Renni and Julia

10.

Julia

1 hour before Service

  Today my heart is heavy, 24 hours ago  I found out I'm carrying the most important person in my life and Now, 24 hours later I have to let go of the most important person of my life. Renni's been giving me my space, and I love her for that. My mind is so clouded today, I might not even think straight. " Time to get up babygirl" I heard my grandmother say, renni was  behind her with a plate of food and some water. I straightened up in bed to receive my food and my love from my people.
She sat on the bed while renni gave me my food. She kissed me on top of my head and puts my glass of water by the bedroom drawers. " How are you feeling?" She ask me " How are you feeling, you lost a child. I lost a mother. I don't think I can make it through the day, grandma" I shed a few tears. I'm overwhelmed as fuck! I'm sad because my mommy is not here anymore. The last word we told each other was 'I love you' if I knew that would've been my last conversation with her, I would've stayed on the phone with her all night. " Hey, it's okay. I feel the same way. But I think papa is taking it the hardest." " Yeah, ma was a daddies girl. I just pray that we can heal from this." " You know your father's coming" she looks up at me. Renni saw that as her cue and gave us some privacy to go  check on Bryson. I exhaled deeply to prepare myself for my response.
" I believe he has something to do with it." I spoke up " I mean, yeahhh, her cause of death was an overdose on pills. Michelle never took a pill a day in her life" she began to get upset " Exactly, she would always make the home remedies you've passed down to her. Last time me and mommy talked she said he was running after her in the streets. Then daddy calls me and tells me she gone" As y'all can see everyone has their own various of reasons to get back to the states but me, is to find out what happened to my mother and make this bitch suffer.
....
" Well let's not think about that right now, we have to pay her respects today, and your father will be here in 30 minutes to prepare for the guest. " I rolled my eyes, I don't want to see him or Shelia. But to ensure my grandmother keeps me calm I have to tell her what's going on with me. She got up and headed to the door. " Ma, I need to tell you something"

......

Renni

Im in the kitchen , giving juju and ma some space. Honestly I know some shit gone pop off today. Julia is pregnant and she's having a service for her mother so I know her emotions are gonna be all over the place. I've had my own short term memories of Michelle she was cool ass bitch, no disrespect tho.
" Hey, I'm not judging , my whole bloodline is full of that shit you doing. My baby loves you, so that gave me enough reason to back off. All I'm saying is that I love my baby girl, but make sure she doesn't get into no shit. If so I left the case for nothing" she spoke up taking a swig of her drink. We were at her mom's house in South Carolina the day before she moved to L.A " I got you Michelle"
...

Julia grandpa came up to me with a sad look. He tries to tie this tie but I can tell he wasn't focused. I stopped him and helped him. " Renni, I'm not sure if I'm gonna do this today. The reality of all is after tomorrow our family will never be the same"  " i know pa, yall gotta be strong for each other.." " you wanna grab a drink  before the ladies step out" "Sure pa" he goes into the winery to grab a bottle of his multi million dollar 'liquid gold' and came back around the corner with two glasses. He pours into  both of our glasses and we lifted it up. "To my Babygirl" " To Michelle" we chug it back and I let out a minor cough from that familiar burning sensation in my throat. Pa pats my back while chuckling. " You'll get use to it, I'll send y'all a bottle once y'all reached back to the States. So I heard the deal with my brother went well" " It did, I'm glad I came out here, to see Ju's culture. Y'all lit as fuck" I giggled but then I got serious as her grandpa chugs back another shot. " But I'm not to fond of her father, and it's not because he's with my baby mama, she's grown and we're through as lovers but, he's hurt Julia." " Yeah " he agreed. " Like emotionally and.. Physically, like she caught him cheating on her mom..." " Whoa whoa what do you mean physically and don't lie" " He choked her one day when she was getting out of class" he got up and I quickly stopped him. " She's already seen my reaction to it, please not  today pa and I'm pretty sure you don't wanna stress out your grandbaby today" I wasn't just referring to the fact that she has to bury her mother but the fact that she's pregnant. Im definitely not telling pops that shit. Julia will tell her grandparents in due time. He calms down and sat back in the chair. " Now, do you have everything before the funeral home gets here to pick us up?" " Let me get my cuffs, but I will be talking to him before he leaves this country. Promise you that" he walks away to get the rest of his things, I on the other hand just poured another shot waiting on everyone to meet upfront. Before I could take a sip I looked on the side of my eye. " Is that all you when you not watching my baby?" Shelia said entering the house with her dude. " What? Looking fine?" I raised my glass up at Julia's dad before chugging the shot back. " I mean you cute and all that but no. I mean drinking your life away, please give me another reason to continue to have FULL  custody" " Shelia ion bout to argue with you" I went to ma and pa's where bryson was. I saw Grandpa holding him tightly and crying into his little arms. Bryson was dressed and wide awake, wiping his tears. Im raising such a sweet boy, sadly his Mama is nothing like him... Oh I'm talking about Shelia bitch ass,  not me. Imma little nice, just a little. I cough lowly to grab their attention. He looks up at me and his little eyes brightens up. " Hey mommy" " Hey baby" Pa gave him to me " Thank you for your comfort little man" he reaches his fist up in a ball to fist pound him. Bryson balled up his little fist and connected it. " Anytime grawnpa" we chuckled at his mispronouncing. " Is Julia out her room yet?" " No, but her father is here" the silence gotten loud. "Okay" he grabs his coat and headed for the door. We made eye contact before him heading out. " I know today is not the day" he kissed me on the forehead. " I got you" I responded. " You ready to see Mommy?" I asked Bryson " Not really" I chuckled " same lil man, same"