LATER

Sam and Yemi make it to Stephen's around 5pm. They ring the doorbell bearing gifts. Stephen's 7 year old son, Stevie, happens to be walking past, so he opens the door. He grins when he sees Sam outside. "Uncle Sam!"

"What's up, nephew? You know your pops gon' get you for opening the door." Then right on cue, Stephen comes around the corner, mean-mugging his son. Sam notices it. So he quickly widens his eyes at Stevie while playfully clenching his teeth, and tells him to, "Run!"

Stevie grins before turning around and bolting past his father. Yemi giggles and Stephen shakes his head.

"Yo. What's up lil bro?" Sam greets him with a smirk.

"Yurrrrr!" They mid-five each other before bumping fists. Stephen looks down at Yemi and grins. "Merry Christmas."

"Hey. Merry Christmas," Yemi replies.

"Yemi, right?"

"Yep. Stephen?"

"In the flesh. I've heard so much about you."

"- Alright, we can do this inside. It's mad brick out here," Sam interrupts.

Stephen sucks his teeth. "This fool moved to Cali, and don't know how to deal with real weather anymore," Stephen teases as he makes way for the couple to enter his home.

Sam closes the door behind them before helping Yemi out of her coat. Stephen observes their interaction and can't stop smiling. Sam hangs Yemi's coat on the coat hanger by the door before taking off his own.

He notices Stephen watching them, and shakes his head. "If you don't back up, man," he warns Stephen, jokingly.

"I mean..." Stephen throws his hands up in surrender. "I'm not used to do this. I'm trying to savor every moment of it. You look happy bro."

"You are your mother's child, man."

"I know. That's why I'm her favorite."

Sam twists his mouth, in that now, you know that's a lie type of way. Yemi and Stephen both chuckle at Sam before they walk further into the house.

The house is much fuller than it was earlier. Mostly Amina's family is around, including her cousins who are currently ogling Sam... not caring about Yemi walking with him. Sam and Stephen's family are sprinkled in the mix of things.

Veronica is the first to notice them. "Hey y'all!" She practically skips over to them, smiling like the proud cousin she is. "Merry Christmas boo," she sings to Yemi, hugging her.

"Merry Christmas! I have a gift for you." Yemi reaches into her bag as Veronica rubs her hands together in anticipation.

Sam pulls out a couple of whiskey bottles from the bag he's holding, and hands one to Stephen. "Where's Nate?"

"Somewhere around here," Stephen responds to him before disappearing.

Sam looks down at Yemi as she hands Veronica her gift box. "Mamas, Imma look for my fam real quick. You good with V?"

"Of course she's good with me," Veronica smart-mouths Sam while unraveling the ribbon on her present.

Sam ignores her while Yemi slightly laughs. "That's fine babe. You want to give your nephews their gifts while you're doing that?"

"Yeah."

Yemi reaches into her bag, pulling out two medium sized presents before handing them to Sam.

"Oh wait...V, where the fuck is my gift card?" Sam asks his cousin.

Veronica reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a Best Buy gift card. "Merry Christmas," she says dryly.

"Thanks," he replies, snatching the card from her before walking off.

Yemi bursts out in laughter. "You two are a mess."

Veronica smirks before lifting out of the box a charm bracelet with a heart shaped photo of her and Yemi, embedded with crystals. Veronica stares at it with a blank look on her face, causing Yemi to look on nervously.

"You don't like it?"

Veronica looks over at her with the same lack of expression. A second later, Veronica blinks, and a small tear escapes.

"Oh..." Yemi starts to hug her, but Veronica blocks it.

"I'm fine. Thank you, I love it," Veronica says unconvincingly.

"Why can't I hug you, then?"

"Girl, because that's gonna make me cry a waterfall," she responds chuckling.

Yemi hugs her anyway.

___

BACK IN CALIFORNIA

Briana is waiting in the lobby, watching a few women with their children opening gifts in the room ahead of her. Briana always wanted kids of her own, but Jonathon made sure she never had them. A woman walks by and reads Briana's facial expression.

"Are you a mother?"

Briana looks at the woman and rolls her eyes at her. "If I was a mother, don't you think I would be with my kids, right now?"

The woman smirks. "I was really hoping that what they said about you wasn't true." She shakes her head, walking away and passing a security guard. That guard approaches Briana, not really in the mood for her attitude.

"You ready to go?"

"Finally." Briana leaps up and follows the guard towards the exit door.

*

Jonathon pulls up outside of the premises and parks across the street. His passenger looks up from his phone, and shakes his head in disbelief. "You gotta be the dumbest criminal to come back to the crime scene."

"First off, since I am her husband, it was not a crime."

"Who told you that bullshit?"

"I haven't been arrested, right? I'm sure they looked at the cameras and saw it was me."

"All I know is that these tinted windows better had hid me from that damn camera. You may not go down, but I will for driving the getaway car."

"Stop bitching."

"Why're we here anyway?"

"We're not gonna stay long. I just wanna look in her eyes real quick and see if she still wants me."

"How do you know she's even gonna come out?"

"She goes to her aunt's house every Christmas."

"But how is she gonna go with no car?" He asks sarcastically.

"That ain't gon' stop her. I'm sure she's dying in that place. I know her too well. Once she lays eyes on me, she's going to wanna come back."

"You're my cousin and I got love for you... but you're stupid as shit, man."

Jonathon waves him off. "There she go, right there."

Jonathon hops out of the car as Briana approaches the Iron Gate with the guard. Briana spots him and exhales forcefully. "This muthafucka," she mumbles behind the locked gate.

"Well, hello babygirl."

"You need to leave Jonathon."

"Or the police will be called," the guard adds.

"Ain't nobody scared of no damn police."

"Just leave Jonathon."

The guard takes out his two-way radio and calls out a code to the office.

"Bri, just answer me this-"

"I don't have shit to say to you, Jonathon. You stole my fuckin' car, and now I have to rely on public transportation. So get the fuck out of here."

"Why are you so hostile? I only took it to let you know you can never get rid of me."

"You're fuckin' crazy."

"Just like you. That's why we're meant to be together."

"Is that why you tried to fuck my cousin? 'Cause we're meant to be together?" She asks scornfully.

"If you don't come back to me, then I will have no choice but to fuck her."

She chuckles, exasperatedly. "You're delusional. She doesn't want your ass."

"I'll make her want me just like I did with you."

"Yeah, whatever. You don't even know how to reach her."

"I've already been to her job," he admits matter-of-factly.

"Stop lying, and leave me the fuck alone."

The sound of police sirens are heard in the distance.

"Merry Christmas, Briana. Tell your family I said hello." He laughs menacingly before escaping to his car.

A police car pulls up just as Jonathon drives off.

"I strongly recommend you get a restraining order on him," the guard informs her.

She nods in agreement as she contemplates Jonathon's words.

___

NEW JERSEY

Sam is relaxing on the couch as he watches Yemi, Liliana, and his abuela learning TikTok dances from some of Amina's relatives. Veronica plops down on the couch next to him, breaking his concentration.

"How're you feeling?" Veronica grins at Sam, predicting his response.

He chuckles. "You already know the answer to that. What's good with you, though?"

"I'm chillin'. Ready to make some big moves, you know?"

He nods. "So you're gonna tell me the real reason you're not coming back?"

"Sam, I told you the reason. Stop overthinking it."

"...If you say so."

Stephen approaches them and hands Sam the envelope Darrell dropped off earlier. "I almost forgot I had this."

"What is it?"

"Everything you asked for."

"Word?"

"Yep. I wrote some stuff in there, too."

They mid-five each other. "Good looking, bro."

Stephen walks away, leaving Veronica wanting to know more. "So what exactly are you taking care of for someone?"

"What?"

"That's what's in that envelope, right?"

"Got-damn, you're nosey."

"You love it."

"Shiiiit," he rebuts.

"Fine, I'll leave it alone."

"No you won't."

She laughs. "Yeah, I won't"

"You need a fuckin' hobby. That shit is getting out of control. I low-key get why Jamie had a problem with you in his business."

"That was a low blow."

"Now you wanna be sensitive?" He shakes his head at her. "If you really must know, I had Stephen look for an immigration attorney who could ensure Aracely would get her papers."

Veronica's eyes grow big. "Sam, that's really nice of you. What made you do that?"

"I won't tell her business. But I just thought she was cool and didn't deserve what happened to her."

Veronica nods in approval. "That's what's up. Why couldn't Stephen just tell me that? He acted like he gave you some type of 007 shit." She chuckles at her own joke.

Sam looks straight ahead, avoiding her question. But Veronica reads him like a book.

"Sam...?"

"V, just go somewhere, man."

"What information would Stephen have to write in there?"

Sam ignores her.

"I hope you're not trying to find her cousin's husband."

Sam throws his head back, in aggravation, before standing up and walking away. Veronica is right on his tail.

"That's what it is, huh?"

"Veronica..." he states warningly.

"Yemi told me you said you would handle it."

He stops in his tracks. "So, you knew he went to her job and didn't tell me?"

"No. I found out after you did."

He scowls at her before walking away again. Veronica runs in front of him, blocking his movement.

"Sam, how are you gonna do some shit when I'm not going to be out there? That man could be crazy."

"So, if you were there, he would be less crazy?"

"Don't underestimate me."

"You sound mad goofy, right now."

"I just don't want anything to happen to you. You see what happened to my father trying to protect my mom."

"Veronica, I'm gonna say this one time. Get. Away. From me."

"Alright, I'll leave you alone. But I will give Yemi a heads up." She turns to leave.

"Veronica, if you fuck up our vacation, you and I are going to have a bigger problem."

Veronica contemplates his words before turning back to him.

"Samuel... whatever you do, please promise me you'll be extra careful."

"... I promise."

"... Thank you." She rolls her eyes before storming off.