Chapter Twelve

Rakeem

I left Journei in the room with Peace and Lucretia while I headed upstairs to my room to finish getting dressed. I had to leave because I was feeling guilty about having Journei come and sit with Lu. I was feeling this girl more than I wanted to accept. I know Lu made me promise I would move on, but how do I go about doing that? I didn't want to get ahead of myself and just let shit be. After I finished dressing, I didn't even bother to go let them know I was leaving. It was a security monitor in every room in the house. She would be able to see me leave if she looked at it. Once I grabbed my keys, I went into the garage and hopped into my Tahoe and headed to the docks. We had a few families due to come in later and Haze and I were always there for that. When I pulled up, I saw Haze was already there. I noticed Ced and Art were here as well. We had other workers, but these two were our top lieutenants and who we considered homeboys. I stepped out of my truck and headed inside the building that was tucked off to the side and found the three of them sitting around passing two blunts around.

"Wassup, wassup?" I spoke.

"Ain't shit."

"Wassup," they spoke back.

I took a seat next to my brother, and he passed me the blunt.

"You good, bro?" he questioned.

Taking a deep pull from the blunt, I held it a few seconds before I blew the smoke back out and spoke.

"I asked Journei to come to the house and sit with Lu and Peace," I informed.

My brother, along with Ced and Art, looked at me like I was crazy.

"You aight?" Ced asked, taking the blunt from Art.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" I frowned.

"Because nigga. You'on leave Peace with just anybody. Hell, you'on let too many people around Lu. Now you have this girl that you're clearly feeling in your house with your kid and baby mama. That's enough grounds to question your sanity," Haze spoke.

"I agree. As long as I've known you, you've never had too many people at your spot. Now you got a random chick there," Art expressed.

"She ain't random," I shot back.

"And you're defending her? Yeah, it's that damn deep," Ced laughed.

"Aye, y'all go check on them niggas. Let me holla at Rock." Haze dismissed Ced and Art because I knew he was about to go into big brother mode on my ass. No sooner than the door shut behind them, he started up.

"Talk to me," he insisted.

As I slid down in the chair, I closed my eyes and let my head fall back against the back of the chair.

"Man, I'm liking Journei…a lot and I feel guilty as fuck about the shit," I revealed.

Saying it out loud made me realize I was really slowing falling for this girl.

"And what's wrong with that?" Haze asked. I looked at him like he was crazy.

"The fuck you mean, what's wrong with that? My baby mama is laid up in my house, dying and you think it's okay for me to be attracted to another one while I'm already mourning her."

He passed me the blunt and sat back in his seat before he spoke again.

"Didn't you tell me Lu wanted you to be happy and love again?"

Silence.

"Didn't you tell me she wanted somebody for you and Pea?"

"What does all that have to do with Journei?" I asked.

"Who's to say that Journei isn't the one? Why eliminate the possibility before you give it a fair chance. I mean, that bestie shit y'all got going on is cute, but I know you. I see the way you look at her. You start blushing like a bitch when you're talking to her. Now, you have her in your home…alone with your daughter and baby mama. If I didn't know any better, I would say that your ass is in love."

Was I in love?

" Nah, I wouldn't say all that, but I am feeling her. You know when I asked her to come sit with them, she didn't hesitate? I was expecting her to curse my ass out, but she came through without a second thought," I revealed.

"I say once we finish here, you go home and talk to her about everything. Let her know how you feel. Who knows? Maybe she feels the same." He shrugged.

I don't think I'm ready to discuss any feelings yet, but I will be taking a better look at things from now on.

Five hours and four families later, I was pulling back into my driveway. It was almost eight o'clock at night, so I know Peace would be cranky. After thanking Journei, I would get my baby down for the night and then make sure Lu was straight.

When I walked inside, I didn't see them, so naturally I went inside of Lucretia's room, and I was taken aback to see Journei braiding Lu's hair. I didn't even know how to take this.

"Hey," Journei spoke first. Lucretia's eyes darted to mine and a weak smile graced her face.

"Wassup? How long has she been sleeping?" I noticed Peace was lying in the bed that I had in here and she had on fresh pajamas.

"About thirty minutes now. You have a very independent little lady on your hands. She led me to her room and showed me her clothes and toys. I hope you don't mind. I fed her too."

"Ugh, nah. I don't mind."

"Lu has been up for about two hours. I saw her hair products, so I did a dry wash and re-braided it. I also washed her up for you."

I was speechless. I couldn't believe that she did all of this and not hesitate at all.

"Thank you, shorty. I really appreciate you helping me out today, shorty. I'll have to repay you real soon to show my appreciation."

"I like seafood." She smiled.

"I got you."

I watched her as she gathered her things, and I walked her out of the room and to the front door. Once I got her to her car, I pulled her into a hug and squeezed her tight.

"Thank you, again. You don't know how much you showing up today meant to me."

"It was no problem. That's what besties are for." She smiled.

I watched as she got in the car and drove off. When I made it back in the house, I went into Lu's room, and she was still awake. Walking over to the side of her bed, I took a seat and grabbed her hand.

"Rakeem," she called out to me weakly.

"Wassup, shorty?"

"That's her," she said.

"Huh?"

"Th-that's her. Journei. She's the woman for you. Sh-she's the one fr-from my dreams."

I was stuck at her words. What did she mean Journei was the woman in her dreams? What was she trying to tell me?

"I had a dream about the woman that would teach you how to love again," she rasped. "When I opened my eyes and saw her, everything about her was so familiar. I recognized her voice. She's so good with Peace." She stopped to catch her breath. "Don't shy away from her, Rakeem. You like her. I can tell. Otherwise, she would have never stepped foot inside of this house. Don't fight it. Let it happen. Let Journei love you. You deserve it." She gave my hand a light squeeze before closing her eyes. The lone tear that dropped from my eye before I even realized it had formed.

Was everything that Lu was saying true? Had she seen Journei in her dreams? Was she sent here to comfort me? I didn't understand all of this and right now I didn't want to. I wouldn't completely ex out the thought, but right now, my primary concern was providing Lu with a peaceful transition.