Authors: Faith
“I have plenty money, E.”
“I know you do, but a wedding isn’t important to me. I’d rather us focus on the marriage. But if you want one, we can have a small one.”
“Baby, if you don’t want a wedding that’s fine with me. But um… your family might not be too thrilled.”
“I don’t care. This is about me and you, not my family.”
“If you’re sure. I just don’t want there to be any tension.”
“Don’t worry about them. They’ll be alright.”
“Oka, cool. No wedding. What about a date?”
“Is tomorrow too soon?” Elisea laughed.
“Are you serious? Because you ain’t said nothing but a word. We can apply for the marriage license tomorrow.”
Elisea jumped up and down and said, “I’m so down for that!”
“Let’s do it!” He leaned over and kissed her again before they walked into the house.
Everyone was in the living room. The mood was somber. They felt the shift in the energy as they walked in.
“What’s going on?” Elisea asked, all smiles.
Mud jumped down Andrews’s throat. “You didn’t tell her?” he asked angrily.
“Mud, shut up!” Elisea yelled and rolled her eyes.
Andrew put his hand up to tell her to chill out. “I did tell her!” he snapped back.
The tension between both men was evident. Mud didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t put fear into him.
“Hey, now we aren’t about to have none of that! Junior?” Mama Eloise said, and pointed to Junior to handle it.
“Y’all chill out!” Junior jumped in. He liked Andrew and thought he was good for his sister.
Noticing the ring on her sister’s finger, Lizzie jumped up, ran over to her and grabbed her hand. “E, what’s this?”
“Oh yeah. Andrew asked me to marry him. And I said yes, y’all!”
The room was abuzz with congratulations.
Elisea looked over at her mother who said, “Let me see that ring.” Elisia walked over to her with her hand out. Mama Eloise inspected the ring thoroughly, and then looked at Andrew. “You did good, son. You did good. Congratulations!”
Elisea was all smiles. “Mama, it’s my dream ring!”
“I see. Andrew, just take good care of my baby now!”
“Yes, Ma’am!” Andrew was glad to get her approval.
Lacey rubbed her hands together and said, “Looks like we get to plan another wedding!”
“Yeah, about that…” Elisea interrupted.
The room got so quiet that you could hear a rat pee on cotton.
Elisea walked over, stood next to Andrew and grabbed his hand. “We decided that we didn’t want a wedding. We’re going to get our marriage license and go to the Justice of the Peace.”
“What!?” Lacey was disappointed.
“You don’t want a wedding, Elisea? Not even a small one?” Mama Eloise asked her.
“Nope!” She stood strong in her convictions.
“Ah hell nah! Is this your idea? What, you can’t afford it?” Mud snapped at Andrew.
“What, nigga?” Andrew approached Mud.
James jumped up and held his brother back while Eddie grabbed Mud.
“Nigga, who is you? You just popped outta nowhere!” Mud spat.
“Mud, stop it!” Lizzie shouted, now visibly upset by him disrespecting her future brother-in-law.
“Edmund Blanks, sit down and shut up! You will
not
ruin this moment for your sister!” Mama Eloise was not playing when she called you by your government name.
“Man, I’m out! Tricia, you coming?” Mud said angrily.
“Mud, come sit down,” Tricia said in a calm voice. She held out her hand for him.
“Chill out, Mud,” Junior added.
In a huff, Mud sat down next to his wife. She handed him the baby to distract him. Mud held his son in his arms, and as soon as his looked at his Daddy he smiled, which softened Mud’s heart.
“Look everybody. I was expecting a big extravagant wedding, but my beautiful fiancée here, “Andrew looked at Elisea and smiled, “Said she doesn’t want one, and I’m cool with that.”
“Yeah, it was my choice. Plus, I don’t need all the fanfare. A wedding is for everybody else anyway. I would rather put all of that energy into my marriage.”
“I can respect that, E,” Lacey said.
Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement.
“Well, baby, if that is what you want, I’m fine with it. You’re a grown woman and you can make up your own mind about things,” Mama Eloise said.
Everyone turned and looked at her like she was crazy. They were all shocked that their mother had actually said that.
Noticing the glares Mama Eloise said “What? An old woman can grow up too!”
Everyone in the room busted out laughing.
“Well, that settles it! Baby, help me get the glasses. Let’s celebrate!” Edem said to Ruthie.
They went into the kitchen and poured everyone glasses of Cristal, and placed them on a tray. Edem carried the tray into the living room and almost dropped it, and everyone gasped. Placing the tray on the table he looked up and said, “Calm down. I got this.” Then he and Ruthie passed everyone a glass before making a toast.
“Raise you glasses up. Elisea, we love you, and all we want is for you to be happy. And Andrew, I believe in my heart that you are that man. Love each other through the good times and the bad, keep God first, and—”
“Be fruitful and multiply!” Mama Eloise interrupted.
Edem looked over at his mother and added, “Yeah, what she said! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
everyone shouted in unison.
The couple hugged. They were elated by the love they received from the family.
Chapter 14
Officer Hudson entered the hotel room. The room was crawling with Greensboro Police. He made his way through the crowd, and when he saw the victim his mouth dropped open.
Wow!
He rubbed his temples. He couldn’t believe what he was looking at.
“Yeah, that’s why we called you,” a detective said to him.
On the bed was a Harlot sister, strangled to death with a scarf.
“Which sister is this?” Officer Hudson inquired as he stepped closer to get a better look.
“Her ID said Delilah Harlot.”
“Can you send her photo to my phone? You know there are three of them and they’re all practically identical. Remember, they played a bait and switch at the hospital before. I just want to make sure we have the right sister. This is crazy! I swear, they’re all crazy!” He shook his head at the demise of another Harlot family member.
“That’s true. don’t you have the contact information for the next of kin?” the detective asked.
“Yeah, I have it. He’s a little odd, so why don’t you let me contact him? He hasn’t left the city yet because he’s still here making arrangements for his mother and brother.”
“He might as well do a three-in-one funeral,” the detective joked.
“Really?” Officer Hudson said, giving him a disgusted look. Then turned to watch as they loaded her into the body bag. A’ight, I’m out,” he said. As he walked to the elevator he played everything over in his head.
Could Poe be good for this? Jesus!
He checked his phone and examined the picture.
Hmm, is this really you, Delilah? Eddie slept with Tamar, but who did the other brothers sleep with?
He placed a call to Deacon Watkins. “Hey, Deacon, this O. I have a question for you. “
“Hey, O! How are you doing?”
“I’m good. I need to know if you remember any distinguishing features about Delilah Harlot.”
“Distinguishing features?”
“Yeah, like tattoos, birth marks?”
“Oh yeah, yeah. She has the number 2 on her ankle. One time I asked her about it. All the sisters have one in the same spot to signify the order they were born in.”
“Thanks Deacon. You’ve been a great help.”
“I try. You know God has been so good to me, you see.”
O rolled his eyes because he didn’t have time for Deacon today. “I know He has. But Deacon, I’m at work and I have to go now.”
“Oh, okay, O. You stay safe.”
“Yes, Sir.” He hung up and quickly called the detective on the case, and told him to check her ankles for a number 2 tattoo.
On his way to his car he made a call to Poe and asked him to meet him at the station. Just in case the weirdo was good for it, he didn’t want anything to pop off and be forced to put a bullet in him. Plus, that wouldn’t be good, with all the heat officers across the nation are facing, even for the good officers like him. Black lives matter, but hell, their lives matter too.
On the drive to the station he put on his gospel music, and played an imaginary piano with his fingers as he sang along. He had to stay prayed up to do what he did for a living. He also called his wife to tell her that he didn’t know what time he would off.
As soon as he pulled up to the station the detective called back and asked him to meet him at the morgue. He placed a called to Poe, who was in route to the station. The morgue wasn’t far from the station, so he asked him to meet him there instead.
When Poe walked into the morgue, Officer Hudson instantly got chills.
Damn, this dude is weird as hell!
he thought when he saw him. He stood and extended his hand. “Thank you for coming down so quickly. Have a seat.”
“You said it was important, so I came right over. So, do you have any news on who killed my family?”
“We’re still working on that, but there has been a new development.” He watched Poe’s body language change.
“I’m listening.”
“We need you to make another identification.” He was staring a hole into Poe, and watched as he became antsy.
“I don’t understand.”
“We found a body in a hotel room, and I’m sorry to say, it’s one of your sisters.”
“No! No! You’re wrong!” Poe cried out.
“I’m sorry, Poe, but—”
Poe became visually upset. “Which one? Which one of my sisters is it?” Poe begged.
“That’s why we need you to make an identification.” Officer Hudson looked over at the detective working the case and nodded for him to come over.
“If you could follow us this way,” the detective said walking off.
Officer Hudson tapped Poe on the shoulder, who seemed to be in a zone. “This way, Poe,” he said.
Poe walked slowly behind the officers. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Not his sisters, He loved them so much.
They watched as Poe identified the body of his sister, Delilah Harlot. He seemed heartbroken.
Officer Hudson took note of the difference in his demeanor. He was cold as ice when looking at his mother and brother. There was an obvious disconnect there, but not this time. He was not only shocked, but in pain. His heart went out to Poe, and as he gave his condolences he wasn’t lost on the fact that the dude was still weird as hell, and could possibly have murdered his mother and brother. “Let us know about the arrangements so we can pay our respects. And once again, I’m sorry for your loss.”
Poe exited the building without saying another word.
________
Eddie received a call from O, who informed him about Delilah’s murder. Eddie placed a call to Junior since that was his conquest.
“Hello?”
“Are you sitting down?” Eddie asked.
“Yeah. Wassup, Eddie?”
“O just called. They found Delilah strangled to death in a hotel room.”
Junior spit out the soda that he was drinking. “What?”
“Yeah, you heard me. Somebody killed her.”
“Oh wow! That’s sad!” Junior said. He couldn’t help but think about their time together.
“Yeah. I just wanted you to know first. I’m about to call everyone else.”
“Do they think Poe killed her too?”
“O doesn’t think so, but he said anything is possible with that family. He did say Poe was messed up about it.”
“Maybe I should call him.”
“Shiiiid, I’m not calling him!”
“Eddie, I said maybe
I
should call him. I didn’t ask you to.”
“Do what you feel.” Eddie wasn’t trying to argue with him.
“I always do, Eddie… I always do.”
“A’ight holla.”
“Love,” Junior told him.
“Love.”
________
“Junior, what’s going on?” Lacey asked, meddling in his conversation.
“That was Eddie. They found Delilah Harlot strangled to death.”
“Oh my God! That’s terrible!”
Junior gave his wife a look.
“What? Come on now, Junior. You know that I didn’t want her dead; I just wanted her to go away.”
“Well, she’s gone away for eternity.” He gave her a suspicious look.
“Don’t look at me! I’ve been with you all day!” Lacey laughed.
“I know, baby. I know. But I think I should reach out to Poe. Eddie said he was pretty messed up about it. What do you think?”
Lacey smiled on the inside because Junior had asked her opinion. “I think it’s the Christian thing to do,” she said.
Junior scrolled through his phone until he found Poe’s number.
“Hello?” Poe answered. He sounded like he’d been crying.
“Hey, man, this is Junior; Junior Blanks.”
“I know who it is.” Poe’s voice sounded dry.
“I just heard the news, man, and I wanted to give my condolences from the family.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you talked to Deacon? I’m sure he would want to be with you at this time.”
“No, I haven’t talked to him since before the test. He keeps calling though.”
“What’s up with that? Are you having second thoughts about taking the test?”
“No. I just need some time to regroup from everything, you know?”
“That’s understandable. Just try not to shut him out. Deacon is a good man, and if you just tell him to give you some time, I’m sure he will. He’s also a patient man.”
“I’m a little messed up in the head right now, so next time you talk to him just tell him that I need some time.”
“No problem, man. I just wanted to touch base and to let you know that we’re all praying for you. Have you made arrangements yet for your mother?”
“I did, but I had changed them considering what just happened. I have to wait for the coroner to release Delilah’s body before I can reschedule the service.”
“I understand. And please feel free to call if there is anything we can do to help.”
Lacey hit Junior’s arm, shaking her head no.
“Okay. Thank you for calling.”
When Junior hung up the phone he looked at Lacey and asked, “What did you hit me for?”
“You don’t tell crazy people to feel free to call if there is anything we can do!” she said, imitating him.
“Baby! That was not godly!” he teased her.
“No. It’s reality though. That family is cray-cray!”
Junior chuckled at his wife. “Let me give Deacon a heads up on what’s going on.”
“Okay. I’ll be upstairs in the bed waiting!” She winked at him.
Junior watched her wobble out of the room. He wanted to hurry up and get through with this call so that he could get some loving.
He called Deacon and explained everything. Deacon was upset, but Junior talked him through it. He also explained that Poe needed some time to adjust to everything, and with all that has happened he might need even more time.
He was finally able to get Deacon off of the phone and he headed upstairs. When he entered the bedroom, Lacey was laying on the bed in all of her naked glory, and her big belly consuming most of her body. He became instantly turned on and quickly stripped own in record time. Tonight there would be no foreplay; just some good plain ol’ loving.
The couple became entangled in each other’s love. Sweat dripped from their bodies and as the love they shared for each other filled the room. They both went into a cosmic zone.
________
In the middle of the night, Junior was jolted out of his sleep by Lacey screaming at the top of her lungs. “Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked her.
“I’m in labor! What do you think?” Lacey hissed.
“Gee… okay. Let me get your bag and call somebody to watch the kids.” He jumped out of bed to get his phone. He called Elisea, waking her up out of a sleep and asked her to come over to sit with the kids.
“Aaaaaargh!” Lacey groaned, twisting and turning trying to get out of the bed.
Junior rushed to her side and helped her into the bathroom and into the shower. They both quickly showered as Lacey screamed in agony.
She sat on the bed drying herself off as Junior stood in their closet looking confused. “What do I get for you to put on?” he asked.
“Just get me my muumuu, Junior!” she snapped at him.
“What is a muumuu?”
“That ugly thing your mother bought me with the big flowers on it!”
Junior still looked confused.
“Junior, it’s right there hanging on the back of the bathroom door for goodness sake!”
Junior ran his hand over his face. Lacey was already aggravating him. He retrieved the muumuu and brought it over to her. As she put it on, Junior got the pre-packed hospital bag out of the closet, and then he rifled through her panty drawer trying to decide what kind of panties to hand her. “What kind of panties do you want?” he asked.
“Junior, I’m about to have a baby! I don’t need any panties! Let’s just go
now!
” she barked.
“Okay, hold up. We just can’t leave the kids in the house alone. Elisea hasn’t gotten here yet.”
“Well, she needs to hurry the hell up!”
Junior wanted to get to the hospital so that she would shut the hell up. She had never acted like this before with their other two. Just then the doorbell rang, and he darted out of the room to let Elisea in.
Opening the door for his sister he said, “Boy, am I glad to see you! She’s driving me crazy!”
“Well, I’m here now, so y’all just go have a healthy baby.”
“The kids are sleep so you can lay down in one of the guest rooms.”
“I’ll be fine right here on the sofa. That way the kids will know I’m here when they wake up.”
“Good thinking. Okay, let me go get ‘Evilena’!”
“Stop it! You try pushing a baby out your coot!” Elisea laughed as she made herself comfortable.