“I know… He tried too… He just couldn’t stand living without Mama.”
“They robbed him. For what? What kind of money he had?” Niema questioned.
I bit down on my bottom lip as guilt began to sink in. “I gave him money. $3,000 to be exact. He said he was moving to Louisiana to better himself. Told him I ain’t wanna ever see him back in the city unless he got his shit together.”
“Don’t guilt yourself. You didn’t know this would happen.”
“He didn’t deserve this. He shouldn’t have gone out like this,” Niema cried.
“He was trying to drink himself into the grave. He didn’t have the courage to flat out end it on his own. They took his life but gave him what he wanted,” Khadijah stated with a shake of her head. We watched her crane down and kiss our father’s forehead. “Love you, Daddy. Say hi to Mama for me.”
Niema was next. She did the same, her tears dropping right onto his cold body.
Then it was my turn. I felt like my heart had been gutted. Yeah, Kareem got what he wanted, but I felt like I was left out in the cold again.
“I’m sorry for the shit I said to you during our last conversation. I love you so much, Pops. I just wanted you to do better… be better. I know you’re where you wanna be now, with who you wanna be with. Kiss Ma for me and watch over us.”
I kissed his forehead before saying goodbye.
The attendant pulled the sheet back over him, and that was it.
It was officially goodbye… forever.
Chapter Thirty-Five
AHKEEM
I thankedGod for a safe landing into Miami. Lately, I had been on auto pilot and letting life take its course. A few days ago, my sisters and I respected my father’s wishes and got him cremated. Quanni told us that while he was drunk, they ended up getting into a deep conversation, and he told her that he found out that the plots surrounding my mother’s grave were all taken. He had plans of being buried next to her and figured when he did die, I would be able to figure some shit out to make it happen.
He explicitly told Quanni that if he couldn’t get buried next to his wife, he wanted his urn built into her headstone. It took a lot of phone calls and money, but I made that shit happen for him. Mama got a new headstone that was customized with a spot for Pops’ ashes.
Niema and Khadijah held me up while we ensured our parents were together for eternity. As of today, it was officially just us now. My sisters promised to never stay away as much as they had. They wanted to be active in my life and be a part of the family I built for myself. I wanted to be a part of theirs too. I was ready to build a bond with my nieces and nephews. Hell, I even wanted to haze my sisters’ husbands just like Priest, J’Ru, andKaymen did me when I got with Jazzy. I was just ready for my family to feel whole again.
“Back in the 305. I think I might move out here,” Jersey chuckled.
“You a New York nigga through and through. You won’t survive a month here.”
“Nigga, you right. Ain’t no place like home.”
We all deplaned from the jet and were met by Kross and Ezekiel.
“Good to have you back.” Zeek dapped me up.
“Trying to be in and out.”
“Bet. We got everything set up for you.”
I shifted and dapped Kross up as well. He shot me a nod, confirming everything was a go.
For the sake of this trip, it was just Jersey, Javi, and me. Moe and Diamond stayed back in the city and kept eyes on my wife. After all the shit that happened with the kidnapping, I ain’t feel right leaving her behind, but Diamond and Moe assured me they would look out for her alongside Cyro and his security detail. At this point, my wife was guarded like she was the First Lady of the United States.
While Jersey, Javi, Zeek, and Kross were chopping it up in the backyard of the AirBNB we copped, I remained upstairs ducked off in my room. Lately, my social battery had been short as hell. It was nothing personal against anyone. I just didn’t have much to say. There was just so much shit going on that I desperately needed a break. I was doing my best carrying everything; however, it was starting to feel like it was one thing after the next.
My phone went off, and a light smile graced my face at the sight of the contact name that appeared on the screen.
Lovey Hendrix
“Hey, handsome.” Her smile took up my screen.
