Chapters (51)
Getting off the elevator, she paused in the hallway to gather herself before stepping out in public. Though she was no longer sobbing, tears still ran freely down her face. She couldn’t go out onto the stoop and appear weak to the other ghetto birds. She was mad enough to put her fist through the drywall of the lobby walls, but more hurt than anything. Her cell vibrating in her purse gave her something else to focus on.
“Hello?” Rhonda placed the phone to her ear. When she heard the voice of the caller, she started to make a snide comment, but her face went blank when she made out what the girl was saying. “I’m on my way!” Rhonda assured the caller and ended the call.
“Yo, Rhonda!” Kelvin called, bouncing down the steps. “I need to holla at you for a second.”
“Not right now, Kel, I gotta make a move,” she told him, tucking her phone back in her purse.
“Listen,” he began, “that thing with Mommy … well…”
“Kel, that shit has been going on since before you and your bitch of a twin came along, so I don’t know why I ain’t used to it. You were her favorite, so you couldn’t understand where I’m coming from, but that’s been your mother for a lot of years so you know how full of shit she can be. As far as I’m concerned, her and Kelly can both go to hell and I wouldn’t lose a damn bit of sleep.”
“Rhonda, I know you’re mad, but they’re still your family,” Kelvin told her.
“Kel, if that’s what family is like, then I don’t want no part of it,” she said seriously. “But it ain’t nothing, baby brother. We’ll always be cool.” She hugged him.
“I know that’s right.” He smiled.
“Baby brother, you wanna do your sis a big favor?”
“I knew you were being nice for a reason,” he teased her. “How much do you need?”
“I don’t need money, stupid ass. I just want you to take Pooh and Alisha to my house and sit with them until I get back.”
Kelvin wrinkled his face. “Rhonda, you know damn well I ain’t gonna baby-sit for you while you go out and shake your ass.”
“It ain’t like that, I got an emergency,” she said honestly. “Billy just brought Yoshi home from the hospital, so I’m gonna shoot over there.”
“Hospital? Is she okay?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“I don’t know the details yet,” she lied. “I’ll explain it to you when I get back.” Rhonda tossed him the keys and headed for the door. “Thanks again, Kel,” she yelled over her shoulder without waiting for an answer.