The Pleasure's All Mine (47 page)

Pierce failed in an effort to smile. “Despite the fact that I like my life organized and orderly, you sent me a woman who is total chaos. I love home-cooked meals, and you sent me a woman who says it’s against her religion to cook on weekends and weekdays.” He shifted on the wooden bench, wiping away a stream of tears. He had cried more since knowing Raven than he had his entire life. At first he never allowed himself to feel, to let anything touch him. Now feeling is what drove him, what made him know he was alive, that life was more than just about the blood coursing through his veins. “You sent me a woman who’s afraid to let me in and love her, and I didn’t even realize that loving her unconditionally was what I needed to do most.”

Pierce lowered his head, fighting against the wracking sobs that begged for release. “I always believed we had time to make things right. And all that pride and—whatever—doesn’t matter.” Rubbing his bare head, he conceded, “I know exactly what I need to do. I’ll move my ass—um, butt—to Chicago the moment Raven’s well enough to travel. No more of this stubbornness, no more being uncompromising, no more not being there for her.”

Pierce’s words echoed in the quiet chapel.

“Finally, if I had to ask for anything for myself, it’s strength. Give me the strength to deal with whatever comes my way. My greatest prayer is for them to be here, but I know that everything is according to Divine Order and that might mean…” Pierce let out a long, slow breath. “Give me the strength to handle this. Give me the strength to help in whatever way I’m needed.” He clasped his hands and let out another breath, sniffling back the remaining tears. “Okay, God, I think that’s about it.”

Pierce sensed someone behind him. He opened his eyes and turned to see the chaplain standing near the doors.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Oh, about since, ‘God, I haven’t really spoken to you…’.”

Pierce nodded. He wouldn’t feel the least bit ashamed. Only Eric, Raven, and Ava had shown spiritual awareness—not a holier-than-thou, my-way-is-the-only-way take on religion. He was still studying the books Ava and Eric had given him and trying to get a handle on things. And it was the only reason he was here, trying to make the connection to God once again.

“They sent me to tell you there’s someone named Raven on the line for you.”

❤ ❤ ❤

Pierce was at once elated and upset to hear her voice. Elated because she was still alive, then upset beyond words because of her request.

“What do you mean, you want me to go to Chicago?”

“Pierce…” she croaked. “Please deal with the situation with my family.”

“Why can’t Ava do that? She’s the lawyer!”

“Pierce, please!” she begged.

Pierce closed his eyes against the headache that was brewing. “Why do you want me to go? Especially now, when
you
need me and Eric needs me!”

She whispered, “So my mind will be at ease. The children have to know that I’m there for them. I’m worried, Pierce. Please, just go…do it for me.”

“What’s really going on, Raven,” he whispered, pacing the white tiles. “Marie got here a little while ago. I was just getting ready to come back to you.”

“No!”

There was a gasp, then a rustle of sound before Ava came on the line.

“Pierce, this is upsetting her,” she admonished. “Just do it, okay?”

“What the hell am I supposed to do?” he yelled, causing the nurses to gesture for him to keep it down. “I’m not a lawyer!”

“Tell them what’s going on. Tell them we need a continuance.”

“You can do that over the phone!”

“I haven’t been able to catch up with the judge’s clerk.”

Pierce could feel the lie.
Why is Ava in on this
?
He was of a mind to ignore the request, go to Raven’s room, and demand to know what was really going on.

“If you don’t go, the judge won’t rule in Raven’s favor.”

“Like that matters right now. Her family can wait! You can file something later, telling them what really happened.”

“By then, the damage will be done, and it’s much harder to unring the bell.”

Pierce wasn’t buying it. “What’s really going on, Ava? You’re not telling me the truth. Why are you all keeping me away from the hospital?”

“Just go, Pierce,” she said softly. “You won’t be able to do anything on this end for a while. I have to go. They’re about to prep her to go back into surgery in a little while. It’s going to be a few hours anyway.”

“Another surgery? Why do they keep operating on her? Ava, you haven’t been honest with me!”

“Pierce, go to Chicago. Do it for Raven, please.” She hung up.

As Pierce put the phone down, Marie came out of Eric’s room and touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to go to Chicago.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“You can’t leave me here alone!” she shrieked, falling into his arms. “They’re still working on Eric!”

Pierce held her as she cried, feeling very much like doing the same. Chicago to New York and back to Chicago? Three hours tops. Nothing would make him leave again. Nothing!

“What do I tell them if they ask for you?”

“Tell them that you’re his wife.” He hugged her, then pulled away. “Steve’s on his way here. I’ll be back as soon as I can. “He’s going to be all right. They’re doing the best they can. Be strong for him, okay?”

❤ ❤ ❤

Pierce was almost too late. As he walked into the courtroom, Janetta was ranting, “See, she ain’t even here!”

“You know what?” Pierce snapped as he made his way to the front of the courtroom. “Your sister’s in critical condition in the hospital right now but had the presence of mind to ask me to come on her behalf.”

Drew stepped forward, removing his arm from his wife’s shoulder. “Raven? What’s going on?”

Janetta’s eyes flashed with something that might have been compassion, but it came and went so quickly Pierce wasn’t sure.

“She’s in surgery after taking a horrendous beating,” Pierce told them. “And your nephew is having brain surgery to save his life.” Pierce turned to the man on the bench. “Now, Judge, I apologize for busting in like this, but I just got off the plane and I want to get back—like two minutes ago. I have a driver waiting.”

The judge spread his pudgy hands. “The floor is yours.”

“My patience is like this.” Pierce snapped his fingers—the sound echoed in the courtroom. “And I propose to end this in a way that makes everyone happy so I can get my ass back to New York.” He turned back to the bench. “Judge, I’m about to be a little unconventional here,” he said as he looked at the children.

“Go ahead.” The man folded his pudgy hands. “This should be interesting.”

Pierce just looked at him.

The judge sighed, stood and beckoned Manny and Kayla. “Children, why don’t you come with me and tell me how things are going?”

“We wanna stay with Uncle Drew and Auntie Dina,” Kayla whined.

“I understand that,” the judge replied, gesturing her to come forward.

Pierce bent down and said to the children, “Right now, the adults need to have what Auntie Raven calls a ‘a come-to-Jesus meeting.’ “

“Auntie Rav got that from Grandma,” Manny shot back, his eyes somber as Kayla nodded.

“Let’s go into my chambers.” The judge turned to Pierce, pointing a single finger. “My clerk stays here. Nothing illegal, Mr. Randall.”

“I’ll try.”

When the judge and the children were out of earshot, Pierce turned to Janetta and said, “Since it’s obvious that your take on things is all about money, I’m prepared to give you what you want.”

Janetta perked up.

“
With
conditions of course.

Her smirk disappeared. “Why the hell do you care what I do?”

“It’s what your sister would want. She cares about her family, regardless of what anyone thinks.”

Drew threw a nasty glance at Janetta.

“You were all so busy trying to hurt her, you never once saw how important she is in your lives,” he said to both of them. “And you,” he pointed to Janetta, “for all your bullshittin’, you do care about your sister, even if it’s just a little. She told me how you never let anyone outside the family ever hurt her, how you would fight anyone who attacked her or teased her because she looked so different.”

Janetta just stared right through Pierce.

“Don’t you think Raven needed you, her older sister, when all that madness with your father was going down? Instead, you were too busy letting some no-account Negro fill your head with lies. You were selfish then, and you’re still selfish—only this time it’s your own children—pimping them for what they have and you don’t. Taking from them, using them up, and leaving them with nothing.”

“I can raise them right. They’re
my
kids,” she snapped, hands on her wide hips.

“Raise them
right?
Woman, you can’t even take care of yourself, let alone raise anyone right, so don’t give us the ‘it’s about my kids’ crap.”

“If she cared so much about them, how come they weren’t living in that fancy place of hers? She could’ve taken care of them.”

I don’t have time for this shit!
“Did you ever think about the fact that by taking care of your mother, she was, in fact, already taking care of your children? Or maybe you didn’t notice because you were too high or strung out on dick.”

“I’m
not
an addict.”

She didn’t address the other comment. His gaze narrowed at her. “We’re all adults here. Let’s not lie. You’ve been snorting enough of that crap to keep the neighborhood dealers in business.”

“Who are you to talk to me like that?”

“I’m someone who loves your sister and also someone who doesn’t have much tolerance for bullshit right now.” He looked from Janetta to Drew. “It’s time you both grew up.”

“My man is grown,” Dina countered, entwining her arm in her husband’s.

“Then stop telling his children that
they
have to be the bigger people when he won’t return their calls. You’re enabling him by helping him avoid his responsibilities. You’re a woman and a mother. You should at least be able to see it from their point of view.” Pierce glared openly at Drew and Dina, daring them to contradict him.

Behind the siblings, the clerk gave Pierce an amused smirk and a thumbs up.

“You all had the same mother and that’s what counts. Your daddy didn’t stick around and neither did Raven’s, but your mother certainly did.” His gaze flickered over Raven’s sister, taking in her solemn expression. “I know what this is really about. So let me take the fun out of things and cut to the chase. I’m willing to cut you a check for a thousand dollars a month—same as you would get if you had the kids.”

Janetta’s lips lifted in a wide smile.

Pierce added, “
With
the condition that you go to rehab, counseling, take care of your physical condition,” he said, wrinkling his nose so she would know exactly what he meant, “and find some sort of steady job. Now you have a chance to get it together—in style, I might add.”

She was about to protest when he crooned, “Think of the money.”

Janetta’s stunned expression almost gave way to tears. Then her shoulders slumped under the angry glare of her boyfriend, who said, “Your ass ain’t going nowhere.”

Pierce ignored T. J. So did Janetta.

“Janetta, your sister said you were smart, top of your class in high school. Just because you did time on the streets doesn’t mean that your smarts disappeared.” Pierce turned to Drew. “If you’ll maintain things as they are for now, I’ll pay for Kayla and Manny’s lessons, private school, and on the back end, I’ll help you open your own club.”

Drew perked up, nodding his acceptance.

“You can make your own hours, but more importantly, you must mend your relationship with your own children. That means child support straight out of your paycheck and out of your cut of club profits.”

Drew looked at Dina, worried lines still furrowing his brow and hers. “I’m down for that.”

“I’ll draw up the agreement for everyone to sign, the judge can look it over, and we can get on with the process of living. Everyone agreed?”

Janetta, still trying to keep T. J. from getting a grip on her arm, said, “Yeah!”

Drew nodded.

“Great!” Pierce rushed to the clerk and asked, “I’m not a lawyer—can you help me write something for them to sign?”

“Sure, to save time, why don’t I just do it for you?”

As the clerk scribbled out an order, Drew walked up to Pierce. “Is my sister gonna be all right?”

“It’s a little shaky right now, but she’s hanging in there.”

“All done,” the clerk said a few minutes later. “I’ll get the judge to sign these. Some of the personal stuff couldn’t go into the court order, so I put it on this sheet right here. Now it’s between you and them.”

Janetta joined Drew. “What about my kids? I want to see them.”

“That can be worked out. Just get it together. They’re not going anywhere.” Pierce checked his watch. With a flight to New York every hour on the hour, he could make it before traffic got too bad. “Okay, I gotta hit the airport.”

“Yeah. Let’s roll,” Drew replied, chancing a glance at the closed door to the judge’s chambers.

Pierce froze.

“We’re coming with you. I want to see my sister.”

Pierce looked at Janetta who shrugged. “I don’t think she’ll want to see me.”

He weighed that thought. “You might be wrong about that. Let’s make moves, people. I’ll call for more tickets.”

Pierce put up a hand to stop T. J. from following. “Now that I think about it,” he said to Janetta, “this’ll work out even better—we’ll put you in a rehab spot in New York.”

“But I wanna stay in Chicago!” Janetta protested.

“You won’t get to see anyone for three months anyway, so what’s the difference? This way you won’t run into anyone you know or anyone you owe.”

T. J. blasted Janetta with a string of profanity that would’ve made Red Foxx and Richard Pryor blush.

Drew came to stand in front of Pierce. “What’s up with Eric?”

“His wife is with him right now. He’s still in surgery.”

“He’s married?” Drew asked, shocked. “Isn’t he like—seventeen or something?”