Chapter||28

It's been a long time comin' (Comin')

All these blessings rollin' in, I ain't even see 'em comin' (Comin')

Too hard, too hard, I been goin' too hard now, ah

They say I need a vacation, say I need to slow down

And I ain't tryna slow down

Pretty face with a bad attitude (Bad attitude)

Workin' like I got too much to lose (Too much to lose)

Built this shit up on two by twos

I want it now, I paid too many dues

Same day

"Hey baby, how was work," Odell greeted Robyn as she came into the kitchen, she was in her work clothes which consisted of a black and white checked pinafore dress and a black turtle neck considering it was nearing December and the temperature had dropped.

As soon as Robyn stepped foot into the kitchen, as usual, she always seemed to be redolent with the sweet aroma of all the seasonings Odell used to make his fiery seafood. She took a whiff of the smell as it made her evocative on when her grandmother and mother used to cook together when she was younger.

"Work was good baby, hey mamas big boy," She gave Odell a passionate kiss on the lips before heading to her almost 10-month-old baby boy, Isaiah. She lifted him up in the air from the baby car seat that Odell had placed on the counter, he erupted in a fit full of laughter causing both Odell and Robyn to hold a smile on their faces.

"You missed mummy huh," She spoke to Isaiah as if he would answer back but all she got from him was a 4 teeth smile and his little fingers in his mouth.

"What is my handsome baby daddy cooking today," She put Isaiah back in his car seat securely before heading in Odell's direction who stood over the stove with an apron on.

"Baby daddy," He screwed his face up at her which made Robyn laugh as he stopped his cooking.

"Can I not call you my baby daddy," She jokingly asked as she wrapped her arms around his torso sneakily turning down the stove to the lowest temperature knowing with them they were going to forget about the food resulting in it going to burn.

"I think I like husband better," He smirked looking down at her, Robyn raised her eyebrow at him giving him a questioning look.

"Oh you do, well I like husband better too, but for now you're my baby daddy," She patted his chest coming out of his embrace, Odell held his mouth opened as he watched Robyn attend back to their son.

She turned her head back over her shoulder with a smirk plastered on her face giving Odell flirtatious eyes.

"You spoke to Asia today, you know it's her birthday tomorrow," Odell informed as he started to put the paella onto their plates.

"Yeah I spoke to her for about an hour, we going to visit her tomorrow, Deshawn managed to get a room so we can all be together,"

"That's good,"

"So what did you guys do today," Robyn asked as she started to tickle Isaiah loving the sound of his laughter as it brought a smile onto her face, his laughter and smile was one of the reasons Robyn was grateful for fighting so hard when she was pregnant to keep herself and her child alive.

To say Robyn's pregnancy was rough would be an underestimate, what she went through was something she wouldn't wish anyone to go through. The trauma she endeavoured caused her to hold onto her loved ones even tighter when she saw them, to love and cherish each person that came into her life, whether it was for a season or a lifetime.

"I taught my son how to play football, he gone be a beast baby," Odell cheesed thinking about how great his son was going to be when he was older even if he had only thrown the ball 4 inches away from himself but to Odell that was far enough.

"Baby he's not even one yet," Robyn chuckled at how Odell was acting but smiling loving the interaction he had with his son.

"So, I know he gone be a beast, I got practice tomorrow you gone be able to watch him,"

"I can't babe, I have this really big case I got to work on I'll call Destiny or Zouniia to see if they can watch him,"

"What's your case about,"

"Some bullshit, this white officer saw a black man in a hood and assumed he had just robbed and shot the man in the corner store, baby you know all the man could say was that he was black and tall that's like half the black community, I just can't believe in 2020 they still being like this," Robyn was devastated when the case file landed on her desk, she interviewed the man and could tell he was a genuine man who was racially profiled. So Robyn vowed to do whatever she could do to get justice for the man so he can go back home to his wife and children.

"Ain't this why you became a lawyer to make a difference,"

"Yeah,"

"By even doing this is making a difference, instead of forcing the man to plead guilty because it would make it easier you're taking it to the court showing the officers you're not afraid of them,"

"Aww thank you, baby, that means a lot, plus I'm still working on Asia's case there's a lot of things going on in her case, I think corruption is involved babe, but what does that mean for Deshawn," She went on her tippy toes and gave him a quick peck on his lips with worried eyes.

"My brother knows how to handle himself plus give him a heads up if you found anything to do with corruption, but you know this is a dangerous case if there's corruption, I don't want you to get hurt,"

"Trust me I won't plus if there is my handsome baby daddy can protect me and I'll tell uncle Omar to have some men stand by,"

"As long as you're safe and happy," He went back to finish cooking off the food he had started to prepare.

"We've been going so good baby and when I say this I don't want you to go all crazy," Odell nervously instructed Robyn because what he was going to reveal he hoped it didn't bring back any negative vibes their way as it did in the past.

"It depends on what it is," Robyn didn't even look at Odell as she replied but kept her focus on Isaiah.

"Baby," He sighed and went to go and wrap his arms around Robyn's waist causing her to stop playing with the baby and look at Odell as he had a smug look on his face.

"What is it Odell," She held a concerned look on her face but once she found out the new that wouldn't be on her face for much longer.

"It's Nahlia," He revealed in which Robyn had to fully turn around to face him. The look on Odells face told her that he wasn't lying, Robyn had to hold onto him for support just thinking about the past and what she had put them through.

"We need to get rid of her Odell and I mean for good," She pointed her index finger in his face while speaking.

Over the past year, Nahlia has done some damage to Odell and Robyn but by Gods grace, they had managed to overcome that and move on.

"We can't just get rid of her Robyn you know it's not that easy, she's a figure in the public eye, people will be looking for her if she goes missing,"

"I don't want to hear that Odell, I really don't," She turned back around coming out of Odell's embrace turning to Isaiah for a distraction even if what was for a split second.

"Baby, I know you don't but she's not going away,"

"When did she first contact you, and why,"

"Does it matter," He wanted to avoid the question knowing his answer may bring some conflict within their family, once again. Nahlia had contacted Odell nearly a month ago saying she was sorry for everything she had done in the past and complained how she was lonely without him and needed him in her life, she confessed how she couldn't function without Odell and if he took her back she would be the best girlfriend she could be.

"Yes it does Odell, we've come this far so don't start lying now," She grabbed the baby food that Odell had just picked up and started to feed Isaiah with a spoon pretending it was an aeroplane since it was the only way he would actually open his mouth to eat.

"Robyn it doesn't matter, just forgot I said anything,"

"No I'm not going to forget you said anything, how long has she been texting you,"

"I said drop it, Robyn," He raised his voice a little causing Robyn to stop feeding Isaiah to look at him as if he lost his mind talking to her with that harsh tone.

"You pissing me off Odell, I'm not gone ask again," She was starting to become annoyed with Odell and his words. She couldn't understand why he would bring it up knowing she was going to ask questions but he never wanted to answer them.

"And I'm not gone say it again, drop it," He said more firmly towards the end as he went to sit at the island stool to go eat.

"No I'm not gone drop it because you brought it up, clearly you hiding something," She sternly voiced as she wiped the excess food that Isaiah had managed somehow to get all over his face.

"And clearly it was a mistake bringing it up, you ain't gotta ask all these questions," Odell got up to throw his leftover food away not in the mood to even eat anymore.

"Odell stop, JUST STOP," She shrieked startling both Odell and Isaiah, Isaiah began to cry causing Robyn to instantly feel bad for doing it. She shooed Isaiah and started apologies hoping that would stop him crying.

"Look you done made my son cry," Odell took initiative and walked to where they were lightly pushing Robyn out of the way and unstrapped Isaiah before cradling him in his arms giving Robyn a death glare.

"Stop lying, you're always protecting her and I'm tired of it O," She slammed her fist on the countertop in aggravation.

"No ones protecting her, you sound stupid," she scrunched his face up not understanding where Robyn was coming from, all Odell saw was Robyn aggressively coming at him because to him he didn't want to answer a simple question.

"Stupid, nigga you are the stupid one, telling lies behind a bitch that don't give a fuck bout you and only here for your money and fame,"

"I'm not telling lies behind no bitch Robyn, I'm simply telling you that she not even worth our time to discuss her, why waste my breath on a bitch that ain't even important to neither one of us,"

"Odell, STOP FUCKING LYING, STOP," Robyn clapped back as she turned around from where she was mashing up more food for Isaiah to look at Odell with darting eyes.

"What the fuck do you want me to tell you, Robyn, you got m shouting in front my son," He sucked his teeth focusing his attention on Isaiah as he fought his sleep laying his head on his shoulder with an index finger in his mouth.

"Whatever Odell because clearly, you don't care, I'm not going through this again Odell and I mean it," She pointed her finger at him before walking out of the kitchen with tears pouring out of her eyes feeling defeated.

"I can't do this again," Robyn mumbled to herself as she made her way upstairs to their room wiping at her tears. As soon as she opened the door to her room she broke down, she slammed the door back shut with force and aggressively walked over to the dresser throwing everything off it.

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Next day

"Mama, mama," Asia's twins, Mya and Naji shouted as they wobbled towards her once Deshawn put them down. The twins were now 1 year old going onto 10, while Naji has Deshawn's bad attitude Mya was more on the nice side lacking the attitude. Everyone new they met Mya would happily gravitate towards them with open arms while Naji would cling onto the one she knew for dear life not wanting to let go.

Mya was the good child out of the two and Naji was the trouble maker who would make a mess and laugh about it afterwards. Naji would purposefully throw paint everyone including herself because she knew she wouldn't be the one to clean it up.

Even though they were identical twins they still had some differences which tell you which twin is which such as their birthmark, Mya had a birthmark at the back of her which was noticeable whereas Naji had a huge birthmark on her inner thigh. Naji also has slightly bigger ears than Mya but you would've never guessed unless someone told you.

"Hey mamas baby," She kneeled them to give them a tight hug as if she hadn't seen them in a month when she just saw them 2 days ago.

"Happy birthday," Deshawn greeted as he took the balloons and gift bag from the guard who had kindly held them for him as he had the twins in his arms.

"Thank you, Shawn," She took the stuff from his hands with a smile gracing her face appreciating the little gesture.

Over the past year, Asia had come to terms that she was in prison and nothing she could do would help her situation. While in prison she had time to think and the conclusion of her thoughts was to forgive Deshawn, not for him but for herself.

For her to continue in prison without going mental she had to let go of any resentment she had within her, she civilised with Deshawn for the sake of her children because anything she said could jeopardise their visits to her.

"Everyone should be coming in about an hour or so, I came early so you can have some alone time with the twins," He stated as he took a sit on one of the chairs placing Naji on his hip as he saw her look around the room meaning she was looking for trouble and to destroy things.

"Have they been behaving,"

"Mya's been good as usual, Naji only good when she wants something from anyone then after she's back to her badass self," He chuckled thinking about how Naji acted when she wanted something, she would act like the most innocent little one year old there was but once she got what she wanted it was like she betrayed you and did the opposite of what you wanted her to do.

"That's Naji for you, she does have your personality," she threw shade towards Deshawn in which he caught onto causing him to chuckle.

"I have to agree with you on that one, so how you been, the guards treating you good," Over the past year Deshawn did start to feel guilty about what he had done to Asia but he hoped it was for the best and for her safety. Sooner or later Deshawn would eventually tell Asia the real the reason as to why he had done what he did but for now, he would wait.

"Yesterday was the first time I actually spoke to anyone inside there,"

"That's good to hear, I like that your making progress," The guards had informed him in Asia's action nearly every single day and each day they would still say she hadn't even uttered a word to anyone so to hear from Asia's own mouth that she had finally spoken shows the growth within her.

"I like that I'm making progress as well," She thought about if she should tell Deshawn about Savannah's lawyer brother who might help her but she thought against considering he might try and stop it by threatening her brother.

"So I was thinking about opening up a hospital, you know for the low-income homes, of course, it's not gone be for free but it's less than half the price of what they are charging, I've started to talk to some investors about it and I'm getting a pretty penny regarding it, what you think," Deshawn explained his plan, it wasn't nothing new for Deshawn to go to Asia about his plans to open up businesses and give back to the black community.

Deshawn was a smart man whose aspiration in life was to help as many people he could, he wanted the stereotype of black communities to change but with his job now it didn't seem like he was doing that, in fact, he was just feeding into the stereotypes by making more black parents addicts, giving teenagers a job to sell drugs but he didn't want to do that anymore.

Yes, he wanted to give the kids jobs but legal jobs, he wanted to build a hospital so tight after they come out of medical school they have a position in the hospital so they don't struggle to look for a job.

Deshawn wanted to open up a youth centre, so kids could hang there instead of the park with the man playing basketball where shootouts happened frequently between gangs. Deshawn wanted to make a change, since caring for the twins all by himself it changed his mindset, he saw life in a different light now, he also came to terms with what he had done to Asia.

Deshawn wanted to get Asia out of prison so badly because he knew it was hurting her every day to stay in there but there was always something holding him back. He didn't understand why he had to do what he had to do but to keep his family safe he would do anything, his children were his world no doubt.

"I think that's a great idea and my mama can even work there so she can supervise everything and teach the young ones everything they need to know. I can see this happening Shawn then you could expand and open up more businesses," Asia was glad to see a change within Deshawn over the past year, even though she only saw Deshawn for only 2 hours per day if he came to the prison daily, she could tell that he was more genuine then what he was before.

"Knock knock can we come in," Robyn announced her, Isaiah and Odell's presence known before walking in the room.

"Hey, Ro, I missed you so much and my little munchkin," She gave Robyn a quick her before she rushed over to Isaiah who was in Odell's arm sucking his index finger.

Isaiah shrieked when she lifted him up and gave kisses to both his cheeks.

"Hey Odell," She gave Odell a skank eye because Robyn had informed both her and Kamiya on what Odell had done the night before.

Odell greeted her back wishing her a happy birthday with a chuckle knowing how Robyn probably exaggerated the story more than what it was so it was understandable to him.

"Happy birthday my sunshine," Robyn held a wide smile on her face as she reached into the baby bag and retrieved a purple gift bag out of it. She handed the bag to Asia in which she accepted with tears in her eyes. She was grateful for even having her family here for a birthday so a present she was even more thankful since she knew most if not all the other prisoners didn't get the treatment that she did.

"The rest coming as well,"

"Yeah, Kam has to get Kairo and the kids coming when they finish school with their ugly ass boyfriends," Odell groaned thinking about all the girls' boyfriends and how lovey-dovey they are when over at his house.

"Finally everyone in a room at once," Asia was relieved that everyone could come together even if it was for a few hours. Over the past year so many things had happened between everyone that they all couldn't be together in one room without a brawl happening, Asia just hoped that today wouldn't be one of those days.

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R.I.P to GeorgeFloyd, BreonnaTaylor, AhmaudArbery and anyone else who's lives were taken away to early. But we know we've gained angels FOREVER.💕💕💕

On another note Class of 2020, WE MADE IT!!!

I want to do something in this book such as show awareness about racism and rape especially within the black community, would yall still be interested, the teenagers would be the main ones talking about it?