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“Outside to talk to him, and don’t spend that money before I get back.”

“Bitch, it’s already spent.” Laughing, I continued through the prompts. Climbing in my car, I waited for him to come on the line.

“What’s up, beautiful?”

“Hey, baby. Nothing much. Just sitting over here talking to Taffy. Wait. I thought you was supposed to come home today. Why are you calling me from the tier?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. They didn’t release me. I don’t know what these mufuckas on, but I have to sit.” My heart jumped, but not for the reason it should have. My first feeling was gratefulness. I didn’t have to make any decisions right now, and I had more time with Anton. Then the guilt hit me so hard, I almost felt sick. What the fuck was wrong with me?

“I’m so sorry.” I meant that in more ways than one.

“It’s cool. I’m just tired of going through this bullshit. I was good with it because I thought I was coming home, but I honestly don’t know how much more I can take.” Hearing how frustrated he was only made me feel worse.

“You gone get out of there. You weren’t the driver, so what can they really do? An accessory to a hit and run? That don’t add up. You want me to try and get a lawyer because this is bullshit?”

“Ain’t no sense in you going out there doing something stupid. I’ll be okay. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Okay, well I’ll put some more money on your books. I got you.”

“I love you, Bubbles.” I swallowed hard.

“I love you too.” I don’t know why that was so hard to say, but it felt wrong. Hanging up, I closed my eyes. I needed some advice, and since Taffy was only going to say what Juanita would say, I headed to the horse to hear it out of her own mouth. I prayed she gave me something useful. Parking, I got out and walked inside. The minute I laid eyes on her, I knew something was wrong. First, she had the blues playing so loud, you could hear it from the porch. Second, Juanita was sitting on the couch looking like somebody had dragged her through the alley.

Her scarf was hanging halfway off her head, and she clutched her robe with one hand as if her ass was using it to stay warm outside. What shocked me the most was the cigarette she was holding dumping the ashes in the ash tray on top of the bible. She didn’t smoke squares, and you will never catch Juanita looking a mess. Somebody had taken my girl through it. Knowing the only person that could make her feel any kind of way was my daddy, I got nervous. Did something happen to him? Did he catch more time? Her ass was rocking back and forth, and I don’t think she noticed I was there. I had to wave my hand to catch her attention. Grabbing the remote, she turned the music down.

“What the hell wrong with you?” She slowly turned her head toward me as if she wanted to fight. I grew up with my mama, so I knew that look all too well.

“You in on this too, Ce Ce?” I tried not to laugh at her Dream Girls reference, but it was funny.

“In on what, Juanita?”

“I knew it. You think this shit funny?” Now, I was confused.

“What are you talking about? What am I in on?”

“Don’t play with me, Bubbles. You know what you and your man did.” I couldn’t tell if she was for real or not.

“My man?” What the hell did Peanut do?

“Yeah, your man. That low down, thieving ass nigga you brought up in my house.” I racked my brain trying to figure out who I brought there, when it hit me.

“Anton?”

“Yup. I know it was him.” I ignored the fact that I didn’t bring him there and she called me over. I wanted to know what he had done.

“What he do?”

“His slick ass hugged me, smiled, and then robbed me blind.”

“Stop playing.” He had too much money for that.

“DO IT LOOK LIKE I’M PLAYING?” She flicked the long piece of ash from her cigarette, and it landed right on the bible.

“Juanita, you burning up the Lord.”

“He knows what I’m going through.” I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing.

“Anton ain’t robbed you.”