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“Praise God!” Aintee Maven exclaimed at the sound of the good news she had just heard. Not only was Aviare going to be able to walk, he was actually healing at a speedy rate. He had a long road of physical therapy ahead of him but the worst of his battle was behind him. Once the doctor left his room Aviare began to tear up.
“What is it baby? Are you in pain?” Aintee Maven asked.
“I’m sorry Aintee, I didn’t mean to put you through all of this. I should have listed to you and Ace, Y’all were right the whole time,” he replied.
“Hush now chile. This ain’t the time to go beating yourself up. The important thing is you are going to be ok. Anybody who has ever walked God’s green earth has made mistakes,” she assured him. “I just hope you learned from them.”
“Oh I did,” he nodded. “I’m just sorry I let you and Ace down.”
“Baby can you do me a favor and stop bringing that hoodlum’s name up?” Aintee Maven rolled her eyes in disgust. “He’s the reason you are in this situation,”
“What? No he’s not, all Ace ever tried to do was help me.”
“I know you think he’s your friend and you want to take up for him. But I know his type. That man don’t mean you no good. That why I told him to stay away from this hospital and away from you once you get home.”
“Aintee I wish you wouldn’t have done that. I wasn’t running for Ace. I was working for this crooked dude they call Marcellus. Ace tried to warn me that dude was shady but I wasn’t trying to hear it.”
“Yes, that what he said on the way to the hospital but I didn’t listen to him. I thought he was trying to worm his way out of some shit. You mean he was telling the truth?”
“That’s the whole truth. Ace has had my back since day one.”
Aviare went on to tell Maven how Ace looked out for him financially, as well as watching his back while he was in the streets. It soon became evident that not only had Aintee Maven misjudged Ace; he was actually the reason her nephew was alive. Once she got his number from Aviare she called him to the hospital and apologized to him.
“I know I can be a foolish old woman at times but you have to understand this is my baby right here,” Maven said, glancing in Aviare’s direction.
“I understand, you was lashing out and you needed somebody to blame,” Ace replied.
“That’s still no excuse for how I treated you when you were only trying to help. If I’m woman enough to cuss you out, I can be woman enough to admit when I am wrong. I’m sorry Ace. If it weren’t for you my nephew could be dead. And for that I am ever grateful.”
“It’s all good, apology accepted.” He went to shake Maven hand but she pulled him in for a hug instead. Aviare smiled as he watched the whole exchange. He then apologizes to Ace as well for not taking heed to the wisdom he was spitting. Not only was Ace happy that things had worked out the way they did; he promised to help out with Aviare’s hospital bills as well. And although Maven still wasn’t keen on receiving hand outs from drug money, she was grateful for the help.
The only missing piece of the puzzle was Sonnet. As soon as Aviare was awake and fully aware of what was going on, he began asking for her. Maven had to break the bad news to him that no one knew where she was. Ace promised to put a word out in the streets for anyone that may have last seen her.