Darius Jones by Mary B. Morrison Page B

this personal assistant of yours yet and you let her watch my son? Where were you that you didn’t have time to keep him?” I already knew wherever Grant was my mom wasn’t far from him.
    â€œCheck yourself. You’re getting out of hand. I’m in the lobby at the hospital on my way up to visit Fancy. Where are you?”
    â€œYou know where the fuck I am. You can’t see Fancy right now. Thanks to Ashlee coming to my wife’s room causing commotion, Fancy’s pressure is up. Stay there. I’m on my way down to see you.”
    â€œHere, man,” I said, handing K-9 the envelope Ashlee gave me. “Open it for me.”
    K-9 laughed. “What if it’s laced with anthrax? You know that female is certifiable. I think you’d better do the honors when you’re by yourself,” he said, handing the letter back. “For real though, D. You can’t talk like that to your mom. The one thing I’ve learned is if a man doesn’t respect his mother, his sisters, and females, a boomerang is gonna keep knocking him on his ass. I ain’t saying you have to like them, but respect goes a long way. Give it five before you go to the lobby.”
    Fuck! I boxed with the air. Desperately wanted to punch the wall but I wasn’t that stupid. My hands were worth millions. The tears running down my face were fueled with anger. My son was probably gone. My wife, fighting for her life. My mother betrayed me. Me, I was a piece of shit waiting for someone to flush me down the toilet.
    â€œD. Let’s go shoot a few rounds. After you wash your ass.”
    He got no argument from me when I could smell my own funk. I smiled for the second time since the accident. I could continue soaking in shit but I had to regain control and shift my attitude. The choice was mine. Boxing with the wind wasn’t resolving my problems.
    â€œFair, my nuts are starting to stick to my thighs,” I said, getting on the elevator. “Man, she moved. That’s great, right?”
    â€œFancy can kick your ass and mine. She’s a fighter. She’ll be fine. Let the nurses take care of her and I’ll keep watch over you, dawg. After you handle that stench, we’ll get something to eat, shoot around, and I’ll bring you back here.”
    â€œAnita said don’t come back.”
    â€œMan, you’re hearing things. She never said that. That’s your wife and you have a right to see her. They just need you to chill and not be upsetting Fancy. That’s all.”
    Part of me was looking forward to coming back; the other part was ready to go to Cleveland. “Cool. That way I’ll be refreshed and calm. But, dude, why my mom let Ashlee take DJ?” The elevator doors opened. I saw my mom in the lobby arguing with Grant.
    â€œGuess you’ve got your answer, man. But I can’t take cameras from all them.” K-9 pointed at a group of reporters moving in my direction. “I’ll be outside in my car.”
    Walking over to my mom, I said, “Ma, life is too short. He’s not worth it. Let his ass go. Right now I need to know where my son is.” I was so mad at my mom I didn’t bother telling her Fancy’s eyes were open and she’d moved.
    Cameras flashed, making me angrier. Wish those sorry bastards would back off. “Leave me the fuck alone! Report that! Better yet, go find that trick that’s responsible for my wife being in the hospital.” With all the chaos, I hadn’t had time to hire a detective to hunt down the bitch who was driving that white pickup truck.
    Grant commented to my mom, “There, you heard it from your own son. I’m not worth it.”
    â€œNigga, save your steps and your breath. I’m talking to my mother. You don’t owe her but you do owe me. Don’t make me beat your ass a million times to get my money back,” I told him. I was on the verge of swinging at more than air.
    Grant