Youngblood

Chapter 15

In Saint Petersburg, Fl….

Rachel

            I awakened to an empty bed.  I sat up and looked around.  No Maryah.  I walked out the room to find Traci lying on the couch with Kelis.  “Where’s Maryah?”  “Charlene took her.” “Why?”  “Because you were sleeping.  Plus, she took her shopping for shoes for the dress you just bought her.”  “I can take my own baby shopping.”  I said plopping down next to her.  “Why didn’t Kelis go?”  “She’s not feeling good.”  I sat there pouting at the TV.  “Rachel, she thought she was being nice, don’t overreact.”  “You say that because nobody thinks you are an unfit parent and aren’t stealing your child every time you turn around.”  She laughed.  “Rachel, nobody thinks you’re an unfit parent.  We are just worried about you.”  “By taking my child?”

I looked at her as she looked at me.  “I’m not trying to take her from you Rachel.  That’s my baby too.”  “Yeah, I know.  You and Kenny are the only two that treat me like I’m not going to fall apart.”  “We know what you’re going through.  You should tell them and get them off your back.  There is only so much we can say before they actually find out.”  She pouted again.  “I will tell them when I can handle everything that comes with it.”  “Can you tell them before this baby is born?”  I looked at her as she smiled.  “You’re pregnant?!”  She nodded her head.  “Hello little baby!”  I said hugging her stomach as she laughed. About an hour later, I was sitting on the front porch waiting for Maryah to come home.  I was so aggravated because Charlene told me she would have her back in fifteen minutes.  Fifteen minutes turned into an hour.  I watched my sister’s Expedition pull into the driveway next to my Charger.  I walked out to it as Charlene stepped out with Maryah.  “MOMMY!”  I couldn’t help but smile as she ran into my arms.  I hugged and kissed her.  “Babe, where have you been?  I missed you!”  “I missed you too Mommy.”  I kissed her again.  “Auntie Charlene said you needed a break.”  I looked at Charlene as she stood there watching us.  “Why would you tell my child that?”  “Because it’s true.”  “No, it’s not true.  First of all, I don’t need a break from my child.  Second of all, do not take my child without my permission.  In case you haven’t noticed, she calls me Mommy, not you or anyone else.”  “Um, she does call Traci Mommy sometimes.”  “That’s different.”  “Why?”  “She practically is her other Mommy.”  “But, Rachel, we are all sisters.”  “You don’t treat me like a sister.  You treat me like I’m a crazy lunatic!”  “Stop acting like one and take better care of your child!”

Traci

            I was standing in the doorway watching Rachel and Charlene argue.  I quickly ran outside to them.  “Hey, you guys calm down.”  I said stepping in between them.  “All we try and do is help you!  But no matter what we do it’s wrong!  And whatever she does is right!”  Charlene yelled.  “You are not helping!  Taking my child from me is not helping me!  It’s hurting me!  It makes me want to take her and leave and never come back again!”  I looked at Charlene as she stood there staring at her.  “The only thing I am asking you to do is respect me as her mother and let me know when you take her!  Don’t think you are doing me a favor by just taking her because you are not!  I am not a child!  I am a grown ass woman with a child!  Remember that next time you come around her talking about you’re helping me!”  She picked up Maryah and stormed in the house.  I looked at Charlene as she stood there staring at the front door.  “She is unfit to be anybody’s mother.”  I stood there staring at her in shock.  “I think it’s time for you to leave.”  I said turning and walking into the house.

Kenny

            I was walking through the buildings looking for Cameron’s Mom’s townhouse.  I couldn’t help but notice about three guys following me.  I looked over my shoulder at them as they watched my every move.  I turned down the sidewalk towards the front of the complex and realized they were Crips.  I took my gun out and faced them. 

“I didn’t come here for this.”  I said c*****g my gun.  “You must not know where you are.”  One of them said.  “I know exactly where I am.  Unless you stop f*****g with me you will be on your way straight to hell.”  Their attention focused behind me.

 I looked over my shoulder to see Cameron standing there watching.  He stood next to me as the three men studied us.  “Cameron, what are you doing?”  One of them asked.  He looked at me.  “Are they f*****g with you?”  He asked striking fear in all three of them.  “Look Cam, we didn’t know he was with you.  We are sorry.”  They backed away.

 They turned and scattered leaving Cameron and me.  He looked at me.  “Next time come through the front it will be easier to find.  I nodded my head as he led me to the townhouse.  He introduced me to his mom and niece and then we retreated into his room.  That’s when my phone rang.  “What’s up Sis?”  The only thing I understood was Rachel was pissed off.

             “Rachel, calm down.”  I said as Cameron laughed.  “NO!  I CAN’T!  EVERYTIME I TURN AROUND SHE’S TAKING MY BABY!  THEN SHE HAS THE AUDACITY TO TELL MY BABY I NEED A BREAK FROM HER TOO!  SHE’S LUCKY SHE’S MY SISTER!”  “You know she had the audacity to tell me you are unfit to be anybody’s mother!”  Traci said making me slouch down in the chair.  “Dam, she’s pissed off!”  Cameron said laughing as he tossed the football in the air and caught it.  “You can hear her?”  I asked.  “How can you not?” We looked at the phone as it hung up.

 Wow! I thought staring at the phone.  “It feels good to not be the one she’s pissed off at.”  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Cameron, you are nowhere near on that girl’s mind right now.” 

He stared at me for a moment.  “Shut up.”  We laughed.

A few hours later…

 Rachel

            I was sitting on the couch finishing braiding Maryah’s long beautiful hair while she slept.  When I was done, I sat there cuddling with her.  I cuddled up with her and watched her snuggle against me as she slept.

  One of my favorite things to do was watch her sleep.  She looked like me most of the time.  She had my huge eyes, but they were a lighter brown like Mario’s.  Her dark brown thick eye lashes fluttered against her face as she slept.  I reached down and kissed her chubby, cool, golden brown cheeks as her hand wrapped around my finger.

 My God, Mario, I wish you were here to see this beautiful child.

 “Rachel, Mom’s here.”  Traci said rushing to the front door.  I stood up and followed her with Maryah.  “You, get in the house.”  She said pointing at me as she walked towards me followed by Charlene, Doris, and Tameka. I walked back in the house and sat back on the couch as everyone took a seat. I looked at Charlene as she looked at me.  “Snitch.”  I mumbled.  “Sure did.”  She said sitting back.  I glanced beside me at Traci who was trying her hardest not to laugh at us. 

“Okay what the hell happened this morning?”  Mom asked making Tameka laugh.  “She keeps taking my baby because she feels like I can’t take care of her.”  “You can’t Rachel.”  “I’m doing just fine thank you.”  “It’s your first baby, what do you know?”  I looked at Traci as she looked at me.  “Rachel, calm down.”  Mom instructed. 

She turned and faced Charlene.  “Charlene what is she doing that makes you feel like she can’t take care of her?”  “She’s always so depressed.”  “She lost the love of her life.  She’s raising their child alone.  Wouldn’t you be depressed?”  “Yes, but she neglects her because she’s so depressed.”  “No, she doesn’t.”  Traci said trying not to laugh.

 Tameka was making it really hard to keep a straight face because of her facial expressions and side comments.

 “Regardless of how you feel about how she raises her daughter we take good care of our kids.”  She added.  “That’s another thing.  We are all sisters and she act like that’s her and Traci’s daughter.  Traci can do no wrong when it comes to her, but when we try and do something for or with her, we are wrong.”  I looked at Tameka as she laughed.  “Which one of you is the daddy?”  She asked as her and Doris giggled.

  I looked away to keep a straight face as Traci laughed.  “You know Rachel the daddy.”  Doris mumbled as they giggled away making us all laugh.  “You two hush.”  Mom said as we settled down.  She looked at me.  “Mom, it’s not I have a problem with her doing anything for Ryah, it’s when she takes it upon herself and take away my child like I’m a child and don’t know any better.”  “Rachel, we all know you are unfit to be that baby’s mother.” 

As if sensing my anger, Maryah opened her eyes.  “You are dead ass wrong for saying that!  And since you feel so strong about that get out of our house and don’t come back!”  Traci yelled jumping up.   “Traci?”  Maryah said sitting up.  “Everybody calm down.”  I handed Maryah to Traci to calm her down as she sat down angrily. 

“We all feel like that.  That’s why you want her to move back in the house Momma.”  Charlene said pissing her off.  “No, the reason I want her to come back is because I see my child has a broken heart.  The only thing I know to do is to keep her close and let her know Mommy’s here!  Her parenting skills I never questioned!” “Me neither.” Tameka put in.  “Me too.”  Agreed Doris.

  I looked at Charlene as she looked at me.  I rolled my eyes at her.  We looked at Tameka as she laughed again.  “You look really ridiculous right now.”  Charlene rolled her eyes.  I looked at Mom as she looked at me.  “How are you?”  I nodded my head.  “You know I’m always here for you.”  “I know Momma.”  “I missed out on five years, six months, three weeks and two days of your lives.”  Everyone’s attention focus on her.  “Yes, you came back, but you didn’t.”  “What do you mean?”  I asked.  “You came back physically but not mentally.  Something traumatized you to the point you are not yourself.  What was it?”  I looked at Traci as she looked at me.  She gave me an encouraging smile. 

  I looked back at Mom.  “I lost the love of my life and I need time to get over that.  To be honest, I don’t know if I ever will.  But that does not make me an unfit parent.”  “I never said that.  I said it doesn’t make you you.  I know you can take care of your child.  Hell, you’ve been doing it all this time.  She and Kelis are the happiest out of all of my grandchildren.  So, you’re doing something right.  All I’m saying, all I’m asking is for you to be completely honest and tell me what happened to you in those five years.”  I looked at Traci again.  She channeled my pain and understood why I wasn’t ready to tell her yet.  “Mom, give her some more time, please.”  She looked at me and then Traci.  “Please?” Traci begged.  She looked back at me as Traci held my hand. 

            I felt as if I was going to burst out crying so I took Maryah.  “I’m going to put her down for a nap.”  I said trying my hardest to hold in my tears.  “Rachel,” I quickly walked into my room as my tears burst out.  I laid Maryah down as I began pacing around the room. “Mommy?”  I stopped and quickly wiped my tears and faced Maryah.  “Yes babe?”  I said walking over to her.  “What’s wrong?”  She asked as I lay beside her.  “I miss your Daddy and brothers.”  She stared at me.  “It’s okay.”  She kissed my nose making me laugh.  She cuddled against me and I wrapped my arms around her.

  Please take away my hurt and pain.  Please, even if it’s just for a little bit.  Please God, make it go away.

 I laid there with my baby until we both drifted to sleep.  I had just fallen to sleep when I felt a familiar hug from behind.

 I glanced over my shoulder at Robi as he laid his head with mine.  I smiled at him and kissed his tiny hands.  I looked behind Maryah at Roni as he cuddled against Maryah.  He smiled at me melting my heart.  That’s when Mario laid down behind him facing us.  I couldn’t help but smile.  He gently reached over and kissed Maryah and then me.  He laid there with a protective arm across us all as we all drifted to sleep.  The last thing I remembered was staring deep into his affectionate brown eyes as they showered all of his love to me.  How could we not sleep so sound and peaceful?

Charlene

            I sat there wondering why my sisters needed to cling to each other.  Whatever they went through together was bringing Rachel to her knees.  I watched her fall apart right before my eyes.  She was struggling so hard to deal with whatever it was she was dealing with.  I got the impression that she was dealing with more than just the father of her child dying.  But what was it?  Traci was traumatized but was getting better every day.  Rachel was dead inside.  What would cause this?