“He… He… He was bit by a snake.”
“Whaaaat!” Shannon screamed.
“Yes, a fucking snake!” Ezio’s little voice boomed.
“Son—” A hand clasped on my chest before I could take a step closer. “Niccoli, move.”
Niccoli’s grip tightened. “That nigger will be just fine. My brother called the doctor. He’s in the driveway, walking up at any moment.”
Ding Dong
“See… Although I prefer he died, my brother has other plans. Now, how about that party in your office? I need something to take the edge off from these black bitches screaming.”
You see,I failed my son.
The moment I decided not to stay there to ensure Shio received the proper care, or took matters into my own hands and got him to the hospital myself was my biggest failure. I’m sure there are more that occurred before this moment, but thedrugs have made my memories scattered. They are never in order or clear until my mind wants them to be.
I led Niccoli to my office as my wife cried and prayed over our son. The regret hit me immediately, but it didn’t stop me from shutting out the chaos in the front room as Niccoli began to spread out the white powder that made everything better.
“Children area heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him”Psalm 127:3
I must do better by my son. I must.
Slamming the journal shut,I placed it on the cool tiled floor and pushed it away. My body was in pain, but the hurt in my heart felt ten times worse. I should have never taken that book. I should have never read anything on those pages. Shio’s upbringing was deplorable, and it showed in his way of handling things.
He can’t keepyou here forever, Solana. He can’t keep you here forever, my thoughts raced.
Picking up the phone,I sent Shio two text messages before locking the screen and closing my eyes. My body was on fire from leaning against the bathroom wall, and I knew I had nothing left in me after reading the horror Shio and his cousins went through. From those words in his father’s notebook, Shio and I were more alike than not. And then it hit me that maybe Shio felt I was more like his father.
Not having the energy or mental capacity to pull my body back into the main room, I sank further down the wall until my head hit my outstretched arm. I was empty from the vomitingand from the reading of how Shio and his cousins were raised. Once Shio showed his face, I would prove to him that I was not Sandro. I now understand how important showing him that was.
Chapter 15
Calista Glee
Iwasn’t the party girl. No. God, no. That was Blayke’s thing. I was the college girl. I’d worked my butt off to graduate high school early, so I could get early admittance into Blake University. And I did just that. I was awarded a scholarship that allowed me to complete the summer program, which meant I could move on campus early.
Last year, around this time, I was preparing to go to Cove City, Georgia. I had taken my finals, gone to prom, and graduated with honors, so by the time the summer’s first month arrived, my mom and sister barely had time to breathe while getting me ready for college. Once June came, we were sore, up to our eyeballs in boxes and shopping bags that almost blocked my mom’s entryway, and I was eager to get onto campus. Still, my sister and mom took me to get my hair pressed, my nails and toes done, dressed me in a cute two-piece set, and Glow did my makeup. Then, we went to one of our favorite seafood restaurants. Blayke had even joined. It was the best nineteenth birthday I could ask for.
Three hundred and sixty-five days later, there was no two-piece set, even though my slightly pigmented, protruding bellywouldn’t allow it anyhow. My nails hadn’t been done in ages. The shellac on my toes had grown out near the tips. My hair wasn’t as bad as it should have been, thanks to my mother constantly brushing and oiling it. The beat face I’d sported last year had been replaced by a beat-up one with purple welts, a dark ring under my left eye, and a lip held together by ugly stitching. My face wouldn’t be the same for some time, if ever. But I’d walked away with my life, and for that, I was grateful.
Movement in my arms made my eyes pop open. It took a minute for my vision to adjust, but when it did, I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. I couldn’t spread it wider because I didn’t want to bust my stitches. My back was sweaty from the number of pillows stuffed behind me as I sat propped in the brand-new La-Z-Boy chair that had been moved next to my bed.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
My baby girl’s lip perked as she opened her eyes, staring right at me. In the week I’d been out, she seemed to have gotten bigger. My hand was still swollen and bruised from the IVs, but that didn’t stop me from running my hand down her silk head of hair. I’d never seen a baby with as much hair as her in my life. My “new mom” online research led me to videos of other moms saying heartburn during pregnancy equaled a head full of hair.
“Yet, I didn’t have any at all,” I said softly, voice not yet catching up with the morning.
There was no need to check her diaper. She’d been in the same one for three hours since I asked my mom to let her sleep in my arms during her six a.m. feeding. Reaching onto the nightstand, which had been scooted away from the bed but was next to the chair, I grabbed the caddy my mommy had set up. I wasn’t sure where she got it, but there was a cooling compartment where a bottle sat, keeping it from spoiling, and on the other side were wipes, diapers, a nose cleaner, nail clippers, an extra outfit, and a face cloth.
Placing her on my left leg, I lifted the gown she was wearing.
“Yep, you’re wet, stinky boots.”
“Glee, I could have done that.” My mommy yawned and stretched her arm above her head as she sat up in bed.
She had a room set up here, but she insisted on sleeping near me, especially since I wanted my baby right next to me. I trusted my mother and sister with my life, but after nearly losing my own, I wanted my daughter's eyes and her in close proximity at all times.
