“Where am I?” Big asked, pulling at the IV.
I placed my hand over hers to still her movements. “No, Big. You can’t pull that out. Leave it in. You’re in the hospital. The nurse is coming.”
“I don’t like being in hospitals.” Big moaned.
“Good. Because I don’t like you being here either,” Jazzy said. “You have to behave so they will release you.”
Big closed her eyes.
Sean returned with the nurse and doctor in tow. They asked us to leave the room while they examined Big.
Jazzy and I hugged and cheered in the hallway as we stepped outside Big’s room. Sean sauntered down the hallway, probably to avoid another altercation with Jazzy.
From the corner of my eye, I saw someone approaching.I hope that isn’t who I think it is.I pulled out of my sister’s arms and dragged us to the waiting room to face the unwelcome visitor. And, she was not alone.
Jazz rolled her eyes. “I’m going back so I can be by Big the moment they finish.” She looked the visitor up and down. “You got this?” she asked me.
“Yeah,” I said, pointedly looking at Lakesha, who stood a couple feet away. This girl was maybe a buck-twenty-five soaking wet. I could take her down if I needed to.
Wearing a too-tight halter dress and run-over flats, Lakesha smacked her gum and came into my personal space. “I came to see Big. She done cooked for everybody in the neighborhood at least once.”
Lakesha pulled RayRay close to her side. She had a small teddy bear in her hand I recognized from the gift store. That store was pulling in some serious profits today with its overpriced items.
I frowned. Was Lakesha being genuine? Or did she follow Sean over here. “Big just woke up,” I said, feeling skeptical about her sudden appearance, all the while wondering why Lakesha was making small-talk with me. I knew everybody loved Big, but Lakesha and I weren’t tight like that.
Lakesha’s shoulders relaxed at my words and she did a little jig. “That’s some good news. Won’t He do it?”
I pursed my lips. Lakesha was so extra.
Now I wasn’t a church going person, but Lakesha’s praise sounded hollow. Like she was putting on a front. I made sure to keep all I was thinking off my face, though my rapid blinking was a dead giveaway.
Sean appeared from around the corridor. Lakesha’s face lit up at the sight of him. I could see her salivating over my man like a pit bull eyeing a piece of steak. I bunched my fists, resisting the urge to snatch her braids out of her head.
“Hey, Little Man,” Sean said, coming over to where we stood. He stooped to face his ‘son’.
Sean hadn’t acknowledged Lakesha and I smiled, relaxing my fists. Call me petty Betty but my heart sang at Sean’s reaction.
RayRay lifted his eyes and gave Sean a wide smile. I scrunched my nose. RayRay didn’t seem all that bad like Jazzy had described. Then again, Jazzy wasn’t one to interact with children. She didn’t have the patience.
Sean and RayRay started a conversation with Lakesha hanging back to watch them. She still hadn’t ventured into Big’s room, which further enhanced my suspicions.Lakesha followed Sean here.
Suddenly, an odd feeling engulfed me. I felt my eyes go wide. RayRay wasn’t Sean’s son. Maybe it was something I learned in biology class. Maybe it was that he reminded me of someone else in Lovetown. Maybe it was the smirk on Lakesha’s face. I drew in a breath. He wasn’t. He wasn’t. As sure as I knew my name, I knew I was right. Those facial features did not belong to Sean. I chewed on my bottom lip. The question was, could I convince Sean before he got more attached to the boy?
Watching RayRay’s bright face soaking in Sean’s words, I realized I had another dilemma. RayRay would be hurt. Again. Uncertainty filled my being. Would the truth cause more harm than good?
