The doctor told Ms. Coleman that Kateri would be fine and that there would be some complications afterwards. However, those problems she’ll have when it’s all said and done may affect her lifestyle. Her mom was concerned with her working, going places and overall, her everyday life.
I could care less about any of it but I’d be a fool to think Sariah wouldn’t have a hard time dealing with it. They’re best friends and have been for years. They were frick and frack and did everything together, including fighting. The way those two had each other back was something hard to find when it came to friends. There’s always some sort of jealousy or backstabbing, yet not with them.
I also knew the shooting affected Cairo in a different way. He was in love with Kateri and we all knew it. Once he spoke on having a kid with her and possibly going back on his oath not to get married, it was evident Kateri was the woman for him. After his ex did that shit to him, he lost all faith in finding what his mom called his soulmate. That was until Kateri and even though she survived the shooting, Cairo blamed himself because he knew the bullets were for him. He didn’t send Kateri out there purposely knowing that would happen but in his mind, it was his fault.
The part that had us mind boggled was how anyone knew about that place. Cairo had plenty of houses spread out and that particular one was on a dead end street with maybe six other houses on it. He never had security watching because it wasn’t one he frequented until Kateri.
“Raul, I want to see her.” Sariah whined, handing me the baby.
“Give it a few days because you’re still healing. She’s going to be there for a while from what the doctor said.”Cairo wantedto move her to his house on the compound but Ms. Coleman begged him not to. She didn’t want to go through security checks constantly to see her.
“What if she dies before I see her?” Taking Raul Junior out the room because she was being dramatic as fuck, I heard her granny go in there and start telling her off. Maybe I should talk her into staying. A few minutes later I heard the upstairs door slam.
“Let me talk to you, Raul.” I turned around and saw her grandmother coming down the steps. She was in good shape for the most part.
“What’s up?” I put Raul Jr. in the swing and turned the knob for it to go and play music.
“Let me sit first.” She took a deep breath and started to talk.
“Raul, you are a good man to my granddaughter but I need you to think really hard if you want to be with her.”
“Huh?” I was confused on what she was trying to say.
“Sariah is a brat and wants everything to go her way. If it doesn’t, then she’ll find a way to piss the person off.” Sariah was definitely like that.
“All I’m saying is you deserve a good woman who would appreciate you trying to give her the good life and Sariah wants to be broke forever.” I laughed so hard at her grandmother.
“I’m serious. If she can’t say she purchased this or did that, then in her mind she owed the person who did. She’s so used to having bragging rights on what she does have, that taking those away would be devastating.” I already figured that out about Sariah but she was right, I did deserve someone better.
“Now if you want to live with a woman who wants to live off scraps and tell people she’s broke or can’t go because she doesn’t have enough money then be my guest.” I stood there listening to her go on and on about what she felt was best for me.
“Shit, take my great grandson and tell her he can’t live in poor conditions or something. Maybe it will make her ass get it together.” I couldn’t help but laugh and agree. They didn’t live in a broken down house or anything like that but why live as if you’re barely making it when your man can give you whatever you asked for.
“Granny, are you trying to make him leave me?” Sariah walked slowly down the steps.
“Yup because you don’t deserve him.” Both of them looked at me like I had to answer.
“Your grandmother wants what’s best for you and our son. However, she’s right about being with a woman who appreciates me and what I could do for her.”
“Raul, I don’t want to depend on you. What if we break up and you don’t want to be around us anymore?”
“If you ask me, he shouldn’t be around you now with your ungrateful ass.” Granny rose up off the couch holding on to the cane.
“Raul, I know some good church girls that would love to be upgraded and treated like a queen. I’m sure they’d have a million babies for you too.” She walked off, pushing past Sariah. I couldn’t help but get a kick out of them.
“You want church girls Raul?”
“I don’t know Sariah but your granny was right. This delusion of losing your independence because I’m helping you is ridiculous. You think I want you to stop working so you can get on my nerves all day?” She gasped.
“I want you to go on vacations with your friends or have shopping sprees on me and not worry if I’m going to ask how much did you spend. You wanna go out and party, that’s fine because I’ll be here with our son or kids when you get home.” I made my way over to her.
“We’re not gonna work if you refuse to let me in your world.” I wiped the few tears streaming down her face.
“Can I keep my job?”
“Yup but ain’t no working second jobs.” There was no need for that.She didn’t even have to work at all but it would be good for her to get out the house.
“Ok, one last thing.” She wrapped her arms around my neck.
