Page 53 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon 2

“Unfortunately. She’s my mother,” Toni said and sighed. “Wait… you’re calling from work?”

“Yes! I’m sorry, but your mother was in a terrible multivehicle collision, and she is here in critical condition.”

Although the news was shocking, Toni didn’t necessarily feel anything upon hearing it.

“Okay. What about her husband, Urso? Did anybody try to reach him?”

“Um, well, he was the driver of the car. He is currently in surgery. His daughter, Uma, was also in the vehicle. She is undergoing an emergency cesarean as we speak.”

“Oh, my God.” Now Toni was shook.

She didn’t fuck with Uma, but she wouldn’t wish this on her.

“We need you to come down here in case any important decisions need to be made as far as their status.”

“Great,” Toni muttered right before she shut her eyes and sighed. “Fine. I’ll be there in like forty-five minutes.”

“Okay,” Rhema said before hanging up.

She ended the call as Lotus sailed into the room with all the laundry folded in a fresh basket. Instantly, she read the tension on Toni’s face.

“What’s going on?”

“Ugh, that was Rhema calling from the hospital. Apparently, my mother, her husband, and my stepsister were in a car accident. She’s in critical condition, and they want me to come down there as her emergency contact.”

“Oh, shit,” Lotus muttered. “Well, I can stay with the kids if you need to go.”

Toni took a few more bites of her food and decided to carry her plate upstairs so she could get dressed.

“Thanks, Lo. I don’t know how long I’m going to be.”

“That’s fine. You know me and the kids are good. I’m going to get them ready for their baths and get our snack ready for their bedtime story.”

“Okay.”

Within twenty minutes, Toni was out the door. The hospital was only fifteen minutes from her and Bull’s house anyway. As she was leaving, Brenda stumbled up the walkway. She’d parked crookedly in the driveway and everything. In a two-piece summer Chanel set, she’d kicked off one of her heels and held it in her hand, nearly colliding with Toni on the cobblestone walkway.

“Hey, Brenda, what the hell?” All she inhaled was liquor and those Black cigarettes she smoked as she hung onto her to keep from falling. “Lord, you drove here like this?” Toni asked, helping her toward the house.

“I wanted to see my grandbabies,” she slurred.

“Well, they don’t need to see you like this. Come on. We need to get you something to eat and get you to bed.”

“No. You don’t understand.” Brenda stopped her on the stairs, holding both of Toni’s eyes. Eyes glossy and bloodshot, Brenda licked her dry lips. “I was a bad mother. My kids deserved better. You… you’re a good mother. I like to come here and see you laughing and hugging and playing with your babies. I didn’t get to do that. Braxton thought they would be soft,” she rambled. “And Bull, Bull loves you so much! I’m happy for him but sad that Bronx is dead. Are you sad that he’s dead sometimes?”

Toni sighed. She was getting heavy. Using her key, she let them back into the foyer, and Lotus poked her head into the hallway from the kitchen. Immediately, her face wrinkled in confusion.

“Lotus!” Brenda sang with a wave of her arm.

“Hey, Brenda. How are you?”

“Loaded!” she declared, then fell over laughing. “I’m so sorry. Are the kids here? Are they sleeping?” She put her index finger to her lips. “Ssh.”

“No, they’re here. They are awake, but I think you need to go sleep this off. I don’t want them to see you like this,” Toni reasoned.

“Mmm, okay,” Brenda agreed.

“Okay. Come on.” Toni shot a look at Lotus and shook her head.