The Gemini: Emancipation

36 - Hearsay

June 1, 2007

Prince has it all planned out. Every single detail is structured down to the minute. He's even scheduled room for any possible error. Except this one. It isn't until he steps in the house that he realizes he forgot about the kids.

Himself, he questions, "How on earth did you miss that?"

There's a number of sound reasons. He's been busy searching out the perfect dress for his wife; in addition to looking for his wife; on top of trying to surprise said wife. Still, none of those excuses ease the tickle of guilt that he feels.

"You're human, right?" Shopping bags on the coffee table, telephone in hand. "At least you figured out before Jody did." The jokes would never end.

Perching on the sofa's arm, gazing at the dial pad, Prince ponders a fix. Where to send the kids. The Bell's won't do, Michigan is too far on such short notice. Duane's never done a single overnight sitting, so Prince easily decides not to suddenly subject him to three of them. Letting Miles and Brie choose a respective friend to bunk with might excite them, but the trust factor doesn't sit well with him.

There's only one other solution.

Seven digits in. Four rings and he's on. "Hi."

"Shorty?"

Doe eyes flick skyward. An impassive blink. "Yes, Wig, it's me."

"Oh God. What happened and how fast do I need to get there?"

Nikki's skeptical tone is just. Prince has only called twice before and both times were semi urgent events.

"Nothing yet."

"You looking for Devin?"

"Either of you will do. Are y'all free this weekend?"

"Kyla's birthday is tomorrow."

"That's perfect!" he perks. "What's the ticket price for two more kids until Monday afternoon?"

Nikki answers with zero hesitation, "Three thousand dollars and two VIP seats at The Beyoncé Experience."

"I'll see what I can scrape together," he humors. "Check your porch in about forty minutes."

"Alright, Inch High. That's it?"

Brows hiking at the unfunny, Prince's amusement dissolves. "Just one more thing."

"Wha—"

Cutting the call, he tosses the receiver onto the cushions. "Got jokes," he huffs at the woman's audacity. "Play with me, get three nickels and the parking lot experience."

Putting the slicked mouthed woman out of mind, Prince reclaims his excitement as he refocuses on the surprise at hand. Shopping bags in tow, he peeps around room to room searching for Jody. Coming up empty, he goes for the stairs, ascending them with a little spring in his agile steps.

"Babydoll, where you at?"

"In here."

Following her voice, he lands in their empty bedroom, which means that she's in the closet.

"This ain't Paisley."

That's where she said she was when he called inquiring her location earlier.

"Filming wrapped sooner than I thought it would."

"That's fine, I've only been looking everywhere for you."

"I'm sorry." Exiting the walk-in, Jody's fixing her hair after pulling on a tank top. "Have you seen my shorts? You know the white ones with the little pom-poms. I can't find them anywhere." Spotting the bags and the happy on Prince's face, she brightens, "Are those for me?"