her a thousand dollars for keeping it real.

Renee would bring him his clothes in the morning. She would have the boys with her so Petie could see them before he bounced.

Petie got in the bed to get some sleep. Patrice eased up next to him and started biting his chin, which made him brick like cement. A man’s job is never done, he thought. Patrice got on top of him and rode them both to sleep.

Renee lay in bed, thinking back to the time when Petie made her so happy that her heart smiled day and night. Now he only made it hurt, and she coudn’t bear it. She had packed the clothes he wanted in a Coach suitcase and she’d be bringing them to him in the morning.

She wondered who he was laying up with; she knew he had some chick in his company. Petie was still a dime piece, despite all the fucked up shit he had done. She had spent sixteen years with him, and the only thing she had to show for it was HIV. No, that’s not true, she said to herself. I still have Darnell and Dante.

She thought about her plans to move to Pennsylvania. She’d look for a job immediately when she got there, even though her mother told her she wouldn’t have to worry about that. Her main concern was making sure that Darnell and Dante got into school that first week.

Renee was excited about starting a new life in a new state. Maybe she’d meet somebody there—someone the opposite of Petie...no more thugs and bad boys for her; Petie had been enough. She wanted a nerd the next time around—maybe even a hillbilly. She said her prayers and went to sleep, thinking about a better future for her and her sons.

Petie woke up bright and early and called Ladelle, who was already up and ready for work. Ladelle told him to call him as soon as he got situated in his new spot.

Petie called Renee and told her to meet him at the Y on 135^th Street. Then he woke Patrice up and got right in the shower; he had to leave in thirty minutes. She came into the bathroom and washed his back.

Petie got out of the shower and Patrice got in right after him. He got dressed and waited for Renee to call. Patrice came out of the bathroom and began putting on baby oil while Petie combed her hair. This was something new for him and it made him smile. The only time he had ever touched her hair was when he was pulling it.

Petie took the bottle of baby oil and rubbed some on Patrice’s back. Soon she was at the edge of the bed on all fours. She couldn’t get enough of the dick. Too bad she didn’t know it was a sick dick.

Petie slid up into Patrice’s kitty cat and she began to purr. She told him to open up her ass and give her the woodwork. He did as he was told; he took his dick out of her pussy and slid up in her bumper. He was rocking her so good that she started pulling her own hair. It was getting good when his cell phone rang. It was Renee, telling him that she and the boys were at the Y. He told Patrice to get dressed, so that when he came back they could just bounce. ”Take everything out to the car and make sure we don’t leave nothing here,” he told her before leaving to meet Renee.

Reneee, Darnell and Dante were standing in front of the Y waiting for Petie. He walked up and hugged the boys, and then he pulled them to the side. He gave each of them a thousand dollars and they put the money in their pockets. Petie gave Darnell his new cell phone number and told him to call every day. Darnell got teary eyed and told Petie that he wanted to go with him. Petie explained that he had too much going on to take him and Dante along. Darnell looked at Renee like it was her fault.

Petie stood before Renee now. He told her that no matter what had happened between them, he loved her to death and she was still wifey. Renee started to cry, and she told him she wished things would have turned out differently for them.

Petie put them all in a cab and walked back to the hotel with his suitcases. Patrice was waiting for him in the car. He asked her where she had put the material, and she leaned back in the passenger seat. ”How many months do I look?” she asked. That’s what’s up, he thought. She even had the transportation covered.

Petie put the keys in the ignition and started the car. He leaned over and kissed Patrice. ”Let’s be out,” he said, and they headed for the George Washington Bridge. It was a wrap for New York.... Look out, Baltimore, Maryland. H-e-e-e-re comes Petie!