“Then make a move, bitch,” I snarled, before abruptly ending the call.
Needless to say, I went right back into the house like nothing had happened, not giving a second thought to her threats. And that was the one time that I’d underestimated Tyra. Because she’d nearly brought a nigga to his knees, as she violated my family, and held a knife to my daughters’ throats.
That last conversation with Tyra would probably haunt me forever, as I questioned if I had given her that final push over the edge. I had to consider that perhaps had I handled that conversation differently, and spoke to her sensibly that I could’ve fanned those flames.
It was crazy. I always swore that me and Tyra had nothing, but she’d thought enough of whatever it was to throw her life away. She’d traumatized my kids, terrorized my wife, and left JJ motherless.
Naturally, when Tyra died, a lot of my disconnect from my son died with her. After about a year, and I could look at his face, without being triggered and plagued with memories of his mama, I was able to establish a better bond with JJ. He ended up living withMelissa, and she was completely cool with co-parenting with me.
Naturally, she’d attempted to throw some pussy my way, but that ship had sailed a long ass time go. Honestly, Lissa was washed up, and still often talked about her glory days in high school. So, she wasn’t even worthy of sucking the dick. Besides, I was in a different faze of my life, and after everything that my family had been subjected to, because I’d brought Tyra into their lives, I just couldn’t see myself going backwards by cheating.
So, for the longest, the only time I lied to Raven was when I’d spend time with JJ. That went on for years, until she figured that shit out, and we were forced to deal with the situation head-on.
Assimilating JJ into my family was probably one of the hardest mountains I had to climb. It had taken several hours of therapy. For everybody. Raven had even temporarily lost her mind. And may that nigga who thought that he could snatch my wife now burn in hell.
Me not keeping my word about staying away from JJ had nearly derailed my marriage. But after the pieces were broken, we were put back together, stronger than ever. And now, I was convinced that Raven was mine to have and to keep. And neither of us were going anywhere.
Present day…
Raven
I rolled over in bed to hear my phone ringing. Blindly, I reached for my cell, and answered with my eyes still half-masted.
“Hello?” I gruffly answered, while brushing strays hair out of my face.
“Mama, you was sleeping?” Jhyrah questioned, sounding energetic.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I was calling you because I have this new concept for the family restaurant. I got some properties in mind too. Can you have Sam run the numbers? I’m thinking we can be up and operating in about two months—”
“Jhyrah,” I interjected. “Didn’t I tell you that I was sleeping?”
“Okay, but you answered, so that means that you’re up. Me and the kids are about to come over there, anyways. I need you to grease my scalp, and I want some breakfast.”
“Girl, what?” I pulled my phone away from my face to see that it was just eight in the morning. “Yeah, you losing your mind. Talking about me making you breakfast. Where is Jeremy? I’m sure that him and the kids don’t wanna be dragged over here this early.” I asked about her husband.
“He’s in the bathroom, getting ready. He already knows what’s up. He aint bigger than the program. It’s Sunday and I gotta go see my mommy.”
I sighed, as I sat up, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. “So, you’re just gonna assume that I don’t have my own plans today?”
“No. I’m assuming that yourfirst-born daughter would just naturally be a part of those said plans.”
“Jhyrah—” I got out, as my line clicked. “Shit, hold on.” I clicked over to answer the other line. “Hello?”
“Mama, I was some of that stuffed French toast you be making,” Jahrein Junior wasted no time.
“Stuffed French toast?” I scoffed. “Well, tell Josairah to make it. That’s what you got a wife for.”
I could hear him sucking his teeth. “She wants some of your French toast too.”
Already fed up with my spoiled ass kids, I crinkled my nose. “Then get that damn chef to make it for you,” I advised.
It was crazy how my kids still wanted to be babied, even long after moving out, and creating families of their own. Jhyrah was married to my girl Paris’s son, and he was in the NFL. Meanwhile, Jahrein Junior was married to my other girl Shay’s daughter, while he was in the NBA. So, they were successful in their own rights, but loved to pile up at my house, acting like some big ass kids.
“Mama, you know that can’t nobody whip it up like you. Besides, it’s Sunday, homegirl. It’s family day. And we trying to get it started.”
I rolled my eyes, because I hadn’t appointed Sunday as family day. My kids had, and they never gave any regards to me possibly having other plans.
