Redemption

Chapter 2- Qualms

   I sat on the couch in my apartment flicking the note that I held in between my middle finger and thumb with my index finger as I absentmindedly watched Naami play with her doll on the floor in front of me. After grabbing the note and money off of the table at the restaurant, I had headed to the back to tell Joe that Naami had an emergency at school and I needed to go take care of things. Once I had grabbed my stuff and headed out the door I caught the bus to Naami's pre-school and picked her up before heading home, something she didn't seem to mind.

   "Mama, Look! Riley can do the splits!" Naami said enthusiastically as she lifted the doll in the air before bringing her back down to the floor to make her perform the action.

   "That's nice, baby," I said, barely paying any attention, "I'll be right back, you stay in here."

   I got up from where I was sitting and made my way into the bedroom where I placed the note on the dresser before opening up its top right drawer. I stared at the $1000 that I placed in the corner. It was just the right amount to pay for two months rent in advance and considering that that would be taken care of I could use my paycheck to finally by Naami a bed frame so her mattress wouldn't be on the floor anymore. But the thought of using this woman's money, especially with the way she acted around me, made me feel uneasy. Not uneasy enough though.

   I grabbed the money out of the drawer and closed it as I left out my room and back into the living room.

   "Stay right here, Aami. Mama's gonna be right back," I said as I slipped my feet into Carti's slides that he kept by the door.

   "'Kay," she responded with a smile.

   Heading out the door I took the stairs to the apartment's first floor and made a left stopping at apartment A23. I knocked on the door and squeezed the money in my hand. No answer.

   I knocked again, "Ms. Lisa?" I yelled.

   "One second!" An older, hoarse voice called from the other side of the brown door.

   I rocked back on my heels and stared up at the ceiling as I heard multiple chains being unlocked behind the door.

   A small, darker skinned woman opened the door, "What you want?" she questioned.

   Ms. Lisa was a no bullshit type of lady, real old school. If you were late on rent then you were out, no questions asked. She kept a bat by her door just in case anyone decided to try her but rarely anyone did.

   I extended my arm out to her, showing her the money. "Two months in advance. All here," I said with a shy smile.

   She looked at the money then at me before taking it out of my hand to count it, "This real? I don't need no cops coming to my door talkin' 'bout you done stole this shit now."

"It's all real, Ms. Lisa. I didn't steal this money either," I shook my head insistently.

"It better be Eva. Funny how you go from bein' two months late on rent ta bein' able ta pay me in advance na'," She looked up at me over her reading glasses but never took her hands off the money.

"Ms. Lisa I would never do that. I just came across something good."

"Hm. 'Somethin' good.' Stay right here so I can get you a receipt," She said, shoving the money in her bra and then turning around closing the door.

   Moments later she came back and eyed me, then handed me the slip of paper, "Anythin' else?" she asked.

   "That's it, thank you Ms. Lisa," I smiled.

   She grunted and then closed the door back. I felt my phone vibrate in my pants pocket and I took it out to look at the message that I received from Cartier.