Chapter 19

Rahmik Ford

"Sir this is our mini Chanel tote. This design is one of our latest which is about two years old and actually one of last few in stock due to high demand for the holidays." In all truth I really ain't paid much to what she was saying.

"Just gimme it." I said as she took the two purses over to the register and I gave her my card. She then swiped it handing me the bags.

"Enjoy your holiday sir." She spoke as I gave her a head nod.

I got up outta there and made my way to the mall yard to do a drop off.

Christmas was in about three days and I was headed out the city again. I had just stopped to get a couple of shit for my folk before I'd leave.

Pulling into the malls parking lot I saw her car as I pulled up next to it. Popping my trunk I got out and walked to the trunk pulling out their gifts and placing it into her car.

"You know it would be much better if you'd just talk to her." Erin said as I ignored her fulling up her trunk.

"You really a ain't shit nigga." I heard her mumble going back over to my car and getting the rest of the gifts.

"Tell her I said merry Christmas." I said slamming my trunk shut as she did the same rolling her eyes and getting into her car.

I hopped in my whip and sped off honestly not tryin to think bout nothin at this time. I had so much shit to deal with right now the fact that I had a bar lounge that was suppose to be opening for the new year was heavy on my head considering the seating hasn't even been arranged yet.

Everything felt like it wasn't even movin' at my pace no more. Most of this shit was out of my hands until. For me all that was on my dome was the money.

Pulling up to my mamas house I got out grabbing some stuff I'd gotten for them and walked to the front door knocking on it.

"Whose there?" I heard Dre's voice on the other side.

"Rah." I heard the door being unlocked as he opened it.

"Ouuu Whatchu' got me?" He asked holding his hand by his mouth.

"I ain't got you shit, get out my way." I laughed passing him as he closed the door.

"Mama..." I called.

I walked towards the kitchen as I saw her putting away groceries.

"Boy where you goin' with all them stuff." She said walking towards me giving me a cheek kiss.

"Thought I'd bless y'all a lil early since I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon." I spoke resting the stuff down as Dre made his way into the kitchen as well.

"Nigga whatchu done got me." He spoke looking through the bags but most em' were already wrapped.

"Finna see when you see." I spoke as he sucked his teeth.

"Where are you leaving to go Rahmik?" My mom asked turning her full attention back to me.

"I'm heading to Florida just for a few days, I'a be back Boxing Day." I said as she raised her brow.

"So you not spending Christmas with us? What the hell Rahmik, your grandparents are coming over..." she fussed.

"It's really not vacation ma'." I sighed going in the fridge and getting a bottle of water.

"Then what is it? Cause your dads definitely not doing anything." She spoke causing me to raise my brow.

"What bout the other barber shop?"

"He already gave it to Dre, so what about your shops? Whose running those?" She asked.

I always had shit in check before I went anywhere, when it came to my barber shop or mechanic shop. I wasn't just leaving anybody in charge and she always thought I was just that careless to.

"And if I'm hearing right soon you suppose to be opening up some strip club on 48th and Swanson?" She rambled on.

"Rah bout to have all the hoes..." Dre laughed making me chuckle.

"Ain't even a strip club. More like a kick back lounge. Maybe a few hoes but they not the main event." I shrugged as she rolled her eyes.

"You definitely got all this together huh?" She asked pursing her lips as I nodded smiling.

"So who you goin' to Florida for or what business you got there cause I wanna know what you done got yourself in now?"

"Ain't nun heavy, just a lil exchange. If I can come back Christmas Day I will." I said knowing she wasn't gone give up.

"You promise?" She asked stopping and looking at me sincerely.

"Yea, I'll make sure to call you."

SeniaMarie Milano

It was Christmas morning as the three of us women were literally holding the kitchen down together. The candied yams were done as nana gave that task to Erin considering it wasn't much of anything to do.

While I was in control of the Marconi, collards and stuffing. Nana had the roast all to herself she swear nobody was touching it. For desert I just ordered two pans of cheesecake and a peach cobbler pie.

"Okay why is that tree over rimming like that?" My nana asked as I looked over at it realizing the same.

"It definitely wasn't like that last night." I said looking over to nana with a slight smirk.

"Girl it ain't me...." I looked over at Erin who just kept her mouth shut.

"Listen I partially had something to do with it, but not one hunnid." She spoke as I grew confused.

Walking over to the tree I started to removed some of the gifts exposing Chanel and LV shopping bags.

"What the hell..." I mumbled opening the bags seeing purses.

"These better be yours." I said looking over at Erin as scratched the back of her head.

"Rah sent em Nia." She spoke as I sighed dropping them shit back underneath the tree.

"Chiiiile." I heard my nana drag.

"Well you can send em' back." I spoke rolling my eyes.

"Nia don't be like that." She sighed.

"No Erin. I don't want him to be thinking that we're cool when we're not..."

"So you bout to send them bags back?" My nana asked with her brow raised.

"I'm saying..." I heard Erin mumbled.

"Y'all I'm not about to today, not on this God given day will I let anything upset me." I spoke going back into the kitchen.

They might've not seen it. But I knew who Rah was. I didn't exactly know his motives but what I did know is that he was doing this as a 'no hard feelings' type of gift and that's exactly how I felt about it. I could be wrong but assumptions are going to be made cause he never cleared up anything.

He literally just left my ass in the dust. I couldn't even think straight some days wondering about him, but I wouldn't dare pick up that phone to call him knowing that's probably what he was looking for.

Shaking away my thoughts I heard trampling against the floors as Tae sprang into sight.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" Tae laughed still in his pajamas.

"Merry Christmas baby." I smiled.

"Merry Christmas Tae." Erin laughed at him.

"Look ay my baby on this Christmas morning." My nana laughed.

"Can I open my presents now Nia?" He asked as I nodded.

I dropped everything walking over to the tree sitting on the floor with him and picked out everything that I had gotten for him. I took out Erin's and my Nana's gift for him. As for the ones that Rah had bought I looked them over and decided not to be selfish.

This was his blessing and I shouldn't bring my feelings into it. I took the gifts and slid them over to him.

"This year is different!" He laughed as I smiled.

"How so ?"

"More love..." he replied as I watched him opened up one of my gifts first.

"Gifts doesn't equal love Tae. Our love will always be the same towards you..." I said running my hand through his hair.

"I'on know bout that..." I heard Erin slick talk.

"Ouu!" I heard Erin say trying to grasp her phone.

"Whose that?" I asked.

"Tracey..."

"Morninggggggg babies merry Christmas!" I heard her yell through the phone.

"Morning baby mama!" I yelled back making sure she'd hear me.

"Nuh uh. Tell Nia I said don't do that..." I heard her as we all laughed.

"Ouu is that Nana Eloise?"

"In the flesh baby, how you doin?" My nana asked

"I'm doing good Ms. Eloise."

"Soooo What did Mr. Torres show out with?" Erin asked pouring her lips.

"Girrlllll he got me a guess set I'm talking luggage, hand bag, wallet, mini tote and a David Yurman set. Bitch like I'm talkin' nice nice." She said sounding shocked herself.

"Ok princess I see you..." Erin hyped.

"Ouu Nia looook." Tae said causing everyone to look his way as I saw a big white box.

"A ps5!" He said starting to unbox it as I rolled my eyes of course not letting him see.

This nigga.

"Ask her if she's coming over for dinner." I said as Erin asked her.

"Yea I'm letting Torres drop me off later." I heard her nodding.

Eying the tree I saw a small box that was obviously from Rah because of the distinctive wrapping and I picked it up. Opening the box it revealed a small black velvet box. Slipping the top off it was a beautiful gold diamond tennis bracelet that I'd always talked about wanting.

Looking at it made me smile a bit, but it also made see what a person would do for you when they no longer had you.

In all honesty like I said, I didn't really know his true intentions with these gifts were considering the fact that he decided to leave me alone and I guess I'll never know either.