“I just need to soak for a minute. I’m so sore.”
“I’ll bring you some more tea.” He kissed the top of her head and Giselle watched him leave as she slipped out of her gown and dipped her foot in the tub.
The water was as hot as she liked it, so she slowly submerged her entire body into it and placed her head against the porcelain of the claw tub. With her arms resting along the side, she absorbed the silence and let the essential oils do their thing. The eucalyptus fragrance opened her nostrils right up.
“Here, this is the adult version of that tea Petal had me whip up. She said to put some whiskey in it for you.” Heavy stood at her side and offered her a coffee mug.
“You’re taking such good care of us. Thank you.” Giselle grabbed the mug and brought it to her lips.
The whiskey hit her nose before anything else, but she took a slow sip.
“Mmm, damn. That’s strong.”
“Yeah, she said the trick was for it to knock you out.” He chuckled. “Drink that and soak for a minute. I’m going to clean the kitchen and keep an eye on them.”
Giselle wasn’t sure how long she’d been in the tub, but she was all wrinkled up by the time she got out. Heavy brought her pink silk pajamas and left them on the counter for her. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and moisturized her body before stepping into the cool atmosphere of her room. She smiled when she found Heavy curled up with the twins sleeping. Grabbing her phone, she went right to the camera so she could snap a couple of pictures to save the moment. She frowned when he device suddenly lit up in her hand. Once again, she didn’t pick up, but then the doorbell chimed. She eased her feet into her slippers beside the bed so she could go answer.
The chiming didn’t stop as she padded down the hall, and now she was irritated as hell at whoever was acting like they had no fucking home training. Not bothering to check and see who it was, she flung the door open and came face to face with the last person she expected to lay eyes on again.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Daggers shot through her stare at Alonzo standing on her front porch. Looking much older, thinner, and broker, he raked his dismal eyes over her, still enamored by her beauty.
“What’s up, G? I came to see my kids.” Alonzo stepped closer, as if she was just about to let him come into her house.
Giselle held up an arm to block him. “Over my dead body.”
“They’re still my kids! I can see them whenever the fuck I feel like it!”
“Not anymore,” Giselle informed him. “Your access is denied tomykids,” she emphasized.
With his thumb and first finger, he plugged his nostrils and took a breath. Giselle knew he was high the minute his glistening eyes latched onto hers. With a low, dangerous chuckle, he glanced at the ground.
“You want to deal with me or a judge, Giselle?”
“You making threats?”
“I’m trying to compromise with you. I didn’t have to come here. I could have had you served with papers.”
“You already did!” she spat. “You think you can show up at my house and demand to see my kids after abandoning them and forcing them out of their home?”
“You think you gon’ stop me?” he challenged, inching closer than she wanted.
“Alonzo, get the fuck away from my house.”
“Legally, those are my kids, Giselle.”
“And you petitioned the judge to leave them in my custody, Alonzo. You don’t get to show up whenever the fuck you want.”
“I’ve been calling, and you won’t answer the phone.” He stepped toward her menacingly, and Giselle backed up, unsure what he was capable of.
At one point, he was her husband, and she thought she knew him, but when he robbed her right in her face, it showed her that he was capable of anything. She stumbled into a nearby wall, and Alonzo locked her in. He propped an arm above her, resting his hand against the wall, so he could tower over her.
“Why are you here? Things with Esti not everything you thought it would be?” Giselle mocked.
“Don’t talk about that bitch!” Alonzo barked.
“Why not?” Giselle tilted her head. “She a sore spot for you? I thought everything between the two of you was on one accord. You look like shit, by the way. Sis stressing you out like that?”
Snarling, he reached for her throat, locking his fingers around it and crowding her airwaves with his grip. Gasping for air, Giselle swung on him, but missed, and Alonzo only tightened his grasp.
