that Victor is spoiled rotten to the core, and it’s my practice that has given us the lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to. But I would have traded the lifestyle for real happiness in a New York second. I do believe Victor did…no, he does love me, although the womanizing part of him is so seeped into his soul, he can’t give it up—like a smoker who has to have his nicotine.”
“I’m glad we had this conversation, Brenda. I was an angry man when I came here tonight; still am if I’m truthful about it. And you guessed right, I wanted to do bodily harm. Like Mimi said, our daughter is going to live, although she may be paralyzed. I feel rather foolish, sitting in your house with contempt in my heart. I hope you can forgive me for barging in like this.”
For the first time since Raphael entered the house, Brenda smiled. “Mimi is fortunate to have you in her life.”
“She is the love of my life. And although every day hasn’t been a bowl of cherries, I will tell you that even though I heard some very disheartening truths today, I love Mimi as much as I did the first day I met her—maybe even more. To hear that Afrika wasn’t my biological child hurt me to the core and I wanted someone to pay.”
“We’ll get through this.”
“Thanks, Brenda. I’m in real trouble. This is Mimi now. She’s been calling me for the last two hours. I better answer this call before I don’t have a place to sleep tonight.”
“You best.”
“Hey, Mimi,” Raphael said in a low voice of surrender.
He listened while she chewed him out, talking about how he just up and left, not answering her phone calls, acting like everything was all her fault, and how he needed to man-up and be the father and husband he was supposed to be. And if he was going to continue to act the way he’d been doing for the last couple of days, he should have stayed his behind in Germany.
“You’re perfectly right, baby,” Raphael conceded. “I’m at Brenda’s.” There was a long pause—no instant reply. “I thought I’d find Victor here, but he’s nowhere to be found. I’m leaving now and will be at the hospital in an hour.” Still no answer.
“I love you.” The line went dead on the other end.
Raphael looked at Brenda and curled up his lips. “I better go. Mimi isn’t too happy with me right now, and my daughter probably isn’t either. One thing you said, Brenda, is true. We will get through this. I’ll see myself out.” Raphael got up and headed for the door but turned around and looked at Brenda still sitting on the couch. “Thank you.”
“WE HEARD EVERYTHING,” ASIA SAID AS SHE AND TREVOR APPEARED in the room and sat on the couch next to Brenda. Asia picked up Beyonce and put her in her lap. “You all right, Mom?” Asia asked, laying her head on Brenda’s shoulder.
“So…it’s true. Afrika is our sister,” Trevor said half-heartedly.
“One at a time,” Brenda said, holding up her right hand. “Yes to both.”
RAPHAEL WALKED BRISKLY TO THE CAR, ANXIOUS TO GET AS FAR away as possible from his embarrassment. He clicked the remote, hopped in, and started the ignition. Before pulling away from the curb, Raphael pulled out his cell to call Mimi.
“Drive and don’t turn around,” said the voice in the darkness.
Raphael’s body stiffened as the cold piece of metal touched the back of his neck. Out of the corner of his eyes, Raphael searched for Mimi’s gun that he had sat on the floor, but he couldn’t see the wooden box in his peripheral vision.
“If you’re looking for your gun, it’s stroking the back of your neck. You are some stupid nigger not to lock your car door and leave a gun almost within plain sight. You don’t think rich people steal?”
Raphael remained quiet and let the person sitting in his back seat talk.
“So blood, what were you doing in my house talking to my wife?”
Fear tangled in Raphael’s throat. He had come looking for Victor, but Victor had found him and had his weapon pointed at the back of his head. Then he reached for his head as the butt of the gun hit the nape of his neck. “What did you do that for?” Raphael asked.
Victor grabbed Raphael by the neck. “So you do talk. Now I’m going to ask you one more time. What were you doing in