Too Salty: Ain't a Damn Thang Changed (Part 6) (18 page)

It had been a little over two hours since Laurie took her mom the tea and Dena drifting off to sleep when she decided to go back up and check on her. "Rosa, I'm going to check on my mom. I'll be back." She got up from the chair and exited the family room.

"Ok
." Rosa rocked baby Amanda to sleep as she waited on Grumble to call back. She was anxious to find out who he really was and what he was all about.

Laurie walked into the bedroom as her mother
came out of the restroom. "Mom, are you ok?" Laurie noticed the down appearance.

"I told you I was just coming down with a cold." Dena walked over to the wet bar that
was in the corner of the room. She grabbed a cup from behind the bar and sat it on top, making a clink sound. She picked up the bottle of Patron, undid the top, and poured herself a nice amount of liquor. She took the drink back. "What's up, baby?" Dena smiled at her daughter, who stared at her as if she was trying to read her.

"Nothing, I was checking on you." Laurie watched as Dena climbed into bed and grabbed her cell from the night stand. Laurie climb
ed in bed next to her. "Mom, guess what." She'd almost forgot. "You are not going to believe this. When they had me, I saw Pam."

Dena finished texting
. "Who?" She looked at Laurie.

"Pam
, Jazz’s mom."

"That lady is dead." Laurie got up from the bed.

 "Mom, I'm telling you, I saw her. She was at the motel with a guy. I've never seen him. That lady isn't dead."  Dena stated at her like she was crazy. Laurie placed her hands on her hips. "Why did they have a closed casket? She was only shot in the chest. Why was the casket closed? The cops did say they people other than Ken’s mother was after her. You know that woman gave others AIDS." Dena cracked smile. Laurie was her child.

"Laurie
, let that lady rest in peace."  

Laurie climbed back on the bed
. "Mom, what are we going to do for payback…”

"Yeah
, Laurie, let the dead rest." Both Dena and Laurie looked up at Calvin. "Why are y'all talking about a dead lady with AIDS?" He heard the whole thing, and he was a little salty about Laurie bringing up his dead wife. Laurie rolled her eyes and walked out of the room.  Calvin shook his head, and went behind her to lock the door. From his coat, he pulled out what Dena had been waiting for and tossed the Ziploc bag on the bed. Dena didn't want to seem thirsty, but when Calvin walked on the bathroom and she heard the shower, she indulged in her white delight.

"I freaking hate him
, why won't he die already?" Laurie fussed as she made her way back into the family room with Rosa.

Rosa looked up from the paper she was looking over and at Laurie.
"I feel the same way. Have a seat." Laurie sat next to Rosa. "Now, I don't know what's going on.  I'm waiting on more info now, but read this and tell me what you think is their connection.” Laurie went over the papers. At first, she didn’t understand what it was that she was reading. Kendrick Cox and Jazz Lewis. She looked at Rosa.

“Who in the hell is he and what is he after
?” Laurie stood up.

Rosa quickly grabbed her by the arm.
“Keep your mouth shut, we don’t know what is going on. I have Judge Grumble on it now. Just keep quiet, he could be really dangerous.”

“But
, he is up there with my mother, in our home.”

“I know that. Let’s just wait, it’s only us girls.” Laurie pace
d back and forth.
First her brother’s murder, then her being kidnapped, and now this stranger
. She shook her head.

Laurie walked over to the tall
, clear china cabinet that held the key to many things. She grabbed a black box from it and then snatched the drawer to the cabinet open. Rosa saw what she was doing and jumped up.

“No guns, the baby is here. No guns.”

The reporter on the news station grabbed both of their attention. Both Laurie and Rosa listened as the reporter went on to talk about Detective F
, the cop that was killed during a shootout at Super K. Through Mrs. K, they both knew the cop and was in awe at the situation. The news showed a clipping of Yay, and Rosa and Laurie both looked at each other. They then showed at picture of a lady with big shades and a baseball hat,

“That’s Pam, that’s Pam. I told my mom I saw her.” Laurie jumped up and walked closer to the T.V.

*****

Calvin had just walked out of the shower with his towel wrapped around his waist. He had a sexy body, no doubt, but the high had him looking ten times better in Dena’s eyes. With her tongue hanging from her mouth, she crawled over to the edge of the bed. Calvin cracked a smile. He wasn’t even trying to go there with her. He’d just gotten out of the filthy holding cell with a warning, he ran into his worst enemies besides Wack, and now knew where Jazz was. He needed to get to her, needed to murk Pastor G, and he needed to get Dena for a much as he could in cash before he shook the spot and laid low down south for a little while.

“Come to momma
,” she cooed.

He slightly shook his head
.
Dumb bitch still has powder on her nose.

“Look
, I ain’t got time for that right now. I need you to get dressed. It’s almost five.” He looked at the time on the digital box. “I’m going to need you to get me about thirty grand out the bank. I will pay you back soon, but it’s needed. And, now!”

Dena put her tongue back in her mouth. That was a lot of money he was asking for
. She had it, but why did he need so much and why would she give it to him? “Babe that is a lot of money.”

“Ain’t nothing worth my momma
’s health.” He walked over and sat on the bed. He looked at Dena. “So, what’s up? I need the money.”

She wanted to ask when was he going to pay it back
, but she didn’t want to upset him and, plus, he was her man. Dena told him that she would make a call to the bank. She then got up and went to the bathroom to dress. Calvin grabbed the remote and turned the T.V to the news. He touched his chest and then his heart, and then used that same hand to rest it on his waist.  He couldn’t believe the cops were looking for Yay-Yay. And, was that Pam?
Hell naw
. He thought about what Laurie had said. Dena came out of the restroom buttoning up her shirt. She glanced at the news and already knew what was going on. She didn’t give a damn, she was glad the bastard was dead. She walked back over to her side of the bed and grabbed the plate of drugs. She glanced at her room door to make sure it was locked.

“Detective F was murdered. He was a dirty cop
, anyway.” 

Calvin glanced over at her and then back at the T.V.
The picture of the cop was of the same son of bitch that went over to the house sweating him.
What the fuck really going on?

Jazz and Ken were back at the house. Mrs. Brown told him that she’d seen Calvin come out with a few boxes on more than one occasion. He most defiantly wanted to know what that was all about because the house was now his and Jazz’s. He had being paying the mortgage that Calvin refused to pay when he found out Pam was dating G, and once he and Jazz were married he planned on paying the house off. So, why in the fuck was Calvin up in his shit taking stuff?

Before
taking Jazz home, he and his peeps went to the house to have it straightened up and to see what was gone. When Ken noticed all his paperwork missing and things that were tampered with, it further confirmed that Calvin was a dirty muthafucka. Ken believed that the only reason he wanted to Jazz away from everyone was so he could get his hands on whatever she had. He was ‘bout ready to find the cruel pit and deal with him, but first he needed to make sure that his Forever was comfortable and content.

It
had been three days since they had been at the house and Jazz adjusted well. Ken babied her and each day, she got more feeling in her leg. She wasn’t as excited as Ken was about her progress because she already knew that her situation was just temporary. What made her excited was to be home with Ken, and she only had five months to go before the baby was born.

      Jazz
sat out on the back porch rocking in the swing when Ken sat next to her. She looked at him and he looked at her, and like two little kids, they smiled. For a few minutes, the both of them swung in silence, enjoying the cool April breeze and just enjoying knowing that they were with each other.

“Jazz
.” Ken looked at her and she looked at him.

“Yes.”

He frowned up his eyebrows. “Where is your car?” He hadn’t seen it the first time he came to check on the house and hadn’t seen it then.  He forgot to ask her about it.

“Probably at Colisa’s if they didn’t have it towed.”

“What?”

Jazz rolled her eyes in the back of her head. “I really don’t
want to talk about that.”

“Jazz
, answer the question. Why is the car at Colisa’s house? What were you doing over there?”

Jazz wanted to say what the hell was he doing there, but she told herself that when and if her and Ken reconnected
, she would no longer bring up the past. It was the past, but she did get salty every time she thought about him being over there. “The time when I call myself running away, Yay informed me that you were laid up with Colisa. I jumped in my car and drove over there. Your bike was there, so I knew you were in there, but I guess you thought I was stupid.” She got warm just thinking about it. Ken sat there puzzled. “I don’t wanna talk about it, Ken.”

Ken got up from the swing and walked in front of Jazz
, stopping hers from rocking. “What happened?”

“Ken
, you heard me out there screaming your name. You were just scared that I was going to do you like I did your bike and that bitch’s car. Don’t play stupid. I forgive you, alright?” His eyes watered. “Just don’t let it happen again or I won’t be so forgiving.”

Ken stood there thinking. She must
have been talking about the day he fucked up. He did leave his bike there because him and Big Man had to bounce.

“I forgive you
, although, I could have lost my baby after being shot with those rubber bullets and hauled off to jail. I forgive you, although, you didn’t come outside.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s ok.” Jazz wiped her eyes.

“Jazz
, I ain’t know about shit like that. My bike was there, but I wasn’t. Jazz, I didn’t know you went to jail, baby.” He pulled her into his midsection and rubbed her hair.

Jazz pulled away.
“Ken, if you weren’t there, why was your bike there? You don’t have to lie, I said I forgive you.”

“Jazz
, on my mother, I wasn’t there. Woman, I would never leave you hanging no matter what. I did go over there to give her the money that she needed to save her house.”

Jazz cut her eyes at him.
He gave her the money, anyway, but it was that past. I will leave it alone.

“So
, you went to jail? What happened?” He was pissed. No telling what that crazy bitch had said or how she acted to make Jazz believe that they were together. 

“Ken
, let’s talk about it later. I want to get changed before they get here.” Stacy, G, and Big Man and his girl were coming over. Mrs. Brown was already in the kitchen preparing the food. They were celebrating Stacy’s decision to go to rehab. Ken granted Jazz her wishes, but as soon as Stacy and them got there he was going to pay Colisa a visit. That bitch was messing with the wrong one.

    
When G and Stacy arrived, Ken chilled until Big Man and Sandra got there. “I need you to ride with me.” He pulled Big Man to the side. Big Man gave him a head nod and Ken got up to let Jazz know that he was leaving. She was in the kitchen with the ladies, they all were helping Mrs. Brown cook. “Jazz, I’m about to go check on the studio. I will be right back.” Jazz looked at him with fear. Visions of what happened to her the last time she was there scared her.  Ken saw the concern on her face. “Baby, I have Big Man and G with me, and, besides, ain’t nothing going to happen. Didn’t you say when you pray that’s it?” He winked at her.

Jazz smiled. “Right
, because if you pray you don’t worry or the prayer is in vain.” Jazz looked around the kitchen at her family.  A couple gave an Amen and the others gave a head nod.

Ken leaned over and kissed Jazz. “I’ll be right back.”
Big Man then walked over and kissed Sandra, and G kissed Stacy. Ken never really planned on him rolling with them, but thought why not.

“Where are you going?” G asked once they were in
Big Man’s rental.

“I am about to pay this chick Colisa a visit.” Ken looked back at G. “I think she is going to be a problem.”

“We take care of problems,” Big Man countered.

“I got this one.” Ken then went
on to tell Big Man and G what Jazz had told them. He left out the part about him sleeping with Colisa and how she came up to the jail acting a fool. It wasn’t that he was keeping nothing from his boys, but he just didn’t feel like talking about.