Page 21 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon

Things with Essence were strained before he decided to leave. After losing Niva, she wanted him to leave the streets and everything he lived for alone. He loved his sister dearly, but she didn’t get it. Not only was what he did a means to his own survival, but it exhilarated him. It gave him an odd sense of purpose she would never understand.

“I need some help. Between work, taking care of them and all their day-to-day shit, I barely have time for anything. I need a break sometimes, but I know I can’t trust just anybody to look out for them. Not like me or you.”

“What you need me to do, E?” He chewed thoughtfully on his spaghetti. “If it’s finances, I got some shit put up, but I don’t know if I can cover all medical expenses myself.”

“Right now, that is the furthest thing from my mind. Her getting treatment is not the issue. Just keep an eye on them during the day. I got a nurse, Kissa, who comes over a couple of times to week to check on Taci. Summit just isn’t present. I don’t know where he is, or what he’s doing with his time, but he’s rarely here.”

“You saying that shit like you think he got a secret family out there or something,” Eazy remarked.

“I see you still telling my business.” Their grandfather spoke up, strolling into the kitchen in a pair of black slacks with a gray pinstriped shirt tucked into them and fresh lace up loafers on his feet.

“Hmph.” Turning her nose up, Essence looked him over. “Don’t do me, Summit. You know I got no problem saying what I say behind your back to your face.”

Summit Campbell wasn’t a flashy man, but he had style and always presented himself in a professional manner. His favorite diamond pinky ring gleamed on his finger as he propped the door open to his old school Maytag fridge.

“And I got no problem taking you over my knee like I did when you was little, running around here starting shit and telling everybody’s business. Should have been a damn reporter,” he muttered.

“You know what, I’m not even going there with you today.”

“You need to go and find a man or some friends. Sitting around here all the time all mean and celibate.”

Essence’s mouth fell open as he pulled a carton of sweet tea from the fridge.

“Kiss my ass, Summit!”

“Somebody need to. It ain’t me.” He shook his head, pulled a cupboard open and reached inside for a glass.

“I’m going to see if Taci is hungry.” Essence jumped up from the table as he filled his cup. “You can make your own damn plate. Grumpy ass.” Scoffing, she stomped out of the room, leaving Eazy chuckling and shaking his head.

“Why you giving her hell?” Eazy asked his grandfather when he joined him at the table.

Eazy was the spitting image of his father. Rich, dark fudge skin with a full beard and goatee just like Emmanuel. Observing the tattoos on his hands and arms, Summit saw something empty behind his stare that he also recognized. When Niva died, Eazy lost a big part of himself and was still learning how to keep himself together. He couldn’t say he would ever move on, but he had to push forward. The fact that he still didn’t have a face behind their ambush was enough to keep him pressing forward. He’d never been one to give up.

“She’s here all the damn time. Might as well move in. Like I don’t know how to take care of me or my wife,” Summit griped.

“She’s just trying to help,” Eazy reasoned.

“She ain’t got no life as it is. Sitting around here ain’t gon’ get her one. I take care of Taci just fine, and she gets around well on her own most days. Plus, Kissa checks on us. More than she should or is required to, but she’s just good people like that.”

Eazy listened to his grandfather explain before grabbing his napkin and wiping his mouth.

“I think I’ll just stay here, at least until I decide whether this job will stick. I can be with Taci when you aren’t here. We can chill and watch football and shit.”

“I don’t need no damn babysitter. I’m a grown ass man.” Summit sneered. “You the one that stay in trouble.”

Clearing his throat, Eazy shook his head and leaned back in his chair with one arm stretched and resting on the table. The other was propped against the back of his chair. When his pops died all those years ago, Summit became everything he needed, even when he didn’t want it. He was hard on him, but it was for good reason. He knew what the streets could do to you, and Eazy was determined to get caught up in them.

“I’m trying to clean up my act.”

“And I’m trying to take up marathon racing. Get the fuck out of here.” Summit waved him off. “I have some errands to run. Go check in with your grandmother.” Swallowing the last of his tea, Summit stood and snatched his keys off the hook near the door before stepping out onto the back steps.

Eazy glimpsed him over his shoulder and turned his attention back to his food. When he was done eating, he washed his plate in the sink and headed upstairs to greet his Old Lady. Essence sat on the edge of Taci’s bed, reading a book while their grandmother studied the news on TV. His grandmother was a lot thinner than he recalled, but she was still beautiful. Her smooth mocha skin was nearly wrinkle free, and her wide grayish green eyes drifted over to him lingering in the doorway.

“Is Scrooge gone?” Essence drawled, flipping the pages to the book before closing it.

“Eazy?” Taci’s eyes sparkled, and a small smile teased her lips. “Come here. Let me look at you.” She held out a hand for him.

“I’m going to make you a plate, Granny. I’ll be back.” Essence set the book on the bedside table. Eazy took her spot on the bed beside his grandmother and noticed all the prescription bottles on her table.