Page 63 of A Capo’s Love: Featuring A Don’s Love

La’Nova was at a children’s center doing a meeting for her coloring book release. I actually encouraged her leaving without Novae just so she could experience time outside of here and alone. I took her word for it days ago when she promised not to run off. My trust would have to be earned again, but I didn’t plan on being on edge worried about her trying to dip on me again.

I forgave La’Nova before she pushed Novae out. I opened my mind and stepped into her shoes to see it all from her perspective. It made me feel a little better about forgiveness when she confessed about sincerely not knowing about being pregnant when she decided to leave. I couldn’t judge her. I planned the same day she left to go out the coward way by sending Roy to tell her to stay away from me.

Two wrongs didn’t make a right. I kept telling myself that until it settled in my chest and quieted the war that raged inside of me. It didn’t matter what side of a story a person stood on to me. Pain was still pain; I felt it every day… just like damage was still damage. La’Nova and I had destroyed pieces of ourselves. She wanted to protect the broken parts of herself, but I forgot to protect mine in the beginning and fell hard.

Neither one of us was innocent in our own different ways. That was the hardest part to accept because hatred would’ve been easier if all the blame belonged to her. I had my own past moments that haunted me when the world got quiet and there was nothing or no one around to distract me from myself, my decisions, and the many souls I snatched away with my bare hands on a rage for power, respect, and principle.

La’Nova hurt me knowingly in the beginning. There were warnings she had given that I ignored because I thought it was overlookable. Turns out, to an average man, they would’ve killed her no matter how good the pussy felt like or smelled like. I still had nights where I laid awake staring into darkness, replaying the first day I met her at House of Angels, claiming her as my wife without knowing anything about her.

In my mind, we were wickedly destined to be. She was my cause and cure. No one could convince me otherwise. I had the kind of pain that hollowed me from the inside while I pushed through day by day smiling in front of my niece and nephews, and now Novae. Loving La’Nova had become the safest thing and most dangerous thing I’d ever done at the same time. Some days it could feel like torture to my mental, which is why I had to let go all of my reservations so I could fully accept her fairly and love her unapologetically.

No matter how hard things became, no matter how uncertain our future looked, I still couldn’t picture my life without her in it. She left me no choice but to face that raw truth when she left. I didn’t know where we would land, and I didn’t know if we’d rebuild everything that felt shattered between us. I was willing to, and I didn’t feel ashamed about it. I just needed La’Nova to show me with actions instead of promising to always be here for me.

People could promise to always be there, and it could mean through distance. I didn’t want distance with her; I wanted to be inside of her soft fluffy brown skin.

I was so willing to fight and try now that I started reading plenty of first-time mother and father books for new parents with newborns and it was helpful. La’Nova showed no signs of postpartum depression. I just wanted to stay ahead of things. I took accountability for my wrongs, like blowing all of her things up in Vegas and replaced them.

That’s what brought me to my under-car garage that could fit an entire amusement park inside of it. It was just as big as my estate. I stood with my hands shoved inside the pockets of my black slacks while staring up at the custom luxury camper I bought for La’Nova three weeks ago, trying to decide if it looked apologetic enough. She probably felt like I purposely took her freedom away by burning the things she worked hard to acquire, and I wanted to right it.

I wanted her to feel and understand that she still had freedom, even while staying here. The entire exterior was soft lavender with pearl undertones that shifted under the garage lights. Chrome accents wrapped around the sides while matte-black solar panels lined the roof; clean enough to make it look futuristic, sleek instead of bulky.

‘Novae Trails’ was written in gold lettering near the front. I clicked the top button on the key fob and listened to the door hiss, automatically opening. Seconds later, steps folded outward to greet me. I stepped up the three stairs and fell in love with the inside for her.

Cream leather seats curved around a marble dining nook, large enough for all of us. I personally added the light purple LED lighting that lined the ceiling with extra gold fixtures to make the purple stand out. I had heated floors installed that could be operated from a remote control. The camper even had a full modern kitchen with lavender stone countertops and custom cabinets that still smelled like fresh wood and expensive glue.

I had paid one of my house staff to run out this morning and fully stock the refrigerator with all of La’Nova’s favorite fruits, watermelon to be precise. She loved V8 natural energy drinks, so I had three different flavors still in the cases in the back of her refrigerator.

The bedroom in the back had a huge bed with silk lavender sheets. Then there was an area for La’Nova to nurse Novae with a built-in baby crib. All accents were marble, even the damn changing table. I apparently lost all touch with reality while taking the time to design the inside. Humans really loved overspending once emotions got involved, and that’s exactly where I was when the tab kept racking up.

I looked out of the window and saw Roy sitting on the sectional near the garage wall with Novae in his arms. He made kissy faces to her and his voice echoed, traveling inside La’Nova’s camper as I turned to walk out.

“Who my pretty niece?” He said in a baby voice that made Novae’s face light up.

Her chubby cheeks damn near reached her almond-shaped eyes from giving him the biggest gummy smile.

“You doing too much,” I whispered, not surprised that Roy ignored me completely.

“It’s youuuu.” His voice went up an octave in a high squeak. “With me and your luke warm daddy money… you rich rich already.”

I rubbed my jaw, keeping my back to them, trying not to laugh.

“You think she gon’ like it?” I asked lowly, still gazing up at the camper before hitting the button on the key fob to close the doors.

“Shit, she better.” Roy snorted.

“She gon’ fasho do that emotional crying shit women do when she sees all of what you got her,” he added.

“I don’t want her crying, I want her happy,” I retorted.

“Well these gifts, the camper in particular, is sentimental to her since you blew up her last camper.” I heard the sound of wrapping paper but ignored it since he made a fair point.

I exhaled roughly then slowly nodded my head.

“It was necessary,” I whispered.

“Yeah, but very dramatic.”

“Same thing,” I shrugged.