Vena Vixen

Part 1

Twelve years later. .

"Ms. Bishop, Jayla is here to see you."
"Thank you Mrs. Daniels send her on up please."

Jayla is my best friend. She's a 10th grade drama teacher and we've been close for the past 9 years. She's the only one besides my mama who knows pretty much everything about me and I knew everything about her so I knew she had to be coming to hook me up with some guy. Its nothing new, she always had a "friend" she would like me to meet. See, Jayla feels that once you're 25 and older you should be settling down, approaching marriage. Which I never understood because she's been on and off with the same guy for the longest, I see no marriage approaching on that relationship.
Jayla had a beautiful caramel complexion with long hair, long legs, petite body, and beautiful almond colored eyes.
She could have any man she wanted yet she chooses to stay with his no good ass.
Jayla walks in with a huge grin spread across her face.
"Vena... I've got some really good news I'm glad you're up!" she exclaimed as she threw her black Steve Madden purse on the couch walking towards the kitchen to greet me.
She gives me a tight hug still smiling.
"Oh really? Good news like last time?" I asked jokingly but serious at the same time as I remembered the previous guy she hooked me up with calling it "good news"
"DJ wasn't even that bad."
"He took me out for dinner where his girlfriend worked, at the time she got off and asked her to join us.."
I replied.
"Yeah you're right that was messed up but really girl this one he's perfect."
"Then why don't you give him a chance instead."
I suggested.
"Smart ass. You know me and Justin still working things out."
"Whatever. What's his name and where do you know him from?"
She starts smiling again as she begins to explain this new man.
"Well, his name is Bryan Hendricks. He's a construction worker. His company was rebuilding the gym at the school and of course I introduced myself while walking to my car. Anyways, I noticed he wasn't wearing a wedding ring so I said, "your wife is very lucky." He's like "I'm not married, actually I'm single." So you know I got excited. I say "ohhh my best friend is single too she could definitely use a man like you in her life and I'm sure you'd find her to be a catch if only you'd met her."
This girl is crazy I thought.
"I know it seems awkward but he's up for it if you are. You two could meet up somewhere, or Justin and I can come tag behind since you don't know him."

"I don't know, I'm not really tryna date or get to know anyone right now."

"You've been that way for too long. I know its probably hard but you have to let all that from the past go. Every man ain't gonna hurt you. I know you still hurting over both your brothers d-"

I had to cut her off. Andre's death was the worst to think about because the case is still unsolved. Any of these men could be his murderer, or related to his murderer someway. I didn't want to think about the loss of both of my brothers at all.
"Lets not even talk about that. All I know is I'm fine, I don't need you trying to hook me up with anyone. When the time is right, I'll meet that right one." I politely told her, "I've gotta go to my moms house in a few so.."

"Yeah that's your way of dismissing me. I guess... But if you change your mind let me know. I'm just a call away and we can set it all up." She laughed as she headed out the door.

I hadn't seen my mama in a few months now so I knew she was looking forward to seeing me. It was always hard visiting her as that painful memory when I was twelve burned in my mind. I wish I could have done something when he hit her, and before he killed my brother. She reminds me all the time that none of it was my fault, I was a child I did what I was supposed to do yet I still wish I could go back in time and change everything that happened that night. Maybe when he threatened to smack me I would have killed him myself then and there! But at least the bastard was in jail getting out no time soon. I hope the worst is happening for him, though he's lucky he's alive.

An hour later I arrive at my mamas house. I sit in my car for five minutes before getting out, thinking of what this visit may bring. I don't bother knocking because I have a key. She said I could stay with her anytime but I just use it when I come to visit.
"Mama, I'm here. Where are you?"
"Here I am baby, in the bathroom I'll be out in a second."
My mama walks out of the bathroom a minute later and I can instantly see the stress across her face, she had more wrinkles than the last time I saw her yet she still had joy in her eyes.
I stood up from the couch to give her a hug, I always felt protection in her arms. She hugged me as if she knew it may be a while before the next one.
"How are you mama?"
"Oh I'm fine. I told you don't be worrying about me. How about you how's work been?"
"Work is fine. We've been picking up business with this sale going on. 20% off your entire purchase of $100 or more."
I'm the owner of a local clothing store called Vixen Vintage. Business was always booming but I'm about my money, my career, and my customers so I felt the 20% off was only right.
"I'm so proud of you Vena. Despite everything you've been through look at you owning a store. Your brothers would be proud too." She said, and I knew it was coming..
"Andre was the one that called it he knew you would be something in life. He would always say mama you know Vena's gonna be a fashion designer or manager somewhere one day."
I wanted to stop her but I knew she didn't get to vent much and I didn't want to upset her when she just wanted to keep their memory alive.
"Why didn't Andre think he could be the one to get us out?" I asked.
"He was always in the streets with his friends getting into trouble you know that."
"Yeah but, he still could have somehow. Until someone took that chance away from him." I felt myself getting angry at this point but I would never let my mother see that.
Andre was found dead in an ally about two blocks away from our old house. The streets around that area is where he got his start, at a young age and the end of his life at a young age. But I know my brother didn't deserve to die, I didn't know him to have enemies so I always thought someone was jealous and wanted him out. He was beaten badly to death. Some poor lady saw his body as she was walking by and called the police. If I ever meet whoever was involved, they will feel worse than they put him through, that's a promise.

"Justice will come through baby just have hope, continue to pray and God will work.. Or karma. You can believe that." She said assuring me and I did believe her, karma would definitely come. My mama had hope and faith in everything, it's one of her best traits how optimistic she is. Assuming what she has been through I could understand. When I was eighteen she explained to me that my father had anger and drinking problems for a while, smacking her once wasn't the worst he had done. He had blacked her eye before and given her a busted lip, I don't know how it went unnoticed. I assumed the incidents happened during times I was away at my grandmothers house wondering why I was there longer than usual.

Mama and I sat in her living room for several hours catching up before I left, she even made me a plate for dinner. Spaghetti, chicken salad, with garlic bread; my favorite.

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