Betrayed (38 page)

I
f ever Mimi believed in miracles, she truly believed in them now. God had granted her family one of the greatest miracles she could've asked for. Afrika regained feeling in her lower extremities. She could wiggle her toes and move her legs, although she needed the aid of a walker to walk because her muscles were weak from days of lying in the bed.

Mimi and Raphael waited for her to return from the pool where her physical therapy was being conducted. It was a load off of their shoulders—the second in a matter of days.

“Mimi, if this is what putting your trust in the Lord is all about, I'm His,” Raphael said.

Mimi couldn't hide the joy and the smile that took up half of her face. “God is so good. I can't begin to understand how bleak life looked when they told us at the police station that my gun was the weapon that killed Victor and that my car was used to transport him to where he was dumped…that the car had human blood all over the back seat.” The smile faded and Mimi held Raphael's hand.

“If I hadn't been so pigheaded and gone out to Brenda's house that night, Victor might still be alive.”

“But he kidnapped you, Raf. He's the one who took my gun and put it to your head and made you drive out to that woman's house.”

“That's true, Mimi, but if I hadn't gone, we wouldn't have been
involved. I put my family's life in jeopardy—you and Afrika are my whole world. I can honestly tell you that I was afraid…afraid that I was going to be locked up in that jail because the evidence was mounting against me.”

“If I hadn't purchased that gun, there wouldn't have been a weapon.”

“Don't beat yourself up, Mimi. If it wasn't your gun, it would've been something else. Victor was poison, and he was trying to get rid of it and everything that threatened him.”

Mimi held her head down. She squeezed Raphael's hand tight and looked at the clock on the wall. “It's one o'clock. Victor's funeral should be over. I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there for Brenda. Too much bacteria has set in to ever heal the wounds of our lives. Even more, I hate that Asia blames Afrika for something that's not her fault. You didn't see them together, Raf. They were inseparable.”

“Hopefully, time will heal.”

“Maybe it will. Raf, I don't want to stay here. I've got to get as far away from Durham as possible. Too many memories, too many scars.”

“What if Afrika wants to finish her education here?”

“Let's ask her,” Mimi said as Afrika was being wheeled into the room.

“Ask me what, Daddy?”

“Afrika was a champion today,” the nurse interjected, not realizing a family conversation was being had. She helped Afrika into bed and pulled the blanket over her. “She moved those legs in the water like a giant tadpole and she was able to walk with the walker about fifty yards, although I know it was a little painful and slow. But we're on the move.”

“That is great,” Mimi said, giving Afrika a great big hug, followed by Raphael.

“I want to thank the hospital personnel for all they've done for Afrika,” Raphael said, stopping to give the nurse a hug. “We appreciate you so much.”

“Afrika has the will to get better. We're only trying to help her capitalize on it. It's going to take some time, but I expect to see a full recovery. Well, I've got to move to my next patient.”

“Thank you again,” both Mimi and Raphael said.

“Ask me what, Mommy? You promised no more secrets.”

Raphael took one of Afrika's hands. “Your mother wants to leave Durham as soon as you're able to get out of here. I know you're in the middle of your first semester at Central, and I'm sure you want to at least complete the year.”

Afrika looked at her mother and father in thought. “Laying up in the bed has given me a lot of time to think about it. Too much has happened, and I don't think I could bear to live here another day without the constant memory of all that has happened. And anyway, I lost my best friend. It hurt the way Asia looked at me the moment she found out we were…we were sisters. I was flabbergasted like she was…I couldn't believe my ears.” Afrika looked at Mimi and Raf. “I didn't ask to be Victor's daughter; I have a father.”

“I'm sorry for how I acted,” came the familiar voice from the doorway.

Mimi and Raphael spun around, while Afrika sat straight up and stared at their visitors. Coming through the doorway were Brenda and Asia. They wore identical black two-piece Ralph Lauren suits with French cuffs in satin crème accentuated by a small crystal rock that served as buttons.

“We're coming from the cemetery,” Brenda said. “Asia wanted to stop and see Afrika on the way home.”

“Thank you,” Afrika said. “God has granted me another miracle.”

“Another miracle?” Asia asked.

“Yes, I got the feeling back in my legs. I'm no longer paralyzed, although I'm not able to walk well without a walker. I got in the pool today, and the nurse said I'm on my way to recovery.”

Asia walked to Afrika's bedside as Raphael moved aside. She sat on the side of the bed and rubbed Afrika's arm. “I don't want you to go anywhere. I've never had a sister…and one that's a best friend. Afrika, I freaked out when my mother was saying all of those things about Daddy…things I didn't believe to be true, and then to find out that you were my sister and how it happened…I couldn't take it.

“You won't believe this. Zavion's brother is also our brother.”

“What?” Afrika hollered. “Is Zavion our brother, too?”

“Lucky for me, Zavion is not.” Asia looked in Brenda's direction. “It seems that Zavion's mother was one of Daddy's conquests, and Zavion's brother, Freddie, is the result. It's hard to talk about it. But Zavion couldn't handle it. We haven't spoken to each other since Trevor broke the news to us about shooting Daddy.”

“I'm so sorry, Asia,” Afrika said.

“You don't have to be. I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead; especially if they're your loved one, but if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. That's what the preacher said today. And from that moment, I knew I wanted to give my life to Jesus. I can't endure any more heartache and pain. So I'm asking you, sister, please stay at Central. I'd be lonely without you.”

The uneasiness in the room lightened. Glances were passed throughout the room.

“If that's what you want to do, baby girl,” Raphael said, “your mother and I are behind you.”

Mimi smiled. “If that's what you want to do Afrika, I'm behind you as well.”

Afrika sighed. “I had already made up my mind to leave.”

“I know,” Asia said. “I heard you when Mom and I came through the door. Please don't let all that has happened drive you away.”

“Like it did your mother,” Brenda put in. “If she'd only told me all those years ago what I know now, I wouldn't have married Victor.”

“But you wouldn't have had me or Trevor.” Asia smiled.

“You're right,” Brenda said. She turned to Mimi. “I'd like for you to stay in town, also. It would make me happy to become reacquainted with my best friend.”

Mimi smiled. “That sounds nice. I'll have to give it some thought and talk it over with my other best friend.” Mimi smiled at Raphael, her rock. “He's been everything to me, Brenda. I've been blessed.”

“Well, you and Raphael talk. I'm praying that you'll have a change of heart and decide to stay in Durham. Mimi, we're like sisters, you and me; we've got a lot of history. The only thing I've got to figure out is how to save my son.

“Now, we better get back to our family. Mabel and Tracey are holding it down. They didn't want to go back to the church for repast. They are doing it up in the kitchen. Why don't you and Raphael stop by later on?”

“We'll be there,” Raphael said.

Once again, all heads turned toward the door as it opened.

“Is this a family reunion?” John asked. “Just came to check on you all. I haven't seen you since that…that night, and after reading in the paper that you weren't in trouble, I thought I'd pay you a visit.”

“Oh, I see,” Raphael began. “Mimi, if you and I had been on lock down, behind prison bars, John here wasn't going to have anything to do with us.”

“Man, you know it wasn't like that. I was letting you have your space. Too much going on for me to digest.”

Everyone laughed. “It's all right, John,” Mimi said. “You were there when it counted.”

Raphael went to John and gave him a brother's handshake. “Yeah, John, thanks for being there for us. I know we got off on a rocky start, but you're all right.”

Raphael and John bumped fists.

“Well, I'm going to go,” Brenda said again. “Mimi, I'll see you and Raphael later. John, if you'd like to come by the house, you're welcome.”

“Thanks, Brenda,” John said. Then he reached out and gave her the biggest hug.

“If you want to go now, I'll stay with Afrika,” Asia said. “We've got a lot of catching up to do.”

Mimi looked up at the ceiling. “God, You are so good. I thank You for this day. And if Miss Afrika is all right, I guess we can go, Raf. John, you can ride with us. We're in a rental.”

Raphael put his arm around Mimi. “After you, Brenda.”

Afrika and Asia watched as their parents held each other and walked out of the room.

Asia laid her head on Afrika's shoulder. “Yes, God, You are good.”

Afrika pointed her finger to the sky. “Yes, You are.”

T
here was coldness and hardness in this new place called home. Trevor sat on the edge of the thin mattress collecting his thoughts, trying to figure out when he'd been driven to the edge to do the vile thing he had done. He knew the why, but when had his mind—the uncaring part of it—taken over and grabbed his conscience? His body jerked as he recalled the feel of the metal in his hand that ushered forth death when his mind had willed him to pull the trigger and fire.

Trevor's eyes roamed and scanned his surroundings that contained half of a bed he was used to sleeping in, a small latrine where privacy was at a premium, and a face bowl that would hold just enough water to splash on his face or in the words of his sister, Asia, take a hooker bath. No posters of the singers Beyonce and Rihanna adorned the walls nor were there pictures of LeBron and Kobe shooting hoops, Trevor's favorite pastime. Yes, he should be somewhere shooting hoops with his boys. College, he could forget it; no school was going to enroll a student who had been proclaimed a hardened criminal.

A shadow appeared on the floor in front of Trevor, reminding him that he was indeed in prison. He looked toward the neatly spaced bars that prevented him from enjoying his freedom. Blocking the small amount of light that penetrated his cell was a rough-looking character who flaunted several gold teeth in the
front of his mouth and whose thin hair was twisted in what seemed like a million micro braids. The inmate grinned at Trevor, sizing him up as he gripped the bars of the cell.

“Yo blood, my name is Hammer. Heard you laid your daddy out.”

“What's it to you?” Trevor said, the lines flat on his face.

“I need a young brother like you who ain't scared to take out the competition.”

“I did what I had to do. I didn't like what I did, I'm not proud of what I did, but I'm not apologizing for it either.”

“So you and your old man weren't down.”

“That's between me, his soul, and the Lord.”

“You got a lot of an…i…mosity, yeah, animosity clogging that mean heart of yours. I sure could use a mean spirit like you.”

“I hated him, okay? Didn't deserve to live the way he treated my mother. Now leave me the hell alone.”

“Deep, my brother. But let me give you a word of caution. You're in my house now, and I'm the daddy. Dudes here play by my rules.
Comprende
?”

“I'm not scared of you,” Trevor said, still sitting on the cot. “Yeah, I took my daddy out, and I'll take you out, too, if you mess with me.”

Hammer slid his hands slowly down the length of the bars. “It's your first day, so I'll pardon you this time. Remember this if you don't remember anything else. You may come from money on the outside but in here there's no position and no protection. I'm going to rob you of your soul until you get down on your knees and beg for my attention. Young blood, welcome to Central Prison.”

Trevor watched as Hammer walked away, his swagger tight even though he wore an ugly orange jumpsuit. He felt the full breath of his words and he was afraid. Trevor lay back on the cot and cried for the first time since his father had died.

L
oneliness was a bitter pill to swallow. Although the whole office had gone to Victor's funeral, Sheila felt alone, felt as if she was being judged. She watched as different ones looked in her direction, whispered among themselves like she was the cause of Victor's demise, or maybe it was her paranoia. Even Phyllis remained somewhat at a distance, not handing out the love and support she thought she deserved.

She didn't have to tell Jamal about her disease. The
News and Observer
announced it to the world. Even the fact that she was exonerated in Victor's death and in the shooting of Afrika Bailey, although the gun was definitely involved, the news was buried on page three of the local section of the paper. But oh her name, and that of several other mistresses of Mr. Victor Christianson, were on page one for all to see. But hers carried an extra caveat—
who announced she was HIV positive and Victor Christianson was the carrier.

Sheila fingered the obituary. She opened it up half-expecting to see her name as one of his surviving family members. She chuckled at the thought, then threw the program down and got up to change her clothes. If nothing else, she looked good in her red Ralph Lauren suit, a last and final gift from the great Victor. Sheila chuckled again as she recalled how she looked down at him in disdain, laid out as if he really was somebody's somebody. “Ho.”