At Last (25 page)

“What?”

“Everyone kept saying Sean had sent them. Afterwards, C.J had to go to trial and everything. They found him not guilty because of self-defense, but my momma had had enough. C.J had gotten himself into some situations before, but never like that. She sent him to Detroit with our Uncle Freddie, and he’s been living there since.
Him
and Carm never made up.”

             
I had almost finished braiding Chanel’s hair, “That’s crazy. Is Carmen still with Sean?”

“No, he left her for one of her girlfriends. I think he’s out in Atlanta now.”

             
I sat silently trying to soak up everything I’d been told. There was only one thing left to ask.

“So what’s up with Ing and Cliff now?”

“Oh that?” Chanel said turning around and smiling at me. She looked just like Cliff when he had a secret he’d tease me with.

             
I started laughing and so did she.

“Nothing’s up with them. They stayed together after C.J moved, but she cheated on him, so he stopped dealing with her.”

“How long did they date?”

“I think like a little over three years.  Matter a fact, you the first girl C.J has been serious about since then.”

“All done,” I said. I meant it in more ways than one. I handed Chanel the mirror to see her hair, “You like it?”

             
She ran her hand over her freshly corn rowed hair, “Oh Keish, it’s so hot!  Thank You!”

“Anytime, girl.”
I said with a smile.

As Chanel got up, Clifford walked out of the bathroom. He had just taken a shower and was getting ready to go out with Jay.

             
“Y’all look like twins, cute.” He said sarcastically.

             
“Shut up C.J, you know we look good.” Chanel said posing like America’s Next Top Model.

             
“You did a good job, Keish.” He said before coming over and kissing me on my forehead. Chanel went back to her bedroom and Cliff went back to his. I followed behind him as he began to get dressed.

             
“Where y’all going, babe?”
I asked plopping down on the bed.

             
“Don’t know. Just to kick it I guess. I won’t be gone too long.”

             
“I hope you have a good time.”

             
“Thanks, Ma.” He said as he winked at me.

             
Suddenly, I heard a banging at the front door. Cliff left the room and opened the door, “What up, boy!?
Knockin’ like the Feds and shit!”

             
“Bout time you brought yo ass back home.” A man said entering the house. It had to be Jay.

             
“Shut up.  Keisha, come in here.”

             
I walked to the front room.

             
“This is Jay.  Jay, this is Keisha, my lady.”

             
“So this is Miss Keisha?
How you doin’?”
He asked extending his large hand. Jay was tall just like Cliff-probably a little taller. He was thin. Not gangly, but thin. He appeared to be in his mid-to late twenties.

             
He was a few shades lighter than Cliff with a reddish brown complexion. His eyes were slanted and he sported a Caesar haircut with deep natural waves. He wore dark blue jeans and a navy blue Polo sweater.  He wore caramel colored Timberlands on his feet.

             
“Nice to meet you.”
  I said smiling right back shaking his hand.

             
“I taught you well, grasshopper.”  He said smiling while shaking my hand.

             
“Shut up, nigga.”
  Cliff said with a smile.

             
“Is this negro treating you right, Miss Keisha?”

             
“Of course.”

             
“Yeah.
Cliff is a good guy I guess,” He said flashing a smile and beginning to look around, “Where everybody at?”

             
“Moms lying down and Chanel is in the back.”

             
“Where Carmen?”
He asked with a smile.

             
“Man, fuck outta here.” He said laughing.

             
Cliff and I both sat on the couch. Jay followed and sat on the loveseat, “How long y’all in town for?”

             
“A few more days.
Probably til Saturday or Sunday.”

             
“Keisha?”  Chanel called out to me as she walked out to the front room

             
“Huh?”

             
“How long can I keep the braids for-oh, hey Jay.”
She said grinning from ear to ear. She waltzed up to him and gave him a tight hug.

             
“Damn Chanel.”  Jay said with a smile. She began to smile.

             
“Chanel’s beautiful, Cliff. Do you realize how beautiful your sister is?”  Jay asked laughing.

             
“Whatever.” Cliff replied, “Stay away from my sister.”

             
“Nigga, she eighteen and
I’m
an eligible bachelor.
I been
waitin’ for this my whole life.” Jay joked.

             
“I’m standing right here.” Chanel said with a smile.

             
“I’ma
fuck
you up, Jay.” Cliff said stroking his goatee.

             
I just laughed at all of them. Cliff obviously wasn’t feeling Jay’s affection for Chanel. Big brother looking over little sister-it was cute.

             
“So what’s poppin’ for tonight?” Cliff asked Jay.

             
“I got the whole night covered as usual. Welcome back, baby!”

             
“Alright.”
  Cliff said standing up.

             
“’Alright’?
Man, you actin’ like a real bitch right now. Excuse my language, ladies.” Jay said still flashing his mischievous smile, “You actin’ like your tampon
is
stuck-”

             
“Man
fuck
you.” He said putting his fists up.

             
“I’ll wup yo ass.” He said laughing before looking at Chanel, “You lucky I’m a lover and not a fighter.”

             
Cliff grabbed Jay and put him in a headlock, “I’ma
fuck
you up if you keep lookin’ at my sister.”

             
“Man, let go. You play too damn much.” He said pushing Cliff off of him and rubbing down his waves, “Let’s go.”

             
“You gone be alright?”
Cliff said looking over to me.

             
“Yeah baby.  I’ll be fine.”

             
“Shut up C.J, what you think we gonna do to her? She’s family.”

             
“Man, all y’all better get off my back.” Cliff said with a smile. I hadn’t seen him so playful before. It was good to see.

             
As much as I loved Cliff, it always seemed like he carried so much weight on his shoulders. He would take other people’s problems on and hold them too.

             
Just hearing Chanel’s story about his issues with Carmen and Sean confirmed it. I was glad to see him in his environment enjoying himself. It made me feel good seeing him truly happy.

             
I smiled, “I’ll be fine.  Go and have fun.”

             
“Oh trust we gonna have a lot of fun.”  Jay said.

             
“Don’t have too much fun.” I warned.

             
“It’ll be cool, baby,” Cliff said kissing my forehead; “I love you.”

             
“I love you too, baby.”

             
“Don’t worry, Miss Keisha. I’ll have him back to you in no time.”

             
And with that, they were gone.  For the first two hours, Chanel and me dished dirt and watched music videos.  By eleven o’clock I was out for the count. Before I went to bed I called Yvette to see what was going on with her.

             
“Hey, baby.”

             
“Hey, Mama K.”
  She said sounding half sleep.

             
“Did I wake you?  I know it’s late.”

             
“You good.”

             
“Girl, I dropped her off at Momma’s house. I needed a break.” Yvette said before yawning, “How’s Cliff’s people?”

             
“Oh they’re real nice.  His mother is the sweetest thing and his sister is cool too.”

             
“
Don’t
he got another sister?”

             
“Oh, she’s a bitch.” I said simply.

             
“What!?”
She asked before chuckling.

             
“Yeah she tried to come at me all crazy. Her girl used to talk to Cliff.”

             
“Quit playing.”

             
“I’m serious.”

             
I explained the situation and we talked for a little while longer before I got tired and finally went to bed.

             
I was awakened out of my peaceful slumber by a crashing sound. I sat straight up as the doorknob turned.  Once I realized it was Clifford, I laid back down.

             
Glancing at the alarm clock and it read

5:53 AM.  I rolled over and played sleep. The room all of a sudden reeked of vodka, weed, and cheap perfume.

             
I could hear him coming out of his clothes. Slowly, I felt his body behind mine and wet kisses on the back of my neck.

             
“I love you so much.”  He managed to let out. His body was warm and his breath was hot. I was completely disgusted.  It brought back memories of Justin. 

             
I was to say the least uncomfortable. I tried to go back to sleep as Clifford mumbled random things in my ear.

             
When I woke up it was round ten. Cliff was still sleeping. I grabbed my robe and went into the kitchen to get something to eat. To my surprise Carmen was in the dining room eating.  I decided to be nice despite the fact that she was a bitch.

             
“Good morning.” I greeted.

             
She glanced at me and rolled her eyes, “Morning.”

             
She continued to eat her eggs.

             
“I see you braided Chanel’s hair.  What, y’all twins now?” She said with a smirk. I wanted to slap it the hell off her face. I was really trying to be polite to her ass but she was making it hard, “She admired my hair. I was happy to do it.”

             
“Admired, huh?”  She said continuing to smirk.

             
I poured some juice and made some oatmeal.  I sat in the living room and turned on the television.  I assumed Chanel was gone to school and that Ms. Andrews had to be out.

             
“So how you meet my brother, anyway?” Carmen asked.

             
None of your fuckin’ business.
I just continued to eat.

             
“At work.”

             
“Don’t you
got
a baby?”

             
Now it was time to shut her down, “Yes I have a daughter.
And what of it?”

             
“Where’s her daddy?
Cause
my brother ain’t gone be playing house with you.  He don’t want
no
ready-made family.”

             
I stood up and walked over to her so she could see that I wasn’t playing with her ass, “My child is none of your concern. Neither is my relationship with Cliff for that matter.  I don’t have to justify my child to you or anyone else. Clifford is my man and if you have a problem with that then that’s just too damn bad.”

             
She stood up.  I guess she thought she had something soft, but I didn’t have to take shit off this broke down ass bitch.  I wasn’t about to disrespect Ms. Andrews house, but she wasn’t gonna say shit about my child either.