Reality (Sequel to Future)

Chapter One

I walked in to the visiting room with a million things on my mind. I didn't know whether to be pissed or confused. Confused because I thought that the whole Jermaine and John thing was settled. Pissed because if this was true, that would mean Chresanto would've lied to me and then I would have to leave him. He would never take me seriously if I didn't leave after this. Hell, if he was still selling he never took me serious to begin with. And the more I thought about that, the more upset I got. After he promised me to stop selling drugs, he used some of his money that he had saved up and put it all into his new club, Royal, which by the way turned out to be one of the hottest clubs in Miami. Therefore, he still made enough to support us and things were actually going so good until today. I sat down and saw Chresanto coming into the room.

He was already in his orange jumpsuit and he had handcuffs on. A police officer followed close behind like Chresanto was some rabid animal who could go crazy at any minute. It was wrong. He sat across from me and the officer backed away at a decent distance nodding at us to start speaking. Chresanto ran his fingers through his curls and shook his head.

"I'm so sorry that I'm putting you through this right now"

I didn't respond.

"B-"

"Did you do it?"

"What?"

"Even though we have a child and are engaged, did you still put those damn drugs over us?"

"Bahja, why the fuck would I do that?"

"Well, it took enough convincing for you to stop. Why wouldn't you?"

"Because now I...you know what" he stood up and turned to the police officer. "We're done here"

He started walking over to him.

"Okay, Chresanto, stop"

They both turned around to face me. Chresanto had this look as if he were waiting for an apology.

"Come here. I'm sorry, okay?"

The officer nodded at him and he walked back over to his seat and sat down.

"I'm just stressed, babe" I sighed.

"You're stressed?" he said scrunching up his eyebrows. "You going inside of a jail cell after this?"

"No but I'll be at home trying to figure out how I'm going to raise our child alone while his father is in jail"

He banged on the table angrily making me jump.

"You ain't gonna be raising my fucking son alone" he growled.

"Hey!" the police officer said. "Calm down"

Chresanto rolled his eyes. He looked at me and saw I was still stunned at his little episode. He took a deep breath and reached across the table to take my hand. I hesitantly lifted one from my lap and let him take hold of it. He squeezed it gently like that was his way of apologizing.

"You think I wanna hear that, B? That I might not be able to raise my son because of some shit that I didn't even do?"

"No" I sighed. "But I'm just letting you know it's a concern of mine"

"Well it doesn't need to be. I haven't sold anything since I proposed to you, Bahja. I swear. The game is where I left it, aight?"

I looked in his eyes and I could see that he meant what he said.

"Okay" I said.

"Somebody snitched on me. Somebody who's close to me otherwise they wouldn't know about Jermaine" he whispered.

"You need to speak up" the police officer said.

"Aight, damn! Can I talk to my fiancé now?!" he snapped.

The officer was silent and I forced myself not to laugh.

"When's your hearing?" I asked.

"In three days. You're gonna be there right?" he asked rubbing the back of my hand gently.

I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Of course I will"

"Aight. I called my lawyer earlier. He said he's on his way"

"Good"

"And I don't want to see you until the day of the hearing"

"What? Why?" I asked.

The last thing I thought he'd want is for me to stay away from him while he's going through this. I should be by his side through this, not at home wondering what's going on with him.

"Because all it's gonna do is depress you. I can see it in your eyes right now. I'm not gonna put you in any more pain than you already are. Even when I get sentenced-"

"Chresanto, no. I can stay away for the next few days but not for your entire sentence"

"Bahja-"

"Once a week. Just let me see you once a week"

He thought a while and sighed.

"Aight. Whatever I get, you come to see me once a week"

I smiled. It wasn't the best deal but it was enough. As long as I at least got to see him.

"Time's up" the officer said.

Chresanto leaned over the table and beckoned for me to come closer. I did and he gave me a long kiss on the lips. It was so slow and sweet that I wanted to cry at the fact that he wasn't coming home with me.

"We're gonna be fine, ok?" he said pulling away.

I nodded.

"Let's go, August" the officer rushed.

"Kiss Deon for me. I love you" he said walking away and back through the door he came from.

"I love you too!" I called after him not sure if he could hear me or not.

I quickly walked out of the jail not wanting to be in there any longer. I got inside of my car and instantly burst into tears. How the hell did this happen? One minute we were feeding my son and the next minute the police were arresting my fiancé. It hadn't even been five minutes since I walked away from him and I already missed him like crazy. I knew I would miss him tonight at dinner, when I went to sleep, tomorrow morning, and everyday after. My only hope was that in some miraculous way, he would get off.

I drove back home and when I entered the house, the smell of jambalaya filled my nostrils. Miss Mabel knew that it was one of my favorite foods. It must've been some attempt to cheer me up. I walked into the kitchen and greeted her. When I turned around, I saw Deon sitting in his high chair.

"I just put Deon down for his bed and made him another bottle for later" she said.

"Thank you" I said leaning against the counter by where she was cooking.

"How is he?" she asked suddenly getting serious.

I sighed.

"He's all right I guess. He says that he didn't sell any drugs since he proposed. Also said that somebody must've told on him"

"That's what I was thinking too" Miss Mabel said. "What timing, huh? The wedding's only a few months away"

I froze and suddenly felt like breaking down again. I had forgotten all about the wedding. I was so concerned about raising Deon. Whoever did this to Chresanto and our family literally has no soul at all.

"I'm so scared, Mabel" I admitted. "What if this ruins everything. Our marriage, our lives...our son's life? My father was awful and Chresanto's father died. Deon's father can't be in jail" I said feeling the tears fall down my cheek.

I hadn't intended for them to fall but I let them do it anyway. And when Mabel grabbed me and held me against her chest, they only came flooding out faster.

"Lemme tell you something, baby" she said. "Your man is like a son to me. And if I know him like I believe I do, I know that not even the worst hurricane could keep him from his son. Just pray on it. He'll be fine"