Blessed (gxg)✔️

12. Beyond Thankful

Shawnee's POV

The next few days after I get done working as much as I can before thanksgiving, so that I can get a day off at the warehouse store sometime between thanksgiving and december first. As the date approached, I got more excited for the new year.

Trina's contract with the strip club is set to end right around christmas so we've been planning in accordance so that we can move and switch job focuses once we leave the dirty shit behind. When Trina first renewed the agreement with the strip club manager, we were in a bad place and felt like we just had to keep going because of a mistake I made at the start of the year. I had overdone it at a party and almost overdosed trying to keep up with Dre- putting me out of work while I recovered at home and took all my sick days off work.

She never complained but I have always felt terrible about it. We could've been out of this a long time ago. Or closer to it sooner. She's stripped for four years now and that's four years longer than I would've liked anyone to feel like they have to make up for my lacking in providing for my sister.

I just wish I was home that night, years ago, so that Niquey wouldn't have been taken. On one hand, she has always been safer there than she would've been anywhere with my mother or staying at home where we live now. On the other hand, no one could ever love her as much as I do and her being gone put the other person I love in danger. Trina. As she consistently has to take her clothes off for strangers and talk nice to them when she doesn't want to. especially wen I wanted her to focus on cooking like she wanted too.

"She's coming!" Trina whispers, squeezing my hand and pointing forward to the light of my life running towards us in a big puffy purple coat we bought her. Behind her is her social worker who will be monitoring the visit since we aren't fully trusted yet- or rather our location isn't.

"TWEENA! SHAWNEE!" Niquey jumps into Trina's arms first, allowing her to get lifted up into a tight hug.

Trina smugly smiles as she pats her back and turns away from me. It's funny but I get impatient while waiting for my turn. I hold it back and let them have their moment before Niquey finally accepts my embrace next.

"Hi babygirl." I whisper, holding her head to my neck and shoulder. I breathe her in, rubbing her back, kissing her forehead. "Hi Shawnee..." she mumbles, squeezing my neck. It's been about two weeks since we've seen her together. I came alone last week to visit her and give her some necessities and a little cash to hide and get snacks at school. Trina also visits by herself sometimes but she hasn't seen her since we came here together. But, overall, any time over a few days is too long without seeing her.

"You ready to eat?" I quietly ask, still rubbing her back and taking short steps. Niquey just nods without lifting her head. I nod towards her social worker, Trina does the same. We don't particularly like or dislike her but I tend to not like talking to most people. I do have some respect though since she has never tried to force a connection to the two of us and Niquey does talk about how nice of a person she is.

I look at Trina next, taking her hand with my free one and walking towards the place we planned to take Niquey to eat. At the Chilli's we order whatever Niquey wants, making sure she's fuller than she ever thought possible.

"-Then we did th-th- thhankfulness. We talked about what we thankful for." Niquey explains, her face covered in ranch and blue cheese dressing. Her hands are in a similar state as she swings her legs around under the table from how happy she is.

"Yeah? Then what you thankful for Nique?" I whisper, caressing her hair and pulling her closer to me in the booth.

She hums and smiles, reaching for a napkin that Trina hands her, across the table, but I keep my attention on my baby sister. I swear she's getting taller. It's only been a week since I saw her and I can't bear the thought that she's getting bigger without me. It tears at my heart. I wish I didn't have to take my eyes off of her at all really. When I'm with Niquey, my world revolves around her in a different way than it does already. I feel like a different person, calmer and softer at heart... I'm still a thug though.