LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR II (REMASTERED)

PUSH AND PULL

Cookie

The brisk winter air whipped what was left of the fall leaves around the yard outside as I sat on my screened-in deck near the front of the house. With my feet snuggled beneath me and my Leopard print blanket wrapped around my body, I sipped from my freshly brewed cup of cappuccino and then exhaled. 

Today's Christmas Eve, I sent Porsha's crazy tail home a couple of days ago so she can spend the holidays with her family. Quite honestly, she's really been a major help to me since I've been gone which is why I'm having a brand-new Bentley W12 AWD delivered to her grandmother's house in the morning as a surprise along with her 50k Christmas Bonus cuz I appreciate her for all she's done, and she really does deserve it.

My gaze shifted to the side as the waves from the lake rippled beneath the sunlight blaring through the sky, it's still early in the afternoon although it kinda feels like it's much later. There's a 70% chance of snow, which is why I had cars sent down for the family so a professional can navigate them on these slick roads. I ain't takin' no chances on my babies, their all I've got. 

Swiggin' another sip from my cup while lounging along the plush royal purple patio furniture I'd picked out before things became so jumbled and bumbled up in my life. I ran my hand down the smooth fabric of the love seat that holds me, I sighed as my eyes made their way back up and out into the yard once more.

The soft suede fabric and dark mahogany woodwork of all these seats is flawless. I had them specially made in Italy for Lucious...his favorite color and all. The seats have custom massage beads built into them all over because although his MG is under control with his medication there are times when his muscles become very weak and drained from the slightest bit of exertion. I was so excited for him to see them so we could test each chair out that I damn near spilled the beans about the house, which was another gift, a couple of times before things went south between us. 

How we got to this place, I still don't know. How, after everything we've endured together, I'm now spending my first Christmas away from him in damn near eleven years, boggles my mind.

I brought the warm liquid up to my lips once more for another sip then noticed a text on my phone, swiping it away after reading Keem's message about he and his brother's only being about an hour away. I'm so excited to see my family, but still there's a sadness lurking in the pit of my stomach that just won't go away. 

Swallowing the lump within my throat I exhaled, my husband is going to be alone tomorrow and of course the call requests have already been made by my three youngest, yet I haven't given them an answer because quite honestly I still want their father to suffer.

It's wrong...I know. It's unfair to them...I know that too, but every time I think about Lucious I envision him on top of Carol and my stomach turns. To think about them kissing each another and touching all over one another...probably in the same damn bed Lucious and I shared as husband and wife back then too...UGH! I just wanna scream while going upside a bitch's head. 

I slammed my eyes tightly, took a few deep calming breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth, then opened them once again. We've been through so much, our love is deep...so deep that most people, our own kids included...truly don't even fully understand the bond we share.

Overhearing the commotion from the den as Laylah and the twins watch a movie, my thoughts continued to travel. 

Laylah Imani Lyon. The ferociously headstrong and breath takingly gorgeous princess of a global Empire. 

Me and her, the only daughter I have alive a well...well...I'm still working on our strained relationship. 

Point, Blank, Period, straight from the Book of Laylah: Chapter 1-Verse 1...Lucious can do no wrong in her eyes and she wants to go home.