Crazy In Love With A Thug: Bari and Seven (18 page)

Chapter 35

"Well, it's about time, young Bari! You actin' like you don't miss old Maja! Come give me some love!"

I hugged him, then Birdie, who let out a small gasp. Major looked past me and glared at Seven, then looked at Birdie who had a worried look on her face.

"I was just tellin' your Uncle Meestake about that dinner you cooked for me and Birdie the night we met you. I think he's jealous," he laughed.

"Man, my niece is the best cook under the age of sixty! Let me tell you 'bout the liver I had the other night ..."

"Y’all ain't seen nothing! I had smothered steak and potatoes a couple of weeks ago," Seven said, quieting Major and Uncle Meestake.

They sat back down on the couch and talked about food; all of their favorite subjects. I looked up to find Birdie watching me. I took her hand and led her into the kitchen, indicating for Marion to come too. They got better acquainted while I moved around the kitchen preparing the food for the grill.

"You've lost some weight, huh Bari?" Birdie asked quietly when Marion excused herself for a moment. I nodded. "I wish Major would piss me off that bad." She laughed.

I joined in with her, then noticed that she was looking at me angrily.

"What's so funny?" Seven asked, coming in and heading for the refrigerator.

"None of your damn business," Birdie snapped.

"Mom! You gon' get at me like that? Wha'd I do?"

"Since you asked, let me tell you." I could tell he regretted asking. "I know you guys will have fights, all couples do, but don't you ever put your hands on this girl again! I'll have your ass carted off to jail!"

"Who’s going to jail?" Major asked, coming to stand next to Seven.

"Seven!" Birdie informed him.

"Mom. . . "

"What's he going to jail for? Maybe we can send him to Uncle Teodore, too," Major suggested.

"I ain't goin' nowhere with no damn Uncle Teodore!" Seven yelled.

"Oh no, boy. You don't curse the uncle! You'll have bad luck for the rest of your days!" Major said dramatically, while looking around the room like demons were floating there.

"I didn't do anything!" Seven said.

"He hit Bari! Look at her eyes!" Birdie accused.

Before Seven could defend himself, or I could tell her she was wrong, Major popped him upside the head, held his hand over Seven's head and said a Jamaican prayer. Seven loudly smacked his lips in frustration, which was absolutely funny to me because I had never heard him do that before, and swatted away Major's hand from over his head.

"Oh, Birdie. Da boy has sealed his fate for sure now. He has laid his hands upon his father. The Grands always said ..."

"Check this out', you and the Grands can s..."

"Seven!" I yelled. "Birdie, Seven didn't, and hasn't ever hit me. I haven't slept in a while, that's all."

"What did old Maja tell you about jumping to conclusions, Birdie?" He said, while holding up one finger like he was talking to a toddler.

"Shut up, Major."

"Cucumber, Bari. That's what Maja uses when he parties too long and doesn't get enough sleep."

Seven stood there with his mouth hanging open. Birdie put her head down.

"Don't try to act like you 'shamed of old Maja. You'll be wanting to borrow these same cucumbas one day," he said to Birdie.

"Who the hell wants a used cucumber, Major?" She asked.

He decided to ignore her and started snapping his fingers to a Sean Paul song that was on the C.D. player.

"I can't believe you, Mom. You should know I would never hit my Milkshake."

"You're right, baby," she said skeptically.

"Enough of dese accusations being thrown around," Major began. "Old Maja is ready to put on his chef hat and get to cooking!" He smiled.

"I hope you brought one for me to. You know I came first in the barbecue sauce contest in last year’s county fair," Uncle Meestake bragged.

"Well, let's get to it!" Major said.

"Marion, let's go make sure they don't burn my baby's house down," Birdie suggested.

"Don't play, Mom."

Seven didn't want to hear anything about his house becoming a pile of ashes. I didn't blame him one bit.

"I guess it's just us, huh baby?"

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed my baby's lips.

"I better go help."

"They don't need you."

"How do you know?"

"'Cause I do. I know a whole bunch of shit."

"Like what?"

"I'II show you," he said, pulling me towards the stairs.

"I don't think so."

I stood where I was.

"You are trippin'," he laughed.

"Quit playing." I was dead serious.

"What's wrong with you?"

He wrapped his arms around me.

"Seven, we have a house full of people."

"They won't hear," he assured me, kissing my neck.

"There won't be anything to hear because nothing is going to happen."

"Young Bari!" Major called.

I started laughing.

"He be trippin'," Seven complained. I started towards the double glass doors that led to the deck when I heard Seven behind me mumbling. "Cock-blockin' ass, makes me sick."

I laughed even harder. A couple of hours later, it would have been impossible for the tiniest of cars to fit in our driveway.

"Seven, where did all these people come from? And a better question might be, who are they?" I asked.

He pointed at Major and shook his head.

"These are 'his' friends."

"Man, why is dude walking around in them red tube socks with them green shorts and them brown gator shoes?" Six wanted to know.

"I don't know, Bro. That's Major's crowd," Seven explained as Uncle Meestake stood up from his chair and started demonstrating some dance he made up that he called the Runaway Slave.

He ran in place, picking his knees up so high that they almost touched his chest, and kept looking over his shoulder. He kept running faster and faster. Everybody was laughing so hard they were in tears. Even I was cracking up.

"You like that, Niece?" He asked me. I couldn't even answer him. "Yeah, you like that!"

He smiled with his chest stuck out as he strutted around. He slapped Major five.

"I'm going to use that one at the club, Birdie," Major announced. All his Jamaican partners nodded vigorously. I realized that they were dead serious and glanced at Seven, who just shook his head. "Oh, lighten up, Seven. You're too tense.''

"Tense? Man, you are trippin'," Seven laughed.

"The boy tiinks his dad is just an old man from the Islands." All Major's friends turned around and looked at Seven. "Struck me this morning." The gasps were audible. "Awww! Old Maja was only kidding you! If this boy ever struck me you would all be calling him three and a half, right Young Bari?" He laughed.

I wanted to crack up, but Seven was staring all upside my head to see if I would laugh at him. I didn't.

"That's not funny!" I informed Major, and barely got the words out before I started laughing in Seven's face.

"That's cold, Milkshake."

"Milkshake?" Somebody asked.

"What is Milkshake," asked a man that had salt and pepper colored dreadlocks that hung down to his thighs.

"Oh! Let Old Maja tell you the story of a young girl named Milkshake."

Seven looked at me and did an exaggerated laugh in my face.

"Tell 'em, Dad!" Seven urged him.

"My uncle is sitting right there!" I whispered. "This isn't funny, Seven."

And to think I was worried about Uncle Meestake hearing that story. He laughed the loudest, and pointed his finger at me as he laughed. He got up and slapped Seven on the back.

"Girl, they are dirty," Gucci said. She would never sell me out like Seven just did. "Bitch, look!"

"Who is that?" I asked, as a man that looked exactly like Major, with dreadlocks not quite as long came in the door.

With him was a dude that looked identical to my baby, only his eyes were bright green. He was about the same height, same build and his dreads were about the same length. They could have been brothers.

"Milkshake, this is my Uncle Mandro."

I looked at Major, who was getting up from his chair, then back to the man.

"Are they twins?" I asked.

"Baby, Major is an only child. This is Uncle Teodore's older brother."

"So, they're brothers of your grandfather?"

Seven nodded.

"And this is Mandro's son, Shepard."

"She's a lovely lady, nephew," Mandro observed. "It's very nice to meet you."

He had a strong Jamaican accent. I stared into the bright green eyes as I shook Shepard's hand.

"Man, what's been up?" Six asked him, after his father hugged Major and walked away with him.

"Tings ave been crazy on the Island. I assume you received what I sent since I didn't receive a phone call?" He asked Seven. I looked at Gucci, who was drooling all over the deck. He smiled at her and she blushed. "Ow ave you been, Beautiful Gucci?"

"I ...I ..."

"Oh, spit it out," Six said.

Seven started laughing, so did Shepard.

"Where did you find this exquisite an-get?" Shepard asked.

Gucci giggled.

"He was talking to Seven, Gucci," Six pointed out.

"This is my baby, Bari."

"And ow old are you, Miss Bari?"

"I'm sixteen."

"Yeah, my Milkshake has a birthday coming up in a few months," Seven smiled.

"My nephew has a very sexy lady," Shepard said, looking me up and down.

I blushed. Seven looked at me and winked. I started to say that Seven had a very sexy uncle but kept it to myself.

"And ow long have you been blessed with this an-gel? And does she have a twin?"

"Bari, come see Old Maja." I walked over to see what Major wanted, which turned out to be nothing. "Birdie is being very rude to Maja, Bari. I'll leave it to you to tell her about herself. Go ahead, Bari."

I laughed.

"How do you think I'll look with dreadlocks, Bari?" Uncle Meestake asked.

I conjured up a picture in my mind and fell out laughing. Marion laughed, too. Major got up and put on one of his Ziggy Marley C.D.'s and started dancing.

"Wait for me!"

Mandro got up and danced beside him. Uncle Meestake got up and did his runaway slave dance, causing everyone to burst out in laughter. Soon the dancing was taken to the cement patio, and about thirty people were getting their groove on to the beat. I watched and smiled. Seven took Birdie's hand and took her to the patio floor. So sexy. He was so smooth and sexy. My body started to heat up as I watched him dance. He winked at me and sent my heart racing.

"Are you in love, beautiful an-gel?" Shepard asked, coming to stand next to me.

"Very much so," I snapped.

"Can that be changed?"

"What kind of family member are you? Are you crazy? You need to step off, for real."

My heart was pounding in my chest as I stared into the green eyes. He stared right back. I was the first to look away. I was glad to see Seven walking over to us. He eyed his uncle, then smiled.

"She ain't goin' nowhere, Shep. Give it up."

"It never urts to try, nephew." He gave Seven dap and laughed. "She was about to fight me, I think."

"Sure was," I stated defiantly with my arms folded across my chest.

"Calm down, Milkshake. It's alright." Seven put his arms around me. I hugged him close. "Shep, back off my baby."

"You're lucky I love you, Nephew. I would take her back to the Islands and make her my Queen."

"And you're lucky that Seven loves you. I would take you over to that barbecue pit and cook your ass."

"Milkshake!"

"I was just playing!" I lied.

Shepard laughed.

"Nephew, let's take a walk."

Seven looked at me.

"Come on, Milkshake," he said, taking my hand. Shep looked at Seven. "This is me," he told Shepard. "One and the same."

Shep nodded and smiled. We went to Seven's rec room and sat down on the beige Armani sofa. Shepard took a seat across from Seven.

"As I said, things ave been crazy on the Island, but I never forget about my nephew."

That sounded so strange to me. ‘Nephew.’ They looked more like brothers, maybe even cousins. He reached under the chair and pulled out a black bag that looked like a purse. He handed it to Seven. He unzipped it and pulled out its contents. I gasped.

Chapter 36

Seven looked at me worriedly as I took small bites of my potato salad.

"What, baby?" I asked, knowing good and damn well why he was looking like that.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine. Really."

"Do you want to ask me anything, Milkshake?"

"No, baby."

I was about to take another bite when one of Major's friends began talking loudly. I didn't even look to see who it was. I could tell he had a little too much to drink.

"You can't tell me that ain't her!" He told Major. "That's the girl! She's a dancer down at Rasp Barry's! Well, it's Milkshake's now, but I know that's her." I froze, afraid to look up. "I ain't never seen nobody dance like she did! Ooh-wee!"

I took a chance and looked up. Everybody was looking at me. The man that was talking was pointing in my direction. I put my head down. I had never seen him before in my life, but that didn't mean he hadn't seen me. He had. I was afraid to look at Seven. I stared down into my plate.

"He can't be talking about 'ou’, Bari," Major said to Birdie.

Birdie shook her head.

"No, you must be mistaken," Birdie told him.

"She had on a little black dress and some tall go-go boots!" He ranted.

"Man, shut the fuck up!" Seven said, jumping up from the table.

"Seven!" I yelled. "Seven, don't. Just ignore it."

Six and Shepard were by his side in a heartbeat.

"Son," Major said.

Seven looked at his father, then at the man who was standing there with his hands high in the air, like he was surrendering to the authorities.

"Maybe that ain't her," the man said.

"Yeah, maybe it ain't," Seven replied.

He looked back at his father again, then at Six, who said something inaudible in his ear. He turned and looked at me, then started talking to Six and Shepard. He was furious. I was embarrassed. I got up from the table and got a Pepsi out of the cooler. When I turned back around, Seven was gone.

"Where did they go?" I asked Gucci.

"Probably to Seven's play room, baby. Don't even trip. Y’all are alright now."

"I don't know, Gucci. He is pissed."

"Sho'll is."

I hated when she did that. I didn't need her to confirm it for me.

"Just enjoy ya’self, young Bari. Seven is a spoiled brat that needs to learn that tings aren't always going to be in his fava. I should have let Uncle Teodore raise him," Major said, more to himself than to me. "Anyway, it's simply a case of mistaken identity as far as we're all concerned. We know it was you, but the rest of dese people don't know it was you, so really, it wasn't you. Well, it was you, but you know ..." and on and on he went.

I went inside the house to see if I could find Seven. He wasn't anywhere to be found. I called his cell.

"What?"

"Seven, why did you leave? Where are you?"

"I'm where I am," he snapped.

"Why are you trippin'? I thought we had gotten over all that," I said.

"I thought we had, too. Apparently, I was wrong."

"Are you going to come home or not?" I was pissed.

"I am home. I'm in the weight room. I'll be out there when I get there."

He hung up in my face. I sat down at the table across from Gucci. My mind was going at top speed.

"Bari. . . "

"No. I have to get out of here, Gucci. I can't do this. It's always going to be like this. Every time he flashes, it's gonna be like this. He gets mad, and he's up and out; no discussion, nothing. He's going to come back out here and act like he doesn't even know me. Watch," I said sadly.

A short while later, Seven came out with Shepard and Six walking behind him. I looked at him. He glared at me and kept walking. He walked past the deck, down the steps and past the patio. He pulled up a chair, and Six and Shepard followed suit. He sat with his back to me. It didn't matter. They were way on the other side of the yard. Fuck this shit. I didn't even want to be out there anymore.

Uncle Meestake was enjoying himself immensely. He was having a ball with Major and his friends.

"Bari, bitch, you gotta quit letting this shit get you down. You supposed to be having fun and showing your uncle a good time."

I just looked at her, unable to say anything. I thought for a moment.

"You know what? You're right, Gucci. I'm not going to let Seven's issues ruin my time with my uncle. He's moving out here."

"What?" She said excitedly.

"He's moving into the big house. Seven did that shit."

"Ooohhh, I get it. He did that so you wouldn't move." I nodded. "That is so sweet," she said dreamily.

"I don't know how I feel about it. Part of me wants to go, but another part of me doesn't want to be away from him for even five minutes. I want to know what it feels like to be on my own, Gucci."

"I understand. Believe me, I do."

"So, what should I do?"

"Baby, you have to figure this one out on your own."

"Figure what out on her own?" Seven demanded to know.

I didn't even see him walk up.

"Girl talk," Gucci replied.

I just looked at him. He didn't say anything to me, so I returned the favor.

"Gooch, let me holla at Bari for a minute."

Gucci excused herself from the table and walked over to where Six was sitting with Shep. He sat down and leaned in close.

"I already know what you're thinking, and you can forget it," he said quietly. "I don't give a fuck what you and Gucci are plottin' and plannin'."

"I'm not plotting and planning anything, Seven."

"Shut that shit up. I'm telling you, Bari. Keep fuckin' with me, and you're gonna see a side of me that you don't even know exists."

"You mean the side you showed Trish that night? Well, guess what, Seven? I'm not Trish, and don't be fooled, I knew it existed from day one. I just chose to overlook it, but thanks for the warning anyway."

"Keep that shit up, smart ass. I'll shut this mutha fucka down right now."

I sat back comfortably in my chair.

"Roll with it," I challenged him.

He was furious, glancing back and forth between me and Uncle Meestake.

"I'm trying to be respectful 'cause your uncle is here. Don't make me lose it."

I yawned loudly.

"This is getting boring, Seven. Let's try something new to spice it up a little. How about I go get a knife, and you can hold it up to my throat and pretend like you're going to cut me? Or I can get a pair of stockings, and you can act like you're choking me with them. If it's a show you're looking for, I can give you that. Ain't nobody stupid, they know what's going on, Seven. Why do you think they all keep looking over here? So, don't threaten me with a spotlight because you know how much I love being in it."

"You damn right. Cause you and your friend Gucci got me fucked up. I know what y’all up to."

"If you know already then why are you and Six playing Starsky and Hutch? I heard Six ask Gucci what the hell my plans are, and before you get it in your mind to send Huggy Bear over here," I said, jerking my thumb in Shepard's direction, "With a million questions, under the disguise of trying to get at me, you can think again. He ain't my type. And news flash! I'm starting to feel that way about you, too."

"Is everything okay?" Birdie asked, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Seven and I continued to stare each other down.

"Maybe you could enlighten your son on the fact that he isn't my father, and he has no right to try to run my life."

"Everybody has their dreams, Bari," he said. "I don't knock you for wanting to be a stripper."

"You shouldn't. As a matter of fact, you're the only one that had a problem with it. Maybe you should talk to your friends and ask them what they really thought." He was fuming, but I didn't stop. "Your friends know you have a job, and they know what hours you work, so why don't you ask them why the only time they call is when you aren't home! Looks to me like it's not you they want to talk to!"

"Maybe you guys should take this inside," Birdie suggested. "This isn't the time or the place for this."

"Maybe it ain't the time, but it's definitely the place! This is my house. It's always the place." Seven pointed out. "Now, back to you, Bitch," he said, turning to face me again.

"Seven!" His mother yelped.

"Who the fuck has been calling my house?" He demanded.

"Who'd you give the number to?" I asked.

"Seven!" Birdie repeated, still unable to believe that her baby had used the 'B' word.

"Stop calling my damn name like that! What? Damn!"

He immediately looked ashamed of himself. Birdie looked hurt.

"Seven," I began. "You need to calm down and get it together. That was so out of line."

I got up and walked inside. When I looked back, everyone was silent and was staring at him with their mouths hanging open.