Chapter 11

Our flight back home from Miami had been delayed. A northeastern had slammed eleven inches of snow on top of the gritty streets of New York. After being delayed for two days, Taj and I were finally able to get a flight into Newark Airport.

Rick was waitin g for us in Taj‘s 4.6 Range Rover. He got out of the car and immediately began grabbing our luggage.
―Hey,‖ Rick said, ―beautiful weather, huh?‖

―Yo, this is crazy. I‘m ready to go back to MIA,‖ Taj said. ―Hey, Rick,‖ I said. ―Happy New Year!‖

Rick and I embraced and then he kissed me on the cheek. ―Happy New Year to you, too. Oh, and I heard the good news. That‘s what‘s up. Congratulations!‖

I felt myself blushing. ―Thank you.‖
Rick anxiously lifted my left hand. ―Well, let me see.‖ I removed my gloves and showed off my ring. ―Damn!‖
Taj grinned proudly. ―Yo, listen its cold out here.

Come on, let‘s hurry up and get in the truck.‖
* * *
―Why you keep staring at me, Rick? Don‘t think I can‘t see you looking in the rear view mirror.‖

―Because you look different, Storm. You look happy and peaceful.‖
―That‘s ‗cause I am.‖
―Okay, so, when is the wedding?‖

―We gonna try and do the joint in April,‖ Taj advised. ―April? That soon?‖
―Yeah. And we gonna have a big wedding, too.‖

―Y‘all gonna have to get on the ball then. That‘s a lot of work.‖
―I know. It‘s gonna be all Taj‘s family and friends. You know I don‘t have no family and don‘t really have no friends. If it were up to me we could just go to the Justice of Peace and be done with everything. But this is what Taj want and I want him to have this.‖
―Taj, you the one that want the big wedding?‖ Rick asked.
―Yeah, man. Now you know I gotta show off my beautiful wife. Don‘t no other mothafucka on the planet got a package this tight.‖
―So, y‘all don‘t want to wait a few more months.‖
―No,‖ I replied. ―We just wanna go on and start with our new life. You know what I‘m saying?‖
―I hear that. Well, you know I wish y‘all nothing but the best. I know y‘all gonna make it work. Because you both love each other, power and respect each other. Y‘all don‗t let nothing come in between the two of you. Just keep doing that and you will die old together. I can promise you that.‖
―Rick, man. You know you gonna have to be my best man.‖
―For real, man?‖
―Of course. Of course. You know
that.‖ ―I would be honored, Taj.‖
―Taj, I just thought of something,‖ I
mumbled. ―What?‖
―I don‘t have anybody to walk me down the aisle,‖ I suddenly felt ashamed.
The car instantly grew silent and remained that way for a few minutes.
―You know what? I can do it. I would be more honored to walk you down the aisle, Storm.‖
―Nah, Rick. You can‘t do that. I‘ll figure something out. I don‘t want you feeling sorry for me. I mean you‘re Taj‘s best man.‖
―Baby, I can have anybody be my best man. Rick should walk you down the aisle.‖
―Storm, I don‘t feel sorry for you. Hell, you don‘t let nobody feel sorry for you. I wanna do this. You know you my baby girl.‖
―You sure? ‗Cause for real, for real, I can walk down the aisle by myself.‖ I don’t really want to do that.
―I‘m positive.‖
I turned toward Taj and gently held his face in my hands. ―You sure you don‘t mind Taj? We can work something else out.‖
―I‘m sure that I want you to be happy, baby.‖
―Okay,‖ I placed a gentle kiss on Taj‘s cheek and rested my head on his chest. Damn, I love this nigga.
As if he could read my mind, Taj nibbled on my ear and whispered, ―I love you, too, ma.‖
―Why y‘all so quiet back there?‖
We both giggled like two school age children. ―Nothing,‖ we both sang in unison. I didn‘t think it was possible to fall deeper in love with Taj but I had.
I looked out the window, besides the snow covered bare trees it didn‘t look at all like it was a northeastern on the New Jersey Turnpike. ―Why is it so much traffic this time of the day?‖
―I don‘t know what‘s going on,‖ Rick answered.
―Why? You trying to make a stop somewhere before we go home?‖ Taj asked.
―No. I‘m just ready to get home.‖
―What you gonna wanna eat?‖
―I don‘t know…oh, you know what? I gotta taste for some IHOP.‖
―IHOP? This time of the day?‖
―Uh-huh. You know I can eat pancakes and grits anytime of the day.‖
―Alright. I guess we can do that. I was hoping for a home cooked meal though. You got some crazy ass eating habits.‖
―Taj, I don‘t feel like cooking. Baby, we just got back in town.‖
―A‘ight. I guess I‘ll just get some Jamaican food from Sonny‘s. Once we get you straight, I‘m gonna check on my moms.‖
―Okay. You don‘t want me to come with you?‖
―You can come if you want. I ain‘t bother asking you because you said you were tired. I thought you might just wanna go straight home and get some rest.‖
―I amtired. I‘ll stop by and see her tomorrow probably.‖ I
put back on my Chanel sunglasses, reached in my Prada handbag for my Mac lip gloss, and then I dabbed my lips. For the remainder of the ride, I daydreamed about my wedding day. I knew I didn‘t have any family to be there crying and drying their eyes as I walked down the aisle but I really didn‘t care. Now that Rick was gonna walk me down the aisle, nothing else bothered me. I don‘t know when it exactly happened but without warning, I suddenly wasn‘t fearful of committing myself with Taj. Nor was I worried about his commitment to me.
The only worry I had was how I would handle bringing up to Taj where he and I got married. Taj was raised in a strict Pentecostal church, and although he didn‘t attend church regularly, I knew without a doubt that he would oppose at any suggestions I had of us having our wedding ceremony anywhere but in the church.

* * * After making all of our food stops, we finally arrived at my apartment.
―Storm, you know you should have on some snow boots or something,‖ Rick said.

―Rick, I‘m just leaving Miami. It was 70 degrees when we left there. Do you really think I was thinking about putting on some snow boots when we left there?‖

―Well, you knew about the blizzard. You should have told me to bring you some to the airport.‖
―I‘m fine, Rick. Ain‘t no snow inside the parking garage anyhow.‖
―Here, Rick, grab that,‖ Taj ordered pointing to my Louis Viutton luggage and garment bag.
―A‘ight. I got it. Y‘all can go up. I can manage. Madison is probably waiting at the door for you.‖
―You picked her up from the dog-sitter already?‖ I asked.

― Yeah, Taj told me to do that this morning when I spoke to him.‖
Taj and I started walking toward the elevator. ―Oh, Storm, I know what I forgot to tell you. That crazy ass Pam been blowing up my phone looking for you.‖
―What for?‖
―She said you ain‘t been returning her calls.‖
―She‘s right and her ass know I was out of town with my man so I don‘t know why she keep calling.‖
―I don‘t know either.‖
―When the last time she called?‖
―She called about seven o‘clock this morning.‖

―Seven o‘clock?
―Uh-huh.‖
―Well, what she be saying?‖
―Oh, she was just talking a whole lot of bullshit about

you ain‘t been talking to her and she don‘t know what‘s up with you. And she hope you ain‘t tryin‘ to play her?‖ ―She said that?‖ Taj asked.
―Yeah, man. She‘s been acting like she‘s maniac or something.‖
―You told her I was coming back today?‖
―Nah, but if I‘m not mistaken, I think she knew that already.‖
―How she know that though? I didn‘t tell her when I was coming back. Why is the bitch sweating me like that? You wait until I call her psychotic triflin‘ ass.‖
Taj held the ―Door Open‖ button on the elevator while Rick pulled the luggage in.
―Don‘t worry about it,‖ Taj assured. ―Just handle your business and then be done with it.‖
―You know I‘m gonna handle her. But I‘m saying though…what‘s that all about? I mean why the hell is that stupid bitch calling Rick looking for me? She act like we be eating each other pussies or something. I don‘t like that shit. When I‘m ready to talk to her, I‘ll call her. That‘s why the bitch is cutoff ‗cause she on some stupid shit right now and I don‘t have time for that.‖
―Maybe she know about the Crimesolvers thing and that‘s why she trying to get at you,‖ Rick replied.

―I don‘t care…she still don‘t need to be running me down for that. That shit is on her. I ain‘t tell her to walk up in that store all open like that. She know I trained her betta than that.‖

* * *

When we walked into the apartment, Madison came running out of my bedroom. I hugged and played with her for a few minutes. Then I took off my Jimmy Choo boots and collapsed on the sofa. Rosa had retrieved all the mail and left it on the sofa table. I reached for the latest edition of Essence magazine; Queen Latifah was on the cover. I glanced through some of the pages then put the magazine down.

Taj turned on the television then went into the kitchen to warm up our food.
―Baby, what you want to drink with
this?‖ ―Do we have any juice?‖
―No.‖

―Well, I guess I‘ll just drink some milk
then.‖ ―Storm, this milk is old.‖

―I told Rosa‘s ass to buy some milk. See what I‘m saying?‖
―Calm down baby. I‘ll go get you some milk if you want some that bad.‖

―That‘s alright. I don‘t want you to have to go back out. Go on and eat. I know you are hungry.‖
―Why you seem so stressed since we got back? Is that shit about Pam bothering you?‖
―I guess it is.‖ Then my cell phone began to ring. It was

Pam.
―That‘s
her?‖ ―Yup.‖
―Answer it and get it over with.‖
―No, I don‘t feel like dealing with her right now.

When I‘m ready to talk, I‘ll call her. She ain‘t gonna make me talk to her.‖

―Well, stop stressing it then. After you eat I‘m gonna run your water so you can take a bath. And while I‘m at my moms I want you to relax and get yourself together. Remember we got a wedding we need to start planning for.‖

I smiled at the reminder and stretched out my hand to admire my engagement ring. ―Thanks, boo.‖
Taj handed me my plate of food. ―Here, go on and eat.‖

* * *

Taj had decided to take Madison along for the ride to visit his mother. The warm bubble bath and listening to Maxwell was definitely what I needed to relax me. I grabbed a Heineken from the refrigerator and rolled up a blunt to finish me off. As I waited for the blunt to dry, the telephone rang again...it was Pam. Damn what the fuck is her problem?

―Hello,‖ I said in an irritated
tone. ―Storm?‖
―What?‖

―Well, damn. Where the hell you been? Why you ain‘t been returning any of my calls?‖
―I ain‘t know I had to check in with you. My bad.‖ ―What‘s that all about?‖
―What?‖

―The attitude. I mean if you got something to say then I would appreciate it if you would be woman enough to say it.‖

Did this bitch just have the audacity to challenge my womanhood? ―Oh, you know I‘m definitely woman enough to say what the fuck is on my mind. Pam, you of all people should know that by now.‖

―Alright, then. What‘s up?‖
―I‘m not getting into this because you feel like you need to know right now. I told you I‘m tired. I just got back from my trip with my fiancé—‖

Pam quickly interrupted me.
―Fiancé?‖ ―Yeah.‖
―So, you and Taj are getting
married?‖ ―We sure are.‖

―Well, why you ain‘ t tell me that before? When did all this happen? Why you acting so secretive, Storm? I mean you didn‘t even call a bitch and say Happy New Year or nothing. What‘s up with that? I thought you was my dog.‖

Just listening to her speak was beginning to annoy me. ―Listen, are you done?‖

―Am I done? Am I done?‖ Pam repeated, her voice began to escalate in anger. ―Storm, is that what you just asked me?‖

―Pam, I ain‘t stutter. And I‘m not gonna say it again, I‘m tired. I‘ll call you tomorrow.‖ Then I put the receiver down.

I waited a few minutes to see if Pam would call back. She didn‘t. Good. Then I pulled back the black mink bedspread, climbed into the bed and began to light up.

* * *

I flicked the television channels until I got to Cribs. Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons were showcasing their New Jersey mansion. Maybe Taj and I could rent out a mansion for the wedding. Yeah, now that might work. Taj is gaudy. Now if anything, he will go for that idea over a church. I’m almost positive he will. He has been after me to start looking at mansions in Jersey anyway. Yeah, that’s how I’m gonna approach it. We can BUY the mansion and have the wedding there. Taj loves to show off, he’ll definitely go for it.

My eyelids became heavy and trying to keep them open became a chore. Finally, I gave in to sleep and resigned to analyze my wedding plans after my nap.

* * *

Taj and I was in Jamaica. The weather was beautiful. We were walking barefoot on the sand. I was dressed in an ivory Vera Wang ankle length dress and Taj had on ivory pants, and shirt. His shirt was only buttoned at the bottom.

Rick was bellowing, Kenny Lattimore‘s, You and Taj and I were dancing. We were smiling and laughing. There were a few people circled around us, admiring our love. Yet, we were oblivious to them. It was as if we were the only two people in the world.

After Rick finished singing, Rick and all of the spectators left quickly. Taj picked me up and gently cradled me like a newborn baby. We kissed passionately. Then he laid me on the sand. White candles surrounded us. They were everywhere-hundreds of them. Despite the breeze, the candles remained lit. It was so serene and peaceful. The only thing you heard was the music from the sea. My heart was flooded with joy.

Taj and I fondled each other, kissed and made love. We rested, then, I turned to him and looked him in his eyes and said, ―Thank you for bringing me here. You know I love the sea.‖

Taj just smiled. Then I climbed on top of him and slowly eased his penis in me. I moved up and down, side to side, slow then fast--just the way I knew Taj loved it. Taj had his mouth slightly opened, his head titled and eyes rolling to the back of his head. He was obviously enjoying the ride that I was taking him on. Watching Taj turned me on more than I could have imagined that it could. I felt like my walls were going to collapse and started going faster and faster…

The telephone rang and woke me out of my sleep. I had been humping the bed. Damn.
―Hello,‖ I answered in a sleep raspy voice.

―Hey, baby,‖ Taj answered. ―I‘m sorry. I didn‘t want to wake you up. Just was checking on you.‖

―No, it‘s okay,‖ I assured rubbing the sleep from my eyes. ―I‘m good. When you coming home?‖
―I‘m still at my moms. I should be home in about two hours.‖

―Two hours, Taj?‖
―Yeah. What‘s wrong?‖
I sighed. ―You know I was just humping the bed?‖ ―What?‖
―I had a dream that we was in Bahamas or it may

have been Jamaica. I think we had gotten married there. And

Rick was there singing at the wedding.‖
―You know Rick could
blow?‖ ―No. Rick can sing?‖
―Yeah.‖
―Shit. This is wild.‖
―So you were humping the bed Storm?‖
I laughed a little embarrassed at the thought. ―Yeah.

After, I guess the wedding, you and I was on the beach and we starting making love and the shit must‘ve been good ‗cause I was humping the bed.‖

Taj laughed. ―Well, I promise I‘ll take care of you when I get home.‖
―Alright. I wondered what made me dream we were at the beach. I don‘t never dream.‖

―You love the sea and the water. That‘s probably why. And you always dream, Storm. You probably just don‘t remember your dreams.‖

―Oh, well, tell your moms hi. And even if I‘m sleep when you get home, make sure you wake me up.‖
―Okay. Now remember you said that.‖

―I‘m serious. Make sure that you wake me up, Taj.‖ ―You know how hard that is.‖
―It won‘t be hard tonight. I promise.‖
―Well, just sleep with your legs
open.‖ ―Cute. See you later, baby.‖
―A‘ight,‖ Taj chuckled. ―Later.‖

The telephone rang again. It was Pam. This bitch is begging for me to curse her ass out.

―Hello,‖ I snapped.
―Hey, Storm.‖
―What you want Pam? I told you I was tired and I

would talk to you tomorrow. I mean why you bugging?‖ ―I‘m not bugging. But I don‘t appreciate the way you
treating me. I mean one minute we are the best of friends and the
next minute you acting like I done cross you or something.‖

―Pam, trust me, if you had crossed me you wouldn‘t be on this phone talking to me.‖
―Really?‖
―Oh, that‘s real.‖

―Well, I‘m not gonna bother you no more. I was just calling you because I had some paper to give to you.‖
―What paper?‖
―Trez gave me the money he owed you.‖

―Oh, really? What made him finally do that all of the sudden?‖
―I told him that you was gonna send Taj after him if he didn‘t pay up.‖

―You told him
that?‖ ―Yeah.‖

―Pam, you know I don‘t like throwing Taj‘s name out there for the benefit of my business. I run the streets on my name, not Taj‘s.‖

― I know that but I really wanted to get the money from Trez. I thought that that was why you were mad at me.‖
―I ain‘t mad at you.‖

―So are you gonna tell me or what?‖
―I told you…we can talk tomorrow.‖
―Well, we gonna have to talk over the phone then

be cause I gotta leave town tomorrow.‖
―Oh, yeah. Where you going?‖
―I gotta go and check on my grandmother. She‘s been

sick and you know how my people are? Ain‘ t nobody trying to take care of her they just taking her money and shit. So I gotta go and take care of that. And…and I don‘t know when I‘m coming back.‖

Something is up. She must’ve forgotten who she talking to ‘cause this bitch don’t give a damn about her grandmother. ―I hearthat. Well we can get together when you get back then.‖

―Storm, you gonna want me to carry that money around with me?‖
―Yeah, it‘s good. You can give it to me when you get back.‖

Pam sighed. ―A‘ight. One.‖
―Okay, talk to you later.‖
I pressed the receiver down so I could get a dial tone and

call Taj. I started dialing his cell number and decided it could wait. I didn‘t want him to think I was still trippin‘ over Pam.
* * *

After I hung up the telephone, I laid back down and tried to fall back asleep. A half hour later the intercom rang.
―Yeah.‖

―Good evening, Ms. Williams. Miss Pam is here to see you.‖
Pam? I paused for a few moments. ―Alright, you can send her up.‖
Five minutes went by and Pam still had not arrived at my apartment. I picked up the phone and dialed the doorman. ―Hi, this is Ms. Williams. My guest never made it to my apartment. Did she leave?‖
―No, Ms. Williams. Miss Pam and the other two young ladies went up a few minutes ago. I saw them get on the elevator.‖
―Two other young ladies?‖
―Yes, she had two women with her.‖
―Why you didn‘t say that before?‖ Then the doorbell rang. ―Hold up. That‘s her now. Okay, bye.‖
When I opened up the door, only Pam was standing there. She was dressed all thugged out with Rocawear velour jogging suit and field Tims. ―What‘s up with you?‖ I asked.
―Nothing,‖ Pam said nervously.
―Nothing. Well, why you here? I told you I wasn‘t stressing the money. In fact, I told you about ten times, I was tired. Why you acting like you on crack or something?‖ Then I pushed her to the side and stuck my head the door, where are them bitches that came here with you?‖
―What you talking about?‖
―My doorman said you were with two other chicks. Where are they?‖
―Oh, them. I used to go to school with with…‖ Pam stammered, ―One of them and the other one you know her she um…that‘s Aja, that video bitch.‖
―You don‘t seem to be doing too well in the hearing department today. I ain‘t ask you who they were. I ask you where the fuck are they?‖
―I don‘t know, Storm. They went to see somebody on the eighteenth floor.‖
―Oh, yeah?‖
―Yeah, now can I come in? Damn?‖
I opened the door and Pam walked in. I stood and watched her as she unfastened her coat.
―Where Madison?‖
―She ain‘t here. Why you wanna know?‖
―I just asked for her that‘s all. I thought it was quiet when we was on the phone.‖
―So, why are you here?‖
Pam threw her hands in the air. ―I‘m so stressed, Storm. I got so much drama going on with my family and shit. I just needed to talk to you. When I called you I was only five minutes away and I wasn‘t gonna come up after you told me to wait until I got back to give you the money but I really needed to talk to you.‖
―Which one is
it?‖ ―What?‖
―On one hand, you really needed to give me the money that Trez gave you for me. Which by the way, you have been in my apartment about five minutes or more….if you had the money you should‘ve handed it to me before you stepped foot in my house. I mean, if that‘s why you here. Then on the next hand, you stressed about your grandmother. The same grandmother that you have repeatedly told me you can‘t stand.‖
―When have I ever told you I can‘t stand my grandmother, Storm?‖
―Many times.‖
―Name one time I ever said that shit out my mouth Storm?‖
―Listen, I ain‘t gonna go back and forth with this juvenile shit. I let you in, even after I told you I didn‘t want to see or talk to you. So tell me what‘s up? And make it fast, ‗cause I‘m not feeling this at all right now.‖
―Storm, why you treating me like this? Why you treating me like I‘m a stranger or something. I thought we were family.‖
―I don‘t have no family.‖
―You know what I mean. You acting so distant with me. Like I done threw some dirt on you and shit. I never thought you of all people would turn on me like this. After all we done been through. I mean for real, for real, I turned you on to the game. And this is how you gonna do me?‖
I ignored Pam‘s rhetoric. ―So you here to talk about the same thing I said could wait until you came back? That‘s what‘s stressing you?‖
―Yeah, part of it.‖
―So why you lie, Pam. Why you come all the way here to lie in my face?‖
―I mean, my grandmother issick.‖
―I don‘t want to talk about your grandmother or anybody else. You obviously don‘t have my money and you already know it‘s all about the Cha-Ching. Soyou need to go.‖ ―Storm!‖
―What? Why the hell you screaming out my name like that in my damn house?‖
―Storm, I‘m not leaving here until you tell me what‘s up with you? I mean all of the sudden you getting married and shit. Just the other day, you and Taj couldn‘t stand each other. Y‘all could of had y‘all own reality show and shit and now look you getting married and walking around flashing that big mothafucking ring like it‘s all good. I‘m tired of you walking around here thinking your shit don‘t stink ‗cause you can stand on top of your wallet and shit. You ain‘t betta that the next bitch.‖
―Hold up!‖ I opened up the door. ―Bitch, get the fuck out of my house before I whip your ass. You must be crazy…or on some serious shit to think you can come up on some hatarade bullshit in my fucking house and talk shit to me. Get out! Bitch I said get the fuck out!‖
Pam slowly got up from the sofa. Then she started putting on her coat.
―Put that bitch on when you leave here, get out now!‖
When Pam got to the door, she stopped in the doorway and just stared at me.
―What?‖ I pointed my index finger on her forehead. ―You don‘t scare me Pam. Don‘t play with me.‖
―Yo,‖ Pam looked around the hallway from side to
side. ―What is that suppose to do?‖
―YO!‖
I pushed the door to force Pam‘s foot out of the doorway. Then everything began to move in slow motion. Pam pushed the

door open and stomped on my foot. Then two other chicks ran from around the corner. Pam had a large black object in her hand and in less than a minute I felt severe pain all over my face. ―Cha-Ching this bitch!‖ Pam yelled. I fell to the floor. Pam continued to hit me with the large object. I could no longer see. All I could think about doing was trying to crawl to where I kept my nine mila. But I couldn‘t even move. I felt blood profusely escaping from my mouth. My body was numb. I occasionally felt a foot kick me here and there. I tried to call out to Taj, but I couldn‘t speak. All I could do was moan.