Page 80 of A Hood Wife And A Rich Goon 2

“Well, we did it, Lo!” Toni gushed, staring at their building. Their vision. Over a year ago it was just something that only existed in their minds. It quickly became so much more than that.

“Yes, we did, T. High five, girl. Because it wasn’t easy.” The two slapped hands, and someone cleared their throat nearby. Essence.

In her arms she carried her beautiful, warm mocha skinned daughter with a head full of hair. Lotus’s heart melted, and for the first time, Toni felt no hate for the girl. Her baby girl clung to her, sucking on a binky in her mouth and studying both Toni and Lotus. She was so alert as her little eyes volleyed between the two women.

“Essence. She’s beautiful.” Lotus pressed a hand against her chest. “I didn’t think you would come.”

“I got the invitations. From both of you.” Essence smiled in Toni’s direction. “Thank you.”

After the whole Midas situation, she had to get out of Prospect Pointe, only to realize weeks later that she was pregnant with his child. She didn’t inform anyone initially, it was Taci and her dreams that figured it out before anybody.

“I figure we should all be able to start fresh,” Toni declared. “We all made mistakes. Everybody deserves a second, third, sometimes forth chance.”

“Come on, let me show you around,” Lotus offered, coming up beside Essence.

Once the tours were over, Toni and Lotus invited everyone into the auditorium/multipurpose room. A huge screen took up one wall and plenty of seating surrounded it. The project took plenty of time and effort over the course of almost two years, and they hadn’t revealed the finished product of their official commercial to anyone yet. It was important to both to keep it to themselves. Apprehension quickly set in when the lights dimmed and the screen went black. When their commercial rolled in, Bijou and Breeze clapped and pointed at the screen.

“Mama!” Jou Jou yelled.

“Lolo!” Breeze chimed in.

The family laughed at both kids as they watched with wide eyes. It was wild for them to see their mama and favorite nanny on TV. After panning through a couple of different scenes, it switched back to Toni and Lotus inside the lobby of their building together with their final message.

“Where families find support.,” Lotus quoted.

“And every child has room to grow,” Toni added

When the video ended, the room erupted in applause. Eazy stood on his feet with his son in his arms, cheering his woman on. Standing next to Toni, she got emotional, and the two embraced as the cameras went wild.

In the back of the room, Toni spotted Sudan amidst the crowd, looking on with pride. Giving her a small nod, he waved. He’d been good about not being intrusive, not exactly sure where he fit in. His wife and other children weren’t happy when they heard the news about Toni, but he refused to not be a part of his daughter and grandchildren’s lives, even if it was from a distance. The media would have a field day, and Toni had already been through enough. She deserved peace, and he was going to grant her that. After working things out with Bull, there was no reason for any strife between any of them. All debts were settled, and they were free to move on.

“Okay, time for the official photo in front of the center!” Kissa yelled.

Folks trampled over each other to get out front. Too many people chatted, while babies cried because it was past some of their nap times. Breeze refused to stand still, and the photographer started to snap before he could even get everyone to pose. Talk about chaotic.

“Alright, everybody look this way!”

“The hell we need seventy-five damn pictures for?” Summit grumbled as he snapped away.

“Hush, old man!” Taci hissed, wrapping her arm around him and pulling him close.

“Yo, I’m one of the tallest niggas out here. I need to be in the back,” Bull complained, tugging at his tie.

“Ain’t nobody ask you that shit, Bezai,” Toni griped. “That’s why Breeze can’t stand still, and you just don’t want to stand in front.” She adjusted Bijou on her hip.

Finally, there was some order, and everyone was at least in position, but somehow, Jewel ended up front and center, which Lotus was first to notice.

“Why are you in the middle?”

“Because I’m the glue,” Jewel answered, looking around like the answer was obvious while everyone side eyed him or turned their noses up.

“Nigga, you the problem,” Bull pointed out.

“Same difference.” Jewel shrugged. “I give all y’all something to talk about. I’m walking fucking content. You’re welcome.”

The photographer begged them all to be on their best behavior as he tried to get a decent shot of everyone. There was entirely too much going on. Once everyone finally got settled, the kids were quiet, fake smiles plastered everywhere, he prepared for the final shot.

“Everybody say, Prospect Pointe!” he encouraged with the lens against his eye.

Jewel cupped his hand around his mouth simultaneously and yelled, “Bull used to be a hoe!”

CLICK! The photo was snapped with Toni falling over laughing while Lotus let out a scream, and Eazy was mid-laugh. Meanwhile, Bull looked like he was ready to murder Jewel. Taci’s mouth hung open while Summit, Kissa, Javon, and Essence all fought laughs. For so long, they all thought survival meant escaping their dark situations. Maybe they were wrong.

Was survival possibly making it work? Sticking around? Putting in the work? Getting older, having babies, building things, and learning how to forgive? Toni stood, taking it all in. She looked forward to more cookouts, more juvenile arguments, and being annoyed by Jewel for another thirty years.

As much as Prospect Pointe had taken from them, it had given just as much in return. Love. Loss. Family. Enemies. Not everybody got a second chance, yet they had survived where others hadn’t. What she learned in the last five plus years was that surviving was never the same as living, and these were the times she’d prayed for.

The strong fragrance of his Tom Ford cologne and warm touch from her husband wrapping his arms around her comforted her. Staring at the doors of her latest dream, she watched another family walk inside together and smiled.

“You did that, T,” Bull whispered against her ear before she faced him with a sexy smile.

“And it all started with a hood wife and her rich goon.”

THE END