“And if I get bail?”
“Then you come home—well, home for now—and we build your defense. Which brings me to…” She paused with a small smile. “Prime wanted me to tell you something.”
My heart skipped. “What?”
“He’s here. In LA. Flew out yesterday with Yusef.”
“He’s HERE?”
“Rented a house up in the hills. For you. For when you get out.” Her smile grew. “That man has been blowing up my phone every few hours asking for updates. I’ve never seen anyone so pressed.”
I laughed, but it came out shaky. Watery. “That’s so him.”
“He wanted to come today, but they’re not allowing visitors until tomorrow. So he told me to tell you…” She glanced at her notes. “‘Tell her Daddy’s here. Tell her to hold on. Tell her I’m not going anywhere.’”
The tears fell then. I couldn’t help it.
He was here. Thousands of miles from home. Waiting for me.
“Can you tell him something for me?” I asked, wiping my face.
“Of course.”
“Tell him I love him. And tell him to kiss my baby for me.”
Camille tilted her head. “Yusef?”
“Both of them. The one in my belly, too.”
She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “We’re gonna bring you home, Zainab. I promise you that.”
I wanted to believe her. I really did.
The CO came back way too soon. Cuffed me up again. Walked me back to my cell with that same rough energy.
But this time, I held my head up.
Prime was here. Bail was coming. My baby girl was healthy and strong.
I could do this.
LaLa wason her bunk when I got back, flipping through an old magazine.
“How’d it go?” she asked, looking up.
“Good. Lawyer thinks I got a real shot at bail.”
“Ayy, that’s what I’m talking about!” She grinned big. “See? Told you. Don’t let this place steal your hope.”
I sat down on my bunk with a heavy exhale. My feet were throbbing. The baby was doing gymnastics on my bladder. But for the first time since I landed in LA, I felt like maybe things would be okay.
“Your man coming tomorrow?” LaLa asked.
“Yeah.”
“I can tell you miss him bad.”
“That obvious?”
