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“Why you think I’m into something?”
Mae sucked her teeth as she sat back in her seat. “You were singing before you could talk and rapping as soon as you could form sentences. You wouldn’t give that up for nothing.”
No longer able to hide it, defeat filled Saint as he prepared to be honest with her. “It’s Tristan. You know she messed me over with my contracts and the prenup, so because I divorced her, I can’t drop any songs or perform for profit for the next ten years. I can’t even start my own label.”
Her shoulders caved as she tsked and shook her head. “This is all our fault. If me and George would have insisted you take your studies more seriously while you were in school, none of this would have happened.”
Saint’s hand waved her off as he rejected the words before they could settle in his heart. “Y’all tried to prepare me for what life had for me based on your experiences. I don’t blame you for that. If I wanted to take school more seriously, I could have, whether y’all had me working or were unable to help or not.”
When George and Mae were coming up, it wasn’t uncommon for children to be pulled from school to help out at home—neither of them had more than a fifth-grade education. Trade work had been their means of survival since the age of ten. Saint tried to retire them both, but they loved what they did and planned to do it until they died, and they raised him to be the same way.
By the time Saint turned ten, George and Mae shifted his focus from school to work. He went on jobs with his grandfather every day after school and on the weekends. George was a jack of all trades, taking care of lawns, HVAC, maintenance, and any other random issues his clients had. Instead of his grandparents making sure he was doing his homework and prepared for tests, they made sure he knew how to make a living on his own with his hands.
Saint coasted his way through middle school with his fifth-grade reading, but in high school, it became more difficult to hide his lack of development. That was when he started getting other students to do his homework and give him answers to tests. That was also when he switched from working with his grandfather to working in the streets. Young black males were a hot commodity because the police were less likely to accuse and harass them of selling drugs and carrying weapons, and the men Saint worked for took advantage of that.
What Saint watched his grandfather make in a week, he started making in the streets in one day, and that gave him even less of a desire to take school seriously. He did, however, enjoy math and chemistry, so he often provided his services for those subjects in exchange for students who did his homework.
Then… he met Tristan. What started out as a deep friendship turned into a partnership. Tristan was the only person Saint shared his truth with. When he told her he’d stopped learning to read after the fifth grade, she offered to be his manager and look over his contracts to make sure no one took advantage of him. She, however, was the one he needed to look out for. Because Tristan knew Saint wouldn’t be able to understand half of what was written in his contracts, all she did was show him where to sign. And in the process, she named herself his power of attorney, the holder of his masters, and chief CEO of their record label, not including the name holder for the deeds to homes, vacation properties, and cars.
Saint believed she was worthy of his trust and one of the few people he could depend on, and her loyalty is what shifted their relationship from platonic to romantic. He made it clear to her that he wouldn’t be with just her, and Tristan insisted she was okay with that. It didn’t take long for Saint to agree to the idea of marriage. He’d be able to live young, wild, and free while still having a beautiful, down, loyal woman at his side. As time passed, Saint realized that wouldn’t be the case.
Tristan’s possession and jealousy began to create a rift between them. She demanded things from Saint he’d made clear he couldn’t give, and when he started to consider divorce, that was when he learned of all the bad deals she’d made on his behalf. With his lawyer, each contract was broken down, and Saint learned of all the schemes she’d been running behind the scenes.
Fast forward to all these years later, Saint had finally worked up the courage to release himself from her control. She swore it was because of love, but if it was, Saint was good on that. His freedom was the only thing worth giving his music up for, and with that freedom, Saint had to hold himself accountable. He was far too trusting of Tristan, and for that, he’d pay for the rest of his life.
When Saint came to grips with what she’d done, he enrolled in an adult literacy program to learn what he should have learned while in school. After that, he went to college and gained his degree in Physics. Up until now, Saint didn’t believe he’d ever have to put it to use.
“Why you over there pouting, ol’ lady? I’m good.”
“Son…”
“I’ve lived my dream, I’ve made some damn good money, and I’ve made you and a lot of people proud. If I don’t get to profit off another song, there are other ways to make money. I’m good, Ma. I swear.”
“I don’t believe you, but alright.”
The smug look on her face made Saint chuckle. Truth was, he didn’t believe himself either, but he was going to keep repeating that in his mind until he did.
* * *
“Next time,I’ma just give you some cash and you can go shopping yourself,” Saint announced as they headed up the elevator to the suite Cartier shared with Hosea. “I don’t know why I agreed to go shopping with yo’ ass anyway.”
Cartier’s giggle was light as she wrapped her arm around his. He was holding all the bags from their five-hour shopping trip.
“The quality time is half the fun, Saint.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll spend quality time together another way because this ain’t happening again.” As they stepped off the elevator, Saint asked, “What was the good news you wanted to tell me? You pregnant?”
Cartier’s eyes playfully rolled. “No, but you might as well wait until we get inside now. Everyone else is here waiting too.”
“Y’all getting married?” Saint stepped directly in front of his sister. Setting the bags down, he took her hand into his. “Where’s the ring?”
“I left it at home. I wanted to tell you first, but I’ve been too scared to.”
Saint grimaced with narrowed eyes. “Why would you be scared to tell me that you’re marrying one of my best friends?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think we were moving too fast.”
He smirked. “I knew what was up with y’all before y’all knew. This doesn’t surprise me. If anything, I’m surprised it took so long.” Saint pulled Cartier into his arms for an embrace. “Congratulations, sis. I’m happy for you. Both of you deserve all the happiness in the world.”
