“You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“Not a chance.”
“Fine, I’ll call Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s.”
“Just so you know I would’ve dealt on once a week.”
“Asshole,” I mutter, and he laughs.
“I’ll wait for your call Wednesday.”
“Bye.”
I hang up and close my eyes, how the hell did that just happen? This is what I get for making a call in anger.
37
Darius
The family singing Happy Birthday comes to an end and I hit stop on the record button and shove my phone in my pocket. Another bitter-sweet moment that Amelia has missed. Mr. Haynes and Catherine have arranged a little party at his house and invited my family over to spend the day celebrating Elsa’s first birthday.
“Mr. Haynes?”
“Yes, Coby.”
“Before we have cake, can we go in the pool?”
My brothers’ eyes lit up when they got here and saw the pool out back.
“Hey, we’re here for Elsa, it’s her day,” I say, getting a knife to cut the cake.
“It’s okay, if they want to splash around, it’s fine with me. It’ll be nice for it to be used for once.”
They both look to me like I’m the doom to all their fun. Sighing, I mutter, “Fine. But no drowning, I haven’t got time to be hauling you both to the hospital.”
While Mr. Haynes busies himself with showing the boys where they can change and Ma and Catherine settle Elsa down for a nap, I slip away up to Amelia’s room.
From the first time I came in here, to fuck her senseless, I’ve felt a peace being around her things. Someone’s been in here since Amelia got sentenced, every photo of her and Clare are gone. It’s like the place has been cleansed. I’m not unhappy about it, it’s not like the girl is going to reappear any time soon.
Closing my eyes, I remember the time I was in here months ago. I wanted to hear her tell me she was carrying my kid, the time I was here before that, I was more than likely putting our daughter inside her. I’d do anything to go back to those days, to hold her and kiss her soft skin.
I sent word to one of our girls on the inside to call me and when my phone rings it better be her. I’ve been waiting nearly four fucking days.
“Darius?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Sorry it’s taken me so long to call you back. We’ve been on lockdown.”
“Just update me on Amelia.”
Usually Jermaine makes these calls but this time I want to talk to her myself.
“There’s not much to say, she’s still keeping to herself. Only talks to her bunkie. Her fine little body is getting tighter from the yoga but apart from that, there is no change, Darius.”
Just hearing about her body gives me a twitch.
“No change, huh? Then why did she call me the other night fussing about the Sixer’s main man following me and my kid around. Something about shit going down on movie night?”
