“I’ve been thinking about expanding and where I want to see us go in the next five years.”
“I?” Big J scoffed.
“I…We…. it’s all for the family.”
“Where are you trying to expand and go?”
“Everywhere that we not already at. It’s so much money out there. We not touching it.”
“Greed don’t get you nowhere but in here with me, son, you know that.”
“Who said anything about greed?” Were they having the same conversation?
Jio also couldn’t say much considering where they were, but his father was wise enough to read between the lines.
“What’s wrong with sticking to the original script?” He sounded frustrated at the idea, but it was only because the shit didn’t include him. Regardless, he would eat off the plate.
“Nothing’s wrong with that but it’s not happening. This is already in motion,” Jio said a half-truth. He was putting the play together but it hadn’t kicked off yet.
“Just like that, huh?” Big J smirked as he sat back in his chair and crossed his long, hairy arms across his chest.
“No disrespect.”
“Aah, it’s plenty of that but I’m used to it from you.”
Jio chewed on his comeback since he was learning slowly but surely how to pick his battles wisely.
“I’ll be in touch.” He tapped the metal table with finality.
“Son…” Big J tried to redial the conversation back since it seemed as if he was about to bring it to an end.
“All good. Take care, Pops.”
When he made it back to his car, he pulled out a wipe from his middle console to cleanse his hands. He couldn’t wait to shower when he got home. Prison always made him feel filthy. He took a deep breath. Visits with his Pops seemed to get heavier and heavier. Jio wasn’t sure when he would see or hear from him again. They needed some space and he was gonna give it.
“The more business you handle, the more you come into your own…you’ll develop your own way of doing shit. It’s important to stay true to you.”
“So forget everything you teaching me one day?” Jio was confused.
His grandfather shook his head. “No kiddo, don’t do that but you’ll know what to take and what to let go of. When you have your own kids you’ll probably share some of my advice with them, and a few gems from your daddy, and then some of it will be fresh off the dome.”
“But what if I don’t have anything to teach them?”
“You will. Life will give it to you in so many different ways. The important thing is to not forget it.”
“Is that called wisdom?” Jio wanted clarification.
“Somewhat. Go with your gut always.”
Jio’s gut told him to give this hustling shit all he had right now because his future self was going to look back and be grateful that he pushed all obstacles to the side.
He was motivated more than he’d been in a long got damn time.
“Let’s get this money.”
η
Time heals. Eventually, it does make things better. Granted, you don’t feel that way in the moment. Your mind is stuck on shitthat you wish it didn’t remember, but that’s the way life goes… eventually, everything does change. Nina was thankful that she’d made it to the other side of hating the woman who stared back at her in the mirror. She was being consistent with her therapy sessions, making God a priority again, and seeking community that sought her, which meant she was being intentional with making room for her First Lady.
