Chapter 12
The day for Ava’s and Larry’s anniversary party had finally arrived. When Miki came at Millennium Maxwell House Hotel to help decorate the ballroom for the occasion, Redd video-called her.
“What’s up baby?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said making her way over to Kizzie and Maddie. They were in disagreement of how to arrange the tables.
“What have you been doing?”
“Trying to get this ballroom together,” she said. She exhaled heavily. She wasn’t feeling the greatest that morning. She was nauseated, and she prayed that she wasn’t pregnant. At this point, she wouldn’t know who the father would be. She had been with Redd and Bebe within days of each other every time. And although Bebe wanted to wear condoms most of the time, there were the two times they didn’t use a condom: at the club and the second time they were intimate.
“What’s wrong? You don’t sound too happy.”
When am I ever when it comes to you? “I’m alright. Just feel a little sick.”
“I have too. You ain’t pregnant, are you?”
“Nah,” she said. She didn’t want to tell him anything because she doubt she would keep this pregnancy.
“Okay bae. I need you to do the room,” he said.
Miki knew exactly what he was asking. Miki repeated, “You need me to do the room. Like a panoramic view?”
“Yeah,” he murmured.
“Okay.” She flipped the phone facing forward. Maddie and Kizzie both waved.
Kizzie said, “Hey Redd!”
Miki turned around slowly so that he could see there were no men around threatening to take his place or in her face. She slowly and carefully eased the phone back to face her. She said, “Now do yours.”
“I can’t. Bae, I gotta go. But I love you,” he said and ended the call.
Ain’t that a bitch, she thought as she made sure her phone was cleared.
“That nigga crazy for real,” Bebe said causing Maddie and Kizzie to snicker.
“You’re nothing like that are you?” Maddie asked.
“I wouldn’t do no bullshit like that,” he said.
Miki laughed. “You are crazy. Your ass was right here the whole time moving when I moved.”
“I wanted to laugh so bad,” Kizzie giggled. “But Redd woulda been asking what’s so funny.”
Bebe kissed Miki. “Well I know that nigga be trippin’.”
“So y’all about to go?” Maddie asked.
“We’ll be back though. Just going out to grab a bite to eat,” Miki said.
“Okay. Y’all be careful,” Maddie said.
Miki and Bebe drove to Hendersonville to enjoy a nice lunch at Cheddars. Miki was paranoid and kept looking over her shoulders to make sure there was no one there that would recognize her.
“Miki, stop worrying about that,” Bebe was telling her. “If somebody see you, fuck it. I got you. I mean it.”
“I know. But you have no idea how Redd’s mind work. He’s not going to make leaving his ass easy.”
“Stop obsessing over that. But can I ask you a question?”
“You just did. No more questions,” she laughed.
Bebe gave her a blank look but a smile quickly formed. “See I love when you smile or laugh. I wanna see you happy.”
Miki blushed and focused on her food.
Bebe asked, “What made you stay in the first place?”
“With Redd?”
Bebe nodded.
“I ain’t gon lie. He had bank. I wasn’t hurting for no money or anything ‘cause my mama and stepdad took real good care of us. It’s just back then a thug that was balling was appealing to me. Redd didn’t show his true colors until much later. But I was gullible, young and naïve.”
“You know my sister kinda going through the same thing and I guess that’s why I’m so passionately against it. My mama went through it with my dad when he was home. I always said I wanted to be nothing like him.”
“Do you think watching your mother go through it kinda affected your sister and that’s why she’s going through it?”
“I don’t know. Marvin took good care of her and their boys. My sister was like you. She didn’t have to work. She was a housewife, but she done moved out and got her own place. He’s trying to convince her to move back home.”
“Well at least she had the courage to leave.”
“You’ll find that courage too.”
“You think so.”
“I know so. Keep fucking with me you’ll get there. I won’t rest until you do,” he said throwing her a charismatic smile.
His smile made Miki blush. Being Bebe’s woman would be nice. He was everything she wished Redd was. She asked, “Where’s your children?”
“With my mama and my sister.”
“We gotta do a play date for Téa and Kennedi.”
“Me and Kennedi can be available whenever.”
“Those two are a trip. They would made good stepsisters.”
Bebe smiled knowingly. “So, what are you trying to say?”
Miki grinned sneakily. “Nothing.”
“Mmm hmm,” he hummed.
“You want more kids?” she asked.
“Yeah. I would love to have another baby with the woman I make my wife. You want more?”
Miki thought of her impending fate. She knew she was pregnant. The signs were there. She was over a week late but her period act funny at times. She had periods as close as fourteen days within each other and as long as forty days apart. This one however was late, and her breast really hurt and there was an absence of cramps. She answered, “Not at this time. Not with Redd at least.”
“Oh. What if things got real serious with you and me?”
“I don’t think it would matter then. As long as you’re not treating me like the way Redd does.”
“Never that. I would never put my hands on you like that. Well at least not in that way. I’d like to put my hands on you in many other ways though,” he said with a hint of seduction.
Miki smiled, “I’m sure you would.”
“Hurry up and eat girl so we can take care of business.”
“What business?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
Miki loved the way Bebe made her feel. She knew she needed to do something and do it soon.
___________
Miki was having such a good time at the party with Bebe she never once thought about Redd. Bebe had turned out to be the life of the party. As much as Miki tried to remain cool and casual by not being under Bebe, he wouldn’t let her get too far from her. He danced with her, with her sisters, Kat, both Téa and Kennedi at the same time, her mother, her aunts and her grandmother. He interacted with her boy cousins, uncles, stepdad, and his male family members. When little nine-year-old Tyiesha got up to do a song dedication to Ava and Larry she was nervous and forgot the words. Bebe was right there giving the girl praises and encouraging words as he helped her with the words to Amazing by Luther Vandross. After two hours Bebe was everybody’s favorite person.
The feeling it left Miki with was overwhelming. She felt happier than she had in a while. If only she could have that feeling forever. However, that sensation was short-lived when Miki realized Redd’s sister Montiece and his mother Mona was there. Her heart sunk.
“Who invited them?” Miki asked.
Kizzie stood there wearing a sheepish grin. “I’m guilty. I didn’t think they would show though.”
Miki gave Kizzie a devastated look with an utterance of despair. “Why?”
“Well I ran into Montiece and told her about it. I had no idea you would be inviting Bebe,” Kizzie explained.
“Don’t be mad at her, Miki. It was innocent,” Maddie said.
Montiece saw Miki and walked over. “Hey ladies.”
“Hey,” Maddie said halfheartedly. She didn’t care for any of the Jeffries. They were all conniving and vindictive.
“Look at you, Miki,” Montiece commented. “You look good.”
“Thanks,” Miki said with a forced smile.
“My brother ain’t’ here?” Montiece asked.
“Naw. He’s out of town,” she said. She added, “Again.”
Montiece looked out to the dance floor and scanned the rest of the room. “It’s a lot of people here. This is a nice party. Maddie, I know you done that cake.”
“You know I did,” Maddie said as her husband Gary came over.
“C’mon woman. You owe me a dance,” Gary said.
“Well ladies, I must go and dance with my husband,” she said as Gary led her away.
Montiece asked, “Who’s that?”
Miki and Kizzie looked in the direction Montiece was looking. Miki just knew she was talking about Bebe, but she was hoping she wasn’t.
“In the orange and grey plaid shirt,” Montiece said.
Bebe looked up and saw the ladies looking. He flashed a smile and began to walk over. Shit! Miki thought.
“Uhm…he’s a friend of the family,” Kizzie said shooting Miki a quick glance.
Bebe didn’t give much thought to Montiece standing there. He was focused in on Miki. She tried to shake her head at him and gestured towards Montiece with her eyes. He didn’t see it. He said, “Hey baby. Come on and dance with me. I see Gary finally got Maddie out there.”
Miki’s eyes widened. Kizzie cleared her throat and said, “I’ll dance with you. Redd’s sister here was talking to Miki.”
Bebe looked at Montiece noticing her for the first time. She was light and bright like Redd. She had the same green eyes too. He looked at Miki and saw her pleading with her eyes. He reached his hand out to Kizzie, “C’mon babygirl.”
Miki didn’t miss the flash of displeasure written across Bebe’s face. She eyed his bowed legs as he walked away with Kizzie.
“What was that about?” Montiece asked.
“I don’t know but Toni gon’ get his ass,” Miki said trying to make light of the situation.
“Did he call you ‘baby’?”
“Naw. Probably babygirl or by name,” Miki lied.
Montiece gave Miki a skeptical look. She looked out at the dance floor where Bebe was. “He’s a cutie. I love a man with bow legs.”
Miki said nothing.
Montiece asked, “You think he got a woman?”
“I’m not sure.”
Montiece looked back at Miki. She smacked her lips before asking, “How are you and my brother doing?”
“We’re doing okay.”
“That’s good. Well I’m gonna go grab me something to eat.”
Do that, Miki thought.
Minutes later Bebe sat down at the table Miki decided to sit at. He asked, “Did you know she was gonna be here?”
“No.”
“Is her being here gonna make you not wanna dance with me again?”
“Yeah. She will hurry up and run back to Redd telling him everything.”
“Let her. I don’t want her to ruin your good mood. You’ve been enjoying yourself since we’ve been here.”
“I know but I don’t want Redd coming with some shit,” Miki said solemnly.
“Baby, let’s just get this over with.”
“No Bebe. And I’m not gonna keep talking about that. I’m tired of talking about it.”
“Okay,” he said with defeat. He asked, “So will you be coming home with me tonight?”
“Yeah. Of course,” she smiled.