“Hey, Daddy! Can you tell Gigi that I don’t have a bedtime ‘cause I can’t go to school?” Aniyis flipped the camera to his grandmother who was having a hard time turning off the game system Ezekiel had him hooked on.
Kross chuckled as he balanced his attention between the road and Aniyis. “Nah, ‘Niyis. You got physical therapy in the morning, and you gotta be out the house early,” he reminded his son, earning a roll of his eyes once he turned the camera back to him.
Aniyis dreaded his physical therapy sessions because he couldn’t grasp onto the fact that he had to re-learn something he had already mastered. Still, despite a few tantrums, he was making steady progress.
“Do I have to go? I can just do it at home.”
Kross shook his head as a sigh fled out of him. Lately, getting in the car was giving Aniyis major PTSD. It hurt Kross’ heart to hear his son say it felt like he was reliving the shooting every time he got in the car, but all they could do was persevere through it.
“You gotta go, man. Think about it. After each session, you’re that much closer to getting back to playing football.”
“I guess,” he muttered in defeat. “Are you coming over tonight? Gigi said you were.”
“Sorry, ‘Niyis. I’m stuck in traffic. By the time I get back, you’ll be sleep, but I swear, I’m coming through tomorrow and kicking it with you all day.”
“Okay,” Aniyis mumbled with his voice full of sadness.
Raq just knew Kross was devastated to hear the sadness in his baby’s voice, so she pivoted the conversation onto her in hopes of aiding her son. “Kross, walk me through how to shut off this game. Aniyis’ bad tail think he can get over on me so he can be up all night playing it.” Raquel grabbed the iPad so he could see the puzzled look that etched her face.
Kross chuckled before he walked his mother through turning off the game. Aniyis accepted his defeat and said his goodbyes to his father before he and Raquel prayed so he could go to bed. She eased out of the bedroom, making sure to leave the door cracked for him. Kross remained on the phone since he knew his mother had something to get off her chest. He could see it all in her face.
“You know, you shouldn’t break your promises to him, Domonique. He’s clinging to you more than ever right now,” she said, calling Kross by his middle name.
“Ma, you don’t think I know that? I’m trying my best. I don’t wanna be away from my son, but y’all got a point. It’s just not safe for him to be ‘round me right now. I got caught up today, but I will do better tomorrow.”
His fatherhood was something he took extremely seriously. He didn’t give himself much grace in anything when it came to Aniyis because he saw Cassie do it for six whole years without breaking a sweat or dropping the ball. Aside from the heat he had out in the streets, Kross was doing a great job with Aniyis and was making Cassie proud.
Raquel sighed deeply as she nodded. “Alright, son. I did want to let you know that while we were at Aniyis’ session with thetherapist, a few detectives came by to see if we would be willing to have Aniyis answer some questions about the shooting. I told them it’s not my decision to make and I would have to get the okay from you.”
Still splitting his attention between the road and the phone call, Kross screwed his face up and eyed his mother briefly. “Hell nah! My son not talking to none of them motherfuckas.”
“Kross, don’t you think?”
“Look, Ma, I ain’t trying to think shit. My son not about to get interrogated about witnessing his mother die. That shit is dead.” He shook his head.
Raquel sighed deeply at how head strong her son was. He never was one to talk to authorities and would much rather handle things in the streets. She was hoping that because this was something that Aniyis was involved in, her son would see the bigger picture, but it only made things worse.
“Alright, Kross. I’m gonna let you go. You be safe. I love you”
“Bet. I love you too, lady.” He shot her a light smile before they ended the call.
For the rest of the ride, he endured bumper to bumper traffic until he got back to Miami. He had one last stop to make before he decided to call it a night and head back to the condo. It was approaching ten in the evening once he pulled into the parking lot of Fresh Miami Cutz. Remedy’s Lexus was still parked out front, despite it being three hours after closing. He knew he promised her that he would get there before she closed, but he did end up shooting her a text letting her know that he would be a few minutes behind. What he claimed to be a few minutes was really a couple of hours, and he knew she was about to chew him out for it.
Hopping out of the car, he made sure to lock it up before heading to the barbershop. To his surprise, the front door was still open.
Upon entering, he was met with the sight of Remedy with a young boy who had to be no older that three in her chair while she lined him up. Not too far away was a woman who Kross assumed was the mother of the young boy. Aside from them, the shop was empty since all the other barbers had called it a night and gone home.
Kross’ entrance caught the attention of Remedy and the other woman. “About damn time,” Remedy scoffed as she rolled her eyes at him before returning to lining up the boy.
“My fault. I’m here now,” he mocked the line she had given him that morning when she pulled up to the shop late.
“Oh, so you’re the one who had my friend in this shop so late?” The woman smiled, allowing Kross to see the pink braces that caged her teeth. “Thank you because my son needed a haircut. His birthday tomorrow, and I got back into town late as hell due to that traffic on that interstate.”
Kross chuckled. “Yeah, I got caught up in that shit too.”
“Must be a bad crash or something,” she said with a shrug. “I’m her god sister Raejah by the way.” She stuck her hand out for him to shake.
Remedy rolled her eyes at the fact that Raejah managed to smoothly introduce herself. The bitch could never mind her own business, but she knew her sis meant well.
