I sat in my room crying when I heard a soft knock "Granny are you okay?" I sniffed and replied "I'm fine sweetie," Shade stood by the door a little longer "May I come in," I nodded my head while getting myself together "Sure," Shade pushed the door open and stuck her head in "Are you sure your alright granny, " I smiled "I'm fine baby, how are you holding up," she shrugged her shoulders "Alright I guess," I blew my nose "Do you wanna talk about it," she shook her head no. "Well, okay baby, get you some rest," she turned to walk away when I asked her "Where's Poppa, is he still downstairs in front of television," she smiled "Last time I checked he was," I stood up and stretched my back and headed towards the door. Shade stopped me and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "What was that for?" she smiled and said "Good'night granny," I smiled and said "Good'night Sugah,"
"Jeremy," I called out to Jeremiah. I stood there waiting for him to answer and when he didn't I walked towards the basement. I opened the door and hollered down the stairs "Jeremy?" I waited to get no reply. I looked out back and he wasn't on the patio so I walked back towards the living room. I looked on the hook by the door that housed our car keys and Jeremy's was gone. I went to the foot of the stairs "Shade?" I heard her door open and then heard her footsteps "Ma'am," I looked up at her "Have you heard from your Poppa, " "No ma'am, I thought he was downstairs," I took a deep breath "Well, obviously not," I looked up at Shade "Call him on that contraption of yours and then call me to let me know his whereabouts," she placed her hands on her hips "Where are you going," I spun around "The last time I checked I was the adult and you were the child. Now don't question me just do what the hell I asked you to do," she sat there wide eyed "Yes ma'am," I wanted to apologize for being so harsh but l'd do that later "When you contact him make sure not to tell him that I'm looking for him," "Yes ma'am," I turned on my heels and grabbed my keys and my coat and slammed out the door.
I drove around for forty minutes before my cell rung. I pressed the button on my stereo "Hello," "Granny, Poppa Jeremiah is at Sinai," I thought to myself "What in the hell was he doing there," I cleared my throat "Okay baby, thank you," 'You're welcome, " before she could hang up I asked "Shade?" "Yes ma'am," "Did you tell him that I was looking for him?" She cleared her throat "No ma'am," I stretched my fingers across the steering wheel "Shade?" She exhaled "I just told him we were worried sick since he just up and disappeared," I blew my nose "If he calls back and wants to talk to me tell him I'm asleep," "Granny!" I sucked my teeth in anger "Stop acting like you've never lied before and get off my phone," I didn't give her a chance to respond I just disconnected the call.
It didn't take me long before I was at Sinai. I pulled into empty spot and climbed out. I was scared as hell to face Jeremiah but I knew it had to be done. I walked up to the nurses station and asked for a visitors pass then walked the hallway to the elevators. I prayed from the lobby all the way up to ICU. When the doors opened and I rounded the corner I spotted Jeremiah right off. He looked as if he had been in the stash because his eyes were low.
I went to approach him when two girls walked pass that looked vaguely familiar. I stared at them until they got closer and I recognized them right off. I prayed that they wouldn't speak but my prayers were unanswered as they both said "Hey Mama Quilla," in unison. I smiled and spoke as they both embraced me and cried.
************
Jeremiah:
What fuck was this shit? I looked up and seen my wife since college and I'm telling you, I don't know this lady. Somebody has some explaining to do and they was gone do it right got-damn now. I went to stand up when them two sassy girls walked passed with they perky breast and they ass hanging out they shorts. I had to sit back down cause my erection was acting up or maybe it was the ganja I had smoked earlier. I saw them approach Quilla and I could've sworn I heard them call her Momma Quilla. I must be high outside my mind. I scratched my head as they embraced. I sat in utter amazement at how they cried into her bosom. Who were these women?
Quilla looked at the both of them with love in her eyes and stroked their hair as if they were familiar. I was getting pissed off. Here it was Blue was laid up, Jarvis done got his ass beat, my wife in the room crying over a dead man. Ugh, I was tired of sitting idly by while everybody did whatever in the hell they wanted. I need a stuff drink and about twelve hundred dollars and I'll be on somebody's boat right about now.
Quilla finally pulled away from the misfits and approached me "Hello Jeremy," I really looked at her now. The only time she called me Jeremy was when we were having sex or it was some serious shit going on. "Hey Quiana," she hated for me to use her government but this was some no holds barred shit happening.
Quilla looked at me and scowled and asked "Can we go somewhere and talk in private," I stood up "Before we go talk in private, who was them two girls wrapped all around you," she fiddled with her fingers and when she looked up at me she begin to cry.
"The night that Erica was born she was born with a twin, I named her Erin. The doctors said that Erin probably wouldn't live through the night because she was so small. I was scared so I signed her over to a couple that had just lost their baby due to complications. The agreement was as long as I didn't try to take Erin back from them I could keep in touch. When you showed up that night broke and crying I didn't tell you what I did because not only was I ashamed but I knew we couldn't afford it with your gambling habit," (Exhale) "Erin was 15 when she lost her foster parents in a horrific car accident. I then asked Blue if she could stay with him and he promised me he would look after Erin as best as he could. His girlfriend at the time was a bitch which caused Erin to run away. Erin got mixed up with some bad people and they turned her on to drugs and alcohol. I tried to get her help but she resented me. I reached out to the only man that I knew could help and that man was Detroit Hustle," (Sigh) "He did nothing to help Erin, he just made matters worse. Erin was raped one night and beaten. She later found out she was pregnant. During the second trimester of her pregnancy she discovered she was also pregnant with twins. When she gave birth she signed over her parental rights and vanished. Those two babies you just saw were Erin's unidentical twins. I'm sorry Jeremy that I didn't tell you. Please don't hate me," I couldn't even stand to look at her after that. I grabbed my hat and stood up to leave. "Jeremy?" she grabbed my hand and I pulled away from her "Jeremy?" I kept walking, I needed a drink
