“I’m telling you, them bills ain’t nothing slight. You put Jackson down, and I promise I’m sending them your way.” I watched her eyes drop as if she was in deep thought. She didn’t have enough for the house bills let alone a hospital bill. And that lil’ job she was supposed to take at the bank would’ve had her, but she refused it. And let’s be real, she barely made tips at that waitress shit. She needed me. “Riddle me this though. You got insurance? You can cover all this or is motormouth gon’ cover it for you?”
She looked to Serinity for answers. However, her flat foot ass was back to giving her the wrong advice. “You’d be a damn clown ass bitch to let him fool you with that bogus ass lie.”
“I can always change it,” Klarity said softly. She was unsure of what to do.
“Or keep it?” I chimed wearing a smirk.
“Klarity, don’t do it,” Serinity sternly stated.
“I have to, Seri. I don’t have any money to cover these bills. I’ll change it, I promise.”
Good luck with that.
Serinity grabbed her shit and dipped out. I was ‘bout to tell her to get the fuck on anyway. She was making my ass itch. “That’s Atkins. A-t-k-i-n-s,” I said grinning from ear to ear.
Ten
Klarity
From the moment this nigga called me his wife and made sure nothing happened to me and Essence, I’d been feeling conflicted about all my emotions. I didn’t know if it was my hormones all over the place or if it was true feelings. It was crazy of me to think a man of his caliber was sincerely interested in a woman with so much baggage. Something in me said believe him but that same something said slow down. It was all too much and moving too fast. I’d only seen this kind of stuff happen in books or on tv.
The way he moved, the way he talked, the way he handled shit… it was so convincing. I was starting to think God sent him my way on purpose. Never in a million years would I think the man who was behind bars along with my baby daddy would have so much pull.
Who the hell was Royce Atkins and why was it so easy for him to get what he wanted? Better yet why was I going along with it? I could’ve asked my aunt and uncle for the funds, and they would’ve covered it, but I guess this was my test for him in a way. He talked a lot of shit, I just wanted to see if he would stand on business.
He handled me and Essence with so much care any outsider would’ve thought I was his wife for real and I’d just given birth to our daughter. I could count on one hand how many times my baby cried. She was so content with him it was scary. Hell, if I was being honest, I was just as content. He gave me security without having to ask for it. He was everything Cojak wasn’t starting with being a real man.
Now, I sat in the back seat of his car waiting to be led inside his home. Dr. Bloom gave us the green light and he couldn’t wait to get us back here. I couldn’t lie; it was cute how he made it all about us. Nothing he said out his mouth was selfish. He included me and my kids as if we’d been his for years. It was diabolical to reciprocate his energy, but I couldn’t help it at times.
This stranger was attentive, giving my kids more affection and warmth in a few days than I ever received in my lifetime. It was different but I was slightly open minded.
The back door opened with him helping me out first. I was ushered to the door by CJ holding my hand along the way. He was behind us seconds later with Essence and our bags. He used his thumbprint to unlock the front door which I had to take note of. He was bougier than I thought.
Entering, I stepped inside the foyer and was immediately stopped by a crowd of people. I assumed they were his folk from Iris and Royce Senior being in the front. The same woman I saw on his visits stood beside them. I guess my assumptions about her were wrong, unless she was the kind of woman who didn’t mind sharing her man. Beside her was the other chick I saw a time or two. Maybe, I was trippin’.
“Welcome home!” they shouted.
Oh, so everybody’s delusional as fuck. Got it.
Iris came over to me and hugged me tight. She was smiling from ear to ear causing me to do the same. Her excitementbehind me was like a breath of fresh air. I never had someone show so much joy of seeing me or my kids.
“Look at you. You look so worn out but still beautiful as ever.” Her compliment was much like the ones I received from Royce.
“Thank you. I feel like I’m running off a 20 percent battery. I am exhausted and ready to lay down.”
“I know how you feel. Naturally, y’all would be upstairs but I set y’all up in the guest rooms down here. That’s until you’re comfortable to climb all those stairs or use the elevator to move around more.”
An elevator? In a fuckin’ three story mansion? Why Royce? Do you have nothing better to do with your money?
Nodding, she grabbed my arm and wrapped it around her. As she moved toward the crowd, Royce was right behind us not letting me too far from his sight. This was another time I found his possessiveness to come in handy.
“Aye, listen up ‘cause I ain’t saying this mess again. This my wife Klarity, my son CJ, and my daughter Essence. Don’t question s-h-i-t I just said, just know that’s what it is and address them as such. We good?” he asked.
I quickly learned that he was more than just a member of the family. No one questioned a thing he said but agreed without hesitation. His presence was commanding and overpowering. There were others that looked just as dominant and forceful, yet their heads nodded along with everyone else’s. Royce wasn’t the man to take orders, he was the one to give them.
“Uhm, I don’t really know what to say other than hi, and nice to meet you all. If I told y’all I was dragged here against my own will, would y’all believe me?” I jested.
“Unfortunately, yes. Royce isn’t someone who accepts the word no,” the chick from his visits answered.
