Chapter Sixteen : Chasing Pavements
A Year Later...
Richard's POV
So it's been a little over a year since Justice caught me fuckin' that hoe in my room. I've been calling her, texting her... It seems like she just fuckin' fell off the face of the earth. She'll talk to Brielle and Slim, but not me. She also sends pictures of her and the baby to Brielle. I heard it was a girl, well, that's all Brielle would tell me. I'm so pissed that no one will tell me anything about MY damn child. I fuckin' said I was sorry, so many mufuckin' times. But I really fucked up, didn't I ?
It's 3 and I couldn't fuckin' sleep so I slid out from under the brunette in my bed, got dressed and got ready to leave.
" mmmmh , where are you going? " she said sleepily.
" That's none of your business. " I scolded. " But you gotta go. "
" What? " she said, screwing up her face.
" I said you gotta go! What the fuck did you think this was? A Holiday Inn? Well, I'm not Pitbull, so you gotta bounce. " I said, gesturing towards the door. She got up, grabbed her clothes and left. I did the same, closing my room door behind me.
20 minutes later.
" Richard? " my aunt said through the screen door. " Honey, come in here. It's freezing. " She opened the door and let me in. Just as she came to sat down, I just broke down.
" You still thinking about that girl. Aren't you? " she said, folding her arms.
" Auntie, she won't even let me see my baby. That's not even right! " I said between tears.
" You sleeping with someone else while your girlfriend is in the hospital isn't right, either Richard! " she said, sitting down next to me. " When someone is that vulnerable and they look to their spouse for support, their spouse isn't supposed to be having sex with someone in the bed they once shared! And you think saying ' I'm sorry ' a thousand times can make it all better? I know you guys aren't married, but I remember clearly you telling me that YOU asked her to be with you and now you look like an asshole cheating on someone you really wanted to be with. Now you see why she doesn't bring that child by here. She doesn't want her child exposed to that. If you didn't have enough respect not to cheat on her in front of her face, what makes you think she'll trust you around her child? You've got to straighten up, boy. And if you wasn't ready to be tied down then you shouldn't have asked her to be with you in the first place. "
As much as I hate to admit it, my aunt was absolutely right. I don't what the fuck made me cheat on her but I know that I want to be with Justice. My aunt got up and headed towards the kitchen.
" You want some tea? You look like you got frost bite. " she said.
" Nah auntie, I'm good. " I said.
" If you want to see what she looks like, her picture's in the frame next to you and your father's picture. " she pointed to the wall behind the couch. I turned, looked up and down for the picture and then I found it. It was a picture of Justice and the baby when she was first born. Justice was dressing the baby but she had turned and smiled for a picture. Her smile actually made me smile. She was still beautiful after all this time. Her hair was cut shorter but she still looked like that girl I met at Spring Falls years ago. I then focused my attention on the small infant in the picture but I couldn't really see her because she was so small.
" What's her name? " I asked.
" Harmony Brielle Marie De Leon-Baker. " she yelled from the kitchen.
" Harmony. " I whispered. " Do you have another picture of the baby?
" Look in the end table drawer. " she said, coming back into the room with two cups of tea. I pulled open the drawer and pulled out an 8x10 photo. I knew it was Harmony because she looked exactly like her mother. She had her skin tone, her nose and her lips. But she had my ears.
" She's three months now, and her eyes are hazel, just like Justice's. She's a cute little ball of energy, I tell ya. " my aunt laughed.
" Where is she now? " I asked, hoping my aunt would tell me. I could tell she wanted to say it but I knew she couldn't. " Auntie, please I need to know. "
" Somewhere out in Toledo. " she mumbled.
" Toledo? Fuckin' Toledo? " I stood up. " Why the fuck is she in Toledo? "
" I don't know, she said something about moving out of Cleveland. " she waved off.
" Alright, I'll see you later, auntie. " I said heading towards the door.
" Richard, its 5 am, go in the room and get some rest. Runnin' 'round here like some mad man. " she yelled pointing towards the bedroom in the back.
" Nah, I'm okay. "
" Richard Colson Baker, if you wanna see that little girl anytime soon, I suggest you take yo ass in that room and let me handle it. "
I took my shoes off and walked in to the bedroom. I took off my hoodie and laid in the bed with Harmony's picture on my chest. As I laid there, I thought about Justice and Harmony and where they were and if they were happy without me. Somewhere in between those thoughts I managed to finally fall asleep.
Justice's POV
" Good morning, Harmony. " I mumbled sleepily in respond to her very loud cry. I sit up in the bed and glance over at the clock. 10:53. Thank god for winter vacation. I thought as I hoisted myself out of bed. I walked down the hall into Harmony's room and saw her rolling around in her bed, crying. I couldn't help but laugh because she was trapping herself in her pink blanket. I picked up my baby burrito and planted kisses all over her face, causing her to smile and laugh. I laughed along with her until I smelled something foul.
" Smells like someone needs a change. " I said, carrying her to the changing table. As I finished changing her diaper, I glanced over at the picture Richard and I took at school when we first met. It brought back so many memories and that's why I keep it in her room.
Oh, these times are hard and they're making us crazy. Don't give up on me, baby.
I heard my phone ring and quickly rushed to see who it was. It was Richard's aunt.
" Hey Auntie, how are you? " I smiled, walking back to Harmony's room.
" Hey honey, I'm doing fine. Listen, I'll be at your house in about 20 minutes and I have the whole brood with me, so get ready for a crowded house and I have a surprise for you and the baby, Okay? " she asked.
" Okay, Auntie. I'm so excited. I miss yall so much! " I squealed, jumping up and down. This would be the first time everyone would be seeing the baby since I had her.
" Okay I'll see you when we all get there! " she smiled.
I hung up the phone and smiled at the thought of the whole family getting together again. I hurried and gave Harmony a bath and put her down for a nap, then I quickly took a shower and got dressed. By the time everyone got here, I was just finishing up lunch.
" Hey where the food at? " Dre says, busting in the door.
" Hello to you too, Dre. " I said rolling my eyes.
" Hey wassup, MILF? " he laughed, sloppily kissing my cheek.
" Justice! " I heard Brielle scream from outside. I ran out and jumped on my best friend, squeezing her tight. I turn to Slim and hug him and snatch Daniel from him, kissing his chubby cheeks.
" Girl, we miss you back home! " Brielle said, pushing my shoulder.
" You need to come back. " Ash nodded, carrying a tray of food. I kissed her on the cheek and opened the door for her before walking inside. Auntie came in last with a cake in one hand and a baby bag in the other.
" Hi Auntie! " I said, hugging and kissing her on the cheek.
" Hello Justice, there's someone in the car for you. " she said before walking inside. I walked to the car and looked through the windshield and stopped dead in my tracks when I realized who it was.
Richard.
I opened the passenger door and sat in the front seat. I could feel my hands start to shake and sweat form on my brow as he looked in the mirror at me. His stare was cold and empty.
" You got some nerve coming here. " I mumbled.
" I've been trying to reach you for the past year, this was my last resort. " he said, not taking his eyes off of me.
" I left for a reason. " I turned, looking at him.
" But that reason had nothing to do with my daughter. "
I looked over and seen Casie sleeping in her carseat.
" Are you gonna bring her inside? " I said, focusing the attention on her.
" How am I gonna bring her inside when I can't even come in? " I growled.
" No one said you couldn't come in. " I said, folding my arms.
" Like I said before, the reason you left had nothing to do with my daughter. You can't just pick up and leave like that, Justice. "
" You can't just cheat on me and expect me to stay, Richard. "
Knock Knock Knock.
" Yall mufuckas coming in? " Slim said through the window.
" We'll talk about this later. " Richard said before unbuckling Casie and taking her out of the carseat. I nodded to Slim and he opened the door and we all rushed inside.
" Glad yall could make it! " Dre joked with a mouth full of food.
" Shut up and chew your food, slob! " I laughed.
Richard slid off his hood and sat on the couch with Casie in his arms.
" Where's Harmony? " I grumbled, laying Casie down next to him.
" She's in her room. " I said, rolling my eyes. " She might be up now. "
" Okay. " Richard said before disappearing up the stairs.
Richard's POV
As I walked the hall in search of Harmony's room, I could feel myself become nervous. It kind of brought back memories of when Casie was a baby. I was only 18 and scared shitless every time I held her. I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when I heard tiny whimpers coming from down the hall. When I found the room, I slowly twisted the knob and walked in. Harmony's room was pretty tight. Her name was spelled out in pink and brown letters above her crib and the whole room was decked out in pink and brown furniture. As I looked around, I noticed a small picture frame with me and Justice in it from two years ago. I can't believe how young we looked. I laughed at the thought and continued to look around when the small whimpers turned into a cry. I walked over to the crib and looked down to see Harmony with tears in her pretty hazel eyes. She stopped crying and looked up at me and smiled. I picked her up and out of the crib and sat in the chair with her. She was beautiful like her mother, and I couldn't help but stare into her eyes. I heard the door open and close and looked over to see a full bottle sitting on the dresser. I got up and reached for the bottle before sitting back down and feeding her. The whole time I fed her she looking at my tattoos, occasionally reaching for them.
" I remember when first met your mommy. " I said, as she stared at my tattoos. " She was so pretty, and I really really liked her. But daddy didn't know how to talk to girls at the time so uncle Slim helped me out. Your uncle Slim was a player back in high school. But your daddy swore up and down that he was ready to settle down with mommy but mommy got hurt really bad and daddy fuc-messed up and ran your mommy away. By this time, you were mommy's belly and mommy took you away from me. "
I lifted Harmony up on my shoulder and started to burp her.
" And for months, daddy looked all over for you and mommy and now daddy found you and I'm never letting you or mommy get away ever again. Even if I have to move here, daddy's not going anywhere and I promise to make things between me and mommy better again. So we can all live together as a family. You, me, mommy, and your big sister Casie. Daddy loves you, Harmony. " I looked down and Harmony was fast asleep on my chest. I quietly kissed her crown of curls and stood up when I noticed Justice standing by the door.
" Damn, you scared me. " I said, walking towards her.
" Did you mean it? " Justice said tearing up. " What you said about us? "
" Yeah, I was serious. I'm miserable without you, Justice. I miss you and I need you and Harmony to come home. " I said.
" But Richa- "
" Justice, please. I miss you so much. This has been the worst year of my life without you. I felt so alone, I couldn't take it. Please, baby, come home. "
Justice's tears were now falling and she couldn't control them as she looked up at me.
" Richard, promise me something. " she said between sobs. " Promise me, you won't hurt me again. Please. "
" I promise, baby. " I whispered, pulling Justice into my arm and kissing her forehead.
" I love you, Richard. "
" I love you too, Justice. "
