1995

XXI

Xavier.
As I was watching football on the couch with Nathan Jr. In my arms as the ladies came in with a lot of commotion. It shook the sleepiness out of me because I never known Kennedy to get upset but then I noticed her slurring her words. "What the hell is going on?" I asked Chanel as she walked past the ladies covering her ears. She explained the situation to me as the women arguing got louder and louder until Jude started fighting her and we began to break this up.

"What the hell ya'll! Why are y'all arguing like this and does it have to be like this in front of the kids!?"

"This bitch lying talking about I said she had to leave tonight and I'm telling this dumb bitch that she'll wake her kids cause she wanna be dumb!"

"Call me a bitch one more time Jude!" Kennedy said licking her bleeding lip. I shook my head at them. I walked over to Nathan and insured him that everything was okay and for him to go back to his room and enjoy the game for me. As soon as he was out of plain sight I snapped on them.

"Do y'all know how embarrassing that is for y'all? I mean we all know you been going through shit Ken, but you need to get it together! Why are you exposing yourself to another man and your divorce hasn't even been settle and the papers haven't even been delivered... it's not attractive for a woman who can't hold they liquor man." I shot a sharp look at Jude who started clapping loudly trying to be shady.

"Okay, so this is what we're going to do y'all. Ken, your going to apologize for making Jude feel some type of way because she wasn't wrong. Y'all need to make up because you women are friends." Kennedy rolled her eyes.

"This bitch is not my friend, if i could do something to piss you off you don't bring up my situation! That's foul."

"Um, Ken you disrespected her first by calling her out over her ex. She so far has done everything for you!" Chanel said removing her shoes.

"Whatever! I see you bitches for who you really are.. I'm calling my daddy tonight and I swear I'll be outta your life Jude."

I looked at Jude as she rolled her eyes. She walked over to me reaching into her wallet and pulled out $200 for babysitting. I put the cash back into her hand. "I don't mind, plus it's not your responsibility to pay me." I nodded my head towards the both of them and grabbed Chanel's hand so we could go home.

Jude.
I woke up and the house was quiet. I prayed that Kennedy just went to the store before I rose out of bed. I tossed on a robe and walked to the room where Nathan Jr. was sleeping he wasn't there. I checked through the dressers and they were completely empty. I dashed through the living room and made it to the front door opening it to see that the car I purchased for her was gone.

"This Bitch!" I gritted my teeth. I felt tears swelling in my eyes. I ran to the living room where I had the house phone placed on a shelf connected to the wall, I grabbed it was I pressed redial to find the Tennessee number. After finding it I called the number, it rang twice and then someone picked up. 

"Hello?" It sounded like a voice from an old man.

"Hi, this is Jude... I was calling because I had Kennedy your daughter she was staying with me and she said that she was gonna leave I was just wondering was she taking her flight?"

I held the phone to my ear as I heard him suck his teeth. "That girl never listened to me. I told her that boy was no good, he changed her... I'm sorry but she's not here, I'm not counting on it she says she's coming home every year and always ends up back with him... Do me a favor honey, if anything happens to my daughter please make sure you bring the kids back to me.. Nathan hurts her.. I'm sure he won't hesitate to hurt them." I heard him sobbing into the phone before it went flat.

I was upset about her leaving, I hoped she was at least on her way to her fathers house so I texted her phone. After sending the message I noticed that it hasn't delivered. I immediately called Chanel and told Xavier to text her in case she blocked us.

My next thought was to call Nathan Jr.'s phone.. I recalled the day I took him and Ken to get new phones but unfortunately it was disconnected and no longer could be reached. I sighed in defeat knowing that I'd never find out where they were I just hoped the children were safe.

Ava.
This was my last day in Key West. I had a great time with Idris but I began to miss my girls. I haven't even kept in touch with Chanel or any of the woman that worked at the club. I figured I needed a break and I would be welcomed as soon as I get back in my city. I texted Idris letting him know I landed and was on my way back.

Shortly after, I dialed Ms. Thang's number to see how everything was going between her and Xavier. I honestly had no family.. All my family was in Jamaica and no longer fucked with me so Chanel was all I had really and I was happy to let my roommate know that I was on my way home.

She answered on the second ring and she sounded tired due to it being 9:26 am I understood, she was a late sleeper. "Hey honey chile." I said in the phone while I waved my hand for a taxi.

"Bitch where the hell have you been? I would have thought Idris done erased your memory and you forgot who the hell you was and where you came from.. It's been a month since we spoke and I got a lot to tell you." I chucked. "I'll be home within the next 30 minutes.. you can tell me everything."

I unlocked the door with my house key and began looking around. She changed up the condo and I was loving it. I glanced over at the couch and seen Xavier playing 2k with this headset on. He quickly waved at me as I passed Chanel's room to set my things down. I looked at the lime green paint she finished for me as my covers had been removed and set with new ones. I admired how much my best friend took care things knowing she didn't have to.

I quickly knocked on her door and snatched it open as I saw her standing before the Tv with her mouth hanging open as was eating pineapples with a face mask on. She smiled when she seen me.

We both talked as she caught me up with the drama and her love life.