When a Hood Legend Claims It All 4 Read online

  I don’t know why I wasted my time.

  I thought to myself, making my way to the conjoining bathroom.

  “Kenton, wait!” she called out.

  Behind me I heard her get off the bed and rush behind me.

  Grabbing the hem of my shirt, I dragged it up over my head and tossed it in the corner where the hamper was.

  “That’s rude as fuck, Kenton. We were having a conversation. How are you going to get up and walk away?”

  “Nah… you made ya point. Ain’t shit else to talk about. Picking up my brush, I leaned over the vanity and looked in the mirror that stretched across the entire wall of the bathroom and brushed my waves ignoring her presence behind me.

  “Cut it out with the bitch ass shit!” she snapped.

  The brush dropped from my hand within seconds, and I was up and in her face.

  “You know I don’t do that disrespectful as shit, Rita. Just cause I love you, I’m giving you one pass, but this will be the last and only.”

  She had me thirty-four hot while she was smirking her ass off. I wanted to yoke her pretty ass up, so bad, but I went to focus back on getting myself. She stopped me placing her tiny hands on my biceps.

  “I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. How was I supposed to get your attention?”

  “I heard you loud and clear the first time.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “You did, and it’s cool. No one ain’t about to force you to do some shit you don’t want to do.”

  Rita crossed her hands under her breast and cocked her bobble head to the side. “Why? Because you have a slew of bitches that’s willing to jump when you say so.”

  Now the roles switched. I was chuckling while she stood glaring at me because she came up with that stupid ass reason in her mind.

  “You’re my only bitch, so cut it out.”

  Hooking my finger under her chin, I tried to bring her face towards mine, but she moved away.

  “Call me another bitch and I will knee you right between your legs.”

  I flinched thinking about that pain. “Damn, why you had to say all that?”

  “Because you know I don’t fuck around. I demand respect. It ain’t an option over here.”

  “You demand it so much, that you’re insinuating I got bitches? Quit trying to pick a fight. I heard you loud and clear. It ain’t nothing to argue about.”

  I let her go and turned back around to finish brushing my hair. Rita stood behind me watching my every move.

  “You of all people she understand how I feel. Everything in my life has been so wrong for so long that when something feels right I have to question it. This,” she said pointing between the both of us, “is good… Shit… it’s great, but you’re not used to a relationship. What if you wake up and decide you don’t want to be with me? What if you cheat on me? Neither one of us knows what it feels like to be committed. What if…”

  Placing my brush back down, I turned towards her and pulled her into my arms silencing her with a kiss.

  “What if this shit becomes bigger than what we ever imagined? What if you become my wife and give me more bratty ass kids? Cut that negative shit out. You only manifest what you allow to consume your mind. I don’t give a fuck what I use to do or what we lacked. All I know and care about is that I have you...forever. I need you to know that’s what you want as well.”

  “You know it is,” she mumbled as if she was almost afraid to say it.

  We both had trust issues. Fucking her over wasn’t something I was going to do. I valued our bond more than anything in this world. One good girl was worth a thousand bitches and she was my one. I felt it. I knew it.

  Rita

  “So when will you be going to the DMV to change your address on your ID?” CoCo questioned me. She was nothing less of excited knowing that Kenton wanted to take the next step in our relationship. Granted I was now at his place every single day and tending to his children who I referred to as my babies. It was different having him communicate it. Even with the hard time I gave him I was excited as well. Finally nothing but happiness was in my life and I had a great feeling it was here to stay.

  “Can I move my belongings in first?” I asked with my face screwed up. “Damn. I will technically still have my name on my lease until the end of the year.”

  “So…”

  “Relax, girl.”

  “I’m just so happy for you! Can you imagine if you two have a baby? Our kids can grow up as cousins.”

  I laughed with my hands in the air. “Hold up, hold up. Now you’re jumping the gun. I’m not popping out any babies. Well not right now,” I corrected her. “I will like to enjoy these baby steps we’re taking into our relationship.”

  “Baby steps my ass, y’all went from screwing to shacking up. That ain’t baby steps.”

  “Don’t remind me,” I stated with an eye roll.

  “Seriously, Sharita. I’m so happy for you and Kenton. I didn’t think he’d turn out to be this man, but you definitely bring out the best in him. Everything is falling into place for you.”

  “Finally...it took years for me to get it together.”

  “It doesn’t matter. As long as you did it is what counts.”

  I truly loved CoCo. She was so genuine and caring. Again, it was something I wasn’t accustomed to, but she helped me get through so much that she was now considered family. After hugging we both got to work it. Today was the kids first day back to school and I anticipated getting off work and hearing about their first day.

  A few hours passed and things finally died down in the salon. As soon as I took my phone to check in with Kenton, his name popped up across the screen making me smile.

  “Hey love.”

  “Sup, are you busy? I hate to ask, but I need you to do me a solid. The kids school called and I don’t think I can make it there quick enough.”

  “What happened?!”

  “Chill…it’s not that bad. Kent is just vomiting, and they believe he has a virus, so we have to get him. I’m on my way, but I think you can get there faster than me. I gave them your name. If you can, get them out for me.”

  “Of course. CoCo wouldn’t mind me leaving to go get them. I know where to go, so once I have them I will text you.”

  “Bet… good looking out. I love you.”

  My lips turned up. “I love you, too.”

  After hanging up the phone, I let CoCo know what was going on and just as I expected she was completely fine with me leaving. Since we all rode from Delaware to Philly in Kenton’s car I had to take an Uber.

  I made it to their school in about twenty minutes. Walking into the school, I rated the driver, and added a tip because I knew he sensed my urgency and got me there in no time.

  “Rita!” I heard Kent exclaim which caught me by surprise because he wasn’t a loud child.

  Lifting my head from the screen of my phone, I rubbed the top of his head smiling. For him to be so chipper, it was hard to tell he’s been throwing up.

  “Hey Kent, what’s going on? Your daddy told me you’re not feeling well.”

  “His daddy?! Well who the fuck is you?!” I heard a woman smack her lips before she decided to open her mouth.

  With a raised eyebrow I looked at her and back at Kent.

  “That’s my mom,” Kent murmured looking like he was embarrassed to say which he should’ve been because she was loud and ghetto. She was dressed in some cotton shorts that looked like it barely covered her ass, house slippers, a scarf on her head and a buildup of sleep in her eyes. It was definitely too late in the afternoon to be looking like you were just rolling out of bed.

  I had no idea why she was there being as though the school called Kenton. The look she was giving me reminded me that I owed her an ass whooping for putting her kids out her house.

  “I’m Kenton’s girlfriend. He told me to come get them from school for him.”

  “Umph,” she scoffed looking me from head to toe. I looked basic as fuck
wearing all black, but I was cute and clean. Something she sure enough wasn’t looking like. “You’re the wanna be mom that did my daughters hair. You lucky I ain’t fucking you up.”

  “Ain’t nobody lucky but your ass. The fuck you doing here?”

  I snapped my head in the direction of Kenton’s deep voice. His eyes were dark and zeroed in on Tara who had her lips pursed and hands on her hips.

  “The school called me about our kids.”

  “Cut that shit out. They weren’t your kids all summer. They’re children not toys you feel like playing with when you’re bored.”

  Tara kept her mouth closed and the angry look on her face lessened. I didn’t think Kenton had her in check with the ballsy shit she did, but it was apparent who was running shit.

  He walked right past her and then asked the woman who was watching everything unfold at the front desk to call Kenia down. With Kenton’s back towards her Tara took the opportunity to glare at me. Out of respect for Kent who was looking at me intently, I ignored her and began to question him about his first day.

  Kenia eventually came down from her class and stopped in the doorway of the office. Her mouth slacked as her little head whipped back and forth trying to figure out what was going on. Once the shock wore off, Kenia came right over to me and held my hand. The sad part about it their mother didn’t care.

  She eventually stormed out of the office. Unlike their egg donor, Ken hugged both of his children who were still by my side with their tiny hands in mine. After signing them out I apologized for the disturbance even though it wasn’t my fault and walked out of the school.

  Tara was outside loud on her phone puffing on a cigarette. She shot daggers my way and I smirked knowing she was lucky as fuck the kids were here because I envisioned myself dragging her from one corner to the next. Fuck disrespecting me. She didn’t deserve to have any title when it came to these children. From the looks of it I know she didn’t care to even come up to the school. I was shocked she came to be honest.

  “I know you’re not going to walk past me with my kids with that bitch!” she sneered.

  My head snapped in her direction so fast, I released the kids hands and went her way. Kenton standing in my way was the only thing stopping me from stomping a mud hole in that bitches face.

  “I know you want to fuck her up. Shit, I do too, but I can’t let that happen in front of the kids. I don’t want them to hate her, and if they do it will only be because of what she show them. Not because of how we feel or react. They’re old enough to know what’s going on. Let me handle it.”

  Nose flaring, I sucked in a sharp breath and blew it out pivoting on my heels and making my way back to the car where Kenia and Kent were indeed watching me.

  He was completely right. They spent five long ass years seeing the wrong person to be, it was up to me to lead by example. I didn’t want Kenia thinking when she grew up, people had to get fucked up every time someone called her out of her name. Disrespect shouldn’t be tolerated but some people were only smart enough to say ignorant things out their mouth and had nothing to lose. I also didn’t want Kent to think it was ok for women to carry on like this either.

  Kenton unlocked the door and I got them in the car as he went over to their mother. Inside the car, I watched as he hovered over her. His back was towards us, but from the look on her face, I could tell he wasn’t playing with her ass.

  She walked off not looking back over at the car and Ken made his way getting in the front seat as calm as ever. I turned on the music and looked back to make sure the kids weren’t worried about us which they weren’t. Both were on their iPad.

  “She looked like she wanted to cry.”

  “She did. That’s on her. No one ain’t gonna fuck with anyone I love. I put that on everything.”

  I smiled and took his hand in mine and he gave it a squeeze. There was nothing like a man that stood for everything he believed in. In this generation it was hard to come by, but I had it and I wasn’t giving it up for nothing!

  CoCo

  Even though I wasn’t wrong, I’ve decided it was time for me to be the bigger person and talk to my mother. I knew for a fact she wasn’t going to reach out to me, and me going out of my way will soften her up some. It gave her a sense of accomplishment of feeling like she got her way. It was petty as hell, but that was my mother for you.

  My father and I have been communicating every day. On the Sundays Ms. Margaret cooked and they both insisted that Amare and I come over.

  When I got to her house, I used my key to let myself in. Had I rang the doorbell she would’ve looked out the window and let me stand there. Closing the door behind me, I walked to the living room and peeked my head inside. Seeing that she wasn’t there, I went straight back to the kitchen and was met by her icy cold glare.

  “What are you doing in my house?”

  I blew out a sharp breath. “Mom let it go. You ran off for no reason when I only wanted to have an open conversation with you.”

  Walking further into the kitchen, I pulled a chair out from the table she sat at with a mug in her hand and took a seat.

  “Conversation for what? You were going to do whatever the hell you wanted to. How dare you take their side when I was the one that raised you ALONE! I struggled. And now that all the hard work is done he wants to come back in your life and act like father of the year!” she ranted.

  I let her get whatever it was that she had to get off her chest. I knew she was going to continue to place the blame. That was fine. If that was the story she was sticking to I had no issue with her standing by it. However, she was going to know I knew the truth and both of my parents were going to be in my life.

  “Are you going to say something or look at me like I’m stupid?” she asked. She was looking hella foolish for going off the way she did, but that was on her.

  “I’m not choosing sides and they’re not trying to discredit you for all the hard work you’ve done. I know it was tough being a single parent mom. I appreciate every single thing you’ve done for me. You chose to keep them away. As a child I could only do what you allow. Now that I’m grown I’m able to make my own decisions and I want the baby to have both of my parents in his or her life.”

  With her lip curled, she scoffed and brought the mug to her lips. She was so combative I know she probably expected me to snap, but there wasn’t an angry bone in my body. I was growing life inside of me. I was not watering my seed with any negativity. My mother can scream until her voice became hoarse I wasn’t about to battle with her now on this topic.

  Like I said, she spent so many years of my life getting whatever the hell she wanted and for me to do shit to appease her because I felt I owed her. I felt like it was my job to keep her happy since I’ve witnessed her being so bitter and down. It took this long for me to realize I was not responsible for her emotions nor did I have to carry her burdens.

  “So what did they say? I bet he’s still cheating on that bitch.”

  “Mom, it doesn’t matter. If he is that’s between them.”

  She stared at me for a moment and rolled her eyes, pushing her chair back.

  “About time you came to check on me. Are you hungry? I can bet my life on it that you had my grandchildren starving.”

  Now I was the one rolling my eyes hearing her refer to my one baby as more than one. She was off the topic for now and in a somewhat better mood. That was all I wanted. I wasn’t going to force her to change her mindset, but she did have to come to terms that I loved her and was building a relationship with my father.

  ***

  “What are we doing here?” I asked stepping out of the car.

  Mar text me a location and told me to meet him ASAP. I was already leaving my mother's house, so it wasn’t a hassle. We were standing in front of a building that looked like it needed a shit load of work. It looked so bad I was afraid if the wind blew too hard it was going to tumble down like a deck of cards. It was surprising because this building was smack dab i
n Center City. I never expected a piece of shit to be down here, but here it was in all its glory.

  “I know it’s hard to envision, but this will be your second location. This building will be your baby. Each floor will cater to every aspect of your business giving you more space to serve more clients,” he told me and then pointed to a gated area that looked like buildings were demolished. “That right there will be your parking lot. Parking is annoying as hell to find down here but knowing that potential clients are able to do their woman shit and park without paying will definitely bring in more money.”

  I was speechless and watched in awe how he spoke so vibrantly about a dream that was actually mine. The support was real. As he explained how he thought it was best to lay everything out, I grew just as excited. It was one thing for me to want more for myself, but Amare did as well, and the upside is he wasn’t looking to gain anything from it.

  “How much all of this is going to cost?”

  “Chillllll,” he dragged out. “I told you I got you covered. Let ya man handle this part of the work. Tell me yes, you will sign some paperwork, and I will have this shit up and running in a matter of months.”

  Mar took my hand and pulled me closer to the mess he was eager to make my masterpiece. “There was a big fire, the owners don’t want to invest the money to fix everything back up, so I’m jumping on this offer.”

  I screwed my face up. If someone was willing to walk out on their dream it probably came with a humongous cost. “Sounds like a bunch of money.”

  Mar kissed my temple and brought me to him, circling his arms around my waist, and rested his hands on my small baby bump.

  “Like I said, that shit doesn’t matter. You want it or not. The offer is on the table and I told the realtor I need the greenlight from my wife. We’re gonna do this or what?”

  Shifting my body, I lifted my head and gazed into his beaming eyes. This shit was huge, but I was with it every step of the way.

  “We will. When can we sign the papers?”

  Mar’s smile stretched wide and he kissed my lips. “Soon. Let me make a few calls on our way back home. In a matter of days this will be yours.”