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“He was cute,” Eshon said.
“He was corny. And it’s getting wack in here. Y’all ready to go?”
“So soon?” Eshon said.
“I’m tired, girl, and ain’t nothing really happening tonight.”
“Whatever,” Eshon said in a considerate fashion. “Let’s go.”
Brandy looked like she had an attitude. Here was Jessica receiving all of the attention and shooing away cute guys, while she felt like the fat, black bitch. Though she had dark skin, she wasn’t fat or ugly. Dark-skinned females always had a hard time finding love or attention, or so she felt. It sucked being the blackest female in the group, and her blonde weave and hazel contacts weren’t doing their job tonight. Besides, the contacts started to irritate her eyes like always, but she liked wearing them because she felt that they made her stand out. Once again Brandy became envious because Jessica got attention from what appeared to be a baller. Feeling like the third wheel, spinning nowhere, she followed her friends to the exit.
Jessica’s smile was radiant. Something was up, but she wasn’t telling anyone. She kept the number exchange to herself, not wanting them to mess anything up. Though they hadn’t officially met yet, Maserati Meek was the perfect catch. There was no way she was throwing him back.
Nine
Kip Kane did seventy miles per hour on the I-87 expressway. He was alone, cruising like a city pimp, headed upstate in his cool Nissan Quest, tricked out with the best that money could buy. With the moonroof slid back and the windows down, with a spring breeze blowing inside his car, he listened to Drake’s album, Nothing Was the Same.
“Started from the Bottom” blared inside his car. He felt the words, no question, as he nodded to the tune. He was a man that started from the bottom and was making his way to the top. He had over sixty grand on him, his cut from the two hundred thousand from Maserati Meek. The money was blowing away fast, going toward luxuries and bills, including the monthly rent for Nana’s nursing home. Being the primary breadwinner in his family and taking care of a disabled brother was overwhelming at times, but Kip was holding things down and making things happen.
It was early afternoon on a warm, sunny Saturday. The traffic was light, and Kip was in a good mood. He was on his way to see Nana in her upstate retirement home. He welcomed the trip to see Nana, although his brother didn’t come with him. He crossed over the Tappan Zee Bridge and was two hours away from his destination.
Before four p.m., he arrived at Green Grove Retirement Community. The place was nestled in a tranquil suburb of Poughkeepsie, near the Hudson River, giving certain residents a sweeping view of the river and the two bridges from their rooms, along with green rolling mountains.
The building almost resembled the White House. It was two stories high, long, and had four white pillars over the building’s entrance. Kip was glad that his Nana had settled there. He parked and exited his minivan with a bouquet of roses and walked toward the entrance.
Inside, he signed in, and before he went to see Nana, he took care of her monthly bill. He met with the director in his office and dropped ten thousand dollars cash on his desk.
“I want my receipt,” he told the director.
With her rent taken care of, Kip felt like a good son, though not her biological. It was worth it. He needed to make enough bank, so Nana could continue to live out her golden years comfortably.
The nursing home almost resembled an opulent hotel, with its fine furnishing and classy décor. For the residents, there was fine dining and fine entertainment. The staff took very good care of the people for the price their families were paying to keep their loved ones comfortable; the place delivered nothing but the best.
Kip took the elevator to the second floor and walked to his Nana’s room. He knocked on her door, and a moment later, Nana opened it with the biggest, warmest smile on her face. She was always happy to see Kip.
Immediately, she threw her arms around him and gave him a strong and welcoming hug. “There’s my favorite man,” she said to Kip.
“How you doing, Nana?”
“I’m doing fine. Even finer, now that you’re here. Come in.”
Kip walked into her room, a large suite with a queen-size bed, a kitchenette, orderly furnishing, and tasteful artwork hanging on her walls. She also had a few pictures of Kip and Kid scattered around the room, mostly in their younger years. Her smart TV was the most recent gift from Kip. She loved her new TV and bragged about it to the other residents. She always talked about Kip and told everyone how good a son he was and how much he loved his Nana.
Nana was a bubbly, stylish woman. She had a lot to be happy about. She stood in front of Kip dressed in a blue silk housecoat, her thick grayish hair recently done by the beautician a few blocks from the place.
“I took care of the expenses this month, Nana.”
Nana smiled. “What would I do without you?”
“It’s the least I could do for you, Nana. You took me and Kid in when nobody else would. What would we have done wit’ out you?”
“You and your brother have always been my joy. It was a pleasure raising y’all. Y’all have grown to become two fine young men.”
“Kid couldn’t make it. He sends his love, though.”
Nana knew Kip was exaggerating. She was aware of Kid’s bitterness toward her for some reason. She felt that she had been nothing but good and kind to him since he came into her home. She had supported them and loved them in her own way. At least she had Kip. But Kid treated her like she was the Antichrist.
“You hungry? I can make you something,” Nana said.
