Hakeem. . .
It’s moving day. We got the house in the Valley and CJ owns the house right down the street. It’s only been a month since we first saw the house. Once I told Niecey she could decorate it all and add anything she wanted she instantly fell in love. Last night Shawny went into labor. That left me and CJ packing up the trucks alone. The whole condo was boxed up except a few things in our bedroom.
I had everything loaded that we were taking. Niecey got almost all new furniture so it wasn’t a lot of lifting. I had hired help. I looked around the empty condo and thought about all the memories we’d had here over the years.
“Hey Hakeem, are y’all taking these night stands?” The guys were carrying the last pieces out of our bedroom.
“Yes, we’re keeping them. They go with our new bed. Are they empty?”
“Yes, there was just a few bottles of medicine, condoms, and in Niecey’s she had this flash drive.” He handed me the stuff in a bag.
“A flash drive?” I took it out and looked at it. What the hell?
Hours later I had all the boxes in the house. The only room that was set up was our bedroom. I took my laptop out and decided to check out the flash drive. After watching it I was in total shock. It was of Derrick abusing Deniece. I turned it off and tossed it on the TV stand. Soon Deniece came in with Chai in the baby sling across her chest. She took him out and handed him to me.
“Baby, Trinity is beautiful. She looks just like Shawny. Jet black curly hair and Chris’s huge eyes.”
She kissed me and then licked her lips. “The room is set up nice.”
“Yea, it is.” I put the sleeping baby in his crib and went back to lay in our bed. I patted next to me for her to join me.
“What’s wrong Hakeem?”
“You. You’ve been keeping shit from me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I found the flash drive.” Her body tightened up. “By the look on your face I can tell you know what I’m talking about.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you. It ain’t even important nomore. Mommy left Derrick after that. It’s over.”
“You didn’t give me the option to fix it. You kept it to yourself. What else have you been keeping from me? Damn, Niecey.” She flinched a little. I loosened my fist and jaw. “I’m sorry. But, that was foul. What else you’ve been keeping from me?”
“Nothing, Keem. I tell you everything. Only my Mom knew about that.”
“Ok.” I let out a huge sigh. It was silent for a long time.
“Hakeem?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do about these threats? Now they came to Frankie. I’m scared.”
“I’m going to handle it this weekend. You unpacking tomorrow?”
“Yes. Shawny and Frankie are helping me tomorrow. Then Thursday we’re helping Frankie. Friday we’re helping Chris set up Shawny’s new house. He’s surprising her with a house around the corner from us.”
“Oh shit. Y’all too close.”
“I’m tired. I wish Chai would start sleeping.”
