she was going to do when she picked up the gun. She didn’t want to seem anxious…only another female trying to protect herself from the mean streets of the city.
Exhaling, Mimi got out of the car and went inside. The store owner remembered her with a smile. Mimi palmed the gun in her hand and took the information about the location of the shooting range should she need practice. Not lingering, Mimi quickly left the place and got in her car.
The gun was housed in its own wooden box. She took the box out of the bag and sat it in her lap before opening it up. She lifted the gun from its bed and examined it like it was a new Prada bag. She brushed her hand over the steel barrel and Victor’s image zoomed in front of her. “You’ll never mess with me again.” Mimi put the gun away and headed home.
Turning into the subdivision, Mimi abruptly turned around. She’d forgotten to go to the supermarket and pick up some sundry items for Afrika—deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. She flew to the store and was in and out in ten minutes. Upon arriving home, Mimi placed the gun under her seat until she could find a more permanent place to hide it. Good thing; Raf was standing at the door when she opened the door to the garage.
42
Raphael got in the passenger side of the car. He watched Mimi with renewed interest. Somehow, she seemed different, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “You want me to drive, baby?” Raphael asked. “No, sweetie. I’m already comfortable and I would have to bark directions to the hospital.”
“You look good driving this Lexus.”
“How else would I look? Let’s change the subject; Afrika is our priority.”
“Don’t you think I know that, Mimi? She’s never left my mind. I prayed to God that He wouldn’t let anything happen to her… that she would have her life back the way it was the moment that SOB’s bullet hit her.”
Mimi smiled. “I believe that, too, Raf. She’s going to make it; she’s resilient. She’s got to get over these hurdles first.”
“You’re right.” Raphael paused. “Do you want to talk now?”
Mimi seemed nervous and put her foot on the gas.
“Slow down, Mimi. If now isn’t the right time, we’ll talk later.”
“Let’s wait until we get home this evening. I can’t have a serious talk with all of these crazy, cell phone talking drivers whipping around me.”
“Okay.” Raphael stared straight ahead in silence until they reached the hospital.
There was a still coolness between Raphael and Mimi, but Raf wasn’t going to let that spoil his visit with his favorite girl. He waved to the nurses at the station and gave the black officer sitting outside of Afrika’s door a fist bump. Raphael followed Mimi into Afrika’s room.
Raphael stopped short when he saw the two young men and young lady sitting on the side of the bed talking to Afrika. However, it was the young lady that caught him off-guard. It was as if Afrika had an out-of-body experience in front of him. The young lady, about Afrika’s age, was a split image of Afrika; except that her skin was two shades lighter. She even wore her hair in a pony-tail like his daughter—pulled to the top of her head with a Scrunchie around it. He stared, not sure of who he was looking at.
“Daddy,” Afrika said with a little more volume in her voice, her thin blue and white hospital blanket pulled up high as if she was cold. “This is my best friend, Asia, my friend, Keith, and Asia’s friend, Zavion.”
Raphael nodded to the two young men but was locked in on Asia. After a moment, he looked from Afrika to Mimi to Asia. “Asia, what a pretty name. So nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Bailey,” Asia said with a smile. She turned toward Mimi. “Hello, Mrs. Bailey.”
“Hello, Asia. Hello, Keith and Zavion. Looks like Miss Afrika is coming along well.” Mimi stooped over and gave Afrika a kiss on the cheek.
“I feel much better, Mommy. I wish I could go home. What’s wrong, Daddy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Look at him, Mommy.”
“I know what it is,” Asia chimed in. “Your father can’t get over the fact that we resemble each other. Don’t worry, Colonel Bailey, everyone does the same thing. Even our birthdays are in the same month.”
Raphael retreated…didn’t say a word. He chewed on