SNOW
Snow and Mute Candy were chilling in a booth at The Cheesecake Factory in Towson, Maryland while Amber and Cassie went shopping for their graduation outfits within the connecting mall.
Mute Candy had not only given Donald’s daughters all of the love she could spare, but she added her attention to detail to make sure his twins prospered in home and in life. Nobody had better lay a hand on them like the pervert did when he tried to rape her many seasons ago. It would be un-good and she knew that wasn’t a word.
Mute Candy was so dedicated to their lives that both received full scholarships to Spelman College in Atlanta and that included room and board.
Amber, the dainty one out of the two, was taking Biology with a minor in Japanese Studies while Cassie elected to major in Computer Software and Information Sciences.
With the money the girls received from the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund, coupled with the dough Rasim, Chance and Brooklyn dropped on them as if it were going out of style, they wouldn’t have to want for a thing. And as heavy as their bank accounts were at the moment, that may be the case for the rest of their lives.
The fellas weren’t just popping shit when they vowed to be in the twins’ lives on the day Donald took his last breath. They saw them at least three times a week and attended school meetings. That also included Basketball games when Cassie displayed her vicious dunking abilities and the talent shows where Amber showcased her singing chops. Whenever they glanced in any audience, in any part of the world, Rasim, Brooklyn and Chance were always in front row seats.
At one point, Mute Candy had to go on the fellas, especially Rasim, for buying gifts for the girls without warrant. She wanted them to work for their spoils instead of expecting everything to be handed to them. But every now and again, because the girls were so smart, and so respectful, she’d allow them access to the expensive gifts, which was why both of them sported Louis Vuitton purses on their arms today.
They even blessed her with money and when she wouldn’t take it they would deposit it in her bank account.
“If I keep the baby he will leave me,” Snow said as she sat across from Mute Candy and spoke in sign language about her latest pinch. She was pregnant yet again. “He specifically said he doesn’t want a child in the world, only so some nigga with a vendetta could use him or her against him. And I feel him.”
“He should have pulled out then,” she signed.
“Mute Candy!”
“I’m serious.” Mute Candy rolled her eyes and moaned a little like she did whenever she got upset. “Your baby is a gift, Snow. It’s not a pair of shoes you can take back to the mall when they don’t fit,” she signed hard. “You’re worried about what Ras feels when your logic is off. If anything, you should be concerned about God and the way you keep breaking His heart by eliminating His precious gifts from your body.” She paused. “You can’t get another abortion, my friend. Not this time.”
Snow never told Rasim about the first abortion to protect his heart and she never would.
Still, Snow thought about what Mute Candy signed and she knew it would be unethical but her relationship was going so well with her husband that this kind of thing could set them back five years. Especially when he expressed how he felt about the matter in the past.
Snow loved the Lord. That was true. But what they didn’t know was that she worshiped Rasim with the same vigor. With the same passion and that was dangerous.
She was about to leave and think about the matter at home when Rasim bopped into the restaurant with a bitch. Confused on why he was there, Snow frowned and looked down at her gold Rolex watch. It was two o’clock in the afternoon and he told her earlier that day that he was going out of town.
Slowly she stood up from her seat to address the affair properly. Mute Candy was signing and trying to figure out what was up with the baby until Snow was on her feet.
Did dude have the audacity to cheat again? Snow thought.
Out of nervousness, she kept swallowing until she was upon his back. With her heart swirling in her stomach, she tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “Rasim.”
When he turned around, in her error, she was forced to take two steps backwards. The boy/man before her was not Rasim. Although similar in structure, he was much smaller now that she was upon him. In addition, he was younger.
“Can I help you?” he asked in a kind voice.
Snow perused his features carefully. They were not original. Rasim Nami was the real owner. Because the young man before her looked just like Rasim when she first met him in Strawberry Meadows. She was experiencing Deja Vu. How was that possible?
“No…uh…I thought you were someone else.”
He smiled and said, “Since I’ve been home from college, I’ve been hearing that a lot.”
Snow tried to grin back but her cheeks felt heavy. Was this boy Rasim’s son? And if so did he know?
****
Rasim and Snow sat quietly at the table across from one another in their home. He desired seafood gumbo and since his wish was her command, she made him a big delicious pot.
Snow decided to keep the boy/man secret because she had other things to talk to him about.
Although he was tearing through his food as if he hadn’t eaten a bite all day, she was chasing a shrimp in her bowl. Her appetite vanished just like the years they spent together in their marriage.
Not feeling Snow’s altered state, Rasim devoured the last piece of garlic bread, wiped his mouth with the napkin and said, “What’s on your mind, Snow?”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.
Damn!
When she rehearsed in the mirror she had a different script. Unfortunately she forgot her lines and, as a result, fumbled.
“You pregnant?” he frowned sitting up straight in his chair. “Fuck you mean you pregnant? I thought we discussed that we weren’t having any kids. Ever!”
“We did, Rasim, but—”
“But what?” he yelled as if she were an out casted nigga on the block. “You decided that you weren’t going to listen to me? That you weren’t going to follow my command? Fuck wrong with you Snow?”
The way he was carrying on, you’d think she fucked herself.
“That’s not fair, Rasim,” she said as tears built themselves up in the wells of her eyes. “It takes two to get pregnant so this is not all my fault.”
Rasim slammed his fist on the table, causing both bowls to topple to the floor. He stood up and his increased height intimidated her. “If you want to stay married to me, you will get an abortion tomorrow. If not, then I’ll go down and file for divorce.” He pointed at the door. “I will never bring a child in this world, only to suffer a loss like I did when my parents died. Make a decision, Snow, because on that, I will not waiver!” He stormed away and slammed their bedroom door.