Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“Mmm hmm. I definitely agree. Everywhere we go he spots someone, or someone spots him, and they always seem happy to see him. Roman ain’t never met a stranger.”
“Yes… yes, true… but, ya know, knowin’ a lot of people, and people hangin’ on to you ’cause they think you’re cute, smart, entertaining, or rich ain’t the same as being in good company for the long haul. Roman is kind of a loner. Not completely, but almost, if that makes any sense.”
“I believe I’m following you just fine.”
“He keeps his personal affairs and business to himself. He don’t open up much unless it’s someone he really trusts. And Roman don’t trust easily.” She sighed, as if exasperated from years of being shut out. “He’s my most stubborn and cynical child when it comes to human nature. So, it’s just a blessing to know that my boy has someone that he cares about by his side. His daddy means the world to him, and this situation right here is a cryin’ shame. He shouldn’t be alone. Well, I’ve rambled somethin’ terrible—it’s a weakness of mine. I don’t get to talk much ‘cause I stay in the house more than I should and my husband works a lot. I’ve talked your ear off, and you’re bored, aren’t you?”
“Not in the least. I’m accused of talkin’ too much too, so I think we’ll get along just fine. By the way, what should I call you? I know that you’re divorced from Roman’s father, so I don’t know if—”
“Well, honey, I’m remarried now, and my last name is Hurd. Roman’s father was upset when I got remarried and called my husband, ‘Hurd the Turd.’” They both burst out laughing. “You don’t have to be so formal though, sweetheart. You can just call me Bonnie. My hubby calls me Bon-Bon, and my mother used to call me Bee. Whatever floats your boat. You know, as crazy as Reeves is, and all the hell he put me through, Genesis, he’s the father of my babies…” Her voice trailed and cracked. “I don’t want no harm to come his way. I darn sure don’t want him to die. It would crush the boys. Even though he’s in prison and they’re adults, eventually he’ll get out, and at least he’s still alive and they can talk to their father on the phone and video chat.”
“Yes, there’s still contact, and hope.”
“You have such a nice voice, by the way.”
“Thank you, Bonnie. So do you. You sound like how I imagine the rays of sun do, if they could talk.”
“Oh, now you’re just puttin’ me on!” The woman may have been blushing with the way she sounded. Roman’s mama is a doll baby. I know that his childhood was rough, but it’s obvious she really loves her children. Grown or not. “Sometimes, I have these dreams. I knew something was going to happen to my ex-husband in that terrible prison. I also know I sound plum crazy!” She laughed nervously.
“No ma’am. I believe in God, and sometimes God will try to prepare us for things—warn us, if you will—through our dreams. You don’t sound crazy to me at all.”
“Well, I think you’re just indulging me, but thank you all the same. I’m going to get on off of here. Gotta feed my chickens. I have ’em as pets, and use their eggs, too.”
“Pet chickens? I knew a girl that kept one as a pet. Her name was Feather.”
“Roman always laughs at the names of my chickens! I name a lot of ’em after movie stars, like Cluck Gable. There’s Bawk ’N Roll, he’s an old Rooster but still is fancy around the ladies,” She and Bonnie cracked up together, falling into fits of laughter. They stayed on the phone for a long, long while. Somehow, some way, they both needed this. A safe space to decompress and step away from the torn hearts and torrid tears. A place where things were fun and okay. A place of acceptance of peace.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A Black Sheep in a Kage
…A few days later
“Hold on! I heard you too, motherfucker!”
Roman sat in his car and waited as his cousin cussed some poor soul clean the hell out. As usual, Kage’s timing was awful. Roman was about to attend a family dinner with Genesis, some annual bonfire type BBQ deal, but then his phone rang. As Kage unleashed his mouth upon the world on the other end of the line, Genesis exited the car and walked up to the front door of her parents’ house with a foil-wrapped casserole dish in hand.
Vehicles were parked up and down the suburban Houston tree-lined street. It was picture-perfect. Cosby Show meets Family Matters. Rather than dirty, broken toys, rusty bikes with flat tires in the yard, and empty beer cans, there were perfectly hedged bushes, classy wind chimes, professionally mowed grass and stone pathways. Rather than broken windows and missing shingles, there were perfectly placed bricks and a black wrought iron fence enclosing a two-story residence with amazing curb appeal.