wonderful, Jefferson. I’ve prayed for this day. God does listen. How soon before you come home?”
“It will be several hours. I’ll have to out-process, but Stacy will bring me home.”
“I wish I was there with you,” Margo said.
“I don’t want you to have to see this prison again,” Jefferson said. “We will celebrate when I get home. I want to hold you and never let go.”
Margo was choked up. The words wouldn’t come out for the sobs. Finally, Margo caught her breath. “Hurry, baby. Hurry home.”
“I will,” Jefferson said. And the line went dead.
“Let’s hurry and get you processed out,” Stacy said. “This was a great victory.” She hugged Jefferson.
“Thanks, Stacy. This day would not have happened without you. I owe it all to you.”
Stacy smiled, grabbed Jefferson’s arm and slowly paraded him out of the room, moving as fast as the walker would allow.
Margo flopped down on the couch, overcome with emotion. Winter scooted down next to Margo and rubbed her mother’s back to offer comfort. Winter closed her wet eyes and then looked toward the ceiling and said a thank you, Lord.
Several minutes passed. Margo wiped the tears from her face and reached over and squeezed Winter.
“Okay, enough of this,” Margo said. “We’ve got to have a celebration. Winter, call your sister and brothers, I’ll call Pastor, and…”
“What about Malik?” Winter smirked, trying to hide a smile. “You know how upset he was because you didn’t tell him that Dad might be released.”
“Let me worry about Malik, Madam All-up-in-my-business.”
“Mother, I’m only saying you have to consider telling Malik. You might want to invite him to the celebration, too.” Winter gotup and turned away so her mother would not hear her giggle.
An embarrassed looked crossed Margo’s face, followed by a scowl. “I’m telling you, for the last time, that Malik is your father’s friend as well as a friend to the family. I appreciate him checking on me while Jefferson was away. That’s all there was to it.”
“Okay, Mother. Don’t get upset. I’m not mad at you if you had a teeny-weenie little crush on Malik. It was probably good for your ego. I love my dad, but remember, he wasn’t perfect.”
“And two wrongs don’t a right make. Remember that, young lady. It’ll take you far in life. Now, get up and go do what I told you to do. I’ll handle the party arrangements.”
“At your pleasure, Mother dear.”
Margo continued to sit on the couch and watched Winter leave the room. Now left to her own thoughts, Margo realized this was the day she had waited for, prayed for…for five long years. God had honored her prayers. Thoughts of Malik swirled in her head while mixed emotions settled in her stomach. Whatever it was that tried to cloud this moment, she had to suppress it. This was not the time to start having feelings for another man or even think about another man. Her attention needed to be fully focused on Jefferson’s release and his return to her and the children.
“Got you to thinking, huh?”
Margo looked up at Winter. “Don’t be smug, little girl. I can still spank that behind of yours.”
“All right, Mother. I’ve called everybody to let them know about Dad. Wasn’t sure when you were planning to have this party.”
“Today. I want banners to welcome Jefferson home. Gosh, I’ve got to get up from here. I’ve got to order a cake and get some refreshments.”
“Mom, are you serious? Only Winston and I will be here.”
“No, I’ve got to call the Pastor, church members and Malik. Hand me the phone, Winter. I can’t waste any more time. I’ve got so much to do in so little time. We’re going to have a celebration!”
Winter watched her mother. She was like her mother in so many ways, although she was her father’s child.
17
A ngelica sat up in bed and scanned her new surroundings. She tossed and turned throughout the night but had been able to doze off for at
“It will be several hours. I’ll have to out-process, but Stacy will bring me home.”
“I wish I was there with you,” Margo said.
“I don’t want you to have to see this prison again,” Jefferson said. “We will celebrate when I get home. I want to hold you and never let go.”
Margo was choked up. The words wouldn’t come out for the sobs. Finally, Margo caught her breath. “Hurry, baby. Hurry home.”
“I will,” Jefferson said. And the line went dead.
“Let’s hurry and get you processed out,” Stacy said. “This was a great victory.” She hugged Jefferson.
“Thanks, Stacy. This day would not have happened without you. I owe it all to you.”
Stacy smiled, grabbed Jefferson’s arm and slowly paraded him out of the room, moving as fast as the walker would allow.
Margo flopped down on the couch, overcome with emotion. Winter scooted down next to Margo and rubbed her mother’s back to offer comfort. Winter closed her wet eyes and then looked toward the ceiling and said a thank you, Lord.
Several minutes passed. Margo wiped the tears from her face and reached over and squeezed Winter.
“Okay, enough of this,” Margo said. “We’ve got to have a celebration. Winter, call your sister and brothers, I’ll call Pastor, and…”
“What about Malik?” Winter smirked, trying to hide a smile. “You know how upset he was because you didn’t tell him that Dad might be released.”
“Let me worry about Malik, Madam All-up-in-my-business.”
“Mother, I’m only saying you have to consider telling Malik. You might want to invite him to the celebration, too.” Winter gotup and turned away so her mother would not hear her giggle.
An embarrassed looked crossed Margo’s face, followed by a scowl. “I’m telling you, for the last time, that Malik is your father’s friend as well as a friend to the family. I appreciate him checking on me while Jefferson was away. That’s all there was to it.”
“Okay, Mother. Don’t get upset. I’m not mad at you if you had a teeny-weenie little crush on Malik. It was probably good for your ego. I love my dad, but remember, he wasn’t perfect.”
“And two wrongs don’t a right make. Remember that, young lady. It’ll take you far in life. Now, get up and go do what I told you to do. I’ll handle the party arrangements.”
“At your pleasure, Mother dear.”
Margo continued to sit on the couch and watched Winter leave the room. Now left to her own thoughts, Margo realized this was the day she had waited for, prayed for…for five long years. God had honored her prayers. Thoughts of Malik swirled in her head while mixed emotions settled in her stomach. Whatever it was that tried to cloud this moment, she had to suppress it. This was not the time to start having feelings for another man or even think about another man. Her attention needed to be fully focused on Jefferson’s release and his return to her and the children.
“Got you to thinking, huh?”
Margo looked up at Winter. “Don’t be smug, little girl. I can still spank that behind of yours.”
“All right, Mother. I’ve called everybody to let them know about Dad. Wasn’t sure when you were planning to have this party.”
“Today. I want banners to welcome Jefferson home. Gosh, I’ve got to get up from here. I’ve got to order a cake and get some refreshments.”
“Mom, are you serious? Only Winston and I will be here.”
“No, I’ve got to call the Pastor, church members and Malik. Hand me the phone, Winter. I can’t waste any more time. I’ve got so much to do in so little time. We’re going to have a celebration!”
Winter watched her mother. She was like her mother in so many ways, although she was her father’s child.
17
A ngelica sat up in bed and scanned her new surroundings. She tossed and turned throughout the night but had been able to doze off for at
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