“’Preciate that Old Skool. I needed that.” My parents weren’t here but I always felt like they were watching over me.
“Grady, you taking library time today?” an officer was at our door questioning Old Skool.
“Yeah. Give me a minute.” Standing to his feet, he looked down at me and said, “You should join the Chats with Angels program youngblood. It’ll take your mind off the bullshit and get you conversation with somebody other than me. It also goes toward your time.”
“I’m cool on that. I ain’t gon’ be here too much longer. You enjoy that though,” I declined.
“I ain’t gon’ force you but think on it. You ain’t got shit going on this muthafucka anyway. Give it a shot.”
“I said I’m cool Old Skool. Do you.”
Shaking his head, he allowed the officer to walk him out. I wasn’t spending another year in this bitch and I damn sure didn’t see myself in here longer than a month or two. Windale was smarter than he looked. He knew with Kong ready to be set loose he was on a limited clock. I’m not doing time for shit that I never touched. Either he brought me results, or I proved my own fuckin’ innocence.
7
HEIDI
Check, check, and check. I was going over the mental checklist in my head for Lincoln’s arrival. Three full weeks had passed by, and I’d been nervous every day of it. I’d stepped into a lane that I’d only seen others do. This was a learning experience for me and poor Lincoln didn’t know that we’d very much be going with the flow.
A knock on the door caught my attention. For the umpteenth time of the day, my nerves bounced off the wall. I quickly threw back the shot of liquid courage before putting the bottle back in the freezer. I then placed the shot glass in the dishwasher before jogging off to the front door.
Sighing deeply, I turned the knob and barely got the door open before I was bombarded by Royce. He wasn’t who I was expecting in the slightest. Then again, I fell off the face of the earth for a few weeks making sure everything was together. It was only a matter of days before a search party was dispersed with him being the head of it.
“Royce, you can’t be here right now. You have to go,” I stated grabbing him by the arm to stop him in his tracks.
“I wish the hell I would go somewhere, and I ain’t laid eyes on you in weeks. Get the hell off me Heidi,” he snapped yanking his arm from my grasp.
“Seriously, Royce. You really can’t be here. I have some very important people on the way. This isn’t a good look for me.”
“It ain’t a soul in Sage Springs more important than me, and let’s be clear. I’m a good look for everybody. Who the fuck on the way over here Heidi? You got random niggas pulling up to the crib now?” His brows were dipped, and he was reaching for his gun on his waist. I didn’t need this shit right now.
“Dammit Royce. I have someone from the adoption agency coming over with a little boy. His name is Lincoln Young and he’s six. I don’t need you here scaring him. Can you please just go back next door until she leaves,” I begged.
He made an expression that saidyeah, the fuck rightand continued walking to the kitchen. Before I could run after him, my doorbell was being rung.Fuck!Royce never listened and it was always a fight with him. Any other day, I’d feed into his antics and let him have his way but today wasn’t that damn day.
Looking through the peephole, I saw that it was Ms. Squinks with little Lincoln at her side. Royce was answering the door without my permission. Mind you, I just witnessed this man disappear in the kitchen so him being here as soon as I turned my back was mind blowing.
“Royce, stop. No, no, no, n?—”
I was being interrupted and pushed out the way. He was already greeting Ms. Squinks and Lincoln with a handshake and smiling face. “Hey, how you doing? I’m Royce and you are?”
“Hi, I’m Ms. Squinks. Is this the home of Heidi Mitchell?” she inquired.
Scurrying from behind the door, I answered before Royce could. “Yes, it is Ms. Squinks. This is Royce Atkins. He ownsthe compound along with his family. He’s also my best friend, support system, and neighbor.”
“Oh, Mr. Atkins I’ve heard about you and your family. You all do a lot of great things in the community. It’s good to know Heidi has you in her corner. Would you mind if we stepped inside?” Ms. Squinks questioned.
“It’s no problem at all. Who’s this lil’ man?” Royce asked stepping to the side. He’d taken over the entire conversation.
After Ms. Squinks and Lincoln stepped inside, she introduced him. His hair was still covering his eyes, but he seemed to know where he was going. I reached for the bag, and he easily gave it up.
“This little guy is Lincoln. Lincoln say hello,” she coached him.
He turned around and gave Royce the smallest wave while holding his head down. Royce was a giant compared to him. Hell, he was a giant compared to everyone else as well. Royce rounded them then squatted with an extended fist.
“Waddup lil’ man? You want to hear something cool about our names?” Lincoln nodded, and Royce continued with, “They’re named after cars. Bet you didn’t know that.”
Royce brought attention to Lincoln’s name that didn’t even cross my mind. Seems like it was really in God’s plan for us to become a family. He was shy but that would soon wear off. If him and CJ were able to connect as boys, then he’d be just fine. Royce’s family were close knit, and they loved anyone that loved a member of their family. This little boy would be a lovely addition.
