Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Maybe,” she shrugged, “but now things are different. I can’t work because of my back, and—”
“Your back? From layin’ on it too much due to getting dicked down, huh? Why don’t you beg that brother or mama of yours for some cash?”
She rolled her eyes and continued. “My family is just as poor as I am, so they can’t help me. I need some financial assistance, and this would solve all of my problems. I don’t want you to forfeit your land, Kage. Believe me, I don’t.” She appeared woeful and regretful, but he wasn’t buying it. “I just want a portion of what it’s worth, accordin’ to the law.”
“Well, you ain’t worth a red fuckin’ cent, and that’s accordin’ to law, too.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I tell you what, Bonnie Blue, if audacity was a person, its name would be Lorna The Unmitigated Gall, the third! What kinda woman are you?! From this second forward, you can speak to my lawyer.”
“I’m in a terrible position here, Kage!”
“Well, darlin’, I refuse to lose or get screwed, so I suggest that you make sure you get in your favorite position: face down, ass up, that’s the way you like to fuck.” He slammed the door in her face, locked it, and marched back into the kitchen, his fists balled up tight. Poet stood at the sink, staring at him.
“So that’s Lorna? The ex-wife. My Lord…” She shook her head.
“Yup. I’m sure you heard the entire conversation. IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHIN’! GOT DAMN IT!”
He slammed his body down at the kitchen table, hot all over. She walked behind him, placed her hand on his shoulder and massaged it. Reaching up, he touched her hand, stroking her fingers. They were quiet for a long while.
“Kage…”
“Yeah.” He huffed as he closed his eyes.
“I’ve actually already been mullin’ over your land issue with your grandfather since the moment you told me. I spoke to my accountant, too. She’s lookin’ into it. Anyway, he’s done a lot to try to get this property from you, and not just sending your ex-wife just now.”
“He’s got the right connections, the power and the pull, Poet. The city has been chompin’ at the bit to get this land from me anyway. I’ve gotten calls, letters, threats, visits. The whole nine. Roman, my cousin who I told you also does my taxes, even had another look for me, and told me they were full of shit. He showed me the receipts. I’ve got to call an attorney today, but it’ll be a task finding one to go against Grandpa. Roman recommended his lawyer to me, but that guy is a criminal attorney. This is an estate issue.”
“Well then, let me tell you about my idea. See, we had a—” She made a strange lurching noise. He turned around and saw her turn green practically before his eyes, then watched as she raced down the hall to the bathroom. He got up, chasing after her.
“Baby! Are you alright?”
She slammed the bathroom door, then he heard her puking. He sighed, and waited outside of the restroom as she finished.
“…I’m okay. It was the medicine I took. Sometimes cough medicine makes me gag and throw up.” She sounded so pitiful. Soon, he heard the sink come on. “Go on back to the kitchen, baby. I think I should probably leave though. I don’t want you to catch whatever this is.”
“You ain’t going nowhere. I’m not scared.” He smiled as he pressed his hand against the closed door. He heard her soft laugh. “You want some ginger ale or Gatorade?”
“Either sounds good.”
He made his way back up the hall to pour her a drink, then paused. Every alarm bell in his body was ringing. Pulling out his phone, he replayed a voicemail from his mother. One she’d left a few weeks prior.
“Hey, Kage, it’s your mama. I wanted to remind you that today is your daddy’s birthday. I did a reading, as I do on all of his birthdays, and I uh, I need to tell you something. I know that you don’t really believe in this stuff, I get that, but I feel this strongly, and need to tell you about it all the same. First of all, your father is always with you. I want you to start paying attention to the signs. I asked him to let you know in a way that you could understand. Secondly… honey,” the woman paused, sounding like she was about to cry, “nine times out of ten, I am always right about this, Kage…
“On top of that… on top of that, your grandmother had a dream about fish. She had it this mornin’, actually. Called and told me. Look at the timing? Same day as your daddy’s birthday. That means only one thing. I’m overjoyed. I mean, you’re my only son, my only kid, but I don’t want to get my hopes up, but they kinda are.” She laughed nervously. “You’ve got a spark of prophesy, too, you just won’t admit it. So, uh, let me ask you—has your girlfriend been sick or anything lately? Do me a favor. Ask her when her last period was. I know you might get mad about me sayin’ stuff like this, and she might be weirded out by it if she knew your mama was asking, so don’t tell her it was me. But the cards are tellin’ me something, and I can’t ignore it…”